Characters: Roy, Robin, Wally, the team…

Warnings: Get your tissue boxes ladies and gents.

Summary: Only 1% that are diagnosed are males (in America)

Of Breast Friends. I love Roy.

"Recognize Speedy, B-Zero-Six," The Mountains computer announced the arrival of the archer. The young man materialized in the cave. Instead of his usual black and red hero's garb, he was in his civvies, a sight rarely looked upon. He wasn't even wearing his sunglasses. Instead of yelling at the machine for screwing up his name for the umpteenth time, Roy only walked forwards slowly, waiting for the usual welcoming party. And welcome they did.

Megan was first like usual, never far away from the entrance. The green girl came flying in and said hello excitedly, asking if he would like lunch. Roy stopped by the Mountain at least twice a month. Not because he wanted to join the team, but because he had promised Wally and Robin. He could never be far from his little brothers for long. After visiting for so long, he gained the friendship of the team, even if he still stubbornly refused to join.

But he hadn't visited for a whole month, not even calling Wally or Rob to ask how things were. Now, returning after his disappearance form the team, he was welcomed warmly.

Kal and Conner were the next to arrive, both shaking his hand as they walked to the kitchen exchanging formalities. Although this was the first time they saw the archer completely fit in his civilian clothes, they didn't mention the change. Instead they debriefed him on any events he had missed. Apparently they had gained a new member. Zatanna. Roy ignored this though, not necessarily interested in this fact.

Megan returned (Roy hadn't seen her leave) with said new member in tow along with Artemis. Both Archers exchanged formal nods. Roy shook hands with Zatanna and politely introduced himself. She was nice, but still, she was tricked into this daycare.

Finally, Robin and Wally appeared. Apparently they had been in the gym because sweat all but poured down their temples. These were his oldest friends, the only ones he allowed to hug him really. But now was not the time for hugging.

Not under the circumstances.

But despite wishful thinking, the red headed archer was tackled to the floor by another red head. Roy let out an uncomfortable grunt and tried to pry his friend off his back gently. The floor was painful on his front. But another body was added to the pile, this one much lighter, but still adding weight.

"Ugh! Get off me!" he wheezed. The floor… it was too much pressure on him, it hurt…

"No way dude! You were gone forever!" Wally shouted in his ear, wrapping tight arms around his waste in a crushing hug.

"It was only a month," Roy grunted out, trying to drag himself from under the pile. That one month had left him weaker than he would have liked.

"Not in speedster time! A month to you equals a year for me!" Wally just dragged the other red head back under him, crushing him harder to the floor.

"Wally! Come one dude!" Robin had left the pile and stood pouting in front of them. "I want to hug Roy now!"

Wally, without letting go of his captive, hauled himself and his passenger to a standing position. Roy broke free of the arms though and leaned against the countertop, panting. Damn meds.

He clutched at his chest weakly, trying to calm the tender pain. But a small body latched onto his gently. Rob buried his face in his friend's sweatshirt and squeezed tight. The adorable display almost made Roy forget the soreness in the left side of his chest. Almost.

"Ok, ok," he said breathlessly, prying the little bird off of him. His gentle demeanor put a few confused looks on the team's faces. Once his friend had been detached, the archer leaned back fully on the counter and took a deep breathe, trying to regain normalcy. Finally, with a clear head and lungs filled with oxygen, he opened eyes he didn't realize he had closed.

He looked back indifferently at the team. A few eyes were searching; some concerned, a few even worried. Roy tried to smile, but new it was in vain.

"Sit down." Although it was a statement, it came off more as a question, a sad request for an audience. All stayed. Wally and Robin stood attentively in front of their friend, playful smiles replaced with ones of concern. Kal and Conner took their seats at the island stools. Megan stood next to Conner. She could feel the anxiety now, not just from her teammates, but from the red headed archer that stood in front of them. Artemis stood next to the Martian, leaning into her friend slightly, offering comfort to the telepath.

Roy turned to the final occupant in the room, Zatanna. Licking his lips, he asked hesitantly, "Could I, uh, talk to them alone?" There was a hint of pleading in the edge of his voice. The magician gave him a look that read 'What a drama queen' but obliged his offer. She left slowly, glancing around her new friends, trying to decode the situation. Ultimately, she left the room to find Black Canary to get the run down on this 'Red Arrow'.

Back in the kitchen, Roy stood before the team. After glancing at their worried faces he suddenly found his civvies converse quite interesting. But the shoes didn't offer up an explanation for his behavior.

"Roy," Robin spoke, asking a silent question. The little bird's heart dropped when he saw his friend look back up, eyes red, ready to cry. No one spoke.

Roy cleared his throat, trying to relieve the knot that formed there. Robin hopped off the counter that he had been perched on. He returned quickly with a glass of water and handed it over. Roy took the glass but didn't drink from it. He thanked Robin.

"So…" Artemis peered at her fellow archer. They still weren't on the best of terms, but Roy looked pretty distressed.

Distressed? More like Ready-To-Collapse-On-The-Fucking-Floor-And-Start-Crying-Like-a-Little-Girl-If-Didn't-Spit-It-Out-Soon.

He cleared his throat again and this time did take a gulp of water before setting the glass on the counter next to Wally.

"This," he started then cleared his throat once again. "This i-is kind of embarrassing." No one spoke, letting him gather what was left of himself.

Roy took a deep breath through his nose, cleansing his foggy head. His eyes burned and he was tempted to clear his throat again, but a wary glance at Artemis stopped him. She looked a little impatient.

"Go ahead," Roy heard someone say. Robin was the closest to him, hands tangled in his cape, clenching and unclenching. The archer felt terrible, for putting everyone through this turmoil while he worked up the guts to tell them.

Without taking his eyes off the white lenses of Robin's mask he let himself mutter the words he needed them to know. As hard and embarrassing as his situation was, Roy felt oddly comforted that this was out of his power and control.

"I've got-" he cleared his throat. "I've got breast cancer."

Conner choked on his tongue.

Roy was suddenly glad he couldn't see past the white lenses of Robin's domino mask. He was sure by the way the little bird was sucking on his teeth his friend was crying.

But no one moved. No one really knew how to react. Megan was the first to do anything. The Martian floated the distance and kissed him on the cheek and left the room. Roy acknowledged that the telepath probably was having a hard time blocking out everyone's emotions. He let her go.

"But-" Everyone looked to Wally who was opening and closing his mouth like a fish. It would have been comical if it wasn't such a… such a situation?

Robin looked up at the speedster and took his hand. Both boys looked at Roy then.

"But that's impossible," They heard Conner start but a smack that was probably Artemis hitting the clone fallowed, shutting him up.

Kaldur supplied and explanation. "Males are susceptible to breast cancer as are females but the odds are far less." Conner nodded. He would wait for a more in depth explanation later.

"Roy," Wally squeaked. "How did you- When did you know?" He was gripping Robin's hand like a life line. He didn't dare approach the other red head who looked just about ready to break like thin ice.

Roy cleared his throat again; it had become a habit of his over the past month, one that kept him from crying as long as possible. Robin recognized the tactic, but didn't speak up. The red head fingered the bottom of his sweat shirt before pulling it off. When he clutched the bottom of his shirt, his arms froze and refused to cooperate.

"You don't have to," Artemis spoke for the first time. He eyes were red along with her nose. Watery tears were threatening to break through her eyelashes.

Seeing his fellow archer break her usually stoic façade, Roy hunched his shoulders and knelt to the ground, unable to control the shaking in his limbs.

But arms were around him immediately, noticeably cautious of his chest. The archer clutched onto the body in front of him. It was small and warm and strong. Roy glanced up through teary eyes and was me with Robin's own, unmasked and all. It had been so long since he'd seen those beautiful cornflowers blue's, glinting in the light. But Roy couldn't stop to gaze. He turned his face into his friend's chest and wrapped his arms around hi best friends waste, pulling him as close as possible.

A/N: I know Roy is a bit young (ok, maybe really young) to be getting male breast cancer, but I couldn't wait for him to turn fifty. Consider him a special case. The ending was kind of weak, but this was hard to write.

I mean no disrespect to those with breast cancer, this was inspired by my cousin who(is a girl) was diagnosed a little while ago. She told me she'd seen a man in the hospital being treated for breast cancer as well.

Only 1% of those diagnosed in America are males. What are the odds? Please be conscious of yourself and your health and please live a long happy life.

Moe.