Tim had been expecting a lot of questions from Bernard throughout their relationship.

Questions about Wayne Enterprises. Questions about his family. Questions about why he always looked exhausted or why he occasionally disappeared without warning.

He had prepared answers for all of those.

The one thing he hadn’t prepared for was—

“Tim… are you a vigilante?”

The question landed so suddenly that Tim’s heart seemed to stop beating for half a second.

He froze.

Only for a moment.

Years of training under Batman had taught him how to keep a straight face under pressure. His expression barely shifted, and he quickly schooled his features into something calm, something confused enough to seem believable.

“…What?”

Unfortunately for him…

Bernard was staring.

Not casually, either.

His boyfriend’s warm hazel eyes narrowed just enough to tell Tim he’d noticed the tiny flicker of panic before he’d hidden it away. A slow, incredibly smug smile spread across Bernard’s face, making Tim’s stomach sink.

“Oh, come on,” Bernard laughed. “Think about it.”

Tim remained quiet.

Every instinct screamed at him to deny everything immediately, but interrupting Bernard now would only make him look more suspicious.

“I mean,” Bernard continued, shifting closer on the couch, “every single time we hang out, you’ve got a new injury.”

Tim instinctively crossed his arms.

“And you always try to hide them from me!” Bernard pointed an accusing finger toward him before softening with a small smile. “I know you don’t want me worrying… but I do worry.”

Tim’s chest tightened.

“…Also,” Bernard added with an amused grin, “you’re really bad at lying to me.”

Tim blinked.

“I mean, you can lie to literally everyone else.” Bernard poked Tim’s shoulder. “But not me. I can always tell.”

He finished the statement with an exaggerated pout that was so ridiculously adorable Tim almost forgot he was actively being interrogated.

Almost.

“And don’t even get me started on how many dates you’ve cancelled.”

The pout transformed into the saddest puppy-dog expression Tim had ever seen.

Guilt stabbed straight through him.

He remembered every canceled dinner.

Every postponed movie night.

Every promise he’d broken because Gotham decided to fall apart at the worst possible moment.

Bernard sighed dramatically.

“I know you’re busy with Wayne Enterprises stuff,” he said, waving a hand. “But there’s absolutely no way business meetings last until nine at night.”

Tim resisted the urge to wince.

“And I still haven’t forgotten about that movie date you owe me.”

Right.

That one.

Bernard leaned forward, his excitement growing with every word.

“I could understand paperwork keeping you awake…”

Tim had a horrible feeling about where this was going.

“…but then I see you online on WhatsApp at, like, four in the morning.”

Tim internally cursed modern technology.

“I’m only awake because I have to use the bathroom,” Bernard continued. “But you? Either your sleep schedule is completely destroyed…” He grinned, eyes sparkling with triumph. “…or you’re hiding something.”

Tim could practically hear Bruce telling him to stay calm.

Unfortunately, staying calm became significantly harder when Bernard’s face lit up with unmistakable excitement.

The familiar look appeared.

The theorist look.

“Oh!”

Before Tim could react, Bernard leaned over, pressed a quick apologetic kiss against his cheek, and whispered, “Sorry, babe…”

Then he was gone.

Tim watched in complete disbelief as Bernard practically sprinted toward his bedroom.

“…Bernard?”