Fic: Anticipation

[sylph_fics]

Title: Anticipation
Co-writer: merfilly
Word count: 9,647
Continuity: …say, Silver Age? Pre the breakup of the Titans, and pre the Drug Thing, for sure.
Pairing: Robin I/Speedy I
Author's note: This was supposed to be for greeneyelove’s First Time Challenge. The muses were too slow, and I finally had to beg help. Also, they insisted on plot, for some reason. So instead, hopefully it suits as a birthday fic for you, coldfiredragon.

Summary: Sometimes, you don't know just what you're missing until it comes back to you.



Dick pushed the door to Bruce's study open and stuck his head in--as if to see if he was truly there. He watched his partner at the desk a moment, trying to keep himself from bouncing with eagerness, "Bruce?"

The reply came from over a pile of paperwork Bruce was going through. "Yes, Dick? What is it?" Blue eyes came up to meet his, mild curiosity in them.

"You mind if I go ahead and head up to the Titans? I know it's early, but..." //C'mon, Bruce, please say yes, I haven't seen the guys and Donna in forever!//

"But?" Bruce's expression never flickered as he studied his slightly more hyperactive than usual young ward. Something was making Dick very eager indeed to go to the Titans... but then, it had been several weeks since he'd been able to see his friends there.

Between them, Harvey Dent and Edward Nigma had stirred enough trouble in Gotham that it had taken Batman and Robin those weeks to unravel it, and barely on the heels of ending that, the Ventriloquist and his puppet had launched a new scheme of their own. They had both been far too busy to go to their teams, despite the obligations they had with them.

"But Gotham's settled back down, at least for now, and I really should be there..." Dick's eyes begged Bruce to let him leave, weight up on the balls of his feet, heels off the ground as if a single word would set him into flight again--as Bruce knew well it could.

Bruce shook his head slightly, more amused than anything, and nodded. "I can handle Gotham the next few nights. Go on, Dick."

"See you sometime Monday, Bruce!' Dick called in delight as he spun to head down into the cave to finish packing up his gear and get moving. It wasn't that long a drive up the coast to the Cave system, and the gorgeous May afternoon was perfect weather for a drive. Wally'd be out of school by now, and probably there already, and while Donna and Garth didn't have to deal with school any more than he did, they did have obligations at their homes that kept them occupied during most weeks.

//And Roy might be showing up, now that it's summer?// The idle thought made him smile wider. He hadn't seen the teen archer in months, not with him and Green Arrow so busy in Star City, but with summer coming, Speedy should come back to the Titans...

He swung the pack of his gear onto the back of his bike, followed it up into the seat, and went for the Cave exit, still smiling widely.

*~*~*~

By late Saturday night, Robin's mood was steadily plummeting, and even he wasn't certain why. Wally and Garth were the same good company they'd always been, even if they'd started an argument within hours of seeing each other, and Donna was a delight... but... it felt as though there was something missing, even though this was how it normally was. They'd gone out to deal with Mr. Twister again, and that had gotten his mood back up for a while, but...

Frustrated with himself for being unhappy when he'd missed them so much, he went down to their gym to run a routine on his own, working himself hard on the rings to try to kill whatever weird mood this was. Was he worried about Bruce, alone in Gotham for the first time in a while? ...No, Batman could take care of himself, and the news from Gotham was quiet. That surely wasn't it.

He swung himself into an Iron Cross and held it, knowing his position was perfect, and breathed as his arms started to tingle, then burn... enough exercise might tell him what was messing with him.

Eventually, with his arms and back screaming, he gave up and twisted to drop to the floor, sticking the landing out of habit as he stretched, with no better understanding of whatever was troubling him than he'd had before he started.

//What is wrong with me?//

*~*~*~

He hadn't really managed to cheer up any--despite his friends' attention and the couple of fairly minor plots they'd tackled in the rest of the weekend--when Monday morning rolled around and he packed up to head back to Gotham. It was early afternoon before he pulled back into the Cave... he hadn't made the trip with anything resembling his usual speed, trying to enjoy the early summer day--without much success.

"Is something wrong, Master Dick?" Alfred's concerned voice spoke from behind him as he unpacked his gear.

He shook his head, pulling up a smile, "Just... moody, Alfie, nothing serious--everything went fine, if that's what you're asking."

"I'm glad to hear that, then, young master," Alfred said, and smiled at him. "What is bothering you?"

"I don't know, Alfie... I really don't."

Alfred shook his head slightly. "Are you hungry, young master?"

Dick stared at him incredulously, the silliness of the question making a smile stretch his lips despite his off mood. "Alfie, when am I not hungry? Especially for your cooking?"
"Well, then, let's go feed you, Master Dick."

Dick nodded, left his gear where it should be, and headed up to let Alfred feed him.

*~*~*~

The dark mood didn't last past the night patrols with Bruce, and much to his relief, it stayed away through the rest of the week.

*~*~*~

As usual during the summers, he was packed up and ready to head up the coast by early on Friday, and cheerfully swung onto his bike to head up the coast again. //Whatever was wrong last week, it's not going to bother me this week...//

*~*~*

//...Famous last words,// Dick thought to himself as he drove back to the Cave Sunday night. All of the trouble they'd needed to handle had been dealt with pretty easily, despite the dark mood he'd still landed in by the middle of Saturday. Good thing for him Mad Mod hadn't really learned any new tricks, for sure.

He still couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. It was summer, he was sixteen, he had absolutely the most awesome 'job' in the world, some of the best friends he could ask for right there with him, and still, something kept creeping up on him and screwing up his mood. The hell of it was, he still had no better idea what it was!

//Maybe one of those meditation exercises Bruce keeps pushing at me would help... I'll try and see if I can stay awake once I get in off patrol. If not... not like I've got anything to do tomorrow morning... I have got to figure out what's wrong with me.//

*~*~*~

"..ke up, Master Dick."

"...alfie.... it's summer..." Dick protested before he was even half awake.

"And it's nearly two, more than time for even you to be awake."

"Alfie..."

"Master Dick, you truly must get out of that bed," Alfred said in crisp tones. "Well past two in the afternoon, young sir."

Dick winced, knowing that tone even mostly asleep. "We didn't get in until almost 7..." he complained, even as he twisted to sit up, rubbing at an eye sleepily.

"And if you don't rise now, you'll be most late in everything you need to accomplish." Alfred tried to sound as disapproving as he could, to see if it might push his younger charge into revealing any hints of the moods that had been striking him of late.

Dick sighed, blinking up at him, and tried to ignore the disapproving tone. Alfie was probably as annoyed with his moods as he was. "You're right, Alfie. 'Course, you normally are... Don't have a lot, this week, unless you know something I don't?"

"Why Master Dick, I leave your regimen strictly to Master Bruce," Alfred told him, in mock indignation. "But, if you have nothing with which to fill your day, I do have need of an extra set of hands in the garden."

Dick tipped his head, thinking about that, and nodded after a few minutes. He might do just as well thinking with his hands in the dirt as he would sitting somewhere trying to stay still. "Sounds good. I've got the usual morning--okay, okay, the usual wake-up stuff; but after that, you, me, and the plants."

"Very well." Alfred finally left him alone at that.

Dick got up and moving, went down to grab something to eat and go through the usual morning routine, then met up with Alfred again to find out what he needed in the garden. "All yours, Alfie. What needs done?"

All the plans he'd had to do that meditating had gotten sidelined by the Penguin's latest caper last night.

"Weeding." Alfred looked indignant that weeds had dared broach his careful horticulture.

//Boring... but that might be good,// Dick nodded. "Okay. Show me what not to pull, again, and I'll deal with the weeds." Once he thought he was sure that he wasn't going to pull up any of Alfred's plants, he settled to dragging the stubborn weeds out of the flower beds. It was hot enough that he was going to be sweating before long, but definitely better him than Alfie. As he weeded, he prodded at his own mind, trying to figure out what the common factor was in his recent mood swings.

Alfred watched the boy set to the task, hoping a little honest labor would stir the moods out. He tended his plants, pruning and watering as he went, an eye on Dick here and there throughout the chores.

//This stupid mood thing only hits when I go up to the Titans... but that doesn't make any sense! The guys are great, and Donna...// he grinned slightly, thinking about the Wonder Girl--man, did she ever deserve that title. //Donna's been so awesome, trying to get me cheered back up...//

Alfred set a cool drink in reach of the boy, unobtrusive as he saw the brow was furrowed with concentration.

He'd asked himself what was wrong with him about a dozen times by now, and he was getting frustrated with not being able to figure it out. He could just hear Bruce, telling him knowing his own mind was so crucial to what they did, and he knew he was right, but what was wrong that he couldn't figure it out?

Here it was, summer time, with his friends available on the weekends a lot more than they had been through the year, and yet, every time he was with them, he wound up less happy than before he arrived.

He was surprised the guys hadn't chucked him into the bay, yet, the way his mood kept tanking... And man, if Roy caugh-- The thought went through him like lightning, and his hands froze. //...Roy?//

Roy still hadn't made a single meeting, despite the summer being in full swing.

The thought rattled around in his head. //..Is it that simple? Is it just that I miss him?// That didn't really seem right, but... maybe.

//So... why? I mean, I know he's busy out there, and the 'clubhouse thing' isn't really his style...// Despite all of his attempts in the last few years, he never had been able to talk the older teen into staying around all that much, even though they worked so much better when it was the five of them.

Roy had been dismissive, curt, even outright rude at times over the issue, but he did pull his weight when he was around, and seemed to really enjoy his time with them.

Especially with him... and for his part, it was nice to have another guy around that relied on his wits and skill, instead of the powers the rest of his teammates had. Yeah, Roy had an attitude, and a mouth as sharp as one of his arrows sometimes, but he could be so much fun to have around...

Even when it was just the two of them, they worked so well together, it was easy to fall into relying on Speedy to be at his back... //Maybe that is it... sheeeeesh! I sound like some love-sick kid, moping around like this because he's not there!//

The sight of Speedy with his lips twitching into a smile came to mind, then the warmth of his hand supporting Robin as he pulled him back up from a fall, so very vivid.

He wondered at how sharply that thought came to mind, but he could practically feel the touch at his back, around his hand... //I guess... maybe it is that I miss him...// He shook his head, sighing. Okay, yeah, having the cause identified meant that a way could be found to fix the situation... somehow.

//Yeah, like me not being such an idiot that he's got something better to do with his time than come run with us!// He told himself acidly, and settled to finish weeding, only noticing the drink when he went to move. "Thanks, Alfie... I can be a real idiot sometimes, d'ya know that?"

"I do not believe you are, young master Dick...but you may be a little too caught up in your glamorous life to see the details," Alfred told him, surmising that the boy had found some peace.

"Oh, no, this was me being a real idiot. Thanks for not saying so, though," Dick grinned at him, and went back to dealing with the weeds after draining the drink. //I am not going to mope about Speedy not being around!//

*~*~*~

He pulled into the Titans Cave the next Friday, running a little late, and absolutely determined not to let this ridiculous thing with missing Speedy ruin his time with his friends, and slid off the bike.

Inside, everything was already getting loud, with Wondergirl laughing at something, while Aqualad defended himself from Kid Flash's wit. No sooner had Kid Flash started in again, than Speedy's voice rang out, cutting off the comeback with a sharp retort of his own.

//He's here?!// Robin stood perfectly still for a second at the strength of his reaction to that fourth voice, feeling the smile yanking at his lips, half rattled by the strength of the reaction, the way his pulse jumped at hearing him.

//He's here...// he repeated the thought to himself softly, shaking his head at just how happy he was to hear that quick sarcasm, accented in a way he still couldn't quite place, and made himself get moving, walking into the main room, aiming to be casual about it.

"Robin, I swear on my aunt's own life, I'm going to throttle him by Sunday," Kid Flash grumbled the second he saw him, looking for backup against Speedy's taunts.

"Hey Robin," Aqualad said easily.

Speedy looked him over, head to foot, a lazy grin on his lips. //My, oh my, Robbie...// "Gonna outgrow those short-pants, aren't you?"

Robin tried to hold onto his composure at that long look, telling himself it was just Speedy trying to rattle him, and shrugged at the remark. He tried for just as casual a tone as he answered him. "Maybe one of these days, but I'm used to it... and Twinkletoes, no throttling him just because you can't take the competition."

He looked back at the archer, seeing where his shoulders had widened, the extra height he'd put on //damnit, he's taller again...//, the way his hair was hanging longer, half over his eyes... "Looks like you grew up a little too."

Speedy shrugged casually, and dropped down on the couch by Wonder Girl. "Happens. Pretty soon, I'll have the pull on Green Arrow and be the top man in Star City!" he boasted.

"Dream on, feather-head," Aqualad said at that, rolling his eyes at the boast.

Robin walked over, eying the couch to see if there was room for him on Speedy's other side. He decided there was, after a moment, and dropped down. "Hey Wonder Girl, Aqualad. They been being trouble, like usual?"

"Not so much trouble," Wonder Girl said, making an innocent face. That got Aqualad to laughing robustly again. "Fleetfeet hadn't been here two minutes and Speedy there was cutting him down to size," Aqualad told him.

Robin glanced over at the still-annoyed Kid Flash, who retorted, "Not cutting me down to size--which he couldn't, if he tried--just running his mouth again. Like always."

"Try me on for size, Road Rash, and see how much I back my words up these days!" Speedy offered, somewhat hotly.

//Not now...// Robin thought unhappily, and cut in. "Whoa, whoa... just... time out, you two, okay? C'mon, Fleetfeet, Speedy just finally decided he wasn't too busy for us..."

That got a snort from Aqualad and Kid Flash both, while Speedy growled something low under his breath that Robin could not make out. He turned at that, reaching to lay a hand against Speedy's shoulder, "What's up, man?" He asked worriedly.

"Nothing, man. Nothing at all. But I am here, and just wait 'til some loser jerkface steps out of line this weekend," Speedy said, chest puffed up and full of intimidating bluster.

"We'll see if you can keep up, Bow String." Aqualad had a cocky grin on his face as he said it.

Robin just shook his head, and pretended not to notice the low hum of Wally saying something too quickly to be understood. He twisted slightly against the arm of the couch to watch the rest of his team, looking over Speedy's shoulder to draw Donna into conversation... He found his eyes going back to Speedy more than anything else, though, just... watching him, seeing how much he'd changed, the sleek strength in the lines of his arms and shoulders. //He looks so good...// He settled closer, still feeling ridiculously happy that Speedy had finally shown up.

Speedy shifted so he could see more of the room, keeping up his flirty banter at Wonder Girl. He was entirely too aware, though, that Robin was right there, with those added inches and lean frame.

Robin tried to shake himself out of it before Speedy could catch him staring, still more than half wondering just what was wrong with him, that Speedy being back, this close, right here, had him about to jump clear out of his skin with this weird combination of happiness and nerves. He never felt like this... okay, that wasn't true. When Batgirl would drop in on one of their cases, all flash and flare and flirtation, his nerves went half-crazy--it'd gotten him lectured once or twice, letting himself be distracted--but Speedy was his friend, not a girl... Speedy's voice pulled him out of his thoughts suddenly.

"So, Short Pants...you figured out any good moves lately? Got this dame who's been teaching me to throw a mean left hook..." Speedy wanted, more than anything, to watch Robin move. No one moved like he did, all light and shining energy, or was as much fun to play with.

"I've learned a few new things... wait, someone's actually managed to convince you to learn to fight? This I've gotta see, Bow-head..." He was only half teasing. Speedy had the same bad habit he'd seen Green Arrow have, namely, leading with his chin if anything got too close for him to shoot.

"Oh I knew plenty, but with a bird like that, it's hard to resist a little polishing up," Speedy said.

Robin snorted, shaking his head. "No, you didn't, but... yeah, Black Canary's a hard woman to argue with."

Aqualad's eyes bulged at that name, much to Robin's amusement. "You're getting lessons from her?"

"She's hot like dynamite," Kid Flash added with an envious look.

"Wasn't it obvious?" Robin asked, "Between the 'dame', 'left hook', and 'bird' comments, and that she's dating Green Arrow now..."

Speedy snorted. "Not sure I call that 'dating' but yeah." He then turned to Wonder Girl, feeling her shift uneasily at the overwhelming male drive of the conversation. "Sorry Wonder Chick...why don't you get back to telling me about that thing on your home island?" Just like that, he was all eyes and ears for her.

Donna smiled happily, and went to finish her story.

Robin sat back as Donna took the conversation back over, realizing he'd have to wait to get Speedy out onto a set of mats, despite how eager he'd been to do just that--and how much Speedy'd sounded like that was what he was aiming for.

Speedy wanted to get there, needed to do just that, but thinking of Canary, thinking of Green Arrow's ways...it burned him to be rude to Wonder Girl, and that had reminded him. //All weekend... got all weekend to fight with him, beside him...// He told himself.

*~*~*

Finally, Wonder Girl told all of them she was going to bed--with a glare at Kid Flash as he went to open his mouth. Garth nodded agreement with that thought, needing to go dunk himself for a while. Robin shot a glance at Speedy as the room cleared out, the rest of them heading to bed. "You mentioned those new moves you'd learned... come spar? Too early for me to hit the sheets..."

Speedy grinned. "Way too early for my West Coast tastes," he agreed. "Be glad to put you on your back with some new moves."

"Not on the best day of your life," Robin shot back, jaw coming up sharply. Speedy wasn't half the fighter he was... at least, not the last time they'd gone 'round.

Speedy smirked and led the way into the gym. He was looking forward to it, had been for far longer than just the day. Every week it had taken to scrape up the way back East, to push GA into helping him get there, had grated on his nerves, until he had been a walking time bomb of anger.

Robin followed, looking at the different way he carried himself, the changes in his shoulders... and caught the thread of anger running through his friend. "Speedy? You alright?" he asked as he stepped onto the mats with him. He wanted this, had missed practicing with Speedy, missed having the redhead around... He hadn't really realized just how much.

"Yeah man...never been better." Speedy flashed him a grin, all brash confidence and charisma. "What's there to be wrong? I'm the hottest shot alive, living it up with the fat cats of Star City!"

Robin shook his head, smiled back at him, and moved, circling to look for the best place to throw that first blow. He remembered something he'd heard, an argument between GA and the Bat, but he hadn't been supposed to be there...

"I'll handle it. I don't need..."

"You need to consider the boy."

"I've got it under control."

Speedy really had learned to keep himself better protected, though he still had a large hole where he'd normally have his bow. She'd been teaching him to use it, then, in his fighting up close, Robin realized. He took advantage of that hole, but not as badly as he could have, tapping a kick in along his ribs. Speedy took the hit, and followed the leg back to land a nice blow on Robin's shoulder.

"Nice!" Robin cheered the hit he landed, ducking away to come back at him, grinning all the while. "Missed this." He really, really had. Good to get in close and spar, nice to see Speedy moving with him...

"Me too." It was an almost guarded admission.

"Yeah?" Robin asked, dropping away from what would have been a pretty nice hit if he'd held still a moment longer.

"Not a whole lot of cats to hang with, other than the two Green Jeans." Roy accepted another blow to take a shot again.

"Gotta give ya that," Robin nodded and twisted around that strike, slapping it away, following it with one of his own. "And it's nice to practice against somebody that doesn't have that many years' experience on me, too."

"I got it where it counts, Short Pants... count on it." Speedy drawled, and pressed in closer, using his mass to his advantage.

"Yeah, yeah, you're all talk," Robin shot back at him, more than used to bigger, stronger opponents, and the best ways to maneuver around them. And with that comment about putting him on his back... he looked, spotted an opening, and went for a throw. Speedy reacted pretty well, countering and going for his own throw, to make good on those words. Robin barely managed to twist out of that, winding up on a knee for a second as his shoulders flared with pain at what he'd had to do to stay up.

Speedy relaxed out of fight stance almost instantly at seeing that, knowing Robin'd dropped badly. "Oh man, Robbie..."

"I'm okay, I'm okay..." It stung, but he'd had a lot worse. "Tell me not to use that as a counter again, yeah?" He came back to his feet, twisting his shoulders, trying to settle them back into place, keeping the wince off his face without too much trouble. All part of learning, and it wasn't like it'd been deliberate.

Speedy moved up and behind him, reaching out gently. "Here." He started working the shoulders, both of his hands warm and strong.

Robin relaxed into the touch, and reached up to unfasten the cape, dropping that layer of the armor with an easy flick of his wrist to send it falling to the mats. "Mm... you're not bad at that..." That was an understatement, actually, with how good the touch felt even through the armor.

"Can't be, man... an archer lives by his shoulders, and the bird wasn't always around." Speedy looked at the spot between Robin's shoulder blades, rather than at the curve of the ear sticking through his friend's mussed hair.

"..Good point..." Robin let himself drop back against Speedy's body. With the way he was working his shoulders, it was easier than trying to stay up completely on his own. And something else, speaking of that armor, "...Might do more good without what, two layers of armor in the way? I mean, if ya wouldn't mind..."

"Heck no, Robbie... that'd be a whole lot easier than trying to get at the meat underneath."

Robin snorted at his friend's choice of words, but nodded, and moved to strip out of the tunic, letting it drop to the mats over by the cape, flexing his shoulders again at the twinge that'd caused.

Speedy was more than glad to be behind the other Titan, watching the way Robin moved, the flex of muscle in his back, the casual way he discarded the tunic... yeah, he was going to have plenty to fuel his imagination later, alone.

Robin looked over his shoulder after a moment, looking back at Speedy... and felt his breath stop in his throat for a second at the expression on his friend's face. He didn't quite know what that look was about, but it was so... intense...

Speedy realized Robin was looking at him, and almost flushed as red as his hair, //Shit, idiot, don't do that!// He walked over, thankful for the constraint of the cup for once, and stripped off his gloves. "If you lie down, it'd be easier for me."

Robin shrugged slightly, nodded, and dropped to the mats, kicking cape and tunic both out of his way as he settled, stretching out, still wondering what'd been on Roy's mind that he'd looked like that.

With Robin down, Speedy came close, kneeling with one knee on either side of the other teen's slender waist. "Don't tense up," he added, rubbing his hands together to bring more warmth to the surface before he started.

"Why would I?" he asked, settling. Not the first post-injury rub-down he'd gotten, even if it was a first to have it be Speedy there over his back, hands on his shoulders.

"Some people don't take well to being pinned, even like this." Man had he found that out the hard way, up against a gang leader. Canary's work had not been enough to keep him from getting his keister in a sling. As Speedy started working his friend's shoulders, he leaned into it, slowly settling down.

Robin shrugged slightly, "Normally wouldn't. It's you... and oh, that feels good..."

"Yeah?" Speedy really felt conspicuous, as his voice came out a lot more husky than he thought was right.

"Yeah." Robin shifted at the tone of his friend's voice, barely understanding the effect that pitch, and touch, was having on him, especially since it was his friend. It wasn't like he was a complete stranger to arousal, or desire, but.... Roy? Roy was his friend, one of his best friends, besides that he was another guy. Yeah, that was possible, but he wasn't...

"Good. Want you to feel good." //Want to make you feel way more than just good...// He shook the thought away, as best he could, though his hands didn't stay confined to Robin's shoulders, working down his back a little, petting solid lines of scar-marred muscle.

Robin stayed quiet at that, pushing back into his touch every so often, enjoying the contact and the way Speedy was just pulling the leftover ache out of his shoulders with the strong touch of his hands... and swallowing every so often at the reactions he was having to those long, slow slides of Roy's hands down his back.

"You've got real smooth skin, Robbie," Speedy said. "You use something?" He kept stroking, long past the time when the tension was gone out of his back.

"No... just decent heritage, I guess... okay, wax, yeah, but not on my shoulders..." //This is... so not a conversation I thought I'd ever have, especially not with him...//

"Huh." Speedy rocked back a bit, brushing his groin close to that tempting skin. "Nice."

"Nice?" Robin questioned, wondering what he meant by it, letting himself shift up against his hands again.

"You know... smooth and not hairy and just... nice to touch."

Robin tipped his head slightly, wondering just what was going on in his friend's head. It wasn't like his skin was anything special, it was just... there. "You? Are being a little weird, man. I mean, it's just skin..."

Speedy pushed off and away, fast. "Yeah, sorry..." He turned to go to his room, face burning with shamed frustration. He had thought... maybe that Robin's squirminess might have meant... but no.

Robin moved, up on his feet and hand wrapped around Speedy's shoulder, getting around in front of him, "Roy, wait... I didn't..." //No, what'd I do, don't leave...//

Green eyes, flecked with gold, stared back at him, face set in a determined line. "Man, it's okay...just I'm tired. Jet lag, you know?" //Easier to lie, easier to go away.//

"Yeah, I know how that can be... Sorry to keep you awake, then. Just... missed your company, and that felt real good..." //Maybe entirely too good...// "Wasn't trying to get you to stop."

//Really?// He couldn't quite keep that hope off his face, so he looked down, kicking at his own shoe with the other foot. "Yeah, well... if you get tensed up again... I'd be glad to help."

"Thanks... believe me, I'll take you up on that... And, you'll note, you didn't get me on my back. Told you." Might not have been the best thing to say, but his pride wouldn't let him do anything else.

Speedy's eyes came up, holding Robin's, the gold so much stronger. "I will, one day."

"With the way you're getting better? Maybe." Robin wasn't quite willing to give him that much. "You're the better shot, but I'm the better fighter. We work good together, though."

The gold faded back. "Yeah, we do work good. See ya in the morning." He didn't quite run, but he did get himself to his room as fast as he could. //Should just stick to Wonder Chick...I know she's interested.//

Robin shook his head slightly, and went to go get his gear off the mats, wondering if he'd just messed something up between the two of them--and the thought hurt, even more than he'd expected.

*~*~*

Dick came awake, wondering what he'd heard, and lay completely still.

After a moment, the noise repeated itself, the sound of a cabinet being carefully opened and then shut again.

Wondering who was awake this late--or early, Dick slid out of bed, plastering the mask across his face, but didn't bother to dress in more than the boxers he was wearing as he headed for the kitchen quietly.

Living with Bruce made him more than stealthy enough to sneak up on the culprit, getting a glimpse of red hair buried over a bowl of cereal that was being eaten quickly, though quietly.

//Roy?// he slipped back from the door, and scuffed a heel against the floor before coming to the door again, giving him a little warning that he was there. Roy had a pretty strong startle-reflex, and he didn't want to get the spoon thrown at his head or something. There was a sudden stop to all sound in the kitchen, before the chair scuffed back and Roy settled.

He moved, leaning in the doorway casually, hand up half over his eyes, blinking against the light. "Hey... couldn't sleep?"

"Nah." //Too many thoughts of...// "A little restless."

He walked on into the kitchen to perch on the counter nearest to his friend, eyes getting accustomed to the light, and leaned out to lay a hand on his shoulder, skin to skin... and heat surged up from the touch, putting a catch in his breath for a minute. "Yeah?"

Speedy looked up at the younger Titan, taking in the sleep-tangled hair falling over the edge of the mask, the bare skin of his throat, his chest, all too aware of the flimsy cloth of those boxers pretending to give modesty to their wearer. //God, Robbie, don't torture me like that... Too damn pretty.//

"What's wrong?" Dick asked, leaning over enough to get closer, foot braced easily against one of the drawer-pulls.

Roy literally had to bite his tongue at that to keep from blurting 'you'. "I've got this thing, see... there's this... person."

"Person?" Dick asked carefully, expression staying concerned as something twinged low in his chest, tight and uneasy low along his ribs. //Wha?//

"Yeah...someone I know, someone I want to know better."

"...okay, I can dig that..." //He's talking about Donna...// The thought... stung, and he tilted his head to the side, trying to figure out just why that was, even with the ways he'd been reacting to Roy...

"I'm really digging this person...really great bod, smart as a whip, so damn good..."

"So, the problem is? I mean, you're a great guy..."

"I got nothing to offer, man. Like way below their league." Roy drained his milk to hide his face then.

Dick snorted, shaking his head in disbelief at what Roy'd said. Though, Donna was a princess... unless it was someone he'd met out in Star City, and that was why he hadn't been around... That thought didn't sit well, made a different kind of heat curl up in his throat and into his eyes. "Bull. Cut that out. You're a great guy, smarter'n you like to act, and a lot of fun when you're around..."

Roy shook his head. "I don't think it's enough to really get any kind of interest back, man. It's not like I can just jump right in this and shoot the bullseye first try."

"If anyone could, you'd be the guy..." He stopped, taking a breath to deal with the... //jealousy? I'm... jealous? what? no, no...// emotions running through his head. "And why don't you think so?"

"They're from a whole different life than I've had. Not a whole lot they can't get if they want it bad enough, even if they don't push on that a lot."

Heat flashed through Dick's veins at that, his jaw setting, and he tightened his hand on Roy's shoulder, "If that matters to whoever this is, they damn well don't deserve you." He didn't normally curse, but that? That deserved it. "You're an awesome guy, what difference does it make where you came from?"

"It always has," Speedy told him, looking up with troubled eyes. "But...it really doesn't matter anyway. This cat won't ever notice me."

//..."person". "person". "this cat..." ....holy...// He had no idea what to stick after that, this time, and wanting Bruce's opinion was not on his mind right now, as his brain spun in circles, hand never letting up on Roy's shoulder as he kept hold of his best friend. "It shouldn't. It really, really shouldn't... and... um..."

The redhead shook his head, loving that touch on one hand, but feeling the tension in his friend. //Said too much...//

"...definitely not Donna," wound up being the next thing out of Dick's mouth, as he kept hold of his friend. "I..." Memories reared up and smacked him across the back of the head, two of the clowns, both guys, that had practically never left each other's sides inside the troupe, his mother's lips curving in a gentle smile as she said, 'young love...' The way they'd stayed carefully apart in public... "Look, it doesn't bother me, okay?" he said quickly, not willing to let anything get between him and Roy, "...this why you stayed gone so long, this time? Guy's got your eye?"

"NO!" Roy couldn't help the explosion, as the frustration at weeks of 'next week, kid...I promise ya' rang in his head. "Look, nothing gets in the way of being with my friends like that." //It's you I want; why would I stay away?!//

Dick relaxed at that, hand sliding over Roy's shoulder again, nodding slowly. "Okay. Didn't... think so, but..." He dropped off the counter, moving over to perch on the table itself, worried about his friend, hand sliding up to run through red-gold hair. "Sorry, shouldn't even have said something like that."

That touch made Roy push into it on strict instinct, before he realized what he had done and pulled sharply back, face flushed again. "Sorry man..."

"For what?" Dick blinked, confused, hand still in his hair.

"I..." Green-gold eyes came up to look at Dick, eyes focused first on his mouth, then pulled back enough to see the mask instead. "You... sorry I kept you up with my problems." He pushed himself back, up out of the chair, trying not to trip up and feeling entirely too close, still, to the table Dick was perched on.

"It's no problem, Roy, ya know I'm here... I'm the one that ought to be apologizing, for thinking you'd ditch us like that... just.... I missed you."

Roy stopped in his attempted retreat, looking lost and confused and needing something right then, the right word or the right look, maybe the right touch to reassure him.

"Roy, what is it? What's wrong?" he reached out again, hand sliding up to cup around the back of his neck.

Roy shuddered at the touch on his bare skin, his eyes closing at the surge of need it brought. "It's..."

"Come on, Roy, this's me, what's wrong?" The way Roy shuddered, closed his eyes made him stand, move closer, other hand going to his shoulder worriedly... then the way Roy'd touched him, the tone of his voice all snapped together in his head, just a moment too late--or maybe just in time...

"...you." Those eyes came open, full of resolve. This was Roy's do or die moment. If Robin...if Dick rejected him, he wouldn't have to wheedle Ollie into remembering to take him East. It would be over, and he could just swallow this down with all the other bitter parts of life.

"...me?" Dick was just glad his voice didn't decide to break, as he stared up at Roy's eyes, knowing his own were flared wide with shock behind the mask. //He... wants... me.//

"Yeah, Robbie...you. The boy I haven't been able to get out of my mind for three years now."

"...I.... really?" Dick stared at him, and slowly pressed in closer, stepping up against him--and oh, god, the way that felt.... His breath froze in his throat again, eyes still locked on Roy's face.

Roy made sure his hand wasn't shaking as he brought it down, cupping on Dick's hip. "Really," he said, not caring when his voice went deep again, that the proof was growing at this close contact. Roy had fantasized what Dick would feel like, this close, countless times, but he had missed so many details. The scent, for one, was adding layers to the attraction.

Dick was caught staring up at him, trying not to gasp at the way Roy's hand felt wrapped around his hip, at the low, rough sound of his voice... He pushed into the touch before he knew it, wetting his lips nervously--futile attempt to counter the way his throat had gone bone-dry. //He... do I...// The way he was reacting screamed yes, but he'd never even thought about...

The older boy tipped his head, moving slow enough to be avoided, as he decided with it out there, he might as well find out just how Robin tasted.

Dick didn't try to avoid it, thoughts spinning a few confused circles still--until Roy's lips touched his... and that was like a shock, jolting down his neck and spine. He caught quick, hazy impressions of dry/soft/careful lips... and opened his under the pressure, hand tightening on the back of Roy's neck.

Roy felt the moan he let escape, before he hesitantly slipped his tongue into that open mouth, tasting Dick, both hands resting on the other boy's hips, pulling him closer.

Dick shifted into the hold--not his first kiss, not nearly, but... different, held this close against Roy's taller, broader body, pulse racing from being up against so much of his skin, and hesitantly tried to kiss him back. This... this was good, felt good--felt more than good, he realized.

It took Roy a minute to really process that they were doing this, and that they were in the kitchen. It made him pull back, hand coming up to Dick's face, thumb along his jaw. "Come...come back to my room?"

Dick had followed his mouth up, not wanting to break the kiss, but he stopped, turning his head into Roy's touch. "I.. yeah."

Roy's face lit up like Dick had just granted him the keys to the city. The older boy led the way after dumping his bowl and spoon in the sink.

Dick followed him, watching the broad, sleek lines of his shoulders, the easy grace, and took the time between the kitchen and Roy's room to ask himself what he was thinking--but the answer was easy. Roy might have taken him by surprise, this wasn't something he'd expected... but it felt right. Kissing Roy had felt... so good, being in his arms even better. //Does this--// he shut up the voice questioning it with little effort, and reached out, leaning into Roy's side.

After just a moment of hesitation, Roy wrapped his arm around the younger Titan. He got them in the room, the door closed, before he turned to Dick and started a new kiss.

Dick pushed up into the kiss, hands going up behind Roy's neck, reminding himself he knew how to do this... but god, it felt so different, and everywhere Roy's skin was pressed to his felt so good he wanted to shake... He didn't think he'd ever been this wound up... and that was all the proof he needed that he wanted this. He'd missed Roy so badly... and hadn't even really known why, until now.

Roy pressed the kiss deeper, more than glad for the practice he'd gotten with grateful women out west. His hands went back to Dick's hips, then one slid behind him, resting at the small of his back.

Dick made a small, almost helpless noise at that, holding on tighter, pushing up against Roy's body completely, letting Roy take over the kiss. That noise went straight to Roy's groin, making hip rub his hips up against the other boy. He took the kiss deeper, further, hungry and wanting, but still trying to be careful.

Dick pushed up and closer, licking at Roy's lips a little, one hand sliding up into the hair at the back of his neck--and shuddered at the feel of his dick pushing against an answering hard pressure, hot even through the couple layers of cotton...

Roy broke with a gasp from Dick's mouth. He looked at his friend //lover, soon// and smiled. It wasn't his cocky grin or arrogant smirk, but a real smile.

"Lose the boxers?"

Dick blinked, trying to fight the blush that wanted to break out on his cheeks at the easy way Roy asked that question, like it was just... natural, and nodded, trying to hide the nervous swallow. He'd been naked around Roy before, never really been a big deal, and it wasn't like he was all that modest, but... this was different.

Roy had to swallow as well, once he actually slid his fingers under the band of Dick's boxers. He gently pulled them down, moaning at seeing his friend so hard, so ready to explore this road with him. Hard to believe, but he wasn't about to argue. He shucked his own off quickly, before letting his fingers explore.

Dick fought the need to shudder as Roy stripped him, and pushed close to his body again the minute Roy straightened from stripping his own off, hands stroking down over the solid muscle of the archer's shoulders, trying to lose the nervousness in the feel of Roy's body against his.

"Come on." Roy stopped tracing the lines of his friend and tugged him toward the bed.

Dick went with him, agreeing that laying down would be a very, very good idea... some of the ways Roy's hands had slid over him had made his knees go kind of watery. He laid down against the sheet, blanket rumpled up against his back, and pressed close to Roy.

Roy settled on his side, eyes eating up every inch of skin, and going back to Dick's face after a long look. "You...if it doesn't feel good, you'll tell me, right?"

Dick hadn't been able to keep from flushing at that long, thorough look... like Roy was trying to memorize him, or something, but he nodded. "Yeah, of course..."

"Alright." Roy moved very close, and started kissing Dick again. His tongue was a lot more confident as he explored Dick's mouth. After a moment, he settled his hand on Dick's hip, just over the bone, and let his thumb trace that sharp point.

Dick kissed him back, letting his mouth slide, as he tried to figure out where to put his hands, now... He settled for putting one on Roy's side, just under his ribs, and since he was braced on that other arm anyhow, it could stay where it was... Thank god, Roy didn't seem to have noticed that he didn't have much of a clue what he was doing.

Roy took a deep breath at the feel of Dick's hand on his skin again, before he let his own hand slide, fingers teasing the crease of hip and thigh.

Dick jumped at the touch, mostly at how good it felt, and tightened his hand on Roy's side again, trying to wriggle closer against him. This felt better, the closer he was to Roy's body.

Roy moaned into the kiss, not wanting to break for anything, He got bolder with his touch, actually turning his hand just enough to let one finger brush over Dick's cock.

Dick pulled back at the touch in shock, breaking the kiss to stare at him. That felt... so shockingly different than his own hand, but... Once he got through the first shock, it definitely felt good.

"You okay? I mean..." Roy wanted to touch more... in just that little brush, he could tell it would feel so different from his own.

"Y-yeah, I'm okay. Just... y'surprised me for a sec..." He went for another kiss, quickly, before Roy could get any more worried.

Roy smiled into the kiss, liking that his Robbie //that's right, mine// had initiated a kiss. It gave him new resolve, letting him trail his whole hand to the length of Dick's cock, wrapping slowly around it.

Dick nearly bit him at that, muscles jumping like he'd gotten a hold of one of Joker's joy buzzers--//oh, my god...// None of the times he'd worked off the last of a high from a fight had felt anything like that bow-callused hand wrapping around him did.

Roy drew in a deep breath through his nose, before pulling back from the kiss. "Wow... so... different."

"Yeah, you said it," Dick agreed, breath coming shakily at how it felt to have Roy touching him like that....

Roy brushed his thumb along the ridge, not yet stroking, just exploring the differences, barely believing he had Dick here, with him, and so desperate not to mess this up, or push him too far.

Dick shivered at that, hips moving without his control into the touch, and he twisted to slide his other hand under Roy's side, flattening it against his back to hold on. The hand on Roy's side, though, slipped down towards his hip... only right to return the favor... right?

Roy caught his lower lip in his teeth, heart nearly jumping out of his chest. He wanted...so strongly...to touch and be touched, but he didn't want to force it too fast. Still, that solid push into his hand made him slide his hand a little, wishing now that he had gotten the lotion out first.

Dick ran his hand down in along Roy's hip, following that same line of Roy's body that had made him jump so strongly... He turned his head, pushing his jaw in against Roy's shoulder to kiss at his throat, half wanting to watch the way Roy was touching him, half afraid of how he'd react if he did.

"Yeah, Robbie...that feels good," Roy said, voice caught in a half-moan, half-whimper. He closed his eyes, baring his throat to that kiss, keeping his touch light as he stroked up the cock in his hand, touching the head slowly.

"You too..." Dick whispered almost helplessly, moving into Roy's touch again, hand sliding down... He felt the backs of his knuckles brush so-soft, hot skin, and turned his hand, wrapping his fingers gently around... around Roy's cock, and his pulse and his body jumped again at the thought.

"Nnggghh..." The choked sound of Roy's surprise turned quickly to a whispered prayer in some language Dick had never heard...or at least he didn't think he had. Roy's own hand had tightened, before he slid his thumb along the slit, feeling the first drops forming there.

Dick whimpered at the tighter hold, and again at the slide of Roy's thumb against that sensitive spot, and bit at his shoulder before he knew it. He slid his hand a little, and opened his eyes to look at what he was doing... and shuddered again, body moving, at the way Roy's cock looked in his hand, dark with blood and so hard...

"Gods...yes..." Roy bucked a little into the grip, hips flexing forward once before relaxing. He stroked his thumb over the tip of Dick's cock, back and forth, his fingers working around the shaft lightly.

"Roy, I.. that... you feel..." Dick couldn't manage to say what he was feeling, lost in the way Roy's hand was sliding on him, the way every touch was so different and better than anything he'd tried...

“Yeah, Dick...I know...gods..." He whispered in that other language again as the feel of Dick's hand pushed him harder toward a release.

"Yeah?" He just hoped he felt as good to Roy as Roy was making him feel, and slid closer, sucking at his shoulder again, arm still wrapped down under his back, holding on as close as he could.

Roy buried his face against Dick's hair, breathing him in, trying to make sure he pleased his friend, hand working slowly toward a quicker, firmer pressure. "Dick...Robbie...so good..."

Dick slid his hand up, mimicking Roy's stroke over his tip, using the wetness there to slick his hand enough to let his hand slide more, easier...

Roy let out a choked moan at that, moving into that grip, mouth finding Dick's ear to kiss, lick, bite.

The bite made him jump, startled. He hadn't expected that, and why was Roy messing with his ea--oh. It felt good, if a little weird, but... he pulled his mouth away from Roy's shoulder and tipped his head up, stretching up to kiss him, instead.

Roy met the kiss hungrily, working his hand along that smooth shaft. He wanted Dick to feel so good, wanted to make him come before...

"Robbie...so close," he whispered, pulling out of the kiss to look at blue eyes.

Dick shuddered, eyes up on Roy's face, knowing what he meant, and yeah, he was, too, it... this just... He bucked up into his hand again, feeling the need building.. His hand moved harder, a little faster, like he'd want, and... "Roy, Roy I.."

"Can...you...now?" Roy was biting his lip as he tightened his grip just a little on Dick.

The question, the look on Roy's face as he bit into his lip, the tighter slide of his hand, all of it built together to push Dick so close to that edge... and another stroke from his best friend's strong, hard hand broke something in him, shock of his release crashing hard through him.

Seeing his team lead, his best friend like that, all shock and feeling good, took hold of Roy's throat and groin, shoving him into completion, straining into Dick's hand as he did.

Dick lay there, trying to pull himself together, feeling nothing but Roy's body against his, with him, the slowly easing beat of his heart... and the cooling mess over his hand, arm, and part of his lower body. //Ugh...// Still, he was comfortable, almost boneless, and Roy was warm.... he didn't really feel like moving.

"Oh man...." Roy was on cloud nine, all his worries lost while he laid there with Dick.

"Huh?" Dick barely recognized his own voice in his ears, and leaned into Roy, hand slowly sliding off him.

"That...blows anything else out of the water," Roy murmured, fishing the sheet up. A corner of it went to wiping them both off, then he jerked it around so a cleaner part covered them, pulling it up over Dick’s shoulders.

Dick just nuzzled into him, not about to admit to not having anything to compare it to if Roy hadn't picked up on it.

Roy settled Dick close, clean hand tangling into his hair, as he closed his eyes. Ollie be damned...he wanted to be here for the rest of the summer, just so he wouldn't miss out on this for as long as Dick actually thought he was worth it. The redhead was caught up in the lazy aftermath of an orgasm, while his mind rattled at speeds Fleetfeet could only imagine. He was full of incredulous disbelief that yes, he had shared this with Dick, as well as the rush of just how much better than his fantasies it had been.

Dick just pressed in closer, a little worried Roy'd think he was being girlish, but mostly just wanting to be that close to him as his brain tried to catch back up with what'd just happened--and how good it had felt.

"Robbie...thanks," Roy said softly, uncaring what Dick thought as he cuddled the younger boy. He needed this, and if it was only temporary, he intended to get the most from it.

Dick blinked, confused, and pressed closer, jaw and cheek against Roy's upper shoulder. "For what?"

"For letting us do this," Roy said, with a tone like it should have been obvious. "For not laughing at what I wanted."

"Why would I laugh? I mean... you shocked me, but...I think... I wanted you, and didn't even know it..."

Roy's breath had hitched, and then it escaped him in a gust. "Good, 'cause I needed you to know, to...I wanted this."

Dick petted at the skin under his hand, Roy's upper chest, and draped a knee up over Roy's legs to get closer. "I... got that..." He remembered some of the things Roy'd said, and flicked his hand back enough to smack him lightly. "Would you quit that ragging on yourself bull? You're a great guy."

Roy looked down at Dick's face. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. And if you ever compare me to one of those simpering, stupid, high-society jerks again, I will beat you half to death."

"As long as it's only half..."

Dick pushed up enough to glare down at him, jaw set. "Maybe I'd do it twice, then, so you get the point. No matter who took me in, That's not who I am--and you ought to know it."

Roy smiled lazily. "Okay."

Fairly certain he'd gotten his point across, Dick settled down against his side again, petting him. Roy just closed his eyes, luxuriating in the feel of it, soaking up being able to stay with the one he'd really wanted for so long.

Dick just settled in, not wanting to leave if he didn't have to, idly petting Roy's upper chest and shoulder, and slowly fell asleep.