"Reinitializing… system off-mode… activating redundant systems…"
Tired, bruised and battered, the heroes paused as they witnessed the deactivation of the drones with the demise of Warworld. Superboy swiftly recovered from his plummet through the atmosphere as the bright midday sun infused him with strength. Robin clung to him in a deep crushing hug as his strong, steely demeanor hid the tears that only Superboy would see later… and maybe Impulse. Wait… Impulse! The realization comes to both of them within the span of a moment. He still had not regained consciousness after Mongul's attack on his little avatar. The two ran down to the middle of the block to the landed bioship, leaving Superman and Wonder Woman behind to sort out anything else remaining.
Conner got there before Tim, but only by seconds, to find Blue Beetle on the ground holding Impulse's head in his lap. The streaks and smudges of tears through the dust of the Metropolis battle zone stained his handsome face. Brian knelt across from him with his wings extended forward from his shoulders to shade the speedster's eyes from the bright midday sun. A slight gust ruffled their hair as Kid Flash runs to the small gathering with Nightwing close behind. Blue Beetle meanwhile never moved, except for the occasional shudder of spent tears.
Robin knelt down and gently picked Bart up in his arms as Jaime started to reach for him, not being able to bear to be apart for him, but foolishly not feeling worthy to follow. Both his mind and body had been through so much, then Superboy knelt next to him and reached around him and hoisted him into his arms and carried him off following Robin. Jaime had an incredulous look on his face as he was carried in the half-Kryptonian clone's strong arms.
"Just rest your head. It's been a long day." Superboy said softly and Jaime laid his head on Kon's shoulder and let exhaustion and strain carry him into unconsciousness.
Conner's longer stride caught up to Tim and the two carried Bart and Jaime down the street toward home, if it still stood. The rest of the heroes and their allies followed behind them in an impromptu procession through Metropolis. The occasional pops of gunfire could be heard as policemen and National Guard imagined a twitch or movement of a deactivated drone and vented their rage into the machine. But all movement ceased as the collection of young heroes passed carrying their wounded. People in the streets began to move aside of their own volition and cops and soldiers alike saluted the procession.
There were no cheers. The Team had saved Earth, but the populace had not yet been able to assess the damage and they could see that the heroes had paid a high price for victory.
Due to the courage of the citizenry of Metropolis and Superman, most of the city was entirely unscathed. The damage seemed primarily centered on the downtown skyscrapers; and even the electricity service was up as it was cross-linked through various stations across the city. Tim, Kon, and Bart's loft home was entirely intact, being outside the damage zone in an older industrial area that was several years ago converted to lofts, condos, shops, and trendy restaurants. Nightwing rushed ahead to unlock the door, assuming correctly that Robin would just kick it in if it got in his way with Impulse in his arms. The young vigilante carried Bart to his room and pulled his dirty and torn uniform off of him and dressed him in clean pajamas and settled him in his bed. He noted that the scrapes and bruises he must have had from the fight were all healed, so he was at least physically healthy. In fact, he looked as fit and vibrant as ever, but his eyes were vacant and devoid of any expression. Superboy laid Beetle on the couch and covered him with blanket and went to look in on Bart. No sooner had Kon started to step away, Jamie bolted awake and looked about for Bart and staggered past the Team members filing into the loft toward Bart's room to see how his boyfriend was. Tim tucked the covers around him while Kon ran his fingers through his wild auburn hair pulling it off his face. His first irrelevant thought was that Bart was due for another haircut, and Kon's heart twisted a bit thinking about the fun chaos of that weekly task.
Kid Flash immediately heads for the telephone and dials like a madman. Robin was so paranoid that he even had a landline when everyone used cell phones.
"…we really need your help in Metropolis… It's Bart… Yes, again. I keep telling him to be more careful… Thanks doc, I really mean it… I think we can get you here fast… no time for commercial flights."
Nightwing caught Wally's half of the conversation and his deductive mind understood the meaning of the rest of the conversation and looked about for the Martian girl who stood to one side wringing her hands in worry.
"M'Gann, how fast can your ship get to Central City and back?"
"Fast!" She responded, eager to be able to help. She silently floated upward, phasing through the ceiling and roof of the building as the bioship lifted off down the street, leaving a crowd of on-lookers wondering. The two met over the skies of Metropolis when the stereotypical mall-girl voice echoes in Nightwing's head.
"Hello Megan… I need an address!" A quick exchange between Dick and Wally ensues and Dick passes on the information to M'Gann and the Martian bioship accelerates across the sky. Meanwhile, a small glimmer of humor is discovered at the front door as Andy drops his backpack and unbuckles his pistol bet and drops it in the entryway while Se-Yong and Gun-Woo, used to more formal Rhelasian traditions, are hesitant to enter without being specifically invited.
"Tell them to get their little butts in here!" Nightwing calls from across the loft.
Then added to Andy's small pile of equipment goes the tactical vests, belts and short assault weapons that the two had been carrying, why trying to figure out if they're supposed to take their shoes off. Brian was the last to enter when Andy calls out "Someone left a pile out front." Multiple pairs of eyes follow Wolf as he goes loping into Bart's room to check on their friend, except for Brian who just stands there with a sheepish look on his face. He had left a heap of stone and rubble outside when he released his meta-control over the stone shell he wore in combat. Realizing the joke for what it was, they all chuckled for a moment.
"Andy, that's mean." Brian whispers. But they all needed the laugh and Andy was smart enough to provide it, even if it was at Brian's playful expense.
The doctor steps out of Bart's room, having once again been called upon in an emergency to look after the youngest speedster. After getting over the shock of having been flown across a couple of states in a Martian ship, he had gone about his examination with his typical professionalism and tenderness for one of his favorite patients.
"Well, Robin, you are correct, he seems physically healthy in every way. I would be surprised otherwise. He and Wally both seem to share that in common as part of their powers. His symptoms are consistent with some sort of psychological trauma rather than any physical cause. From what you have told me about the last day and a half, this seems fairly likely."
"So, what do we do? How can we help him?" Superboy asks.
"I am not entirely certain in this case. I need to do some research, but I think anything that will keep him connected to the things he cares about will help him restore his consciousness. Really it's in his own hands now. He's a strong one, but I've always thought there was something slightly different about him apart from the rest of his family."
The Allen/West family doctor gratefully accepts the cup of coffee that Nightwing offers him and he takes a long sip of Tim's expensive gourmet brew, then turns a steely eye to Wally.
"And you, Wallace… I would have thought that such a good-natured young man as yourself could keep your 'cousin' out of scrapes like this. This is twice now, but fortunately not so… physically traumatic."
Kid Flash's mouth starts moving before any sounds come out of it… not unusual for the one Artemis calls "Kid Mouth," and he gestures to the ceiling and starts to explain something about lightning and bad guys in space.
"I know, I know. Just take good care of him and keep him comfortable. I'll check in on him. I'll consult with a colleague who is a skilled psychologist and see if he has any insight. And, Wallace… do be careful. You and your friends mean a lot to a lot of people." And the doctor gives Kid Flash a warm handshake before steadying himself for another alien ship ride home.
Tim and Kon go back into Bart's room to check on him and find Jamie lying next to him with his arm around his unconscious boyfriend, himself in the sleep of exhaustion and emotional strain. They both quietly step out pulling the door closed behind them, and almost run into Artemis.
"You have a house full of hungry, thirsty, tired people. You got anything in the cupboards?" she asks in uncharacteristic politeness.
"Bart lives here, what do you think?" Robin says, knowing that answers the question pretty clearly.
In the following days Tim and Kon took turns taking care of Bart, though he was never in need of care for Jamie would never be more than a step away from him. After the second day following the battle Bart began to respond in only the slightest way. When you pulled him up he would stand, and when you led him by the hand he would walk. If you put food in his mouth he would eat it, but that was practically the extent of his response. Kon still cut his hair and they took turns bathing him and feeding him and wondered if they would ever get their friend back. Jamie had taken a sick-leave from school after having falsified his mother's signature, something that Tim gave him a very stern lecture over.
Ironically, Tim was only a couple of years older than Jamie, but found that he needed to help keep people's lives together. But he had some experience with absentee parents, but at least his had instilled in him a strong appreciation for education and will to succeed. Bruce Wayne had given him the true mentorship that he needed in his difficult formative years; and he and Kon were more than willing to pay it forward if needed. Not to mention that Nightwing and Kid Flash had recruited him and had their own expectations for him as well.
Tim and Kon dressed Bart and bundled him in Kon's truck to take him to the Emporium. The purpose was two-fold, that maybe getting Bart around some friends might help bring him around, and give Jamie a little time to himself which he hadn't had since the mission. The little brass bell dings as Tim and Kon enter the store bringing Bart shuffling along. Superboy settles him on the couch near the back of the store that was the regular hang-out for the Suicide Slums guys.
Brett intercepts Robin as he heads back with a couple of cups of coffee.
"Good to see you, Rob. How's he doing? The guys are really worried about him." Brett asked all at once.
"Yeah, we are too. Jamie's a mess and this is the best Bart's been. It's been a tough couple of weeks with this and Kaldur gone."
"I imagine so, the guys are taking it hard too. But sometimes you just need to start over." Brian concluded taking the moment to head over to spend a moment with Bart himself. Robin thinks for a second that he is on the edge of understanding something important with what Brett just said, but it keeps escaping his understanding.
After a few moments, Brian sits next to him and talks to him a little bit, telling him about nonsensical things, hoping for some reaction when Andy comes up and says:
"Hey Impulse. Someone wanted to say hello to you." Andy is trying to sound cheerful and gives Calvin a nudge and the kid shuffles up and sets a wrapped box in Bart's lap. Brian picks up Bart's hand and sets it on the box, hoping to get a reaction, but there was none. Brian unwrapped the gift for Bart and opened the box and pulled out a pair of shoes… Flash sneakers. They were just like the ones Calvin wore.
"Maybe they will help you run again. Please get better Impulse." Calvin says as he starts to choke up. Within seconds the room was full of sniffles and damp eyes, and the sound of the door-bell again. Superboy had bolted out.
"Keep an eye on him for a moment, would you?" Robin asks as he heads outside to see what became of Kon.
"Count on it." Brian answered.
He turns the corner of the building and finds Superboy in the shadows sniffling and wiping away tears. The Teen Wonder put his arms around him and Superboy just set his head on his shoulder for a moment and let go. He felt the dampness of quiet tears on his neck as the Boy of Steel shuddered slightly and then he straightened back up.
"Sorry… I just had to get away for a moment."
"Don't apologize for caring, Kon. Never."
After an hour or so, the three drove back to the loft and put Bart into bed and queued up Ben10 and Generator Rex cartoons on his television, which he had never tired of or outgrown and Jamie comes in to sit with him for a little while. Tim fixes himself a big mug of chamomile tea and gets a glass of milk for Kon and they sit down for a few minutes of TV themselves. For the first time that he can recall, he doesn't turn it to the news. The world can go to hell today, he's got enough on his mind. Jamie comes back out and sits down and drops his head into his hands. Tim tells him about their visit to the Emporium and what Brett had said, which starts taking up as much space in his head as it did Tim's.
In the coming days, visitors continued to stop in and check on Bart. Bruce Wayne stopped in to check on the boys and brought a very large batch of chocolate chip cookies that Alfred had made for him. Clark Kent visited of course. He had been quite busy trying to be two people at the same time, aiding the city's recovery and writing news articles on it.
"You know, I could have given you direct credit for it in the newspaper." Clark asked between sips of his coffee.
"Not necessary, but thanks." Tim responded.
"Credit for what?" Kon wondered aloud.
"Drake Pharmaceuticals is donating all the medications and medical supplies the city needs during the recovery from the crisis. That will cost a fortune, but very commendable."
Kon's eyes widen, not knowing that Tim had done that. They lived well and had a very nice loft, but did not live extravagantly and he continued to forget just how wealthy Tim was. Besides, Tim didn't want the attention and just the company speak for itself this time; and the press would only improve the value of Drake stock… and Drake/Wayne stock once the merger was finalized. Tim felt that it was the right thing to do, and knew his company would have to work on its reputation once the news that one of its scientists being involved in the manufacturing of the altered venom was known.
"Really, thank you Clark. But right now it would look like self-aggrandizement. I want the company to be known for doing the right thing, not getting the right press."
"Very admirable, Tim. Your father would be proud of you." Clark states.
"I am… very proud." Bruce Wayne softly states to the room. He had let himself in, not wanting to create a ruckus with Bart hopefully resting; and Clark realizes what he meant and that Tim got his ethics and what it meant to be a good man from Bruce Wayne.
The night ended as most had lately, with Kon making up the pull out bed on the couch for Jamie, and then waking to find it empty and Jamie asleep in Bart's bed holding him. In spite of the crushing depression that permeated the household over Bart's condition, Jamie was getting better and better. His nights were now uninterrupted by the nightmares that had plagued him before; and the sibilant voice in his head that he now knew fully to be the sentience of the scarab returned slowly, but with far less menace.
You lack understanding Jamie Reyes. The Bart Allen is off-mode. You must reboot.
Jamie heard the soft voice in his mind and was wary of trusting it, but asked:
"How do I know you won't turn me against them again?"
The mode is crashed... Receiver fused. Cannot be placed on-mode again. We are partners now, as we should have been.
"What about Bart?"
Remember what the Brett said… start over… system restore to earlier time mark.
"Wait… what?..." Then it dawns on him and he bolts out of Bart's bed and down the hall to the kitchen where, as expected, Kon is up with the sunrise.
"Kon, I need a favor. Can I borrow your truck this afternoon?"
The look of terror that crosses Kon's face for a moment is priceless as he imagines the rough and tumble Jamie Reyes driving his beloved vintage truck.
"Please? It's for Bart. I have an idea, but I need to take Bart somewhere. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't so important."
Without another word, but with a healthy dose of trepidation, Kon hands over the keys; and Jamie snatches them up and runs back down the hallway talking to himself… then remembers to inflict a hug on a still-baffled Conner, and then back down the hall.
"You're a brave man, Conner Kent. You just gave a guy with an identity crisis, who is talking to himself, the keys to your 60-year-old truck." Tim deadpans as he shuffles into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. The bags under his eyes were getting a bit heavier. He was losing sleep with worry over Bart, his company, and the fact that they were going to have to hunt down the villains who aided Apokolips; and there was the matter of Kaldur's death, and Fate's cryptic statement when he took Kaldur's body away. They all held to that glimmer of hope and refused to mourn Kaldur just yet, even if it was still a raw wound that Superboy bore.
Jamie rummaged madly through Bart's drawers and closet looking for the right clothes. As Jamie spent more time with Bart more and more of his stuff ended up here. He was afraid that Bart might have thrown away his things after what the scarab under Warworld's control made him do, but Bart had kept everything. But he just couldn't find what he was looking for, until he dug under the bed. He felt creepy slithering under the bed with Bart in a catatonic state lying above him, but this was important and it was the last place to look.
He grabs the edge of the slim plastic bin and pulls it and himself out from under the bed and cautiously opens it, hoping to not be disappointed. Success! Bart's a hopeless romantic after all. Among his personal treasures that he kept were the clothes they had worn when they first met at Madison High School while Bart was practicing for the next day's swim competition. Jamie's jeans, shirt, socks, and his once favorite boxer-briefs were all there (he had wondered what happened to them) along with Bart's bathing suit and gym towel with the Madison High team logo on it. He ran back to the closet and pulled out Bart's gym bag and began rapidly cramming clothing into it.
Jamie looks at his watch… again. It moved way too slow. He wonders yet again if this is what life is like for Bart. He sits back down on the couch next to his catatonic boyfriend and checks his watch… again. Kon thought watching Jamie watch his watch was worse than watching corn grow, and he had tried to watch that.
"You're going to wear the floor and your shoes out." Kon says as Jamie gets up and starts pacing again. "You going to tell me what you have in mind?"
"Sorry Kon, but I don't want you disappointed in me even more if I'm wrong." Jamie says shamefully.
"Come here kid." Kon orders as he pulls Jamie into a hug. "I did not know what was going on before and I thought YOU had hurt Bart. I know now that it was the scarab under Apokolips' control. You were as much a victim of Apokolips as Bart and Kaldur. You need to believe that too. But if I had doubts, and I don't, seeing how you have cared for him these past few weeks would have erased any doubts."
The beep of the half-hour mark on his watch breaks the moment and Jamie looks at the watch and sees 4:30 p.m. His timing had to be pretty close. His heart thumped in his chest as he pulled Bart to his feet. He slung the gym bag over his shoulder and led Bart out while Kon held the door open. The shriek of abused tires soon followed as Kon cringed remembering he had loaned his truck to Jamie.
Jamie knew which doors were the last to be locked, but he had to be quick. But being quick was a bit of a problem when you had to lead a catatonic speedster along with you. Finding the gym door unlocked near the locker-room at Madison High, he eased the door open and half-dragged Bart through with him and slowly closed it hoping the latch wouldn't echo too much. Getting across fast and quiet was an issue in the still brightly lit gymnasium. It was about 40 yards across, and so Jamie just picked Bart up and jogged across as quietly as he could. He wasn't a weakling at all, and Bart wasn't heavy being as skinny as he was, but the exertion was more than Jamie was used to and was panting pretty hard when he reached the locker-room doors.
He carried him over to a bench at the back of the locker room and set him down while he started pulling Bart's clothes off of him when he discovered the flaw in his plan. If someone saw them like this in the locker room he would have some difficult explaining to do. But it was too late and he was committed to his mission. He got Bart's bathing suit on him as quickly as he could and then set a speed record for changing his own clothes. He got a borrowed robe over Bart and grabbed the towel he brought and led him out the opposite door toward the pool. He sincerely hoped the pool water wouldn't harm the robe if it got wet. It was one of those expensive ones that Tim liked. He hoped he would be forgiven. He opened the door to the swimming pool and gently prodded Bart through… Shit! He forgot to peak through the window of the door to make sure it was empty. It wasn't. Swim practice had run late and Bart's own teammates were filing out. Tim had concocted a story for the principal that Bart had suffered a head injury and would be out of school for quite a while, and the swim team in particular had been very concerned. But as Jamie led Bart shuffling to the water's edge, his teammates began to clap in unison offering their support and encouragement.
The coach stood aghast for a moment, then ushered the swimmers out and sent them to the locker room. He turned about briefly and dug in his pocket and pulled out a ring with a couple of keys and pressed them into Jamie's free hand.
"Lock up when you're through. You can just send them back with Bart when he's feeling better." You could tell how proud the coach was of their star swimmer. As he strode off down the hall, Jamie heard him tell the other boys to just get dressed and they could shower at home. He thought everyone had a right to their dignity.
With the room finally to themselves, Jamie tried to get Bart to step off into the water but he wouldn't budge. There was no choice but to hoist Bart over his shoulder and he stepped down the ladder into the pool… clothes, shoes and all. He wiggled Bart off of him and set his hands on the pool edge, correctly thinking that subconscious self-preservation would keep him in place, which it did. Jamie splashed his way back out of the pool and over to the edge by Bart, his sneakers squelching away with every step.
He leaned down with the towel and offered it to Bart and said "Here you go." with the most hopeful smile he could muster under the circumstances. Nothing… no reaction from Bart at all. His heart began to break all over again. He had tried to do what the scarab had interpreted from Brett's words. He tried to recreate the moment that he and Bart had first met: the pool, the same clothes, even the approximate time of day. Like a computer… restore to a time when everything worked. His head hung in failure and the knowledge that Bart would never be back and was about to pull him out of the pool when he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey cutie-pie!" The very same words Bart had said to him when they first met. Jamie lifted his eyes and they met Bart's bright amber eyes looking back at him.
"Bart? BART! You can hear me!"
"Well, doi! Crash, isn't it?" The speedster says with a big toothy grin at his boyfriend. "By the way, you're soaked, you know that?"
"Yeah, well, it's complicated."
"So… you're free of the scarab now? We won?"
"No… yes, and no. We did win and I owe you my life you crazy-haired, hyperactive guy. The scarab is still stuck to me, but it's free of the control and so am I. The bio-circuitry is fused and can't be controlled again. We're partners now, the scarab and me."
"So… you crashed the mode!"
Jamie pulls Bart out of the pool and they head back to the locker room to change into dry clothes. On the drive back Jamie catches Bart up on what has happened while he was unconscious and how Superboy saved the world… but not before stopping at White Castle for a couple bags of burgers for the drive home.
"I didn't know you had a driver's license." Bart says as Jamie barely misses a car parallel parked on the street.
"I don't. Don't tell Kon." He says… and he means it.
Tim sat in his favorite chair in the living room with a couple of files stacked on the coffee table in front of his and one in his lap, as he went over reports of the relief effort of his company after the invasion and what little information had been gleaned concerning the whereabouts of a certain researcher now known to be Scarecrow. His assistant had been a big help in tracking down everything on the alias of Scarecrow, but it seems that Dr. Crane dropped the alias for a new one. But he didn't hide his tracks while at Drake Pharmaceuticals. He wanted the company discredited. Yet one more thing for Tim to worry about. A guy his age should be going out for pizza and movies with friends, not worried about multi-billion dollar corporations and crime waves. But it was friends that had him worried even more. He and Kon had not talked about it this evening, except that Kon told him that Jamie was going to take Bart out somewhere this evening. Tim trusted him and knew no harm would come to him with Jamie at his side. As he was thinking about Impulse, he heard the front door open and Jamie call out… just as a gust of wind blew his papers into the air.
"TA-DAAA!" Impulse exclaims as he stands in the middle of the room in the maelstrom of paper in a ridiculous pose.
For all his reflexes, Tim is stuck with a stupid look on his face that swiftly resolves to a grin as he sees their friend through a cloud of paper.
"Oops… my bad." Impulse says as the papers disappear from the air and return to a stack on the table, somewhat rumpled.
By the time he had the papers back on the table, Kon snatched him up in a huge hug, squeezing the air out of the lad.
"Kon… ribs…" Bart gasped between giggles. Tim wedged himself in and between them surrounded Impulse with attention which he soaked up like a sponge. Kon reaches the couple of feet to the side and grabs Jamie by his shirt front and pulls him into the group hug, adding to the delighted smile already on his face, especially since he managed to not get even a scratch on Kon's truck.
Tim hadn't even been home long and no one had eaten dinner yet… except Bart who still carried the aroma of White Castle, not that that would keep him from eating again. He hadn't had much the last few weeks, not like he usually did, so Tim and Kon proceeded to demolish the kitchen while cooking everything they could come up with while Bart tried to explain what had happened to him; it was something to do with his scout, which was an avatar of the Speed-force, and his consciousness was fully focused on that one when Mongul caught it and so the link between his conscious and sub-conscious was severed. It wasn't until a moment was recreated when conscious and subconscious reacted simultaneously that he was restored… like when he and Jamie first met. It was all very metaphysical and left Tim's brain spinning.
Later that night they were all able to sleep much better, eventually, even Bart. Tim and Kon had gone to bed and left the two younger heroes on the couch with a movie on that they were barely watching. Jamie was still feeling a terrible amount of guilt and he would only forgive himself if Bart forgave him. Somehow Bart was going to have to convince him that there was nothing to forgive and that everything was okay. It would be a long talk.
The following morning the two resilient young heroes finally get up amidst giggles and horseplay and cutting-up, much to the joy of Tim and Kon. The noise of cartoons echoes throughout the loft as the TV was almost instantly turned on. Seeing them come through the hazards of heroism so well made the older couple decide to act their age for a change. So… sitting at his writing desk to the side of the room Tim shifted the monitor of the computer around and asked: "What do you guys think of this?" just as Kon came in with coffee for Jamie and cocoa for Bart.
Three sets of eyes settle on the large computer screen and three grins cover three faces.
"I thought we could use a vacation." Tim explains as they all stare at the reservation webpage for Disneyworld.
"We can stay at the castle, can't we?" Bart asks hopefully as he starts to vibrate slightly in excitement.
"Sure thing, princess." Kon answers just as Tim takes a sip of his coffee, and almost wears it.
"What about you, Jamie?" Kon asks with a sideways look at Tim, who looks aside trying to hide a smile. "Do you have somewhere to go to chill out for a week?"
"Kinda. Not much going on at home. Before all this I would stay with Nightwing and KF on a lot of weekends. Maybe I can hang out there for a few days and relax."
"Nice try Jamie. You're coming with us, no argument on that." Conner stated; and Tim knew that once he made up his mind that there was no changing it easily. Besides, they all wanted Jamie along. He needed the break as much as the rest of them.
Bart himself erupted in cheers and exclaimed: "Yay! Let's get one big room with a huge TV and have a big slumber-party!"
Jamie edges closer to Bart and whispers in his ear, hiding his face behind his hand, because he is sure that Tim can read lips, which he can.
"No no no no! Separate rooms with big TV room in the middle for hanging out! Definitely separate rooms!" Bart exclaims. His priorities must have been scrambled for Jamie to have to explain it; and Tim didn't have to read lips to know what he was referring to. Kon just had to walk away and leave Jamie to the embarrassed look on his face.
The following day saw Tim and Kon packing while Bart dragged Jamie off to take him clothes shopping. Tim had given Bart his credit card, and only hoped he didn't actually buy the mall. But with those two dressing each other, there was no telling what they would end up looking like. Tim himself was caught in the act of sneaking his lightweight uniform under the false lining of his suitcase.
"Honey, we're going on vacation not a mission, okay?" Kon says in mock sternness as he heads back down the hallway.
"Yes dear." Tim answers sheepishly as he pulls it back out.
"And don't make me check that hollow leg of your camera tripod to take your staff out." The taller young man hollers from the kitchen.
Tim's head sinks even lower in shame. He was well and truly caught and a final "yes dear" follows Kon down the hall. Just then, Tim has a thought and with a final 'humph' he sorts through a few things and finishes their packing.
Hours later, a taxicab pulls up to the front of the building and Bart and Jamie climb out just as the trunk opens. That wasn't a good sign. The two guys retrieve their many shopping bags from the trunk of the taxi and proudly march their way into Bart's room to pack with barely suppressed laughter.
"Uh-oh" Tim thinks to himself. But as Kon pointed out, they were going to lighten up and have fun.
Rather than being met at the airport by an expensive limousine service, Tim wanted to travel like normal people, something none of them ever got to do; especially since none of them had a normal family this would be an experience for all of them. At least they got seats together in business class and they had a little extra room for the long flight. After they landed, they went to the baggage carousel to wait for their luggage which was going to be another 15 minutes. The four walked around the shopping area for a few minutes until something caught Jamie's eye and the irony forced the laughter out of him. There was a kiosk with an artist who did caricature drawings of travelers… many of whom were drawn as Superboy, Robin, Impulse, and Blue Beetle among others whom they knew. Seeing one caricature of a girl Robin with big square glasses and ridiculous red hair and a slingshot, Kon had to make the comment:
"Almost like looking in a mirror, isn't it?"
Tim took one look at it and turned to Kon and gave him a smile… you know… that smile that looks like a jackal just before it rips something apart, and said:
"Sweetie, stare at it just a little harder and burn it for me would you?"
Kon wanted to laugh even harder, but knew he was treading dangerous ground, but in the end Tim enjoyed a good laugh too.
An hour later found them stowing luggage and climbing into their rental car. Tim had at first thought to tell Kon to not carry too much as it might give away their identities, but then had the 'I'll shut up now' look when he noticed Kon pulling a luggage cart. Much to the dismay of Bart they didn't rent the Mercedes sedan, but a minivan. But the speedster quieted up awful quick when Tim explained that they would probably need the extra room for shopping. Shopping was something Bart loved, though life had been so hectic and dangerous lately that it hadn't even entered his mind. But Tim now wondered if the retail industry would have to redefine the term 'Impulse buy.'
Tim insisted on driving making the argument that he had lived in cities all his life and could navigate flawlessly. After 20 minutes on the road, Conner could have sworn they had driven in a big circle. Tim needed to pull over at a station to use the bathroom and returned a couple minutes later with drinks for everyone and pulled back into Orlando traffic. At the next turn, Kon's superior hearing caught the phrase "In 0.3 miles turn left" come from Tim's pocket. Apparently he checked directions in the station but forgot to turn off the GPS on his phone.
"Flawless navigation?" Kon asked with a smirk.
"Touché."
After checking in to their suite, the guys split into pairs and go to their rooms to unpack. Much to Bart and Jamie's delight they have another television, stereo and PS4 in their own room. Even the décor is bright and fun and screams PARTY!
"Wow, I think I just died and went to heaven." Bart sighs in appreciation.
Jamie gets that sad look on his face for a moment and says "Not funny hermano."
"Oh, I'm sorry Jamie. Hey guy, lighten up. This is supposed to be fun."
"I know. It's just that bringing me along with you on vacation is real kind of you and Tim and Kon and no one has ever done anything this nice for me before. Kinda hard to wrap my mind around, you know?"
"That's because we like you and love you… me especially." Bart explains and leans over and gives Jamie a gentle kiss.
Moments later Tim calls from the living room of the suite with the adjoining kitchen. "Hey guys… pizza's here!" and the sound of a herd of elephants comes from the opposite room as Bart and Jamie stampede toward the rather large stack of pies. There was a speedster and a Kryptonian to feed after all. The younger couple had already changed into loose tank-tops and shorts for the evening and Tim caught something out of the corner of his eye. Walking as casually as only Robin could when wanting to be discreet, he gets the full view of Jamie's left arm... with a red lightning bolt tattoo that looks just like the pattern on Impulse's uniform… and then Bart's right arm with a blue scarab tattoo.
"Kon! Get out here!"
"Just a moment."
"Now, if you please!"
Uh oh, Bart knew that when Tim resorted to that prep school lingo that Alfred used that trouble was brewing. But it was too funny and they couldn't be serious of they tried.
"Yes honey?" Kon asks as he comes out from the other bedroom. He hadn't had a chance to put another shirt on after Tim yelled for him and he stood there shirtless in all his physical glory.
"What do you think of this?" Tim asks as he points at the younger guys' tattoos.
"I dunno. Boys will be boys?" Kon answers as he reaches for a piece of pizza and Tim's jaw drops in speechlessness. There in all its muscled presence was Robin's vector logo on Kon's arm.
"Relax sweetie… it's just henna. It'll go away in about 2 weeks. We did it for fun."
"What about subtle, huh?"
"Tim… watch the people tomorrow and tell me how many of these logos you see on people and t-shirts and stuff. It'll be fine. We're having fun remember?"
"You're right. I'm being uptight. Sorry about that. You too guys, my bad." Tim gives Kon a hug and the Kryptonian gives the younger couple a wink when Tim's back is turned.
Up at the crack of dawn, the group of vacationing heroes leaves the van at the resort and takes the shuttle-bus direct to Disneyworld. Rather than stand in line for daily tickets, Tim had pre-paid for week passes to be picked up at the will call gate. Kon went to get their tickets and returned moments later with their pass bracelets. Bart was so excited that he was about to vibrate right through the pavement.
"Now… let's go be stupid!" Kon exclaims. Even Tim is so excited that he does a somersault before he realizes that it might draw attention. But the marketing people at Disney know their business apparently. Right inside the entrance are shops carrying all sort of Disney gear. Bart and Jamie give each other a mischievous look and bolt into the hat shop at the same time.
"Be right back. Stay there!" Jamie called over his shoulder as they sped off.
"This worries me. If even Jamie is this excited then they're up to something." Kon says hoping that whatever it is it'll be fun.
"Good point; and Bart still has my other credit card." Tim responds; and Kon notices that the young vigilante is beside himself with excitement. He's carried so much of the burden of the recent past and has much before him, but Kon wants him to just let it go for a little bit. If not, then what are they fighting for? But seeing Jamie finally loosen up and be happy and having Bart back to health was like an energy drink for Tim; and he let himself act his age for once, instead of growing older too soon, like Batman is afraid he will.
The younger couple coming running back and Jamie explains
"Okay, we all have hats, but you have to wear the hats we got you, okay?"
"Why does that worry me?" Conner asks.
"No… Uncle Kon! It'll be fun!" Bart says.
"Wow, you haven't called me that in a long time." Conner says with a grin. "Okay."
Bart reaches up and puts a big Goofy hat on his head with long floppy ears.
"Why Goofy? Isn't he kinda derpy, Bart?" The clone asks.
"Well maybe, but he's loyal and fearless just like you." Bart says proudly.
"Sold!" and Conner poses proudly with his new hat.
Bart produces a common black Mickey Mouse hat with the big ears and pops it on his head. Strangely, the black seems to mute the loud neon pink of his t-shirt.
Jamie pulls out a hat for Tim and sets it on him. He didn't have to stretch since Tim's not very tall, but he adjusted the hat on his head and thought it looked great.
"A Robin Hood hat?"
"Doi!... 'ROBIN' Hood… get it?" Bart says proud of the pun, and hoped the second half of the pun would materialize in time… just when Kon started dragging them inward near a small grove of trees. Apparently his superior vision had caught something. As they ran off, Jamie was still putting his hat on. He wasn't quite sure why Donald Duck was on his head, except that the scarab kept telling him "Get the duck, Jamie Reyes, trust me. The Bart Allen will approve." and Jamie would do anything right now to keep Bart happy, but did he catch an almost playful tone to the scarab's voice? No, he must be imagining things. Had to be the heat and excitement.
"Found him!" Kon says just as they hear a squeal. Three of them start scanning the crowd for danger when they realize that the sound came from Tim himself. It even caught Kon by surprise. But the other three sets of eyes settled on Peter Pan, or at least a hired actor that looked just like him. Right now Tim didn't care less that he was an actor. At least he was cute and played the role well. He ran over to him and asked to have his picture taken with him. He didn't want to seem creepy but Peter Pan was his hero when he was a little boy.
"Sure." Peter said with a slight laugh. He leaned to one side against Tim in a jaunty pose and three cell-phone cameras went off at almost the same time. He had no idea how he was going to explain this for the Wayne-Drake family photo album, but there it was. Tim then started digging around in pockets of his cargo shorts for a pen and finally found one. Handing the pen to the actor he asked him to sign his park map.
"Where do you want me to sign it?" He asked.
"Right here" he pointed, "right where we are at."
"Hey Tim, why don't you get him to autograph your undies while you're at it?"
Tim was acting like such an idiot that Bart couldn't help himself. His taunting wasn't so much of a meta power, but more of a skill, and he let loose before he caught himself, but it turned out funny anyway. Tim's face turned bright red and Peter Pan looked caught, like he would have if asked and there wasn't a crowd.
"He's with me, Pete. But thanks. We've been wanting to meet you." And Kon shakes his hand heartily. Bart just stares at the handsome redhead for a moment until Jamie playfully smacks him on the back of the head and they all ran off to their next little adventure.
Inertial dampening failing… biologic stresses reaching maximum capacity… preparing to purge biologic holding tank.
Jamie staggered out of the spinning tea-cup ride. It had been Bart's idea… a bad one. He didn't think it would make him sick, but apparently it had made his scarab ill… and he did what the voice in his mind told him to do… he purged his biologic holding tank, right into the trash can by the ride's exit. Bart lived in super-speed and was entirely unaffected. Tim could do a triple somersault while falling 30 feet and still have control of his balance. Kon was Kryptonian so who knows. But Jamie just got sick.
"Jamie… c'mon! There's the German town. Sausages!" Bart shrieks as everyone tries to catch up before they realize Bart's pointing at a map of the parks.
"Really?..." Jamie thinks painfully.
The Bart Allen has betrayed us… save yourself Jamie Reyes!
Jamie ignores the scarab for the moment. He knows full well that Bart hasn't betrayed anyone. Maybe the bug is learning some humanity from him that he now is getting ill and trying to save him.
They all hit up a restaurant for chili-dogs and root beer… and Jamie settled for a dry pretzel, no cheese. He wanted to enjoy the rest of the day, not spend it purging biologic holding tanks. But they finished their snack and gathered up the trash and headed out. Not but fifteen feet away a young lady shrieked that her purse had been snatched. A street sweeper was right by the trash can and Tim snatched his broom from him and snapped the shaft right at the base with a well-placed strike of his foot and ran after the man trying to run through the crowd with the lady's purse. He was light and fast and agile. He caught him right behind the knees with his broomstick and dropped him like a sack of potatoes. The thief began to cower until he saw the slim and somewhat short guy who took him down.
"You're just a skinny little wanker aren't you?" The thief said as he stood up just in time to see the shadow of Kon settle over him.
"Who the hell are you, you bloody git?"
"I'm the guy who's going to make sure that you can walk again." Kon says seriously, "Because if you keep on I am going to step out of the skinny little wanker's way and let him have what's left of you."
Tim took up the young lady's purse and returned it to her asking if she had found anything missing. Fortunately everything was present. Park security came and took the thief away and Tim was obliged to make a statement and he did so. Apparently Alvin Draper had studied martial arts since grammar school and simply reacted in the victim's best interest. The police and park security were satisfied and they went about their day.
After an excursion to the Haunted Mansion that went poorly for Conner, the guys decided to return to the resort. Tim and Bart had to make a lot of apologies and right a big check for some damage. Bart and Jamie were eager to get a nap and dress for an evening out at Vibe. Apparently there was a club they could get in to that catered to a younger crowd. No alcohol was served there, but that didn't matter to them since Jamie's scarab kept him healthy from any toxins and Bart had such a high metabolism that alcohol never had any time to affect him. But they were excited to go dancing, something they had never gotten around to doing back in Metropolis. Tim and Kon decided to tag along. They weren't Florida's legal age either and it would have about as much effect on Kon as pouring it on a dry cactus. But the last time Tim tried to have a drink with Kon was in Rio and he got one sip before the place blew up. Besides, he might enjoy the bright and lively music.
Tim and Kon both dug through their clothes for something that would look nice in a club. Bart and Jamie, apparently, had planned ahead.
Jamie came striding out into the living room in a blue and white t-shirt with offset gold stripes, covered with a red jacket with golden arm-bands and cuffs. His pants were a deep midnight blue and quite snug and had lighter lines of ice-blue in them. Covering his raven black hair were a pair of shiny bronze goggles.
"Oh my god… Isn't he crash?" Bart shrieks. Tim and Kon realize that Jamie now looks just like Rex Salazar from the Generator Rex cartoon. But the short speedster had been so obsessed with his boyfriend that he didn't notice the rest of them checking out his clothes. He wore a simpler outfit, but it suited him perfectly. Blue skinny jeans over chunky high-top tennis shoes and a black t-shirt with a European style racing jacket of green and white with the number 10 made his outfit. Jamie thought he looked better than Ryan Kelly, and he was his.
You must keep this Bart Allen, Jamie Reyes… he is…
"Go away bug!" Jamie says to himself wondering if he's drooling.
"You guys go ahead, we'll catch up. Tim still has to finish getting ready anyway." Kon says trying to get them off to their fun.
"Love you Kon… Tim." Bart speed-hugs the guys on his way out, but Jamie takes a few seconds longer and means every moment of his hugs for the wonderful time that he is having. The couple speeds off in a cab and Tim and Kon take their time getting put together.
"I wanted them to have a head start so they didn't think we were chaperoning or something." Kon says.
"Are we?" Tim asks.
"No, we are going to have a couple sodas, enjoy the music and nightlife, and dance. I think if the worst happens that Impulse and Blue Beetle can handle Orlando. You and I are going to be Tim and Kon and have some fun."
"Hey, Tritonal is DJ'ing tonight. Let's not take too long. They have a song I want to hear."
Hours later found all four of the young heroes together again at Vibe and dancing to their own theme while hearing the song "Colors." The dance floor all but cleared for them, but they didn't notice that the crowd watched this small group of beautiful young men who danced only for themselves and each other.
The guys pile out of the van parked on the beach. Tim let Kon drive this time, since he needed less sleep. They had carried one of those big canvas beach tents that you can rent. Tim popped open the tent and Kon laid out the big beach towels for everyone. A big cooler of chilled drinks sat to the side. After a couple of days of excitement, they were due some relaxation under the sun.
Bart peeled off his clothes and wore a red brief bathing suit, and apparently had bought a bright yellow rashie with a lightning bolt logo. If Bart hadn't looked naughty in his skintight uniform, he damned sure did now but didn't care. Jamie wore the suit Bart bought him, but was feeling self-conscious and shouldn't since he was a very handsome and fit young man in his own right. Tim was pretty confident in himself, he wore a black speedo and had the kind of slim body that made it work. All told, they were all the very picture of health and handsomeness, both confident and playful. Kon soaked up the sun like he was a big battery; and Jamie's dusky skin just let it tan him a bit more. Bart was very fair toned, but he healed so fast that he couldn't burn if he tried. Tim, on the other hand, had no such defenses against sun burn. He spent many of his days asleep and spent his night protecting the streets of Gotham and now Metropolis as well. He was quite pale, the sun hated him even though he wanted to love it.
"C'mon Tim… let me put some of this sunscreen on you. Your skin will burn otherwise." Kon says.
Tim arches his back as he stretches across the warm sand.
"Tease!" Kon declares.
"I did nothing." Tim answers as he sits up to let Kon slather the sunscreen on him.
Kon's warm hands worked their way down Tim's slim but muscled body smoothing the cream over every inch of his skin. People came and went, some were jealous of Kon's physique, and some were jealous of Tim feeling Kon's hands on his body… none could deny that they were what they were. Even Jamie laughed and splashed shamelessly with Bart, feeling free to enjoy the beach and the day. Tim giggled slightly as he felt his lover's fingers trace their way down his back. He wouldn't have rolled over right now if life demanded it. It would be embarrassing. But after the cool sensation of the lotion, the tracing was a warm sensation.
The day wore on and Tim grew more accustomed to the sunlight. He swam in the ocean for a bit and splashed at Jamie when he had the chance. Bart was the far better swimmer and his lithe form ran circles around them. Kon used his strength just enough that he could cannonball into the surf and joined in the laughter of his friends and lover. But throughout the day, they relaxed, played, and shared the rare moments with one another. But they were running low on chilled water. Tim offered to go to the store on the pier-front and Jamie came with him. As he strode up the boardwalk with the handsome Latin young man, it seemed that a lot of women looked at him oddly. Tim was always a perfect gentleman and didn't understand. It was some time before he understood Jamie's giggles.
"What the heck is with these people?" Tim asks.
"You are a beautiful man…" and Jamie suddenly feels self-conscious to say so "and Kon is very handsome too. Women are jealous of what you have and many men are jealous of Kon's body I think. But I think they are both wrong. You two are too complicated for such simple definitions."
"I don't know if I should box your ears or kiss you." Tim says in understanding.
"I don't like having my ears boxed, but better that than piss off Bart."
"I know, but it still doesn't explain how people are reading us away from our boyfriends."
"I wear Bart's symbol on my arm… proudly."
"But I don't have Kon's S-shield on me."
"If you say so."
Tim and Jamie dunked their bottled water into the ice-laden cooler and Tim strolled over to Kon and wrap his arms around his guy.
"Hey… how are you doing?" Tim asks.
"Beautifully, my love." and he pulls Tim into a kiss and down into the sand next to him driving out the sounds of the incoming surf.
Ever-unknown to Tim was that through the whole day he had Kon's S-shield on his back, traced through his tanning lotion.
Kon woke early, as he often did. The guys had to pack up and catch their flight back to Metropolis. None of them wanted the time to end, but all things do not need to… they give you the strength to carry on. But Kon made the most of their morning before going home. He put on the coffee and made a huge bowl of pancake batter and cooked three pounds of bacon. Jamie would need it. Kon was cursed with super-hearing and had to tell Tim several times to ignore the squeak of Donald Duck. What was left of the Blue Beetle shuffled into the kitchen entirely bedraggled and could only say, when Kon looked at him strangely:
"Bart…speedster… fast… multiple. Want to go home now Kon." And though his voice protested Kon saw the stupidest of grins on his face. All was again right with the world.
Days later, after getting Bart and Jamie settled back into a normalcy, Robin had to have his own time, his communion with the night. But it bore less heavily on him. He dropped to a rooftop at the height of Metropolis and asked the stone gargoyle next to him:
"So… how has it been lately?"
"Better now that you are back."
Brian sheds his stone shell and he and Robin share a brotherly hug having both been renewed.