Work Text:
Michael was reading a book, it was the rare occasion that he actually took downtime. His eyes meticulously gracing over each word, focused on digesting every bit of information it was peaceful, Kendra was out on another date. Her third one this month. A girl from down town Metropolis, he was happy for her. Getting out there is scary, too many variables. Guy had also gone out, a 3 month anniversary date with his partner, he said he would be back late which gave Micheal the perfect opportunity to take his break. He didn't like the others seeing him like this, this is too relaxed for them to know about.
(Silly really)
However, that what was meant to become a quiet evening was shattered with what Micheal would call a flurry of inconveniences, well once inconvenience... One large, green and annoying inconvenience called Guy Gardner.
The doors to the Hall of Justice flew open, rattling at their hinges. Guy stormed in Red Faced and irritated, his face contorted in a way that Holt understands to mean that something hasn't gone to plan.
Guy had his hands in fists opening and closing as he paced around the largely unfurnished and unfinished hall.
Micheal watched, curious more than anything. He put his book down on his lap and raised a hand slowly to his mouth. A gentle cough left his lips something to grab the other man's attention.
-
Guy's head shot up, telling Michael that he infact did not notice that he was there. His hands locked into fists and stayed like that, his fingers digging into his palms creating white knuckles. He turned around to the noise and stared at the slender man a few yards away.
"What are you lookin' at huh?' guy accused Holt, his gold tooth glinting at the last cadence of his voice. It sounded unsteady, unsure.
Micheal kept staring unwavering, unrelenting. He blinked and looked down at guy's hands and then back up to his face.
"348th woman dumped you like the others?" He tiled his head, a twitch of the mouth curled up into a smirk.
And guy lost it. He held out his finger as he veered forwards towards Michael. He was mad, worse than the other times.
The broader man came to the other man's feet. His body hunching down to get close to the other.
"Leave it T. " His voice cracked. His intimidating ploy fading. But his face stayed stern.
Micheal just started at him. He placed his book from his lap to the side of the chair without loosing contact.
"Guy, we do this every time you get your ass dumped." He slowly stood up. He was slightly smaller than Guy, but his presence exudes a sense of superiority.
He looked over the man again, making sure he was ok. A few times he had come home after being dumped with a few bruises on his body. The man Infront of him didn't have the best track records of being with the nicest of women. He had noticed nothing on his face, neck or hands. But he couldn't see anything else. He softened slightly knowing that it wasn't one of those kinds of breakups.
But his flare up was one of the worse he has seen.
He took guy's wrist and brought it down to his side. A ritual every time he was like this however, this time Gardner yanked it out of his grasp. His body flinching away from the other.
Michael's first sign of panic flashed across his face.
"Guy" he voiced. His tone trying to ground him.
Guy stared at him. His eyes flickering from side to side. he had a vacant expression about him now. His breath heaving with sharp inhales.
Micheal stayed, stayed where he was, looking expectantly at the other.
"She was the best T" he muttered. His eyes squinted, a hint of wetness behind them.
"Made me feel like I could have a white picket fence" his hands splayed outwards, his fingers sore from tensing.
His eyes staying solidly in place. Robotic, unlike him. Something Triggered Guy.
"A life where I could feel like I have finally achieved something. Something that actually mattered
Micheal nodded.
She told me that I didn't love her." He finished.
Micheal ducked his head to meet the other man's eyes.
" Why did she say that Guy?"
It was a simple question, one that guy should have easily been able to answer.
He finally let his eyes fall shut and he let out the most heartfelt sob.
He had fully closed in on himself. This wasn't the Guy Gardner Michael knew. The one he had slowly started to fall in love with.
"She said I was in love" his hand were brought up to his face. His fingers pressing in on his eyes. He shakily let out a breath. His eyes threatening to release his tears.
"J-just not with her"
Micheal watched the other.
Guy stopped himself before he could say anymore. His mouth opening and closing. His body unable to speak. His jaw closed tight and locked in place; his body forcing his words to stay secret.
Micheal thought for a moment, his emotions steady and sure. He coughed slightly before taking his chance. Selfish really.
"Who are you in love with Guy?" His voice stood firm.
Guy didn't reply. His body tensing. It told Holt everything he needed to know.
His voice lowered, a soft and calming whisper. "Guy tell me"
That's when it happened, a firm shove. Too firm, an angry shove that too Micheal by surprise.
"Fuck off!" Ok Guy was mad now, truly mad. Angry at Michael which he should have seen coming. Calculated it, hypothesised it and experimented it. But he became too selfish in knowing the answer. He forgot to deduct Guy's feelings, Guy's past.
"You are a fucking cold blooded dick, you know that right asshole?!" Guy had the eyes of a raging bull, something Michael had never seen before.
" You fucking piece of shit, you fucking. God damnit Michael! " He pulled at his hair. Stepping back until his back hit the wall. His eyes stayed wild as his eyes looked over the man Infront of him.
" I can't even stay fucking mad at you! "
Oh.
Guy turned. He threw his fist back and slammed it into the wall. A crack could be heard but Gardner flicked it out. Bruising already blooming around his pinkie and forth finger.
Shit.
Guy moved off. His body dragging itself away from Holt. His head hung low and his feet dragging across the floor.
He left the Hall. Exiting the building all together. Walking down the steps unable to be seen by Michael.
Fuck.
----
Guy doesn't cry, nope! No never, he was brought up with the understanding of that men don't cry.
In the words of his father 'only Fairies cry' and he definitely wasn't a fairy.
But why? Why was he sat on the door step of the newly built 'Hall of Justice' his palms damp from swiping at his redend eyes. His nose sniffling, keeping the wetness of his nose at bay.
His breath was ragged and his heart hammering in his chest.
He wasn't a fairy he couldn't be. He flirted with 348 women god damn it.
and was broken up with all 348. He never made the call. He was smitten with all of them. Well, he thought he was anyways. He liked their hair, their lips, their figure. They were tall, dark haired. Sometimes he would mix it up, grab a blonde or two. A Ginger haired girl on occasion. But it kept him busy.
And he did love all of them, but there was just something not there. Nothing that tethered him down.
They didn't have the thick hands that held his back when the 'Villain of the week' they were fighting was too much to handle. The way that person nodded reassuringly to everything guy had within him when they were in trouble.
Followed his quips, told him where he was in the ranking. Followed by that same man over ranking him in the long run.
The gentle looks when he realised that Guy was having an off day. When his back hurt a little too much or when his head was giving him migraines. He would sit there next to him making sure he was ok.
The back and forths they would have would be targeted and mean spirited sometimes but it always felt like it was never meant to be.
Fuck...
His chest was tight and his nose was spluttering over his lips. His shoulders slumped to the side, resting on the cold wall of The Hall of Justice. He held his left hand, the one that punched the wall and sighed. His eyes weeped with tears. Unstoppable.
He loves Micheal Holt.
Soft footsteps crept up the steps Infront of him. A soft chirp and a little coo escaped Kendra's lips.
"He shit for brains, What's up?" She bobbed. Her eyes tracing over every part of his body.
Guy looked at her with utter defeat.
"I'm a fairy" he muttered.
She chortled and sat down next to him. She kicked her feet forward and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"You're not a fairy doofus, you're a Lantern and a very green one at that"
She ruffled his hair with her free hand trying her best to calm him down.
" You didn't get into my secret stash of brownies right? You are acting like a real space cadet"
Guy side eyes her a smirk creeping onto his face.
"I wish, Bird brains." He fully looked over at her.
They sat there in silence, a peaceful one. Something that they rarely get. Especially with Guy around. But tonight, it was nice.
"I don't know how you do it"
"Do what?"
"Love like you do" he looked so child like, a boy who has lot his mother.
Kendra turned to him her arm sliding down to her lap.
"What do you mean by that? " She pondered.
Guy took her hand in his and gently ran his thumb over her knuckles.
"You live up to your name, Hawk Girl. A bird, you fly free, no care in the workd. Loving who you love. How do you do it?"
It dawned on her and she ruffled her wings out. She lowered her head to meet his gaze. Just like Michael did. Why were they so alike yet so different.
"Guy, whoever has done this to you. Made you think you can't be who you are. You need to get rid of them alright?" She returned the gesture and took Guy's hand into hers and gently squeezed.
"I am loving my best life because I chose not to care. I don't give a damn about which girl I kiss and whos pants I get into. Come on.. you are definitely not one to talk about what others think with that dumb ass hair of yours too mister!"
She chirped a soft scoff. Her feathers ruffling.
He stared at her with the utmost distain, his mood for jokes becoming an all time low. He rolled his shoulders.
"It's hard Kendra. My Pa told me that Fairies go to hell, they are no good in our society. That's they are diseased"
He stared at the ground.
"But, when I was 16. Back in 86 I think. I was on the junior football team there was this boy. Oh god Kendra he was so beautiful."
He took a deep breath. A breath he did not know he was waiting on.
"His skin glowed on the pitch. His hair was so perfect, a tight afro styled in a flat top. It suited him so well"
His head fell onto Kara's shoulder.
"We kissed behind the bleachers, real rom com shit . His top lip felt rough with day old shaven stubble and it felt so right."
His chest heaved as he gripped onto Kendra's forearms. His chest rattled as he tried to get in control of his breathing.
"My dad, he caught me one day."
That was all he had to say. Kendra let out a curdled scquark as she wrapped her wings around him.
"What you feel, in your big stupid chest"
She prodded him half heartledly. He grumbled but smiled.
"is completely normal. It will take time. I know you are hurting. God I cannot imagine what you have endured"
Her small hand rested onto his head, she stroked it in a gentle repetitive motion. It was a little awkward in retrospect, Kendra swaddling Guy but she would always be there in his time of need. They sat there for a while.
"You may be an annoying piece of shit Guy, but you will always be our annoying piece of shit. Fairy or not Fairy" She cooed as she released the man.
Guy didn't reply for a while. His brain settling down processing everything. He closed his eyes and let the sound of the bustling city take him.
He only moved when a firm hand fell in the middle of his shoulder blades. How did he not hear him coming. Kendra folded her wings, letting them sink back into her body letting Michael crouch down next to them.
He didn't speak, none of them did. A heavy cloud of emotions wrapped around all of them. But Guy turned to Michael hesitant and afraid. But the sureness and the love that Michael's presence was exuding crumpled all the hidden stress.
"I'm so sorry Guy," Four simple strong words were said. And that melted Guy.
The broader man pulled the other in, his arms wrapping tightly under Michael's arms. His body never letting go.
"I'm sorry too" he whispered. A gentle sigh escaped his lips.
Micheal loved Guy. Loved him with all his heart. But he knew now was not the time. He didn't know if it ever would be. But that was ok. They needed time. Time to Heal. Time to love who they are.
To trust each other and to be Ready.
And Guy loved him too.