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Guys hates days like this. His head throbbing from the pain, his body sweating and slick from the fever. His eyes hurt from the light and his breathing ragged. He felt powerless, his body unable to move. It was probably the only time where the justice gang gets any resemblance of peace.
He pulled the comforter up and over his bare shoulders, his body too warm for his teddy pyjamas (what? his mom gifted it too him.) sweat covering him. He let out an exasperated breath as he tried not to think about his splitting migraine. Who knew getting hit by a bus would cause both mental and physical brain damage.
They said that he was a miracle; they had been resuscitating him for hours; his pulse coming and going unable to connect to Gardner. The hospital thought he was gone, no hope until a gentle beep started to ring over the hospital room. His body gently heaving and his body responding to life.
He was in a coma for 6 months.
He Became a Green lantern 6 months after that.
His personality had changed but his willpower still present for the ring to search him out.
But right now, his willpower was at 0.
-
There was a gentle knock on the door, his body tensing from the sudden noise. He moved his head so that his face was under the covers even more, the top of his strawberry blonde hair just poking out. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. They would laugh at him, see that he isn't as confident as he should be. Not as charming or charasmatic.
The door opened, a feint light seeping through the comforter before a gentle latch caused it to become dark again.
Steady feet walked across the floor, precise and methodically. It was obvious it was Michael. Guy didn't want this. It was the last person he wanted to see him like this.
There was a pause, a deathly pause before a weight was seated next to him. An unexpected gentle hand combed through Guy's hair.
" I was getting worried " a low rumble escaped Mr Terrific's lips.
" Kendra too " guy thought the man added that on to make it seem less of a big deal that he was in fact worried about Guy.
Guy made a pained groan in response his head ducking slightly at the touch. Guy wasn't used to this.
" It's too quiet without you out there being an asshole too us " he whispered, guy wondered if he should have been able to hear that.
Guy wheezed and pulled the comforter away from his face the best he can to look at Micheal Infront of him.
Oh, his mask was off. Damn. His cheeks warmed with the sight of a post mission Mr. Teriffic.
Michael's eyes tried to stay as their sharp unemotional selves but they softened when they saw how badly guy was hurting.
Guy's eyes brows were knotted, his eyes squinted and his mouth in a straight line. Beads of sweat formed at his temple and cheeks. He tried to keep himself together just for the other man in the room.
" Guy. What is wrong? " Michael sounded stressed. Something guy has never experienced before. He was always collected, always knowing what to do when to go. He shouldn't be like this. He turned on the bed to look at Guy.
" Don't get hit by a bus in your late 30's. " Guy whispered admitting defeat. He sunk into his pillow and let out an exasperated breath.
The words rang in Michael's ears, 'hit by a bus' Repeated in his mind. How did he forget to see that in his medical records? He folded his lips into a straight line. He leaned closer towards guy hesitating for a moment before he planted a gentle kiss in-between the tight eyebrows. Black lipstick transferred onto the other.
This caused guy to relax, his eyes looked up at the other and he let out a pained breath he didn't know he was holding.
Guy didn't know what to think. Was this friendly? Was this something more than that?
Mr. Terrific kissed his forehead. He gawked.
If he wasn't indisposed Guy Gardner would kiss the man back, test the waters. See what the intentions were. Maybe that isn't appropriate, maybe the pain in his head is making him delusional.
Holt looked at the man with such vigor that Guy didn't know how to read him, and he couldn't read him to begin with.
" Is this something that happens often? " Mr Teriffic ponders gently picking up guy's hand using his thumb to make small circles on the back of it.
Guy let out a small whine before replying " N- no. No I mean no. Fuck me Princess it's like a ticking time bomb with an infinite loop" he managed to pull out of the depths of his lungs.
Michael nodded before standing up. He picked up his mask that was placed beside him and put it on. His eyes going stark white as he concentrated on something that Guy Gardner wished he knew. He looked so focused, handsome and determined.
He never took his free hand off Guy's, and Gardner loved it. It helped him focus less on his Migraine.
After a few moments two T-Spheres opened the room carrying a cup and some medication in their read beams. They gently placed them on the side of the table, before dispersing back into the hall way, the latter one closing the door behind them politely with a little red light ray. Michael took off the mask again, tilting his head back as a sigh escaped his lips, he blinked a few times and turned to Gardner.
" I got you the medication you will need for your symptoms " Michael said flatly his body staying still. His eyes showing his emotions, flicking across the other, observing his condition. His thumb stopped circling but stayed wrapped around Guy's hand.
Guy stared at him for a moment before slowly trying to hoist himself up. His head swelled with pain as he shifted and tears formed at the edge of his eyes.
" I can do it, I can do it " he whispered holding a hand up when Michael moved to steady him. His hand was trembling. Michael gently took it.
Holt sighed and took the medication packet into his hand, releasing his grip from Guy to pop out the pill. He looked up at him before taking the water of the table.
" Lean you head back " he instructed, gently placing his fingers under Guy's chin.
" I'm not a child T, I can do this myself " he tried to grab the glass but Michael batted him away. He shook his head in silence and gently placed the pill on Guy's pursed lips. He gently opened them for him.
He tapped under his chin again, suggesting to the man to tilt his head further back before gently placing the glass on his lips. Micheal's eyes lidded as he watched the other gently drink.
He made an approving humming noise once all the water was drank and he set the glass down. He looked back at Guy.
" What? " He shrugged. As he watched Guy's eyes staring back at him.
" Why did you do that? " He watched the other intently. He sunk back down into his pillow, waiting for the pain killers to set in. They were a high dosage, hoping it wouldn't take long.
Michael shrugged, very causal, very not like him at all and he turned to the side. He took a deep breath, glancing at Guy ever so slightly before looking down at his hands.
" I." He took a deep breath
" How do I say this." He tightened his eyes shut
" I wanted to make sure the person I like
has been taken care of. "
T didn't look at him but his body was letting him down. He was fidgeting, his fingers flexing and his other hand grasping at his fingers. His foot was tapping the floor as quietly as it could but he couldn't control himself. Oh, Michael was nervous. Nervous to say that, oh... Oh.
" T. " Guy whispered. His hand reaching out to take the hand that was white knuckling over his fingers.
The other man flinched and ducked slightly refusing to look at Guy.
Guy looked all over the other and copied what Michael had done for him earlier, gentle circles repeating over the back of his hand with his thumb.
He didn't know what to say, his words leaving him. So the best thing he could have done in that moment was to wait for T to calm down before gently pulling the other's hand forward and gently kissing it.
" I'm glad, lover boy " he smirked to the other and watched as T rolled his eyes, mainly to try and release the tension all over him.
Michael stood up, placed his hands on his thighs and looked down on the other.
" Get some sleep. " He glanced at the stain on the other's forehead.
" I hope it goes down soon" he nodded and he stiffly walked to the door.
Guy stifled a snort, his hand shooting to his forehead to contain the sharp pain that followed. Before looking at the other.
" I hope so too T. " He closed his eyes before snuggling up into position to sleep.
Michael took one more glance, one more smile, brushing himself off and neatening himself back up before exiting the room.
Guy watched all of it, his eyes not fully closed.
-
" There he is! " Kendra leant against the dining table in the middle of the incomplete Half of Justice. She glanced at Michael. who had his face locked into whatever he was going on the computer, his back facing Guy.
" Well wasn't that a nice surprise from the overly large chicken! The man is ready to rumble "
Guy did a little shimmy as he graced them both with his presence.
Kendra dead panned and stared at the other before covering her hand over her mouth trying to stifle a laugh. It was not working.
Then- horror struck her, her eyes going wide and her eyes darting over to Mr Terrific.
Guy stood there watching their silent conversation, his eyes darting between the two.
" What can you not handle this handsome mug? I know one of you can't " he placed his hands on his hips puffing out his chest.
That set Kendra off.
" Mike! " She batted his shoulder. Her wings flaring out of her back, a habit when her emotions get heightened.
Michael's expression was unwavering. His eyes side eyeing Kendra.
" What did you two get up in there! Gross!" She shrieked, her Hawk like chirping peaking though.
" Nothing, Chick " guy held up his hands, his body tensing slightly.
" I just get migraines ok? " He felt embarrassed, admitting. He wants to be seen as this strong and unmoving hero, someone people can see as a force to be reckoned with. With no weaknesses, a hero villains would be afraid of.
Kendra looked at him blankly unbelieving both him and Micheal.
" Yeah, yeah just migraines " she crossed her arms accusingly. " Nothing more? "
Guy looked up at the ceiling and then back down at the bird (literally) Infront of him.
" Yes Chick just migraines, the worse fucking ones you can believe. B- Before I was given the mighty power of the Green Lanterns. I was a Gym Teacher Alright? A lousy football coach. I helped kids, I made sure they had a purpose in life."
Kendra softened. Her wings folding back and sinking back into her body.
"Well one day, a student wasn't looking where they were going alright? Stupid shit. And well, as a teacher, I would rather an old fart like me get wrecked between a twenty thousand pound school bus and a SUV than someone who had their whole life Infront of them."
He looked away and Michael had stopped typing. Listening intently to the conversation.
" I was wrecked, my back was broken. My pelvis and legs shattered, my arm put of place and broken in three places. It was a good damn miracle I wasn't dead. It took them hours to resuscitate me. 6 months for me to wake up "
He took a deep breath.
" I wasn't the same when I woke up, fucked in the brain as some of the lanterns call it. But my frontal lobe never god damn recovered. I became a walking time bomb of arrogance and rage, past me gone. I cared for people. I still do. I just can't seem to mentally bring myself back. Unless it's days like this where my body won't function, my head in so much pain I feel like it will fucking explode. I can deal with it sometimes, but man some days it fucking withers me."
He made gestures with every description and Kendra strode forward. Her arms wrapping around his waist with utmost sincerity. A sniffle was heard and guy collapsed into her.
" Sorry Chick, " he breathed.
They stood there hugging for what felt like eternity before Kendra pulled away, wiping her eyes as she stared up at him. Her lips twisted into a charming smile as she gently swiped her thumb across his forehead.
" Well it seemed like you were taken care of in your time of need no? "
She showed him her thumb, stained with a matte black lipstick and Guy flushed a deep red.
" I Sure did " he chuffed happily. Looking over at Micheal who has now turned around, his eyes swelled with tears and guy gave him a soft smile.
Other stood up, sheepishly walked over and joined the others in the small hug pile.
Kendra was stunned he joined but she knew the reason why.
Michael loved Guy and Guy for sure liked Michael. And odd pair but she has seen odder things in this world.