transfem lesbian oppo ftw
they're both into girls (and they both know that) and both convince themselves that even if the other (again, into girls) one also was somehow into them it probably wouldn't work out in the long run anyway.
better not to risk their friendship like that, because they really do love each other even especially if they'll never be loved the same way in return. that's their best friend!
and then the ice emperor empress happens. maybe zane associates her femininity with her cruelty, maybe she doesn't. maybe it was always going to be a long road, but the road starts somewhere.
whatever her struggle, kai realizes that—yeah. he's definitely in love with zane. has been for a long time. but zane would never love him back, so he buries the bitter longing and resolves to be the best best friend for her! it hurts! sooo bad!
but he survives. they both survive, even after everything to follow. and kai is used to putting things on the back burner in favor of survival. so it's easy to ignore the little things.
it's only after the crystal king that kai starts really putting together some things. drag night starts taking on a different flavor for him. and maybe he wants to ask zane some personal questions.
but the world says bet. and the world rips apart and rips them apart and pieces it all back together in unfamiliar ways
and kai is alone in a land of monsters
and zane dreams of electric sheep