i finally sat down and scrolled through my "cutting room floor" doc to pull some outtakes if anyone is interested! most of the doc is just somewhat different versions of lines/scenes that made it into the final draft (notable exception being an extended kon & bart & cassie scene), but the snippets below were distinct enough that i think they'd be fun to share. plus some director's commentary, because hey, why not:
“Do you know—” Kon’s voice falters. He stares at the mask. Remembers Clark saying, He’ll be fine. “The other boy who was with me, Tim? He was—hurt.”
“Oh. I heard Dad talking about that,” Jon says. “And, um. It’s kind of on the news.” Off whatever Kon’s face is doing, Jon rushes to add: “He really is okay! He went to the hospital, and Dad said something about surgery on his leg, but he only sounded normal worried about it. Like when Grandpa had to go to the doctor for his knee.”
[i think i cut this for length, and also because i thought kon would be going directly for his phone the moment he was coherent enough.]
“He’s asleep,” Nightwing adds. “I’m in the corridor right now. The hospital, so—people around. I saw your call come in, didn’t want to wake him. Also I was a bit worried you’d gotten into trouble while unsupervised, but it looks like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
Kon has heard enough Bat-speak to read a bit between the lines: despite knowing Kon is safe in the Fortress, Nightwing still thought there was a chance Kon called Robin because something was wrong.
“He’s not unsupervised,” Jon says, because he’s sitting two feet away and can hear the whole thing. “I’m here.”
There’s a hint of a smile in Nightwing’s voice when he replies: “Right, good work, kiddo.” Which tells Kon that whether or not Jon’s aware of who’s on the phone, Nightwing already knows exactly who Jon is. Again: of course.
[cut for length, and also kon was a little too out of it/worried/upset to really balance more cute jon lines at this moment]
He does break down and message Robin while Ma is resetting the bandsaw.
Direct message: sb & robin
[XXXDAY, 12:45pm]
sb
we’re going to be okay, right?
Then he immediately feels like an absolute heel for asking for reassurance from the guy who nearly died saving him.
sb
never mind. we’ll be okay
This time, the reply comes right away.
robin
we’ll be okay.
i promised, remember?
And that has to be enough for now.
[also cut for length, and because i felt like it was re-treading earlier beats, and also there’s only so much they can communicate onscreen before all the things they’re Not Talking About feel unreasonably held off.]
Mr. Wayne studies him, face unreadable again. “No, I imagine he hasn’t,” he says. “Tim is…like me. Too much, at times. He blames himself for what happened, and has been planning accordingly.”
“It wasn’t his fault,” Kon says immediately.
“I know.” Mr. Wayne pauses, then says: “It wasn’t yours, either, Conner.”
[these lines were cut because, as @cairoscene rightly pointed out, bruce is not nearly this self-aware, and even if he were he isn’t going to say it out loud. but i liked the idea of bruce telling kon it wasn’t his fault.]
Kon raises his eyebrows. “He’s Batman.”
“Yeah,” Clark says. “And he’s a drama queen. Sorry.”
Mr. Wayne spreads his hands. “What about this is dramatic? I showed up in a rental car. I’m not even wearing a suit.”
“But you wanted to,” Clark says.
Mr. Wayne looks briefly disgruntled. “Alfred vetoed it.”
[i don’t remember why exactly i cut this—length again? it made it harder to segue to the next part of the scene maybe? but it’s still fun to me.]
“You’re so stupid,” Carmichael says, but shoots a wary look at Tim. “Whatever. At least now we know why you were such a fan of Superboy back then. Though, sounds like he didn’t even come to your rescue, so maybe you’re not such a fan any—”
Tim sets down the drink menu. It’s not loud, just the thud of the lacquered wooden menu stand hitting the tablecloth with more force than strictly necessary—barely even audible over the music—but Carmichael’s mouth snaps shut. Finally.
“Enjoy the party,” Tim calls as Brian drags Carmichael away.
[i ended up having tim try to restrain himself more in this section, so it was a bit more fun in the next sequence when he was like “actually screw it” and unleashed on vicki vale. but initially tim got to be a little more Intense to carmichael.]
Vicki tilts her head and gives Tim a razor-sharp smile. “It’s not gossip when there are superheroes involved, Mr. Drake. But now that you’re here, why don’t you explain your side of things?”
“Oh, I would,” Tim says, “but I think I’ll spare us all the trouble of Bruce suing you to hell and back later.”
[convo ended up going in a different direction here, though i enjoyed this bit.]
“I’m no good at hot chocolate, but I can make tea.” And hey, Tim’s not planning on falling asleep any time soon, so he says: “Give me a boost?”
Kon raises his eyebrows, but reaches out to press the back of his knuckles to Tim’s waist, feather-light. The next moment Tim is being lifted up toward the tallest cabinet.
He has the door open and is contemplating the selection of black tea when Alfred clears his throat behind them. Tim sees Kon jolt, just a tiny bit, and feels way too pleased that Kon was clearly focusing so much on Tim that he missed Alfred’s approach.
“Master Tim,” Alfred says sternly.
Tim looks down over his shoulder. “Technically,” he says, “I am not climbing the counters.”
[this was one of the earliest exchanges i had drafted in this chapter, but by the time i got to it i decided it was way too niche a callback to one (1) line in the first chapter, and it didn’t really hold up without that aspect. also, i wanted jason to be babysitting damian, which meant alfred had to be busy elsewhere (probably the gala with bruce); this was intended to be alfred’s chapter 6 appearance, though.]
If making out with Kon were an Olympic sport, Tim would be going for gold.
[line was too silly for the scene, but just know tim “i have to be an expert at everything i do” is bringing that energy here too.]
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