Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Pardon me?” Damian tapped a young man on the shoulder.

“Huh? Oh hello?” The man was tall, wore big round glasses and was very blonde, that could be good, His ex was blonde, Damian thought.

“Are you a part of the LGBTQ+ community?” straight forward was the only way this matter should be handled.

“What? Ummm, yes but I'm not into younger guys. Sorry kid.”

“Apologies are not necessary. I am looking for a partner for my older brother.” Not a weirdo, check. “Are you in college? If so, what do you study? If not, what do you do for work?”

“Oh this is like an interview. Okay? Umm, I am a student at Metro U. I am studying communications and I also work at the bookstore there.”

Damian stared at the boy for a long moment. He tilted his head to the side before saying a quick goodbye and leaving to the back of the animal shelter he worked at.

Jon sat on a chair feeding a rabbit. He was so gentle when it came to the animals around them. Jon had very kind hands. Damian liked to watch them as the other boy worked.

“Hey.”

“Yes, hello.” Damian completely entered the room. “That guy is back for his bird. Will you check him out?”

“Right away.” Jonathan Kent had a slight country boy accent. Most people would mistake it as just the way he spoke but Damian spent almost every afternoon with him and he slowly learned which words he learned to pronounce the way his father did.

“So he was another dud?” Jon asked.

“He passes 1 and 3 with flying colors but he's studying communications and that should be a crime. He looks like a slacker too.” Damian was on an important mission to find his nextdoor neighbor, a boyfriend. He had three simple rules:

1) Must not be a weirdo
2) Cannot have a criminal past
3) Must be taller than Tim

“Ever the nitpick.” Jon joked as he got up to leave the room.
This quest started 3 months ago when his neighbor and best friend had his very first break up. He said it was mutual but then he locked himself in his house and refused to leave. He won't even get online to play games with Damian. That was when he knew things had to change.
His older brother Jason proposed that each Wayne kid try to find Tim a partner. Cass thought that was a breach of privacy and ruins the intimacy of finding a relationship but Jason wasn't in the business of reason. Jason just wanted an excuse to get Tim to join his friend group.
Jason had been shut down every time he had asked Tim to come hang out with him and his friends so Damian had arrogantly assumed he would have an easier time. But here he was month 3 and not a single candidate or Tim sighting.

Jon re-enter the back room, “Do you wanna come over tonight to watch a movie or something?”

“Sure, but I’ll have to leave before the last train to Gotham.”

__

When the pair arrived at the Kent’s residence, Damian collapsed on the floor having rejected two possible candidates on the bus for being weirdos and litters. Jon turned on the TV and started unpacking his school bag. Damian watched him place a folder and a notebook on the coffee table.

“I'm gonna grab some water. Want anything?”

“Water would be nice.” As Jon left to the kitchen Damian caught a glimpse of a young man sitting at the counter. He had never seen this man before but he looked eerily similar to Clark, Jon’s father. When Jon returned Damian crawled over to him on the floor keeping his voice low.

“Who is that?” He pointed over to the dark haired boy with thick black frames. Jon’s eyes followed the gesture.

“Oh! That's Conner. He's kinda like my half brother or well I guess he is my half brother.” Damian titled his head seeking more information, “His bio mom got pregnant then gave him up without telling my dad anything. Conner found us a month ago because he wanted to meet his bio parents.”

The gears were turning in young Damian Wayne's mind. “Do you think he has any concerning flaws?”

“Eh, not really. He dresses kinda edgy but I think he's a nerd. He's studying agricultural science in Gotham.” Jon rolled his head over the couch cushion coming face to face with a grinning Damian. Damian points to his list then checks box one.

“What about a criminal record? Is he clean?”

“He was adopted by some famous rich guy so he kinda has to.” Jon smiles, grabs the pencil and marks off the second box.

“Hey Kon?” Jon calls from the living room floor, “About how tall do you think you are?”

Conner looks up from his laptop with a skeptical stare, “Six foot three.”
The two boys looked to one another checking the final box.

“This could work!” Jon said honestly shocked he hadn't thought of Conner before.

“Yes, I believe it could.” Damian smiled, “but are their personalities compatible?”

“Well…?” Jon sharply inhaled through his teeth, strained expression written on his face. “I don't know. Honestly you’d know best.”

__

The three of them sat at the Kent family table. All the lights off except a desk lamp from Jonathan’s room with the light pointed at Conner, slightly blinding him.

“State your name, age, and current living situation.” Damian said flatly.

“Take your time though. Cookie?” Jon said cheerily.

“Umm… Conner Luthor, age 18, I live here in Metropolis with my Dad during the weekends then I stay in a small studio apartment in Gotham during the week.” Conner chuckled a little at the end holding his composure together for the most part.

“What are your hobbies?” Jon read off a obviously blank piece of paper.

“I like to sketch, I'm pretty good on a skateboard, and I write music for my band.” He took a cookie letting the two boys continue whatever this interrogation was about.

“You're in a band?” Damien asked in a judgmental tone.

“Yeah, we started about 2 years ago. My friend Cassie plays the bass, then we have Bart on drums, and finally I am lead guitarist and vocalist.” He leaned back in his chair feeling like he'd said the wrong thing.

Damian narrowed his eyes then looked at Jon. He was also skeptical. Boys in bands were bad news, especially songwriters.

“Umm,” Jon tried to change the subject, “Right well, what foods do you like?”

“I guess I like most foods.”

“So you're indecisive?” Damian kept his tone flat and lifeless, it unsettled Kon a bit.

“No, I’m not picky. There's a difference.” He folded his arms with a sigh.

“Do you work?” Damian asked.

“I work part-time at LuthorCorp as an intern.” Conner replied.

“So you plan to take over LuthorCorp?” Damian Countered.

“I plan to take over our sustainable living project and hopefully expand our city's farms to make fresh food affordable again. When we do that for Metropolis we can bring City Farms to people all over the United States.”
Damian smiled. He's ambitious, I like him. He noticed the way Conner spoke with such confidence that this would happen in their lifetime. It was admirable. Jon sifted through his blank papers thinking of his final question.

“Why did your last relationship end?” This question shocked both of them.
Damian leaned in.

“Hey, I’m supposed to be ‘Bad Cop’ here Kent.”

“It's the last question and honestly the most important one.” Jon whispered back.

“Fine.”

They two looked up at Conner awaiting his answer.

“Oh? Umm,” he paused thinking it over. “Mostly because we had been together for a while but we didn't really see a future where we were still together… also she turned out to be a lesbian but that wasn't revealed until later, you know.” Conner tapped his fingers on the table, “Can I go back to my homework now?”

Clark opened the front door to find Damian leaning over the chair Jon was sitting in, Conner with a light in his face, and all other household lights turned off. There was a plate of cookies on the table and signs of abandoned homework everywhere. “What's going on, kids?”

“I'm under arrest apparently.” Conner joked.

“Okaaaay?” Clark flipped on the kitchen and dining room lights, “Can I ask why?”

“We're not releasing that information to the press quite yet.” Damian said, then the two boys retreated to the living room. Conner stood up grabbing his confiscated laptop from the credenza.

“I don't know, man. Teenagers are weird.”

Chapter Text

Damian's plans all fell apart on a mundane Wednesday afternoon. Tim was on his way to class, riding through campus on his skateboard, when out of nowhere, another out-of-control buffoon crashed into him. Tim fell on his back on a grassy area behind him with the giant mass of a man on top of him. When Tim's eyes finally focused in, he was met with bright red sunglasses. He was monumentally unimpressed. You can't be bad at skateboarding and also have bad fashion sense; pick a struggle. Tim thought to himself.

“I am so sorry!” The boy said, but Tim could barely hear it over the music blasting from his headphones. Then he was immediately distracted by the sight of his skateboard rolling into the street. It took all of two seconds for a car to run straight over it, killing his sweet Marjorie. She had been his skateboard for a very long time.

“No!” Tim shouted, but it was too late.

“Oh shit…” He let out a deep sigh, then began to rummage through his pockets, “I can replace it. I'm so sorry, I'm already late and covered in coffee. Here, take this.” Tim is handed a slightly rumpled business card, before the guy just took off.

It was at that moment that Tim looked down and realised he was also now slightly damp and smelled vaguely of coffee. “Well, today couldn't get any worse.”

Always remember that every day can get worse. For example, when you walk into your 9:00 am lecture to find only three open seats, your day has gotten worse. When the first two are right up front and in the splash zone for your professor's slight spew of enunciations, your day has gotten much worse. When the third seat is all the way at the back, next to the guy who just killed the only thing you love, your day might as well just end.

Tim was feeling slightly vindictive, so he made his way up the steps. He sits right next to the guy. “Busy morning?” He asks in a condescending tone.

“Huh?” Mr. late-with-coffee looks up, face changing quickly to horror. “Oh my God.” He buried his face in his hands.

“Yeah…” Tim deadpans, then unpacks his things onto the desk, “Do you have a career in destroying other people's property? Or is that more of a side gig to staining strangers' t-shirts?”

The boy awkwardly chuckled, “Sorry about that.”

Tim pulls out the business card he was given earlier, “Let's see here,” he dramatically pretends to struggle reading the small print, “LuthorCorp? You must think you're Mr Big Shot, huh? With your fancy official business cards.” He joked. Tim flipped the card to find in big bold letters, Conner E. Luthor.

Oh, shit… he is Mr. Big Shot.

“I wouldn't use those words, but most tabloids seem to think being Lex Luthor’s son is a pretty big deal.” He flashed Tim a cocky grin.

Tim rolled his eyes and then tossed the card back, “Well, I am of the general opinion that tabloids are bullshit.”

“And you're the expert? You dress like a newspaper purist.” He scoffed.

Tim leaned back in his chair. “Are you calling me a snob?”

“Only if I’m right.” He sang.

“Well, you're wrong.” Tim grabbed his phone, quickly typed something into it, then slid it across the table to Conner. The search was open to an article ‘Tim Drake, Gotham's new Playboy Prince'. The article ran this morning after the rumors of his breakup were solidified. “I'm a victim.”

“If you think getting called Gotham's most eligible is slander, I don't think you know anything about tabloids.” Conner slid the phone back, “So I think I was right.”

“Aw, so you agree with them?” Tim gave a quick smirk, then flipped open his notebook.

“I didn’t say that,” Conner lowered his, “I would say that the son of the infamous Jack Drake is probably just as sideways a businessman as his father and undeserving of titles like Prince of Gotham.”

He knew what Conner had said about his father wasn’t untrue, but he still was not pleased with the way he said it. As if he knew anything about his father, “This coming from the son of the man who has single-handedly funded every war of our generation and generations to come.” Tim kept his response stoic.

“Like Drake Industries doesn’t have its hand in drafting homeless teens into the military.” Conner bit back.

“The Neon Knights program is not used to draft children. But maybe if you spent more time with underprivileged youth, you’d get the concept of not having a lot of options.” His monotone voice must have struck a nerve with young Luthor because his pencil broke. Then the teacher cleared her throat.

“Luthor, Drake, the pair of you will team up with Mr. Allen. Those are the groups for today. Get together and assign tasks.” She sat back behind her desk.

Tim turned to his left to find a scrappy looking red head with an awkward look on his face. Conner grabbed a new pencil and wrote their names down at the top of his paper. Tim opened his laptop and pulled up the assignment.

“I’m Bart, by the way. Nephew of Iris West Allen. She shits on both your dads all the time.” There was an awkward silence. “Just so we get that out of the way.”

“...”

“...”

This was going to be the worst group project in all of history.

Chapter Text

“What are you doing after this?” Bart asked as he packed up his things. Conner watched as Tim left the classroom, down the stairs. What was his deal? Why so defensive? It frustrated Conner in a way that no one ever had before. Mostly because he felt like he read people very well, and yet he had no significant read on him.

“I'm headed to Metropolis tonight. My… half-brother? I guess? He wants to hang out tonight.” Conner smiled to himself as he slid his notebook into his backpack.

“Oh, that's cool! Wait, so you two like, get along?” Bart playfully pushes Kon’s shoulder.

“Yeah, for the most part. We have a lot more in common than I do with my bio dad, that's for sure.” The two made their way down the stairs and out of their classroom as well. He looked ahead but didn't find Tim. He must be a fast walker.

“Is he cool though? Like, do you like him?” Bart asked.

Conner took a deep breath and thought for a second. He and Clark did get along, but they didn't have a single thing in common. Conversations tended to fall short, and it definitely didn't help that Clark was not the biggest fan of his dad. “He's cool. It's just… he's a very Star Wars guy, and I'm very-”

“Garage band degenerate?” Bart joked, but it wasn't untrue. Clark and Kon were on different planets when it came to personality. He must be more like his mom, and Kon has been wondering that. What his mom was like. He wondered if he was anything like her.

“Yeah,” Kon pushed Bart back, “But you're one of those, too.”

The pair made it to the parking lot, where they would part. They walked up to Conner's car, and he threw his skateboard into the back seat. Bart tossed his bag into the passenger seat. Conner turned around to find a certain black-haired emo with an attitude problem standing on the sidewalk in front of him, messenger bag thrown over his shoulder, nose deep in his phone. His facial expression was blank. Kon wondered if he ever smiled, but that wasn't his problem.

Tim gently looked over his shoulder, finding Kon’s stare. Not even a twitch of his brow in surprise. He simply walked over and handed Bart a card.

“Here.” His voice was not cruel, but it was also certainly not kind either. “It's my number. For the project.”

“Thanks!” Bart beamed.

Conner stumbled over a few openings before landing on, “Hey, I’m really sorry about your board. Please let me replace it.”

“No need to drag this out. I will replace it.” Tim's monotone disregard kind of pissed Kon off. Never in his life had he been so easily riled up by someone by doing nothing.

“Drag this out? You know we're going to be working together for the next 4 weeks, right?” Conner's face probably read a little more annoyed than it needed to.

“I'm really untroubled by it. Working together has nothing to do with prior inconveniences.” Tim adjusted his bag on his shoulder, “I'll be going now.” And he walked away.

Conner scoffed and went to sit in his seat when the roar of a motorcycle pulled his attention away. The bike pulled right up next to Tim on the other side of the sidewalk. A very tall man dismounts the bike, retrieving a helmet from under his seat.

“Hey.” He said in a gruff voice.

“Hey,” Tim’s voice changed. He sounded the slightest bit joyous to greet this man, “Thanks for picking me up at the last minute.”

Conner couldn't see his face, but he knew Tim was smiling at him. The guy put the helmet on Tim. He even did the strap for him while mumbling out a quiet acknowledgement. Then he said, “Have you eaten yet?”

“Does a wafer cookie and a Red Bull count?”

“No.”

“Then no.” The man on the bike laughed, then threw his leg over the seat.

Tim climbed on the back and wrapped his arms around the taller man’s waist. The engine began to roar, and the man on the bike backed up and then took off in the blink of an eye. Conner couldn't explain it, but actually hearing emotion in Tim's voice also pissed him off. This guy just couldn't be pleased all day in class, then some rando pulls up in a leather jacket and is all “Have you eaten?” And now he's all giddy off his ass? What an annoying day. What an annoying guy.

“Earth to Superboy!” Bart shouted, “If you don't get me to the station, my aunt will kill your dad. Let's go!”

“Oh, shut up! I'm going,” Conner sat down, “And don't call me that!”

_

“Hey, kid!” Kon said, walking through the door of the animal rehabilitation center. Sporting a new non-coffee-stained shirt and a proper smile.

“Kon!” Jon was slightly surprised, “You're early?”

“I’m surprised too, honestly,” He smiled.

“Hey, you remember Damian, right?” Jon pointed over to the kennels where Damian was feeding a pair of cats.

“How could I forget?” Conner smiled, approaching the counter where Jon stood. “You guys wanna get food after this?”

Jon looked to Damian, who pulled out his phone. “Damian usually gets a ride home from his friend. He lives in Gotham.”

“Why does he work out here?” Kon asked.

“Jon works here,” Damian said as if that answered the question perfectly. “He is running late. If it is alright I will accompany you.”

“Perfect.”

Damian and Jon passed their jobs off to the next shift and piled into Kon’s car. They looked around the car, then pulled out a list written out on notebook paper.

“Clean car, check,” Damian mumbled from the back.

Kon pulled away from the center. “Is Big Belly Burger alright with you two?” The boys agreed.

“So how was school?” Kon asked.

“It was alright. I have a baseball game this Friday, so I'm just hoping I pass my chemistry test so I can play.” Jon sighs.

“I'm pretty good at chem. Let me know if you need anything.” Kon brushed his shoulder.

“Attentive. That's good.” Damian mumbled.

Once they arrived at Big Belly Burger, they ordered and then found a table. Jon and Kon talked about anything and everything. Damian chimed in here and there, but then Conner noticed them jotting something down on that piece of paper again.

“What is that?” Kon asked.

Jon looked at Damian. They stared at each other, communicating silently before Damian let out a deep sigh. He nodded, and Jon turned to Kon with a very serious look on his face.

“Are you looking for a boyfriend right now?” Jon asked, leaning over the table.

Chapter Text

“Are you looking for a boyfriend right now?” Jon asked, leaning over the table.

“What!?” Kon was not expecting that.

Damian spoke first, “I believe you are a suitable partner for a friend of mine. He is 19. He is studying Psychology and Behavioral Health. His likes include photography, music, and playing video games. He hates milk, public restrooms, and stand-up magic. He's the kindest person I have ever met, and every day I am proud he chose my family to associate with. You would make a wonderful partner for him, I just know it.” Damian stood up next to the table, and then he bowed. With his head down and body at a perfect right angle, Kon was speechless. This kid was serious.

“Okay, okay. Sit back down. People are staring.” Kon waved him back down. They all sat in silence for a moment.

“So?” Jon asked, “What do you say?”

Kon thought about it, looking back and forth between the two boys. He decided to hear them out. Damian told him a little bit about his neighbor and how they had been friends for years. How his older brothers practically raised him because his parents weren't around. Kon thought that if he were in a situation like that, he would probably be bitter. No- he would definitely be bitter. But this guy took all the loneliness and channeled it into building his relationships around him. He saved Damian's family, and Kon wasn't sure he could have done the same.

“So you want me to- What? Ask him out? Act like a rebound guy or…?” Kon’s voice falling off.

“Dami and I have it handled. You guys meet tonight.” Jon said.

“That's Phase 1,” finished Damian.

“Should I really be trusting high schoolers with my love life?”

“You already have been. It's no trouble to just let it continue.” Damian deadpanned. It felt oddly familiar to Kon. How cold and calculated the young boy spoke. It was oddly mature.

Jon smiled at Damian, and Kon watched how he watched him. It was cute. He wondered if Jon even knew he was in love with this know-it-all brat.

Just then, a pair of headlights shone through the window. It must have been Damian's friend. A dark figure stepped out of the car and up to the door. In walked a short black-haired boy wearing a baggy grey shirt with a fitted black long sleeve underneath it. Before Kon could drag his attention elsewhere, he recognized the stranger. His unfortunately timed presentation partner, Timothy Drake.

That wasn't what he was wearing when he left school this afternoon. He probably changed because of Kon’s forgotten coffee incident this morning, fuuuck, Kon thought.

“Hey Tim!” Jon yelled.

“Hey Jon!” Tim waved back. Kon was stunned to hear the lightness in the way he spoke to Jon. “Sorry, I'm late. Jay had to pick me up. It was a whole-” Tim’s eyes landed on Kon, “-thing…you?”

Tim’s brows furrowed. Kon wasn't sure if he was being stared at under scrutiny or genuine shock. But then Tim spoke again. “I apologize. What's your name again?”

“What!? After everything that happened today, my name is lost on you?” Kon was astonished at the unreal amount of disregard for other people this guy had. There was no way this was the kind soul who brought the Wayne family back together again.

“Oh, right, Luthor. How silly of me to forget my sweet Marjorie’s murderer.” Tim faked dramatics in a completely flat tone.

“Who’s Marjorie?” Kon asked.

“You two know each other?” Damian asked.

“You killed Marjorie!?” Jon asked.

Tim took a deep breath, “My skateboard, we met this morning, and yes, yes, he did.”

“I didn't mean to!” Kon defended.

Jon looked like he might cry. Tim put a hand on his shoulder. “It's all right, Jay is going to fix her up, but she's definitely just wall decor now.”

“I assume that is why you're in his shirt,” Damian added.

Tim looked down at himself, then back at Damian. “More or less. Let's go. I’ve got to get you home.”

Tim moved towards the door. Kon didn't know what came over him, but he followed him outside, leaving Damian and Jon to clear the table.

“What is your issue? Do you really dislike me that much?” He accused Tim.

“What are you talking about?” Tim turned to look at him.

“This overly formal way of speaking, your constant cold tone. I’ve apologized like nine times about the skateboard. Can we please just start over?” Kon pleaded.

Tim blinked at him. He wasn't sure what expression he was reading on Tim. It could have been confusion or shock. But Tim was very hard to read.

“Five times.” Tim gave a half smile, then made his way to his car door.

“Huh?”

“You apologized five times.” Tim opened his door, and before he sat down inside, he looked at Kon and said, “Thanks for feeding and hanging out, Damian. I appreciate it .”

Was that playful? Kon thought.

Damian ran past him, getting in the car. Tim gave a lazy two-finger wave before the pair drove away. Jon came up on Kon’s left, sipping on his refilled soda.

“Soooo?” He started, “What do you think?”

“Of that guy!? He is the most annoyingly confusing person I have ever met! Jon, if you and Damian want that to work, you’ll need a miracle and a half.” Kon turned on his heels, stalking off to his car.

“Well, you did kill Marjorie. He's probably not your biggest fan.” Jon countered.

Kon looked back at his brother, “I offered to get him another one.”

“Loved ones cannot be replaced!” He was genuinely offended on Tim’s behalf. But all day, Tim had seemed completely unaffected by his skateboard’s untimely death. Was he missing something?

“Get in. I gotta get you home.”

“Okay, but listen.” Jon looked serious, “You're kind of our last hope here. Please just give us a chance.”

He flashed those big country boy puppy dog eyes up at Kon, and the older boy crumbled. He didn't want to disappoint Jon. This was his first favor as a big brother. His first time being a big brother.

“Okay, fine!” He said, “I’ll think about it.”

What a weird day? What a weird guy?

Chapter Text

Against Kon’s will, he had spent the past 3 nights being given a crash-course on everything ‘Tim Drake’. From his favorite foods to the brand of socks he preferred. It had been enlightening, but all he had asked was how to make a good impression during their group project session this weekend. 

Now, Conner sat in the chair across from Tim, listening to him mumble about budgets and business proposals. His brows furrowed as he continued to look over the requirements for the assignment. Bart, who somehow heard and understood every unintelligible mumble, was diligently writing notes for him. It was nice to see Bart interact with someone who thought as fast as he did. Kon also thought it was nice to see that everything Damian had said about Tim was true.

Tim was a chronic overworker. His calendar was something straight out of a military man’s wet dream. If there were more lines, Kon was sure he would have every minute planned out. Maybe even every second.

“That puts us at 2 days a week, ending on par with presentation day,” Tim stated.

“Giving us an extra day for finishing touches.” Bart praised. Tim gave him a half smile. Something rehearsed. Kon had seen his real smile—the one he gave to that guy on the motorcycle. How annoying.

Bart slides him a piece of paper. “Kon, you should work on the product and services list and the proposal. Tim will handle the budget and finances, leaving the market analysis and slide show to me.”

And so that’s how it all started. Every Tuesday and Friday they would carve out an hour or two to finish assignments together then work on their presentation. Conner found himself looking through logs of real versions of their product and researching how well they do in his free time. Constantly thinking about how overly prepared Tim was.

Kon found himself watching the most recent Tim Drake interview on TV one Sunday morning. He was talking about some fundraising event happening next month and how excited everyone at Wayne Enterprises was to be hosting blah blah blah Gotham, blah blah blah Initiative, blah blah blah I’m Tiiiiim Drake. 

Tim himself was dressed up in the lax Wayne kid attire. Slacks, a blazer, and an open button down. A silver chain cascading into the depths of his shirt. A truly distracting- Disgusting! A truly disgustingly casual display. 

Conner swallowed around nothing as he watched pictures of Tim flash around the screen. His eyes locked on one in the top corner of him smiling. But this wasn’t just some normal smile you give in passing at a gala, his tongue was caught in an almost imperceptible swipe over his left canine. Tim was definitely not his type, but he could see how some people thought he was very attractive.

Ugh! What was wrong with him? He had successfully spent 2 weeks thinking about Tim Drake. Every time he saw Jon, they talked about Tim. When he went to class he thought about him. Tim Drake filled most of his daily rants and updates to Bart and Cassie. Now, he’s distracting him from his breakfast. If Conner was sure about one thing it was that Tim was the most annoying ass he had ever met with his perfect smile, and his open collar button downs. His pale blue eyes, that looked almost silver after they’d been working at the library late into the night. The dedicated way he kept up with his gymnastics, even though he no longer competed. Especially when Kon would pass the campus gym at night and catch a glimpse of his sweat soaked hair and toned-

“Conner?” The sound of his name pulled him out of his trance. His father, Lex Luthor, stood at the end of the counter, brow quirked up in amusement. 

“Hey, Dad.” He coughed, “What’s up?” Conner turned away from the TV and started to wipe up imaginary crumbs with his napkin and collected his dishes to take to the sink. Lex walked further into the room pulling out a chair from the breakfast table.

“So, you’re interested in Drake?” He asked, taking his seat.

 Kon nearly dropped his yogurt bowl, accidentally raising his voice in defence as he let out a strangled “What!?”

Lex gestures to the TV, “Wayne’s ward? His fundraiser is coming up, is it not?”

“Oh!?” Kon took a breath leaning down to grab the edge of the counter “Yeeah… At least that’s what uhh… Cat Grant just said.”

His father hummed and opened the morning paper on the table. Kon sank to his knees behind the counter and buried his face in his hands, groaning quietly before standing up again. What am I thinking?

“Might I expect you to accompany me this year?” He asked.

“To what?”

“The Wayne Foundation Charity Event?”

Kon looked over his shoulder to the TV. They were now reporting on some other celebrity nonsense, Tim Drake was nowhere to be seen.

“Suure,” He said without thinking, “That sounds fun.”

“Excellent.” Lex suddenly set the paper back down, “Your bumbling, giant of a sperm donor will be there as well. He always is when Wayne is involved.”

“You said you’d be nice to him.” Kon accused.

“I said, I wouldn’t interfere as you built a relationship with him. I never said I would change my relationship with that no-good, fluff story reporter.” Kon rolled his eyes at his father walking towards the hallway. He stopped momentarily before turning back.

“Hey Dad?” Lex’s eyes met his sons with a slight nod. Conner felt the words die in his throat. What was he going to ask? Why would his dad know? Why would his dad care? “Nevermind, see you later.”

_

Kon must have manifested it or something because there he was staring at Tim Drake in a leotard. He had come here to meet his Aunt Lena and was stunned to see his classmate performing a routine on the bars at a gymnastics studio in Metropolis. 

“I thought he stopped competing?” Kon asked.

“I didn't realize you had an affinity for the sport.” Lena replied, eyes trained on another gymnast. 

“I don't.” Conner huffed. Lena furrowed her brow in confusion. “Sorry. I just know him from school.” He explained pointing to Tim. Lena nodded in understanding.

“Yes, Drake. He is very talented.” She scribbled something down in her notebook. “Well, he used to compete, that is true, but now he assists the team's coach, Richard Grayson. He is the man in blue. Drake drops by now and then to lead stretches, discuss routines, and maintain the gym.”

Conner nodded, playing along like he also understood why the two of them were there at the gym. He felt kind of creepy standing up here watching from a window. He watched as his aunt took a few more notes before standing to get closer to the window. 

“What do you think of him?” She asked flatly.

“As an athlete?” He asked.

“As a partner.” She corrected, making Conner choke. “I’m hoping he will reconsider aligning with Wayne and join Luthor instead. We need brilliant young men like him in our labs.”

“Good luck with that.” Conner rolled his eyes, “He definitely hates LuthorCorp.”

“Exactly. Hatred is what causes change, my dear nephew.” She smiled then walked out the door. Kon reluctantly followed her. This was not about to tip in his favor. They waited in the lobby until someone opened the door. First emerged a girl with long blonde hair followed by a slightly sweaty Tim Drake.

“Miss Luthor?” The girl said, surprised.

“I'm merely dropping off what we talked about last time, Miss King.” She handed them both thick yellow envelopes.

“King- Jones. Ma’am.” The girl took the folder with a smile.

“Of course, my apologies. Miss King- Jones.”

The two women continued in small talk as Tim took his envelope with a short bow of his head. Then his eyes landed on Conner. There was no emotion, just a stare. Kon locked eyes with him. He tried to be as flat and indiscernible as his counterpart but Kon wasn't the type. Kon gave a half shrug and a smile he didn't mean to make. Tim did the same in return before turning back to head into the gym.

As he opened the door he hesitated. Tim's hand slid a little ways down the length of the door. He turned around quickly, waving goodbye to Kon, then let the heavy door slam shut behind him.

He waved goodbye…

HE WAVED GOODBYE!

Kon’s heart was beating fast and suddenly he realized 3 things: Why he couldn't stop thinking about this guy, what he had wanted to ask his father this morning, and that he was totally fucked.

“Dad? Have you ever been so jealous of someone, you wanted to be with them everywhere they went?” 

“Dad, is being obsessed with someone gay culture or unhealthy behavior?”

“Dad, I think I’m in love with my one sided enemy, can lobotomies fix that?”

Kon buried his head in his hands again causing his aunt to worry about him even more.

What an annoying feeling, he grumbled.

Chapter Text

Damian follows the sound of Tim and Jason’s voices down the hall. He finds them talking and gaming in the family room.

“He stares at me all the time but flinches whenever I speak directly to him. It's weird.” Tim complains absent-mindedly. 

Jason nudges him gently with his elbow. “He sounds like a serial killer.”

“He’s way too honest for that,” Tim says. They were both too focused on the game to notice Damian enter. 

“What do you think about him? You don't talk much about other people, so you must think something.” Jason then groans as Tim wins this round. 

Tim lets out a celebratory ‘Yes’ then sets his controller in his lap. “I don't know.” He groans, putting his arm over his head, “He's all right.”

Jason gives a dissatisfied huff in response. 

“I mean- well,” Tim thinks about it for a moment, “He's sweet, in a clueless sort of way. But he's way too used to people liking him automatically because he's cute and charming.”

“So you think he's attractive?” Jason asks. Damian slips backward out of the room. Who are they talking about? 

Damian starts to worry that Jason is about to win this whole sibling bet. He curses Conner in the back of his mind while he listens quietly to the rest of the conversation. He listens as Tim hums quietly to himself. 

“Yeah.” Tim shrugs, “I guess I wouldn't be bothered if he were into me. He smells nice.” 

“Good for you,” Jason ruffles Tim's hair, “You're really moving on.”

“Don't get too excited. We barely know each other.” Tim gave a heavy sigh. A longing sigh.

Damian turned back, running up the stairs to his room, calling Jonathan before the door even shut. The phone only rang once before Jon’s voice filled the other end of the line.

“Hey Dames! What's-” Damian cut him off.

“The mission is in jeopardy! I repeat, Operation Brother Trapped is in danger.” Jonathan gasped at hearing this. 

“What happened!?” 

Damian began to pace back and forth. “Target was caught talking about a secondary love interest in the living room just moments ago. He stated that he wouldn’t be bothered if this mystery man was interested in him.”

Damian could hear footsteps, then a door opening, “What the hey dude!? I thought you were cool!”

“Whoa! Back it up. What the fuck are you talking about?” Conner’s voice came over the line, distant and confused.

“Language.” Lois reprimanded.

“Sorry.” They both said.

“Jon, what are you talking about?”

“He’s talking about how Tim is interested in some other guy that my meathead older brother probably introduced him to!” Damian shouted.

“You said things were going well! You said he waved at you.” Jon scolded.

“It was a platonic wave!” Kon groaned.

“I see that now.” Jon huffed, and Damian could hear Lois laughing in the background. 

“Why would I care if he's interested in some other guy anyway. He can date who he wants… whatever.” Kon grumbles. 

Damian pauses momentarily, taking in Conner's tone. He doesn't even need to be in the same room to know Jon caught it, too.

“You like him.” Damian deadpanned. 

“No. I don't.” Conner corrected.

“But you so do. You're totally honest to God, blushing right now.” Jon said, and Lois laughed harder.

“I do not!” A shuffle was heard, “I’m going home. Thanks for your help, Lois.” 

“Sweetie, wait!” Lois and Conner’s voices faded. 

“What should we do?” Jon asked.

“Is it not obvious, Jonathan?” Damian asked, “We sabotage Jason's player. He can't win if his pieces are removed from the board.”

___

Two days later, as Damian was leaving for Metropolis, he heard more about this other man from the garage.

“Why don’t you ask tall, dark, and awkward to take you?” Jason teased.

“Absolutely not!” Tim shouted, then dropped his voice to a whisper, “Keep your voice down. I’ll just take the ferry.”

Jason, not whispering in the slightest, replied, “Why? Don’t want Bruce to know you’re trying f-”

Tim slapped a hand hard over Jason’s mouth. “Yes! Okay- I don’t want anyone to know right now. I will do anything if you just- Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”

Damian walked through the open garage bay, “Will one of you take me to the station. I’m going to the clinic.” 

Jason smiled at Tim.

“Alright, alright. I’ll take him. But I’m using your bike.” Tim grumbled.

“She’s all yours, baby bird.” 

___

The next day, Tim was standing in their kitchen talking to Bruce. They brought their voices to a whisper as Damian approached. Tim smiled at Damian.

“Hey, Dames.”

“Good afternoon, Timothy.” Damian sat down opposite his father. “Why are you here?” 

“Just dropping by to talk business. I’ll be in Metropolis tomorrow morning for a meeting, that's all.” Bruce nodded in agreement— a half-truth. Damian noted.

“Where are you off to now?” He asked.

“Just school. I’ve got a big project due, and we're working on our slides tonight.” Tim stood up and nodded to Bruce.

“Let me know about the meeting tomorrow. I'm intrigued to see how it goes.” Bruce mumbled into his coffee.

“I will,” Tim responded earnestly. Damian was definitely missing something here, but Tim was walking away before he could pry, and Damian had bigger issues.

“Tim!” He followed him into the hall, “I would like to inquire about your life.”

“Go ahead.”

“I overheard you and Jason on Monday. Are you seeing someone now?”

“Oh?” Tim seemed surprised, “Well— no? I mean, no. I'm not. Why do you ask?”

Damian's stomach began eating itself. Causing him discomfort in his skin. “I just-” he took a deep breath, “I would rather you date someone who gives you space to still hang out with Jon and me. Mostly myself.” 

They stood there quietly. Damian fights his guts quietly, and Tim smiles softly at him. Tim pulls the boy into a hug, “You big baby. I’ll always be right here. No boy can ever change that.”

Damian walked Tim to the front door, where Jason was waiting for him.

“Besides, I think you’ll like this guy.” He ruffled Damian's perfectly combed hair before jumping down the front steps, donning his helmet. 

He was going to lose, wasn’t he?