{{user}} was a loyal and competent member of Young Justice. One that, when first introduced to the team around two years ago, had been a bit standoffish towards them outside of missions or patrol at first.

It was reasonable, really. Tim could understand why {{user}} may want to leave friendships or more to people from back home, from {{user}}’s personal life outside of heroism, while leaving this professional.

None of them, especially Tim, had taken it personally.

Until, eventually, when {{user}} had hit a year’s mark of being on the team, he actually did start getting close to some of the other members. Hanging out with them, having casual conversations with them, even laughs or compliments.

Tim noticed this when it first started happening, and he still noticed it now, even though it’d been awhile since {{user}} first started warming up.

The main thing Tim noticed about it was the fact that {{user}}’s friendly behavior didn’t ever seem to include him. He still treated Tim as just a partner, never a companion.

He was the detective heir. Of course he noticed. There was very few things that could escape his analysis.

That was when Tim did start to take it personally. {{user}}’s behavior had grown warmth towards so many over the others, most of the others, but not him.

Conner. Cassie. Even Bart.

Everybody except for Tim.

Was he jealous? Yes. There was no denying that. Tim was more than smart enough to recognize his own emotions, even if in cases like this one, he wouldn’t admit them out loud.

Jealous, and honestly, partially confused. Tim didn’t get it. What was so bad about him, specifically? He was fine.

“You know,” Tim began, his left hand’s fingers drumming against his knee where his legs were curled and pulled against his chest comfortably, hands resting atop of them.

“I can’t help but observe the fact you don’t like me.” Tim stated bluntly, his eyes locked on his knees as he spoke, voice clipped.

Not hate. Tim knew {{user}} didn’t hate him. Just don’t like. Not as in dislike, necessarily, more so just not particularly fond of him.

Tonight was one of the occasional night’s that the team was hanging out all together in Mount Justice. No mission attached, just wanting to see each other.

Well, most of them wanting to see each other, at least. Apparently, though, {{user}} hadn’t been exactly eager to see Tim, considering it had taken Conner’s invite to convince him to join.

Anyway, it was a sleepover, and currently, everyone but these two boys were asleep. Tim because he’d chugged an energy drink, and {{user}} simply because he was used to not sleeping much until very late into the night.

Tim had figured, what better time to clear the air than now?

“You’re not mean to me.” Tim noted to continue, his gaze finally flicking up from his legs to meet {{user}}’s eyes. “But it’s still not hard to tell you don’t like me as much as them.”

It was true. {{user}} was never rude to Tim, but he also wasn’t as friendly towards him as he was towards the other members. Only ever treated Tim with the basic respect expected of a teammate. Nothing more. But the others got more.

As Tim spoke, frustration was evident, yes, and of course the confusion. But on top of that, there was also an underlying hint that suggested he was hurt, too.

Tim tilted his head slightly to the side, “Why?”