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“Well well well, back in Gotham?” Tim asked, more so as a statement to himself than to the person he saw in the distance.
On his nightly patrol he saw a lot of strange people, but it wasn’t so often a witch from Limbo walked the crime ridden streets. And while he was still very far away, currently crouched atop a three story building, this particular witch was instantly recognizable. Draped in all black, with blue skin and a constrasting bright orange cat on his shoulders to match. It was Klarion the Witch Boy.
Tim hadn’t seen Klarion in years. They had had a couple run-ins in the past. One where Klarion proved helpful in defending the city. And then several times after that in more friendly coincidental meetings when Klarion was still living there. But then he never saw him again, and it wasn’t until a year or two down the line when he remembered the boy and thought to ask the question out loud.
“He moved.” Batman had answered.
“Moved where?” Tim recalled asking.
The Bat didn’t answer his question very promptly, rather taking the time to pull up Klarion’s file. “According to Jason Blood, Klarion is traveling the world, his current location is unknown.” Was all the explanation Tim ever got.
Now what must have been five or six years later Tim was 17, and not Robin anymore. He was the more mature Red Robin now. And Klarion, well he would just have to see how he had changed.
Gliding down in a dim alleyway was not the most approachable thing to do but, it was the way of their family; and had been engraved into his lifestyle. The witch boy didn’t seem startled though, in fact before Tim reached him he had turned around with the most despicable smirk on his face.
As Tim hit the ground he looked up in awe, it really was Klarion. “Greetings Timothy!” Klarion said, his voice had changed, it was still quite pitchy but he sounded like an adult.
“Ah shhh. You’re not supposed to call me that in costume, remember?” Tim shushed before laughing in his nose.
“Oh that’s right, secret identities and what not, I never really could understand that.” Klarion pouted, and brought his hand up to gently tap Teekl on the head.
Looking at the two of them was strange, Teekl looked exactly the same, still obviously in her undying prime, huge and fluffy. While Klarion looked subtly different. His hair was still relatively the same, though less of a whole bowl and more sharply styled, he still had the horns too. His face was as long and gaunt as he remembered. With the ghoulish darkness around his eyes and lips, yet he was still cute; almost like a panda or puppy would be.
In fact Tim would dare to bring out the words handsome or pretty instead. Perhaps a mix of both, in some strange way Tim could not describe. “It’s been such a long time, I didn’t think you’d ever come back.” Tim said.
“Well of course I’d come back, well I come back quite often actually, to see Uncle Jason and whatnot. But I don’t spend time in the city like I used to.” Klarion explained and Teekl began to purr audibly.
“I didn’t realize, you think Bats or I or anyone else would have run into you.” Tim felt bad suddenly.
He knew Klarion didn’t really have any friends, or at least he didn’t use to. But he supposed if he wanted to hang out Klarion would’ve had to initiate, given his constant state of being missing.
“Mmm no. I’ve been keeping a low profile.”
“Walking around in the street dressed like that? Is that the same outfit you were wearing when I met you?” Tim rolled his eyes.
Klarion rolled right back, “no actually this is new, latest Limbotown fashion actually. And look, I even have some accessories from Blue Rafters.”
Klarion rolled up his sleeves to reveal some beaded bracelets underneath. The type friends could make and trade or just put funny words on. “They’re called Kandi, but they aren’t edible. I uh- learned that in an unfortunate manner.”
“Wow, I didn’t think the Witchboy accessorized with bright colors. Cool Kandi though, where’d you get them?”
“Friends I’ve met throughout the country. Look, look! They are even custom to me!” He pointed at a pink one and an orange one. “This one says strawberry and is pink like ice cream!” Then the orange one, “this one says Teekl.”
“That’s cute.” Reminded of her presence, Tim reached out to pet her, which she gratefully accepted.
Even going so far as to jump away from Klarion and into Tim’s arms. It seemed she had missed him too. Petting her was when Tim realized how much he had missed them as well, the random chaotic magical side of his second life. It was an exhilarating time in his past, and now…
“Seems she likes you.” Klarion noted with a furrowed brow, upset he wasn't the one getting attention.
“We’ve had ups and downs, it seems like she’s mellowed a bit.” Just as he said that, she took a swipe to his face that would have knocked an eyeball out if he hadn’t been wearing a mask.
Klarion laughed, “I doubt it.” And Teekl found her way back to his shoulders.
“Christ, I don’t miss that part.”
Klarion kept laughing, he was the type to think everything was a riot when he was in a good mood. “Very good Teekl!” He applauded his companion.
“Yeah yeah- what are you guys doing here now anyway? Jason doesn’t live in this neighborhood.”
Klarion smiled, and again Tim was struck with the vague thought that he was very pretty with his darkly lined lips and eyes. “It seems you’ve caught us in the act. In all this time I realized we’ve never come to visit you.”
“Oh, well that’s considerate, thank you.” Why was he blushing?
“Did you have a plan? Something you wanted to do?” Tim asked, clearing his throat.
Klarion shook his head. “No, I’ve accomplished all I planned this far; step one: find old Rob.”
“Well you found me, with ease I assume.”
The nod from the other made him smile this time. “Well then, after patrol we could go get something to eat, and you could come back to the manor with me.”
“As long as it’s fun, I’m in.” Klarion nodded and Teekl did too.
Tim smiled, he hadn’t really hung out with Klarion in a non-vigilante manner before, but there was nothing holding that back from happening. Klarion knew his secret identity, and was interesting to be around, and if he was on a rare visit to Gotham Tim might as well make use of the opportunity. “Do you wanna patrol with me? Or are you going to visit Jason too?”
“Mmm, Jason can wait if it means seeing some action.” Klarion clapped excitedly.
Tim nodded, he got his grapple out, and shot to get up higher, aiming for the roof of a four or five story building. “Pretty sure you can keep up.” He said before the line whirred and he shot into the air. Soaring up and then hovering in the wind above the building. His boots landed gracefully on the cement surface. He walked back to the ledge to look to where they’d been standing. But Klarion was gone, and he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Spinning around, Klarion stood mischievously. “Ready to go yet?” He purred.
After that the two took off into the night, scaling rooftops, and running through the darkness. It was revealed Tim was putting in much more physical effort, as Klarion could just teleport or float between buildings. But both got around easily, and patrolled through a good chunk of this corner in Gotham.
They didn’t find any of the big names commiting outrageous acts but they did find some shady figures lurking about. Nothing to the point of illegality, other than a couple kids spray painting a mailbox. Tim had a talk with them, which backfired to the point of Tim getting spat at and Klarion called a monstrosity.
Klarion wanted to teach them a lesson but Tim just let them go, the patrol ended as kind of a bust. But they managed to find an all night bodega with a smoothie machine right at the end. That instantly lifted the mood again.
Tim had only a half wad of cash stuffed in a belt compartment with which he bought them smoothies and snacks. Klarion being the little freak he was got a strawberry smoothie and strawberry wafers. Tim got a coffee shake and some chips, and Teekl got a small can of Tuna. They ate on top of the building, giddy from the night.
Tim was continuously falling in this sense of novelty, that Klarion was special. It was stupid really, but he was stirring inwardly, crushing badly. The way the other effortlessly commanded himself in action. With masterful control over his body and magic, to keep himself in pace with Tim. And how happy he was doing it, contagious laughter and joy followed him constantly.
And then he was tired, it was time to head home. “You still wanna spend the night?” Tim asked.
“Having second thoughts?” Klarion joked, standing up.
“Of course not.” Tim gathered up all their trash and leapt back down into the street to dispose of it.
Looking for the trash can he was called over to find Klarion sitting on it. He jumped down, letting Tim use it. Teekl was no longer out with them, she had been shrunk down and crawled into a glowing orb Klarion summoned so that she could get some sleep. He was currently wearing it as a necklace.
Tim was honestly wishing Klarion could put him in a sleep orb and carry him home too, but it looked like that wouldn’t entirely be needed. Klarion did some mishmash poem of a chant, stuck his clawed fingers to Tim’s forehead and teleported them both straight to Wayne Manor. Well specifically underneath it, in the bat cave; where Tim needed to be so he could change out of his suit.
Klarion had never been in the batcave before, though he of course knew about it. He was ready to sprint away and get himself lost before Tim had to hold him down. Tim had to disalarm part of the system as a subject listed as “possible threat” in the batcomputer had quite literally just teleported past all their security.
But then they were good to go, Tim went over to all the suits and quickly got changed into his rather boring sweats and comfy clothes. Meanwhile Klarion was elsewhere, ogling all the big bat tech in the cave and specifically the large T-Rex.
“Who’s this?” Someone asked, but it wasn’t Klarion talking about the T-Rex, instead it was Alfred entering the cave.
Alfred was wielding himself calmly, he probably knew who Klarion was but was waiting for Tim to explain for his being in the cave. If it was someone more tolerable he probably would have said, “who’s our guest?”
“Oh Alfred! This is Klarion, he’s helped the bats before but I don’t think you’ve met.” Tim rushed over to Alfred, motioning for Klarion to beckon over as well.
Klarion leapt over like a bag of tricks on Halloween. Sparks and fireworks flying out of his sleeves. Tim had never seen him make such a dramatic introduction before, he always had a flare for it but not to that extent.
“Tis I! Klarion! Wonderful to meet you Alfred.” He spoke, close to a giggle.
“A pleasure.” Alfred gave Tim a slight side eye. “Anything I could get you two? How long will Master Klarion be staying?”
Tim and Klarion exchanged glances. “We’re fine, thanks.” and “Just spending the night.” came out completely overlapped.
Alfred seemed to understand anyway and bid them good night. “Let me know if either of you need anything.”
Then Tim got them out of there, he felt embarrassed. On the surface one might have thought that Klarion embarrassed him, but really he embarrassed himself for thinking that way.
He led Klarion through the manor, the blue boy taking in everything as quickly as he could. This was one of the nicest homes in the world after all. And it was a momentous sight he had yet to see.
“What’s this?” He would ask, curious as ever.
Half the time Tim didn’t even know the answer, and could only give some vague information. Klarion took it in gratefully, and even pointed out things he actually recognized. Specific items from older time periods and anything that had any magical meaning, he knew a lot more about them than Tim did.
When they got to Tim’s room. Klarion took Teekl out of the orb on his necklace and carefully set her to rest at the foot of Tim’s bed. Running his hand along her fur a few times with the most intense gaze of affection Tim had ever seen.
“I’m gonna take a quick shower.” He announced, grabbing a couple things out of a drawer to bring with him into his attached bathroom. “You can chill here right?”
“Indeed.” As all Klarion said in response, he too laid down on Tim’s bed, horizontally so he could snuggle up against Teekl.
Tim quickly went through his after patrol routine, he didn’t want Klarion to get bored and leave. He got undressed and got in the shower. Quickly rinsing his hair out with some shampoo and soaping down the parts of his body more prone to smelling bad. While rinsing off all the suds, he noticed the door crack open.
He tried not to think about it, he was almost done. But then it moved again, oh shoot. It’d be kinda embarrassing if the door just flew open while he was in there. Not that Klarion would be any kind of creeper, and just waltz in to take a look.
Teekl on the other hand… looking at the bottom of the door suddenly her face was there, she must have woken up curious to the noise of running water. Tim again didn’t think much of it, for a few seconds. Then as she continued to stare, he was reminded that Klarion could easily look through her eyes as well as speak to her. Then she disappeared from the doorway.
Tim turned back, and shut the water off reaching for a towel to wrap himself in. “Hey Klarion!” He shouted, drying himself and stepping out of the shower.
Now instead Klarion’s head peaked through the door. “What Timothy?” He asked, as casual as imaginable.
“You’re not using Teekl to snoop are you?” He asked.
“Snoop? No?” He said; he didn’t appear to be lying.
“Okay.” Tim stretched it out, for that effect of disbelief.
Then Klarion dipped out again, and Tim quickly got dressed. Giving his hair one final rustle before hanging his towel up and going back into the other room. Klarion was standing at his bookshelf, skimming through books seemingly at random. “I don’t particularly like reading.” He said, once he noticed Tim and set the book down.
“Yeah, normally I’m too tired for it.” Tim said, sitting down on the bed. Teekl was lying down again but she was awake.
He reached to pet her lightly and she didn’t really acknowledge it, just allowed it to happen. Klarion walked over to the bed and plopped down on his back beside Tim. They were silent for a moment, Klarion had his eyes closed and brought his hand up to cover them. Like clockwork Teekl looked up to Tim’s face, observing him silently.
Tim stopped petting her then, uncomfortable. “Hey Klarion?” He started, his heart suddenly pinching. “Are you… into guys?”
“Into guys?” He asked, more so sounding like he didn’t understand the phrasing of the question.
“Y’know like… interested in them?” Tim tried to convey, suddenly blushing hard.
Klarion raised an eyebrow, “a lot of humans are interesting.” He still didn’t understand fully.
“No I mean like- romantically or sexually.” Tim said, he looked at Klarion as long as he could to gauge his reaction.
Finally seeming to get what the other meant, Klarion shifted to sitting up. “You mean for mating and marriage.” He said neutrally, like it was a serious topic but not one that made him uncomfortable.
“Yeah, I guess; if that’s how you wanna look at it.”
Klarion looked him in the eye, and truly Tim had no idea what he was about to say. “No, I don’t see what the point would be.”
“The point?” Tim felt a surge of horror at the idea of Klarion being homophobic.
“Mating’s only for when you want kids, or if you’re an animal too I suppose. They might not want kids but mate anyway.” Klarion said.
Tim tried to keep his jaw from falling, holding it steady as he prompted further; intrigued by this new perspective. “Humans are like that too, they mate when they don’t want kids.” Tim said.
This didn’t seem to be absolute news to Klarion but it still elicited a change in his behavior. He brought his knees up to his chest, resting his chin, and curling himself up. “I know. I don’t understand that.”
“Sometimes I don’t understand it either.” Tim said quietly. “Are you not attracted to anyone?”
Klarion shook his head, “no, Teekl has tried explaining it to me before. Though her choice in tomcats is quite a far stretch for an analogy.” Then they laughed, and Tim felt less awkward.
Teekl mrowled, offended, and jumped over to swat Klarion. He pulled her into an absolute crusher of a hug and she quieted. “Why in Blue Rafters did you bring that up Timothy?”
“I was just… wondering. I mean, take me for example, I’m attracted to guys and girls.”
Klarion’s eyes widened, “that’s a lot.”
“Well it’s not like every person ever, just certain people. And I guess I was thinking about it because I think you’re really, um…attractive.”
Klarion did seem surprised at this. “You want to mate with me?” He asked, and Teekl started chattering as if she was laughing.
“No! I mean, in theory? Not like right now or- I just- I just think you’re pretty.” Tim was back to flushed again.
“Oh, well thank you. I’ve never had a guy tell me that before. I’ve met a couple girls who also seemed ‘interested’, they said I was pretty too.” Klarion noted, and he smiled.
“You’re welcome, and yeah; you’re very pretty Klarion.”
Klarion nodded and closed his eyes. “Most people don't think so. It’s strange, they don’t favor my appearance because it is so different from theirs, but here everyone looks very different. In Limbo everyone looks and dresses the same. Coming here I didn't know how exhausting it would be to be unique.” He opened his eyes, gazing at Tim. “Of course by now I’m used to it.”
Tim nodded, he had never had such an in depth discussion with Klarion before; in the past it was only silliness between them. Confusing dialog, misunderstanding each other and jokes. Now he felt like he understood the other on some kind of deeper level, and that he had been freed by sharing his feelings.
“Would you like it if I gave you a kiss?” Klarion suddenly asked.
That made Tim reel in his spot. “I beg your pardon?”
“Well that’s what humans do, when they are friends or family or have attraction.” He explained as if he knew exactly what the hell he was talking about.
“I mean, only if you wanted to. But I wouldn’t mind a kiss.” Tim said awkwardly. “Have you ever kissed anyone before?
Klarion thought about it, “My mother and sister sparingly, and Uncle Jason, and Teekl of course.” He pulled Teekl towards him and gently kissed the top of her head. “Then a couple girls, they didn’t ask first though, and I found that quite incorrigible.”
“That wasn’t right of them.” Tim said softly.
Klarion nodded. “No, but I adore attention, so I wouldn’t mind kissing you Timothy.
Klarion laughed and Teekl leapt away, disappearing off the side of the bed. “How do you want to do this?” He asked.
“I don’t know.” Tim said, his voice hiccuping with a slight laugh.
Klarion’s nose scrunched, and he placed his hands at the sides of Tim’s face, pulling them closer together.
Tim let this happen, he wasn’t sure if he was going to close his eyes or not. He wanted to see Klarion, his eyes up close, the real shape of them, hidden in all the darkness. But again, he also felt kind of awkward and closed his eyes almost instinctively.
Klarion did not let go of his face yet still nothing happened, he was just sitting there with his face probably twisted all stupid and dumb. Maybe Klarion was just scared. After a moment, he dared to open his eyes. Klarion was still just looking at him, and as soon as their eyes met he burst out laughing.
“Your face looks so funny like that!” Klarion slurred through his immense laughter.
God damn, he forgot how insufferable he could be. “Real funny, I bet.” Tim growled.
But there wasn’t much time for moping, because Klarion patted him on the side of the face. “Twas just a joke.”
The pat had created a shock to force Tim’s eyes closed again, but this time his lips were met; almost instantly. He froze, his eyes shut before the kiss was over. And Klarion pulled away.
“There. A kiss from me, that shall be my gratitude for supplying goodies and a warm bed on this night.”
“Y-you’re welcome? Thank you?”
Teekl hacked up a lung in the background.
Klarion rubbed his eyes, falling back. “I’d say anytime, but I don’t think I could handle all that.”
“Me neither.” Tim said pointedly, still sat, now criss-cross.
He could see a slow exhale move down and up from Klarion’s chest as the blue boy spoke once more, “I don’t think I will ever truly understand how exactly people feel about others, but I must say Tim you are also quite pretty, that I can understand.”
“Thanks Klarion.”