Work Text:
Bruce and him had just had one of their biggest fights when Hal had left for Ferris Air in the early afternoon.
Hal had come back to the Manor instead of showering at Ferris and going to Dinah and Ollie's place directly in order to talk to Bruce and mend things before going to their friends' anniversary party. However, Bruce had already left by the time Hal had reached the Manor.
It could mean two things. Either Bruce hadn't thought Hal would even try to fix their relationship or he had been too upset to let him try.
Hal had tried not to think too much about it as he took a quick shower and put some clean clothes on. He had only hesitated for a second before picking his best green shirt.
It was a gift from Bruce and looked much better than Hal's other shirts. It would probably raise a few eyebrows and maybe even some questions if he appeared in a tailor-made shirt at their friends' party.
Well, they could talk. Bruce had been right, they couldn't keep their relationship a secret forever. Shoudn't.
Does our couple mean so little to you ? Bruce had asked and it had felt worse than a physical blow.
Hal had been so upset he had slammed the door of their bedroom shut and left for Ferris early. It was unfair from Bruce to think so little of him, or so he had thought until he had landed the aircraft he had been testing.
Nothing had such a calming effect on Hal as flying. Now that he felt more clear-headed and that his judgement wasn't so clouded by his emotions, he could tell he had been wrong to leave.
He knew Bruce had trust issues and abandonment issues and really shouldn't have just left like that.
Bruce never talked about any of it but they were married. Hal knew about those things anyway. It wasn't like they were difficult to deduce in the first place.
Hal had considered calling Bruce or texting him before going to the party but he knew him too well. Bruce wouldn't answer. He needed the time to brood.
Hal tried calling him anyway and left a short voicemail, just in case. Hey, it's Hal. I'm sorry for earlier. You were right and I… you know. See you soon. Love you. it said.
"Are you two okay ?" Cass had asked as Hal hung up.
He had called Bruce from the living-room, looking at the framed photographs on the fireplace's mantlepiece.
Bruce appeared on a few of them, including one where he and Hal were laughing together that Hal loved. He had been looking at it as he left the voicemail.
Since he was turning away from the door and Cass wasn't the kind of person who made the floorboards creak, he hadn't perceived her presence until she had spoken up and nearly jumped when he heard her.
Hal turned around. The kid was standing in the doorway, wearing a black party dress and looking quite concerned. Surely she had seen Bruce earlier and noticed that he was feeling troubled.
Their most explosive arguments always left them both bereft.
Hal had smiled at Cass reassuringly.
"We're working on it." he had said. "You look great. You're meeting Steph tonight ?"
Cass had nodded, a small, shy smile forming on her lips.
"Good evening to you two. Don't stay out too late." Hal said, before remembering that the teenager was also a vigilante and was used to patrol in the worst parts of the city at night.
She probably thought he didn't have to worry about her but she still looked so young.
"Sure, Dad. " Cass said, hugging him lightly.
Hal was too shocked to return her hug before she turned on her heels.
When had he acquired kids, again ? The girl had been joking, hadn't she ?
He suddenly wished Bruce was there with him. He was the one who knew his kids the best, and Hal just wanted to put the morning argument behind them. Hal needed to see his husband.
Right, he should just chase after Bruce. It was getting late anyway and his best friends would expect him.
So Hal took the direction of Star City and flew there in record time.
Dinah and Ollie had greeted him warmly and Dinah had insisted for him to join them and play "two truths one lie" as Ollie said something to Barry.
"After I've said hi to everyone." Hal had promised. "I haven't seen Bruce and Clark by the way, you wouldn't know where they are ?"
Clark's absence was very convenient. Dinah would have been surprised if he had only asked for Bruce.
However, the fact that Bruce was probably hiding somewhere and that Clark was probably trying to make him talk about what was wrong - his dispute with Hal - was making him feel uneasy.
"Bruce said something about bringing back beers from the kitchen but either got lost or chose to hide to avoid having fun and playing with us. Clark had a phone call from work but said he shouldn't be long but that was ten minutes ago."
Dinah rolled her eyes in exasperation, making Hal laugh.
"I'll try to find them and bring them back. With beers." Hal assured, clasping her shoulder.
"You're the best." Dinah said, kissing his cheek. "Good luck with Happy and Grumpy."
Hal smiled at her one last time and went into the depths of Dinah and Ollie's home. Hal had never been more grateful for his sense of direction and spatial memory than when he deambulated gigantic mansions as Wayne Manor or the Queens' place.
He had been in that kitchen before and finding his path wasn't difficult even if he realized that the closer he was getting to the room, the slower he was walking.
When he reached the kitchen, the door was closed and Hal could hear muffled voices from inside the room.
Hal didn't rap his knuckles on the door. Clark had probably already warned Bruce of his arrival. He just took a deep breath and turned the knob as the room went silent.
Bruce had been facing away from the door which probably meant he had to compose himself before facing Hal.
He turned sideways when Hal stepped into the kitchen, acknowledging his presence without considering him as an immediate threat.
Just as Hal had expected, he had been talking with Clark. Well, Clark had probably done most of the talking. Hal very much doubted Bruce shared their relationship issues with anyone.
Clark was the only Leaguer who knew about their relationship. One glance at Hal convinced him to leave him alone with Bruce.
"Good evening, Hal. I'd better go back with some of the beers or our friends are going to riot. See you two later."
Hal mumbled something appropriate and Clark left, carefully closing the door behind them.
Hal was under no delusion. His conversation with Bruce wasn't going to be as private as he would have liked.
They stayed silent for a bit until Hal couldn't resist anymore and moved closer to wrap his arms around Bruce.
Hal could feel Bruce tense against him before he relaxed.
“What are you doing ?” Bruce asked, but his arms had already wrapped around Hal.
“Apologizing.” Hal said softly, resting his forehead against his husband's.
“Anyone could come in.” Bruce remarked.
“It doesn’t matter.” Hal said.
He let Bruce read the determination in his eyes before kissing him gently. Bruce pulled on his wrist and they separated.
“Hal. I didn't mean all the things I said. I know I can't ask you for more than what you're giving me. It's a lot more than I could have expected. If you’re not ready to face our friends, I can get that.”
"But you deserve more and I can give it to you." Hal said, leaning against the kitchen table.
Bruce's gaze burned through his clothes. Hal had been right about the shirt.
"You don't have to." Bruce said, looking back at Hal's face.
“I know.” Hal nodded. "But I was already thinking about it and then Cass… she called me Dad. She was probably joking but…"
He looked down at the marbled tiles of their friends' kitchen. Maybe he had been imagining things and Cassandra had just said that in jest.
Bruce's warm, familiar hand was suddenly on his chin, making Hal look up.
"She wouldn't. She meant it." he said.
Hal repressed the urge to crash their lips together. It was often a struggle when they were talking.
"Um. I thought, well, we're married and apparently, we have kids together. And I - I'll never be ashamed of that and I want you to know it. Hell, I want them to know it. I want to tell our friends." Hal said, and he kissed Bruce’s cheek before going out of the room.
Bruce looked at the door closing behind him for a second before grabbing a few more beers and following Hal back into Dinah and Ollie's living-room.
"You've taken your sweet time." Ollie complained when they took a seat next to each other.
"I had things to settle with Bruce." Hal said, accepting a beer from Bruce. "Which game are you playing ?"
"Two truths and one lie. Did you know that Barry had never seen a Star Wars movie ?"
"There are worse tragedies in life." Bruce muttered.
"Wait, you haven't seen any either ?" Oliver asked, leaning over in his armchair.
"His kids are nerds. Of course Bruce had seen all the movies." Hal said, shaking his head. "So, whose turn was it ?"
Oliver shrugged. The game had been interrupted by Clark's return and then they had had to explain the rules to him. They had just guessed that Arthur had lied about having pet seahorses in his youth.
"Yours, if you want."
Hal met Bruce's eyes.
"You don't have to." Bruce signed to him discreetly.
"I want to." Hal signed back.
Ollie must have caught him doing it because he looked at him strangely. Hal had no idea if his friend had any notion of ASL.
In any case, Ollie may have some notion of intimacy and the way he and Bruce had been looking at each other had been pretty telling.
Hal cleared his throat loudly enough to attract their other teammates' attention.
“So apparently it's my turn. Let’s make it a good one. I’ve never been to Europe. I can read in eight languages fluently. Bruce and I got married last September.”
He heard Ollie choke on his beer but didn't look at him. He didn't turn toward Bruce either.
“The last one was so unexpected, I have to ask. Did you get married for a mission and just didn’t mention it ?” Arthur asked, an eyebrow raised.
“We didn’t.” Hal said.
“If any of you ever does something that stupid, I want it to appear in their report.” Bruce added.
“So you didn’t get married last year.” Barry said. "Did you -"
“We did.” Hal cut him off, and this time he looked at Bruce.
Bruce looked back at him.
“Okay. For how long have you been together ?” Ollie asked after some seconds of silence.
So he had caught up.
“Four years, give or take.” Hal said.
"I'd lie if I said I haven't noticed something was going on but that ? That was quite unexpected."
Hal sighed and intertwined his fingers with Bruce's paler ones.
"You'd think our night jobs would make you used to the unexpected." Bruce said, diverting the attention from Hal.
Hal smiled at him softly and shook his head. He could do this.
“That’s my fault. Of course, at first, it was barely worth mentioning, mostly stress relief. But then things got way more serious and… I’ve never really dated a guy before Bruce. It was new and maybe a bit uncomfortable and I didn’t want people to… well, I don’t know, but I kept us in the closet even after we got married and it wasn’t fair on Bruce.”
“Hal.” Bruce murmured in that compassionate tone he used with Robins drowning in guilt sometimes.
“It’s okay.” Hal said, smiling tightly at him.
Bruce nodded. Hal could see he was dying to wrap him in a tight embrace to comfort him but didn't dare with all their teammates present. Hal wasn't sure he was brave enough to let him.
I love you, Hal tried to convey with his eyes and Bruce pressed his hand tighter.
“You know it doesn’t change anything for us ?” Barry eventually said and Hal finally looked away from his husband.
Hal nodded curtly.
"So which one is the lie ?" Ollie asked, and Hal immediately relaxed.
“You can speak way more than eight languages.” Dinah pointed out.
“He said he could read in eight languages, that’s not the same thing. I suppose you can read in eight languages, at least three being alien ones ?” Arthur said.
“Seven languages actually. I’m still struggling with Gozardan runes.”
“Show off.” Bruce murmured.
Hal hid his smile behind his beer bottle.
“You’ve never been to Europe, then. Really ?” Diana asked.
“Yes.”
“That’s what, a three hour trip for you ?” Ollie asked, looking surprised.
“I’d probably be able to make it in two hours and a half.” Hal admitted.
And then Dinah claimed it was her turn and all the others stared at her expectantly. All of them but Bruce, who was looking at Hal.
They were still holding hands and Hal didn't feel as uncomfortable to do it outside of their home as he thought he would be.
Ollie laughed at something Dinah had said and Clark shook his head indulgently as if he was teaching misbehaving 3rd graders.
Bruce's hand was warm in his. Arthur and Victor seemed more interested in their current conversation than in the game. Diana was giving her opinion on which of Dinah's affirmations was a lie and Barry was arguing in favor of another so animatedly he knocked over his beer bottle and only prevented it from spilling thanks to his supernatural speed.
Bruce slowly let go of Hal's hand. Hal just shook his head and took Bruce's hand back in his.
No one was paying them any attention.
It was an ordinary evening among so many others. Everything felt the same. Yet so much had changed.