Two Years Later

Twenty year old Roy Harper sat in his bed with a cigarette between his teeth. He'd just come back from patrol and what he saw was one thing he'd never forget...

Red Arrow chased down a couple of purse snatchers and pinned both of them to the wall with a single arrow. The sheer sight if that was a personal victory for the man. The woman retrieved her purse and thanked him (even though she couldn't see him hovering over her on top of a building). He smiled at the woman and made his way to his apartment. He was through for the night.

"Hey, wait up kid!"

Roy leaped over to the next closest building and started off to the next one when the commotion below caught his attention.

"Please, leave me alone!"

Roy spun around and looked over the edge of the building. Three guys were chasing one kid. It was a teenage boy by the sound of it. He didn't look like anything worth mugging, so why were they chasing him?

"Just take it! Take my wallet! Please, let me go!"

The kid was fifteen with short brown hair and a nose piercing. He looked like the stereotypical skater kid. Roy could see that his skateboard was in another guy's hands, ready to use as a weapon if needed to.

"Hey, we don't want your money," the oldest teen said. "Listen, we only want one thing from you."

The oldest stepped forward and pushed him to the ground behind the dumpster. Roy couldn't see what was going on, but he knew he needed to get there quick.

The brown-haired teen let out a scream that was suddenly muffled by one of his captor's hands. Red Arrow was just three buildings away now. Soon the teen stopped struggling. Was he too late?

He lunged over to the last building and shot a knock-out arrow at the first guy, then a two electric arrows at the remaining two. The kid stood up and clung to the fence, looking around as if someone else was out to get him.

Red Arrow slid to the ground on a pole (which would have made him laugh-given the situation at the thought of his old job). He looked over to the teen who was still backing up, even though he had nowhere to go.

"You okay?" Roy asked.

The teen nodded. "That won't stop them though," he sighed. "Thank you. You really helped me out. I'm Joseph, by the way."

Red Arrow grinned. "No problem. What were they after you for anyway?"

"I'm...I'm gay," he gave a small chuckle. "I'm not even bisexual. I'm gay. They...I guess they wanted to teach me a 'lesson' or something. I don't know."

Red Arrow looked at him, searching for scars or bruises.

"What did they do to you?" He asked. "You don't look like you have any cuts or anything. What happened?"

Joseph rubbed his shoulder and looked down. "Look, I really appreciate the help. You heros...y'all are pretty cool an' all, but I've got to get home. Thank you, really."

Red Arrow nodded and made his way back home. He slipped through the window, shed his mask, and plopped on the bed. The red-head lit a cigarette and took a deep, long, drag before letting it go in a puff if smoke.

"That kid," he sighed.

There was blood on the ground. Whose blood was it though? What did they do to...what did he do to them that deserved such harsh attention? Roy was completely and utterly curious. He wanted to know what the hell was going on in that kid's life that caused him to be out late at night in the middle of the roughest parts of Star City, California.

He didn't look like he was from around here. No...his accent was different too.

Y'all...where had he heard that kind of accent before?

Roy groaned and flopped on the pillows before shedding his shirt and pants. What he saw that night. changed his mind about some things. One thing was certain; it changed his mind about Kaldur. There was something he needed to do.

Kaldur sat beside his queen and Prince Orm at dinner. It was the queen Mera's birthday and she was sure that having a simple dinner with her 'family' was the best gift anyone could give her.

"How was your time with the scholars, my love?" Orin asked the queen.

She had just returned from one of the most ancient parts of Atlantis to go...exploring more or less. Orin was anxious to hear of her discoveries. Mera began to tell about her trip, but Kaldur tuned her out. He couldn't eat. He was too worried about the treatment he would get from his king.

When he'd made his trip to Atlantis, the king greeted him with a smile. They exchanged few words, but his gestures were friendly. Kaldur worried still about the situation he was in.

"Does something bother you, Kaldur?" Orm asked.

"It's just that...I have found a new love on the surface, but king Orin does not approve. I am not sure what to do."

Orm smiled. "Swim with me after dinner," he placed his hand on Kaldur's knee reassringly "and cheer up if you will. Fear not Kaldur, I will find a way to assist you."

Kaldur smiled as a slither of hope trickled through him. He would finally have someone who understood him to talk to. He only hoped that he could return to the surface and bring a new passion to his relationship with Roy.

A/N: Ash Likes Lemons has won this round. My prize to the reader with the most reviews will be a story (or several if I like your reviews) written with your favorite pairing and situation.

To the winner of the cyberdrawing (it's where I pick a name at random from Favorites, Followers, or Reviewers): Lonely Bleeding Liar.

Until next time, Maxx (to MyLittleAngelxxx...maybe Maxx could be a cute name for a female puppy..hint hint lol)