"What beards do to a Man"
Bruce Wayne/Batman × Hal Jordan/Green Lantern
[ originally posted on Ao3 collection of BatLantern discord server Challenge ]
Starting the spring with some important official meetings to do, Bruce hasn't yet looking at the beautifully blossomed flowers or even enjoying the warmer temperatures outside the buildings. In that sense... Gotham City— on early Spring... doesn't really changed as the other cities might've been so when the winter has passed.
It also has been officially a week for him to gearing up, welcoming the crimes at the city. It might be too early to say that it would be blowing up, but he'd be prepared for it.
When the spring comes, there is something that he would never forget, not even the other would need to remind him. Everyday, every time he's done on doing the patrol for he night, he would stay awake at the lake house or the balcony on his manor, either drinking something, or reading things, or even just— stand there... while waiting for the sun to crept over the horizon like a cautious stranger.
While that also being the case, he was actually waiting for someone for these past few months; the beginning of winter being the last time that he could recall to see that person in question.
Coordinating with the Batfam as he was coming up to the surface, he put the line off once he's managed to hear all the yes and grunts and yawns and also maybe two protests over the comms. They would know what they are doing; Bruce thinks, even though he himself might've been had a problem with how they were doing it.
It was around 6 am already, the sun might have rise really soon, if they were lucky enough to enjoy the sunrise before the sleeping or working time... which one are you?
With a cup of hot tea on his hands (to help him relaxed enough and sleep... he probably need a few hours of sleep, since he hasn't sleep in about two days-- which usually wasn't a problem, but hey... he'll took it while he can), he looks at the eastern sky and managed to let out a relaxed sigh as the smell of tea and the morning almost combined on the tip of his nose.
When it was winter, he would set to take a rest for a few minutes or sleep for one hour before he came up to his balcony with weighted blankets at the manor to see the sunrise. Actually... He might've been think that he doesn't have to do that, as the last word he remember is "I'll be there when the spring comes."
The Bat took a sip of his now warmer tea before then he could see the a blink of green light showing up on the sky. The emerald glow steadily advanced toward him. The light— the person put the glow off as he put his feet on the ground.
Bruce was visibly pinching his eyes (no he knows he proudly says he still got a good vision, but what is this he was seeing) as the figure coming closer.
"Hey, there, Spooky!" The green light— emerald glow— Green Lantern has managed to put a gentle smile on Bruce's lips.
"Hal..." He looks at Hal Jordan, from his head to toe, and found a thing that obviously makes him looks a bit different.
"I thought you are the spooky one... why are you looking at me as if I am one?"
"Say that to the new look you got there, Flyboy."
"What do you mean—"
Bruce took his own hand up to the face of the Lantern, pulled a few hair lightly— now he's touching his own face, too... a beard...?
"Oh! Well— that's what them troubles do to you."
"Haven't seen you like this in years, Hal."
"Eh— I guess it helps me to be warmer at winter. Who knows?"
" . . . "
"Or... maybe it's just me to have much more reason to come home early."
"I see where it goes, Mr. Jordan. You are asking me...?"
"I know I don't have to, Mr. Wayne."
"Okay, then. It settled. I can help you shave it. But— what if we make use of it?" Bruce challenged him in a way, then took another sip.
"Make use of what....? My beard? For what?" It's now Hal's turn to squint his eyes and slightly tilts his head. His eyes glows up when he realized what The Bat would mean, as he sees Bruce rolled his eyes. "I'd love to make use of it, Darling. But, this might be not the right time. I could've passed out the second I got you in my arms."
"That could be for the later, then. And why hadn't you got me into your arms yet? Are you having another galactical warfare that should put me into another social distancing weeks?"
Turned into his usual clothes and putting his ring to his pocket, Hal then took Bruce into his a bit smaller embrace, placing his arms under Bruce's, trying not to drop the cup. "Happy Anniversary— Happy a week late Anniversary, Spooky."
"Another year down, forever to go, Flyboy."
As the sun began its ascent, they shared a tender kiss that felt both like a promise and a celebration of all the moments that had led them to this perfect sunrise, an hoping for the next perfect sunrise to celebrate their love.
"I should've started that way, don't I?"
"Hal... You are— always you. Whatever you do. Whatever you did."
"You don't know how relieving that was to me." putting another kiss to Bruce's shoulder, Hal caressed Bruce's back, inhaling the morning scent that came out from his lover.
"Maybe I don't, but I'm always here for it." Bruce let out his other hand to circles around Hal's waist.
"As always."
"As always."
Gentle laughs escapes their mouth for a moment. Doing the same to Bruce, they're now going into the lake house.
"Is that tea for me?"
"Technically, you can see it's mine and I already took a sip of it, but— You can take this while I'll make another one. I don't have any sickness happened currently, so I think we could share."
"Bruce... You and your brain. Knows what best to scare me."
"Maybe I'm living to the name Spooky, as you'll take your part on flying; and flying things, apparently."
"Ah... You haven't sleep a few days, huh? It makes you blurted out things."
"Two days. Almost. I think."
"You know what— stay on the bed, I'll make the tea. We'll sleep through the day, and eat something after."
"No, can't do. I have a meeting in 3 hours."
"Alfred knows."
"The kids—"
"Alfred also knows. I'll tell him while you're on the bed." The jacket was off to the hanger, Bruce could see the wedding band joined on Hal's tag necklace. "I've also sent a message to the League. So... finish your tea, then up to the bed, now."
A "Batman grunt" managed to escape Bruce's lips, that it makes Hal chuckle over how it sounds sweet while they're already on reaching their early 50s.
