2nd case.

[dorkwonder]

Hey, we need to talk. Can we meet at your room in a few?

Comments

[dorkwonder]

[Resists the urge to reach for her hand again.]

I remember thinking how good it felt to be back with the Titans. We took out Superboy Prime once and for all.

[secondchances]

[She resists the urge to do something similar, settling on a smile instead.]

I bet they missed you.

[dorkwonder]

There may or may not have been a group hug involved.

[secondchances]

Aww. And no one took a picture?

[dorkwonder]

Sorry, you'll have to live in speculation forever.

[secondchances]

That's fine. I'm just glad you found your way back to them.

[dorkwonder]

I'm glad...they found their way back to me. [Kon and Bart had both been MIA for awhile. When he first arrived here Kara told him that Kon had died. If his father and Kon had both died, did that mean that Bart had died, too?

Studies Steph for a long moment. Did that mean Steph had also died?]

[secondchances]

[The smile on her face dims slowly as she realizes Tim is doing that thing. That inspecting thing. That usually means something is up.]

Something the matter?

[dorkwonder]

I'm fine. [Except for the part where he feels sick to his stomach.]

[secondchances]

[She wonders if he's thinking about his father, or something else entirely. He doesn't really seem fine. And, of course, he doesn't want to admit it.

Steph stops herself from sighing.

Oh, what the hell. She holds hands a lot these days, so there's no reason (aside from the dozen or so) she can't reach out for Tim's.]

There's a lot to adjust to. But we'll get home.

[He probably will sometime in the near future, anyway.]

[dorkwonder]

[Tenses when she grabs his hand. Not because her touch makes him uncomfortable, but because he was about to excuse himself and bolt for the bathroom. Splashing some cold water in his face sounded awfully good right about now.]

We will.

[Squeezes her hand and instead of the stoic expression he had on his face moments ago, there's a fiercely determined look.

He couldn't save her before. Apparently he couldn't save any of the people he loved from dying. But he can do this for her. He will do this for her.]

[secondchances]

[She catches that tensing up, and it takes more effort than she'd like to admit not to tense up in return. But she's determined to be a good friend, and that means... doing things like this, and not overthinking.]

I mean it when I say you've got my support for this. I'm here.

[dorkwonder]

I know, and I'm okay. Being here just gives me a lot to think about.

[Shoves his thoughts off to the side. He can go brood over them later.]

[secondchances]

You're free to bounce any thoughts off me, if you want. I've become a good listener.

[dorkwonder]

Any tips on how people like us keep our sanity here would be useful. [No more running off in the night with a mask on, to distract himself from his problems and work off his stress.]

[secondchances]

Make friends.

[Easy. And she'll be carefully letting go of his hand, now. That's enough contact for one year.]

[dorkwonder]

That simple, huh? [Closes his hand into a small fist once she moves her hand.]

[secondchances]

I think so. It's good, I think, to have a sort of... support system. I've been low on friends here, and let me tell you--that? Not fun.

[dorkwonder]

[Thinks back to how Conner told him they all have to spend time together, do somewhat normal things, and be there for each other, just before everything went to hell.]

You might be onto something there.

[secondchances]

Just a bit. You're lucky that you started off with me and Kara.

[dorkwonder]

Is that what we're calling it? [Grins, teasing her.]

[secondchances]

I can reach your shins under this table, you know. Just keep that in mind.

[dorkwonder]

I might be new to this, but I don't think threats of violence help with th whole supportive thing.

[secondchances]

It's the Stephanie Brown method of support.

[dorkwonder]

I thought the Stephanie Brown method involved waffles and pep talks?