[Voice]

[kryptonianclone]

Hello Siren's Port, how are you today this fine morning?

For those of you who know Tim Drake, it's his birthday, so go spam his phone with well wishes, happy message, etc etc, that sort of thing. He's 18, by the way.

Happy birthday, buddy. Don't say I never did anything for you. [He's just teasing.]

[OOC: Backdated to early in the morning of the 19th because I was sick and sleeping most of the day, sob.]

Comments

[theshortestbird]

...Okay. You're pretty terrible at keeping surprise parties a secret, you know.

[kryptonianclone]

Hey, I'm your best friend. If you're not expecting me to have a party on your birthday, something is wrong with you.

[theshortestbird]

I wasn't really expecting anything, so I guess something is really wrong with me.

[kryptonianclone]

Tim, Tim, Tim, I am so disappointed in you.

[theshortestbird]

So when am I going to see you, and really see how disappointed you are? [Arches a brow. He's on his way, he swears.]

[kryptonianclone]

As soon as you get home, which I'm giving you 15 minutes to do, otherwise I'm sending Krypto out.

[theshortestbird]

Some of us can only walk as fast as we can. [Still, he makes it there with two minutes to spare. The idea of cake is pretty appealing, after all.]

[kryptonianclone]

[And so! Conner surprises (or not surprises) Tim at the door, the other people in the apartment waiting as well. There is a small party with cake and a few presents and Conner even got the Just Dance thing that Blaine suggested (he is not very good at it and might have broken the mat at the end there, oops).

After things have wound down, Conner motions for Tim to follow him, hoping he doesn't look nervous because he is spazzing inside while he explains in what he hopes is a calm, cool, and collected tone.]

I saved your present for later because I wanted to give it to you when we were alone. It's... kind of special. [That last part comes out a little sheepishly, Conner rubbing the back of his neck and glancing away.]

[theshortestbird]

[He had fun. He really did; his last birthday wasn't really done with anything, and while his parents always told him 'happy birthday', they had a habit of being gone around that time.

Alfred, actually, was the one who always did some kind of celebration, always making the best cake ever. He really does miss Alfred a lot. All of the family, really.

So, once the party wound down, and the guests are leaving, Tim follows Conner over with a small smile.]

I thought this was my present?

[kryptonianclone]

[Rolls his eyes a little.] No, this was just a surprise party. Presents usually come in packages, you know. Come on, it's in my room.

heh heh packages

[theshortestbird]

Not all the time. [Feels the need to point this out, even as he follows Conner to his room.]

Sometimes presents aren't even wrapped, unless you count putting a bow on them.

[kryptonianclone]

Are you trying to tell me something here, Tim? [Teasingly. Mostly teasingly.]

Anyway, here. [He had set Tim's present on the bed before he left his room earlier. Now he picks it up and hands it to his friend. Inside is a photo album of all the people he knows Tim is friends with.] I sort of, uh, borrowed your camera for a bit. Hope you don't mind.

[theshortestbird]

No, just letting you know. [He laughs, his laugh dying off as he looked at the photo album in his hands. Just the album itself, not even the pictures just yet, and he runs his hand over the cover.]

You... didn't have to do this. [He finally opens the album, swallowing the lump in his throat as he sees everyone. Everyone. He didn't know how Conner had gotten all of them.]

[kryptonianclone]

[Conner gives a soft smile.] Just in case anyone leaves, so you have a way to remember what they look like. You have to keep on putting people in there if you meet anyone new, okay? [There might also be like 5 pages of just pictures of Conner. Just in case. No, it has nothing to do with his ego, nope.]

[theshortestbird]

This is the best present I've ever gotten. [That part makes the smile come back.]

You're sure there are enough pictures of you in this thing? [His grin widens as he looks up, biting on his lower lip to keep from laughing outright.]

[kryptonianclone]

I dunno, think I need to take some more? [Jokes.] It took me awhile to get Krypto to hold still for some of them.

[Hesitates.] You... mind if I ask you something that might sound kind of weird?

[theshortestbird]

I don't think anymore could fit. [He turns the page, touching a picture of Krypto with a smile, before looking back up at Conner with a questioningly tilt of his head.]

Sure, what is it?

[kryptonianclone]

Uhm... You... remember when you got sick that one time...? And you were at the base, and I came and got you? You still don't remember what happened then?

[theshortestbird]

I was pretty delirious at the time. [He shakes his head.] Not really. It's all kind of a blur, still. Why?

[kryptonianclone]

I kissed you.

[theshortestbird]

[Oh. Well. That's something he would have really appreciated remembering, but he closes the book, looking down and hoping that the blush he feels on his face isn't as red as it feels.]

Why did you do that?

[kryptonianclone]

Because...

[Okay, Conner. This is not the time to chicken out now. Just tell him. Say it.]

[theshortestbird]

[It took him a minute to realize he was holding his breath.]

...Because...?

[kryptonianclone]

Because I love you.

[theshortestbird]

[Oh.

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<i.>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

<small>[Oh. <i.>Oh</i>. Well. The brief moment of surprise is quickly bowled over by a moment of panic, a fear that grips him and turns him rigid. He's <i>scared</i>. An actual fear that he's felt before. Felt many times before, in fact, and he recalls the conversation he had with Blaine.

<i>Why don't you do something about it?

What if he dies again?</i>]</small>

I... <small>[He trails off for a moment.]</small> When did you... how recent is this?