THE MAN

“NOPE, I’M ONLY TELLING YOU THIS TO EASE MY CONSCIOUS,” comes the easy and teasing quip, lips brushing against michael’s skin and he shakes his head, “yes, i’m sure. i only lie to you sometimes, this is not one of those times.” ted has to bite his tongue to keep from telling michael once again that they had money, it was okay if he spent money on himself every once in a while. ( has to remind himself once again that michael and he grew up worlds apart- ted has no idea what it feels like to go without like michael did and old habits were hard to break. ) “for how good those look on you, i think you can forgive yourself however much you spent,” he murmurs, eyes slipping closed and a contented hum leaving him at the hand in his hair. 

THE KISS FEELS SO NATURAL but fireworks still explode in his gut and ted wonders for the 50 millionth time why the hell they had waited so long to do this. “i promise you that will be the furthest thing from everyone’s mind. they make you look like walking, breathing sex.” the bump against his nose lifts the corners of his mouth and he hums against michael’s lips in the kiss, “mhmm.” the kiss breaks and ted’s eyes roll, a good natured grin pulling at his features, “you always have to one up me, i swear to god.” the palm is warm against his cheek and ted leans into it, brows lifting and shoulders shrugging slightly, “i look like a hobo with this stubble. you’re just biased.” the arm wrapped around michael’s chest moves and ted’s thumb brushes against the trapped bottom lip, gently freeing it from where michael’s teeth had it trapped, “what’s up, doc?”

“YOU would do that, don’t pretend you wouldn’t.” he informs him, with a teasing smile. “like when you take rani out and swear you both didn’t eat cookies or cupcakes from the bakery down the street? even though i know you do?” michael offers, before leaning in a little bit closer. “okay, as long as you can forgive it.” he teases and he knows it annoys the hell out of ted that he still budgets their money -- ted’s money like it’s about to run out or like they are living paycheque to paycheque. 

TED SEES IT in the split second after his mouth closes and before michael speaks. watches it play across the other’s face and he wishes more than anything that he could just reach out and snatch the words back from the air. sure, he’s known for years that michael is vain but that’s only the surface of the turmoil that briefly flickers across the other’s face. he lets michael talk- rant- and watches him when he sits on the edge of the bed. ( way to go, kord. ) ted grunts as he pulls himself up, shifting until he’s pressed against michael’s back, pulling the larger man to lean against him, hooking his chin on his shoulder and ted’s legs dangling on either side of michael’s. 

“DON’T BURN THEM,” he murmurs, his arms moving to wrap around the other- one sliding around his waist, his fingers tracing nonsensical designs against the warm skin where the shirt has ridden up and the other across his chest, holding him tight against him. “i might actually cry if you burned those jeans. you have no idea how insanely good they make your ass look.” he rubs his stubbled jaw against michael’s shoulder before turning to press a kiss just under his ear in apology, keeping his lips there to murmur, “i mean, i definitely love them off but that has nothing to do with the pants themselves and more to do with the fact that i just really like looking at you.” 

MICHAEL knows it -- knows the way his brain works, and the way ted can read him like it’s nothing. he wishes maybe he didn’t react like that, react so badly to criticism. he leans into ted, as ted comes up behind him and he turns slightly so that he can lean his head onto ted’s shoulder. “are you sure?” he asks, eyes widening slightly. 

“IS THAT WHAT THEY TOLD YOU? they were in style?” it’s said teasingly and he leans back against the bed, rolling over on his side to prop his head up on his hand. his head tilts and his face pulls almost as if he were criticizing the look. no, of course skinny jeans did nothing but make michael’s already insanely long legs look even longer. and this brand in particular did everyone on earth a huge favor and cupped the other man’s ass– nay, framed his ass. framed it up like a piece of art you’d put in a gallery or a museum. “just terrible. you should never wear those anywhere but this house because i’m really the only one who will appreciate them,” the second question has a corner of ted’s mouth curling up and his shoulders lifting in a shrug, “i mean, they’re certainly not doing you any favors on….” 

“YEAH, i mean i read it in magazines too.” booster looks at himself again, tilting to look at his back. he knows ted is teasing him, but it doesn’t matter. booster hates hates looking like a joke. therefore the idea of it has him actually nervous about what he’s wearing. “maybe i should just never leave the house. i hate those stupid bootcut ones, and the straight leg ones are too 90′s. obviously i could get some slacks but i need something more casual. however i won’t be wearing sweatpants in public. sweatpants? more like give up on life pants!” he tries to say it in a joking matter but, he knows how it comes out. he’s pushing the jeans off, as soon as ted tells him they aren’t doing any favours. “god i have to burn these.” he mutters and folds them up putting them onto the dresser. he moves to sit on the bed beside ted in his light blue t-shirt and black boxers, before looking back at him. “i hate those pants.” 

“IS IT SUPPOSED TO LOOK like that?” the question slips out of his mouth before he can stop it– maybe it was none of his business but he was curious. his head tilts slightly, brows furrowing and he waits a beat before, “i’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to look like that.” 

BOOSTER turns to look at him with an eyebrow raised, “these are the style now, ted!” he nods towards his jeans, he moves to show ted his ass. “skinny jeans aren’t that bad on me are they?” before he pouts at him, “should i just take them off?” 

OF COURSE the second his hand pulls from michael, the atmosphere between them changes and ted wishes more than anything he could go back minutes before and take back how he had pulled away. there’s an almost frantic panic in michael’s eyes and ted slowly pushes himself up to sitting, turning slightly to face michael, ready to pull him back from whatever brink he was edging towards– whatever conclusion he was leaping towards, in true booster gold fashion. 

BROWN EYES GO WIDE and a hand goes to run through thick curls, “well, i mean– i would have to be sure we’re together before i do that and that’s the part i’m not super clear on.” teeth rake across his bottom lip and he hesitates for a moment before reaching back out for michael, tentatively settling his hand on top of the other’s. ted’s initial instinct is to joke- to say something stupid to lighten up the mood, to make a crack about literally anything than what needed to be said- but if he doesn’t do this now, he’s not really sure he’ll ever get the nerve to do it and he needs to know without a shred of doubt what’s going on.

HIS MOUTH OPENS but no words come out and dark brows furrow on his forehead, mouth pulling to the side as he mulls over what he wants to say before just blurting out, “you apologized. you kissed me and then… then you apologized. but then we go on like nothing is different, nothing has changed- we do holidays, we do things with rani, we do our own things. then you kiss me again today before we went out and–” ted’s voice falters and he shakes his head, “look, i…” a sigh escapes him and unconsciously, he squeezes michael’s hand, trying to glean whatever he can from the touch, “i just need… to know. what are we doing here, mikey?” brown eyes move from where they’ve been practically glued to the couch between them, up to michael’s face, “i told you before, with rani– i’m in. i’m all in. that doesn’t mean just with rani though. with you, if– if you want– i’m still all in.” 

HE blinks a few times, ted’s words hit his brain and he realizes that it’s true. they haven’t discussed it. they haven’t because michael is afraid -- he’s convinced as soon as they do he loses ted. he loses his best friend because of a kiss or two. but he keeps close, forces himself not to push up and away from the subject. turns his hand over so that their holding each others hands again. 

TED MAKES A NOISE of agreement, head flopping back against the cushions of the couch, feigning extreme exhaustion after the marathon shopping. a chuckle pulls from his chest at the question and he shakes his head, “actually, if you can believe it, none of it is. this is for everyone else.” at least there was one thing that ted could proudly say about rani: she was generous– way more generous than he would’ve been. when michael’s hand reaches out, ted is all too happy to pass them off, “don’t peek. your christmas presents are in there and she will be sooo pissed off if you look.” 

THE PLATE PASSES under his nose and ted groans again because- oh yeah, this is what he remembers most about hanukkah. “i’m never gonna fit in that damn suit again,” he mumbles under his breath ( because if nothing else, ted is honest about his self control limitations– and there are none, he has no self control. ) a choked noise leaves him at the words- ( sheesh, what were they teaching him down at the deli? )- and he lifts himself slightly, shaking his head at michael, “mikey– oh, sweet summer child,” and he shakes his head again, looking towards rani, who was inspecting the table, then back to michael with a slight grimace, “we don’t say those anymore. not really.” 

THE BAGS ARE LIFTED from his hands and ted watches him go- watches rani’s eyes roll before she chases after him, stopping at the bathroom. for a moment, he just takes it in: the food on the table, the sounds of rani washing up in the bathroom, michael puttering around with the shopping bags. a small smile pulls at his mouth– it’s good. it’s all really good. hauling himself from the couch, he heads towards the kitchen, bypassing the food despite how much he wants to start picking at everything and heads to the sink where he washes his own hands. he’s drying them with a dishtowel when rani runs back in and heads straight for the donut again. “nuh-uh,” and rani huffs before withdrawing her hand, “real food first. and don’t try the ‘donuts are real food’ debate again because we both lost last time.” 

BOOSTER has to fight the urge to lean down and kiss ted’s head against the cushion of the couch, he’s adorable. “well then i guess she takes after me, spending money on everyone but herself.” and it sounds like a joke because booster really does love to buy things -- but it usually is for ted or rani then for himself. “i love to peek at presents though! i hate when they are a surprise.” he puts them in their his bedroom, onto the bed. he’ll sort through them later with rani. help her wrap everything. 

“it never fit that well anyways,” he jokes, “except in someplaces.” he turns around to meet ted’s eyes winking at him before pointing towards the others ass. “we don’t? they always call me that the deli!” he admits before biting into his bottom lip, “okay, i’ll learn new yiddish slang.” he promises, before he’s grabbing drinks from the fridge. grabs the grape juice that rani loved (even though booster was pretty sure she was going to end up staining everything with it). 

‘OUR DAUGHTER’ and his heart jerks in his chest, flutters and flips. she’s been calling him ‘papa’ for a few months now and he and michael would jokingly refer to her as the other’s daughter- ‘your daughter did this’ or ‘you won’t believe what your daughter just said’- but calling rani our daughter? wow, a whole different ballpark and michael knocked it over the fence. “it’s exactly like that,” ted says, his mouth curling in a teasing smile, “that’s kind of exactly what just happened.” it felt like their two worlds had collided- the world of being heroes and the world of being rani’s dads- and instead of creating some disaster, it was like they fell right into place. like legos.

FINGERS BRUSH AGAINST HIS OWN, the sensation not completely foreign but coming from michael, it’s still taking some getting used to. ( they still haven’t talked about the kiss in the kitchen, still haven’t talked about whatever this was developing between them, still hadn’t– ) a tug to his hand has him following without second thought, his fingers sliding further into the spaces between michael’s, curling around his knuckles when the taller man leads them into the living room. the furniture makes a soft noise of protest when michael falls into it and ted follows quickly, falling beside michael with their fingers still twisted. 

“YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN,” he murmurs, letting his worn out body sink further into the cushions, “it’s been a minute since we’ve done that together, hasn’t it?” ( he has to remind himself that it’d been even longer for michael. ) “still not really sure we know why though,” he mumbles mostly to himself, “that just felt really disorganized for a league attack. there was no objective… or at least not one we could see.” ( not the talk you need to have, kord. ) brown eyes flicker to michael’s face and he clears his throat, giving the hand wrapped in his a squeeze before slowly untangling himself. “so– uh… we– we should probably… talk…” 

MICHAEL wasn’t really sure if ted even wanted this as much as he did. for them to be a couple, for them to raise rani as their daughter. rani already called ted papa and he had been daddy for years now. “it’s a really good life, better then i ever expected.” he admits not even bothering to hide the smile that spread across his face. 

he lightly squeezes ted’s hand looking at him as they sit on the couch. “do you really want me to say it again?” he asks, head tilting to the side with a smirk. he has to give ted some sort of shit about it. that’s who they were. “it really has been -- ole blue and gold back at it again!” he said with a laugh, before lowering his voice worried he’d wake rani up. “yeah, we can try and help figure it out later if you want.”

HANUKKAH HAD NEVER BEEN that big when he was a kid. his father had gone along with it because it had been important to his mother but the celebrations had always paled next to christmas. not long after ted started college his mother died and with her, most of the jewish traditions he had grown up with. hell, he couldn’t even remember the last time he had gone through the whole song and dance with the candles and the blessings and all of that. but dying had changed some things ( hell, before he had died he couldn’t remember the last time he went to shul either but that didn’t stop him from attending almost regularly now ) and he found himself actually looking forward to pulling out the ol’ chanukia– if only for rani. heck, call him sentimental but it felt nice to have something he could teach and pass onto her, like his mom had done for him. 

PLUS, HE WAS NEVER GOING to turn down spending an day with just rani and himself. after spending the afternoon shopping ( ‘papa, we have to get gifts for everyone- it’s hanukkah and then it’s christmas!’ ) and going to the movie theatre for a matinee flick- complete with popcorn war- the two of them finally walk back through the door to the apartment only to be greeted with the divine smell of good things to eat. “mmm,” ted hums happily, inhaling deeply and causing his mouth to water. he reaches a leg back to kick the door closed, his arms laden down with shopping bags, teasing evident in his voice “smells like you’re trying to get me fat again. good thing your daughter dragged me through probably twenty miles of shopping.” 

“WHAT if i am? you’re always handsome.” booster calls back, before laughing softly. “she’s only ever just my daughter when she spends too much money.” he teased before moving forward towards the shopping bags in ted’s arms. “woah -- you weren’t kidding. tell me this isn’t all for her?” he asks hopefully before looking across the labels on the bags trying to figure out which things might be for him. he could always take a little peak. 

HE’S GOING TO BE SORE TOMORROW he can already tell by the tell-tale stiffness already starting to make its way up his legs and settling as an ache in the small of his back. exhaustion and exhilaration are already starting to rush through him in waves but ted can’t help but admit to himself that he missed this. maybe he had been too scared after coming back to really jump both feet first into being a hero but after this? well, it’s hard not to think about dusting off the bug and slipping on the ol’ long johns a little more often. 

THE SECOND THEY WALK INTO RIP’S and rani is flying off the couch, he remembers why he didn’t just run straight into battle anymore– what if he missed out on this? her little body slams into his legs and ted knows she pulled her strength but it was still enough to almost send him crashing to the floor. “oof– miss us, rani-fani-bo-bani?” it’s said teasingly but he also pulls her in a tighter hug, maybe admitting silently to himself that he had missed her even though it hadn’t been all that long. rani is swung up in michael’s arms and ted has to keep himself from doing a double take when rip actually smiles– he hadn’t thought he knew how- and offers a hand to shake. which ted gladly takes, shaking enthusiastically.  “presents? oh, i hope mine’s a pony,” and he reaches over to poke at rani’s side in a little tickle, “d’ya think rip got me a pony, rani? or do you think he got me a big ol’ bag of disappointment?” he winks at rip before cupping his elbow, giving it another shake, “thanks again, rip.” 

THEY SLIP FROM RIP’S and ted looks over at michael, a grin pulling at his features as he fires the bug back up, “you look like a barbie version of santa.” it doesn’t take long before they’re home- the bug nestled inside the hidden storage hangar, costumes in the laundry to be washed, and a little girl tucked soundly in her bed. ted lingers in the doorway for a moment, watching her nightlight dance over her face before closing the door and turning to michael, his voice pitched low, “is this surreal to anyone else or is that just me?” 

BOOSTERS thighs burn, and his arms ache as he holds rani against his chest. he looks back at rip with a smile, “if you haven’t got any world saving to do on christmas come visit us.” he tells him with a smile. rani struggles in his arms as ted asks about a present and ponies, and poking her. michael tightens his grip afraid his arms will give out, from the tightness in them. he knows he will never drop her but still it’s a little uncomfortable. 

the comment about being a barbie has him pulling a face and sticking his tongue out at ted, “yeah, i mean figures barbie’s santa would have perfect abs.” he nods down at himself before strapping rani into the bug. they get home quick and he’s so happy to be there -- misses their penthouse when he has to leave it. their own little bubble of happiness. 

THE SLIGHT TUG TO HIS NOSE has some of the worry easing from his chest and he smiles warmly at michael before the other pulls away, disappearing into his room. ted lingers in the hall for a moment, trying to gather his bearings before slipping across to his own bedroom door. the costume fits like a second skin ( and looking at his profile, that might not necessarily be a good thing ) and he pulls the mask over his face, the world tinting yellow. he slips out of the room in time to meet michael in the hall again and it happens almost instinctually– how the taller man leans in and presses his mouth against ted’s. ( they were going to have to talk about it, he knew they’d have to but now– for now he’ll take it for what it is and be glad he has it. ) ted lingers though, doesn’t run off like he had initially thought he would– waits until booster emerges from rani’s room with the little girl perched on his hip. she leans in to hug his neck tightly and ted swears his heart swells in his chest, a gloved hand moving to smooth her hair, cradling the back of her head when he returns the kiss to her cheek. “be good for rip,” and he kisses her cheek again before handing her back off to michael, a crooked smile pulling at his mouth but not quite touching his eyes, “see if you can’t get rip to get that stick out, huh?” before rani can ask ‘what stick’ he lifts a hand and says, “he knows what stick.” a blue gloved hand brushes her hair from her face, “we’ll be there to get you before you know it. be good, little bug.” his eyes flick to michael, “i’ll connect with oracle, see where she needs us.” ( be careful, i’ll see you soon. ) 

MICHAEL finds that the majority of the battle he is worrying about ted. worries that he can’t do this -- can’t stand by and watch ted in the way of harm. worries something will happen and he will be alone with rani again, worried he won’t get to kiss ted again. but ted moves like ted always did -- it seems to take more out of him (not that michael is exactly one to talk, he might be in great physical condition but he’s not as spry as he once was). but then he has to stop staring at ted and start helping. 

[ONE BATTLE LATER]

THEY go to get rani in the beetle, suits still on booster wants his daughter in his arms as soon as possible. the enter rip’s place, and michael grins when he sees his kids watching a movie together. “hiya guys!” he’s smiling can’t help the pride that swallows him as he looks down at them. but then rani is jumping up and running at him and ted, hugging booster as he leans down to kiss her head before she sprints to ted and squeezes his legs tightly.

rip’s standing up and maybe if it was a while ago it would’ve just been a hand shake between them but it’s not. they are hugging -- and michael feels content again. he pulls away and smiles at his son, “thanks again, rip. hope she wasn’t too much trouble.” he teases before walking back over to where rani and ted are. pulling her up into his arms. rip walks over, smiles at ted. offers a hand to shake. it’s formal but it’s very rip. “i got some presents for you to take home for rani, and the two of you.” rip is saying, and that’s right -- it’s almost christmas. with everything that had been going on michael had completely pushed it from his head. booster waves at rip telling him they’ll see him soon, grabbing the bag of presents before heading back to the bug. 

‘THERE’S SOME MYSTERY SURROUNDING IT’ and ted can’t help how easily it falls from his mouth, a fair imitation of ralph’s midwestern drawl, “i smell a mystery.” of course, he regrets it the second he sees michael’s face and feels an ache in his own chest, remembering friends who were long gone ( and feels an echo of pain shoots through his temple– a reminder of his own mortality ) . “mikey…,” his words are cut off by an incoming transmission, having put the ol’ comm in his ear the second this all started going to hell. attacks in gotham and metropolis, luthor missing, all hands on deck. brown eyes move to look at michael, knowing that he’s heard the same transmission and he doesn’t give the other man enough time to breathe before he’s already moving, “i’ll fire up the bug– you get rani to rip.” 

BOOSTERS eyes widen at the comment the accent imitation and his jaw sets -- hard. he tries to not change the look on his face, but his eyes squeeze together tightly. trying to get their image out of his head. they’d lost too much. the holidays didn’t make it any easier. but he leans forward, despite the comm despite the words. gives a light tug on ted’s nose, “put that thing away you’re scaring me.” he quotes before nodding. they’d lost too much -- they should be able to remember it fondly even though the pain is still associated with it so strongly. then he is moving to the bedroom pulling his suit on and walks back up to ted, leans in close and kisses him softly. “i’ll meet you downtown, ted dork.” before he’s off going into rani’s room with the promise of a visit to rip. as he pulled a backpack out from a hiding spot. it had a few things for rani to do and some clothes in case rip has to watch her for more then one day. he walks out carrying rani and brings her to ted’s side as she leans in, hugging him. kissing ted’s cheek and the small voice, “bye papa!”