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It almost seemed like the old days. Yeah, Tim had a new costume and a new name, but the fingers tapping lightly away on the keys of the laptop hadn’t changed a bit. It almost made Kon turn around. What he was about to do would change everything. He wouldn’t be able to take this back.
“What is it Kon.”
Too late now though. Tim’s eyes reflected the light from the screen as he glanced up from his work. Kon froze a nervous smile plastered on his face. Now. Say it now. He watched as Tim set the laptop aside walked over to stand in front of him, a worried frown on his face.
Before Tim could form the obvious Are you okay?, a rush of noise spilled from Kon’s mouth.
“So I kind of figured out that maybe I might kindasortaloveyou.”
A confused expression twisted Tim’s face, in a way that would normally have made Kon laugh if he wasn’t so busy trying not to throw up.
“Try saying that last part again. At a speed I can actually hear.”
Deep breaths. In. Out. Why was stuff like having super hearing and being invulnerable so useless at times like these?
“I love you.”
Tim seemed to stop breathing. And suddenly Kon remembered why super hearing was so awesome because if he hadn’t been able to hear Tim’s heart beating, he might have thought the young vigilante had become a statue.
“Uh, Tim? Hey, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said anything I’m just screwing everything up and-“
“Why.”
Kon’s jaw clicked shut at the abruptness of the question.
“You mean-“
“Why do you love me?” Tim’s eyes were perfectly neutral, betraying nothing of what he might be feeling.
“Well…” Kon gave a small huff as his eyes wandered up, recalling all those long nights asking himself that very same question. “I just started noticing the little stuff, you know? Your hair, your smile, the way you chew your lip while you think, how you always use that black mug with the white handle when you drink tea but never for anything else. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Tim. I don’t know what I’d do without you. And I just…yeah.” Kon finished lamely. Tim’s eyes had lowered and, what that a blush? His ears were tinted red and his cheeks held faint traces of pink on his pale skin. Tim’s heart was beating hard enough that Kon felt it was trying to compete with his own; and his heart almost felt like it was going to throw itself out of his chest. Only by virtue of his sharp ears was Kon able to pick up Tim’s next words.
“I didn’t think you’d ever…You’re so dense sometimes I thought you’d never realize.” Finally looking back up at Kon, “I love you too. Though I daresay I was much quicker on the uptake, though it did take you…,” a grimace ”dying…to make me realize just how much.” Relief flooded through Kon, his whole body relaxing after what had seemed an interminable time as Tim talked.
“I was kind of wondering, well hoping actually, that the whole cloning thing might have meant something.”
Tim’s smile was strained. “You sure put a lot on that hope.”
“Heh, yeah I guess I did.” Kon rubbed his neck a bit sheepishly, grinning. “So what now?”
Tim’s smile changed, becoming happier, more genuine.
“This.”
And grabbing his face, Tim pulled him down.
Kon had to admit, it was the best dang kiss he’d ever had.
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“Kon?”
A quick grin as he backed out of the room.
“It’s nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
Superboy didn’t see the disappointment flash across Red Robin’s face because the door had already closed with a quiet click. He could afford to wait another day. His feelings for Tim wouldn’t disappear overnight, though it seemed his courage could vanish in an instant. Just one more day to fortify himself, then he would do it.
After all, there was always tomorrow.