Dick held open the door as Roy brought up the last of the boxes. Somehow the timing seemed off. The honeymoon period of the relationship was over, and Roy was just now getting to move across the treshold. It wasn't a light decision. They had to consider Lian and her schooling. There was also the matter of Dick's small apartment. If they were going to do this, he'd have to expand into the space next door.

"Are you just going to stand there like a doorstop?" Roy asked glibbly. The boxes were light, nothing the accomplished hero couldn't manage.

"Yup," Dick said. He smiled as he leaned against the door frame. There was a tiny trickle of sweat starting at Roy's temple, just enough to slighty mat down his hair. As Dick watched Roy trudge up the steps, he decided the sweat looked very sexy.

Roy passed him and set the boxes down in the middle of the floor. He turned and sat on the cardboard seats as Dick closed the door. The boxes lay in front of him in no order or design.

"I think that's everything." Roy streched out but remained in his seated position in the middle of the room.

"Yup, 31 boxes." Dick moved to open the refridgerator and drew out two bottles of beer.

"You counted?"

"Well..."

"Damn, Robbie, you need to learn to relax."

Dick shrugged. "Second nature, I guess. It's going to take forever to get this stuff unpacked."

"Shouldn't be that bad," Roy stood. He ran a hand through his hair, and moved towards the kitchen. "I'll get to it after I go get a drink."

"Thought you'd want one." Dick moved in front of Roy and passed him a cold bottle. Roy smiled as he took the proffered drink. They stood, looking at the disorganized array of cubes. Roy took a long swig, then put the bottle down.

"Where should I start?"

"Don't you mean 'we'?" Dick corrected, teasingly.

"Okay then." Rod nodded. "Where should we start?"

Dick put down his drink and deliberately stepped into Harper's personal space. "How 'bout the bedroom?"

"Good a place to start as any."

fin

~story index~