Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been a rough day. A long annoying day, because Booster had found himself fighting the “Condiment King,” seriously? what kinda dumbass name is that? 

Booster had never heard of the man, not in any of his history classes, or his time at the museum, and not even during his six months in the 20th century. So when Booster was met with the ketchup-wielding man on his way through Gotham he was caught off guard. So off guard in fact that he ended up doubling over laughing at “the” Condiment King. 

Turns out that laughing at a supervillain does little to calm their “bloodthirsty ways”, it does quite the opposite. 

Booster realized this after only half an hour of scrubbing the sticky mix of ketchup and mustard off his suit.

“Skeets, why the hell is this so embedded in my suit? It doesn’t make sense!”

“Well sir, it may be due to the cloth you’re using is only scrubbing it further into the leather.” Skeets hovers above Booster, while Booster drops his head to his hands, “Why didn’t you tell me this thirty minutes ago?!” Skeets fly around Booster, “You never asked sir.” Booster groans and collapses on his couch. 

Booster throws the mustard-stained cloth in the general vicinity of the laundry hamper, hitting the edge of the basket and then landing on the ground with a splat. 

“Eugh!” Booster lays dramatically, “Skeets I feel like such a failure.” 

“You did lose to one of Batman’s lowest-ranking rogues.” Skeets replies matter of factly.

“That is not making me feel better Skeets,” Booster sits up grunting, “I mean I've been in the 20th century for six months Skeets, and people are already tired of me,” Booster rolls to his stomach groaning. 

“Sir, I am sure that the public will regain interest in you soon enough.” Skeets flies next to Booster watching him as he sits up.

“I just need to get out Skeets,” Booster walks to his bathroom splashing his face with water, Skeets following him. “I mean the most socialization I do with anyone is meeting with the marketing team and occasionally punch a few bad guys,” Booster starts combing his hair, “and trust me skeets, if I get a hard-on by being punched in the face by some villain of the week ill kill myself right then and there.” 

Booster then squeezes a blue gel in his palms spreading it through his blond locks. Booster moves taking off his shirt and replacing it with a snug white tank top. “I'm going out Skeets. To a bar or something,” Booster tugs on some black leather skinny jeans stumbling as he continues, “Hey, maybe if I'm lucky I'll get laid too. It’s been too long man.” 

Booster grabs his shoes and approaches the front door, “Hey Skeets isn’t there a bar next to that place where I busted those guys trying to break into the ATM? You know the one on Merrimon?” “I believe so, Sir.” “Great.” Booster opens the door, waving back to Skeets and leaving.

The bass from the speakers made the whole club shake as Booster entered the club. People swarmed around pushing and dancing like hornets in a nest. Booster felt eyes on him which made him puff out his chest. It felt good to get the attention that didn't involve golden costumes or microphones shoved in faces, just the feeling of a normal hot guy. 

It wasn't long until Booster was jumping and dancing with a hot chick to the beat of the music, the girl ground on Booster, her long black hair whipping around and in this moment. Booster was definitely not regretting his decision to go out until he saw a man sitting at the bar.

The man was older probably in his early 40’s he had dark brown hair with white peppered through it. His dark blue eyes slightly closed as he tipped back his beer, finishing it off in one swig, wiping the remains off his scruffy beard. Now this one image did more for Booster's dick than the girl grinding on him all night.

Booster knew the past wasn't the most accepting but he had not witnessed any witch burnings or protests so he figured he might as well see if this guy had any interest in him.

“Sorry,” Booster pulled himself off the girl, “I've gotta go.” Booster makes his way to the man and sits down next to him. 

“Want me to buy you a drink?” Booster asks the man his dark eyes meet his, and he nods signaling for the bartender. 

“So what do you want, kid?” The man grunts, taking his drink from the bartender and taking a swig of it. Booster tries his best to appear suave as he takes a sip of his own drink, “Just wanted to see what your deal was. I mean a handsome man like you sitting alone, I wonder what you did to scare off all the chicks.” 

The man lets out a chuckle, “I could be a serial killer for all you know, you should probably be more careful who you buy drinks for.” 

“I might have to check on that,” Booster laughs, “what's your name?”

“John. Yours?” 

“Boo-Mike.” Booster cuts himself off. The man, John nods taking another swig of his drink, slightly grinning. Booster slides closer his knee hitting John’s.

“Well John, what are you doing tonight?” Booster puts on his best sultry voice looking at the man, “Cause we can take this conversation to my bed.”

John looks at Booster, his face changing to one of disgust. “ I shoulda known you were a queer with them tight-ass pants.” John pushes himself back aggressively from Booster, slams his drink on the counter, and looks at Booster with a face of pure disdain, “I am not some little faggot like you so fuck off before I bust your damn face in.”  

Booster steps forward puffing his chest out at the man, the urge to sock the man in the jaw was overwhelming. Then he sees the bartender and a few clubbers staring at him. The same look of disgust was on all of their faces.

Booster feels hot shame fill his body, he didn't understand why. He wasn't ashamed of liking men but the look from the crowd made him want to curl in on himself. 

Booster gives the man one last look then turns and walks out, beginning his shameful trek back to his apartment. Booster opens his door and faceplants into his bed.

“I assume you did not get “laid”, Sir?” Skeets flies into his room. 

“Yeah…” Booster trails off rolling onto his back. Booster hadn't expected this time period to be so different, and he didn't expect the shame that festered in his stomach after the encounter. Booster sighs and closes his eyes.

1986, 

What a time to be alive.

Chapter Text

Booster had been in the Justice League for almost five months now, and it was awesome.

Booster was relevant and having a team other than Skeets and his manager was great.

Talking to (being yelled at by) living legends such as the Batman and Black Canary, even with Bats creature of the night, “I know better” edge lord shtick, the two are still badass. Along with eating lunch with a man literally from Mars and a guy from hell(?) Booster still didn't quite understand what was up with Scott. Even Guy wasn't that bad, but what Booster hadn't expected was the relationship he would develop with the second Blue Beetle, Ted Kord.

Honestly Booster couldn't remember the second Blue Beetle from any of his history courses, sure he had the vague idea that there were multiple different Blue Beetles but he never paid much attention to differentiating them and especially didn't pay attention to the scarab-less “BB gun” wielding second Beetle.

Now, almost 500 years in the past Booster is sitting next to the before mentioned second blue beetle in front of a T.V playing some movie about some time traveling kid and crazy scientist.

“So you’re seriously telling me this isn't how it is in the future?” Ted questions turning to Booster, “I'm telling you man it's like way different.” Ted scoffs, “okay how?”

Booster hms, “so… um, there is less paper? Nearly everything was digitized by the 2080’s.” Ted nods, forcing Booster to continue on. “Umm… the global language is Esperanto.”

“Wait, global language?”

“Yeah, around the 2100's the United Nations decided to unite the world in one language making it mandatory in school and now it's just what most people speak.” Booster replies to an astonished Ted.

“So what about the culture and nuances of different languages? And all the lost art and even generational divides that would come with something like that?” Ted asks Booster, his eyebrows scrunched up trying to imagine this future world.

Booster laughs looking at Ted, “I don’t know man, I'm not the one who decided it. Plus that's like 300 years before I was even born so I wouldn't really know.”

“Wait…” Ted looks at Booster, “what's your first language then.”

Booster laughs, “Kion vi pensas, viro?”

Ted looks dumbfounded, “Wait, your first language is Esperanto?!”

“Yeah.”

“And that is most people's first language too?”

“Yeahh.”

“Crazy.” Ted relaxes further back into the couch, Booster smiles at him, appreciating his dark blue eyes and slightly crooked nose. Booster lowers his eyes to his Adam apple which bobs as his head is thrown back over the couch.

Ted has on an old light blue shirt. The material was worn and thin leaving not much up to the imagination as Booster stares at his arms.

Ted’s arms weren't like Boosters, Ted didn't have a strict arm day or leg day, he didn't excessively cut and train useless muscles so he looked even more smoking in his cologne commercials. Ted’s muscles were from working from pummeling bad guys in the face, and damn that was hot.

OKAY.

Booster needed to stop; he can't be thinking about Ted and his arms or what he wants Ted to use those arms for because that was weird, and Ted was his friend and definitely not gay.

Ted makes that abundantly clear with his small jokes about “fairies” and “fruits” or nodding and even outwardly agreeing with Guy’s homophobic remarks, Ted was for sure not gay.

Booster had all but given up on men in this time, content with pretty, nice (socially acceptable) girls, and especially was not about to ruin his closest relationship in this time because he has a boner for his bro.

Booster shouldn't be bothered by some stranger's opinion of him, but that wasn’t it.That isn't what bothered him.

It bothered him that seemingly everyone felt that way. Deep down if any of his friends found out who he truly was, any goodness Booster ever had in their eyes would be gone, and he’d be just another limp wristed freak.

Booster wasn’t ashamed of being queer, but others were,

and if Booster has to play the straight man, so be it.

“Hey Boost? Are you still there?” Ted pulls Booster out of his thoughts.

“Oh yeah Ted… just thinking about home.” Booster lets out an awkward laugh, looking at Ted, his dark blue eyes paired with scattered freckles sends his stomach into somersaults his cheeks burning, shame filling his senses.

“Well the movies over if you wanna put a different one in? I got one from earlier this year, it's about fighter pilots.” Ted sits up to go to his box full of VHS but Booster cuts him off.

“Nah man, I'm kinda tired,” Booster stretches and fakes a yawn, “I'm gonna head to bed.”

Ted looks almost sad as he nods, “oh… Alright man for another night.” He waves his VHS sitting it down on the coffee table. Booster waves goodnight to Ted and heads to his own room.

Booster lies on his bed, his stomach lead as he dreads his thoughts of Ted.

Booster rolls over his face buried in his pillow as he lets out a frustrated grunt, knowing that if Ted knew the thoughts in his head he would be disgusted.

He wouldnt even just be disgusted he would feel betrayed, betrayed that his best friend was secretly a “fag” and not just that but that he was attracted to him.

Probably just another freakish queer, becoming friends with men just to perve on them. Booster lets out a frustrated groan as he attempts to change his thoughts to women but the curvy figures morph into Ted’s broad shoulders and messy brown hair. The long lashes and plump lips turn to tired blue eyes and chewed chapped lips.

Booster is fucked.

Booster lies on his bed and hopes that this little “crush” is just a phase he can laugh at, “the embarrassing time that he had a crush on his best friend”, haha.

It doesn't feel so funny right now.

Booster lies there and prays he’ll be over it when he wakes up.

Chapter Text

“Agh” Booster grunted out narrowly dodging a punch. Booster turns, grabbing the offender's arm and tossing him before hitting him with a blast.

Booster turns and looks to his team who were all fighting off similar opponents, some weird looking spider goons.

They had long spindly black legs all ending in a razor sharp tip, like eight spears all aiming for your face. They walked using the bottom six using the front two as arms. The creatures had red eyes surrounding its entire body, making it impossible to sneak up on them.

Booster jumps and dodges the stab from the newest Spider to approach. Booster slides away trying to land a shot on the giant arachnid.
Booster hadn't been paying much attention when Bats was debriefing but he had enough of a clue, these Spiders(?) were all just a part of a hivemind to the bigger Spider looking guy, who was the newest villain to decide to try to take out the Justice League .

So Booster, Mr. Miracle, Guy, and Captain Marvel were all sent to distract the jerks so Bats and the rest of the crew could use the Bug’s new cloaking device to sneak up on the “big” bug guy.

Simple right?

Wrong. These bug guys weren't the “paper” soldiers that Booster had once thought. The spiders had a hard, nearly impossible to penetrate exoskeleton, which had been giving Booster some trouble.

Alongside this Guy decided he didn't want to be a “distraction” so he flew off leaving Booster, Mr Miracle, and Captain Marvel.

Mr. Miracle bounded between two enemies sweeping one foe’s legs while ducking to avoid the other spider’s stab. Captain Marvel flew overhead, swooping down to punch a Spider while kicking down its brother as it tried to take down Captain Marvel from behind.

Booster looked back to his own enemies, blasting one spider in the face while activating his forcefield narrowly avoiding a stab from a foe from behind.

Booster slashes and kicks desperately trying to stay afloat as more and more Spiders begin to pile on top of him. Booster yells out as a spider kicks him from behind sending him flying hitting into a rock.

“Aw no.” Booster whimpers as his suit sparks his shield disabling as an army of spider enemies approach him.

“Shit, shit shit!” Booster attempts to push himself away from the spiders, his fingers jamming and pulling at his suit attempting to fix it as a long spindly arm shoots towards him.

Red.

Red is all that Ted sees when Booster is carried into The Bug by Captain Marvel.

“Oh God no. Please no,” Ted runs to his best friend, his fingers shoot to his neck, feeling for a pulse. Ted’s breath quickens as he digs his fingers deeper into Booster’s neck before nearly crying in relief as he finds the faint beat of his friend's pulse.

“He has a pulse but it's faint. We need to go now.” Ted turns and runs to the pilot seat, the rest of the League exchange looks at Beetle's uncharacteristically serious demeanor at Boosters injury.

When arriving at the Embassy Booster is rushed off by the doctors, called in by Batman on their way from the fight. Beetle had attempted to follow him but the doctors refused.

Beetle now sat impatient next to the door, waiting for any news on Booster. Beetle had not changed out of his costume, the grimy blue gloves clenched and unclenched as Beetle hunched over in thought.

The rest of the team had thought it was weird at Beetle's initial panic, but choked it up to adrenaline but now looking at his hunched over figure it was even more strange.

“Stop your mourning Beetle, your boyfriend is fine,” Guy walked up to Beetle before being suddenly shoved back.

“Ew, Shut the fuck up, Guy.” Beetle fumed his fist and jaw clenched as he pushed up into Guy’s face. “If you had just stayed and helped Booster and the others then this might have not happened.”

“Beetle, calm down.” Batman extends his arm trying to step in between the two men as Guy tries to shove further into Beetle.

“No! I'm tired of us all ignoring the toddler on our team. The over bloated spoiled brat who throws a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants-"

"Shut it Beetle!” Guy pushes Beetle before Beetle draws back and punches Guy in the jaw sending his tumbling back into Canary who yelled out cursing the two.

“Booster could be extremely hurt in there and you dont even give a shit that it was you abandoning them that caused it! You selfish sack of sh-”
“That is enough Beetle.” Batman grabs Beetle by the shoulder, which Beetle shrugged off retreating back to his chair before, “Booster must suck your dick real nice for you to defend him like this.”

“Last warning Guy, stop,” Batman demands as Beetle scowls looking back at Guy Who sits with a smug look on his face. Beetle begins to walk back to Guy, his eyes narrow and fist clenched before a nurse enters and clears her throat, causing the group to turn to her as she says, “Mr. Gold can now accept visitors, though he is not conscious yet.”

Beetle enters to see Booster lying there, his normally tan and lifeful face drained and eerily still, he’s shirtless and his bandages have the faint coloring of blood leaking through. Beetle lets out a choked breath as he rushes to inspect Booster.

Over the next few hours one by one each member of the League leaves until it is just Batman and Beetle.

“You need to get some rest, Beetle.” Batman looks as Beetle, his eye bags apparent through the orange lenses.

“I’m just going to sleep here tonight, Bats.” Beetle pulls up a chair and lays himself on it resting his face on Booster's bed. Batman inspects the two before nodding and leaving himself.

Ted sits there alone with Booster staring at his best friend, the way even drained and pale he radiates bringing a glow into the room. Ted rests his hand on Boosters squeezing it his stomach does backflips as he stares at Booster. His eyes start drooping as he eventually lulls himself to sleep, still holding his best friends hand.

Chapter Text

Booster awoke, his head pounding along with about every other inch of his body.

The world was blurry, the throbbing in his head debilitated him further as Booster attempted to regain his memories of what happened to make his body feel like Batman had just taekwondo-ed his ass.

Did Batman taekwondo him?! Booster thought nervous about waking up to a pissed off Bat, then the memories of the freaky spider dudes and his forcefield malfunctioning returned to him.

Oh…

Booster attempts to focus his sight on the place around him taking notice of the pain which filled his entire body more specifically his abdomen.

The spider things must have gotten him good cause he seemed to be in a hospital. Booster took a look of his surroundings noting it seemed to be either late at night or early in the morning due to the amount of light in his vision. Along with this his left hand felt heavy and there was a glow of blue on his left.

As Booster focused his vision he saw his best friend, Ted unceremoniously sprawled across the side of the hospital bed along with the chair that he was sitting in. He looked ridiculous, his orange goggles pushed up revealing his auburn hair which stuck up at all angles, his eyes were closed but his mouth was slightly open and a bit of drool was coming out the side.

Booster let out a small breath of a laugh his chest hurt, not just due to the probably multiple broken ribs but due to the fondness he felt for the sleeping man.

Seeing him asleep next to him could almost feel domestic if he had not been in bright blue spandex and in the middle of a hospital.

It burnt Booster's chest, having this feeling of what they could have—waking up next to Ted, making breakfast together, arguing about mundane things like what color couch they wanted.

It hurt Booster because deep down he knew that even if he and Ted fell in love, their domestic life would be dominated by threats of alien invasion and the need to save the world. Booster didn't not like being a superhero—hell that was why he made his way to the past, that and making a buck, but looking at Ted here sleeping so peacefully; made Booster want to pack him and Ted up and run away to Nebraska, to be just them and only them forever.

The thought was interrupted by Ted starting to move in his sleep, his eyes opening to meet Boosters. Ted shot up his hand retracted from Boosters as Ted looked him up and down a deep line in his forehead.

“Booster! Holy shit dude are you okay? How long have you been up?” Ted blurts out a million miles per hour, his hand now coming to rest on Booster's cheek, turning his face to inspect it.

Booster's face burnt at the calloused hands gripping his face, Booster averted his eyes from Ted not to allow his previous thoughts to be known. “Teddy, I'm fine.” Booster's voice did not help to convince Ted of this fact, its gravely and rough pitch only made Ted bound up and grab a small paper cup for Booster.

Booster missed the warmth of Ted's hands but quickly forgot about it as Ted tipped cool water down his throat soothing the burn which was previously there.

“Thanks,” Booster says his eyes felt heavy as Ted tended to him fretting over all his injuries, practically not taking his hands off him for a moment.

“You’re kinda like an old Grandmother, Ted.” Booster laughed as Ted scoffed, “I am not being a “grandma” I just wanna make sure you don't croak on me Boost.” Ted says then after a beat adds, “also wouldn't being a grandma imply i’m old, so you don't have to refer to me as “old grandmother” just grandmother.”

Booster laughs at this, grabbing Ted's hand he brings it to his face, pressing his face to Ted’s palm. It felt nice being here together.

“I was really worried about you Booster.” Ted says, such naked honesty that it made Booster feel guilt about even just being the cause of his stress. Instead of saying anything Booster just sat there, his look of understanding communicating all that Ted needed to know.

The two sat there Ted holding his best friend’s face as Booster drifted in and out of sleep, being lulled by Ted’s presence.

Booster awoke later, Ted still awake next to him his hand had fallen from his face and was resting on his upper arm.

“Oh, hey Booster you back up?”

Booster just nodded and the longing feeling of domesticity rose up once again causing him to imagine a real life with Ted, but this time was different. Instead of the knowledge of it being a fantasy with no real chance, Booster felt hope for the future.

The hand on his face and loving concern all fed into his delusion, the picture perfect life. Maybe a wedding and kids, a pet dog and a house with a picket fence. It was all in reach, it felt possible.

“Hey Boost, wanna know something funny.” Ted asks his words just meaning to fill silence, “You almost missed me fight Guy.”

“Really?” Booster laughs.

“Yeah man he was being a massive dick, kept referring to you as my boyfriend and saying you suck my dick. How weird, right?”

Booster felt his stomach drop, embarrassment and sadness filled him,

“Yeah, so weird.”

Chapter Text

It’s been almost a month since Booster had been let out of the hospital and everything was back to normal…well almost everything.

Booster had been avoiding Ted. It wasn't so obvious that any of the league noticed—at least none of them mentioned it, but Booster was avoiding him. It was in small ways like their hang outs and movie nights have been very abruptly stopped, and anytime Ted invited Booster to hang he was shut down quickly with a half-assed excuse that he “was too tired,” or “had something come up.”

Along with this Booster had been less touchy, which was odd because Booster was always slung over Ted’s shoulder, hugging, or resting his weight on the shorter man—it was just how Booster was, and Ted didn't want to admit it but he was missing it more than would be normal.

Ted didn't just miss the touch and hangouts though, he missed Booster. Ted missed his best friend, he missed messing with Booster and the way Booster's face would turn red at his jokes and teases. Ted missed the way Booster was the only one who laughed at Ted’s jokes, the way he clutched his stomach and leaned on Ted and made every joke seem like their own special thing. Ted missed Booster and his smile and the weight next to him when they fell asleep watching movies or playing video games.

Ted was missing Booster in ways that you shouldn't miss your male friends.

Ted shouldn't miss the feeling in his stomach when Booster would lean over his shoulder. He shouldn't miss the way after long missions Booster would shuck off his costume and sprawl out over Ted’s bed watching a movie, and he definitely shouldnt miss the way Booster looked as he did that.

Ted had always been straight and never even thought different before he met Booster, it never even occurred to him that he could be gay.

Lately though, Ted had started to question his hetrosexuality more with every interaction with his fellow hero. Ted looked forward to seeing Booster each day, just needing to be around him, Ted found himself taking any opportunity just to touch the man, and when Ted had seen Booster covered in his blood and an inch away from death it had felt as if a part of him was in that hospital bed with him.

Ted always noticed the way Boosters hair fell across his forehead and the curve of his back as he struck poses for the cameras his rippling muscles clear through the thin layer of his suit, Ted thought about taking off said suit Ted thought about the way Boosters mouth would feel and the warmth of his skin against his own.

Ted found himself thinking more of Booster and his rippling pecs and handsome smile than any woman. Ted found himself wondering if kissing Booster would be so bad?

I mean Booster was pretty and had big blue eyes along with a killer body…but Booster wasn't a girl, and pretending that he was would be a disservice to him, but Ted couldn't want someone who wasn't a girl.

Ted wasn't like those guys he saw with flamboyant style and a lisp, Ted couldn't be gay. Despite this Ted found his need for Booster to grow stronger and stronger each day.

This had been weighing on Ted’s mind heavily as he tinkered on a new gadget for the Bug. Ted had not been sleeping much so it was no surprise when he found himself slumping over onto the exposed wiring giving him a light shock to the face.

“Oww,” Ted says wiping his assaulted nose standing up to stretch, Ted looks down unhappily at his unfinished project then to his clock reading 3:01 am, he then looks to his empty coffee mug making the decision to adventure to the kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee.

Ted enters the kitchen to find the blonde man who had been plaguing his thoughts standing over the sink, his broad shoulders further accentuated by the white tank top on, Ted looked to see plaid pajama bottoms slung low over his hips as Booster shifted from one foot to another in apparent worry.

“Hey.” Booster jumps, startled by Ted, Booster's face morphs from panic to one of awkward discomfort, “...oh hey Ted.” Booster looks down.
Ted bristles at the odd behavior from Booster, the thoughts of the last couple weeks and the anger and sadness that came with them finally burst as he shot out, “why are you being so fucking weird?!” Booster jumped startled at Ted's outburst then proceeded to just look down ashamed, “it’s really nothing Ted-” Ted cuts Booster off before shouting back, “don't try that shit with me Booster. I know it isn't nothing, did I say something or do something. Why are you avoiding me?”

Booster rambles trying to respond, “you didn't do anything I promise I just-” Booster trails off looking down angering Ted further.

“Jesus Christ it's like you can't even fucking look at me.” Ted looked at Booster, his blue eyes were big and round, his shoulders were pushed up further accentuating his muscles, his perfect face scrunched up into sadness, like a kicked puppy, he sputtered trying to say something but Ted cut him off. “If you’re mad at me just fucking say it instead of skulking around ignoring me. Is it because you think you're too good for me or what, what is it?!”

“I want to kiss you!” Booster blurted out, “I want to… I don't know, have sex with you and wake up next to you everyday and eat breakfast together, I just like… wanna be with you cause…” Booster looks down at his feet, his body ridgid, “cause, I love you Teddy.”

“Oh” Ted stands there dumbfounded.

Ted's stomach drops and he hears Booster’s hopeful face fade into one of embarrassment and shame, “I'm so sorry.” Booster says to Ted before he bunches up his shoulders and turns to walk out the room.

Shocked, Ted just stands there, a million thoughts rushing through his head. Ted thinks of his doubts of being gay and the longing and desire which has built up for his best friend.

Ted silently watches Booster leave and before he even knows it, Ted runs and grabs Booster, smashing their faces together in an awkward kiss.

Booster's eyes widen as he stumbles almost completely falling over steadying himself on Ted. The kiss is awkward and short before Ted pulls back, making eye contact with Booster who is blubbering over his words finally coming out with, “what happened to your nose?” Booster reaches up to the side of Ted’s nose recently burnt by his gadgets wires.

“Fell asleep while working.” Booster laughs, it is wet and full of emotion, “God, you're such a dork.” Booster then throws himself into Ted wrapping him in a hug.

The two say nothing as they embrace, Booster rests his head on Ted's shoulder and pushes it into his curly brown hair as Ted holds an iron grip on Booster's upper arms. The two stand there until the silence is broken by Ted.

“I love you too.”

Chapter Text

Ted rolled off Booster, flopping next to him, letting out a deep breath as they basked in the afterglow of their night together. Booster stretched his arm around Ted, resting his head on top of Ted’s. Booster’s chest rose softly up and down as he closed his eyes. Ted watched Booster’s lips make a content smile humming to himself.

It had been two months since the men had started dating. Booster had started off very enthusiastic. Amorous glances, passionate kisses, and long nights together had Booster feeling like a schoolgirl in love.

To say Booster was smitten with Ted would be an understatement.

Booster follows Ted around, clopping after him like a love sick puppy, following Ted to sit behind him watching him work, content just staring at the outline of Ted’s back in his old ratty work shirt and listening to Ted rambling about his newest invention. Then, late at night Booster would find Ted and drape his body meeting him with a deep kiss.

Their arrangement had been very amicable so far so Booster began to push their boundaries with more kisses and less caution, but after an incident of a too friendly hug in front of Guy, Ted interjected.

“Hey Boost, you know I'm just as excited as you are about our…relationship but,” Ted wringed his hands together looking up at Booster, “but, this is just really new for me, you know being with a man.”

A pool of guilt sinks in Ted’s gut as he looks at the wrinkle in between Boosters deepen and his eyes nerve dart around saying, “oh yeah man I can dial it back.”

“Nonono, it's not your fault Booster, I just need some time to adjust.” Ted grabs Booster's hand, “lets just take it slow.”

Booster had been taking it slow, and that wasn't a problem a week into dating or maybe even a month but it has been over five months of the two sneaking around like rebellious teenagers—not that Booster didn't like the thrill of sneaking into Ted’s room late at night or sneaking touches on Teds legs and arms during meetings, but Booster wants more.

Booster wants public dates and cuddling on the couch, Booster wants to make their friends pull faces over how disgustingly sweet they are, Booster wants to brag about his boyfriend and show him off in public, but everytime he mentions telling anybody Ted shoots him down.

“I just dont think it's a good idea right now…” Ted says his eyes dart around, his face burning as if he is embarrassed at the prospect of telling the rest of the League.

“What if we just tell Bea and Tora? I mean do you really think they’ll care that much? Hell, they probably already suspect it.” Booster grumbles back rolling his eyes at Ted.

“I'm telling you Booster, let’s just take it slow,” Ted pinches the bridge of his nose.
“We've been going slow for months Ted. What do you want us to do? Why can’t we just tell one person?” Booster moves towards Ted, “Just a small step, we're still taking it slow.”

“What if Bea lets slip to the wrong person and they tell another, then another and then all the sudden it's everywhere, all in the press!”

“Would that be so bad?” Booster blurts.

“Yes! Booster you don't get it this could be the end of our careers, the end of me running Kord Industries, the end of us Booster!”

“We could change it Ted!” Booster grabs Ted’s shoulders, “in my time liking another man is okay.”

“Well if you havent noticed Booster we aren't in the 25th century.” Ted pulls away from Booster.

“No shit Ted but we could change it. I mean what if we’re the ones who turn the tides.”

“It’s not worth it Booster. This would be the end of everything for us.”

“So that’s it? We run around hiding like I'm your dirty secret? Ted, I want us to be more.” Booster’s voice cracks as he grabs Ted by his upper arm, “Please?”

Ted looks at Booster hopeless desperation in his eyes, “Booster I like you…and I want us to be something but we-”

“But what Ted?” Booster’s eyebrows creased as he spoke with such immense desperation that it made Ted’s throats dry up. “You’re so scared of what these people will think of you. You're gonna be unhappy either way, better be unhappy with a man you love.”

“Booster you don’t understand, I love you but-” Ted turned away from Booster beginning to pace. “People now they aren't okay with this.” Ted points his fingers between the two of them purposely looking away from Booster’s face.

“Ted i'm not asking you to out yourself to the world-”

“I'm not gay Booster.” Ted’s voice cracks, “I'm not like that.”

“Like what Ted?” Booster glares at Ted who was now sputtering, “You scared to openly love a man? To take it up the ass? To not be ashamed of liking men? Are you scared Ted? Scared of being a faggot like me?”

Booster grabs Ted by his shoulders, his face twisted in a mix of anger and sadness, “is that really what you think of me?” Ted looked at Booster, his eyes wide as he sputtered out half words.

Booster gives Ted a disappointed look, his eyes large and his brows furrowed, Ted let out half word apologies and Booster only shook his head and walked away, leaving Ted standing there alone, Ted hangs his head low his eyes welling up with tears, “fuck.”