'cause I can't resist playing with this pairing. This is NOT part of the 
S&S universe -- in fact, this is a years-later sequel to "Taking Aim" and 
"Taking Aim: I Spy" (the Garth segment variation).

This is (theoretically, at least) the prequel to a longer fic.




He'd been patient. 

All those years ago, accidentally catching Robbie in the gym with Roy-
-he'd waited. It'd been enough to know, after seeing them together, that 
Dick wasn't necessarily as unattainable as he'd previously believed.

Garth had become very good at patience, by necessity.

So he waited until their "fling" burnt itself out, inevitable given the two 
in question, and then a little longer to make sure. Chose his place 
carefully: not the gym, nor anywhere that would remind Dick of Roy. 
Picked his moment, when Dick had stayed over in the Tower after a 
mission and come down to breakfast in the kitchen, and no one else 
was there.

Dick had smiled when he saw Garth in the doorway. "Hey, Garth! 
Didn't know you were still here, too. I thought you went back to 
Atlantis."

"I wasn't in any hurry to head back," he said, returning the smile. 
Nervous, dear gods, like he'd never done this before.

...Well. Point of fact he hadn't, not quite like this, and Dick was looking 
at him curiously. "Everything okay?"

"Yes, I--" Deep breath to center himself.  "I was wondering if you'd 
like to go out sometime."

Dick blinked at him. "Go where?"

Garth wished briefly for the ground to open up and swallow him. When 
it didn't, he said very carefully, "On. Ah. A date. With me."

"...oh!" Dick's face reflected nothing so much as utter astonishment. "I 
didn't realize, um, you-- I mean--"

He could feel his own face starting to burn. "Yes. But Robbie, I didn't 
mean to put you on the spot, if you want to think about it, or just forget 
it--"  Pallais, he was an idiot. 

"Wait, wait!" Dick put his bowl down with a clatter. "You surprised 
me, that's all."

"Sorry," Garth said weakly, and leaned against the doorjamb. 

"Don't be." Dick was starting to smile again. "I'm just slow, that's all. ... 
I'd love to."

All the dreaming he'd done up to this point, and no idea what to say 
next. "Really?"

Dick grinned. "Sure."

"I'm glad. I--" Garth laughed a little in relief. "I'm terrible at this."

"Hey, Garth," Dick said softly, "we've been friends forever, right? So 
no matter what, it's okay."

...which was about the point his admiration/friendship/desire-from-afar 
had started to bloom into something much deeper. But he'd gone slowly 
despite that, wanting to build something that might last. Even after 
having known each other for years, there was still so much to discover. 
Dick had seemed to enjoy the slow "courtship" too, at least until the 
point when he'd pouted at the door of his 'Haven apartment -- "Don't I 
even get a good-night kiss?" -- and Garth's response to that had left 
them both breathless. Dick took his hand and wordlessly pulled him 
inside...and after that, he'd simply never left.

Now, years later, it was so much more than just "okay."