Safe (BatBoys)

Flustered

Jason's POV:

I went to the kitchen first. I was hoping Alfred might need help cooking but he didn't. So now I'm here, in front of Tim's door with a book.

Why am I so nervous? I'm just spending some time with him. Nothing big, nothing too damning. I take a deep breath and knock.

"Come in." I hear faintly. Now or never I guess. I open the door softly, I don't want to startle him.

"Hey, Timbers." I say casually. At least I hope it sounded casual. He jumps a little anyways.

"Hey, Jay. What's up?" He says, turning to me. He's fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. I shrug and hold up my book.

"Mind if I just sit and read in here?" I ask. Demon brat could have easily set me up with this. He's been living here with Tim for years.

"Yeah go ahead. I'm just trying to finish this. Oh, actually, I might end up needing your help." He says, he's a little less fidgety now. I'm glad.

"Oh? I'm not the best with tech stuff but I can try." I say, I'm intrigued by the proposition at least.

"Oh, uh, not that kind of help. I'm trying to make a kind of laser that will help fade scars. I thought, I thought Cora might need it." He says, trailing off sadly at the end.

"Okay, so then how do I help?" I ask. I take a seat on his bed and he rolls himself over to me a bit.

"I figured that you would have more scars. Worse ones, at least. So, can I try it on you?" He asks gently. It makes sense, I'm in more fire fights so I get shot and stuff more often.

"Sure. Is it ready for testing now?" I question. He shakes his head.

"Nope. But I'd like you to stay until it is." He says calmly. Oh thank god he wants me to stay!

"Can do. Tinker away, I have time." I reply. I lean back on his bed and then get comfortable. He turns back to his desk and I open my book.

I like this. It's comfortable with him. I'm not paying very much attention to my book at the moment. I've read this one several times and I just want to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere for a little while.

Every so often I'll hear buzzing and smell smoke. A glance at Tim is usually enough to prove that he's not going to set the house on fire. Eventually I start actually reading my book.

I'm a sucker for romance and Romeo and Juliet is the best romance I've read so far. It's very dramatic and heartwarming and it's Shakespeare, which is my favorite author.

"Ow!" I hear. My head whips around to look at Tim. He has his finger I his mouth with a frown. I sit up and set my book down.

"Are you okay?" I ask. He laughs sheepishly it's a little muffled by the finger in his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm good. The heat was too high. I'll need another lens." He says. He rumages through some glass squares until he finds a pearlescent piece.

I watch as he measures it against the device. He starts to saw around the shape and it makes a high pitched noise that I do not like. Instead I watch his face, he's so focused. It's really cute. He bites the inside of his cheek and his nose is scrunched.

He measures it again and continues sawing at it until it matches. I watch with interest as he fastens a piece of plastic around it with a heating tool. I smell that smoke again as he smiles at his work. I like that smile.

He turns to me excitedly. I blink at him in a little surprise. He rolls his way over to me with the device in hand. I smile back at him.

"You ready to try it?" He asks. I think he's more excited to try out his invention than to have me here.