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“I cannot believe you.” Kon said the moment he heard Cardinal land behind him. He heard the soft churr his friend let out and refused to look over at him.
“What did I do?” Cardinal asked after a long moment. He sounded confused, and it wasn’t exactly often that he was confused. Not with Kon – they understood each other better than that.
It was exactly that that made Kon so angry with Cardinal. The winged teen had mentioned before that he wouldn’t join the Justice League. He had claimed he was happy as a vigilante, like Kon was, but suddenly Conner was coming over to Lois and Clark’s with the news that Cardinal had joined Young Justice officially. He had snapped when Clark offered a place for Kon and had flown away in an attempt to clear his thoughts because obviously, obviously, Cardinal would call and tell him the news.
But there was nothing. Cardinal texted him as he usually did, but there was no ‘hey I’m a part of the JL’ or even a ‘I’m a registered hero’.
“I know you joined Young Justice.” Kon admitted, frowning.
Cardinal was quiet for a moment. “Was it a secret?” he asked, confused.
“What?” Kon turned to look at him, finally. Cardinal looked uncomfortable, his wings looking like they were starting to curl around himself. It was strange to see Cardinal, who was usually so confident in himself, looking meek.
“I didn’t realize it was a secret.” Cardinal said slowly. He frowned, gnawed on his lip for a moment before he stopped himself. “Are you upset that it was kept from you?”
“Yes!” Kon said, “You told me you didn’t want to join any part of the JL and now you join their secret faction? And you act like nothing happened! Like nothing changed!”
“Nothing did change, though.” Cardinal said, eyebrows furrowing.
“Everything changed!” Kon ran a hand through his hair. “Why would you even join them?”
Cardinal looked at the skyline of Metropolis, frowning softly. “My father joined the Justice League.”
“What?” Kon’s eyes widened. “Who?”
“Batman.” Cardinal replied.
Kon sucked in a sharp breath. Well, that made a lot of sense and none at the same time. He sat down on the edge of the roof and Cardinal hovered by his side awkwardly.
“Sit down, Bird Boy.” He muttered.
Cardinal sat next to him. He tapped his fingertips above his knee, not touching his armored skin at all. Kon watched the movement for a moment and sighed.
“So, you joined Young Justice for him?” He asked.
Cardinal’s wings wound around him smoothly. Kon stared at him for a moment before he looked away.
“There is a. There’s a hero in Young Justice.” Cardinal said, voice quiet. “He’s nice.”
“You like him?” Kon asked, feeling a sharp burn of jealousy.
“I do.” Cardinal said. “I think you would too.”
Kon looked over at him. “Would you have joined Young Justice for me?”
Cardinal looked surprised by the question. Kon could feel how his eyes observed Kon sharply, and his eyebrows furrowed.
“I would do anything for you, Kon.” Cardinal said and it sounded like a promise.
Kon felt like he could’ve choked on the emotions that rose, and he nodded jerkily. He looked away, couldn’t look at that earnest expression his friend wore, and tried to hold back his tears.
He had stupidly thought that Cardinal would be his. His friend, his partner, maybe even something more. Just his. But Cardinal would float to wherever he decided he was needed, and he would make friends, he would admire people. Even so, Kon knew Cardinal wouldn’t lie to him. Knew that those words were true, that they weren’t said lightly.
Kon reached over carefully and brushed his fingertips against Cardinal’s clawed hand, and after a second, Cardinal held his hand in a tight grip. His winged friend shuffled closer to him slightly, and after a moment he offered a colorfully wrapped cereal bar.
“I didn’t take you for colorful food.” Kon teased weakly, accepting it.
Cardinal smiled at him and whistled what Kon assumed was an agreement. Kon wrestled the packaging open, which was difficult with one hand, and by the time he was munching on the treat, Cardinal shuffled to rest his head against Kon’s shoulder.
“I like you a lot, too.” Cardinal said, “You know that, right?”
Kon squeezed his hand, “Yeah. I know.”
“Superboy,”
“Bird Boy,”
Cardinal tilted his head slightly, his loose hair flowing around his face. If it wasn’t for the fact that Kon could hear Cardinal’s heartbeat, Kon’s sure he would be scared shitless every time his friend decided to visit in person. He was too quiet.
“So, I heard a funny story.” Kon twisted where he stood, raising his eyebrows. “Batman created you?”
Cardinal quirked a brow. “Where did you hear that?”
“Superman. He’s a real gossip. He said that, and I quote, ‘that pal of yours, Cardinal, was apparently created by Batman from a dead body’.” Kon explained. “Does that make you a spirit?”
Cardinal smiled. “Let me tell you a secret.” He said.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Kon said giddily.
“Batman did not create me. I found his cave and blackmailed him.” Cardinal said, looking very pleased with himself.
“You are so hot.” Kon replied. Before he could even think of getting embarrassed, Cardinal grinned widely.
“You think so?” he asked slyly, and oh, yeah, Kon really does think so. Cardinal looked smug after Kon failed to reply, and reached up to give his cheek a pat. “I actually have a reason for coming.” He spoke.
“Oh?” Kon looked him up and down playfully.
“I want you to meet someone.” Cardinal said, sounding a bit shy.
“I think it’s too early for me to meet you dad.” Kon said bluntly.
“No,” Cardinal blew air from his nose. “I want you to meet Impulse.”
Kon frowned slightly. “One of the speedsters from YJ?”
“Yes.”
“Oh,” Kon said, “He’s the guy you joined for.”
Cardinal looked him over. “He’s a good friend.” He said. “I would like to introduce you two. If you’re okay with that?”
“Yeah,” Kon said because he really loves putting himself in terrible situations. He’ll probably end up as a third wheel or something.
“Nice.” Cardinal smiled, “It’s a date.”
“Woah!” the boy in a crème and red suit awed the moment Cardinal placed him on the rooftop Kon had just arrived at. Cardinal landed gently behind the speedster, his wings folding back and Kon jealously thought about how Cardinal had never carried him before, that fact that he can fly ignored. “Superboy, it’s so crash to meet you!”
“Impulse, right?” Kon asked, flicking his sunglasses up.
“Mhm!” Impulse bounced slightly. He’s a little surprised that Cardinal hung around people with so much energy. “Cardinal’s told me, like, a whole lot about you!”
Kon shot Cardinal a look and the winged hero just nodded along.
“He told you his name yet?” Kon joked.
Impulse paused for a moment, thoughtful. “Nope.” He said, nodding his head. “Secret identities are so retro, man! But he hid his so well.”
“Impulse is from the future.” Cardinal explained.
“Ooh,” Kon looked over to the speedster. “You know my name?”
“Conner Kent,” Impulse said cheerily.
Cardinal didn’t look surprised by the information. “Did you already know that?” Kon asked blandly.
“Of course.” Cardinal said.
“He knows everything,” Impulse said, rolling his eyes with a grin. “I’m Bart Allen, or well, Impulse. Everyone calls me Imp, too. Whatever you want!”
“Stop telling people your real name.” Cardinal said but seemed more resigned than anything. “I can’t believe he hasn’t told an enemy it yet.”
Kon couldn’t quite stop the laugh that broke through. He shot Cardinal an amused look. “Well, I’m Conner Kent, or Superboy.” He grinned at Bart, “Everyone calls me Kon.”
“Crash!” Bart said, his eyes practically shining. “Can we go eat now; I’m starving!”
“He’s so cute,” Kon complained as he looked at the photo Bart sent to the group chat.
He was holding a drink and was showing off plates and plates of food behind him, his smile wide and his eyes shining. There was a guy in the background looking mid-eyeroll.
‘Me ‘n beetle are at a diner, it’s so retro!’ was the caption with the picture. Cardinal had reacted to the image with a heart but followed it with a ‘stop revealing identities, Bart’ like he always did when Bart ran around calling heroes by their first names. Or showing their civilian selves and calling them by their hero names. Kon figured that was probably a reason why Cardinal had yet to tell them his name.
“Oh my God,” Lois said. “Just ask him out already. Cardinal will say yes!”
“No, I can’t!” Kon cried out, holding his phone close. “And I wasn’t talking about Cardinal, I was talking about Imp.”
“Then ask Impulse out.” Lois said, giving him a flat look. “You talk about him all the time too.”
“But,” Kon looked back at his phone when it dinged. Cardinal had sent a photo of Gotham’s skyline. “But I like them both.” He said softly.
How could he choose between them? Cardinal was sharp and witty, and his smiles were gorgeous. Bart was silly and funny, and he was like a breath of fresh air. Kon liked them both so much.
“Just ask them both out,” Jon said as he sat down at the table with a plate of waffles.
“What?” Kon asked, shocked.
“Ask them both out,” Jon rolled his eyes.
“Huh,” Kon said and looked back at his phone. “That’s a great idea, Jon.”
“I know.” Jon said smugly. He proceeded to whine when Clark snagged the syrup from his hands to stop the ten year old from pouring too much.
“You know,” Clark started.
“Shut up, I’m not joining YJ.” Conner said, lifting his finger up. “I’m just going to date the death spirit and the hyper speedster.”
Clark grimaced at him. Lois poorly hid her laughter.
SuperKon > Hey, do you guys want to go on a date w/ me
Imp << YES!!!???!?!?!😍💕❤️👌🫡😊
BirdBoy << Yes
BirdBoy << Tonight @ 7? The rooftop?
Imp << YES YES YES
Imp << 🤞🙌❤️💕😍😘🤩🤯🥳
SuperKon > I’ll see you guys there ;)
“Guess who just got himself a date!” Kon cheered.
“Woo!” Jon grinned. “Can I meet the death spirit? You think he has a younger sibling? We could be best friends!”
“No!” Clark sputtered, looking horrified.
“So, we’re all not seeing things, right?” Artemis asked.
“No, I’m totally hallucinating.” La’gaan said.
“I actually don’t know what to think.” Wally admitted as he watched his cousin and Cardinal corner the newest member – Superboy – and press kisses all over his face (Impulse) or hold his hand (Cardinal).
All Wally knew was the Wayne dinner Bart and Superboy were going to be forced to go to was going to be way worse than how Wally and Dick’s had been.
Bonus:
"Okay, that's it." Jason said. "I'm shooting them."
"I agree," Damian scoffed. "Asking for his hand over text messaging? He is not worthy of Timothy's hand."
The two nodded firmly at each other, shaking hands to seal the deal.
"Guys," Dick said warily. "Timmy's happy with them. You saw him earlier!"
He had left the Manor looking like he had a bounce in his step, was actually smiling and it was genuine and soft? Like what was going on there? Bruce almost pulled him aside to check if he had been exposed to a toxin because that wasn't normal Tim behavior. But then he had just waved everyone off because he had to "go pick Imp up for our date with Kon, he asked us out this morning."
Damian looked caught off guard. "Timothy did seem happy." he said slowly. "Do you think we would upset him if we did go after his concubines?"
"Yeah." Jason said, already sulking.
"Unacceptable." Damian hissed, his wings shooting out. He paused after a moment and hissed again. Bruce rubbed his forehead and looked close to having a heart attack at the prospect of his son going on a date with two heroes.
"I'll text Wally to keep an eye out on Bart." Dick decided, and smiled goofily when he started to text his boyfriend.
"Remind me to shoot Wally too." Jason said.
"Agreed." Damian replied. They nodded at each other and shook hands.