Chapter Text
Hal hated housewarming parties. Well, not exactly. He went to a lot of them in his twenties and enjoyed gathering with friends to drink cheap beers and sing along popular songs off key.
Even Arthur and Mera’s housewarming a few months ago had been fun after they had sent home most of the hundreds of guests and the remaining intimate friends had started playing games and sharing stupid anecdotes.
He hated this housewarming party in peculiar, no offense to Lois and Clark’s perfect hosting manners. There was alcohol and soft drinks, enough food and seats for everyone. They had even been careful to plan two parties, one for the League and one for their co-workers and other friends so they could be comfortable.
Everything was very nice, from the folded napkins with intricate patterns to the warming fire they had lighted in the fireplace next to which Barry stood with a pretty dark-haired girl.
Hal couldn’t place her - she must be Justice League if she was here, but there had been new recrues when he was off space a few weeks ago and everyone was wearing casual clothing instead of their superheroes’ outfits, which didn’t help.
“This is painful to watch. Please make a move.”
Hal didn’t jump, but he was so focused on figuring out who the woman was, he hadn’t heard Bruce getting closer to him. He looked at his whitening knuckles around his empty glass and let Bruce save said glass of probable destruction by loosening Hal’s fingers and putting it away.
“I'm not interested,” he said.
Bruce cocked a falsely surprised eyebrow. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt to not make his identity too obvious, most people here knew he was Batman, but some of the new ones didn’t and could recognize Bruce Wayne - which was less likely when he was dressed that way, and Clark had lent him some glasses.
“Not interested in your soulmate ? How odd."
Obviously, Bruce knew. Well, Barry never hesitated to brag about their “best friends’ soulbond”, so that wasn’t a surprise. Hal sighed and rubbed his nose. He couldn’t punch Bruce in the face. He really couldn’t. Shouldn’t. Not here, anyway.
“In my straight best friend. You’re aware soulbonds can be platonic, right ?” he said.
Bruce smiled his sweetest smile. Hal braced himself for some hurtful words, the man looked in a mood and when Bruce was like this, he had the nasty habit to try and take everyone down with him.
“Are you ogling him platonically ?”
Hal felt the words like a physical hit. He gritted his teeth. Damn the man and his nice guy image, he could be really cruel when he decided to.
“Fuck you, Bruce," Hal said.
His teammate didn’t look very impressed, merely smiled. Jerk.
“You’d like that," he replied smartly.
Bruce had said it without heat, casually. Probably he didn’t even mean it. Hal chuckled, and the tension between them decreased a bit. Until their eyes met, and there was something there… Hal decided it was worth checking. He could laugh it off if necessary.
“Is this an invitation ?”
Bruce seemed to consider it for a few seconds, assessing how sober Hal was and if it was worth it.
“It could be,” he said prudently.
Maybe Hal hadn’t been serious. Well, apparently he had, because he led Bruce to the front door swiftly and they left discreetly.
Bruce drove them to the Manor. They didn’t speak much. They weren’t so good at talking to each other, usually it ended up with at least one of them yelling or leaving early.
Hal only realized they had reached their destination when Bruce opened his door. Nobody had ever opened his car door for him and it was strange. A rich guy thing, he guessed. He was about to comment on it but decided to shut up instead, not willing to set Bruce in a foul mood.
“Are the kids still up ?” Hal asked quietly as Bruce steered him towards his bedroom.
Bruce looked surprised that Hal even remembered he had kids, and even more by him wondering about their presence.
“Patrolling. Not back yet,” he said, closing the door of the master bedroom behind them.
Little reminder that this wasn’t your average single Dad, and that they had left Clark and Lois’ party early.
“Anyway, this room is soundproof, they shouldn’t be able to hear us,” Bruce went on.
Hal hummed as Bruce looked for two tumblers and some whisky in a small cabinet. Rich guy thing too. Hal didn’t even have a drinking cabinet in his flat, not to mention in his bedroom. Well, if this room can be called that. It was more of a suite, really. The honeymoon kind, without the little touches of red and the rose petals.
He only raised an eyebrow about Bruce’s comment but the man just shrugged so Hal kept on asking about the kids.
He was genuinely interested. He didn’t have kids himself, wasn’t sure he wanted to have them - he didn’t disapprove of Bruce’s little bats’ army per se but wasn’t certain being a superhero spending a lot of time in space and being a good parent was a possibility.
“Aren’t you worried when they’re out there alone ?” he asked.
Bruce raised his eyebrows as he poured the amber liquid into the glasses. He wouldn’t have thought Jordan would be so interested in the kids. It wasn’t like he had some of his own. Not that Bruce was aware of, anyway.
For a second, Batman envisioned a flock of half-human half-alien children, wondering if it was a possibility. Hal had a bit of philanderer reputation in the League even if Bruce had yet to determine if it was founded or not - he hadn’t paid much attention to this matter.
Hal talked about lovely extraterrestrial beings and charmed human ones, of course, but there was no evidence to corroborate his stories. Had he really stayed three more days on Decima-14.1 at the Margalian princess’ request after his assignment ? Had he participated in this street orgy in the city of Riamma on their national day ?
Bruce couldn’t say. However, he was quite certain Jordan had experience with one night stands with Terran women, and probably men and was surprised by his behaviour. Was he under the impression that Bruce needed to be wooed ? Was he buying himself time ?
“Jordan, I offered you a good fuck, not a heart-to-heart about my family and my failings as a parent. Please refrain to turn this in a therapy session,” Bruce said, offering him a glass.
Hal looked at it skeptically. His shoulders had tensed, but Bruce couldn’t read his face.
“If you’ve changed your mind, fine, but no need to fidget about it,” Bruce added when the silence stretched.
Maybe not the right thing to say. Hal’s eyes threw daggers at him.
“I'm not having cold feet, you prick," Hal said, emptying his glass’ contents in one go. “I'm trying to be nice. I know it’s not your usual, but don’t knock it until you try it, people around you may appreciate it.”
“Insulting me won’t get you laid.”
“Insulting - are you kidding me ? You mocked my feelings, you tried to shame me for having manners and you’re basically treating me like I am a 5 years old but I am the one insulting you ? Fuck this. I'm done for this day. The Krelians, Clark’s party and now this ? I just hoped for some human comfort, but I’d rather sleep alone if it means I'm done fighting for the day.”
Bruce touched his shoulder. Hal looked at him. The Bat looked concerned. It felt wrong - being concerned about Hal was Barry’s place usually. Bruce often seemed to feel much when Hal was concerned - mainly annoyance, disdain and rage - but concern wouldn’t have made the top 10. Or even the top 50 probably.
And yet. It was Bruce facing him, Bruce’s eyes trying to pierce his and read his mind, Bruce’s hands making him sit on the bed and Bruce kneeling in front of him.
Hal kissed him before he could say anything, could tell him he was being ridiculous and stupid and should grow the fuck up. Bruce let him but his lack of active participation stopped the pilot, resigned to hearing Bruce’s piece.
“Hal. Are you sure you’re in the right state for this ? There are plenty of guestrooms in the manor if you need to rest,” Bruce said, brushing the back of his hand against Hal’s face to push his hair away from his eyes.
Hal shook his head, looking at Bruce in surprise. He wouldn’t have think the man could be so tender. Was it an apology for his previous crass insensitivity and harsh words ? Or worry that Hal was going to spill his guts to him ?
“I thought the kicking me out of your bedroom part would come after we actually had sex. If it can make you feel better about it, I'm really not drunk,” he said.
He wasn’t. It would take at least two other drinks for Hal to make dubious decisions. Well, sleeping with Bruce already seemed like a dubious decision, if he let himself think about it.
Oh and what the hell ! He trusted Bruce, the guy was good looking and experienced, he should stop thinking that much and enjoy the moment.
Bruce had finished his drink and his own glass joined Hal’s on the cabinet. He stood next to it, ostensibly waiting for Hal to make a move. Hal hesitated.
“What happened in space ?” Bruce asked finally, touching on a raw nerve.
Hal sighed and closed his eyes. He had come back to Earth this morning, but his mission had been finished for three days. He had needed some alone time to deal with things, but it may have not been enough. Well, he had hoped for Barry’s laughter to distract him from it. What a miscalculation.
“Just some ugly things. Anyway, you said it before, we’re not here to talk.”
“We can. If you want.”
“Probably not. Usually I’d talk to Barry but - yeah, not a great time for that.”
“Will you two be fine ?”
“I think. Don’t worry, we won’t do a thing to team dynamics. I’ve just been in love with him for too long for him to realize,” Hal said.
Bruce flinched a bit at that, and suddenly the whole evening made sense. Bruce’s bitterness, his hurtful words and his will to leave early. Him not minding that it was Hal with him. It would seem that Hal wasn’t the only one settling for second best tonight.
Well, it was other people’s loss. Hal would take his chance, no need to be miserable all night.
Soon enough they were kissing, Bruce pressed against the wall. Their bodies were so close.
“Tell me I won’t recognise the name on your skin,” Hal murmured in his ear before he focused on undoing Bruce’s shirt, hoping he had been wrong.
He missed the dark shadow that passed on Bruce’s face as he kissed his neck.
“Only if you’re fluent in Kryptonian. Is it a dealbreaker ?” Bruce panted, looking at the other man.
Hal closed his eyes and pressed a kiss on Bruce’s shoulder. Apparently the universe hated them. Most soulbonds were fully platonic, and when they weren’t, the attraction was usually mutual.
“I'm sorry, Bruce.”
The man made a non-committal noise, not denying anything. He was breathing heavily.
“And honestly, about it being a dealbreaker ? No. It’s not like I'm surprised, and the name on my wrist isn’t even yours. I bet you hate the feeling of having someone else’s permanent mark on you like you belong to them anyway,” he said, kissing Bruce again and divesting him entirely of his shirt.
“You don’t ?” the man asked after some more kissing.
Hal only smirked before removing his own t-shirt. Bruce brought him closer and steered them towards the bed.
“To bonding friendships,” Bruce said sardonically, looking at their bare wrists where other people’s names had taken root.
“To new developments,” Hal suggested while taking his hand, effectively putting both of their soulmarks out of sight.
This night was theirs to share.