Chapter Text
Tim adjusted the collar of his white button-down, underneath a light brown cashmere sweater. As he stood outside the entrance of the aquarium, the dark blue sign reflected off the damp pavement from an earlier drizzle. He wasn't nervous. Not really. It was just a casual date. With Kon. His best friend. His stupidly handsome best friend who he'd totally not been harboring a massive crush on for years. No pressure.
Kon arrived moments later, hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, his usual confident smirk softening into something warmer when he spotted Tim. "Hey, handsome, Ready to go?"
Tim rolled his eyes but couldn’t fight the small smile that tugged at his lips. "I feel like if I say no, you’re just going to pick me up and take me inside anyway."
"You know me so well," Kon teased, nudging Tim’s shoulder before stepping forward to hold the door open for him. "After you, Mr. Wayne."
The inside of the aquarium was dimly lit, the glow of the massive tanks casting a blue hue over everything. Schools of fish swam lazily behind the glass, oblivious to the two young men wandering through the exhibits. It was quieter than Tim expected, the hushed voices of other visitors blending with the soft bubbling of water filters and the occasional excited squeal from a child pointing out a particularly interesting creature.
Tim found himself relaxing as they walked side by side. Kon seemed to pick up on it because he bumped their shoulders together, grinning when Tim didn’t pull away. "See? This was a good idea. Romantic ambiance, weird-looking fish, and no life-or-death situations."
Tim snorted. "Your standards for romance are fascinating."
"I like to think I'm a simple guy," Kon said with an exaggerated shrug. "Good company, cool sights, and maybe—" He reached out, gently taking Tim’s hand in his. "—a little bit of this?"
Tim felt his face heat up instantly, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he let their fingers intertwine, his heart doing an embarrassing little flip at the way Kon’s thumb brushed against his skin.
“You know I can hear your heart,” Kon said with a flirtatious smirk on his face.
Tim buried his face in his unoccupied hand. "You really are a sap."
"Only for you," Kon said without missing a beat. "Come on, I wanna show you the shark tunnel."
They made their way to the large glass tunnel that ran through one of the biggest tanks in the aquarium. Sharks glided effortlessly above them, rays drifting by like eerie. The light reflected in Kon's eyes, making them seem even brighter as he looked up in awe.
"Okay, this is pretty cool," Tim admitted, watching as a massive sand tiger shark swam by, its rows of jagged teeth on full display.
Kon grinned. "Told you. Also, fun fact: sharks have been around for over 400 million years. They survived five mass extinctions. Basically, they're the ultimate badasse's."
Tim gave him a look. "Did you research shark facts just for this date?"
"Maybe." Kon squeezed his hand. "Gotta impress you somehow."
Tim huffed a laugh but felt his chest tighten with something fond and unbearably warm. Kon was trying. Not just in a casual, teasing way, but in a way that showed he genuinely cared. And that? That meant more than Tim could put into words.
They lingered in the tunnel for a while, watching the slow dance of marine life before finally moving on. Kon kept his hold on Tim’s hand the entire time, his grip steady, his warmth grounding.
Eventually, they ended up near a quiet corner by the jellyfish exhibit, the ethereal creatures pulsing in and out of the soft light like something out of a dream.
"Hey, Tim?"
Tim turned his head slightly, only to have Kon tilt his chin up gently with two fingers. His breath hitched as Kon leaned in, close enough that Tim could see the little flecks of light in his blue eyes. "Is this okay?"
Tim swallowed hard, his heart pounding. "Yeah," he murmured.
Kon didn’t hesitate after that. The kiss was soft, unhurried—more a question than a statement. Tim answered by pressing closer, his free hand finding the front of Kon’s jacket, clutching at the fabric as if to keep himself steady.
When they finally pulled apart, Kon rested his forehead against Tim’s, a lopsided grin on his lips. "Best date ever."
Tim rolled his eyes but didn’t let go. "Yeah, yeah. You’re impossible."
"You like it."
Tim sighed, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. I do."
Kon beamed. "Then we’re definitely doing this again."
Tim squeezed his hand. "I’d like that."
They stayed a little longer, watching the jellyfish drift like tiny galaxies in the dark, the warmth of their entwined hands the only thing keeping them anchored to the moment.