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thejusticelounge2012-04-28 08:46 pm
bossymarmalade) wrote in thejusticelounge2012-04-28 08:46 pm
Entry tags:
got your back
Kyle found Guy in a quieter area of the Watchtower, away from the usual hubbub in the lounge or the canteen. Self-sufficient to the penny, Guy had even created his own bartender, bar counter and a stool for one as he slowly nursed a beer and stared out of the plexi-glass walls and into space.
Kyle created a bar stool for himself, and slid in next to Guy. “God I could use one of those right about now,” he started, looking thirsty and hopeful.
Guy returned nothing but a hard, sideways glance and a raised eyebrow. Kyle sat and waited until Guy finally sighed and asked, “Ya wanna put one on my tab, kid?”
“Are you…you don’t have some sort of mind reading powers I don’t know about, do you?” Kyle asked, sitting up and feigning shock.
Guy smiled and snorted, despite himself. “There’s a reason you suck at poker, kid.” He still didn’t make a move to get a beer from the green light bartender, who Kyle noted was quite the sexy little number. Guy sure had a type. Female.
The younger Lantern pointed at his face, motioning in a circle around it. “This, right?” he said, as Guy slowly nodded. Kyle soberly continued. “I honestly don’t know how to get rid of it. I see it every day in the morning…drives me loco. I don’t know how you stand it, really.”
Guy smiled a bit, more to himself than to Kyle. He relented and held up a hand to the bartender, who brought a beer over for Kyle, “So, why so cheerful today, kid?”
Kyle accepted the beer with two hands, twisting off the cap. “S’been a good day. No one got killed. I got to spend time with some of the younger heroes. Stopped Black Mask from wreaking havok. And now I’m here with you. Can’t complain about that, Guy.” He took a gulp - only the best, thank you Guy Gardner - and paused for a moment, but Guy was still quiet. Kyle figured it was up to him to fill the air. “Hope you’re not still sore at me about Batman. He tried to yell at me again. AND his son, can you believe it? But I got it sorted…you’d be proud.”
“Yeah?” Guy drawled, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice, stopping himself from telling Kyle just how sore he still was. Guy didn’t like the Bat even glancing in Kyle’s direction much less acting all superior to the Torchbearer. Plus, he had no idea why Kyle was being so damned cooperative in return. But…he kept it to himself, managing instead a rather noncommittal, “That’s nice…”
“…Are you sure about that?” Kyle said as neutrally as he could, getting his short nails under the label of the microbrew.
“Catch the game last night?”
Kyle sighed. He had monitor duty last night, since he was one of the few people who lived up in this stupid spacestation. “I…caught the game of slizborg that was airing from Aello. The…team with the less puke-coloured lizards won.” Kyle drank thoughtfully. “Man those lizards can play a mean game of slizborg.”
Guy couldn’t hold it in any longer, turning to Kyle in irritation, “Why do ya gotta be so chummy with the Bat, anyway?”
“I’m not!” Kyle protested, but not too loudly. He was kind of surprised and pleased that Guy returned to this topic. “It’s more that…I think he has a lot of…hn. I guess it’s just, like. Him and Superman, they used to be my idols when I was a kid, and then when I became GL and got to meet them it was like. Wow. And so that feeling’s just hard to shake, y’know?” Guy was giving him A Look. Kyle almost rolled his eyes. “No, of course YOU don’t know, you ‘n him have been busting on each other since forever, right?”
Guy grunted. “This ain’t about me, kid. You wanna be all chummy and hero-worshippin’ an’ shit, fine. Jus’ don’ come cryin’ to me when they tumble off those precious pedestals you’ve gone an’ stuck ‘em on.”
“Uhhhh-huh. Right. Gotcha.” Kyle swigged his beer, staring at nothing for a while. He didn’t mean that sarcastically, he just had no real clue why Guy said it. Was it really so bad to admire people? He looked over at Guy, who’d gotten all stormy-looking again. “….Guy, can I. Can I ask you something?”
Guy took a drink and looked away. “It’s a free country.”
Kyle grinned, and leaned head against Guy’s shoulder, “Guy, will you be my hero?”
“Quit fuckin’ around, kid, I ain’t in th’ mood fer yer sarcasm,” he turned away even more, shaking Kyle off of him. He couldn’t believe Kyle was making this all into a joke.
Frustrated, Kyle threw back his head, rubbing his face with his hands. “Ahhhh,” he moaned between his fingers, shaking his head. “What’m I gonna do with you, buddy.”
They remained like this for a while, Kyle leaning forward so he could brace his elbows on the table, his face still in his hands. After a long moment, Guy finally spoke up. It was hard for either of them to remain silent for long. “Am I?” Guy sounded tentative.
Kyle peeked between fingers at Guy. “Are you que?”
“Yer ‘buddy’,” Guy said brusquely. He got the bartender to fetch the remaining six bottles of beer, letting her set them in front of him without opening any of them.
Kyle didn’t really see where this was going, but he at least knew his feelings about Guy. He sat up straight and swiveled to face him. “You’re my best friend.” Kyle stated plainly. “Bestest of the bests.”
Guy grunted. Kyle knew that grunt. It was the ‘Guy is still unconvinced’ grunt. Guy methodically put the beers back in a construct mini-cooler, out of sight. As he busied himself, he muttered, “Yeah, that’s why yer so chummy with the ones who can’t stand havin’ me around.”
Still feeling unsure where this was going, Kyle nevertheless tried to hide his smile. He still remembered what Guy said the last time they argued. Guy had cut himself off, but he was here, back in Sector 2814 for one very specific reason. Again, Kyle felt so touched, reliving that conversation. “You want me to go ballistic on everyone?” Kyle said mildly. “‘Cause I will. I can. If that’s what you want.”
Guy couldn’t believe Kyle sometimes. He tried not to raise his voice. “…Don’t matter what I want kid. I ain’t a ‘hero’.” Guy even used air quotes on the last word, then turned to leave, picking up his beer supply. Might as well enjoy these back in his room - strictly against regulations, of course. He left the bar counter construct, dissolving the bartender. “Enjoy yer beer. G’night.”
Kyle was left alone, and he sat for a bit and wondered why his life was constantly about chasing after people, recently. “I guess I’m good at it.” He muttered to himself, finishing the beer and then sliding off the stool. Made up for all the times he’d run away and no one followed him, Kyle supposed. He trailed after Guy, keeping a slight distance between them. “Guy…stop doing this, man.”
Guy stopped short and wheeled around. “Stop doin’ WHAT. Hm? WHAT am I doin’ Kyle? “ Using his free hand, Guy pushed it through his short red hair. “I’m just tired of bein’ left to wonder whose side yer on.”
Kyle floated to a soft stop, looking surprised. “ …side? I’m sorry, there are sides?”
“There are in my book,” Guy’s tone was short but filled with history.
“There…aren’t in mine,” Kyle replied, still looking surprised.
Guy nodded, his tone still short. “I noticed.”
“Unless you know, you’re talking Parallax or something,” Kyle went on, trying not to freak out. “In which case, yeah. Serious sidage. But we’re all heroes on this…side, Guy. Even if we don’t always agree.”
Guy held up a hand to stop the other Lantern from his yammering. “Lemme ask ya somethin’ Kyle…where were ya when Bats punched me out the other day? Were you evenin’ the score, or were ya standin’ around laughin’ at me like everyone else always does, takin’ pictures or shakin’ yer heads wonderin why they let a useless turd like Guy Gardner back in the League? Whose side were ya one THEN Kyle?”
Kyle didn’t respond, and Guy nodded. “Big help ya were, throwin’ water on me so’s he could do it AGAIN.”
“Even-ing the score,” Kyle looked down, focussing on a corner of the hallway. “I see.”
“I was willin’ to go toe to toe with him for the way he was treatin’ ya yesterday,” Guy continued, his free fist clenching and unclenching. “I have your back. I just gotta wonder how you can be coverin’ MY ass when yer too busy kissin HIS.”
Kyle finally looked at Guy, his eyes flashing with indignation. “I thought I was helping you, not trying to defend your honor - which you clearly pointed out to me that you didn’t need from me.” Kyle threw his hands up, taking a few steps towards Guy as he gained momentum. “I can’t win with you! I stand up for you, you tell me you can fight your own fights.” Kyle swung his hands to the other side of himself. “So I try to concentrate on helping you, you say I’m not pulling my weight. I mean…?” He held his hands out, shrugging. “Maybe I should just start to do a jig and recite Shakespeare next time something goes down? At least then no one’ll be pissed off at me for screwing up twelve ways to Sunday.”
Guy said nothing as he stood and waited as Kyle ran out of steam, his expression blank. Might as well be wearing a mask, Kyle noted, feeling the irony. He took a few steps closer, hoping he was getting through. “Look…all we need to do is…come up with a game plan. We got back to Earth at different times, we’re off our game…but. We can figure it out for next time, y’know? How to deal with the Leaguers.”
Guy made a rough sharp motion, splaying his fingers out, his eyebrow raised. “Is this speech gonna be much longer, because I’m startin’ to get unpleasantly sober.”
Kyle looked everywhere else but at Guy. “I…it’s done if you wanna talk strategy with me,” he said hopefully.
Guy cut the air with his hand. “I think I’m done talkin’ with you. I’m done with this whole enchilada, in fact.” He turned abruptly and flew back to his room. Temporary room. Now soon-to-be vacated room.
Kyle’s mouth dropped open. More than half a year spent together, and Guy still managed to surprise him. He slapped his arms to his side. “WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?” he yelled after Guy, not caring if anyone else heard.
“ASK YER FUCKIN’ HEROES, BATMAN AND SUPERMAN!” Guy hollered back, not turning around.
“AYYYY hijioe de puta, que la chingadera madre de dios GUYYY” Kyle pushed off his feet, launching himself after Guy. He got there too late. Guy was already in his room and he very pointedly shut his door behind him.
Inside his room, Guy held his ring up. “Ring. Bring up my packin’ checklist, eliminate items as they’re packed.” He constructed a nondescript suitcase and began to gather the few possessions he’d brought with him.
Kyle paused and landed in front of his door. Of course it could be easily opened by his ring, but that was not the point. Not when Guy had so pointedly shut it. “You’ll have to come out of there someday!” Kyle banged on the door with his fist and then added belatedly, “Young man!” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “And now I’m sounding like my mom. Fantastic.”
When Kyle got no answer, he crouched down and slid a green light under the slight chink at the bottom of the door. It snaked its way up behind Guy, turning into a green video intercom. “Guy? Guy. Guy. Guy. C’mon. Guy. Guy? Guy. Guyguyguyguyguy.”
A very heavy wallop came from within the room, impacting the door, and making a large dent in the heavy steel plating the exact outline of a fist flipping the bird, complete with detailed ridges outlining knuckles and a single fingernail.
Kyle fell over, scrambling backwards. “Well…okay then.” Point taken. He started to stand up, but paused, distracted by actually looking at the hand. It was really nicely realized, Kyle thought admiringly. “Guy! Hey Guy, have you been practicing your rendering? Cuz I gotta tell you buddy, that’s a really well-designed hand…giving me the flip off.”
Inside Guy’s room, Kyle could almost hear the older Lantern facepalm. He heard Guy mutter, “Door, unlock and open.”
Kyle hustled in before Guy changed his mind, and looked around with curiosity. He was always interested in seeing how everyone else’s rooms looked, considering they all had homes back on Earth. Not Guy, though. “I see your room is about as empty as mine.”
Guy ignored him and continued to pack things into the suitcase on his bed. Eventually he said, “What do you want this time, Mr. Rayner?” Guy refused to look up at Kyle, though. Eye contact would just want to make him punch something right now.
Kyle continued looking around, not answering immediately. So bare and military, not at all like their place on Oa. Then, it all clicked in Kyle’s head. He spun on his heel and pointed at Guy, “Let’s find a place together. On Earth, I mean. Preferably in the States. West Coast.”
Now Guy couldn’t help but look up, trying not to look as incredulous as he was feeling. “What?”
“Welllll y’know…” Kyle kept meandering around the room, clasping his hands behind his back. “It’s not as if this place is exactly homey. I hate living up here. It’s like living at a YMCA or something. And I’ve been wanting to find a roomie because god knows I can’t afford to live by myself. Not that…you know, I wouldn’t pay my share. Once I get some jobs lined up, of course.”
Guy continued packing. “Entirely up to you, kid,” he commented. “If ya don’t like the Watchtower, maybe the Fortress of Solitude or the Batcave would be more to your likin’,” he grumbled sarcastically.
“Well y’know Batman DID say I was free to bunk on his giant penny…but I think I’d prefer a bathroom that wasn’t full of bat guano,” Kyle retorted easily, waiting for Guy to say something infinitely wittier and make everything would be okay between them.
But instead, Guy only shrugged and packed a few books and comics into the bag, and a few non-construct clothes, including an old “Warriors” T-shirt from his old bar. Out of all the Lanterns, Guy was always the one who had the most stuff. It wasn’t because he valued material gain or anything, Kyle knew that. It was because Guy felt connected to certain things. Certain memories. The few and far between good memories he had.
But he didn’t stop packing. Kyle looked a little worriedly at the luggage, eyes flicking back up to Guy. “…Soooo. What do you think?”
“About what?”
“About what?” Kyle echoed stupidly, completely floored. Did Guy even hear him? Unless…He then looked around the room with mounting horror. “Wh….wait. Am I talking to someone else? Oh god am I a ghost? Or is this a dream??!”
Guy had almost had enough. He flung a book hard into the suitcase and stared at his supposed ‘buddy’. “Kyle, are you ever serious? About anything?”
“Dammit Guy, I am being serious! I am being one hundred percent, top of the line, no bullpat serious here. How much more frowny-face do I have to be right now?” Kyle held his forehead and took a deep breath. “Dios, I was honestly starting to think this WAS a dream…”
“Kyle, I’m not moving into a place with you on the West Coast.” Guy stated flatly.
And with that, Kyle suddenly, completely and thoroughly deflated. He unconsciously took a couple steps back, away from Guy. “…Oh. Um. Okay. I…I guess. I thought. I mean. I. I thought,” he stammered, backing away until his legs met the corner of the bed. His knees gave way and he sat down, hard.
“I’m not moving anywhere on Earth, Kyle…” Guy said a little quieter this time; but he didn’t offer anything more.
“Sure. No prob, Guy. S’cool.” Kyle looked down at his ringed hand, focussing on the ring. “No prob.” His ring glowed slightly, as if anticipating something. “So you’re leaving me, then.”
Guy paused packing. “I’m leaving Earth,” he corrected. “I’m not needed here, kid. It was a mistake to come.” He shut his eyes. Kyle couldn’t see him anyway. “Or…maybe I shoulda come sooner.”
Kyle’s voice came from close to his chest. “No, you’re not leaving Earth. You’re not ON Earth. You’re leaving me.”
“Kid…ya left me first.”
Kyle turned around to look at Guy, his face crumpled in protest. “You…you told me to head to Earth before you. You said it was okay!”
Guy stared at Kyle. Sometimes, this kid… “Not what I meant…”
“I don’t understand,” Kyle said plaintively and squinting up at Guy. The squinting made all the lights and shadows softer around the Guy-shaped silhouette. The image was a small comfort to Kyle.
“I know, kid,” Guy sighed, almost pityingly, “That’s part of the problem.”
“So help me!”
Guy’s jaw clenched, debating whether or not he wanted to get into this. He loathed this sort of Saturday Morning Special routine, especially when he had to do it with someone he thought he knew. But Kyle was just…there, waiting and asking for help. Guy figured to hell with it. One last attempt. “Kyle, I don’t like ya being all friendly and pals and cooperative with people that get off treatin’ me like shit. It’s one thing for me to not care what they think. It’s another for you to act like you don’t care how your being all pals with them makes me feel!” Guy waved his hand once, dismissing the high levels of awkward to which this had escalated. “An’ I ain’t good about this touchy-feely crap, so that’s really all the explanation I can give ya!!”
“Well….okay!” Kyle said in a large heave of breath. He hadn’t realized that he’d been holding his breath that entire time. He rolled what Guy said over in his mind. It was all starting to clear in his head now, the way Guy reacted, the things he was doing right now. Any of Kyle’s anger that stemmed from hurt confusion drained from him as he thought about what Guy said. He nodded.
“Okay. And…I’m very sorry.” Kyle said, and he looked up at Guy, who was now standing stiffly, staring down at his suitcase. “I honestly didn’t know I didn’t have your back. But it’s true: I didn’t. I get it. It’s been rough coming back here for both of us, and I really should’ve talked to you first, before anything got so out of hand.” Kyle nodded, encouraged by the feeling that all of this - all of what he was saying - was right. He felt better. Guy was right. Of course he was. “I get it, sure. You’re right, Guy. And I’m sorry. I really am.”
“…Thanks kid,” came the reply. He said he didn’t like touchy-feely moments, and he meant it, but Guy also appreciated an honest apology.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Guy,” Kyle urged on.
Guy sighed. Here we go again, ‘round the merry-go-round. He looked wry. “Kyle. I think right now, you’d say whatever you had to, to get me to stay, not return to Oa…”
Kyle shrugged, his mood flaring a bit. “What the hell is wrong with that?” He pushed himself off the bed and came around to stand next to Guy. Kyle never had any problem with maintaining personal space; but he knew Guy sometimes did, depending on his mood. And his mood was very prickly right now. Therefore, Kyle insistently pushed his limits. “So I really want you to stay! I don’t care how I sound. All I know is I want you to stay.”
Guy regarded him calmly. “Nothin’s wrong with that. But it ain’t going to fix the problem. People here are still gonna hate on me.” He paused for a bit, and then to make sure Kyle fully understood, he added, “And yer still gonna adore ‘em.”
Now feeling completely sure of the situation, Kyle shook his head, once. “Nope,” he said immediately. Then he shrugged. “Well, I can’t help how other people feel about you. But I know how I feel about you. And what I’m supposed to do about it, now.”
It was now Guy’s turn to get the thousand-yard stare. Kyle’d seen it before on Guy, on Hal and definitely on John. Even on Jenny. He braced himself as Guy started to speak. “Ya know….for years I didn’t feel like anyone had my back. Like, no one, especially not Hal and John.” Guy blinked slowly, as his memories churned inside him. “But we got past that. Shit happened, lots of it, and that put us on the same side for once, that we can respect one another.” Guy looked at Kyle, contemplatively. “I’ve gotten spoiled for havin’ you and Killowog and Arisia and Soranik around, and knowin’ ya got my back, no matter how big an ass I can be.”
“I’m really sorry, Guy. Really really.” Kyle looked down, rubbing his arm. It wasn’t as if he was ignorant of Guy’s past or what he had to struggle through. He just hadn’t really thought about it outside of the context of himself. “I mean…when you put it that way, I guess it is better for you back on Oa with our other friends. Our…mutual friends, I mean.” Kyle cast about sadly, not really knowing what to do now. He knew what he was getting at, even though he didn’t like it, not one bit. Guy fit in on Oa. He stood out here. And that was not fair to Guy.
Guy shifted his stance, tipping his head. “Look…all I’m sayin’ is…these guys, I’d fight with ‘em for a common cause. They make the Lanterns of Earth’s jobs easier by far. They’re….they’re good people, to each other. But I was never really one of ‘em. You can’t say that half of ‘em are happy to have me here.” Guy folded his arms, planting his feet. “An’ that ain’t me feelin’ sorry for myself, it just is.
“I fucked up a lot in the old days. Most of these guys remember that, and they’ll never forget.” Guy flicked his hand, starting to feel annoyed again. “Hell, I tried to stop Doomsday and that wasn’t enough to make ‘em forget. I blew my chance at gettin’ in good with the League, kid. It’s really my own damn fault.”
Through this, Kyle was studying his boots, constantly editing the lines and stitches, the grooves on the soles…his eyes drifted beyond them, looking at Guy’s, heavy, steady, extraordinarily padded boots. They were large boots, especially compared to Kyle’s slimmed down ones. He twisted his mouth. “It can’t be easy for you, being here. Having to deal with all this BS all over again.”
“That’s the big thing, kid…” Guy said, feeling relief washing over him. Was Kyle finally getting it? Guy sat down on the foot of his bed, leaving room for Kyle. “Ya kinda hit the nail on the head there.” He used the ring to fetch two beers out of the cooler and opened them, handing one to Kyle and gesturing with his chin for Kyle to come sit. “I knew it would be hard dealing with the BS. I wasn’t expectin’ history to repeat itself, Bats hittin’ me again. But then seein’ him treat you like shit, I almost saw red again - literally. I think the worst was, seein you bend over and take it from him.” Guy paused, looking at Kyle awkwardly and hoping he didn’t freak the kid out. “I meant figuratively…”
But Kyle just laughed softly, unbothered. After what he’d seen of how those Robins were…”I gotcha,” he reassured and sat down obediently beside Guy, taking a swig from the beer. “I didn’t think I was, really, y’know? Taking the flack from Batman, I mean. Truth is, I was actually kind of proud of myself for handling him the way I was, but…I suppose all that dealing with it…that was just in my own mind. Trumped up myself in my head.” Kyle nodded to himself in confirmation. Yes. That must have been it. He looked at Guy. “I guess you saw what was really happening. Most people see me so different from how I see myself.”
Guy’s pugnacious chin went up and he smirked. “Nah, y’know what, ya DID deal with him. An’ ya should be proud for how diplomatic you were. I just had a big issue with him threatenin’ ya, or sayin’ you were incompetent. Yer NOT, an’ he has NO right to judge ya.” Guy was in full-on lecture mode now, but Kyle didn’t seem to mind at all. “Sure, respect the Bat, work with him…but don’t let him get away with treatin’ ya like one of his disposable Robins. Yer a man Kyle, and you’ve earned everythin you are. Don’t let him undermine that. Like I said, yer an Honour Lantern. Act like one. Make him respect you.”
Guy quaffed more beer, wiping the suds from his mouth with his thumb and forefinger. He realized Kyle was waiting to hear more. And Guy realized he had a bit more to say. “An’ everyone sees themselves differently than everyone else sees ‘em. Sometimes, you’re more accurate than the rest of the universe ever could be.”
“It’s true, man,” Kyle said, agreeably. “This more recent time, he tried to dismiss me. Dismiss me! As if I’d be dismissed. I didn’t leave. He got angry, but I didn’t care.” Kyle grinned a bit. “Honestly, in the back of my mind I could hear you giving one of your world-famous pep talks all the while. It helped a lot.”
Guy surveyed Kyle, reflecting Kyle’s grin. “Really?”
“Sure did. He’s all ‘Blah blah I’m the goddamed Batman’” Kyle started up with an impression, “And I was like ‘Nope, nu-uh’ and you (the you in my head) was like,” Kyle slid the words to the side of his mouth for his Guy impression, “‘Getcha at ‘em, kid. Don’ take no guff from guano-breth. Dem’s da spirit’. Well…something like that.”
Guy was entertained, not just by Kyle’s stupid impressions, but by the story itself. “Really? Kid….that IS awesome. I’m PROUD of ya, Kyle!!” He tousled Kyle hair, almost lovingly.
Kyle ducked his head, letting Guy scruff him. He didn’t like it so much when other people treated him like a kid, but Guy had every right. Well, when no one else was around, anyway. “I’m telling you, it might take a while, but I DO listen to you in the end. You never steer me wrong. I’m just really slow sometimes.”
Guy scoffed, but it was friendly. “An’ here I was worried that you’d just become the Bat’s doormat.” He shook his head. “Ya did GREAT kid. Maybe now he’ll respect ya. An’ ya… “ His smile suddenly slipped, as he realized what he was saying. He took a swig of his beer “…An’ ya won’t end up like me.”
“You big doof,” Kyle kindly waited until Guy’s finished swallowing the beer before punching him in the arm, “I’d be proud if I ended up like you. After all, you get to hang out with a super-cool dude like me.”
Guy smiled down at his bottle. “Yer right about that, ki-…Kyle. I get to hang out with ya, I don’t got to. As fer endin’ up like me….I just don’t want ya to make all the same mistakes I did. Don’t ever let them START pushin’ you around…because it’ll never stop.” He put an arm around Kyle and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Only I get to push ya around, capiche? Er, comprende?”
Kyle chuckles, feeling overly elated. It felt so good to be back in Guy’s good books again. “Si si, mi mejor amigo, si.” He nodded, then turned the bottle around in his hands. “So….” Kyle gestured to the packed bag. “Are you taking this up out there? Or…down to the sunny Pacific coastline?”
Guy looked back over his shoulder. “Neither.”
“Hnnnnnn.” Kyle’s shoulders slumped, but he wasn’t about to be deterred all over again. It was just… “I really wanted to live somewhere not here. This place gets depressing.”
“Yeah?” Guy said, looking questioning. “You sure?”
“I’m so damned sure. Can you believe I almost asked Hal if he’d consider it? This was before the whole, uh…true love with Ollie Queen thing, of course. He’s pretty much there permanently.” Kyle knocked the bottle against his palm repetitively. “Since then, all I’ve been thinking of is trying to find someone - I mean, a roommate. Then you got here and…ah haaaa…” Kyle scratched at his sideburns, looking sideways at Guy. “This is embarrassing but I’ve been kind of trying to find ways I could ask you. I mean, on Oa it was different.”
“Kyle, it’s fine. It makes total sense, really.” Guy stretched, feeling satisfied as his shoulders popped. “If ya can’t afford a place of yer own, then ya need a roommate, and who better than someone ya don’t have to hide yer secret identity from?”
Kyle stared at Guy for a long moment. “I’m sorry…say again? The frequency in my head jammed. You….you really wanna do this?”
Guy snorted and frowned, looking at Kyle as if he was simple. “It’s not like I haven’t lived with you before.”
“Yeah but you really scared me about fifteen minutes ago!” Kyle said, turning himself to face Guy. “Like REALLY. Ayyyy esta fantastico!” He looped his hand against Guy’s neck, knocking their foreheads together before releasing Guy and standing up. “And y’know what the best part is? I brought absolutely nothing with me! So I’m pretty much packed! We just need to hit Craisglist and decide on a city - I’m thinking Coast City, but really where ever’s cheapest’ll work…”
Guy fell backwards on the bed, as Kyle ranted around the room. “Kid…fifteen minutes ago, I thought I didn’t have any influence over ya anymore, that ya didn’t need me or my advice or anythin’.” He leaned up to look at Kyle, pointing at him. “But next time my buddy stands up to Bats, or anyone else for that matter…you bet I wanna stick around to see it.” Guy drained his beer, then cradled his head in both his hands and grinned at Kyle. “An’ wherever you can make the most of yer talent as an artist kid, that’s where we’ll head. You call it. Just…keep in mind Hal’s got Coast City, and he’s kind of as possessive of it as Bats is about Gotham.”
Kyle nodded, sucking on his teeth. He put his hands on his hips. “Okay okay. There’s Star City, but it’s really expensive and…oh whatever, I’ll figure it out. Well, I mean, we’ll figure it out.” he grinned, happy to remember all over again that he’d got his old roommate back. “Dios, this was a lot easier on Oa, wasn’t it? I just can’t wait. You can’t believe how much relief I feel right now, uggggh. It’s like it’ll be just the same, only we’ll see a lot more humans. And get real coffee whenever we need it. And. And all the other cool stuff that’s on Earth that’s not on Oa.” Kyle took a deep breath, winded. He turned to look at Guy. “You’re the best, man.”
Guy grinned up at the ceiling. “Yup. I am the best.”
Kyle created a bar stool for himself, and slid in next to Guy. “God I could use one of those right about now,” he started, looking thirsty and hopeful.
Guy returned nothing but a hard, sideways glance and a raised eyebrow. Kyle sat and waited until Guy finally sighed and asked, “Ya wanna put one on my tab, kid?”
“Are you…you don’t have some sort of mind reading powers I don’t know about, do you?” Kyle asked, sitting up and feigning shock.
Guy smiled and snorted, despite himself. “There’s a reason you suck at poker, kid.” He still didn’t make a move to get a beer from the green light bartender, who Kyle noted was quite the sexy little number. Guy sure had a type. Female.
The younger Lantern pointed at his face, motioning in a circle around it. “This, right?” he said, as Guy slowly nodded. Kyle soberly continued. “I honestly don’t know how to get rid of it. I see it every day in the morning…drives me loco. I don’t know how you stand it, really.”
Guy smiled a bit, more to himself than to Kyle. He relented and held up a hand to the bartender, who brought a beer over for Kyle, “So, why so cheerful today, kid?”
Kyle accepted the beer with two hands, twisting off the cap. “S’been a good day. No one got killed. I got to spend time with some of the younger heroes. Stopped Black Mask from wreaking havok. And now I’m here with you. Can’t complain about that, Guy.” He took a gulp - only the best, thank you Guy Gardner - and paused for a moment, but Guy was still quiet. Kyle figured it was up to him to fill the air. “Hope you’re not still sore at me about Batman. He tried to yell at me again. AND his son, can you believe it? But I got it sorted…you’d be proud.”
“Yeah?” Guy drawled, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice, stopping himself from telling Kyle just how sore he still was. Guy didn’t like the Bat even glancing in Kyle’s direction much less acting all superior to the Torchbearer. Plus, he had no idea why Kyle was being so damned cooperative in return. But…he kept it to himself, managing instead a rather noncommittal, “That’s nice…”
“…Are you sure about that?” Kyle said as neutrally as he could, getting his short nails under the label of the microbrew.
“Catch the game last night?”
Kyle sighed. He had monitor duty last night, since he was one of the few people who lived up in this stupid spacestation. “I…caught the game of slizborg that was airing from Aello. The…team with the less puke-coloured lizards won.” Kyle drank thoughtfully. “Man those lizards can play a mean game of slizborg.”
Guy couldn’t hold it in any longer, turning to Kyle in irritation, “Why do ya gotta be so chummy with the Bat, anyway?”
“I’m not!” Kyle protested, but not too loudly. He was kind of surprised and pleased that Guy returned to this topic. “It’s more that…I think he has a lot of…hn. I guess it’s just, like. Him and Superman, they used to be my idols when I was a kid, and then when I became GL and got to meet them it was like. Wow. And so that feeling’s just hard to shake, y’know?” Guy was giving him A Look. Kyle almost rolled his eyes. “No, of course YOU don’t know, you ‘n him have been busting on each other since forever, right?”
Guy grunted. “This ain’t about me, kid. You wanna be all chummy and hero-worshippin’ an’ shit, fine. Jus’ don’ come cryin’ to me when they tumble off those precious pedestals you’ve gone an’ stuck ‘em on.”
“Uhhhh-huh. Right. Gotcha.” Kyle swigged his beer, staring at nothing for a while. He didn’t mean that sarcastically, he just had no real clue why Guy said it. Was it really so bad to admire people? He looked over at Guy, who’d gotten all stormy-looking again. “….Guy, can I. Can I ask you something?”
Guy took a drink and looked away. “It’s a free country.”
Kyle grinned, and leaned head against Guy’s shoulder, “Guy, will you be my hero?”
“Quit fuckin’ around, kid, I ain’t in th’ mood fer yer sarcasm,” he turned away even more, shaking Kyle off of him. He couldn’t believe Kyle was making this all into a joke.
Frustrated, Kyle threw back his head, rubbing his face with his hands. “Ahhhh,” he moaned between his fingers, shaking his head. “What’m I gonna do with you, buddy.”
They remained like this for a while, Kyle leaning forward so he could brace his elbows on the table, his face still in his hands. After a long moment, Guy finally spoke up. It was hard for either of them to remain silent for long. “Am I?” Guy sounded tentative.
Kyle peeked between fingers at Guy. “Are you que?”
“Yer ‘buddy’,” Guy said brusquely. He got the bartender to fetch the remaining six bottles of beer, letting her set them in front of him without opening any of them.
Kyle didn’t really see where this was going, but he at least knew his feelings about Guy. He sat up straight and swiveled to face him. “You’re my best friend.” Kyle stated plainly. “Bestest of the bests.”
Guy grunted. Kyle knew that grunt. It was the ‘Guy is still unconvinced’ grunt. Guy methodically put the beers back in a construct mini-cooler, out of sight. As he busied himself, he muttered, “Yeah, that’s why yer so chummy with the ones who can’t stand havin’ me around.”
Still feeling unsure where this was going, Kyle nevertheless tried to hide his smile. He still remembered what Guy said the last time they argued. Guy had cut himself off, but he was here, back in Sector 2814 for one very specific reason. Again, Kyle felt so touched, reliving that conversation. “You want me to go ballistic on everyone?” Kyle said mildly. “‘Cause I will. I can. If that’s what you want.”
Guy couldn’t believe Kyle sometimes. He tried not to raise his voice. “…Don’t matter what I want kid. I ain’t a ‘hero’.” Guy even used air quotes on the last word, then turned to leave, picking up his beer supply. Might as well enjoy these back in his room - strictly against regulations, of course. He left the bar counter construct, dissolving the bartender. “Enjoy yer beer. G’night.”
Kyle was left alone, and he sat for a bit and wondered why his life was constantly about chasing after people, recently. “I guess I’m good at it.” He muttered to himself, finishing the beer and then sliding off the stool. Made up for all the times he’d run away and no one followed him, Kyle supposed. He trailed after Guy, keeping a slight distance between them. “Guy…stop doing this, man.”
Guy stopped short and wheeled around. “Stop doin’ WHAT. Hm? WHAT am I doin’ Kyle? “ Using his free hand, Guy pushed it through his short red hair. “I’m just tired of bein’ left to wonder whose side yer on.”
Kyle floated to a soft stop, looking surprised. “ …side? I’m sorry, there are sides?”
“There are in my book,” Guy’s tone was short but filled with history.
“There…aren’t in mine,” Kyle replied, still looking surprised.
Guy nodded, his tone still short. “I noticed.”
“Unless you know, you’re talking Parallax or something,” Kyle went on, trying not to freak out. “In which case, yeah. Serious sidage. But we’re all heroes on this…side, Guy. Even if we don’t always agree.”
Guy held up a hand to stop the other Lantern from his yammering. “Lemme ask ya somethin’ Kyle…where were ya when Bats punched me out the other day? Were you evenin’ the score, or were ya standin’ around laughin’ at me like everyone else always does, takin’ pictures or shakin’ yer heads wonderin why they let a useless turd like Guy Gardner back in the League? Whose side were ya one THEN Kyle?”
Kyle didn’t respond, and Guy nodded. “Big help ya were, throwin’ water on me so’s he could do it AGAIN.”
“Even-ing the score,” Kyle looked down, focussing on a corner of the hallway. “I see.”
“I was willin’ to go toe to toe with him for the way he was treatin’ ya yesterday,” Guy continued, his free fist clenching and unclenching. “I have your back. I just gotta wonder how you can be coverin’ MY ass when yer too busy kissin HIS.”
Kyle finally looked at Guy, his eyes flashing with indignation. “I thought I was helping you, not trying to defend your honor - which you clearly pointed out to me that you didn’t need from me.” Kyle threw his hands up, taking a few steps towards Guy as he gained momentum. “I can’t win with you! I stand up for you, you tell me you can fight your own fights.” Kyle swung his hands to the other side of himself. “So I try to concentrate on helping you, you say I’m not pulling my weight. I mean…?” He held his hands out, shrugging. “Maybe I should just start to do a jig and recite Shakespeare next time something goes down? At least then no one’ll be pissed off at me for screwing up twelve ways to Sunday.”
Guy said nothing as he stood and waited as Kyle ran out of steam, his expression blank. Might as well be wearing a mask, Kyle noted, feeling the irony. He took a few steps closer, hoping he was getting through. “Look…all we need to do is…come up with a game plan. We got back to Earth at different times, we’re off our game…but. We can figure it out for next time, y’know? How to deal with the Leaguers.”
Guy made a rough sharp motion, splaying his fingers out, his eyebrow raised. “Is this speech gonna be much longer, because I’m startin’ to get unpleasantly sober.”
Kyle looked everywhere else but at Guy. “I…it’s done if you wanna talk strategy with me,” he said hopefully.
Guy cut the air with his hand. “I think I’m done talkin’ with you. I’m done with this whole enchilada, in fact.” He turned abruptly and flew back to his room. Temporary room. Now soon-to-be vacated room.
Kyle’s mouth dropped open. More than half a year spent together, and Guy still managed to surprise him. He slapped his arms to his side. “WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?” he yelled after Guy, not caring if anyone else heard.
“ASK YER FUCKIN’ HEROES, BATMAN AND SUPERMAN!” Guy hollered back, not turning around.
“AYYYY hijioe de puta, que la chingadera madre de dios GUYYY” Kyle pushed off his feet, launching himself after Guy. He got there too late. Guy was already in his room and he very pointedly shut his door behind him.
Inside his room, Guy held his ring up. “Ring. Bring up my packin’ checklist, eliminate items as they’re packed.” He constructed a nondescript suitcase and began to gather the few possessions he’d brought with him.
Kyle paused and landed in front of his door. Of course it could be easily opened by his ring, but that was not the point. Not when Guy had so pointedly shut it. “You’ll have to come out of there someday!” Kyle banged on the door with his fist and then added belatedly, “Young man!” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “And now I’m sounding like my mom. Fantastic.”
When Kyle got no answer, he crouched down and slid a green light under the slight chink at the bottom of the door. It snaked its way up behind Guy, turning into a green video intercom. “Guy? Guy. Guy. Guy. C’mon. Guy. Guy? Guy. Guyguyguyguyguy.”
A very heavy wallop came from within the room, impacting the door, and making a large dent in the heavy steel plating the exact outline of a fist flipping the bird, complete with detailed ridges outlining knuckles and a single fingernail.
Kyle fell over, scrambling backwards. “Well…okay then.” Point taken. He started to stand up, but paused, distracted by actually looking at the hand. It was really nicely realized, Kyle thought admiringly. “Guy! Hey Guy, have you been practicing your rendering? Cuz I gotta tell you buddy, that’s a really well-designed hand…giving me the flip off.”
Inside Guy’s room, Kyle could almost hear the older Lantern facepalm. He heard Guy mutter, “Door, unlock and open.”
Kyle hustled in before Guy changed his mind, and looked around with curiosity. He was always interested in seeing how everyone else’s rooms looked, considering they all had homes back on Earth. Not Guy, though. “I see your room is about as empty as mine.”
Guy ignored him and continued to pack things into the suitcase on his bed. Eventually he said, “What do you want this time, Mr. Rayner?” Guy refused to look up at Kyle, though. Eye contact would just want to make him punch something right now.
Kyle continued looking around, not answering immediately. So bare and military, not at all like their place on Oa. Then, it all clicked in Kyle’s head. He spun on his heel and pointed at Guy, “Let’s find a place together. On Earth, I mean. Preferably in the States. West Coast.”
Now Guy couldn’t help but look up, trying not to look as incredulous as he was feeling. “What?”
“Welllll y’know…” Kyle kept meandering around the room, clasping his hands behind his back. “It’s not as if this place is exactly homey. I hate living up here. It’s like living at a YMCA or something. And I’ve been wanting to find a roomie because god knows I can’t afford to live by myself. Not that…you know, I wouldn’t pay my share. Once I get some jobs lined up, of course.”
Guy continued packing. “Entirely up to you, kid,” he commented. “If ya don’t like the Watchtower, maybe the Fortress of Solitude or the Batcave would be more to your likin’,” he grumbled sarcastically.
“Well y’know Batman DID say I was free to bunk on his giant penny…but I think I’d prefer a bathroom that wasn’t full of bat guano,” Kyle retorted easily, waiting for Guy to say something infinitely wittier and make everything would be okay between them.
But instead, Guy only shrugged and packed a few books and comics into the bag, and a few non-construct clothes, including an old “Warriors” T-shirt from his old bar. Out of all the Lanterns, Guy was always the one who had the most stuff. It wasn’t because he valued material gain or anything, Kyle knew that. It was because Guy felt connected to certain things. Certain memories. The few and far between good memories he had.
But he didn’t stop packing. Kyle looked a little worriedly at the luggage, eyes flicking back up to Guy. “…Soooo. What do you think?”
“About what?”
“About what?” Kyle echoed stupidly, completely floored. Did Guy even hear him? Unless…He then looked around the room with mounting horror. “Wh….wait. Am I talking to someone else? Oh god am I a ghost? Or is this a dream??!”
Guy had almost had enough. He flung a book hard into the suitcase and stared at his supposed ‘buddy’. “Kyle, are you ever serious? About anything?”
“Dammit Guy, I am being serious! I am being one hundred percent, top of the line, no bullpat serious here. How much more frowny-face do I have to be right now?” Kyle held his forehead and took a deep breath. “Dios, I was honestly starting to think this WAS a dream…”
“Kyle, I’m not moving into a place with you on the West Coast.” Guy stated flatly.
And with that, Kyle suddenly, completely and thoroughly deflated. He unconsciously took a couple steps back, away from Guy. “…Oh. Um. Okay. I…I guess. I thought. I mean. I. I thought,” he stammered, backing away until his legs met the corner of the bed. His knees gave way and he sat down, hard.
“I’m not moving anywhere on Earth, Kyle…” Guy said a little quieter this time; but he didn’t offer anything more.
“Sure. No prob, Guy. S’cool.” Kyle looked down at his ringed hand, focussing on the ring. “No prob.” His ring glowed slightly, as if anticipating something. “So you’re leaving me, then.”
Guy paused packing. “I’m leaving Earth,” he corrected. “I’m not needed here, kid. It was a mistake to come.” He shut his eyes. Kyle couldn’t see him anyway. “Or…maybe I shoulda come sooner.”
Kyle’s voice came from close to his chest. “No, you’re not leaving Earth. You’re not ON Earth. You’re leaving me.”
“Kid…ya left me first.”
Kyle turned around to look at Guy, his face crumpled in protest. “You…you told me to head to Earth before you. You said it was okay!”
Guy stared at Kyle. Sometimes, this kid… “Not what I meant…”
“I don’t understand,” Kyle said plaintively and squinting up at Guy. The squinting made all the lights and shadows softer around the Guy-shaped silhouette. The image was a small comfort to Kyle.
“I know, kid,” Guy sighed, almost pityingly, “That’s part of the problem.”
“So help me!”
Guy’s jaw clenched, debating whether or not he wanted to get into this. He loathed this sort of Saturday Morning Special routine, especially when he had to do it with someone he thought he knew. But Kyle was just…there, waiting and asking for help. Guy figured to hell with it. One last attempt. “Kyle, I don’t like ya being all friendly and pals and cooperative with people that get off treatin’ me like shit. It’s one thing for me to not care what they think. It’s another for you to act like you don’t care how your being all pals with them makes me feel!” Guy waved his hand once, dismissing the high levels of awkward to which this had escalated. “An’ I ain’t good about this touchy-feely crap, so that’s really all the explanation I can give ya!!”
“Well….okay!” Kyle said in a large heave of breath. He hadn’t realized that he’d been holding his breath that entire time. He rolled what Guy said over in his mind. It was all starting to clear in his head now, the way Guy reacted, the things he was doing right now. Any of Kyle’s anger that stemmed from hurt confusion drained from him as he thought about what Guy said. He nodded.
“Okay. And…I’m very sorry.” Kyle said, and he looked up at Guy, who was now standing stiffly, staring down at his suitcase. “I honestly didn’t know I didn’t have your back. But it’s true: I didn’t. I get it. It’s been rough coming back here for both of us, and I really should’ve talked to you first, before anything got so out of hand.” Kyle nodded, encouraged by the feeling that all of this - all of what he was saying - was right. He felt better. Guy was right. Of course he was. “I get it, sure. You’re right, Guy. And I’m sorry. I really am.”
“…Thanks kid,” came the reply. He said he didn’t like touchy-feely moments, and he meant it, but Guy also appreciated an honest apology.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Guy,” Kyle urged on.
Guy sighed. Here we go again, ‘round the merry-go-round. He looked wry. “Kyle. I think right now, you’d say whatever you had to, to get me to stay, not return to Oa…”
Kyle shrugged, his mood flaring a bit. “What the hell is wrong with that?” He pushed himself off the bed and came around to stand next to Guy. Kyle never had any problem with maintaining personal space; but he knew Guy sometimes did, depending on his mood. And his mood was very prickly right now. Therefore, Kyle insistently pushed his limits. “So I really want you to stay! I don’t care how I sound. All I know is I want you to stay.”
Guy regarded him calmly. “Nothin’s wrong with that. But it ain’t going to fix the problem. People here are still gonna hate on me.” He paused for a bit, and then to make sure Kyle fully understood, he added, “And yer still gonna adore ‘em.”
Now feeling completely sure of the situation, Kyle shook his head, once. “Nope,” he said immediately. Then he shrugged. “Well, I can’t help how other people feel about you. But I know how I feel about you. And what I’m supposed to do about it, now.”
It was now Guy’s turn to get the thousand-yard stare. Kyle’d seen it before on Guy, on Hal and definitely on John. Even on Jenny. He braced himself as Guy started to speak. “Ya know….for years I didn’t feel like anyone had my back. Like, no one, especially not Hal and John.” Guy blinked slowly, as his memories churned inside him. “But we got past that. Shit happened, lots of it, and that put us on the same side for once, that we can respect one another.” Guy looked at Kyle, contemplatively. “I’ve gotten spoiled for havin’ you and Killowog and Arisia and Soranik around, and knowin’ ya got my back, no matter how big an ass I can be.”
“I’m really sorry, Guy. Really really.” Kyle looked down, rubbing his arm. It wasn’t as if he was ignorant of Guy’s past or what he had to struggle through. He just hadn’t really thought about it outside of the context of himself. “I mean…when you put it that way, I guess it is better for you back on Oa with our other friends. Our…mutual friends, I mean.” Kyle cast about sadly, not really knowing what to do now. He knew what he was getting at, even though he didn’t like it, not one bit. Guy fit in on Oa. He stood out here. And that was not fair to Guy.
Guy shifted his stance, tipping his head. “Look…all I’m sayin’ is…these guys, I’d fight with ‘em for a common cause. They make the Lanterns of Earth’s jobs easier by far. They’re….they’re good people, to each other. But I was never really one of ‘em. You can’t say that half of ‘em are happy to have me here.” Guy folded his arms, planting his feet. “An’ that ain’t me feelin’ sorry for myself, it just is.
“I fucked up a lot in the old days. Most of these guys remember that, and they’ll never forget.” Guy flicked his hand, starting to feel annoyed again. “Hell, I tried to stop Doomsday and that wasn’t enough to make ‘em forget. I blew my chance at gettin’ in good with the League, kid. It’s really my own damn fault.”
Through this, Kyle was studying his boots, constantly editing the lines and stitches, the grooves on the soles…his eyes drifted beyond them, looking at Guy’s, heavy, steady, extraordinarily padded boots. They were large boots, especially compared to Kyle’s slimmed down ones. He twisted his mouth. “It can’t be easy for you, being here. Having to deal with all this BS all over again.”
“That’s the big thing, kid…” Guy said, feeling relief washing over him. Was Kyle finally getting it? Guy sat down on the foot of his bed, leaving room for Kyle. “Ya kinda hit the nail on the head there.” He used the ring to fetch two beers out of the cooler and opened them, handing one to Kyle and gesturing with his chin for Kyle to come sit. “I knew it would be hard dealing with the BS. I wasn’t expectin’ history to repeat itself, Bats hittin’ me again. But then seein’ him treat you like shit, I almost saw red again - literally. I think the worst was, seein you bend over and take it from him.” Guy paused, looking at Kyle awkwardly and hoping he didn’t freak the kid out. “I meant figuratively…”
But Kyle just laughed softly, unbothered. After what he’d seen of how those Robins were…”I gotcha,” he reassured and sat down obediently beside Guy, taking a swig from the beer. “I didn’t think I was, really, y’know? Taking the flack from Batman, I mean. Truth is, I was actually kind of proud of myself for handling him the way I was, but…I suppose all that dealing with it…that was just in my own mind. Trumped up myself in my head.” Kyle nodded to himself in confirmation. Yes. That must have been it. He looked at Guy. “I guess you saw what was really happening. Most people see me so different from how I see myself.”
Guy’s pugnacious chin went up and he smirked. “Nah, y’know what, ya DID deal with him. An’ ya should be proud for how diplomatic you were. I just had a big issue with him threatenin’ ya, or sayin’ you were incompetent. Yer NOT, an’ he has NO right to judge ya.” Guy was in full-on lecture mode now, but Kyle didn’t seem to mind at all. “Sure, respect the Bat, work with him…but don’t let him get away with treatin’ ya like one of his disposable Robins. Yer a man Kyle, and you’ve earned everythin you are. Don’t let him undermine that. Like I said, yer an Honour Lantern. Act like one. Make him respect you.”
Guy quaffed more beer, wiping the suds from his mouth with his thumb and forefinger. He realized Kyle was waiting to hear more. And Guy realized he had a bit more to say. “An’ everyone sees themselves differently than everyone else sees ‘em. Sometimes, you’re more accurate than the rest of the universe ever could be.”
“It’s true, man,” Kyle said, agreeably. “This more recent time, he tried to dismiss me. Dismiss me! As if I’d be dismissed. I didn’t leave. He got angry, but I didn’t care.” Kyle grinned a bit. “Honestly, in the back of my mind I could hear you giving one of your world-famous pep talks all the while. It helped a lot.”
Guy surveyed Kyle, reflecting Kyle’s grin. “Really?”
“Sure did. He’s all ‘Blah blah I’m the goddamed Batman’” Kyle started up with an impression, “And I was like ‘Nope, nu-uh’ and you (the you in my head) was like,” Kyle slid the words to the side of his mouth for his Guy impression, “‘Getcha at ‘em, kid. Don’ take no guff from guano-breth. Dem’s da spirit’. Well…something like that.”
Guy was entertained, not just by Kyle’s stupid impressions, but by the story itself. “Really? Kid….that IS awesome. I’m PROUD of ya, Kyle!!” He tousled Kyle hair, almost lovingly.
Kyle ducked his head, letting Guy scruff him. He didn’t like it so much when other people treated him like a kid, but Guy had every right. Well, when no one else was around, anyway. “I’m telling you, it might take a while, but I DO listen to you in the end. You never steer me wrong. I’m just really slow sometimes.”
Guy scoffed, but it was friendly. “An’ here I was worried that you’d just become the Bat’s doormat.” He shook his head. “Ya did GREAT kid. Maybe now he’ll respect ya. An’ ya… “ His smile suddenly slipped, as he realized what he was saying. He took a swig of his beer “…An’ ya won’t end up like me.”
“You big doof,” Kyle kindly waited until Guy’s finished swallowing the beer before punching him in the arm, “I’d be proud if I ended up like you. After all, you get to hang out with a super-cool dude like me.”
Guy smiled down at his bottle. “Yer right about that, ki-…Kyle. I get to hang out with ya, I don’t got to. As fer endin’ up like me….I just don’t want ya to make all the same mistakes I did. Don’t ever let them START pushin’ you around…because it’ll never stop.” He put an arm around Kyle and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Only I get to push ya around, capiche? Er, comprende?”
Kyle chuckles, feeling overly elated. It felt so good to be back in Guy’s good books again. “Si si, mi mejor amigo, si.” He nodded, then turned the bottle around in his hands. “So….” Kyle gestured to the packed bag. “Are you taking this up out there? Or…down to the sunny Pacific coastline?”
Guy looked back over his shoulder. “Neither.”
“Hnnnnnn.” Kyle’s shoulders slumped, but he wasn’t about to be deterred all over again. It was just… “I really wanted to live somewhere not here. This place gets depressing.”
“Yeah?” Guy said, looking questioning. “You sure?”
“I’m so damned sure. Can you believe I almost asked Hal if he’d consider it? This was before the whole, uh…true love with Ollie Queen thing, of course. He’s pretty much there permanently.” Kyle knocked the bottle against his palm repetitively. “Since then, all I’ve been thinking of is trying to find someone - I mean, a roommate. Then you got here and…ah haaaa…” Kyle scratched at his sideburns, looking sideways at Guy. “This is embarrassing but I’ve been kind of trying to find ways I could ask you. I mean, on Oa it was different.”
“Kyle, it’s fine. It makes total sense, really.” Guy stretched, feeling satisfied as his shoulders popped. “If ya can’t afford a place of yer own, then ya need a roommate, and who better than someone ya don’t have to hide yer secret identity from?”
Kyle stared at Guy for a long moment. “I’m sorry…say again? The frequency in my head jammed. You….you really wanna do this?”
Guy snorted and frowned, looking at Kyle as if he was simple. “It’s not like I haven’t lived with you before.”
“Yeah but you really scared me about fifteen minutes ago!” Kyle said, turning himself to face Guy. “Like REALLY. Ayyyy esta fantastico!” He looped his hand against Guy’s neck, knocking their foreheads together before releasing Guy and standing up. “And y’know what the best part is? I brought absolutely nothing with me! So I’m pretty much packed! We just need to hit Craisglist and decide on a city - I’m thinking Coast City, but really where ever’s cheapest’ll work…”
Guy fell backwards on the bed, as Kyle ranted around the room. “Kid…fifteen minutes ago, I thought I didn’t have any influence over ya anymore, that ya didn’t need me or my advice or anythin’.” He leaned up to look at Kyle, pointing at him. “But next time my buddy stands up to Bats, or anyone else for that matter…you bet I wanna stick around to see it.” Guy drained his beer, then cradled his head in both his hands and grinned at Kyle. “An’ wherever you can make the most of yer talent as an artist kid, that’s where we’ll head. You call it. Just…keep in mind Hal’s got Coast City, and he’s kind of as possessive of it as Bats is about Gotham.”
Kyle nodded, sucking on his teeth. He put his hands on his hips. “Okay okay. There’s Star City, but it’s really expensive and…oh whatever, I’ll figure it out. Well, I mean, we’ll figure it out.” he grinned, happy to remember all over again that he’d got his old roommate back. “Dios, this was a lot easier on Oa, wasn’t it? I just can’t wait. You can’t believe how much relief I feel right now, uggggh. It’s like it’ll be just the same, only we’ll see a lot more humans. And get real coffee whenever we need it. And. And all the other cool stuff that’s on Earth that’s not on Oa.” Kyle took a deep breath, winded. He turned to look at Guy. “You’re the best, man.”
Guy grinned up at the ceiling. “Yup. I am the best.”