Roy wiped the blood off his arm and wrapped a bandage around it before stepping out into the small living room to meet Thea. She had been complaining for the past twenty minutes about him being late for work and how it wasn't "very professional" to future employers. She babbled like this all the time. He mostly ignored her for the sake of his sanity, but every now and then he'll tune into what she was saying.
"Are you even listening to me? Roy, you were seriously late today. I had to tell Marty to keep an eye out for you even though he had his plate full enough as it is!" Thea huffed.
"What do you mean, late? I was there the whole time. I had to make a run to the grocery store real quick because the kitchen ran out of dish detergent. Unless you wanted to take home a load of dishes to do on your own time in your own kitchen." When she didn't reply, he smirked. "Thought so. You're working yourself too hard, baby. You need a break."
"I do. I really do. Between my mom running for mayor and Verdante and Queen Consolidated under watchful eye of practically the whole world, I don't have time to myself anymore. Like in 4 hours I have to meet with my mom and her representative. Four hour sleep. That's all I get."
Roy sat next to her on the couch and gently pulled her towards him. "I can't even imagine what you're going through right now. You've had a crappy few months..." He kissed the top of her head.
"Crappy is an understatement. I can barely focus on anything anymore. Everything is just moving too fast for me. And my brother...he's hardly ever around anyway. Either he's at the office or wherever he runs off to at night. Probably partying or something."
Roy sighed, playing with Thea's fingers. "Well, I think you're handling things pretty well. If I was in your position, I would've crumbled and ran away from it all. I'm pathetic."
"No. No, don't say that. Roy, you're brave. Brave enough to be dating me, for one." She laughed at this. "You're incredible. Just take out the fact that you voluntarily go searching for crime and try to stop it, and you're husband material."
"Are you implying that you want to marry me? Thea Queen, I'm in shock!" He grinned as she giggled and hid her face behind her hands. "You're so cute when you giggle. You're like a little kid."
"Oh shut up, Harper. Or I'll knock your teeth out. I'm not all giggles and smiles, you know. I can be tough when I want to be."
Roy smiled. "You'll be the first one I call when I'm being mugged by adorable kittens." This earned him a playful shove. "Hey! I'm kidding! Geez, no need to go all rough on me."
"But you like it rough," Thea whispered into his ear, and his entire body froze and grew hot. "Oh, don't act so shocked, Harper. I know you're kinky."
"I...uh..." Roy closed his eyes, letting out a small moan as Thea kissed his neck. "God, Thea you're hot..."
"So I've been told," she kissed him again, ever slower, and this time he didn't hold back. He pushed her back onto the couch and allowed his hands to explore her body. She was so warm, her smooth skin flushed as he moved his long, expert fingers over her collarbones, stomach, arms and hips. She moaned, enjoying the sensations as they took over her body.
"Are you sure you can handle all of this?" Roy smirked as he kissed the area just beneath her jaw. Her response was a short gasp, so he took that as a yes. He got up on his knees and grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. He instantly felt Thea's hands run over his abs and he grinned.
"Roy..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "We really shouldn't be doing this. I need some sleep before meeting with my mom later."
"Shh...we'll be quick, okay? Like a robbery. In and out."
"You're disgusting," Thea laughed and shoved him off of her. "I'm serious, Roy. I need to sleep for the next little bit. It's been a long night."
Roy sighed, slipping his shirt back on. "You got that right. The weirdest thing happened to me tonight. When I was getting back from the grocery store, these guys were harassing someone in the back alley behind the club-"
"Oh please don't tell me you had a beef with them...you know how I feel about you getting into fights."
"It didn't last long. And they barely touched me."
"And that's why you're bleeding on your arm." She scoffed as Roy covered the bandage with a hand. "Fine. Whatever. Is that person okay? Were they hurt?"
"No. He was doing okay when I showed up. He's really strong though. Threw one of the thugs across the alley like they weighed a pound. It was awesome."
Thea's cell phone began to ring and she picked it up immediately. "Hello? Yes, this is Thea Queen." She paused. "Right. Right. No, I understand. I can come in right away. Thank you. Bye." She hung up. "Well, that was my mom's rep. They want to get together now. There's been changes."
"Changes? Is everything okay?" Roy helped Thea with ehr coat. "Your mom's not...you know...backing out?"
"Oh god no. We just need to go over some questions that she may be asked when we go out in front of the cameras for the millionth time." She wiped a stray tear that fell from her eye. "Crap, I can't have red eyes before going there. I have to be strong."
Roy wrapped his strong arms around her and held her tight. "It's okay to cry, Thea. I cry sometimes too."
"Over what?"
"I cry over you. Because you're so damn beautiful and strong and there's not a day that goes by that I wish I were more like you."
Thea laughed into his chest. "You're funny, Harper. Men don't cry."
Roy closed his eyes. "You'd be surprised, actually." He held Thea at arm's length and looked her over. "You look very professional at the moment. And not to mention very sexy."
She blushed. "Oh, stop. Listen, if I don't make it home before dinner, don't wait up for me, okay? I'll probably just get a ride home with Oliver afterwards."
"Your brother's going to be there?"
"Yeah. He shows up when the office isn't busy. Which is fine, all things considered." She kissed him on the lips and smiled. "I'll see you later, handsome."
"Mmm...bye," Roy watched her leave and head towards her car. Once she pulled out of the driveway and down the road, Roy grabbed his hoodie and slipped it on and headed out the back door. Jumping over the fence in the backyard was no problem. It was just getting past the neighbor's German Shepard that was an issue, but luckily he wasn't around tonight.
The streetlight above his head flickered as he waited for his supplier to show up. Of course he was late. This wasn't the first time he didn't show up on time. The Glades dealers weren't trusted to be punctual. Especially if they knew they were getting paid big bucks, then they could take their sweet ass time with their delivery.
"Harper! Yo!" An older man stepped out of the darkness, smiling a broad, pearl white smile. "My favorite, yet odd customer. How goes it?"
"Drop the act, Kent. Do you have them?" Roy lowered his voice.
"Geez what are we whispering for anyway? The cops are, like, 15 blocks over. Distress call. Some guy with a gun or something. Robbing a house. Rumor has it that The Hood showed up." Kent smirked at Roy's reaction. "Look man, it's probably none of my business, but you got a real strange addiction to that green guy."
Roy half smiled. "You're right, Kent. It is none of your business. Now give me my goods before I change my mind about paying you."
Kent licked his lips and shook his head. "You're no fun, Harper. Always poopin' on my party..." Kent reached into the big duffel bag that he had draped over his shoulder and pulled out a large box. "Here you go. One order of arrows. You get 30 to start with. Next bunch is going to cost you extra. Where exactly did you plan on hiding them, anyway? Or doing with them?"
"It's none of your damn business what I'm doing with them. And as for where I'm hiding them, I'm stashing them in my dresser."
Kent scoffed and cleared his throat. "Right, because the girlfriend won't find that when she's breaking out the rubber. Hey, I'm joking!" He backed away when Roy took a step forward. "God, you're easy to piss off. That Thea Queen has you spoiled, doesn't she? Where's your fancy car?"
Roy ignored him as he began to walk away. "Whatever, Kent."
"You'll thank me one day, Harper. You wait and see!"
On the walk home, Roy played with the puddles on the sidewalk like a child, seeing if he could jump over them without getting his shoes or jeans wet with mud. At one point, he almost lost the box of arrows and stumbled out onto the road a little bit. A car horn honked andhe saw bright lights headed straight for him. He covered his eyes, and much to his luck, the car swerved around him, just missing him by a foot or so.
Breathing heavily, he stared after the speeding vehicle as it drove down the street, making a sharp turn to the left at the end of the road. "Assholes..." He muttered. "Who the hell do they think they are?"