Dreaming

A Word: Request for Tim daydreaming about Jay.

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The picture bleeds through as Tim watches. Lines and shadows darkening as he swishes the slick paper through the developer solution. The acrid sting of the chemicals pricking his nose as he leans in close to see the image appear. Robin forms slowly. The dark green of his shoes and uniform followed by the red and then the yellow last. His dark hair and bright smile perfectly crisp in a way that Tim hasn't been able to get before.

Tim is officially in love with his new camera. He fishes the photo out with wooden tongs and dips it into the fixer before sinking it into the wash. Admiring the contrast he can see even in the red light of his darkroom. Each of the photos he develops shows the same lack of blurriness that's plagued his photos for so long. In minutes he has a dozen photos hanging up and dripping dry.

Tim puts his unused paper away and flips the light over. Taking the still damp picture of Robin with him as he leaves the dark room.

The manor is silent. The housekeeper having left for the night over an hour ago, and his parents not even half way through their trip to China. Tim goes straight for his room. Not feeling very comfortable anywhere else in the building. He flops out onto his bed and looks at the picture. Careful not to smudge or scratch the still soft surface.

Robin is midflight. Tim having captured him at the very apex of his jump. The line wrapped around his fist and his grin a mile wide as he looks as close to soaring as any human being can. Tim wonders what it's like. Flying through the city like that. He wonders if it's like the swooping feeling you get on a rollercoaster at the very top of a drop. He wonders how hard it would be for Robin to fly like that with someone else.

It's one of his favorite thoughts. Of flying along with Robin. The wind rushing past them as Robin holds Tim tight. That bright grin pressed against Tim's face as Gotham passes below them. Bright and beautiful even under all the grime. A laugh that Tim only hears from a distance echoing in his ear as they fly.

The skid as they land on a roof. Tim's feet not touching the ground until Robin has his balance, but his arm staying tight around Tim. "Hey, you have fun?"

Robin is taller than Tim so he'd have to look up to see him. Almost blind from the grin as Robin's other arm slides around him, pulling him closer as he tips his face down. Into a kiss that tastes like the wind.

Tim presses his fingers to his lips, the photo so close to his face he can almost taste the chemicals as he tries to imagine what that kiss would feel like. Soft and warm. Not at all like the brusque and cold kisses he gets at the airport from his mom. It'd be something to change the world, like the movies always show. Something that would be special and just them.

Tim grins into the darkness of his room and carefully traces the sharp line of Robin's mouth as the hours slip by. Batman and Robin leaving their base next door to patrol the city. Tim will follow in a bit, for now he lays still and thinks about smiling, laughing kisses.

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