By the time Colt realized it, he had already grown accustomed to sending good morning texts upon waking, good night texts before bed, sending files to Timothy, organizing intelligence for the overworked Red Robin. Driven by the scandalous photos of the Wayne family and gossip about Batman, he even took over Timothy's homework and went to the company to deliver coffee to Timothy.
Colt's newly drawn line was shifting backward bit by bit.
What is social distancing? Timothy didn't know.
Wait?
No, Red Robin prefers to attack.
Chapter 38
Halloween.
Joseph went to Metropolis for a meeting, Red Robin knocked on Colt's window once again, offering a refusal-proof, enthusiastic hug.
Happy Halloween, Colt.
Gotham was a bit cold in late October, Red Robin's hug carried a chill that made Colt shiver, but he still gave a gentle hug back. "Happy Halloween. The streets are chaotic today; I thought you would be very busy."
Red Robin let go of Colt and picked up his equipment case. "Someone ordered my cape as a Halloween gift, so of course I had to come."
Colt restrained himself from lingering in the cold embrace and watched Red Robin with crossed arms. "How did you know? No, capes are usually Christmas gifts, but the Reed family only celebrates Halloween."
"That's not important. What matters is that Dr. Reed asked me for the specifications for a Red Robin cape, your cape display wall is missing this very piece." Red Robin opened the equipment case.
Colt's eyes widened; inside the box was a complete Red Robin uniform.
Someone once said that all children in Gotham should wear a Robin Cape on Halloween." Red Robin took out the uniform and smiled at Colt: "We are past the age for wearing Robin short-shorts; a Red Robin uniform is clearly much warmer.
Colt could not resist the temptation.
Even God allows people to dress up as anyone on Halloween.
Two Red Robins quickly appeared in the room.
Colt turned his head to look at the cape behind him; it turned out the small backpack providing power to the wings was quite heavy. He spun around in place, climbed onto the roof, jumped off, clumsily spreading his Red Robin cape to soar through the air.
Red Robin watched him from below, a smile playing on his lips, his expression so gentle it was almost doting. His blue eyes, hidden beneath the Domino Mask, were like a tranquil sea, tempting one to jump.
It was as beautiful as a dream.
Colt finally realized that his hesitation was groundless; not every romance reaches a happy ending, it was clearly unwise to let fear prevent him from trying. Since time was precious, he should seize the moment and create more beautiful memories, so that he would have no regrets in the future!
So what if it's same-sex love!
If I could fall in love with Red Robin, being bent like a pretzel would be worth it!
Colt's heart raced, he summoned his courage to do something, but the Bat-Signal lit up in the distance.
Red Robin leaped from the terrace, his cape spreading out; just before hitting the ground, he suddenly soared upward and reached out a hand toward Colt.
Colt grabbed the hand without hesitation.
Red Robin applied a little force, pulling Colt into his embrace.
They embraced in the air.
As left cheek brushed against right, lips brushed against his ear, Colt's mind held nothing but Red Robin's light laughter.
Trick or treat.
Red Robin stuffed a little something into Colt's palm while speaking, in the next second, Red Robin released Colt, leaping lightly over the treetops and landing on the motorcycle outside the courtyard.
Colt hovered in mid-air, watching the motorcycle speed away, only after a long moment did he look down at the Bat Lollipop in his hand. It was a homemade mint candy from Alfred, its wrapper twisted into the shape of a tiny bat.
"Tweet," Birdie flew over, circling around Colt.
Colt manipulated the cape to unfold and then fold, fold and then unfold, touching his right ear, which still felt as if it held a lingering warmth and softness, his heart racing uncontrollably.
How could he be like this!
Colt pursed his lips tightly, afraid his heart would leap out of his mouth. He rubbed his face against Birdie, his face becoming almost as bright as Birdie's feathers.
How could he just flirt and then run away!
At this moment, no amount of mathematical formulas could straighten out Colt's brain, which was twisted like a spiral.
The more holidays there are, the more chaotic Gotham becomes.
The entire Bat Family was out in full force, with Red Robin assigned to the Coventry District and the University District.
Gotham University was hosting a grand Halloween party, it was a veritable masquerade of demons. People were dressed as everything imaginable; Batman was arm-in-arm with the Joker, Black Mask and the Penguin were together amidst clouds of smoke, there were hundreds upon hundreds of different Robins—even if a real one or two were mixed in, no one would be able to tell.
Red Robin had resolved several crimes involving supervillain impersonators, handed over a few Joker cultists to the GCPD, then spotted the Riddler street-jacking a car on the detour through Swartz.
The Riddler wasn't wearing his signature question mark suit and green hat, but was instead dressed in an Arkham patient uniform, which wasn't uncommon these days.
Red Robin chased after the Riddler on a motorcycle while notifying Batman.
He had thought there would be a fierce battle tonight, but another Red Robin descended from the sky on a skateboard, stuffed something into the front of the car, then the vehicle the Riddler had hijacked broke down. The Riddler fired a gun through the car window, a smoke bomb flew through the gap in the window, immediately followed by the Riddler's cursing from inside the car.
Red Robin knocked the Riddler unconscious, tied him up like a mummy, hung him from a streetlamp. Then, Red Robin crouched atop the lamp post, resting his chin on one hand, tilted his head to smile at the other person.
Colt pulled a Vibranium brick from the car's engine, stuffed it back into his special waist pouch, then took a Bat Lollipop from a small pouch nearby and tossed it to Red Robin.
Trick or treat.
Red Robin twirled a Bat Lollipop between his fingertips, his voice laced with amusement: "Usually, it's the person asking for candy who says that."
I learned it from you!
Colt reached out, trying to snatch the Bat Lollipop back.
Red Robin was skilled at fighting; with just a change of posture, the situation turned into Colt throwing himself into Red Robin's arms, crashing straight into Red Robin's chest.
Colt pushed him in anger.
Red Robin suddenly gasped, his feet slipping from the push, he looked as if he were about to fall from the lamp post.
Colt was startled and hurriedly reached out to grab him.
Red Robin instantly regained his agility from being clumsy, grabbed Colt's hand, flipped down to land beside him.
The two of them squeezed onto the small skateboard, like two little birds huddling together on a power line to stay warm.
Thanks," Red Robin said, unwrapping the Bat Lollipop and biting off a Red Bat-Ball ear, smiling at Colt. "It's my favorite orange flavor.
Colt couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile as well: [Is it really that good?]
So, it wasn't his fault at all; even a villain couldn't handle being smiled at like that by Red Robin.
"It's really sweet, you can try it yourself." Red Robin smiled like a fox who had just caught a chicken.
Colt rummaged through his waist pouch, [only having an orange-flavored one.]
As soon as the voice message was sent, an orange lollipop stopped at his lips.
What does that mean?
Colt stared at the laughing Bat-Ball that was missing an ear; the glisten on the candy sphere was definitely more than just sugar syrup.
"I haven't bitten that side yet, want to try?" Red Robin asked.
Whether or not he had bitten it before, the candy ball was just that big, with those two pointed ears so close together, he had certainly touched his lips.
Colt thought he was going crazy; even though his mind was loudly questioning it, his body moved uncontrollably, seduced by that slightly magnetic, low voice, as he reached out his tongue to lick it.
The Bat Lollipop was made of fresh oranges and sucrose, sweet with a hint of tartness.
Just like a crush.
Colt commented seriously: [It's too sweet; next time you make it, reduce the sugar by one-third.]
The Batmobile roared from the distance.
"I think it's just right." Timothy stuffed the whole Bat Lollipop into his mouth, pressed against Colt's shoulder, leaped onto the side of a nearby streetlight pole.
Batman arrived at the scene only to see the Riddler tied up like a粽子 and hanging there, while Red Robin was crouching at a high vantage point, his uniform perfectly clean and a lollipop in his mouth, looking as relaxed as if he were out on a picnic.
Red Robin leaped lightly down from the traffic light, landing on the Batmobile. He took the lollipop out of his mouth and waved it. "Good evening, Batman. Lady Luck is on my side tonight, but thanks for the backup anyway. I'll leave the Riddler to you."
He looked to be in high spirits, as if he weren't on night patrol, but was instead on a date.
The Riddler was just an interlude; Red Robin continued his patrol, a lollipop in his mouth.
To be precise, there were two Red Robins.
Gotham's nightlife has always been deadly, even the most bustling university district gradually quieted down after ten o'clock. After midnight, there were basically no people left on the streets.
".. Red Robin, signing off." Red Robin finished exchanging information with Oracle, closed his wrist computer, stretched, looking at Red Robin Two, who had been acting as his shadow for half the night.
Colt sat pretending to sit on the edge of the rooftop, his feet dangling and kicking lightly in the air. He didn't look at Red Robin, but instead gazed out at Gotham as the lights began to fade.
Red Robin shifted slightly toward Colt, his left hand resting gently on the back of Colt's hand. "Tonight was my most efficient patrol ever; I need to thank Lady Luck."
Colt's heart leaped with piano notes, sounding a charge: [Dad said he's coming back tonight.]
Red Robin froze for a moment, thinking it was another subtle rejection, but the back of the hand he was covering suddenly turned over, their fingers interlaced.
Dad arrived home half an hour ago." Colt took a deep breath and turned to look at Red Robin, his eyes brighter than the lights of Gotham: "Tim, you are my god of luck, helping me fulfill my childhood dream. I am so happy tonight, happier than when my mecha passed its simulation test.
Red Robin noticed Colt's hands were trembling slightly.
"The world's second-best detective, you are the best Robin." Colt was frustrated by his own poor expression, which made his words seem disjointed and utterly incapable of conveying the depth of his true emotions.
Nothing major happened tonight, nor did any trouble arise that required the sacrifice of lives to resolve. Red Robin simply carried two children out of a fire, handed gas masks to civilians as fireworks exploded amidst the toxic fumes, then sacrificed his motorcycle to intercept a truck.. This might be the calmest Halloween in Gotham; there were no deaths, Red Robin's heaviest injuries were nothing more than a few bruises.
But Colt wanted to say that Red Robin was great, that his shining soul was beautiful, that he liked him.
Colt still had the taste of sweet orange in his mouth, even his heart felt bittersweet. There was nothing shameful about liking Red Robin, because it was foolish to keep one's distance from the person they liked!
"Where are you going tonight?" Colt asked.
Red Robin was thinking, answering tentatively, "Oak Tree Manor?"
"Your motorcycle is broken; you can hitch a ride on my skateboard," Colt offered.
He didn't make the skateboard expand into a door; it was still a standard 100 centimeters long, it would definitely be cramped for two people to stand on it.
Red Robin confirmed that this was an invitation, so the hand that should have been resting on Colt's shoulder instead wrapped around Colt's waist. He received no rejection; Colt even leaned closer into his embrace, just like before.
Colt set Red Robin down in the courtyard, set down the motorcycle wreckage that had been trailing behind him like a kite, then proactively gave Red Robin a hug.