ᯓ★𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐃.

"You were the hero.. Be it Robin or Tim ... you always knew how to save me.. even from myself."

Eyes hidden behind his borrowed mask turned towards the skies, & the dark clouds above.. his vision hazy — his body still.

"...For once I just wanted to do the same.."

"...You can't hear this...maybe you won't. And I know you'll be so mad at me... but if I'm being honest? I'd still do it again. I would do it all again..because I did it for you. And maybe that's brainless..you were the smart one, I mean.." ++

Shallow breathing began to slow & despite his attempts to reach to call help — the cool of the night's rain melted into something..warmer.

"It's bad right...when it doesn't hurt..? But maybe it's okay, maybe you'll know it doesn't hurt now.. I'm just tired." ++

vision hazy, along with the ever growing loss of blood by the minute.

"I just wanted to help...to be — someone. Someone he could depend on...not have to coddle.. well so much for that, right..?"

"....I'm sorry, Tim.. I don't know if I'll get a chance to say that now.. but I'm sorry..." ++

An attempt to keep himself awake to formulate his next plan of action.

Call Tim? He was stupid, but not that stupid. Thad? Not a good time. Batman? Spare the lecture.

...Jason. He really didn't want to call Jason.

Displeasure crossed over dampened features as the harsh downpour made his ++

"Certainly not yourself.. augh! You're no Robin... no Tim.. you don't even cut it as Bitewing for crying out loud.. but I just had to give it a shot."

"And I got one right back, too... maybe I can get an A plus on Robin whit.." He rambled on, an attempt to ease his nerves & push past the pain. ++

"Fuck-" He cursed between grit teeth, palm pressed against the bullet wound.

There'd been a scuffle, one that had allowed delusions of grandeur to take wing as Bernard viewed himself immortal to the true dangers.

Overconfidence led him astray & he became ... sloppy.

"Who are you kidding, Bee."+

for the greater good.

"Greater good." He rasps between sullen laughter before pain would have him writhe in place. Sprawled across the damp concrete of a rooftop, the wannabe hero let out a pained groan.

"At least.. he can't ever question to what lengths I'd go to..because this takes the cake."+

No.

With his lover out of commission, Bernard, that foolish man, had taken it upon himself to fill the shoes & mask that Gotham needed with Robin's sudden departure from Gotham's city streets.

He had been careful ... but one could never be careful enough when throwing your life on the line ++

He half joked to himself amidst deafening rainfall that poured down upon him, diluting the red that rushed heavy from his chest.

𝘈 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. & A nasty one it had been.

Anyone else on the outside would sooner liken his behavior to cheating, but Tim couldn't have been so lucky for such normalcy. ++

During 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘯'𝘴.

Sneaking around, the late answered texts & the distance he'd put between himself & his peers in the last weeks would have anyone questioning — Why?

Speculation, sure. It was easy to write it off as something 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺.

"Because it— would almost be the better option, right..?" ++

𝐇ow long had it been since Bernard had kept up the charade of the studios, attentive boyfriend who lived life by the books?

This was the question that rang in his head — the guilt of his conscience raging its war of petty white lies, half truths, and words unspoken during Tim's leave of absence+

— 𝐈 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐨 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 ...

A Bernard Dowd Solo;

"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈."

Can you call me that one more time?

I wasn't loved as a child so this is very sexually exciting for me.

Look at this idiot, man.

Corny.

(I love him so bad).

But if I can do one thing to take off even an ounce of his stress while he's stuck at home? I'm going to.

I've known Tim for years, he was my best friend before anything else ... I've been careful.

Look, man. I've been useful my whole life! While Tim's been out there risking his life for everyone since he was a kid!

He means everything to me... And I know he's bound to find out and I know he'll be worried sick and pissed about it. ++

"What are you doing here..??? You're supposed to be on rest at home.."

"God I missed you.."

Shuffling his way to the door, he was quick to adjust his appearance to present himself as normal. But when he opened the the door — the shock on his face had been clear.

"Tim?!" A gasp, both in surprise & joy as he were quick to pull the smaller into his arms. ++

Exhausted & overworked, Beenard had finally taken time to himself in order to relax given his new ... lifestyle he'd taken up.

His body sore & draped along his couch until the knock would pull him to his feet immediately.

"Coming..!" An all too quick & nervous answer. ++

If he sees how much has been happening in Gotham without him to stop it? He'll freak out and throw himself into action.

I can't let him take that risk, so I'm taking it for him!

Look, I know it's bad but what was I meant to do? I've been training for years ever since my .. whole cult thing. I wasn't going to stay being the damsel needing saved by Robin and Co. I've handled it!

Tim's benched and needs to stay benched! ++

Tim gets in the zone with his work. You're telling me he wouldn't do outrageous things if it meant not leaving his computer screen to work shit out?

I know that guy pees in bottles at least.

I love my boyfriend.

But I'm not letting him shit in a box. Except he's totally the type that would.

[ With a defeated sigh, he knew he had know choice, not giving Jason any room to blow his cover ... carefully, he pulled a domino mask from his backpack. ]

....When Tim was fine again, I was going to give it back.

Are you kidding me? You're kidding me right now? Jason Todd, Red Hood is scolding me???? This is going in my diary later..

[ A drawn out groan ]

You're not— No! Absolutely not! You're not telling Tim about this, he'll flip out! No one can know...! ++

.......

Anyway. Good talk, Jason! Good to see you're still hot. On that note, I have to go feed my codependent speedster.

....Virgin late night study sessions.

They don't know I fuck. It's fine. Helping them pass biology. It's rough times in classes these days.

I love whatever's wrong with him.