I Like You (Tim Drake x FTM Kryptonian!Reader
A sweet Tim Drake x FTM Kryptonian!Reader
I did a little (too much) research into the Kryptonian language because I thought it would be cool. The translation is alway in parentheses next to the Kryptonian.
Word count: 3k
Summary: Y/N Lor-Em is a child of Krypton just Like Kal-El and Kara Zor-El, except Y/N isn’t from the house of El. He’s the only child of a low ranking scientist who gave up everything to make sure his child had a future away from their doomed planet. In the future his father worked so hard to give him Y/N met Timothy Drake and finally learned to appreciate their new home on Earth.
The destruction of Krypton was a tragedy that few lived to mourn. Following the destruction of the planet three children were sent away and survived their journey to earth. The house of El sent a son and a daughter. Kal-El and Kara Zor-El. We already know their stories, but they were not the only ones to escape the destruction of Krypton.
Y/N Lor-Em was the child of a small, little known family. The house of Em, a family of scientists and lab technicians. When Lor-Em heard that the famed Jor-El warned of the destruction of Krypton He did everything He could to procure a stasis pod to send his little girl away. To allow her a future, and so the young 12 year old Y/N Lor-Em was put into a pod and sent out with Kal-El and Kara Zor-El to the planet Earth. Unfortunately the universe had other plans for Y/N and the force of the explosion forced the child’s pod off course. For years the pod flew through space but eventually it found it’s way and crash landed in a small town in New Jersey.
Y/N Lor-Em arrived on earth, confused and scared. Unable to understand the language people spoke on this new planet but there was one thing that they did understand. The other Kryptonians were on Earth because again and again Y/N saw the crest of the house of El.
Five Years Later
Y/N Lor-Em (now simply known by his peers as Y/N) has come a long way since landing on Earth. You realized that you prefer to be identified as a boy. And decided to go simply by your name, Y/N on earth. You had no one to take you in. No one to teach you so you lived on the street and met many other kids like yourself. People born in the wrong body, that became your new family and taught you everything you know about earth. Slowly you learned to speak English and learned from older teens how to survive on the street. You took apart your pod and took the parts you could use to a home you were making yourself. You stole occasionally and used the powers Kryptonians get from Earth’s yellow sun to protect yourself and his friends from anyone stopping you from taking what you needed to survive. Eventually you set up and moved into an abandoned apartment in Gotham City. You learned very little about the other Kryptonians on earth. The one he knew as Kal-El, the Earth knew as Superman. He spent his days saving the world and his city of Metropolis. Occasionally you heard about what Kara Zor-El was up to but very quickly you decided that you wanted nothing to do with the Els. You preferred kept to yourself and your few friends in the world you made for yourself. Until one day when you came back to the apartment you heard people inside.
“How the hell did so much Kryptonian tech get here?” Asked the voice of what could only be a teenage boy. Maybe 17 or 18.
“I have no idea but we need to tell Clark about this. Either someone is stealing Kryptonian technology or someone learned to make it. Either way this is bad news” A different, much lower and older voice said but there was something else to it. It sounded like it was being transmitted, which was confirmed when you looked inside with your x-ray vision and saw only one boy in your home. You floated above the ground so as to not make a sound and as the boy spoke.
“I’ll take some of this stuff back, there are a few crystals here and if they’re anything like the ones he has they can help us figure out what this is” Said the boy and you opened the door, eyes glowing red.
“You won’t be doing anything” You said.
The boy jumped and took a fighting stance with a bo staff. He had short black hair and wore a red costume with wings.
“Who are you? What are you doing in my home?” You questioned, eyes red but not using your heat vision yet. You would give the stranger a chance to explain himself. The boy inspected you and you flew up to him, staring him down.
“You’re Kryptonian” He said and your eyes went back to their E/C color.
“Yes.” You told him, still floating over the boy.
“Red Robin, are you there? I’ve called Clark. Come back with whatever you find” The deep voice said from the transmitter in the boy’s ear and you used your super speed to grab it and break it in your hand.
“You will not take anything.” You said and dropped the broken ear piece in front of him. The boy put his hands up and took a step back.
“Hey- It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. I didn’t know this was your home” He said and you scowled.
“You can’t hurt me even if you tried.” You told him and he nodded.
“You’re right, I can’t. But I can help you. I have a friend he’s like you-” You cut him off before he continued.
“No one is like me!” You yelled and you saw the boy flinch.
“Listen, I’m sorry for breaking into your home but I can help you. I know Superman and he can teach you how to fit in here on earth” He tried to convince you and you floated down to the ground. This boy wasn’t a threat.
“I don’t need Kal-El’s help. My father sent me with everything I need. Besides what does he know about Krypton, he was sent away as a baby while I was sent away as a child” You told the boy who’d eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Wait, so you know Superman… And are older than him?” He asked and you simply stated.
“Yes. I was born 11 years before him. Not that it’s any of your business” You told him and the boy pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Listen, I’m very confused right now so if you’d just come with me we can discuss it. I’m sure Superman can at least help find you a nicer place to stay than this” He said, pointing to the abandoned apartment with clothes and tech spread around.
You glared at him. But you couldn’t hear any maliciousness in his voice and even though you didn’t want to associate with the Els, you didn’t particularly love living on the street.
“Fine.” You finally agreed and the boy smiled, holding out his hand.
“Great! I’m Red Robin by the way” He said but you didn’t take his hand. Instead you allowed your face to become neutral once again.
“I’m Lor-Em but you can call me Y/N”
-
When Bruce called Clark about a huge stockpile of Kryptonian technology he made whatever excuses he needed to be able to get to Gotham as soon as he could. But when Bruce said that Tim found another Kryptonian he didn’t believe it.
“I told you Bruce only mine and Kara’s pods made it to earth. I don’t know how many others were launched but they never made it off the planet” He said as Batman typed away at his computer.
“Rrup nahn jolum Kal-El. Rrup non kir kav dhedh khahp skilor rrup. Vadhah rrup skulir kuva vot iovis ughozh.” (You are wrong Kal-El. You were smaller last time I saw you. Also you look stupid with that suit.) You told the man of steel as Red Robin led you to him and Batman. He looked at you very confused and your face fell back into a scowl.
“You don’t speak Kryptahniuo” (Kryptonian) You said and Red Robin tried to lightly glare at you for the judgment in your voice.
“Not very well no. Now who are you and how do you know that language and my name?” He questioned and you crossed your arms.
“My name is Lor-Em. My father worked with yours so when Jor-El predicted the destruction of Krypton my father gave up everything he had to procure a stasis pod in which he sent me to earth.” You explained and Red Robin looked at you curiously.
“Also he’s apparently 11 years older than you” The boy added and Superman looked at you in confusion.
“The little that still worked in my pod after I crashed said I was blown off course. I landed five years ago” You said and you could see the gears turning in Superman’s head.
“I don’t need your help whether you believe me or not. I’m only here because he practically begged me” You said, pointing to Red Robin and he turned to you.
“You had crystals in your apartment, maybe those hold records?” He asked and you shook your head.
“Only two haven’t broken. They don’t hold anything important.” You lied and it worked.
That night you sat on the rooftop of Wayne manor looking at the sky thinking back to when your father, the original Lor-Em, would take you stargazing on Krypton. The sky was completely different with different stars and planets dotting the sky. Earth's moon was bigger than Krypton’s and you enjoyed seeing it’s changing phases in the sky.
“I thought you went back to your apartment” A voice said behind you and out of instinct you turned around and held up your fists at the owner of the voice.
It was Red Robin, except he was in normal clothes and wearing a pair of sunglasses.
“Batman allowed me to stay for dinner” You said and sat back down, looking at the sky.
“I’m sorry about all of this. I know it must be hard” He said and sat down next to you.
“It’s fine. I’ve been through worse” you told him and he smiled.
“You have nice eyes. They look beautiful in the moonlight” He said and you turned to him, confused.
“Why are you here Robin?” You questioned and he removed his glasses.
“Tim.” He told you before actually answering your question.
“And I thought you shouldn’t be alone right now” He said and you looked down at the legs you were swinging over the edge of the roof.
“It’s gotten easier over the years but every time I look at the night sky I’m reminded that this isn’t Krypton” You told him and he stayed quiet as you spoke.
“I’ve learned so much on earth. Hell I learned I was a boy here." You mused and Tim looked at you confused. You chuckled.
"I wasn't- I mean I was but..." You trailed off. Instead of talking you pulled a crystal that you kept on a string around your neck. Tim watched carefully as the crystal projected a night sky over the dark expanse of the night sky. You put the crystal on the roof and took a step back to look at the full hologram it projected.
"pahskil khahp Y/N Lor-Em" (Show me Y/N Lor-Em) You said and the projection showed a young you, with long flowing hair and a green dress over a black bodysuit. You smiled at the traditional Kryptonian outfit.
"On Krypton girls have three names instead of two, their name as well as their father's name. My name is Y/N and my father's name was Lor-Em" You explained and Tim nodded.
"I appreciate my time here but I’m not like Kal. I can never see this as my home because I remember too much of Krypton. It’ll always be there in my mind” You confessed and held your head in your hands.
"And you took his name when you transitioned?" He asked and you nodded.
"When I first landed a group of kids found me and took me in. They were a few years older than me and most of them were either kicked out or ran away from home because it wasn't safe for them to be themselves. They're the ones that taught me English and helped me understand myself" You shared, your voice held so much love in it and Tim smiled. You were mostly hostile in the short time he'd known you and he liked this side of you. That's when you took the crystal back and put it around your neck and sat back down with Tim joining you.
“And I miss it so much” You said, choking back a sob and Tim put his hand around you protectively.
“I know that leaving your home behind is hard. When my parents died and Bruce took me in I didn’t wanna let myself move on and call this my new home but, Earth doesn’t have to replace your old home. It doesn’t have to replace your home planet but it can be your new home. And you can find new family and friends here that will love you without replacing your family on Krypton” He said and you looked at him. Could you find a new place for yourself without replacing your home planet.
“And your place doesn’t have to be with Clark, I’m sure Bruce will let you stay here if you want” He continued and you hugged him.
“Thank you Tim. Nahkluv” (thank you) You told him and he held you for a bit longer than just a friendly hug but you didn’t pull away.
-
You in fact didn’t stay at Wayne manor. Instead (after a lot of badgering from Tim who you’ve grown very close to), Bruce helped set you up in a small apartment in the city and fake documents to help you live a normal life. Your new name was Y/N L/N, an emancipated 17 year old with up to date vaccination records and legal documents. So you did what any teenager your age does, you got a job at a coffee shop. Tim told you about how important a secret identity is even if you aren’t a superhero, so you practiced introductions and your backstory, Tim even made you promise not to use your powers in public.
He was incredibly eager to help you fit in. You two spent hours going through scenarios and just getting to know each other. You met his friend Kon-El also known as Connor Kent who was half Kryptonian and you told him about your home planet. One of these times you and Tim sat in your apartment, he helped you furnish it so it was comfortable and had little reminders of home. There were space posters all over the place and you had a blanket with your family crest in your living room.
Over the months that you’d known Tim you would spend increasingly more time in your apartment, both because you were uncomfortable in the manor and because Tim appreciated the privacy from his family.
“Wait I didn’t get it, how do you say superhero in Kryptonian?” Tim asked during one of his visits. He started asking you how to say all kinds of words in Kryptonian after you told him you still struggled with English and you found it adorable.
“Zy-gai” You told him again, breaking the word into it’s syllables.
“Zy-gai” He repeated (though his pronunciation was a bit off) and you giggled.
“Close enough” You told him and you both laughed.
“Rrup nahn i zygai” (You are my hero) He said and you felt your face flush, your hands immediately flew to your face to cover it. Tim laughed.
“You ass” You mumbled and he leaned in, pulling your hands away from your face.
“Was my pronunciation that wrong?” He asked and you looked at him and started laughing with him.
“No, no it wasn’t bad” You told him.
“You know it’s true. I’ve never met someone like you Y/N, you’re a hero, cape or not” He said and you curled into yourself in embarrassment at his words.
“Thank you Tim” You told him and he smiled sheepishly.
You didn’t mean to eavesdrop, you really didn’t do it on purpose but you had super hearing and you really couldn’t help but hear not only what Tim said but also what the one who called him said.
“It’s nothing, really- I mean it’s the truth! Cause I’d never lie about that kind of thing-” He started blabbering until his phone rang and he used the excuse to back up.
“I have to take this” He said, putting his hand on the microphone side and walked to a corner.
“So, how’s the date going Timmy?” A voice you had learned to recognize as Tim’s older Brother Dick said and you felt your cheeks brighten again.
“It’s not a date” Your friend grumbled into the phone and you were relieved but also, somewhat disappointed. You realized you had a teeny tiny crush on Tim when he helped you build the furniture you bought for your apartment and while you were glad you didn’t confuse your relationship with him by accident, well…
“Whatever you say Timmy. We all know you’ve got a thing for Kryptonians with identity issue” Dick teased and you heard Tim’s heart race. Was that really his type? And did you have identity issues?
“Kon is half Kryptonian- And what the hell do you want Dick?” Tim asked and this time you focused on the older boy’s response.
“You may want to stay with Y/N tonight. Bruce brought another kid home and this one claims he’s Bruce’s… He’s also a league trained brat” Dick said and you looked at Tim worriedly.
“Right, um, okay. Thanks for the heads up” Tim said and hung up as he walked back to you.
You hurried to look busy but that didn’t fool him.
“You heard all of that didn’t you?” He questioned and you smiled, guilt written all over you.
“No…”
“You’re a terrible liar” Tim said and you very lightly smacked his arm, careful not to use your super strength.
“Only when you’re around” You said without thinking and Tim looked at you, surprised.
“So… Dick said I should stay the night. I can sleep on the couch if you’re okay with it” He said, stuttering over his words and you were all too quick to answer.
“Of course!”
The two of you fell into an awkward silence and you had no idea how to move on so you just asked what was on your mind.
“So, you have a thing for Kryptonians?” You asked, there wasn’t even a hint of judgment in your voice and you smiled as Tim’s face became flushed.
“I mean, Kon- I had a bit of a crush on him” Tim confessed and you couldn’t hold back the next thing that came out of your mouth.
“And me?”
You clapped your hands over your mouth as soon as you heard what you said.
“I’m sorry- I- you don’t have to answer that-" Tim started to lean towards you,
"actually please don’t answer!” Until he heard you say that.
He stopped the second you said please don’t and immediately straightened.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean- I mean after what you said I thought- Never mind. I’ll um, I’ll see if I can stay at another friend’s place tonight. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable” He said but you stopped him from getting up.
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked, I don’t know what came over me” You said and he sat back down and wrapped his hands around yours.
“No- you didn’t- it’s not your fault” He said and scooted over to sit closer to you.
…
“Can I kiss you?” He asked and your eyes widened but you nodded and he leaned in and gently placed a kiss on your lips.
“Khahp zhao rrup Y/N” He said when your lips parted as he leaned his forehead against yours.
“Lor-Em” You said softly and his eyes showed some confusion as you continued.
“In Kryptahniuo my name is Lor-Em” You said and leaned in to connect your lips to his again. “And I like you too Tim”