Chapter Text
Hal, it turned out, liked housewarming parties. Well, not exactly, but he liked this one in particular. Nearly a year had passed since Clark’s, and Hal hadn’t been to one after that.
The hosts were as charming than Clark and Lois had been. It was a close friends only event, meaning nobody wore unnecessary eyewear and Bruce wouldn’t be caught dead wearing jeans.
They had come to Barry and Iris’ new place together, even if Bruce looked far less forward to the event than Hal. They had even argued about it, Bruce’s mood increasingly worsening the closer the housewarming day went.
They were still angry at each other when Hal had gone off world about a week ago. He had gone straight to the Manor after his mission and Bruce was here, waiting for him. He had looked like he had seldom slept in Hal’s absence. He went so far that he apologized about his childish behavior.
He must have thought it was the end of whatever you could call their relationship. How wrong he had been about Hal’s intentions. Hal had held him close all night, pushing away the images of dead alien bodies dancing behind his eyelids. He had seen worse.
Hal let his gaze drift to where Barry was standing, chatting with a beautiful woman. He swallowed his petit four, remembering another time, another place. Another woman. Funny how events tended to repeat themselves. There were small differences, however.
This one Hal could recognize and she laughed at something the Flash said before cupping his cheek and kissing it. This wasn’t just flirting, this was intimacy. A year ago, it would have made Hal feel sick. First, because of the gesture itself, second, for not wanting his best friend’s happiness.
Now, looking at the both of them and at Iris’ sparkling ring, promising a future of companionship, he felt alright. He felt good, even.
Barry caught him watching them and waved. Hal waved back, a soft smile on his lips.
Bruce must have decided Hal’s demise would be by cardiac arrest at a housewarming party because he hadn’t heard him getting closer this time either.
“Any regrets ?” he had said quietly, and Hal really deserved a medal for not jumping every time his boyfriend picked the sneaky way.
He slided an arm around Bruce’s waist casually. It had taken some banged doors and yelling sessions but their relationship had reached a stage where they were comfortable enough for light PDA. They had been public for two months.
Even if it seemed that they had kept some lingering insecurities. Bruce looked more tense than he should have, had he been totally certain of Hal’s involvement in their relationship. To be honest, Bruce had looked tense for the past few weeks.
“No. You ?” Hal asked, jerking his head slightly towards the kitchen, where Lois and Clark had disappeared a while ago.
His heart was beating a bit too fast for the unbothered look he was trying for. Which his boyfriend was bound to notice. Bruce shook his head in negation, leaning into Hal, and the man could breathe more easily.
They stood there, watching their hosts. Both of them looked radiant. The wedding was for June. Barry had asked Hal to be his best man. Hal hadn’t hesitated - he was quite moved by it even if it had seemed an obvious choice to anyone else.
“I'm happy for them.” Hal confessed.
Bruce looked a bit surprised by his statement but said nothing. Hal seized his hand.
It was his way to mark him like a soulmark would have. It was gentle but also possessive. It screamed "he's with me".
“I moved on, Spooky. I'm glad Barry's with Iris. She makes him happy, and I'm happy with you.”
Hal caught the brief smile on Bruce’s lips at his admission. Caught it with his eyes first and with his lips a short time afterwards.
“Are you certain -”
Hal had sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Is it so hard for you to believe you make people happy ?” he had asked.
He hadn’t really thought about it before, but Bruce’s answer to his question explained quite a few things.
“Actually yes, it is.”
“Bruce. Sure, we had our disagreements, we still have, and sometimes you act like an utter ass and I want to smother you, but you’ve been mindful and caring, a good boyfriend and a real friend. I'm not leaving anytime soon just because we argue. I’ve never thanked you for all of that, by the way.”
They weren't so great at talking to each other about things that mattered but they had been working on it before Bruce's last brooding streak.
“There’s much I haven’t thanked you for either.”
Hal considered the room and the guests.
“Would it be rude if we left early ? Because you're giving me a few ideas.”
It wasn’t like it was Barry’s bachelor party. He still had this one to plan, by the way.
“I don’t remember you asking a year ago,” Bruce said, smirking.
“Jerk,” Hal muttered, shaking his head.
Bruce’s fingers brushed past his waist, smiling.
“You love me,” he whispered in the shell of Hal's ear.
Hal shivered. They had never said the words so clearly before.
“Yeah, strangely I do,” he said, kissing Bruce’s nose lightly.
“I - me too,” Bruce said, stroking Hal’s arms absentmindedly.
“I’ve figured this one out,” Hal murmured before kissing him again, on the lips this time.
Bruce's skin was addictive.
“It isn’t your name that is written on my skin," he pointed out, breaking the moment.
Hal just shrugged. It wasn't like he could do anything about it.
“I'm aware of this. It isn’t yours on mine either.”
He didn't push his sleeve back to show him. Bruce had seen Hal shirtless so many times, he could probably trace Hal's best friend's name at the right location while he was clothed.
“I'm glad you have someone like Barry in your life.”
It was true. He hadn't been at first. Hal had been in love with Barry and seeing his name was a painful reminder that Bruce himself wasn't with the person he was in love with.
Hal had covered it with some powder when he had picked up on its effect on his lover. There was a market for that : people feeling ashamed of their soulmates who pretended they didn't have one - it happened rarely but it happened.
They were four months into their then secret relationship when Bruce had made him stop. He wanted all of Hal, not some idealized version.
Now… Well, Hal's feelings for Barry seemed as platonic as they could get.
Barry was Hal's best friend and Bruce could live with it if it made Hal happy.
“Really ?”
They had had some heated discussions about their soulmates before. Hurtful accusations were made, furious retorts were formulated, sleepless and lonely nights were spent.
“I'm not saying it’s easy to be with someone who wears the name of someone else they used to love on their wrist but you make it worth it.”
"Same."
Bruce took Hal's hand in his.
"Enough of bonding friendships, let's slip away for new developments."