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Three months.
That’s how long it’d been since Hal had heard from Bruce. Sure, the man still checked in to let the league know he wasn’t dead, but that wasn’t the same. That was Batman. Hal hadn’t heard from Bruce.
He knew it shouldn’t bother him so much. It’s not like they were more than fuck buddies, but something about the sudden distance had made his chest hurt in a way he didn’t want to analyze. Ever since the start of their “arrangement” the two had been in consistent contact. Had become friends.
Not to mention that Hal was the only one trusted with his secret identity. Had been in his home, in the cave.
So, yeah, part of him felt justified at the hurt and anger he felt. The other part of him was berating him for what he was doing now.
Ringing the doorbell to the, frankly, much too large, doors of the manor.
It was out of line. Reckless. Rude. And was, he supposed, even a little dangerous if the bat really didn’t want him there.
But he needed to know. He needed answers, and, though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, needed Bruce.
He considered flying off before anyone could answer. Alfred was faster though, and soon he was being ushered in. He found himself rambling as he stepped through the door.
“- just wanted to check in. I know he sends updates to the league, but it’s been awhile since I’ve heard from him, and I was getting a little worried. Sorry if this is an unwelcome visit. I could just-”
“Master Bruce will be happy to see you.” Alfred cut him off. Hal tried and failed to ignore the way that sentence had made him feel. Bruce would be happy to see him!
He was led to one of the sitting rooms, directed to sit, and so he did. The armchair was comfier than the majority of chairs he’d ever sat on. It made the wait a bit easier to bear. But only a bit.
The next five minutes felt impossibly long and he had begun to doubt this decision again when the door to the room opened again and Bruce entered.
The man was in sweats and a t-shirt and looked exhausted. Still, he gave Hal one of those small smiles that made his insides do flips, and made his way over, sitting down on the sofa, on the cushion closest to Hal.
“Woah, Spooky, I know you don’t sleep much, but it looks like you’re getting even less than usual.” It was easier to start here. Make the concern sound more like a joke. Don’t tell him how angry you’ve been. Take it slow. He had to take things slow sometimes with Bruce. They both had a tendency to be stubborn and blow up even when they know logically the other makes a good point. A lot of the time he felt that, due to Bruce’s own struggles with emotions, he was sometimes the only person who seemed to get Hal.
“Been busy.” It was said with a shrug. As if it hadn’t been 90 days since they last spoke. And even that was just Bruce replying after Hal let him know he was back on Earth.
“Yeah, I got that. We’ve missed you at the station.” Hal missed him. As far as he can tell, everyone else was perfectly fine with this arrangement. Seemed to think that the simple “Alive. Call me if it’s an emergency.” messages were enough. But he’d seen the man work himself to the bone. Really they all had. Over the last two years since the league was founded, Bruce had worked tirelessly to keep it up and running. Maybe they thought it wasn’t an all the time thing. Hal knew better.
More than once, he’d come to see if Bruce was down to have some fun and found the man running on caffeine, spite, and a need to keep his city safe. He’d had to forcibly remove him from the computer and make him go upstairs. He’d stay until Bruce had finally passed out before letting Alfred take it from there.
He never stayed the night. It didn’t feel right. Even with all of the emotions he could feel trying to rise to the surface, neither of them had made the move to anything other than friends-with-benefits. Most of the time Hal was just glad to have made it to the “friends” part at all.
“Look, Hal, I-” he was prepared for the excuses, maybe even to be told once and for all that they were done. It didn’t happen. Bruce was cut off by a voice in another room.
“Bruce? Are you here?” Was that a kid? Why was there a kid in the manor? Did Spooky have a kid he didn't know about?
“In here!” Bruce called back, sitting up just a bit straighter. Hal turned towards the door just as a child ran through and launched himself at Bruce.
He was in a school uniform with his backpack already on. If he had to guess he would assume the kid was around 10? Maybe even younger.
He didn’t know what to say so he watched Bruce hug him back, ruffling his hair just a little.
“Hey, bud,” his voice was softer than Hal had ever heard it before. It would be a really sweet moment if he wasn’t so confused. It was after a few moments with the kid pulled out of the hug that Bruce finally introduced them. “Dick, this is Hal Jordan, a very good friend of mine. Hal, this is Dick, my ward.”
Dick stuck out his hand and Hal shook it, giving the kid a smile. “Nice to meet you, kid.”
“You too.” He let go of Hal’s hand and turned back to Bruce. “I gotta go or I’ll be late. Will you be home for dinner tonight?”
Bruce thought about it. Hal had seen that look before. He was mentally running through his entire day's itinerary. He seemed to finally decide on if his evening was open and smiled at the kid. “I will be. I should even beat you home today.”
Dick looked ecstatic and gave Bruce another big hug. Alfred called for him from the hall and the kid, seemingly full of energy, bounded out of the room yelling farewells to the two of them.
It was quiet for a moment. Neither doing more than breathing, when Hal broke it with a snort.
“Well, now I see why you’ve been busy. Even explains why you’ve stopped messaging me.”
Bruce thought about his words before speaking, creating a bit of lull. Hal let him. He could recognize that this was a big change. Could even understand a bit why Bruce hadn’t just told him about it. Trusting Hal with Batman’s identity was one thing. Batman can take care of himself. A kid? He could get it.
It didn’t mean he wasn’t still hurt. It didn’t mean he didn’t still want answers. In fact, now he had even more questions to ask.
“I wanted to tell you.” That’s what Bruce started with. Hal didn’t respond. Didn’t ask him why he didn’t just do that then. He let Bruce continue because damn it he wanted his friend back! Even if they didn’t progress past that. Even if the sex stopped. He would not push this man away if he could help it. “I really did. But it was a lot. I- do you remember when I told you there was a circus in town?”
Hal nodded. Not sure where this was going. “Yeah. You invited me but I was about to leave for a mission.”
“Right, well I still went. That’s where I met Dick. He and his parents were part of an acrobatic act. That day, his parents fell. Right there in front of him, in front of the crowd. It wasn't an accident. The ropes had been cut. His parents were murdered, Hal.” It was said like he felt he needed to convince Hal of the horribleness of it all. And maybe for some people he did. They saw a twenty-three year old, traumatized, rich kid and probably wrote this whole thing off as a poor decision. Maybe even a way to look good for the press. Hal knew better.
Not saying a word he leaned forward, just enough so he could put a hand on Bruce's knee. The other man looked down at it, but made no attempt to remove it. If anything, maybe Hal was being wishful, he seemed to relax a bit.
“I felt responsible for him. I knew he could use someone who understands. And it's been a lot.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair, “So no, I haven’t been sleeping. Dick has nightmares almost every night.”
He didn’t need to explain further. Hal understood as best as he could. And he didn't push even though he could tell there was still a lot unsaid. He wanted to ask. But he didn't.
That wasn’t important right then. Bruce looked like he was bound to topple over any moment. Between raising a kid, running a company, and being Batman, it was too much for anyone. Even Bruce Wayne. And it seemed, now that he had gotten some of it off his chest, the exhaustion was too much.
Hal moved from the chair to sit beside Bruce on the sofa, pulling him into his side. Surprisingly, the man allowed him to, tucking his face against the side of Hal’s chest. Bruce turned into the embrace and wrapped his arms around his waist.
“We still need to talk,” Hal told him, using his other arm to rub soothingly down Bruce’s back. The other man hummed in agreement. “But first, you need sleep. Cancel your plans for the day.”
Bruce agreed easily. Apparently okay with just staying right there, content to sleep while sitting up. Hal wasn’t okay with it, and pulled him up and off the couch. He didn’t let go, only grumbling against Hal’s chest in protest of being moved. He was pretty sure he heard something about beds being unnecessary and that walking was stupid when the couch was right there.
Once he was actually on his bed, though, Bruce didn’t seem to have a problem with the furniture any more. Just curled up, dragging Hal down with him.
He tried to get back up. He had already felt like he overstepped by even being here. Any intimacy didn’t seem right. Even if it was just innocently sharing a bed.
Bruce pulled him back down. “Lay down. I can tell you haven’t been sleeping well either.”
Hal gave in, probably too easily, allowing himself to smile as the other man cuddled up closer, using his chest as a pillow.
“‘Night, Spooky.”
Bruce just snuggled impossibly closer, and it wasn’t long before they were both fast asleep.
Hal woke up to two small eyes staring at him. It took him a moment to figure out why there was a child there, but once he did, he turned his head to where Bruce was still asleep, having turned onto his other side at some point. Hal looked back at Dick.
“Hey, kid.” He pushed himself up. Dick just continued to glare at him. “Look, Bruce really needed some sleep and-”
“Who are you?” The kid cut him off. Hal ran a hand through his hair, not quite sure how to respond to that.
“Hal, we met this morning.”
“I know that. But why are you still here?” His hands were on his hips, in a way Hal assumed was supposed to look intimidating but was just adorable.
“I wanted to make sure Bruce slept. He kinda pulled me in with him.” And that was the truth. Hal still felt like he was lying. Omitting things at the very least.
“Why would Bruce do that? Who are you to him?” Dick demanded. He seemed really upset about this whole situation and Hal was back to thinking maybe he shouldn't have stopped by today.
He didn't even get a chance to try and explain.
“Dick, it's not polite to interrogate guests,” Bruce spoke up, rolling onto his back so he could see them. Hal almost laughed at the betrayed look on the kid's face. Almost. Because if he did that would have been impolite as well.
“But he-”
“Was invited to stay.” Bruce sat up, running a hand down his face, clearly trying to wake up the rest of the way.
Hal looked between the two of them. He hadn't meant to cause any problems.
“Why don't I just-”
“Wait for us downstairs.”
Okay. Hal was going to say he'd leave. But he could wait. He'd already waited 90 days. This would be nothing. Except now he's made an enemy of a 10 year old.
“Alright. If you're sure?” He looked at Bruce, just wanting that little bit of confirmation that he wasn't overstepping. It didn't matter that Bruce was the one who told him to stay. He wanted to make sure he actually wanted him to.
“I am.” A hand squeezed his before letting go. Hal just nodded and got up, not looking back down at the kid as he left. He didn't want to make him any angrier.
–
He didn't know what Bruce had told Dick but the boy seemed a lot calmer after he'd come down. Even gave him a quick apology on his way to one of the sitting rooms to do his homework.
Hal caught Bruce by the arm, stopping him at the doorway of that same sitting room. “I can come back another time. We need to talk, but I can understand if you're too busy right now.”
Bruce smiled at him. Something that always flustered him for some reason. It wasn't like the man doesn't smile, but the way he smiles at Hal? Sometimes it makes him think the other man might want more too. Sometimes.
“No.” He placed his hand on top of Hal’s where it was still holding Bruce's arm. “I am very busy. But I would like you to stay.”
And how could he ever say no to that.
–
They were in the cave after dinner. It was odd to be there outside of costume. Odd, but not uncomfortable. Even if there wasn't really a chair for him. He was more than happy to stand or lean against the “batcomputer”.
They'd started light. He filled Bruce in on things that had happened with the league. He knew it was probably unnecessary, the man had always been diligent in reading reports.
Bruce filled him in with what'd been going on in Gotham. Even telling him about Dick's schooling and what was going on at WE.
The Lanterns were a subject Hal purposefully ignored during his run down. He didn't want to think about the mission that hadn't gone so well a couple of weeks ago. Didn't want to even remember that he was supposed to leave out in five days for another one.
Right now, for the first time in a very long time, Hal just wanted to be on solid ground.
Eventually they ran out of easy topics.
“You know I won't tell anyone about Dick, right?” Bruce was silent, so Hal continued. “I wouldn't jeopardize a kid like that, Spooky. Especially not your kid.”
“I know.” That was it. That's all he had to say. Cool.
Hal took a deep breath.
“Then was it something else? I can understand if you wanted to stop fooling around, but I thought we were friends, Bruce.”
The other man looked unsure, and he'd be lying if he said that making Batman unsure didn't make him feel a little better. He knew the man wasn't some stoic statue like others believed, hell he'd thought the same for an entire year into knowing him, but it was rare to make him feel like he didn't know what to do.
Neither spoke for what felt like an eternity before Bruce finally replied.
“You didn't do anything.”
“That's not as reassuring as you might think.”
Bruce sighed and Hal only considered it a little unfair for him to sound so done with him.
“I didn't think it was right to continue our arrangement, considering I was starting to think of you as more than a teammate and a friend.” It took a minute for him to process that. Even longer for him to believe what he was hearing. And before he could tell him that he was being stupid because Hal felt the same, Bruce continued. “Then there's Dick. Even if you reciprocated, it didn't seem right to spring something on him like that. I thought a big change to an already strange routine might upset him.”
“So you have romantic feelings for me, but didn't want to explore that because of Dick?” Hal stood up straight, stepping into Bruce's space. He was taller than him when standing, just a little, but right, with him sitting, Hal towered over him. He put a hand on each of the armrests.
“Yes. What are you doing?” Bruce met his eyes as he asked. He didn't sound particularly bothered about being trapped in his chair. Probably because he could get past Hal whenever he chose. If he chose to.
“Nothing.” It wasn't very reassuring. He didn't mean for it to be. “Do you wanna know how I feel?”
“Hal.”
“Bruce.”
“I'm being serious.”
“So am I. I like you too, Spooky. The last three months have been Hell with you gone. We don't have to do anything about this. I wouldn't force you. But I'd appreciate it if you'd at least stop avoiding me.” It felt good to say it. To make sure it's been heard. Bruce looked a little uncertain now. Like he hadn't expected any reciprocation.
“I-”
“Bruce!” And there was Dick, running from the entrance and over to where they were sitting. The kid was in the cave. He knew. He knew Bruce was Batman.
“You told him?” Hal didn't know what to make of it. He stood up, giving the other man enough space to turn to face the kid.
“He figured it out.” Bruce told him before giving Dick his full attention.
“He knows?!” The kid yelled when he saw Hal.
Hal snorted, not even thinking about it when his costume formed around him, emitting just the smallest of light.
“He's Green Lantern?!” Dick yelled again. Bruce looked like his head was beginning to hurt.
“Not important. What did you need?” The man said, wanting to know why the kid had rushed down here like that.
“I was just having trouble with my math homework.”
Hal’s costume dissolved and he returned to leaning against the computer. He could only watch as the kid handed Bruce a paper and the two of them worked through the solutions together. Every once in a while the kid would turn back to him, just to see if he was still there.
Once they were done, Dick was sent back upstairs. It was only a little bit of a struggle. Hal couldn't really blame the kid for wanting to stay. As soon as the door shut, Bruce turned back to him.
“You might have just opened Pandora's box. He'll talk your ear off with questions.” It was meant to be a joke. A bit of a warning. Hal beamed at it.
“You aren't going to kick me out?”
Bruce hesitated. Some people may take it the wrong way, thinking he was unsure about the answer to follow. Hal knew that wasn't the case. Bruce wouldn't say it if he didn't mean it.
When he did speak, it was while making eye contact, face blank except for the smallest bit of hope shining in his eyes. “I would like for us to try. As long as Dick gives his blessing.”
Hal could feel the ridiculous smile on his face as leaned forward, back into Bruce's space. “I'm gonna hold you to that.”
The other man just smirked, meeting Hal halfway. Just as their lips touched, the door to the cave opened again. Sure enough Dick had returned and looked scandalized at the sight. Maybe even betrayed.
Hal spoke, peering over the top of the chair.
“Kid, look, we-”
“You're dating Green Lantern and you didn't tell me?!”
Bruce groaned and let his head hit Hal’s chest.
Hal laughed.