"I'm really starting to hate those Russian dolls."

"Because they're so full of themselves?"

"...Shut up…What did one ocean say to the other?"

"Nothing they just waved."

"Stahp!"

"No."

"…What kinds of bees make milk?"

"Boobies!"

"Stop stealing my lines!"

"It's not my fault your about as funny as hepatitis." Smiling through all of his teeth Clark watched Conner seethe from the loft of the barn, quite literally looking down at the other boy.

"Better to be as funny as than to have." Returning the smile Conner less than carefully placed sacks of seed one atop the other in an unordered fashion.

"Are you two always this belligerent or do you have to work at it?" Leaning against the chipped paint of the barn door Tim smiled carefully at the two boys.

"It's all natural mate."

"I'm not sure if to be impressed or worried." Stepping further into the barn Tim draws closer to Conner as another voice from the corner of the room speaks.

"Worried!" Smiling with his head bent over the hood of a seemingly disused truck Pa is quick to chuckle. "I'd hate to imagine what would happen if they actually worked on hating each other."

"I'm picturing an infinite crisis."

Chuckling to himself Conner moves to lean one arm on Tim's shoulder. "Or a really long Halloween?"

Smiling up at Conner Tim quickly shuck out from under the other boys arm, moving closer towards Pa. "So Martha sent me out her to give an extra hand, anything I can do to help?"

"Not unless you're some kind of trained mechanic son." Scratching his head and looking back to the engine Pa grimaces at the internal mechanism. Meanwhile a small smile forms on Tim's face.

"Hey Con, Wanna have a little fun?" Still smiling to himself Tim turns to look the other boy in the eye only to be struck by a glowing blush and grin. "Grow up Conner…" Shaking his head Tim presses on with his point. "I'll bet you that if I can fix that truck, you have too…well I didn't think this far ahead yet…"

Still smiling to himself Conner nods a little before really thinking about it. "What do I get if you can't though?"

"What do you want?"

"Your ass!" The words come flat and voiced with bellicose. Resulting in a receptive glare from both Conner and Tim. "What? ,Only trying to resolve the belligerent sexual tension you two are reeking of right now, that's all. Promise! " Descending the stairs of the barn Clark gives of a caustic smirk.

"Jealous he doesn't love you?" Replying with a smirk of sarcastic irony Tim turns from the conversation to move over to where Pa Kent is leaning over a rusted carburettor.

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Stopping next to Conner, Clark continues to smirk as he watches Tim walk away. "What does Lady even know about cars?"

"I have no idea…" Resenting the implication of Tim's inability Conner just leans back with a smile. Trusting the boy to know what he's doing.


Moving under a swift kick the assailant follows up with a punch to the solar plexus. A punch that is thank fully avoided by the target only to be caught by the elbow of the assailant as they pulled back from the punch.

"Guard! Attacks are often…" Stopping for a second drying to think of what words to use Cassandra bit her own lip just a little. "…'follow through'."

"Noted, but..." Moving in a back hand spring Steph' smiles pushing hear and sweat from her brow "Can we break?"

"Sure."

Immediately Steph dropped to the floor lying starfish across the sparing mats. Breathing heavy she simply lay there for a second catching her breath. Slowly under a little weight the mats beside her began to dip as Cassandra took up the space besides her.

Breathing a little and with a side glance Cass' speaks slow breaking the fragile silence. "Were I much too tougher on you?"

Taking a moment to answer Steph sigh's a little "'Was I too tough on you' Cass, not 'Were I much too tougher on you?'."

"Oh." Disappointed Cass resumed biting her tongue while thinking over the words, determined to get the syntax right.

Feeling her pseudo sister's disappointment roll of her in waves Steph relaxed a little raising her hand laterally to squeeze Cass' shoulder. "Don't worry; you'll get it eventually. How are the lessons going anyway?"

"They help, 'little."

"A little?" Steph corrected

"Yes, like you a little annoying."

"…Yeesh, you can't even insult people right." Pushing herself to stand Steph turned as Cass' spoke.

Moving to a sitting position Cass' smirked "Usually I just knock you on your butt, is better than speaking 'hard words'." Emphasizing by punching her hand and clasping her fist.

"Yep, deffo a decent alternative. Though do try to avoid having Bruce bail you out again." Smiling and blowing out a raspberry Steph cartwheel back before vaulting onto a horse.

"At least Bruce knows about her extracurriculars." Stepping into the gym Jason is quick to defend his raven headed sister. "You'd have to fake your own death to get out of the grounding he'd give you if he ever found out about Leslie and a certain African continent."

Fumbling a bit and slightly losing her balance before catching herself before falling, Steph turned her own version of her families patented death glare on her elder brother. "Ah Jason, I do love these 'War games' we play." Dismounting from the horse with ease the girl marched up to her brother raising her head to properly continue glaring at him. "But you are no one to comment on other peoples little mistakes, especially in regards to Bruce."

"Back up before theirs another death in the family, little girl."

"You wanna' go?" Both had reduced their eyes to slits, sapphire battling jade for dominance. With a twitch at her lip Steph softened into a vindictive smirk. "You smell like copper, time for a touch up maybe?" Indicating her brother's hair as she spoke Steph flashed her eyebrows up before pushing past him with a swing in her hips to exit the gym; Cassandra soon in tow.

"The amusement factor of your belligerence is running thin Todd."

"Love you too devil boy, but isn't it past your bed time?"

Thinking dark thoughts Damian retreated a little but before dissolving completely into the darkness of the Wayne manor left a few parting shots. "Our family goes through enough shit outside of these walls and while I can barely stand to breath the same air as you people that my father has forced me to share a house with, I never the less do not wish you too kill one another."

"…That made no sense…why do you talk like that?"

"Because I unlike some," a pointed look at Jason " Have an IQ that is not sequential to my age."

"I feel like I should be insulted but when you talk I sorta…" Trailing his sentence off without a proper finish Jason begins to leave the room whistling a tune, a distant look in his eyes and an angry little demon fuming behind him.

The melody floating from his lips echoed around the spacious albeit gothic halls of the manor. Dancing on still air through innumerable corridors the sound would eventually fail to reach the ears of a young man who had his head buried in the sand - well actually a perfectly plump pacific coast double down pillow.

"You know this royal blue cashmere shirt has a kink in the stitching right?"

"Shoop falshim da herup meeh!"

"Yep , lift shoulder, it's a half lipped stitch, I think it's a kink in the design." Musing slightly at the thought Barbara effortlessly replaced the shirt to its rightful place while in the meantime avoiding a perfectly plump pacific coast double down pillow that had been rather forcefully ejected from Dick's bed in the direction of her head. "You seem grouchy this morning? Wanna get a non-fat mocha latte with foam?"

"No! I wish to sit here and wallow. Thank. You!"

"No can do I'm afraid Richard." Falling onto the bed with a flop and zero grace Barbara drew heavy eyes on the silhouette of Dick's face, which was firmly staring dead eyed and lock jaw at the ceiling above him.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No!"

"Wanna sing about it?"

"No!"

"But you love to sing, you're like a little robin, you never pass up on the opportunity to sing! Come on, I'll get you started." Taking a deep breath and smiling to her best friend Bab's starts, a soft though unskilled alto resounding in the room.

"Lisa likes brandy and the way it hits her lips
She's a rock 'n' roll survivor with pendulum hips
She's got deep brown eyes that've seen it allWorking at a nightclub that was called The Avenue
The bar men used to call her "Little Lisa, Looney Tunes"
She went down on almost anyoneFrom the hard time living 'til the Chelsea days
From when her hair was sweet blonde 'til the day it turned grey
She said, "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
You've got more than money and sense, my fri-eck!"

Cut short by another violent pillow Bab's is not best pleased to say the least, even as Dick moves to a sitting position and treats her to a glare worthy of pandemonium her resolve does not waver.

"The fuck is wrong with you bird brain!"

"This is not GLEE! There is no need to spontaneously burst into song every time someone has a problem."

"Said the pot to the kettle." Snarking aside, the two friends continued to glare before one pair of eyes began to weaken.

Fluttering to a half lid Dick dropped his gaze from Barbara's eyes, beginning to thumb his sheets. Despite her cavalier attempt at raising his mood Dick was glad for her presence. Something about a girl that knows him better than he does is; reassuring. In fact it may be exactly what he needs right now.

"You're the smart one Bab's, what do you think is wrong with me?" Finally looking her in the eye Dick poses the question, with a split conscience. Should he be doing this; will it kill him if he doesn't?

"Well…" Considering the evidence for a second Barbara takes a while to answer. "The last time you refused to sing about your hurt feelings was…The, um – noodle incident with Kory and Roy." Sighing a little and taking Dicks hand with a gentle squeeze and a smile Barbara gives her final assessment. "You sir, are suffering from a broken heart. Though that does indeed pose more questions than it answers."

Stopping to wonder, if only for a second just how intelligent Barbara is, Dick lets out a ragged breath he had no idea he was surprising and raised his hand to caress one of Bab's vermillion curls. "That Tim kid is very observant."

"What?"

"I have always had a thing for red heads."


"Aaaand: done!" popping the hood down on the truck Tim surveyed the barn grinning himself silly.

"…"

"…"

"..Well Con', this one's a keeper." Lifting his cap to aerate his head and wiping the sweat from his brow that the early afternoon sun had formulated Jonathan Kent smiled with all his teeth at the oil slicked teen.

"Ok…so maybe lady has some skills." Jesting from his newly acquired perch of the barn banister Clark Smirks for the Nth time that afternoon and something about those pearly whites frankly: pisses Tim off.

Taking a rag from his back pocket Tim begins to clean off his hands all the while taking bold steps towards Clark. Soon standing directly in front of the much larger boy and reaching up to stroke the collar of his polo shirt.

"Wouldn't you like t' know. Puddin'" Though the vocal tic feels like acid in his mouth Tim takes the opportunity to push just forcefully enough to have Clark almost fall from his perch, before grasping the collar more harshly and preventing the other boy from going much further. For a moment the two boys are left staring at one another, Tim's eyes: cerulean turned ice reflecting the shock on Clark's face. No one ever pushes him: ever. Releasing Clark and ignoring the seething look of indignation that the boy shot at him like beams of heat vision Tim displaces himself to stand with Conner.

"Anything else I can do for you?"

"Get down on all fours close your eyes and suck really hard when I tell you too?" Now obviously Conner didn't actually say that. It's what he wanted to say; it's what he thought, but what he actually said was.

"You have definitely done just enough." Smiling at his own self-censorship Conner swings an arm around the other boy, momentarily forgetting himself. When his mind finally harkens back to the conversation he and Tim had on the back porch he frets to find his arm firmly placed around Tim's shoulders. Fearing the inevitable rejection it is Conner's turn to stiffen under the contact.

"You ok Con? You seem a little stiff."

Now that wasn't the reaction Conner had expected, but he was not going to complain any time soon.

"Fine, great actually! "

"Good because I have a favour to ask." Breaking back into the conversation Pa is quick to pull the two boys attention.

"Oh really" Quirking an eye brow; intrigued Conner smiles as he lets Pa speak.

"Remember the "Thing" I told you about at Harrisons a few weeks ago."

"Yeah…"

"Well, I got word by his son that it should be ready by around three. Its half two now. You think you could go and get it for me? Take the truck. Test out our new mechanics work."


A visit from the family is something that can have even the greatest of men trembling and reduced to mush. Conner had literally dragged everything out of Roy and now he was going to repeat the process: but on his own terms, if that's any better.

Throwing a worn leather jacket against uncomfortable seats Roy ungracefully deposited himself in a similarly uncomfortable chair. The low lighting making his hair appear frail and washed out; his face gaunt Roy ran a shaking hand through amber locks. Clearing his voice heavily he began to unload.

"So last time, last time I think I told you about Jade. And since the last time – sorry it's been so long by the way – I, I don't know thinks seem different now. I mean yeah she's still with Clark – The human brick house Douche bag…Conner's…Brother? Cousin? Thing… - But every time she even mentions him, it's like she freezes, like she doesn't want to talk about him. Like maybe she doesn't even really want to be with him for real. Though that could be wishful thinking on my part."

Shifting in his chair: pulling one leg to rest under the other on the chair Roy takes a moment to collect himself. Interlacing his fingers to rest his head again Roy takes a deep breath and continues.

"You'd think that after the...Noodle Incident with Kory and Dick I would have learned to keep my big fat head out of other people's relationships. Yeah, not quite." Letting out a sort of bitter chuckle Roy looks dead ahead for a time getting his breathing under control. "So yeah, anyways as I was saying...uh, what was I saying?" Blinking little after losing his train of thought Roy genuinely smiles for a second. "Anyways, so Conner can home this afternoon, he's ok by the way, But it does bother me how well he knows me. It's like he's some kind of telepath, like Megan or some shit. But I'm off topic, he just dragged everything I'm telling you out of me and I don't know why but having to talk about it on his terms rather than mine it's like…like…"

"Frustrating?"

Jumping a mile out of his skin Roy whips around to star dead into the eyes of the very last person he wanted to see.

"Do you always do that doctor Cross? It's rather rude to listen to other peoples conversations."

Stepping further into the room Pietre Cross is quick to smile at Roy before replacing it with a slight grimace. Considering Ms' Dearden's current medical sate I would hazard to suggest that your 'conversation' was rather one sided anyways."

Breathing out a sigh of anger Roy stands gathered his coat and made for the door. "You had no right to listen to that."

"Maybe not but, wouldn't you prefer to have a conversation with someone who can give a response. You are well aware that your medical insurance covers counselling right?"

"Perfectly, thank you!" Casting one last room into the dim room Roy take's but a second to glance over to his sister. Lying motionless in a hospital bed as a violent dieses ravages her body, blonde hair lying dry and limp against sickly pale skin. With a final shake of his head Roy finally leaves.


"So?"

"So what?"

"Don't be a butt head, what's in the box?"

"I don't think anyone has called me a butt head since I was in pre-school"

"Maybe not to your face…"

Sending Tim an irritated look Con takes a step forwards as the line progress towards the counter.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"Pardon?"

"Well frankly this morning you looked like a stiff wind might take you down, now you're ready to go up against Clark and talkin' all kinds of smack."

"Ok, home skillet no need to get all nineties' on me-"

"See that there…Where did the mouth come from?" Shrugging a little Tim grins up at the taller boy who finds himself smiling in response. "Though I suppose it isn't all that unwelcome, it's just odd…its like sugar and ice…Are you bipolar?"

Eyes widening and almost screaming out a laugh it takes Tim until the two reach the counter to order before he has himself under control. "O..o-ok, tha..that was brilliant!"

Gritting his teeth and lowering his voice Con spoke again "Your scaring me Tim and the nice lady who is looking at you like you might pull out an axe anytime soon would like your coffee order please."

"Right, um Assam tea if you have it please? Smiling to the girl behind the counter Tim orders before turning his back to the counter to survey the coffee shop Conner had insisted about stopping at before they returned to the farm. Scanning the store from top to bottom Tim smiles at the very different people that populate the shop. From the trio in the corner made up of a blonde guy and a slightly large dark bordering on blue haired boy sat across from a loud pink haired girl. Or in the other corner where a very large blonde boy; he must have been either a rugby player or a football guard sat with his fingered intertwined with a much smaller dark hair guy wearing a red scarf and telling his white hair twin to immediately cease making wrenching noises. With a ring of the bell Tim's attention is brought to the front door where another group were just entering the store. Fronting the group a massive boy with green eyes was leering quite intently at the boy furthest to his right, who was in tern giving a deathly glare to someone Tim assumed was his boyfriend because of their hands on each other's hips while he chatted happily away to the first boy. Behind them three girls in cheerleading outfits despite the fact of it being a Saturday trailed closely behind them. The dark Latina held one of the blonde next to hers pink tightly while the third girl, another blonde seethed about something trivial.

"Yo dude!" Jumping a little as Conner batted his steaming cup against the side of his head Tim started to bat his attacker off before taking the cup from him happily.

"Thanks, what do I owe you?"

"I'm sure I'll think of something..." Trailing off and leaving Tim to splutter a little Con headed for the exit.

Taking one last look about the store Tim begins to speak voicing something that had been bugging him since the group had entered moments earlier. "Hey Con?"

"Hm?" Indicating he's listening while taking a drink Con allows Tim to continue.

"What's with this town? Like it's nice and everything but what's with everyone being so accepting?"

"Um…What?"

Very unsure on how to actually word his query Tim started to fumble with his words before Conner cut him off.

"Ok so what you really mean is why was no one batting an eye at the amount of gays that were in the Café?"

Caught off guard by the blunt force of the sentence Tim stutters again, blushing a little out of embarrassment .

"The simple fact is that everyone does. You think I don't know what people say behind my back? What you should be asking is why do you find it odd that people do bat an eye lid."

"Conner, I didn't..."

"I know you didn't and it's alright. Though frankly no one can help being gay as much as they can help being a boy or a girl or black or white And I don't see you questioning the mixed genders in there."

"…Right, sorry?"

"No problem but to answer your question more realistically, the LGBT scene in that store is substantially hire because the woman who owns it; Kate just so happens to be the biggest lezzer you will ever meet." Smiling at himself and laughing to lighten the mood Conner swings an arm around Tim and leans in close." The girl behind the counter: Betty is her niece. Me and Casey used to have a bet going to see if she was more like her aunt than she was letting on. We used to take turns to see who's flirting she would respond too." Smiling again and letting out a cackle Conner continued to head towards the truck retelling Tim a few old stories.


"Mercy, would you mind heading to the hotel toot sweet."

Sagging in the comfort of his own Limousine Lex Luthor pulls to untighten his tie but jumps when a soft voice speaks from the dark.

"Rough day dear?"

"Nothing that murdering some rather more annoying acquaintances even more annoying daughters couldn't help."

"Well meow, Lover." Leaning forwards, leaning her elbow to pop up her chin across her legs Talia Al Ghul is quick to spread a grin across delicate Caucasian - Arabic features before throwing a dossier onto Luthors lap. "We at the league do hope you know what you are doing Alexander."

"Business? Really Talia. You do know what the tabloids have been saying about us right?"

"Yes, you'd be surprised at what resource I have available to me wouldn't you. The body doubles were convincing were they not?"

"Defiantly." Grinning a little thinking over the rather graphic shots that a few international news corporations had procured. "Though I will say that you weren't exactly generouse with them were you."

"I only speak the truth…Well when it suits me."

Stopping to laugh like old friends Lex abruptly stops when he begins to thumb through the dossier in his lap.

"Shit!" Carefully reviewing the photos in hand he's brow creases and Lex looks hard at Talia. "These are real?"

"Yes, very much so. You know the man cannot be controlled and yet you went against the direct orders of the group and contacted him anyway. You know that man is rash, unpredictable…Insane."

"But he gets the job done with the right incentive, and can stink up a fuss big enough to cover us if need be."

"Thanagar is already watching Lex, I do hope you know what you are doing."

"Bloody Hawks!" Looking over the images once more Lex stops at the last. Strangely lit and a little blurred the image is none the less perfectly clear. A blood stained card lies in the ashen remains of many men's bodies, snow already starting to settle on the face of the joker.


"Hit it up, hit up!"

"Won't let you rest!"

"Hit it up, hit up!"

"This is not a test!"

"Hit it up, hit up!"

"Gotta' Gimme your best"

"So get your ass up!"

"Show me how you burlesque!"

The music thumping out of the radio time smothers his face in his hand flushing red as Conner dances and sings and just loses himself in the seat next to him.

"You are so gay dude…"

"So?" Laughing out loud as the music continues Conner makes a quick turn and heads through the back gate into the Kents yard. "Everybody loves Christina and this film was fabulous!"

"Everybody?"

"Everybody!"

Biting his lip and feeling like a bit of a hypocrite Tim takes a breath and loses himself, tearing into the song.

"A little bit of naughty is a little bit nice."

"She's a whole lot of glam, sweat, sugar, sex, spice!"

"Shimmy, shimmy, strut, strut!"

"Give a little work, what!?"

"Up on the table, we be dancing al night!"

"Yee~eah!"

Suddenly the char jerks to a stop Conner hitting the break a little harder than he had intended.

"Sorry…but you were right. Everybody does love Christina." Smiling Tim makes his way out of the char to hear Conner talking a little dumb founded in his direction.

"You defiantly didn't sing like that yesterday…God you have to take music!"

Turning to rest on the car roof Tim smiles a little coy at the other boy.

"I do actually."

"No kidding, keep that up and it'll be A's all round."

"I wasn't that good..." Blushing a little under the attention another voice speaks out to qualify Conner's praise.

"You were a little pitchy but, I happen to know that Dinah is looking for a countertenor that can hit a high F. Plus if you can kill a vocal run like that on a regular basis...well, Richard Grayson may have some competition this year." Surveying Tim under dark sunglasses, enjoying the last of the summer heat Lois stood leaning against the railing of the back porch of the farm house. Book in hand she smiled gently at the two boys. Gone was the draconic instructor Tim had met the day before, this was a calm almost friendly woman who was probably just here to enjoy time with her family. "Have fun hitting the town boys?"

"It could have been better." Marching up the stairs to the back door with Tim in tow Conner spoke with a smile.

"Betty still not giving any hint's?"

"Nope!"

"That girl is outstanding." Shaking her head a little Lois allowed the boys to retreat into the shade of the house were Ma Kent immediately cornered them.

"Dear god, look at the state of you two." Shooing them up the stairs little by little Conner laughs and tries to bat her off. Tim just goes along for the ride.

"Come on Gram 'ma, were find." That comment resulted in a smack around the head for Conner.

"You are filthy! Now go find some of your old clothes for Tim to ware. Tim honey the Bathroom is on the left up and right for hot water."

"Um…ok then…" Only slightly weirded out by being told to take a shower by a woman he met less than a half a day ago Tim follows the instructions none the less.

"Hey Tim I'm going to leave these cloths on the chair by the bathroom door, ok!" Calling from a bedroom down the hall Tim shouts a reply in return, stepping into the shower to let the warm spray envelope him.

Meanwhile a little way down the hall Conner is busy digging through an old wardrobe in what he and pretty much everyone else would consider 'his room'. Truth be told Conner had been visiting the Kents for at least a decade. Lex and Clark SR had been friends through high school; god knows why Lionel had sent Lex here, but that is a different story altogether. The Kent's had looked after Conner when his father hadn't been available or had a business meeting in a part of the world where a child would just ' get in the way'. They were like family to him even without a blood relation. And even with a blood relation like Clark JR to be an ass all the time.

Brushing something with softness borne through age and many washes Conner stopped his musing to remove an old red flannel shirt from the very back of his closet. Remembering how old this shirt was and rubbing the soft wool between his fingers Conner suddenly had a strong urge to make Tim ware this shirt; this very shirt that he had worn so many times before. Quickly collecting everything else that Tim might need after realising just how he had taken musing Conner rushed down the hall as the bathroom opened just a crack to reveal a wet and flushed Tim looking a little confused.

"Oh..."

"Yeah, oh" Feeling his face burn a little Conner Passed through the clothing while averting his eyes to the best of his ability, before turning around away from the door. "Uh…not to rush you but I kinda need to shower too…but you know no rush…" Greeted with silence Conner quickly reached for his phone out of habit, checking for any missed texts or calls.

"The fuck…" See four different messages on his phone Conner freaked out a little before opening each of them.

From: Bart

Dude, Wally blew up this morning. Srsly he was nuts. You get home ok last night?

Smiling a little at the text Conner typed out a quick reply.

To: Bart

Got ur bk jack, bitches b crazy. Yeah, somehow ended up at Tim's. DW nothing fun happened. ;)

Moving through a text from his service provider and a drunk, rather rambling and angry text from Casey; both of which he chose to ignore Conner stopped on the final message.

From: Mercy

Your father would like a phone conversation. Please see that you contact him asap.

Sighing a little and knowing he was going to regret this Conner thumbed through his recent Contacts and hit dial on the one labelled: Dad.

Placing the phone to his ear Conner listened to the drone of the dial tone before the click went of and he began to speak.

"Hey dad, Mercy said you wanted to speak to me."

"Yes I believe she sent that message around an hour and a half ago." Coming down cold across the line, Lex's words fall hard on Conner.

"Sorry."

"As you should be, punctuality is everything son. But we are getting beside the point. I sha'nt be returning for another two weeks in addition to the month I shall also be away. I have updated your account accordingly. Tell Mercy if there is anything else you may need, I am going to be very busy in the meantime."

Without even the chance to ask a question or say goodbye Conner is listening to dial tone once again. Left feeling cold from the conversation Conner can only stare at his phone for what feels like an eternity before a voice sounds behind him.

"What exactly were you thinking giving me this?" Turning Conner is greeted by a sight that made his mouth go dry and ignites a flame that the resent contact with his father had extinguished. Tim is wearing the shirt and boxers that Conner had chosen… and nothing else. It then occurred to Conner that he had not properly thought about how the shirt would fit Tim. While it was not comically large it extended past the leg of his underwear and gave the impression that Tim was wearing nothing but that shirt. Noting the look that now graced Conner's face Tim quickly gathered the rest of his clothes and headed for the bedroom. Conner's eyes following him the entire way, an eyebrow raising when the shirt started to ride up a little around the other boys buttocks.

"Not bad…"

Safely in Conner's room Tim sighs in relief, despite his seeming innocents he could very much feel Conner watching him. The attention isn't bad, Tim Is just, unused to it and granted Conner is a very nice guy. Tim is not the kind of person who can risk getting too close to hi: or anyone for that matter. Dressing quickly, or at least faster than necessary Tim makes his way down into the kitchen to see if he can help; and to help take his mind off of other matters.

"So you must be Tim then!"

Having just entered the kitchen Tim jumps a little ass the voice speaks in a loud, deep yet somehow safe voice. "Correct Mr Kent, or do you prefer Superman: they called you that at Smallville high and at Metropolis metropolitan university because of your unusual aptitude for American football. "

"…Lois wasn't kidding wasn't kidding about your fanboying."

"She…she mentioned that?"

Chuckling a little Clark Presses on with the conversation. "Yeah, though I think she is secretly impress and that is enough to scare me. The world is your oyster if you can impress Lois lane."

"Are my ears burning?" Stepping in from the back porch Lois slings a hand around Clarks waste planting a kiss on his cheek. "Singing my glories I hope?"

"Always dear." Returning the gesture with a smirk Clark turns to regard Tim who has been dragged: somehow willingly into discussing the viability of Bulmer and Katz's reception models when compared to the hypodermic needle method.

The boy is nothing like Bruce said he should be...Thinking hard Clark catches every movement, every gesture that Tim makes. Nothing however pertains to the fact that according to Bruce this kid should be dead. Granted, there is no way to know that this Tim Drake, and Tim Drake the son weapons expert Jack Drake are one in the same, but still the circumstances are…Unusual.

"Clark!"

"Wha…" Shouting and waving a tea towel in front of his face Ma shoos her son out of the room to set the table while she, Tim and Lois plate up dinner and move extras into the dining room. Picking up the last of the plates Tim is the last person to enter the dining room, stopping in the door way as every eye in the room turns to him. Freezing for a second Tim watches as Conner smiles in his direction Moving forwards to table to place the plate he's carrying down and take his seat next to Conner he smiles a thank you as Pa clears his throat.

"Grace?"

Smiling again Tim takes the hand of Lois on his right and Conner to his left, this time maybe not joining in with the prayer but defiantly thanking someone up there for this moment.


"So that wasn't so bad was it?" Stepping out onto the front porch many house latter Conner poses the question to the other boy smiling a little as he does.

"I have no idea what you're on about." Stepping out to join up side by side with Conner Tim notices in the distance Ma and Pa are sat together on a tree swinging bench moving gently in the slow moving evening air. "They really are sweet you know you're lucky to have them."

"I do…" Hiding a shy smile Conner tugs Tim towards his car waving to Ma and Pa who seem to have noticed their leaving in the meantime. Clutched in Ma's hand the step of a gladiolus in full bloom, and a ruby adored chain around her neck.

"It was their fortieth, You didn't tell me it was their anniversary today."

"You got all that from a flower?"

"Tradition dude…don't you know these things?"

"Shush…and no today isn't their anniversary, tomorrow is. Pa is terrible at keeping secrets he must have given Ma her present early."

"Ok we need to leave now." Laughing a little Conner enquires as to why, and Tim simply replies "Because I'm going to die of a cuteness overload and I don't want to die on these nice peoples lawn."

Smiling at the remark Conner leads Tim to his car quickly all the while making a snide comment.

"'Cuteness overload'? Dude you are so gay!"


Pulling onto the white gravel of Tim's drive way Conner cut's his car engine and smiles across to the boy besides him. For a moment the two sit in silence letting it wash over them until a faint beats wafts its way to their ears and Tim's face becomes stretched and gaunt: Afraid.

"You OK dude?" Staring stone face up at his manor Tim nods a little before exiting the car silently. Only to have Conner do the same and follow him up the path. "Seriously, you look like you've seen a ghost.

"Nothing like that…" Making it to the front door Tim enters his home and the music hits them both at full blast.

"I don't care who thinks were silly!"

"You be daffy and I'll be dilly."

"We'll order up two bowls of chilly!"

"Setting the woods on fire!"

Just over the music the sounds of padding feet can be heard making their way down the hall only for their owner to come into full view.

"Heyyo Timmy-Boy…And friend?" Seemingly confused by Conners very existence the woman stumbles drunkenly up the hall and extends her hand to him.

"Call me Harley, everyone does!"


Well it has been awhile hasn't it just me or do I seem more invested in Wally/Dick than Tim/Kon :p

Songs for this one go too…

'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N' by Noah and the whale.

'Show me how you burlesque' by Christina Aguilera from the movie Burlesque, which is much recommended.

And 'Setting the woods on fire.' By hank Williams.

Next a couple of things, I really had fun with comic title illusions in this one so see if you can get them all and I described three different groups of people in the Café scene with Tim and Kon, can any of you guess who they are?

Anyways as usual tanks for reading, reviews make me happy and a faster writer CYA. x