Chapter Text
The problem started with a text.
It wasn’t even a bad text. It was just… a text. A completely normal text from his best friend in the whole universe, Tim Drake.
Tim: Hey! Got some news.
Kon: What’s up? 👀
Tim: I’m seeing someone.
Kon frowned at his phone. His stomach twisted in a way he didn’t quite understand.
Seeing someone?
Tim hadn’t mentioned anyone. He hadn’t said he was interested in anyone lately. They talked about everything — missions, life, even the dumb reality shows Tim claimed he only watched ironically.
So why hadn’t he told Kon about this?
His thumbs hovered over the keyboard. He wanted to ask who it was. Wanted to crack a joke. Wanted to…
Okay, he wasn’t sure what he wanted.
But before he could reply, another text came in.
Tim: His name’s Bernard. 😊
His name’s Bernard.
Kon blinked at the screen.
Bernard.
Tim was dating a guy.
Oh.
Okay.
That was fine. Kon was fine.
“Good for you, man,” Kon muttered to himself, forcing a smile. He was happy for Tim. Tim deserved someone who made him happy.
Right?
Then why did he suddenly feel like his insides were doing backflips?
Later that night, Kon found himself pacing his room in Smallville. He’d replayed the conversation a hundred times in his head.
“Bernard,” he muttered to himself. “Tim’s dating a guy named Bernard.”
Why did that feel… weird?
He wasn’t upset because Tim was dating a guy. No way. He was totally cool with that.
He was just surprised. That was all.
Except he wasn’t just surprised.
He was… something else.
The next day, Kon texted Cassie.
Kon: Quick question. How do you know if you’re… homophobic?
Cassie called him immediately.
“What the hell are you talking about?” she asked, her voice somewhere between amused and concerned.
“I don’t know!” Kon groaned. “It’s just — Tim’s dating a guy now, and I’ve been feeling weird about it. And I’m not supposed to feel weird about it, right? Like, that makes me sound like an asshole.”
“Wait, hold up.” Cassie snorted. “You think you’re homophobic because Tim’s dating Bernard?”
“Yes?”
Cassie burst out laughing.
“It’s not funny!” Kon said, pacing again. “I’ve been spiraling over this!”
“Oh, it’s hilarious,” she said. “Kon, you’re not homophobic.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re not upset that Tim’s dating a guy. You’re upset that Tim’s dating someone who isn’t you.”
Kon froze.
“What?”
Cassie sighed. “Come on, Kon. It’s so obvious. You’ve been in love with Tim forever.”
“I— No, I haven’t!”
“Really?” Cassie drawled. “Then why are you acting like a jealous ex right now?”
Kon opened his mouth to argue… but no words came out.
Holy shit.
That night, Kon lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Cassie’s words echoed in his head.
“You’re upset that Tim’s dating someone who isn’t you.”
He’d never thought about it like that. He’d never let himself think about it like that.
But now… it made sense.
The way his heart jumped whenever Tim smiled at him.
The way he couldn’t stop thinking about him.
The way he felt like he was missing something every time Tim wasn’t around.
It wasn’t just friendship.
It never had been.
“Oh, my god,” Kon whispered. “I’m homo… something.”
He groaned, pulling a pillow over his face.
This was going to be a mess.