Disclaimer: not mine

Glad everyone likes Bernard/Kon.

Chapter 9

Timothy knelt before his Master as the immortal went over the evidence his team had returned with.

"Very well done."

The praise had his eyes closing, making him feel good. Master said that Timothy had imprinted on him since his Sire had been killed far too soon. Master had managed to save Timothy but only just, the others had been killed by the so-called heroes. They had been peaceful but that hadn't mattered to them and they had wiped out Timothy's family.

"Did you feed on the mission?" Master Ra's asked, and Timothy nodded.

"Yes Master," he spoke out loud. It had not taken him long to learn the League's language once he was able to speak. He could speak and read many languages now, Master said he had a wonderful, quick mind.

Timothy often fed when on missions, it made sense since they were assassins after all. Why waste the blood of their targets? He'd only been allowed to join a team seven months ago, Master wanting to be sure he had the control to not attack his human teammates. He never wanted to disappoint his Master; he was everything to him.

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Kon lay on his back, Bernard bracing himself over him, kissing as hands wandered. All the time since they'd started getting together and they'd never gone all the way but tonight it seemed was going to be the night. It was so different to any relationship he'd had before; he'd never been with someone who was so close to him in strength, that he didn't have to be so very careful of in bed. The closest had been with Tim who could take him down in a fight, but he'd still been very breakable.

Bernard growled, fangs lengthening before he was kissing Kon again and Kon just pulled him closer, feeling the sharp drag of a fang against his flesh but it didn't tear. Bernard's fangs couldn't pierce Kryptonian skin and Bernard growled, frustrated, feeding and sex were apparently all mixed up together. Tim had never bitten him but had let Bernard bite him instead. Bernard couldn't bite him but…he caught Bernard's lower lip between his teeth and carefully bit down, judging how much pressure it would taste. He did not like the taste of blood and vampire blood was no better but it was obvious Bernard liked it. Good thing it took more than a little blood to turn…though Constantine was like 99.5% sure he couldn't be turned.

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Bernard woke slowly, feeling utterly content…he was purring in his sleep? He could feel the arms around him, warm skin pressed to his…oh! He stretched, arching his back, feeling Kon watching him, hearing him chuckle at the way he was showing off his body even as Kon let go. A soft kiss was pressed to his lips and he opened his eyes. "Morning," he whispered, feeling almost giddy. Some of last night was really hazy and he knew he'd fallen into his instincts but he wasn't worried because Kon didn't care, he'd spent months making sure Bernard understood that. In the safety of the apartment, he didn't have to hide.

"Evening," Kon smirked. He leant in for another kiss, and that was when Bernard realised that he could taste blood but…vampire? He frowned slightly in confusion. "You were getting frustrated at not being able to bite me," Kon murmured, shifting to hold him again, one hand running up and down his back, soothing. "So, I bit your lip. Can't say I liked the taste but you really liked me doing it so I can stand it."

"You…" Kon had bitten him? "Are you okay?" he asked in alarm.

"I'm fine, a small amount of vampire blood won't even hurt a human. I talked to Constantine, he said it's pretty much impossible for me to be turned thanks to my mix of genetics. And yeah, I don't particularly like the taste but it's not like it made me sick or anything. If it's something you want or need, I'm okay with it."

Bernard swallowed hard; he knew how lucky he was to have Kon in his 'life'. How many would accept his desire to bite them during sex? Would let blood bags fill half the fridge and sleep beside a cold corpse? "Love you," he choked out and then kissed Kon. '

"Love you too," Kon grinned at him.

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She frowned as she studied the reports. New and exciting things within the League did not equal good things for her. It seemed Ra's had some new super operative or something. He didn't seem to be hunting her which was nice, and the old man had stayed out of Gotham since Tim…she was so pissed at him. They'd been a team, he understood, and he had to go and die. She knew it hadn't been a plane crash or that invasion. By that point she hadn't heard from him in over two years. And it had been obvious from a glance that the bats and supers were searching the world for someone or something. She'd made her own search, she had contacts they didn't, but there'd never been so much as a whisper. So, the sudden funeral, had they given up or found proof he was dead?

But this new operative, the whispers said heir…and Ra's only wanted one person as his heir. She ran a hand over the scar on her throat. If Ra's had him, getting him out would be almost impossible. And for him to be killing? Even against the Spiders, he'd refused. Mind control? Amnesia? That would make trying to make contact personally deadly. But she liked him and he was the closest she had to a friend, to a teammate, since Z and Owens had died.

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Timothy flowed out of the way of the blow, grabbing the extended arm, snapping it, hearing the pained noise the human made, smelt the agony and horror rolling off of them even as he used the broken limb to pull them in, eagerly sinking his fangs into tender flesh, feeding hungrily. Once done he dropped the body and moved away, allowing Derek to set it on fire, the whole building soon burning as they made their way back to the base.

Once back he went to his rooms, hidden deep within the rock for his safety. As he proved himself more and more to his Master, he earned more privileges and luxuries. He now had soft rugs and wall hangings, silky sheets, comfortable clothing, books, anything he could want. He stripped off his uniform to be cleaned of the blood on it and the smell of smoke and then stepped into the hot water, enjoying the fleeting sensation of being warm as he washed himself.

Normally, he would immediately report to Master but he was not there since there had been an emergency at another base. And even if he was, it was too close to dawn, he could already feel it, exhaustion setting in. He got out and dried off, stumbling to the bed where he collapsed naked on the sheets, already asleep.

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John frowned as he went over the reports. Something had definitely happened, but what? There had been a massive surge of the kind of magic that had them all wary and yet…there'd been nothing since. Their enemies didn't really go for quiet after such big works. So, what had happened? It had been years since then and other than aliens, things had been pretty quiet. Had taking out the large group of vampires in Gotham alarmed other so much that they'd backed off and for so long? Unlikely.

The magic had been centred somewhere in the Middle East, not an area any of them truly knew well and mostly since it was very dangerous. The local magicians were not keen on foreigners, add in the mundane issues in the region plus the League of Ass…huh, now there was a possibility and not one he liked, but Ra's al Ghul was known to work with the arcane when needed. So had it been a spell for him. That would not be good.

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He watched the Expeditor work and his fingers curled before flexing as if…as if he should be doing that? A human memory maybe?

"Timothy."

He turned to his Master immediately, waiting for orders. "Go ahead," he motioned and the Expeditor moved aside.

Timothy blinked but hesitantly approached, staring at it all before he placed his hands on the…keys.

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Ra's motioned his new Expeditor away from the computer, watching Timothy closely. He didn't seem to consciously know what to do, but the memory was buried deep within. Slowly, his fingers moved over the keys, old skills awakening. He seemed curious and awed by what he was doing.

Ra's had let Timothy in once and he had betrayed him by destroying his bases. He would be watched closely but there was still no sign of any returning memories. He was completely loyal and obedient to Ra's, utterly perfect as he had known the boy could be if he set aside Bruce's limiting rules.

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The fourth anniversary of Tim's death passed differently to the previous ones. Bernard and Kon went along to the grave that evening, finding flowers already there from Bruce, Dick, and Steph. They sat by the grave, trading Tim stories for a while before falling silent. Eventually, Jason joined them, a normal jacket thrown over his Hood gear so he'd already been out working.

Bernard picked something up from the grave, it was a small wooden pendant, handmade, and he sniffed it, recognising Damian's scent. Jason put a photo down of Tim and Cass before adding a book. He eventually left and then there was a rush of air as Bart arrived, Cassie not far behind him, the four of them sitting quietly. A few others came and went as the night passed, including Clark and Diana, but eventually Kon lifted Bernard in his arms and flew them home to beat the sunrise.

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Bruce rolled his shoulder and grimaced, he wasn't getting any younger and he knew it. One day, he'd be forced to hang up the cowl for good. The stress on his body and years of injuries didn't help either. There were times he felt his age more than others…like after Jason had died and then Tim vanished…his funeral…and since then it hadn't faded.

He showered, dressed, and headed downstairs, nearly jumping when he found a half-asleep Bernard curled on a chair. "Bernard?" he called softly; he hadn't even known the vampire was in the manor. He still had a room there so it would be safe for him during the day, even if he didn't then he could simply sleep down in the cave, they'd organised a bed down there for if he had to, just like the Nest now had a proper sleeping area too.

"You smell like pain," he murmured, getting up and stumbling into Bruce.

Bruce wrapped his arms around the boy to steady him. Boy…he was in his twenties but even when he reached one hundred, he would look no older than eighteen. "Just getting old," he murmured, smoothing Bernard's hair back.

"Don't…hav'ta," Bernard slurred. "Tu'n…" he slumped, deadweight, literally.

Bruce carefully lifted him and carried him to his room, gently settling him into his bed despite the fact Bernard was totally unaware. He tucked him in and slipped out of the room, closing the door, and activating the sensors in the hall to ensure it would remain dark until the sun set. He checked the time and smiled; Bernard was managing to stay awake longer after sunrise.

He joined Alfred in the kitchen, nodding in thanks for the meal, Damian was gone, already off to school for an assignment.

"The hall sensors are active?"

"Bernard's here," Bruce answered.

"Ah, with Master Kon in Smallville that is not surprising."

Right, Kon had gone to Smallville for the week to help on the farm. Pa Kent…well, the whole family would be at the farm for a while. Bernard would have gone too but Kansas was far too sunny for his health. He'd met the elder Kent's a few times and had seemed a bit overwhelmed by how accepting they were but they had raised an alien baby as their own son. It also explained the mumbled suggestion of turning Bruce, Kon and Bernard had now lost a grandfather/father figure. It wasn't surprising that would cause Bernard to see how they were aging around him.

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Kon stared down at another grave, hands in fists, grief, and anger battling. But there was no one to be angry at, it had been Pa's heart, not an enemy, that had killed him. He slowly sank to his knees, tears falling free. "It's not fair," he whispered.

He'd lost people before but so many of those losses had ended up false or temporary that Tim was the first to truly hit him, to really be real. And now Pa… he'd been so scared the first time he met Ma and Pa, that they would be disgusted by him, hate him…but it had been just the opposite, they had welcomed him with open arms. He'd always known they weren't young but it was still a shock.

He knew enough about Kryptonian genetics and yellow suns to know that he was looking at a long lifespan if he didn't get killed. That had never worried him when he was working as Superboy but since he'd basically retired, he was noticing it more.

He missed Bernard but if he'd come, he would have had to sleep in the storm cellar or something and that just wasn't fair. It was just safer for him to stay in Gotham while Kon was in Smallville. But he smiled softly when a slightly vibrating body settled at his side and then a far more feminine form at his other, leaning into the comfort of his old teammates.

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Timothy left his Master's rooms and headed back to his own, smiling at the sight of his very own laptop. Master was very pleased with his progress and Timothy was sure he had known a lot about computers as a human since it felt so natural. He wasn't allowed in the League's systems unmonitored yet in case he made a mistake, but he could play around with his new gift on his own since it wasn't connected to anything else.

In the end he found himself taking it apart and then putting it back together, feeling proud that it still worked perfectly. He liked taking things apart and Master had agreed to allow him in some of the workshops.

Eventually he showered and headed to bed, smiling at the sight of his new uniform. He had been named Master's heir three months ago and he was so happy. He curled up in bed and closed his eyes, drifting slowly to sleep.

He shifted as a phantom touch trailed over his side, lips pressing to his head. "Night Tim," whispered through his mind, the voice feeling like it should be familiar but then forgotten again as he fell fully asleep.

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Ra's read over the reports, Timothy had proven utterly loyal now for years. Perhaps it was time to give at least the appearance of less eyes on him. Ra's had ensured Timothy knew it was for his own safety, that he was a target as a vampire and now his heir. He did not want him to chafe under the surveillance after all. But after so long with no sign of his memories, it was time.

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Damian wandered through the hall, staring at the statues of the various statues of the fallen. He paused as he came to two. It was strange to see one of the memorials given the man was alive and well back in Gotham but it had never been removed. Perhaps because the person he had been, and that hero, had died. The Jason Todd who returned was different, something Father and Richard had struggled to accept for years. Despite the years between their deaths, Timothy's Red Robin was beside him, the two Robin's placed together in death.

Damian lacked a memorial and he was grateful for that, he understood why Todd refused to come here and had been so upset at the memorial in the Cave. Damian had not been dead long enough and his Father so determined to find a way to revive him, that no memorial had been made. He knew Father had consulted Constantine as to bringing Timothy back but his answer had either been that it was impossible or that the cost was something Father could or would not pay. Once he would have been angry that Father had even considering bringing Drake back, but he'd seen how his disappearance and then death had affected all of them. Even Damian had been affected and if given the chance…he would apologise for his actions and ask to be brothers. He could see now, that was what Timothy had tried from the start but Damian hadn't seen that, too set in the mindset of the League where to advance one often had to take out the one in that position. If he could go back in time, he would act differently and accept the offered hand of brotherhood.

"Hey Robin!"

He turned as Jon appeared, grinning but there was still sadness in his eyes from the loss of his grandfather. "Superboy?"

"We've got a mission, you turned your comm off." He went to leave but then hesitated, looking up at the statues. "Are you okay?"

Damian nodded and led the way out.

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Running solo missions was strange but also exhilarating. He had proven not just his loyalty but also that he was capable of protecting himself. He didn't only do solo work since many missions had multiple objectives but he worked well with his team so it didn't bother him at all. None of them had any issues with him not being human either.

He paused, watching two humans below as they laughed and walked together, unaware of his presence above them. They were both male, dark haired, holding hands as they walked. The taller kissed the shorter and Timothy pressed a hand to his lips without being aware of it. He shook his head and continued on.

His dreams of late were confusing, voices and images that he never remembered upon waking. He cared nothing for his human life and so was making no attempt to consciously remember who he had once been.

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Dick smiled at the cashier and accepted the bouquet before heading out. He made his way the Wayne plot and knelt in front of the grave, placing the flowers. "Hey Timmy," he murmured. "It'll be five years soon kiddo," he explained as he ran his fingers over the stone. "I miss you so much, I don't think it will ever stop hurting. I just…I should have held on tighter, made you move away to keep me safe. Everyone says it's not my fault but it feels like it and it always will."

He shifted to sit properly. "I'll miss the anniversary this year, got an off-world mission. Kon and Bernard will be here though, I think you'd be happy they found each other. I know you loved Kon and I think you loved Bernard as much as you could with what they did to you. They're very cute together but I know they both still miss you."

Eventually he ran out of things to say and left to pack.

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Timothy paused in his work, a hidden section? Curious, he set to work seeing if he could access it. His teachers liked leaving him little puzzles and tests in the system to see how he was going so he assumed it was one of them. So, finding a picture that looked like him was confusing. Was that…human him?

TBC…

So yes, the possible Ra's/Tim is still being left ambiguous and up to you to decide what's happening behind closed doors.

And Tim's about 25 now? Five years dead and about 2yrs missing with the vampires before that.

Bernard is seeing everyone but the Kryptonians and a few others age around him. With Pa Kent dying the idea of turning some of the others is definitely on his mind, but he'd never do it without permission. He probably doesn't even remember mentioning it to Bruce with how tired he was at the time. Curious, do you think that Bruce would ever agree to becoming a vampire under any circumstances? Or any of the other bats?