Red Arrow
Red Arrow didn't really notice it for a while, at first not really caring about the team's activities as a whole and then too obsessed with finding the real Roy Harper, but when they finally dragged him to the Mountain for a break he couldn't help but notice something.
"I can't stay long," he protested, already upset at having been stopped from his search. He wouldn't give up and it angered him how easily everyone else did. (Don't they understand? Roy should be here, with us – I took his place and it's time to give it back) he thought angrily, still trying to leave.
But Robin and Wally pleaded and threatened, pointing out that he couldn't take all of them and that he wouldn't do Roy any good if he collapsed. And so, Red Arrow found himself around the table with them, preparing to eat the first real meal he'd had in months.
Despite his initial reluctance, he found himself warming to them, however much he wished to leave. He had met all of them before but this was the first time they had really gathered outside of hero work. Robin and Wally were his friends, always had been and he hoped they always would be. He had already known Kaldur for a while, though they weren't best friends they got along just fine. Kaldur was always calm, and easy to get along with. Artemis too he already knew, having worked with her before. They hadn't exactly got along then, but you don't save the world together without forming some form of mutual respect. They would never be good friends but they didn't insult each other any more. M'gann was almost an overwhelming presence at first, extremely friendly and a bit of a shock after the people he'd been in contact with in order to find Roy; but he warmed up to her quickly, and to her cooking as well. Superboy didn't say much, but Red Arrow could tell he was a part of this team as much as anyone else was, and he could find himself getting along with the reserved young hero.
As he analyzed the team he realized they were all a bit more silent than normal. He couldn't really tell with the others but unless Robin and Wally had really mellowed out he was sure they used to talk a lot more. As the meal progressed he paid more attention, observing how the team reacted with each other. He began to notice the silent conversations, the hidden looks, the random smiles. They interacted with him fully – he didn't feel left out in the slightest, in their need to make him stay they attempted to distract him – but whoever wasn't talking to him likely wasn't talking at all. Instead they were completely at ease, yet not focusing on his conversation. They acted like they were having a good time, engaged in a separate conversation, yet no words passed through their lips. They didn't need to speak. Dishes got passed, drinks were refilled, and dessert was fetched from the fridge, yet not once did anyone ask for those things to be done.
Red Arrow wasn't stupid and he realized what was going on, though he was surprised to learn that they used the link even when they weren't on missions. It was something he had never thought of. His hero life and his personal life were completely separate – though he didn't have much of a personal life. But then again, he didn't live with his fellow heroes.
Dinner ended and Red Arrow found himself following them to the couch as they prepared to pop in a DVD. He was so distracted by what he was witnessing that his goal had been temporarily put on hold. They flocked around him, or rather Robin, Wally, and M'gann did, eagerly asking what movie he wanted to see. Well, they had succeeded in their goal of distracting him but not how they had intended. He mumbled the name of a movie he had heard of, not too sure of recent events, and watched as they flawlessly set it up. Superboy fetched the movie while Kaldur set up the TV. Artemis found the remotes and Wally and M'gann got the popcorn from the kitchen. Robin remained with him, continuing his attempts to distract him with meaningless chatter. Everything they did together was perfectly executed, no need for communication. The clean up after dinner had been similar, each of them falling into their rolls of washing, drying, or clearing perfectly. That time it had been Wally to distract him.
He watched them even more throughout the movie, barely focusing on what was happening on screen. Occasionally one of them would laugh, followed shortly by the others as they no doubt explained the joke or funny scene. Like before, they kept him included, though their interest in him waned as they focused on the movie. He gathered that it was a favorite of theirs, and spent a few minutes staring at the screen before returning his gaze to them. Before Wally's hand touched the bottom of his popcorn bowl M'gann floated over the extra. Before Kaldur announced he needed a break to refill his drink Artemis had paused the movie. And nobody reacted, this was their life now, it was their new normal. As they trooped into the kitchen for their refills he stood as if to follow them, but instead headed toward the exit.
As Red Arrow left he turned back, glancing at the laughing, happy teammates. (That could have been me). He frowned, another thought coming to him. A new wave of determination swept over him and he turned again, striding out more quickly than before, his mission now the only thing on his mind. (No, that should have been Roy).