People say that Wonderbird came out of nowhere. Here is what I say to that.
Rationally, it should take such little effort to say it.
Rationally, it should be so easy.
But he can't say it.
Her earnest eyes bored into him, waiting for his response.
The scent of her sweat reminds him of the circus.
Tim hadn't wanted to go. He'd wanted to stay home, to finish reading his book. But if it made his mother happy, then who was Tim to reject her desire? Who was he to deny her something she wanted?
And that was how all this had gotten started. How he'd met Robin. How he'd seen the Batman.
It's been at least ten seconds.
Her awkward smile had shrunk by a few molars. She's waiting.
She's waiting.
He knows what he wants. He knows.
Dating in the team has always led to disaster.
Donna and Jason.
Dick and Zatanna.
Wally and Artemis.
Superboy and Miss Martian and La'gaan.
He opens his mouth, closes it.
Blue. Her eyes are blue.
Like Nightwing.
Nightwing had attended some party a few months back and dragged Tim along cause he needed to socialize.
He would have been happier at home on the internet. Solving casefiles. At home in the dark. Anywhere but among kids who were both older and less mature than him.
When the party was at its climax, a certainly drunk Dick had dared Tim to kiss the first girl he saw.
He hadn't wanted to. But the look in Dick's eyes when Tim said he didn't want to- so disappointed-
He'd retracted the statement and taken up Nightwing's dare. He shudders at the thought of the young woman's mouth on his- hungry, grasping for something Tim wasn't willing to give up yet.
Tim had felt so dirty, and he felt the stains even now.
Why was he thinking of this?
He needed to answer her.
He knew what he wanted.
But why couldn't he say it?
She was so earnest. She really did care about him.
He couldn't do it. He couldn't-
Tim cleared his throat.
"I- Yeah. Yeah. We can go out."
She squealed, excited, and threw her arms around him.
His smile was false.
Rationally, it should take such little effort to say it.
Rationally, it should be so easy.
But he can't say it.
Tim can never say no to the people he cares about.
