Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Beta: The always wonderful patster223 whom I'd be lost without.
A/N: In response to the yj_anon_meme prompt: "SOMEONE NEEDS TO GIVE SPEEDY A HUG."
Men In Arms
Red Arrow was about to head in, the night late and crime quiet, when the soft impact of feet on concrete made him freeze.
As a figure approached from behind, he could already tell who it was. He would recognize the distinct sound of those boots anywhere.
"Green Arrow." His voice was terse, curt, and more than slightly bitter.
"Red Arrow," Green Arrow replied, voice casual enough to seem unaffected by Red Arrow's demeanor.
Red Arrow turned then to see Green Arrow, a few feet away on the old warehouse roof, looking at him. He seemed almost self-conscious, with one hand running over the back of his neck and the other lingering over his bow.
"What do you want, Oliver?" He turned away, focusing on the city set in lights below him rather than his mentor. Former mentor, he mentally amended.
"Roy, I, uh– listen."
Roy raised an eyebrow. Oliver wasn't usually one for blundering his words. He'd have interrupted with a less than becoming comment if he wasn't curious as to what Oliver was stumbling over himself to say.
"I understand your decision to go off on your own." Roy scoffed, rolling his shoulders. Oliver paid him no mind. "I just want you to know that if you ever want to come back… not as Speedy or Red Arrow, unless you want, but as my son, my friend–as Roy–you're always welcome."
Roy gave the man a hard look, judging. He heard Oliver's tone when he spoke and could not deny that his face held an expression as serious as his voice. But his eyes were open and imploring–a rare display for someone who usually kept himself guarded in some way–as he tried to get across to Roy that he meant every word he had just said.
Roy's body lost some of its tension when he recognized the sincerity behind Oliver's words but he kept his stance taut enough to let him know that this didn't change anything.
Oliver did not seem put off by Roy's attitude and instead did something Roy could not say he was expecting in the least. Putting away his bow, he walked towards a weary Roy and gently, yet firmly, wrapped his arms around his adopted son. Roy, bewildered more than he'd like to admit, struggled to come up with an appropriate response. He didn't know if he should break free or reciprocate, but found that accepting the gesture without contempt was enough to placate Oliver.
"I'm still here for you son, don't forget that."
And just like that Oliver unwrapped his arms, took out his bow and shot off a line to a neighboring building. Giving a last lingering look to Roy he slid off into the brisk night.
Roy stared blankly after Oliver for a moment before making a half scoffing, half laughing sound.
When he threw down his hat he had meant it. He wasn't going to let a token gesture on the part of his former mentor change anything. Not even if it meant he wouldn't be on his own anymore, or that he could return to an actual home instead of a run down apartment with bare walls and peeling paint.
Clenching his fist around his bow, Red Arrow shot a line and took off into his own night, alone again, but not without family waiting for him in the wings.