Disclaimer: not mine

Time skip

Chapter 10

Kon stared at the approaching planet, feeling his heart racing in fear and anticipation. It felt like forever since he had watched Tim disappear into space with the Lanterns. Would Tim want to see him? Would they be accepted on Earth? If they weren't, there were other places they could try but Kal had agreed to come to Earth first, to check on the children and because humans and Kryptonians looked alike so they could blend in.

It still didn't feel real that they could never go home again. The House of El…was banished. Partly because of their involvement with the children and partly because of Zor's latest research, research Jor had begun that said Krypton was in danger. But no one wanted to hear that so they had to be silenced. It could have been worse; they could have been sent to the Phantom Zone or killed. But Jon was just a child and even the stuffiest hardliners baulked at sentencing a child to those fates.

"We've made contact," Kara called, glancing into the observation room. "They want the ships hidden behind their moon so as not to panic the population then we head for a space station called the Watchtower. Well, not all of us at once."

He nodded and followed her, hoping he would be one of those going. But it wasn't like Tim would be there, he'd be home in…Gotham, right?

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Bruce stood with Diana as Hal brought the Kryptonians from their ship to the Watchtower. It had been a surprise to detect the incoming ships and then receive a message from Kal-El. He had heard Kon's promise to Tim back then, was this him fulfilling it or something else? There seemed a lot of ships for a mere visit.

Hal returned with Kal-El and Kon but Bruce gave no indication of recognition since he was in the cowl. But their presence also gave him hope for his son, he'd seen their medical prowess after all.

"Kal-El and Kon-El of Krypton, this is the Justice League of Earth," Hal introduced.

"Welcome to Earth," Diana stepped up.

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Kal smiled and was at doing his best at being diplomatic. He could feel Kon's tension but it wasn't time to ask, not yet. The black clad figure…Batman?...stepped forward. "Earth owes your House a debt for your rescue and treatment of the stolen children. Have you come to see them?"

"We would love to, especially my sons." He clasped a hand to Kon's shoulder. "However, that is not the sole reason for our presence," he admitted. He knew Kon was desperate for at least news of Tim, despite the years since their departure Kon had never stopped missing him.

They were led to a meeting room and given seats at the table. This was not easy to speak of but his House had done nothing wrong. So, Kal took a deep breath and began to explain how they had come to be banished.

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Kon took a deep breath, they had permission to remain on Earth! The Justice League was going to help them get civilian identification, jobs, everything needed. And Kal had been offered a position with them, Kon with a younger team, as advisors on aliens. He could even receive combat training if he wanted. It had taken several Earth weeks to sort everything out but now it was done, he could ask.

"Excuse me, Batman?" he called and the man nodded.

"Come with me."

"Yes sir," he assumed he was taking him somewhere to talk. He was surprised when they entered some kind of tube and walked out somewhere new…with sunlight. Were they on the planet?

"Batman!" A voice called in surprise and Kon saw a girl who looked a little like his cousin.

"Wonder Girl, is Augury still here?"

"He's in the command centre," she answered, staring at Kon.

"Good," Batman nodded and Kon followed him, feeling rather bewildered. Who was Augury?

They entered a large room with what screens all around and a chair at one end.

"Augury," Batman called and the chair turned to reveal a figure with longish black hair, a mask covering their face.

The whites of the mask stared at him and he saw lips part, but the person said nothing. They turned and pressed something, Kon starting as the door they'd entered through shut, another across the room doing the same.

"Command centre in lockdown," a voice announced, and Kon tensed. What was going on?

And then Augury was struggling to their feet, reaching to pull their mask off and Kon stared in shock.

"Tim?" he whispered.

"Kkk…Kon," Tim responded, the first time Kon had truly heard his voice. Tim lifted a hand towards him and Kon didn't hesitate to move to his side, taking his hand.

He was taller than Kon remembered, almost looking him in the eye now. He'd let his hair grow a little more till it hit his shoulders, his skin was darker than it had been, likely due to not being stuck on a space station. Tim staggered forward slightly and Kon caught him, holding him gently.

"Tim," he took a shaky breath, holding him close. Tim's arms lifted to wrap around him, hugging him, and Kon turned his hold into a hug as well. "I missed you." He felt Tim's hands moving at his back.

"He says he missed you too," Batman stated.

Huh? Oh…right, that hand talking that he'd been starting to use before they left. He'd really hoped that Tim would be talking now but it seemed he still hadn't fully recovered. Kon pulled back enough to look at Tim's face, seeing him smiling but with tears in his eyes.

"Don't cry Tim," he moved a hand to gently wipe his eyes, the move still so natural.

Tim shook his head, his hands moving again.

"They're happy tears," Batman reported. "Where's your portable unit?" he asked, and Tim's hands moved again.

Kon watched Batman moved to pick something up and Tim stretched out one arm. Kon was curious as it was attached to Tim's sleeve, no, a long glove. Then Tim tapped something on it.

"I am fine," the voice came from the unit but it sounded the same as when Tim had said his name.

"The unit allows Tim to communicate with people who don't know sign language. There's a larger one built into his chair," Batman explained, staring at him for a few moments before he pushed back the cowl to reveal…

"Bruce?" Kon was surprised but with Tim being there maybe it should have been obvious. How else would he have known to bring Kon to Tim?

"It's good to see you again Kon. Tim's brothers will be happy to meet you too," Bruce told him with a smile. He then gently grasped Tim's shoulder. "How's the pain today?" he asked in concern.

Pain? What had happened to Tim? He'd been standing on his own when they left Krypton, able to walk unaided for a little even. Why was he now so shaky.

"Okay." The machine answered for him. It was strange to hear his voice coming from his wrist but it was also good to hear his voice at all.

"Don't keep him on his feet too long, Tim tends to push himself too much."

Tim rolled his eyes at that and made a hand gesture that Kon didn't think was part of his sign language. Bruce chuckled and ruffled his hair before leaving them alone.

Kon looked at the chair and noticed it looked strange, different to the ones he'd seen on the Watchtower. "Where are we?"

Tim tapped at the device. "Titans Tower." He sighed but motioned, so Kon lowered him onto the chair. He tapped something on the armrest of the chair and Kon blinked as it moved. He took the device off his wrist and hooked it into a bigger one attached to the chair, tapping away. "The chair can move itself and the machine talks."

"Tim…you were walking, I remember you walking. What…what happened?" he asked, reaching out to brush some hair back from Tim's face, smiling when Tim leant into his hand.

"Can you read English?" the machine asked.

"Getting there," he admitted. He was so glad he could learn quickly since as soon as they made contact, they were sent files full of the local languages but Kon had focused on the one Tim spoke.

Tim turned his chair back to the computers and pulled up files on some of the screens and then a blank screen. His fingers moved over the buttons in front of him and words began appearing.

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Tim's heart was racing. Kon! Kon was really on Earth! It had been so long but he'd promised and he'd kept his promise. He switched to typing one handed, reaching for Kon with his other hand and Kon took his hand, squeezing gently. They must have been there for at least a few days and B had kept it from him which he would get him back for later.

He'd brought up his medical file for Kon to see, he knew Kon had been reading medical books back on Krypton. No one on Earth could find a way to help him, but maybe they could. They'd cured him of the virus after all. He typed out the explanations of the strange muscle spasms that had started it, the weakness. He hadn't lost sensation thankfully and there were days he could stand and move around but as time passed those days became rarer. It had far less effect on his arms which was why he could still do his work as well as he did. All of his equipment was set up with multiple ways to use it.

Even his wheelchair was special, he'd helped design it. It had wheels but only used them in civilian life. When acting as Augury the chair actually hovered slightly thanks to tech that Kori J'onn had helped him with, it made getting around so much easier since his chair could manage stairs. He'd offered the same for Babs and she had accepted since it made the Clocktower a lot easier too.

He would never be Robin again; the name and suit had been retired since Bruce wouldn't take anyone else on. But for over a year now, Tim had been Augury, working mostly with the Titans since they had absorbed his old YJ team. He would never work in the field again but this he could do. Logistics, research - he was another Oracle and often worked with her. Damian hadn't asked about the suit the one time they had 'talked', therapy was finally seeming to make headway with his younger brother. B and Dick had even been to visit him, Jason wouldn't go though, not yet. Tim was not allowed to go; he had talked with Damian over a computer screen.

Tim would be twenty-one soon and finally free of needing a guardian. He had proved he could look after himself to the doctors and courts, not that he planned to move out of the Manor at the moment. There was nothing wrong with his mind, his last scans had shown normal activity levels, he'd gone back to school online and graduated with some of the highest grades Gotham Academy had ever seen. He was considering university but there was no rush. Especially with Kon arriving, he didn't want classes taking up precious time.

"Oh Tim," Kon murmured, and Tim looked up at him. Kon dropped to his knees beside him, wrapping his arms around his waist, and resting his head on his lap.

Tim lifted his hand to gently pet his hair, trying to comfort him. He'd had almost three years to accept and deal with his stupid body, Kon was seeing it all at once when the last time they'd seen each other he'd been recovering and gaining strength. Tim swallowed and licked his lips; he could talk some days and he'd managed Kon's name.

"How long…he…hhere?" he got the words, out and Kon lifted his head.

"You can talk?" he asked in wonder, and Tim felt his face warm a bit.

"Ss…ss…" he huffed in annoyance and tapped the voice module. "Sometimes," at least it used his own voice. B had so much footage of him from the Cave that they had managed to put the system together without having to use a voice that sounded computerised. Though for new words it was more difficult. Sometimes he would manage to say it and record, other times, Dick and Jay took turns being recorded since family beat some computer.

"If it's allowed, and it looks like it is, then we're here for good," Kon told him, and Tim frowned. While he was happy with that, why were they leaving Krypton? "Zor-El is with us, can I send him all this, see if there's anything he can do for you?"

Tim hesitated but then nodded. He wouldn't get his hopes up, he wouldn't, but the man had helped him before. So, he nodded, giving permission, watching as Kon pulled out a device and turned to set it on the console.

"Let's see if it's compatible," he murmured and the device lit up. "Files transferring."

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Zor was surprised when his system alerted him to a file transfer, he checked to find it was coming from Kon so he accepted it and began opening them. Medical files…for a familiar patient. He frowned as he studied the data. The poor boy. But he went to work, if anything could be done for him, he would do it.

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Kon was happy when the files went through, staying on his knees, going back to hugging Tim around the waist. He just…needed to assure himself he was really there. And the hair pets felt very nice. He ignored the sound of a beep and then footsteps, not really caring if anyone saw him, not like he knew anyone other than Tim or Bruce.

"Kon?" a hesitant voice called, and he lifted his head to see another young man in a mask. He removed it to reveal familiar features but who? He had to be one of the other kids.

And then it hit him. "Bernard?" he asked, and the blond nodded.

"How are you here?" Bernard walked over, there was a very slight hitch in his step but he seemed fine.

"It's a long story but…the House of El has been banished, we came here hoping for a new home."

Bernard and Tim were both staring at him in shock and horror, Tim reaching to hold his hand tightly.

"That would be great!" Bernard grinned, walking over to ruffle Tim's hair. "Tim's really missed you."

Tim glared at Bernard in response, making him laugh.

"Okay, no teasing little brother," Bernard promised.

Tim tapped something and the computer spoke for him. "Only three months older."

"Brother?" Kon asked in confusion.

"My parents left Gotham soon after we were taken and no one can find them, they never reached out when our return was announced. So, Bruce fostered me, making me another Wayne kid," Bernard explained.

"So, you're part of…all this?" he still wasn't 100% sure of what this was.

"I'm Tim's assistant, Auspex. Neither of goes into the field," he explained, tapping the leg Kon had noticed didn't quite move as well as the other. "I still get a stutter sometimes too, but it's mostly gone."

"The others?" Kon asked, wondering if they had all been left with something from the virus.

"Most of us got to about eighty percent healed? Those of us who were on Krypton are the best off, other than Tim."

Kon nodded, glad that his people had been able to give help that had ensured those on Krypton had recovered well, even if the government wasn't happy with what they'd done.

"With no active missions to help run, it's time to head home, are you coming with us?" Bernard asked, re-applying his mask.

Kon looked between them as Tim put his own on. "Is that allowed?"

"Can go back from home," Tim's device told him after a few moments.

"Okay," he agreed, following them from the room to where he had arrived with Bruce.

This time, he stepped out into a large cave.

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Kal was a little worried about Kon being alone on a new planet but he'd been assured he would be with Tim. So, he headed back to the ship to give his family the good news, they had a new home. Zor was sure they would be alright on the planet, that there wouldn't be any bad side effects. He was surprised to find his uncle working on something.

"Uncle?"

"I assume the meeting went well since Kon has sent me Tim's medical files."

"He has?"

"Indeed, it appears he took a turn for the worst several months after leaving our care." He brought some information up and while Kal was no doctor even, he could understand the basics of what was displayed. "I will see what can be done for him."

Kal nodded in agreement. If they could help Tim then of course they would, not just for Kon but because they had all come to care for him.

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Jason was happy to get the chance to meet Kon, seeing how he was with Tim and…it was sweet. Thankfully, Kon seemed just as enamoured with Tim as Tim was with him. Tim might not have a voice very often but it didn't stop him from communicating and every bit of body language gave away how focused he was on the alien.

He seemed like a good kid at least and if they were staying on Earth…Tim's body might be a mess but that wouldn't stop him getting close to someone. Did Tim want that with Kon? He'd never shown any interest in anyone that Jason had seen. With the looks of pity that he got from most though that wasn't surprising. Everyone knew Tim had been one of the kids, that the cures had been trialled with him because he was a Gothamite and exposed to so much that he'd been fighting it, and that those trials were likely what had led to his current condition.

Thankfully, no one suspected Tim was the missing Robin, they'd managed to ensure that. People, teens really, still wore the R jackets in support and memory of the third Robin but no one asked where he was anymore. Some of the children had never been found and it was assumed he was among them.

No one had questioned why Batman never took on another Robin either. He supposed his own presence in the field helped with that. He'd kept with the bird theme, taking the name Osprey to fit with Dick and his gear had changed a bit, still more armoured but also more streamlined. He liked having a helmet though, he never had to worry about whatever gas the latest Rogue used.

It was kind of fun watching Kon trying to work out human technology. And then the kid somehow snapped a doorhandle clean off a door. How? It had looked like he barely touched it.

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Tim lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Kon was back with his family but Tim would be going to them in two days for Zor-El to take his own scans and samples. He didn't remember much of his time under the man's care but everyone said he had done his best to cure him and the others.

Kon! He felt…giddy, heart racing…oh. Oh dear. He couldn't…could he? He'd had crushes before but ever since coming home there'd been nothing. He'd sort of wondered if that part of his brain was broken or something. But maybe…it was because there was already someone else. How would that even work? Though humans and Kryptonians were rather similar, they had to be for Kon to exist. He could remember Kon telling him that, that he had human DNA. How, Tim didn't know, if Kon had told him that bit hadn't stuck in his brain.

There was so much from that time that Tim didn't remember or was scrambled in his head and he'd always hated that but now it was even more annoying since Kon was back.

But what would Kon ever see in him besides the boy he had saved and looked after. If anything, he might see Tim in a brotherly sort of way, right?

TBC….