Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or organizations from the Young Justice cartoon, comics, or expanded DC universe.

Something About Us

Chapter One

Mrs. Floros' store wasn't too far from the city's square where the commotion started. Kaldur scooped the older woman from the sidewalk and into the interior of her store in time to replace her as the villain's captive. He sighed inwardly as he was taken into a rear choke hold. It was the preferable outcome. But the tomatoes were now ruined, squashed under the overturned cart, and he really wanted tomatoes tonight, it was hard to have psari plaki with out them

Kaldur knew the voice of his captor, but it was obvious he wasn't recognized. A mixed blessing. Tommy Terror wasn't bright, and Kaldur didn't want to be found. His existence in Oia was an open secret. The city was large enough for his needs, meaning not too large at all. He knew the language, and had dreamed of experiencing how the city's white walls lit up at sunset. The community members knew of him, and was happy to treat him as another neighbor. The city itself was a tourist attraction, and its narrow pathways wouldn't be able to contain the inevitable increase of foot traffic if an ex superhero became one of its highlights. A crowd of locals and tourists looked on as he weighed his options. Kaldur risked exposure if he took care of Tommy but he seemed to have little choice.

A girl's voice broke his train of thought. She looked to be about sixteen. Her auburn hair was pulled into a ponytail and she wore a modified version of the red and yellow costume Kaldur had etched into his memory. Her bow was drawn, an arrow already aimed at Tommy's head. Speedy, the new Speedy, was in Greece. Sixteen seemed too old, or at least he hopped he hadn't let that much time pass. Her father always looked a bit older than his age in his youth. Perhaps she had inherited that trait from him, along with her height, and sharp blue eyes. At least, Kaldur thought, her hair had darkened a bit.

Speedy's eyes narrowed. "Hiding behind civilians Terror? Weren't you bragging earlier that my arrows didn't hurt?"

"Shut up. I ain't stupid. I know you're thinking of using one of those foam arrow things. This," He said, releasing his left hand from the hold to thump Kaldur's temple. "Is gonna make sure that won't happen."

Kaldur wondered if he should feign discomfort. It wouldn't take much strength to break Tommy's hold. It was sloppily done from the start, and Tommy hadn't bothered to return his left hand to the correct position, significantly reducing the hold's effectiveness. He often relied on brute strength rather than skill. A habit Kaldur tried to break during the short time he was the Terror Twin's superior. But Kaldur could avoid detection if he pretended to be human. He wore a light jacket today, its neck line high enough to cover his gills. Speedy didn't seem to recognize him, and Tommy was too desperate to notice. It might even be good lesson in how to manage hostage situations for her.

"I can think of other ways to put you down." a man said from behind.

The voice made Kaldur's heart stop. Tommy turned to the speaker, confirming Kaldur's fears. If asked, fear was not an emotion that Kaldur would list as a response to seeing Roy again. But he never imagined he would meet Roy under these circumstances. They never reconciled after the REACH invasion, though they shared the same spaces, and behaved cordially. It was easy to pretend they hadn't drifted apart while both in uniform. Or to find clever ways to occupy themselves with mutual friends in civilian spaces. Red Arrow's eyes widened in recognition as he lowered his bow.

Speedy kept her weapon trained on Tommy but glanced from the villain to her father. "Red? What are -"

The pavement cracked as Tommy fell to the ground. He looked up to Kaldur and stammered. "You..You're. Why are you even here?"

"Back up," Red Arrow barked. He waited for Kaldur to move out of the way before releasing his arrow. Tommy yelled profanities as his body was encapsulated in the dense foam and the onlookers cheered. Mrs. Floros tip toed out of her store and clutched Kaldur's arm. She handed him his shopping bag and tugged him in the direction of her store. Kaldur understood her meaning. It wouldn't be long before people started asking questions. He'd better leave now before that happened.

Roy entered the store after them, grabbing Kaldur's arm before he could make his escape. They stared at each other for a few seconds. A decades worth of unasked questions filled Roy's eyes. It was then that Kaldur realized just how often he avoided Roy's gaze. He could leave now, and risk an argument when Roy tracked him down later. If Roy tracked him down later. Suddenly the idea that Roy wouldn't want anything to do with him bothered him immensely. These last few years in isolation had worn down the immunity he built up against such feelings.

Roy released his hold once it became clear that Kaldur wasn't going to leave. Kaldur moved to the check out counter and borrowed a pen. Taking Roy's hand in his he wrote his address onto Roy's palm. Roy nodded and balled his hand into a fist, gripping Kaldur's fingers tightly. Kaldur had to use a bit of his strength to pull his fingers from Roy's hold.

After the press asked the expected questions Roy and Lian found a quiet place to change into civilian clothing. Roy then lead them on the search for Kaldur's address with negative results. Thinking back he realized it would have been better to wait until the ink dried before grabbing Kaldur's hand. Not that he understood why he grabbed on to Kaldur hand like that. It had been four years since the last time he saw Kaldur. And his day to day life hadn't been effected. He couldn't say that he missed Kaldur, they barely spoke to each other when he was around anyway. But Kaldur should have been at the bottom of the ocean doing what ever Atlanteans did, not living what seemed to be a normal civilian life in some far off corner of the world. He didn't need to leave the country to do that.

After the third time knocking on the door of the wrong home Roy was all nerves. He stood in front of the bright blue door to the fourth house like a lump, clutching onto the bag of vegetables given to him by the shop keeper for Kaldur. Lian adjusted the hold on her duffel bag before giving the door a hard knock. Roy didn't try to hide his dismay.

She looked over to him and shrugged. "Someone had to do it."

The door opened shortly after. Kaldur nodded and stepped aside to let them into his home. Roy hesitated and almost reached out to grab Lian as she strolled inside.

Lian inspected the mosaic tile on the foyer's floor before tilting her head upwards. "Whoa," she said as she pointed to the elaborate light fixture above them. "How did you get a hold of something like that?"

Kaldur smiled. "I saved a glass blower several years ago and called in a favor once I purchased this place."

"So how many favors did you call in?" she asked as she moved farther into the house. She inspected the dark wood of the living room floor before entering the space. "Its small like our apartment." She looked back to her father with a smirk. "But with better taste in decor."

"Hey, comfort is all that matters," Roy answered a bit irritably. Kaldur's openness with Lian took him of guard and he hated himself for it. It was not as if Kaldur and Lian had never met. And Kaldur had lead the Team for so many years that speaking to people younger than he was must be second nature by now.

"A few," Kaldur answered. "But I did most of the work here myself. For instance, removing the wall between the kitchen and living room, and replacing the floors."

"Cool." Lian said as she wondered into the kitchen. She peered at the pendant lights over the kitchen island that matched the fixture in the foyer. "Dad, remind me to be there the next time a shoe designer is in peril. This looks like the way to live... So uh where is your bathroom?"

Kaldur pointed in the direction of his bathroom "Just down that hallway."

Lian wondered farther into the house leaving Kaldur and Roy alone. Roy shifted in place. Kaldur had stopped speaking and didn't even look in his direction. He offered the bag of groceries to Kaldur. "The shopkeeper asked me to give you this."

"Oh?" Kaldur reached over to take the bag. He looked inside before placing it on the islands counter top. "My shopping was interrupted earlier," He said as he pulled out tomatoes, onions, and celery. "That was kind of her to send this with you."

"Oh my God!"

They heard Lian's yell from the bathroom, the sudden noise startling them both. Roy let Kaldur lead the way to through the house. What Roy saw was a relief. He laughed laughed loudly. Lian had left the door wide open, she stood in the middle of the bathroom with a large grin on her face. The rest of Kaldur's home met Roy's expectations. Elegant but understated with the right mix of old and new. Kaldur had always liked nice things, and it was good to see that he felt comfortable getting such things for himself. But the bathroom being the nicest room should have been on Roy's mental check list. They used to joke when Kaldur first came to the surface that he spent most of his free time in the bathroom. He wasn't used to the dry air on the surface and took several showers a day just to feel water on his skin.

This, however, was more extravagant than Roy would have imagined. White porcelain floors with green glass tile accents. A pure white sink large enough for a kitchen that shared the same clean lines as a massive soaking tub in the far left corner. The entire rear wall was covered in alternating white and light green glass that was only broken up by shower heads and body sprays, all blocked off from the rest of the room by a wall of glass.

Lian pulled off her shoes and entered the glass wall shower. She touched one of the many body sprays. "You could fit three maybe four people in here!"

Kaldur looked a bit embarrassed. "I do not know. I have never tried."

"Man... No way whatever dinky hotel we find tonight will match up to this."

Kaldur looked to Roy. "You do not have a place to stay?"

"Not yet." Lian answered, looking disappointed.

"Things got a little turned around because of Terror." Roy explained. "Don't worry Lian we'll find something."

"The two of you could stay here," Kaldur paused and seemed to consider his words for a moment. "If you would not mind that is. I do have a guest room."

"Awesome!" Lian turned to her father with stars in her eyes.

Roy was not so enthused. "Wait a second. We can't just barge in and-"

"Daaaad," Lian whined, slouching a little bit. "Did you see how many visitors were here today? I bet all the half decent places are already booked."

"Still-" Roy's eyes flicked to Kaldur. It was already odd seeing him again, he wasn't sure about staying over.

"She is correct," Kaldur added. "My place is not large but you are welcome to say."

"That settles it." Lian got out of the shower and knelt down to unzip her duffel bag. "I'm so gonna take a shower now."

"Now?" Roy asked.

"Yes now." Lian waved towards the bathroom door. "So if you gentlemen would excuse me."

Roy and Kaldur looked to each other before heading out of the bathroom. Kaldur closed the door behind them. They stood silently at the outside of the bathroom for a moment. The sound of the shower turning on prompted Roy to speak. "Sorry about all this."

"No." Kaldur answered. "It is fine. How old is she now?"

"13."

Kaldur hummed in response.

"I know. It's the height..and well, I figured that she'd take after her mom but I didn't think she'd mature so early."

Kaldur nodded.

"I already have to ward guys away. Not that I'm scared of her dating or whatever. It's just that she attracts guys way to old for her. Then there's this modeling thing."

"Modeling thing?" Kaldur asked, as he began to head back towards the living room.

Roy followed. "Yeah. That's why we're really here. She just started this year. Got scouted while downtown with some friends. Since this job landed on her spring break I figured why not. I mean, what girl wouldn't want to model internationally at least once?"

"When is the shoot?"

"Tomorrow and the day after that. Is it okay if we stay for more than one night."

Kaldur gave a small smile, a sad smile, and Roy felt as if his heart were being squeezed. "I have no other visitors. You can stay as long as you need. But where are my manners." Kaldur turned and headed back into the main hallway. "You still have not put away your belongings. Lian can use my guest room and you can stay in my bedroom."

"I can't take your bed Kal." A few steps behind, Roy turned to follow Kaldur back into the hallway. He jerked his thumb towards the living room. "I'll sleep in the living room or something."

"No. You are a guest. It would not do for you to sleep on the sofa. I only have to change the sheets for you."

Kaldur's room was just big enough to comfortably fit a king sized bed and a dresser. It was a bit of a let down after the glamorous bathroom but Roy kept his comments to himself. He gestured to the already made bed. "This is the bed that you have to change the sheets for? Looks fine to me."

"I make my bed in the morning but-"

"Don't worry about it Kal." Roy set his duffel bag on the floor. "But are you sure that you want me to take your bed? That sofa doesn't look long enough for you."

"Which also means that it would not be long enough for you." Kaldur pointed out.

"We'll let Lian sleep on the sofa or something."

Kaldur's face went blank.

"Fine...but I warn you, start spoiling her now and you'll end up doing her bidding for the rest of your life."

Kaldur shrugged. "I have missed a few years so..."

Roy scoffed and took a seat on Kaldur's bed. "Yeah...you have," He paused for a moment hoping that he did not sound too harsh. "I know you needed a break, and I'm not at all qualified to tell you how to live, but you dropped off the face of the earth. I don't even think Dick knows where you are." When Kaldur didn't answer Roy continued. "It's a king sized bed you know. It's not like we'd be on top of each other if we shared it."

"I said that I would sleep on the sofa Roy." Kaldur repeated. "I need to start prepping for dinner. I will let you get settled," He said as he left the bedroom.

Roy leaned back and laid on the bed once Kaldur closed the door. He slung his arm over his face to block the light from the ceiling fan above. Without Lian's presence it was hard enough for them to talk to each other. There was no way that they would feel comfortable enough to share a bed. Back in their younger days Kaldur would spend the night at the Queen's residence often. Now it was as if they were just getting to know each other again and it felt...stupid. Roy had grown content knowing that he could contact Kaldur if he needed to. So long as no one was in mortal danger it was alright to pretend that things were fine between them. Kaldur was the one with the problem, Kaldur was the one who pulled away back then. Back when Kaldur was the only contact that Roy kept with the super hero community. The rest had given up on finding the original Roy. Kaldur still supported him, but he stopped communicating and never explained why. Even after his very good excuse to drop all contact, his undercover mission, was over Kaldur was still distant while claiming that everything was fine. So why did Roy feel responsible for this distance?