Something About Us: Chapter Five
Title: Something About Us
Author:Asase
Fandom: Young Justice/ DC
Rating:PG 13
Genre:Romance
Characters: Kaldur'ahm. Roy Harper, Lian Harper,
Word Count:2,922
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or organizations from the Young Justice cartoon, comics, or expanded DC universe.
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.
Kaldur turned to answer and Roy shifted him back around. “Don’t fight me. It’s my fault you’re like this anyway.” Roy waited until Kaldur relented to continue. “Although, I’m probably not strong enough for this since you’re so dense. I oughta lay you down and get Lian to walk along your back.”
“I do not weigh that much.” Lian said. She leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed.
Roy grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes and shooed her father away. “You’re probably just weak cause you haven’t eaten yet or something.” She gave Kaldur’s shoulders a try and then stepped back. “What are you made of? Rocks?”
Kaldur smiled. “My physiology is different.”
Roy watched as Kaldur offered his hand for Lian to inspect. He zoned out as Kaldur explained Atlantean biology. Kaldur was good with Lian. Roy wasn’t sure how she’d like Kaldur as a commander, Kal was a bit of a hardass in his opinion, but they got along very well. It might even be possible for them to live under the same roof without problems. Roy halted his thoughts there. Sexual thoughts he could handle..actions were questionable, but thoughts? Who didn’t have those from time to time. This, this was a step too far. There was no way Kal’d leave his home to move back with them. And why was he assuming Kal would be the one to move? Sure Kal could work from home so he could live anywhere but Kal had no reason to leave.
“But if you’re so tense then I don’t think a massage will help. You should join us for practice this morning.” Lian tapped her father’s elbow. “He can come with us this morning right?”
Roy shook himself from his thoughts. “Sure.” He forced a smile. “That would be great.”
Kaldur looked from Roy to Lian. “I would not want to get in your way.”
“You won’t be in the way,” Lian said. “If anything you’d be saving me from boredom, but if we’re gonna go we should get going.”
*********************************************
Lian sank to the ground and pouted. She’d sparred with Kaldur three times already and Roy could see her loosing her motivation. He tried not to laugh, she was the one who wanted Kaldur to tag along, it was cute that she didn’t seem to understand what that would mean. This side of the island was inhabited. The slope down the cliff face was too steep to be built on and polished smooth by the waves that beat upon it. It was the perfect spot for them to practice.
Lian pointed to Kaldur. “Why can’t I beat him? He’s been inactive for four years.”
“He has also been doing this since he was your age.” Roy reminded her.
“Would you like one more round?” Kaldur asked mid stretch.
She sighed. “No…I know when I am beat. Target practice?”
“Hey Kal, do you think that you could..” Roy made a wild gesture with his hands.
Kaldur thought for a moment. “Certainly.” He called water from the ocean until he had a large sphere of water in front of him.
“Me n Kal used to practice like this back in the day.”
“Oh god,” Lian moaned. “Back in the day? Really?”
Roy’s sour face melted at Kaldur’s chuckle. He readied his bow. “ Yes, back in the day. Watch.”
Kaldur flicked his wrist and several disks of water floated in front of Roy. Roy aimed and fired, the arrows were held in the air by the disks. The next set moved up and down. Roy shot all of them as well.
“So its like an arcade game?” Lian asked. “But those targets are so easy.”
Kaldur smiled. “They are, but that was only an example.” Kaldur called the disks over to Roy. They deposited the arrows that he shot by his side. “Ready?” He asked as he sent off more disks.
“You have to ask?”
Kaldur made each set of disks move faster and faster as they dipped and bobbed in the air. Roy nailed them all. Soon he started to send the disks in Roy’s direction, attacking him from all sides. Roy shot the ones that he could and dodged the ones that he could not. The disks would hold on to the arrow and then dissipate, dropping the arrow to the ground. As Roy moved he was able to pick up discarded arrows and reuse them. At the end the last round one of Kaldur’s disks hit, smacking Roy in the back of the head. he yelped and rubbed the back of his head. Kaldur and Lian looked to each other and laughed. Roy gave them both dirty looks as he shook the water off of him.
“I thought you were faster than that Red. Getting old?” a female voice said from behind them.
“Mom?” Lian ran towards Jade and gave her a hug. “I thought that you weren’t gonna come?”
“I..finished my work early.” She said as he rubbed Lian’s hair. She smiled at her daughter. “I haven’t missed any of these events yet so why start now?”
***********
Kaldur wasn’t pleased with the idea of leading Jade to his home. Now that she had returned to her profession it felt like laying a trap for himself. But there was also his relationship with Roy, which he could tell was rockier on his end, but it could get better. Or at least to what was normal for other people. Roy had been like a brother in the past, so Kaldur was certain that what passed for normal displays of friendship between them was too intimate for his current state of mind. He and Jade never truly got along and Lian was perceptive. Kaldur resolved to be on his best behavior. Roy and Lian would leave after their business here, and he wanted that parting to be on a good terms.
Jade pursed her lips as she walked into Kaldur’s foyer. “I would have used green tiles instead of blue, but it is not bad.” Her eyebrow’s rose as she looked up at the light fixture. “Not too bad at all.” She walked into the living room and tossed her duffel bag onto the sofa. “Bathroom?”
“This way.” Lian took her mother’s hand and lead her down the hallway.
Roy let out a tense breath. “So…. how many times have I apologized to you during the last few days?”
Kaldur opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by a yell.
“Oh my god!” Jade’s voice could be heard down the hallway. “You could fit four people in here!”
Roy rubbed his temples. “Really…really sorry.”
“I’m taking a shower now,” Jade said.
“Mom,” Lian responded. “I need to get ready for the shoot.”
“There’s enough room in here for you too.” The sound of the shower turning on and the door shutting could be heard from the living room.
“I suppose that we are to start breakfast then?” Kaldur asked.
“Yes.” Roy rubbed his hands together. “And since I’m not being supervised we’re having a real breakfast. Do you still have some of that bread you baked the other night? I think I want french toast.”
“French toast?”
“And eggs and sausage.” Roy counted on his fingers. “But go work or something. I’ll do the cooking.”
“Are you certain? Do you know where everything is?”
“Kal…Out.” Roy pointed to the living room. “ I can figure out a kitchen.”
Kaldur did as he was told and retrieved his laptop. He returned to see Roy pulling out the drawers as he searched his kitchen.
“Don’t give me that look,” Roy said without turning.
Kaldur stifled a laugh. “A look? I..I was not looking.”
Roy found what he was looking for and grinned. “Then you were thinking it.”
Kaldur set up his work while holding back a smile. He was reminded of Roy’s first apartment. He’d helped the archer move in and set up the kitchen while Roy worked on his bedroom. Although everything was arranged with care Roy couldn’t make heads or tails of the layout. Jade entered the living room with both her hair and body wrapped in towels. Roy scowled at her.
“Clothes please? This isn’t your house.”
Jade ignored him. She looked to the counter filled with food. “What did you do?” she asked.
“Made breakfast.”
Jade picked up her duffel bag. And slung it over her shoulder. “Lian normally eats light before a job.”
Roy gestured to the the counter with his spatula. “There’s fruit.”
“Alright.” Jade shrugged. She then turned to Kaldur. “Your shower’s better than sex, but you need to get a hair dryer. It’s gonna take forever till Lian’s done with her’s.”
Roy interjected before Kaldur could answer. “What is Kal gonna do with a hair dryer?”
Kaldur pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “Take the towel off of your hair please.”
Jade’s eyebrow raised. “Excuse me?”
“Take the towel off of your hair.” Kaldur repeated slowly.
Jade hesitated and then slowly pulled off the towel. Kaldur held up a hand and slowly drew the moisture from Jade’s hair. Jade’s hair stood on end as the water moved through the air and to the kitchen sink. The room was deathly still during the process. Once Kaldur was done he returned to typing. The process left Jade’s hair dry, strait, and glossy.
“Hey mom.” Lian entered the living room with the hair dryer in her hand. “Oh, did he have a hair dryer or something?”
Jade touched her hair and recoiled from herself. She glared at her ex husband. “I should be used to the freaks you hang out with now.” She looked at Kaldur. “No offense…But you know how dangerous that could be right?”
“I am well aware of how easily my abilities could kill a person. No, I am not looking to change professions.”
Jade laughed. “Really? It’d be the perfect job. You could make it look as if someone died of natural causes.”
“Mom,” Lian warned.
“Sorry baby, I know. No talk of the job during off hours.” She headed towards the guest room . “I’ll be dressed in a bit. Breakfast is?”
“In the courtyard most likely,” Roy answered. “There isn’t room for four on the bar.”
Jade looked over her shoulder. “Courtyard? Looks like I divorced the wrong hero.”
Roy rolled his eyes. “Ha ha.”
********
There wasn’t any tension between them, not that they had ever been a normal couple, and Kaldur wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. Or even if his feelings were in the way. But their interactions were the same now as they were before they divorced.
Lian checked her phone. “Ok so we have an hour and a half till I have to meet up.” She gestured to Roy and Kaldur. “So are you two coming or are me and mom gonna go on ahead.”
“It’s not going to take that long for me to get ready.” Roy jerked a thumb at Kaldur. “Mr. International here’s the one who takes hour long showers.”
Kaldur narrowed his eyes at Roy.
“But you do.”
“I know how to manage my time,” Kaldur answered.
“Just take a shower together then. ” Jade rolled her eyes at Roy and Kal’s blank stares. “The stalls more than big enough. It’s not like you’ll accidentally touch and turn gay.”
Kaldur and Roy looked to each other. Roy laughed first and Kaldur joined in. Kaldur wondered if he should mention that it was a bit past that point but since Jade didn’t seem to know it was just as well. And if Roy was comfortable enough to laugh the comment off he’d take that as a blessing. His ego could take that response better than disgust.
Lian leaned over to her mother and whispered. “I think you broke them.”
Kaldur spoke again once his laughing fit was over. “Go go on in first Roy. I will clean the dishes in the meantime.” He stood and started stacking plates.
“Yeah that works.” Roy got up as well and started gathering them as well. “Let me help you take them to the kitchen at least.”
“Alright fine.” Jade huffed. “But hurry it up.” She called to them as they reentered the house. “ Or we will leave without you two.”
Author:Asase
Fandom: Young Justice/ DC
Rating:PG 13
Genre:Romance
Characters: Kaldur'ahm. Roy Harper, Lian Harper,
Word Count:2,922
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or organizations from the Young Justice cartoon, comics, or expanded DC universe.
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.
Kaldur turned to answer and Roy shifted him back around. “Don’t fight me. It’s my fault you’re like this anyway.” Roy waited until Kaldur relented to continue. “Although, I’m probably not strong enough for this since you’re so dense. I oughta lay you down and get Lian to walk along your back.”
“I do not weigh that much.” Lian said. She leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed.
Roy grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes and shooed her father away. “You’re probably just weak cause you haven’t eaten yet or something.” She gave Kaldur’s shoulders a try and then stepped back. “What are you made of? Rocks?”
Kaldur smiled. “My physiology is different.”
Roy watched as Kaldur offered his hand for Lian to inspect. He zoned out as Kaldur explained Atlantean biology. Kaldur was good with Lian. Roy wasn’t sure how she’d like Kaldur as a commander, Kal was a bit of a hardass in his opinion, but they got along very well. It might even be possible for them to live under the same roof without problems. Roy halted his thoughts there. Sexual thoughts he could handle..actions were questionable, but thoughts? Who didn’t have those from time to time. This, this was a step too far. There was no way Kal’d leave his home to move back with them. And why was he assuming Kal would be the one to move? Sure Kal could work from home so he could live anywhere but Kal had no reason to leave.
“But if you’re so tense then I don’t think a massage will help. You should join us for practice this morning.” Lian tapped her father’s elbow. “He can come with us this morning right?”
Roy shook himself from his thoughts. “Sure.” He forced a smile. “That would be great.”
Kaldur looked from Roy to Lian. “I would not want to get in your way.”
“You won’t be in the way,” Lian said. “If anything you’d be saving me from boredom, but if we’re gonna go we should get going.”
*********************************************
Lian sank to the ground and pouted. She’d sparred with Kaldur three times already and Roy could see her loosing her motivation. He tried not to laugh, she was the one who wanted Kaldur to tag along, it was cute that she didn’t seem to understand what that would mean. This side of the island was inhabited. The slope down the cliff face was too steep to be built on and polished smooth by the waves that beat upon it. It was the perfect spot for them to practice.
Lian pointed to Kaldur. “Why can’t I beat him? He’s been inactive for four years.”
“He has also been doing this since he was your age.” Roy reminded her.
“Would you like one more round?” Kaldur asked mid stretch.
She sighed. “No…I know when I am beat. Target practice?”
“Hey Kal, do you think that you could..” Roy made a wild gesture with his hands.
Kaldur thought for a moment. “Certainly.” He called water from the ocean until he had a large sphere of water in front of him.
“Me n Kal used to practice like this back in the day.”
“Oh god,” Lian moaned. “Back in the day? Really?”
Roy’s sour face melted at Kaldur’s chuckle. He readied his bow. “ Yes, back in the day. Watch.”
Kaldur flicked his wrist and several disks of water floated in front of Roy. Roy aimed and fired, the arrows were held in the air by the disks. The next set moved up and down. Roy shot all of them as well.
“So its like an arcade game?” Lian asked. “But those targets are so easy.”
Kaldur smiled. “They are, but that was only an example.” Kaldur called the disks over to Roy. They deposited the arrows that he shot by his side. “Ready?” He asked as he sent off more disks.
“You have to ask?”
Kaldur made each set of disks move faster and faster as they dipped and bobbed in the air. Roy nailed them all. Soon he started to send the disks in Roy’s direction, attacking him from all sides. Roy shot the ones that he could and dodged the ones that he could not. The disks would hold on to the arrow and then dissipate, dropping the arrow to the ground. As Roy moved he was able to pick up discarded arrows and reuse them. At the end the last round one of Kaldur’s disks hit, smacking Roy in the back of the head. he yelped and rubbed the back of his head. Kaldur and Lian looked to each other and laughed. Roy gave them both dirty looks as he shook the water off of him.
“I thought you were faster than that Red. Getting old?” a female voice said from behind them.
“Mom?” Lian ran towards Jade and gave her a hug. “I thought that you weren’t gonna come?”
“I..finished my work early.” She said as he rubbed Lian’s hair. She smiled at her daughter. “I haven’t missed any of these events yet so why start now?”
***********
Kaldur wasn’t pleased with the idea of leading Jade to his home. Now that she had returned to her profession it felt like laying a trap for himself. But there was also his relationship with Roy, which he could tell was rockier on his end, but it could get better. Or at least to what was normal for other people. Roy had been like a brother in the past, so Kaldur was certain that what passed for normal displays of friendship between them was too intimate for his current state of mind. He and Jade never truly got along and Lian was perceptive. Kaldur resolved to be on his best behavior. Roy and Lian would leave after their business here, and he wanted that parting to be on a good terms.
Jade pursed her lips as she walked into Kaldur’s foyer. “I would have used green tiles instead of blue, but it is not bad.” Her eyebrow’s rose as she looked up at the light fixture. “Not too bad at all.” She walked into the living room and tossed her duffel bag onto the sofa. “Bathroom?”
“This way.” Lian took her mother’s hand and lead her down the hallway.
Roy let out a tense breath. “So…. how many times have I apologized to you during the last few days?”
Kaldur opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by a yell.
“Oh my god!” Jade’s voice could be heard down the hallway. “You could fit four people in here!”
Roy rubbed his temples. “Really…really sorry.”
“I’m taking a shower now,” Jade said.
“Mom,” Lian responded. “I need to get ready for the shoot.”
“There’s enough room in here for you too.” The sound of the shower turning on and the door shutting could be heard from the living room.
“I suppose that we are to start breakfast then?” Kaldur asked.
“Yes.” Roy rubbed his hands together. “And since I’m not being supervised we’re having a real breakfast. Do you still have some of that bread you baked the other night? I think I want french toast.”
“French toast?”
“And eggs and sausage.” Roy counted on his fingers. “But go work or something. I’ll do the cooking.”
“Are you certain? Do you know where everything is?”
“Kal…Out.” Roy pointed to the living room. “ I can figure out a kitchen.”
Kaldur did as he was told and retrieved his laptop. He returned to see Roy pulling out the drawers as he searched his kitchen.
“Don’t give me that look,” Roy said without turning.
Kaldur stifled a laugh. “A look? I..I was not looking.”
Roy found what he was looking for and grinned. “Then you were thinking it.”
Kaldur set up his work while holding back a smile. He was reminded of Roy’s first apartment. He’d helped the archer move in and set up the kitchen while Roy worked on his bedroom. Although everything was arranged with care Roy couldn’t make heads or tails of the layout. Jade entered the living room with both her hair and body wrapped in towels. Roy scowled at her.
“Clothes please? This isn’t your house.”
Jade ignored him. She looked to the counter filled with food. “What did you do?” she asked.
“Made breakfast.”
Jade picked up her duffel bag. And slung it over her shoulder. “Lian normally eats light before a job.”
Roy gestured to the the counter with his spatula. “There’s fruit.”
“Alright.” Jade shrugged. She then turned to Kaldur. “Your shower’s better than sex, but you need to get a hair dryer. It’s gonna take forever till Lian’s done with her’s.”
Roy interjected before Kaldur could answer. “What is Kal gonna do with a hair dryer?”
Kaldur pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “Take the towel off of your hair please.”
Jade’s eyebrow raised. “Excuse me?”
“Take the towel off of your hair.” Kaldur repeated slowly.
Jade hesitated and then slowly pulled off the towel. Kaldur held up a hand and slowly drew the moisture from Jade’s hair. Jade’s hair stood on end as the water moved through the air and to the kitchen sink. The room was deathly still during the process. Once Kaldur was done he returned to typing. The process left Jade’s hair dry, strait, and glossy.
“Hey mom.” Lian entered the living room with the hair dryer in her hand. “Oh, did he have a hair dryer or something?”
Jade touched her hair and recoiled from herself. She glared at her ex husband. “I should be used to the freaks you hang out with now.” She looked at Kaldur. “No offense…But you know how dangerous that could be right?”
“I am well aware of how easily my abilities could kill a person. No, I am not looking to change professions.”
Jade laughed. “Really? It’d be the perfect job. You could make it look as if someone died of natural causes.”
“Mom,” Lian warned.
“Sorry baby, I know. No talk of the job during off hours.” She headed towards the guest room . “I’ll be dressed in a bit. Breakfast is?”
“In the courtyard most likely,” Roy answered. “There isn’t room for four on the bar.”
Jade looked over her shoulder. “Courtyard? Looks like I divorced the wrong hero.”
Roy rolled his eyes. “Ha ha.”
********
There wasn’t any tension between them, not that they had ever been a normal couple, and Kaldur wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. Or even if his feelings were in the way. But their interactions were the same now as they were before they divorced.
Lian checked her phone. “Ok so we have an hour and a half till I have to meet up.” She gestured to Roy and Kaldur. “So are you two coming or are me and mom gonna go on ahead.”
“It’s not going to take that long for me to get ready.” Roy jerked a thumb at Kaldur. “Mr. International here’s the one who takes hour long showers.”
Kaldur narrowed his eyes at Roy.
“But you do.”
“I know how to manage my time,” Kaldur answered.
“Just take a shower together then. ” Jade rolled her eyes at Roy and Kal’s blank stares. “The stalls more than big enough. It’s not like you’ll accidentally touch and turn gay.”
Kaldur and Roy looked to each other. Roy laughed first and Kaldur joined in. Kaldur wondered if he should mention that it was a bit past that point but since Jade didn’t seem to know it was just as well. And if Roy was comfortable enough to laugh the comment off he’d take that as a blessing. His ego could take that response better than disgust.
Lian leaned over to her mother and whispered. “I think you broke them.”
Kaldur spoke again once his laughing fit was over. “Go go on in first Roy. I will clean the dishes in the meantime.” He stood and started stacking plates.
“Yeah that works.” Roy got up as well and started gathering them as well. “Let me help you take them to the kitchen at least.”
“Alright fine.” Jade huffed. “But hurry it up.” She called to them as they reentered the house. “ Or we will leave without you two.”