Author's Note: One left after this! Thanks to everyone who has left feedback.
Reviews and constructive criticism are welcome!
Five: Roy Harper
It should have been more concerning, Kaldur supposed, that he could recognize who was destroying the training room based solely on the sounds of the crashes. In truth, however, he was more concerned about who was in the training room, once he recognized the noise, and not why they were in the training room.
"Roy," breathed Kaldur, already jogging for the training room. The door slid open just in time for Kaldur to see a punching bag go flying. Roy sagged to the floor, his eyes tightly closed.
Kaldur sighed, largely because he couldn't think of what else to do. How did you comfort a man who was convinced he didn't deserve anything?
Silently, Kaldur crossed the room and sat down next to Roy, cross-legged. He waited.
After a few minutes, Roy opened his eyes and said, "What?"
Again, Kaldur waited. He placed his hands on his knees and let himself sink into a half meditative trance.
Then, "Seriously, what?" Roy's voice was sharp and low. There was a warning behind it, one Kaldur chose to ignore. Still, he waited.
Another two minutes. Then, "I can't find him." Roy's voice was hoarse and frustrated, coated in an amount of pain that Kaldur could only begin to imagine. "Every lead keeps coming up dry."
"You need help," said Kaldur, softly. Roy gave him a sharp look. "You can't find Speedy alone," said Kaldur, amending his earlier statement.
"Not like I have a choice," grumbled Roy. He stood, stretched his shoulders, and scowled down at Kaldur. Kaldur stood as well, but it was much slower and more calculated. It might have also had to do with a recent injury he'd taken in a mission, but Roy didn't need to know that. His concern, at this point in time, was unneeded and unwanted.
"There is always a choice, my friend," said Kaldur.
Roy snorted. "So, what? You're just going to drop everything and gallivant around the world with me?" Another snort. "Fat chance." Kaldur heard the disappointment – the frustration – in Roy's tone. Heard the way he growled it out under his breath.
"I cannot leave the Team," said Kaldur. Roy scowled and looked away from Kaldur.
"Yeah, I knew that," muttered Roy.
"However," said Kaldur, slowly. "I can help you."
Roy gave him a flat look and said nothing.
"I have access to connections that you do not. I have access to the computers the League and Team use," said Kaldur, gesturing to the cave around them. "Furthermore, I have the Team. We would all like to help you, but we cannot allow it to consume us."
He paused, then, "You cannot allow it to consume you."
Roy scoffed and stalked away from Kaldur. He picked his bag off the floor and headed for the door – which Kaldur had already moved to block.
"Move," said Roy.
Kaldur frowned. "I cannot allow you to-"
"Move," said Roy, more firmly. He took a step toward Kaldur, but Kaldur didn't so much as flinch. He stared, eye to eye with Roy, and held his ground. Let him try, Kaldur thought.
"Will you listen for once?" snapped Kaldur. "You are killing yourself for a man who might be dead."
"What do you know, huh?" shouted Roy. "He's the real Roy Harper, I'm just a copy."
Kaldur scowled. "You are just as real as he is, Roy."
"Don't call me that! That's not my name!" Roy threw his arms into the air and scowled harder at Kaldur.
"Roy," said Kaldur.
"Stop," snapped Roy.
"Roy," repeated Kaldur. "Your name is Roy until you tell me you have another one, and not simply the moniker of Red Arrow."
Roy turned away from Kaldur and folded his arms across his chest.
"Why won't you let me do this?" asked Roy in a hoarse voice.
"You live. You breathe. You're real," said Kaldur. "I cannot allow you to think otherwise when said thinking will drive you to destroy yourself." Kaldur stepped away from the door and rested a hand of Roy's shoulder. "For as long as you live – for as long as you breathe – you will be real to me. And to the others."
Roy closed his eyes. "I need to find him."
"I know," said Kaldur. "But you cannot destroy yourself in the process. And I will help you in whatever ways I am capable."
Roy turned to face Kaldur, a hoarse laugh escaping his throat. "What did I do to deserve you?" he asked.
"Live," said Kaldur, his voice just as hoarse. He rested a hand on the back of Roy's neck.
There was silence for a few minutes. Then, "You really will help me?" asked Roy.
"Yes," said Kaldur. "So long as you promise to take care of yourself."
Roy nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?" echoed Kaldur.
"Okay," said Roy. "So, dinner? On me?"
Kaldur smiled. "That sounds wonderful."
Together, the two headed out of the training room and to the Zeta-Beams. Tonight, they would relax. Tomorrow, they would set out to find Speedy.