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“Is Bruce going to be okay with this?”
Tim flopped upside down on the lounge couch in Wayne manor, clutching his phone to his ear with both hands and clinging to every word he heard.
What a question that was. Would he? Tim didn't know. He hadn't made any mention of his romantic life to Tim since before his adoption, much less come out as probably bisexual and crushing on a half-Krypton.
“Uh, probably. He doesn't know.” He paused. “I'm very sneaky.”
Kon snickered on the other side of the line.
“Yeah, sneaky. Sneaky like crushing on me for a year and waiting for me to make the first move.”
Trying and failing to suppress a smile, Tim could only nod, knowing full well Kon couldn't see him.
“Yeah yeah, so you want to go skating Wednesday or not?”
“Of course I do! You'll have to teach me how to not fall, though.”
“I'll hold your hand.”
At that, Kon made a bit of a strangled squeak that made Tim’s heart to a little twirl.
“Right, sounds good,” He said, smiling hard enough that he was sure Kon could hear all the way in Kansas. “I’ll see you Wednesday.”
Kon bid him goodbye, but not before saying, quick and nervous, “I look forward to it.” It took a second of hesitation for either of them to hang up. Tim didn’t even care how awkward and clunky the entire phone call was, or how he had no idea how to tell Bruce his plans, because his heart was beating so fast with excitement that his normal logical spiral just… disappeared.
He had a date. It wasn't his first date, but it certainly was his first with another man. Boy. Teenager. Holy balls.
They were only going rollerblading and getting ice cream. Once Tim got out of school, Kon was going to pick him up and head back to his “hometown”.
He couldn't believe this.
Tim swung himself sideways on the couch. Sitting upside down had started giving him a headache. He was lightheaded, too, but he didn’t know if that was the nervous-excitement or the blood rush. Or both.
“What are you freaking out about now?”
Tim jumped so hard that his phone slid from the couch to the floor. Jason’s head popped over Tim’s, eyebrow arched. Tim cowered and tried (and failed) to subtly grab for his phone. He really wasn’t ready to talk about any of this romance-y stuff with anyone, muchless his older punkass brother.
“Nothing.” Tim squeaked. He could feel the cool glass screen brush against his fingertips, but just as he brought it closer, it disappeared.
“Then…” Jason said, a grin breaking out. “What’s this?
He held up the phone, its bright red case gleaming in the lounge room light.
“Stop it, give it back!”
Tim clumsily leapt up from the couch to grab his phone, and in turn, Jason lifted it higher.
Normally, this would be no big deal. Tim trained to be able to scale any structure, no matter how annoying, but in his current flustered mood, the capacity to do anything remotely intelligent had plummeted down to single digits.
Why did Jason have to visit the manor today? Couldn’t he have waited until after Valentine's day? He really only visited once a week anyways.
“This would be so much easier if you just told me what’s got you acting so sketchy.” Jason said, voice all sing-songy. His hand shot up higher as Tim’s sad little five-foot-four figure jumped again.
“It’s not your business! Give it back!”
An idea struck Tim in a moment of clarity.
While Jason was laughing his smug ass off, Tim grabbed a pillow off the sofa and thwapped him in the face. The phone fell to the carpet with a joyous thud.
VICTORIOUS.
Tim dove to the ground with more finesse than he brought to the training mat and retrieved his stolen goods. Jason cursed, but Tim didn’t stick around to see what he’d do next. The only thing Tim had in mind next was to find a sanctuary. He darted out, phone secured and irritation reeling.
Freaking Jason and his freaking nosey-ness at the worst of times. Tim always wanted siblings, but he didn’t think they’d even be annoying.
In reality, Tim was beyond grateful for Jason and his other shithead siblings, but right now, he could definitely do without them accidentally and forcefully outing him.
He knew Jason didn’t mean any real harm, but that was kind of the problem; Jason didn’t mean anything. He just wasn’t thinking.
Tim turned the corner to find Dick, or at least head to the safety of his room, sulking all the way. Although he was a bit of an apologist for everything Jason did sometimes, Dick wouldn’t pry into anything Tim didn’t want to talk about. He’d been going to therapy for that.
Jason still had a ways to go. Tim did, too, if he was being honest.
He scanned the nearby rooms for any blur of brightly colored athleisure. Dick visited the manor far more often than Jason, despite living further out. Most of the time, it was just Damian and Tim though. The two had been getting along a lot better since Damian’s introduction, but they really weren’t at the bonding stage of their relationship. They were still at the level where they discretely laughed at the old man things Bruce did at the dinner table, and nothing more.
After a quick look around to make sure Jason wasn’t stalking him with a pillow, Tim continued his search.
Tim was almost certain that Jason got the memo to leave Tim alone, but now that his flight or fight responses were calming down, Tim was back to his overly cautious demeanor.
Maybe that was one of the reasons Tim liked Kon so much. Kon might tease him, but no matter what, he trusted Tim. He was there to back Tim up and to support him.
He could feel his cheeks flush. Gosh, he couldn’t believe they were going to go on a date. To think that when they first met, they had practically been enemies, was crazy. Now, when the two were together, they were a force to be reckoned with. Especially when the rest of Young Justice was around.
Tim remembered their first movie night together. Ahh, what a delightful disaster. He had been such a control freak mess for the first half, but Kon had slung an arm around Tim’s shoulder and asked what was wrong, and from that moment on, Tim had metaphorical birdies and love hearts in his eyes when Kon was around.
The two of them still argued and bickered like their life depended on it. Cassie had threatened them to knock it off on multiple occasions, but as time went on, their fighting tamed to a banter and Cassie was only left mildly irritated.
It was hard not to feel a little lost in the manor, even when Tim realistically could get around with his eyes closed. The turns and twists, sometimes dark or illuminated only by a window or two, disoriented your mind while your motor skills kept chugging.
Of course, it didn’t help that Tim’s sympathetic nervous system was still supercharged and ready to go. Clearly, his anxiety medication really only did so much to regulate him. Rude.
Finally, Tim found Dick’s old room. It was the most likely of places that Dick would be. It was still before lunch, so it’d be a little alarming if he was anywhere else other than sleeping in.
Tim gave a cautionary knock on the white trim of the doorframe.
“Yeah?” Came the groggy voice of his older adopted brother.
He pushed in the door, closing it gently behind him, before daring to speak. His nerves were beyond shot.
“Can I hang out in here?” Tim asked. He didn’t bother to wait for an answer before plunking down on the edge of the bed that Dick was still sprawled out on. His phone was clenched in a sweaty fist. Tim finally set it down on the bed beside him. It hadn’t buzzed since his call. There wasn’t anything to worry about.
Dick was nosy, but Tim knew how to keep him at bay.
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Dick laughed, struggling to sit up from the blankets he was tangled in. “What’s going on?”
“Jason’s being a bitch,”
Dick tried to give Tim a look of admonishment, but he couldn’t keep the amused smile off his face long enough to get the message across.
“How so?”
“... Okay, so, I’m not ready to talk about the details, but… he keeps prying. I’m not ready.”
Dick nodded. “I get that.”
“So I’m hiding here.”
“Perfectly valid.”
“But Jason might still be stalking me. I… wasn’t very diplomatic.”
Tim could hear a heavy sigh from Dick. It was starting to look like one of those mornings where everyone would pile in Dick’s room and Dick’s break from Blüdhaven would turn into mediating his siblings. Must suck to be the oldest, Tim thought, entirely unsympathetic. Ohh, all that love and familial comfort, must be so suffocating .
In all reality, Tim did understand why it could be challenging. He was still trying to build boundaries with everyone, especially touch.
Dick’s hand patted Tim’s shoulder. Tim repressed a flinch.
“Aren’t we all, bud.”
Dick would know about being undiplomatic. He could almost hear the fights with Bruce coming from the dining room.
Nervously, Tim turned down his ringer, then promptly turned it back on in case Kon messaged him. Maybe he should text him first? How should Tim dress? Should he pack snacks?
Oh God, should he buy Kon flowers?
“Whelp,” Came the hoarse voice of his oldest brother. “Night.”
Did… he just fall asleep on command?
With a huff, Tim stood up. So much for a sanctuary. Dick wouldn’t be of any help if he was conked out. When he wanted to, he could sleep through a series of nuclear bombs. It was part impressive and part obnoxious.
Tim pushed the door back open, tired and weary. He wished he was hanging out with Kon. Yeah, thinking about him caused tachycardia, but when they were together? It was laughter, smiles, content quiet, and Tim never left their interactions feeling worse. It was an added bonus that Kon had no internalized homophobia, very little proper toxic masculinity (his asshole-ery was all for show), and best of all, Kon liked him too.
It hardly felt real.
Inhale. Exhale. Tim didn’t want to risk going back to the lounge, but he was sick of hiding away in his bedroom. He had the entire manor at his fingertips, and nowhere seemed enticing.
He plunked himself down out in the hallway, cross legged with his phone in his hands.
Maybe he’d text Kon those silly Valentine’s cards. They were just tame enough for their stage of closer-than-friends. Maybe. The two had been pussyfooting around each other for a good while, so it wasn’t far off to be playfully flirty.
Tim couldn’t believe how far he’d gone. He used to date his friends out of loneliness and comp-het, and how Steph was texting him things that suggested that the both of them were queer.
Gosh almighty, how was he going to tell Bruce? Or his brothers and sister? Alfie? He desperately wanted to. After so long of feeling alone and unheard, he’d been making up for all those years by talking the ears off of everyone. His therapist was both proud of him and helping him learn how to read the room properly.
He wondered if Jason was still home, still roaming the halls, likely pissed that Tim got a win on him. He wasn’t really scared anymore, now that common sense had set in and Tim remembered that Jason was a brother, not a threat, no matter how invasive he could be.
How would Jason react to Tim telling the truth? Really, Tim? This is what had you freaking out? Tim could hear it in his head loud and clear. Realistically, that’s more or less how everyone would react. Tim knew none of them were prejudiced, and it was more likely, statistically, that another one of his family members was queer, but wow, it was such a personal part of his soul he had to bear.
On top of coming out, there was the more pressing issue of who it was Tim was going on a date with. Kon was pretty much Clark’s son, and Batman and Superman were nothing if not protective of their children and territorial about their cities.
Clark didn’t used to be, but after Bruce started keeping tabs on his city closer, that attitude shifted.
Tim fiddled with his phone. He wanted to talk about everything soon, he knew; perhaps even before the actual Wednesday date that he was so nervous-excited for. How, though?
Powerpoint? It would be on brand, but Tim didn’t want to tire his convincing abilities with slide presentations. He’d save that for another time. Perhaps a riddle or a scavenger hunt? It would be fun, but time consuming to put together. There were only a few days before his date, and Tim needed all of the time in the world to panic and overanalyze.
“What are you doin’ now?”
Oh. Jason again. He was still at the manor, it seemed.
“Scrutinizing.” Tim answered honestly. Jason just hummed.
While Tim was sat up against the hallway wall, Jason stood in front of him, towering over. Despite the offensive height difference, Jason managed to look sheepish. He stood for a second more before squatting down to get closer to Tim’s floor-level.
There were some popping sounds that came from either Jason’s back or knees. Or both.
“Fucker,” He hissed, but didn’t fall or stand back of.
Old , Tim thought, amused. He ignored the fact that he wouldn’t be seventeen forever. That could be a spiraling disaster later.
Tim looked expectantly at Jason. Jason looked back. He looked pained in the same way that Bruce does when he has to use abstract concepts for feelings.
“I'm here to apologize.”
“Okay,” Tim said, tucking his phone into the safety of his pocket. “I'm all ears.”
The two stared at each other awkwardly. It seemed that the both of them were waiting for Jason’s apology.
“...I’m sorry.”
“What-- is that it?”
“Well--”
“Dude, you terrorized me for like three minutes straight. Put some back into your apology!”
“T--”
“Whatever, I’m leaving.”
Jason cleared his throat. “Tim, please listen. I really am sorry.”
Tim already started standing up, patience wearing thin. He didn’t get enough consecutive sleep last night to deal with this. Before he could start walking away, a hand reached out and grabbed his wrist. Shocked, Tim just stood there for a moment, and once he registered what happened he ripped his arm away.
One glance at Jason showed the horror he felt at his own actions. Placatingly, Jason opened his palms up and out.
“Please, I just want to apologize. Then I’ll leave you alone. I promise.”
He glared at Jason, but feeling charitable (or rather, too pissed to let this go), he listened.
“Go on, then.”
Jason lowered his hands to his knees and plonked down on the floor, legs crossed.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you to talk about something you didn’t want to talk about, and I shouldn’t have tried to take your phone, and I shouldn’t have continued to mess with you even after you clearly were not in the mood. I’m sorry, and it won’t happen again.”
Tim looked down at his older brother, seated on the floor. Slowly, Tim lowered and joined him on the hallway carpet. Jason looked a bit like a startled cat, unable to decide if he should freeze or run away.
They stared at one another again, but this time, it didn’t feel so weird.
“It’s okay,” Tim finally replied.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
This was a therapy win, Tim thought. Communication skills for the both of them have leveled up. The thought made him warm inside.
“Hey, I’m ready to tell you something.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
Tim puffed out his cheeks.
“I’m going on a date with a boy. This Wednesday.”
“Wow! Tim! Are.. okay, are you…?”
“I dunno.”
Jason scratched his head. It was likely not what he thought Tim was going to say.
“Um, well, you know I support you no matter--”
Tim laughed. “I know. I just had to think about it first.”
“Okay.”
Smiling, Tim leaned into Jason and closed his eyes. Jason, letting brotherly instincts kick in, held out his arms.
“I love you.” Tim mumbled.
“I love you too.”