Something About Us.

Chapter Five

Roy convinced himself that the hand traveling down his chest wasn't his. That he felt webbing between those fingers when he tightened his grip. Dreams were funny things, sometimes they felt so real, and sometimes pretending they were real was enough. But he was wide awake now, awake enough to hope that the owner of the name he moaned at the end had gone temporarily deaf. Or at least that sound proofing was a priority when he restored his home. It was a nice dream, but Roy was sure there was a special circle in hell for people who did this in their friend's beds.

Roy stared at the ceiling. The idea crossed his mind last night that it'd be nice if something happened with Kaldur. He dismissed it immediately. He didn't need a romantic entanglement right now, Lian took up enough of his mental energy. Sex was okay on occasion, but the idea of seeing Kal as another notch on his bedpost sickened him. Dick had gotten Roy to go on a date or two, they all ended the same way, with his date being more interested in him than the other way around. He had no romantic attachment to any of his female peers in the League, and there weren't many normal women who stood up to Jade. Kaldur was everything Jade wasn't and vice versa. So there was no way to fall into the trap of comparing the two. It would be a clean break, but he and Lian would most likely be leaving tomorrow, and he wouldn't jeopardize restoreing their friendship over one night.

Lian had the rest of the week free because of spring break, but Roy wouldn't impose on Kaldur. Not with Kaldur insisting on sleeping on the sofa. And with what just happened? Waking up this way was embarrassing enough, if Kaldur were in the room and noticed...It was wishful thinking, Kaldur would notice, and Roy would have no way to explain without sounding like an opportunistic hound dog. If he read the signs generously Kaldur's reactions last night could be a good sign. Roy could imagine that Kal was holding back or something. It was like Kal to do so with Lian still in the house. But he knew he'd be wrong. Kaldur also had always been too polite to tell others when they invaded his personal bubble.

Roy forced himself out of bed. He stripped off the sheets and bundled them into a tight ball. Tip toeing into the hallway, he peeked into the living room. He didn't realize he was holding his breath until he saw the sofa was empty and cursed at himself. Finding the washing machine in the hallway closet, he set it on its hottest setting and added twice the amount of bleach to the water. After a quick trip to the restroom he went searching for Kaldur. Probably to apologize, mostly to wallow. It was like picking off a scab. He could go to the guest room and make sure that Lian was up in time for practice. Anything but see the man that he'd just...

"Morning." The predawn light sharpened Kaldur's features. He didn't look up from his computer when he gave his greeting. His papers were spread out around him on the patio table, held down by mugs, or small pots from his garden, to ward of the light breeze. Kaldur rolled his shoulder's and Roy could hear his joint's pop from where he stood. Roy's eyes locked onto Kaldur's shoulders. He was staring again and felt stupid for being unable to tear his eyes away.

Kaldur took off his reading glasses and turned to him. "Roy? Are you unwell?"

"I'm fine just...still sorta half sleep I guess?" Roy shook his head and forced a smile. He took a seat at the table. "Working this early?"

"For a while yes. I woke a bit earlier than normal." Kaldur rolled his shoulders again.

Roy hummed in response. He decided then, as he got out of his chair, that going to hell was a definite possibility. He walked over to Kaldur's side of the table and placed both hands onto his shoulders. Idly he rubbed his thumbs along Kaldur's shoulder blades. Roy's insides jumped as Kaldur's gills fluttered. Maybe, Roy thought, they will create a special circle just for me.

"You're tense." Roy said as he began to massage Kaldur's shoulders. He leaned in a bit. "This is why I was trying to tell you to use the bed last night." Kaldur's gills fluttered again and Roy resisted the urge to bite the crook of Kaldur's neck.