「⁴」Roy Harper

Sometimes Roy Harper wondered why he didn't shoot an arrow at your head when he had the chance

And then I remembered that would have been too easy… and really, really boring

Because that's what you were: his pet peeve. That damn headache with a smile to spare, quick comebacks, and an almost miraculous ability to walk away unscathed from everything... even confrontations with him... you were just a damn arrogant man.

They'd crossed paths so many times it was a habit. Same pattern: a tangled mission, you in the middle, Roy aiming an arrow at you, you throwing out some provocative phrase, the two of you fighting as if the world would end at the end of the fight. But neither of you managed to completely knock the other down.

Pure competition between the two men. Sometimes they were serious fights, and sometimes they just looked like kids fighting over a toy.

Except lately… that line between hate and something more was starting to blur. Roy hated himself for admitting it, and he wasn't going to accept it even if someone threatened to kill him, but there was something about the way you mocked him while dodging one of his arrows, or when you helped him escape even though you pretended you didn't mean to. Those moments when the two of you ended up covered in dust and blood… and then (forced) sharing a beer on the rooftop as if you weren't enemies.

And tonight was no exception

A mission had forced them to collaborate, and after (narrowly) surviving an ambush, Roy appeared at the door of your hideout with his shoulder bleeding, his jacket in tatters, and the most annoyed expression in the world

Don't get excited

He let go without even saying hello

I didn't come because I'm worried about you... just because your medicine cabinet has a better reputation than mine. And because if I bleed to death, I'll have no chance to beat the hell out of you and get rid of that damn attitude you're having.