No hope in sight, but good friends always light the way.

[theshortestbird]

Who: Tim Drake (theshortestbird), Blaine Anderson (mediumdrip), and Kurt Hummel (showbizpanache)
When: Backdated to after his calls to Kurt and Blaine about Conner being gone, and after his conversation with Blaine. It's complicated.
Where: The apartment that still needs a name.
Summary: Conner is gone, and Tim is having a really hard time with it.
Warnings: Angst. Lots of it. Possible language. Possible mention of sexual situations. Will update accordingly.

[It had been one thing when Bruce had left. Sure, it was difficult, pretending that Batman was still in the city. But there were people to help with that; Cass and Clark had been the best of allies, helping Tim keep up appearances. When Cass had gone home, he had others to help with that, as well; Clark was still around, Lois, too. Conner had been there to help. And when Clark had gone home, Tim had been there for Conner, as well as Lois. They were his friends, his family, now that most of his family was gone.

His birthday had been in July. That's when Conner had given him one of the best presents he had ever received, on a birthday he always forgot about. That photo album was precious, filled with photos of all of his friends, of all of the Titans. Of Conner. Of Conner smiling, of Conner happy, of Conner and Krypto together. He should be thankful, that Krypto seemed to have gone home with Conner, but at the same time, he would have liked that reminder to be there.

Conner was gone. He wasn't dead, not again. He wasn't injured. He wasn't ignoring Tim, like once upon a time. He was just gone, and Tim didn't know what to do. He was supposed to be there. He had told Tim he loved him. That he wanted to be with him. That his own, awkward crush had been reciprocated.

And Tim had told Blaine he was worried about what might happen if Conner left. The irony was clearly obvious. Kurt had been helpful; making sure he had dinner with them. Not an eat and run dinner, but a real, sit down dinner, where things were going to be discussed. Tim was both thankful and terrified about the idea of it.]

ooc: Tim, Blaine, Kurt order okay? If not let me know!

Comments

[showbizpanache]

Hey, you said it, not me. [Kurt positively preens. He gives Blaine an extra big helping for that, then serves Tim, and finally himself. He only gives himself a tiny bit, but it's more than he's managed before, and it's a good sign.

Once they're all served he sits at last, and they start to eat. The atmosphere is of pleasant silence, and Kurt waits to see if Tim wants to talk or not. He might just be in need of some company.]

[theshortestbird]

[He is eating more, and that's a very good thing; Tim prefers keeping an eye on other people more then himself, and he'd been keeping an eye on both of them, ever since the talk he'd had with Blaine way back when, and seeing Kurt begin to break down.

Everyone was doing pretty good, weren't they? Things were getting better, up until now. Or so Tim liked to think. He looks down at his full plate, picks up a fork, but realizes that everyone seems pretty quiet.]

I guess we can talk around it, or about it, right? [His smile isn't happy, though, more like something he needs to put on right now.] Conner might not have been an elephant, but his presence is pretty big.

[mediumdrip]

[For a moment Blaine is completely distracted from Tim and the hurt he must be feeling as he watches Kurt lift food to his mouth. Once Kurt actually starts to eat though, Blaine's attention is back on Tim, on wanting to comfort him.]

It does feel pretty empty in here. [Blaine agrees.] Krypto went with him, I guess?

[showbizpanache]

[He focuses on his food, eating each tiny bite slowly and carefully. He finishes before Blaine and Tim do, and discreetly gets up to take care of his dishes, letting the other boys break the ice.]

[theshortestbird]

Yeah, he did. From what I can tell, anyway. He'd be around here if he was still around, so I guess we won't have to worry about taking care of a dog. [A small, unhappy smile.]

...This is why I don't... [His breath catches, and he lets it out, slow and wobbly.] I. Don't want to be a burden on you, or anything.

[mediumdrip]

You aren't. [Blaine reached out and put his hand on Tim's arm.] You're our friend. You're not a burden.

[showbizpanache]

And you never will be. [Kurt leans over to kiss Tim on the cheek.]

[theshortestbird]

[Well, wasn't expecting that. You guys, you really need to stop double teaming him, because it just makes him turn bright red, and lose his feelings of sadness for just a second.]

Thank you. I'm... really glad the both of you are here. At least I can count on you guys to be here? [Pauses.] That sounded terrible, I'm sorry. I only meant it because everyone from my world seems to be leaving.

sorry, need to fix this one!

[mediumdrip]

You'll survive this Tim. [Blaine repeats something he said to Tim when they were on the stairs together] For now, anything you need to say we're here to listen.