Chapter Text
“Well, that’s just great. None of us know how to go about this. And the rings aren’t helping either,” Guy threw his hands up in exasperation. “How the hell are we supposed to figure this out without help from the other Lanterns?”
John Stewart shrugged from beside the redhead, patting the former on the back in consolation. “I’m sure we’ll think of something,” he smiled. “Getting angry isn’t gonna make things any better, Guy.”
Guy Gardner scoffed, shaking his head. “Fuck off, John,” he rolled his eyes playfully, retracting the magnifying glass construct back into his Lantern ring as he stood up, placing his hands on his hips. “I think we should just say ‘fuck it’ and demand help from the Guardians. You’d think they’d know something about forensics after existing since the beginning of history,” Guy sighed defeatedly, glaring at his fist, knowing that whatever the rings knew was what the Guardians knew. Which meant that things were looking pretty hopeless.
Hal snickered from behind Guy, moving to sandwich himself between his friends to avoid a conflict. “You know how it is. Nothing can get out to the others until we’re more certain about this.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Guy waved Hal off, remembering their mutually agreed-upon rules. Not a word to the Guardians or other Lanterns until they had solid evidence that the Darkstars, and by extension, Tomar-Tu, were behind the most recent string of murders across Sector 2814. Hal knew they shouldn’t be keeping anything from their Corps, but the nature of the case and how personal this was to Hal and the other human Lanterns made it that way. The Guardians wouldn’t believe Tomar-Tu had turned to the Yellow Lanterns without hard evidence, not after Sinestro’s betrayal had completely blindsided them. Hal had to ensure his accusation held water before it was too late. Before the Darkstars came after the other Green Lanterns. Or worse, anyone on Earth.
They thought the Guardians would learn to trust Hal more after the entire Sinestro fumble. But the Smurfs became more paranoid, thinking anyone who brought up concerns was after them. When John had discovered Tomar-Tu secretly scheming with Sinestro on an impromptu patrol one day, he’d reported it, hoping to get his first solo-led mission; but he’d come out of that meeting greeting Hal and Guy with such a sad look of disappointment, Guy almost caused a scene. Luckily, Hal was able to wrangle Gardner in, at least until they got to their shared quarters.
That’s when their little plan formed. They’d investigate in secret, just the three of them. Even Kilowog couldn’t know what they were doing. So far, they were making steady progress, tracking Tomar-Tu and the Darkstars, cataloging their evidence, and weaving a web of connections, just like Barry had taught Hal. But alas, something had to go wrong, just when they’d thought they’d made a breakthrough. They’d gotten word from a frightened merchant of a brutal murder on some sparsely populated planet that smelled of the Darkstars. To their dismay, the remains of whatever giant that had inhabited the clearing were charred to a crisp. Even the rings couldn’t identify what had happened to the poor creature. At least, not without some help.
“You think Ganthet would help us? He seems like a ‘no questions asked’ kind of guy.”
John nodded at Guy’s suggestion. Ganthet was the only reasonable Guardian left. The only one they could really trust not to bullshit them.
“I don’t know, Guy,” Hal hummed, patting the former on the shoulder. “It’s too risky to rope him into our mess.” Not if the other Guardians, especially Appa Ali Apsa, reacted the same way again.
There had already been some animosity between the other Guardians and Ganthet since the beginning. But after Ganthet trusted Hal’s gut feeling about his mentor, Sinestro, the others started treating Ganthet differently. Well, more differently than usual. Talk about being petty. A billion-year grudge? Hal wished he could say he understood the shit Ganthet put up with, but he’d only gotten a taste of the other Guardian’s feelings in the grand scheme of time.
“No. We can’t. You know we can’t. It has to be just us. At least for a little longer,” Hal affirmed, sending an apologetic look to Guy. “I promise we’ll call Kilowog as soon as we isolate the Darkstars’ tail.”
Guy pressed his lips together, unimpressed that Hal wasn’t caving at his suggestion to break the rules this time, despite his reputation. “Fine,” he huffed, crossing his arms, relenting. “What do we do now? Any bright ideas, rookie?” Guy laughed, gesturing for John to take point.
“Actually, yes. We’re pretty close to Earth. Why don’t we drop by and see if any of your friends can help?”
Hal snorted at Guy’s shocked face. Leave it to John to always have a plan to get them out of their messes. Maybe that’s why Bruce said he liked John more when Hal first announced the selection of a new Green Lantern. John was more than level-headed and a natural leader.
But who cares what Batman thought; he didn’t even know John. Besides, Hal only cared about Barry, and his blond best friend still thought Hal was cooler.
Speaking of the others, “Agreed,” Guy smiled, not before shooting Hal the stink eye. “We need a detective. Someone smart.” Guy implied, hoping the message about a certain nocturnal-themed hero got through to Hal. He and John had both been eagerly waiting for Hal to introduce them to Batman, regardless of how annoying their fellow Lantern made the Dark Knight sound. After all, he was the mythical Batman. Just once would be enough for them. Then they could go back to talking shit about him with Hal.
Too bad Hal was oblivious, his mind only filled with thoughts of a particular red-spandex-clad speedster. “I know just the guy,” the brunette beamed, shooting into the sky, excitement coursing through his bones.
That should’ve been the first red flag. John knew Hal would’ve never been that excited to see Batman. But he and Guy were so blindsided by the prospect of meeting a member of the Justice League and potentially gaining answers, they followed Hal without question, thinking they were heading for New Jersey.
Good thing the Lanterns were on course for somewhere better than Gotham.
Guy knew he already hated Batman, given what he’d heard from Hal’s stories. But he and John did their best to hide their anticipation for the World’s Greatest Detective. He may have gotten on Hal’s nerves, but their senior GL respected Batman enough to work with him despite their animosity. That had to be something. Besides, who wouldn’t be curious about a guy who could solve any mystery thrown his way? Guy had to admit, that was impressive. He just hoped they wouldn’t get asshole Batman. But judging by how much Hal gossiped about the Dark Knight, Batman didn’t seem like the type to put on a fake smile for the sake of courtesy.
Still, that didn’t make Guy and John any less excited. It could be fun to see how much Hal and Batman irritated each other, their respective blood pressures rising. Besides, if Hal got all pissy, John would step in and Guy could laugh about it.
“This way.”
Guy shared a twin look of confusion with John.
Last time he checked, Gotham was in New Jersey. Not…Missouri.
What the hell was in Missouri? Guy wracked his brain for answers. St. Louis? Kansas City? Wait, no. Central City.
That didn’t clear up any of Guy’s perplexity. Why the hell were they in Central City?
John shrugged from beside Guy, equally confused, his eyebrow arched upward and his lips pulled into a tight line. “Who knows? ” He mouthed, shrugging once again before he gestured a ‘follow him’ with his thumb and whispered, “Trust Hal,” as he shot after the former.
Guy blinked in resignation, bee-lining after his friends as they landed on a rooftop. CCPD, it’d read. Central City Police Department. What the fuck?
“Wait here,” Hal gestured to the roof, waving the other Lanterns away after they’d powered off their hard-light auras. “He’s probably still working on something.”
John gave a thumbs up in confirmation, gesturing for Guy to do the same. He’d wanted to ask Hal why they were in Central City instead of Gotham, but the rookie held his tongue, hoping Guy might have a better idea. But judging from the look on the former’s face as they watched Hal disappear down the side of the building, Guy had nothing, too.
Patience, Hal had said before he’d left. All John could do was wait now.
Hal sucked in a breath as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair, ignoring the odd looks he got from John and Guy. Sue him for not wanting to look like a mess before Barry.
Alright Jordan, Hal internally hyped himself up. You got this.
“I’ll be quick,” Hal hummed, shooting a grin at his friends before he powered up again and descended the building to his window. How long had it been since they’d last seen each other?
Too long, Hal thought. And this time, he wasn’t joking about the separation because it’d felt like an eternity. No, he’d promised Barry before he’d left on that last mission that he’d be back within the month, but one month had turned into two, and suddenly five months had flown by.
Those months without Barry hadn’t been easy. No best friend to crack jokes with, no best friend to share his lonely nights with. Hal knew he couldn’t make up for all their lost time tonight, but he’d make the most of what little they had. It was enough. A little hope—a light—between the darkness.
Hal smiled warmly, spotting Barry buried nose-deep in his ‘Bat-top’, his fingers flying across the keys. Bruce had designed a special laptop that could handle Barry’s speed—well, it wasn’t fast enough for Barry—nothing was—but it was as fast as they could push the processor before it exploded from the heat. Normally, Barry always left his Bat-top at his house, but given that it was almost midnight and no one else was in the Crime Lab, Hal figured the scientist must’ve sped home to grab it and work on his cases.
Barry never ceased to amaze Hal.
When Guy asked about the smartest person Hal knew, his mind instantly went to Barry. Of course, it was him. It was always him. No one else compared.
Bruce was a close second, but Barry was always the one Hal could count on, the one who wouldn’t treat him like a dumbass whenever the Lantern needed further clarification. Barry always knew the best way to explain something to him (using plane metaphors that Barry picked up after the countless hours Hal yapped his best friend’s ear off all those years ago more often than not).
And when it came to detective work…the World’s Greatest Detective always referred the other League members to Barry for the forensics and chemistry stuff, anyway. Hal might as well skip the middleman because he knew Bruce would’ve just looked at him with that annoying Batglare and condescendingly asked him why he didn’t go to his best friend Barry first—not that Hal would’ve ever sought Bruce before Barry.
Because Barry was everything to Hal. Yet something in Hal made his stomach turn inside out, his nerves jittering at the thought of seeing Barry again.
It’d been years at this point.
Hal had tried to bury his feelings away, to get over his best friend, but to let go of someone like Barry Allen was impossible.
Hal knew it was a bad idea to fall in love with Barry like this. They were best friends, for Guardians’ sake. Besides, Hal would just fuck everything up like he always did, and then Barry would leave him forever because who’d want to remain friends with a shitty ex like him?
But that was predicated on the idea that Barry felt the same.
Sure, they had their moments, when it was just them two, when Hal thought he could feel the sparks—the electricity—between them. Yet something in Hal’s gut told him it couldn’t be possible for Barry to like him back despite all the signs pointing to yes. Their affectionate touches, their shared looks, their secret whispers, everything….
As much as Hal wanted to continue creepily staring at his best friend, he knew his fellow Lanterns were probably getting restless on the roof. They need to get back to the planet ASAP to minimize the evidence contamination—something Hal had heard Barry complain about endlessly. Flash Fact, most cases went cold because there was too much time between a fresh crime scene and when the CSIs would arrive to collect the evidence.
Taking Barry’s facts into consideration, Hal had snapped photos of everything and asked for the rings to preserve the crime scene as much as possible. He hoped it was enough for Barry, but then again, Barry was an expert CSI. Hal did not doubt his best friend’s abilities. If anyone could figure out the perpetrator, it was Barry.
Hal inhaled an anxious breath when he saw the speedster pause from his computer, gently knocking on the glass to catch his attention during the pause. Barry immediately looked up from his station at the echoed sound, his tense gaze softening into a look of recognition when he spotted Hal, his gorgeous smile widening as the Lantern gestured upward with a hand construct.
“One minute,” Barry mouthed, motioning with one finger as he sped through his case, his smile never leaving his face as he watched Hal ascend toward the roof.
God, that expression made Hal’s heart somersault; he could feel himself blushing already and they hadn’t even hugged yet.
Hal was so fucking whipped for Barry, it was embarrassing. But he wouldn’t trade that nervous, fluttering feeling in his stomach for the world.
“Don’t,” Hal threatened, silencing Guy with a glare as he landed and powered down the light, still remaining in this uniform. He could take the brunt of the jokes later, just not when Barry was a story below, and could very well potentially overhear what Hal had felt in his heart for so long.
Thankfully, Guy threw his hands up in a mock surrender. “Wasn’t gonna,” he smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the concrete railing that bordered the roof.
Opposingly, John stood up straight, uncrossing his arms. “Is he…?” His voice trailed off, the unasked question hanging in the air.
“He’s coming,” Hal assured, and as if right on cue, the heavy metal door to the roof swung open.
Right on time, Hal thought as he turned, smiling as Barry ran into his arms, his face looking as beautiful as the day he met him. Hal could barely contain his excitement as their bodies pressed against each other, sinking into each other’s embrace like this was what they were made for. Barry and Hal; together at last.
“Hey,” Barry beamed at Hal, burying his face into Hal’s shoulder with a satisfied hum that made the Lantern’s insides turn into mush. “You’re back,” Barry whispered, his hot breath tickling against the side of Hal’s neck, sending shivers down his spine.
Oh god. Any more of Barry’s unintentional movements or quirks might make Hal collapse, his knees weak from just the contact. His willpower was the only thing holding him up right now—and even then, he was faltering. Barry made Hal such a mess.
Hal was already dreading the mission ahead. How was he supposed to be the calm and collected person he was if Barry hugging him garnered such a reaction out of him?
“I missed you, Hal.”
Yep. Long night.
Hal felt his heart jump at Barry’s bright smile, the speedster pulling just backward enough to leave a hair’s width of distance between their chests. Barry’s eyes sparkled in the light of Hal’s aura, the green glowing against his gorgeous blue iris’.
“Ye—yeah,” Hal finally choked out after what seemed like forever, his voice cracking in nervousness. “I missed you, too, Bar,” he coughed, clearing his throat at the mishap.
Barry’s smile only grew wider as his nose crinkled and face flushed, the bright red dusting his cheeks. He looked down in embarrassment before locking eyes with Hal again, blue finding brown behind the mask.
Hal wished he could savor this moment forever. Just him and Barry in their own little world. Together. Like it was always meant to be.
Too bad they had company. Barry seemed to notice soon enough, his face deepening to a color that matched his suit as he inhaled a surprised “Oh!” and pushed Hal away like the other Lanterns had caught him entangling with someone he wasn’t supposed to have been with.
That broke Hal’s heart. He knew, realistically, that Barry’s reaction was just one of surprise because Hal had failed to mention they had guests, but something about how terrified the speedster’s face looked when he saw John and Guy really fucked with Hal’s feelings. It was like Barry was ashamed of being physically affectionate with Hal. Or worse; he didn’t want the other guys to get that wrong impression because he wasn’t into Hal like Hal was into Barry.
John and Guy only stared at each other in the awkward silence that lulled between the four people. Their first impression of Hal’s blond friend made them feel less confident in their previous thoughts that this was Batman. First, Blondie had hugged Hal, for Guardians’ sake, and second, he’d said he’d missed Hal. Now, Guy didn’t know how different the Bat was out of the cowl, but surely he wasn’t this…happy?
As if to further shatter Guy’s hope that maybe this was the Dark Knight, Blondie finally spoke up, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m sorry; where are my manners? I’m Barry,” he waved, his blue eyes flickering in curiosity between the two Lanterns.
John and Guy looked at each other again, the unspoken idea running through their heads: this guy’s cheery disposition did not fit the description of Batman. Hal had duped them.
But the question was, who was going to bite first?
Guy was never one to not speak his mind. “So, I’m guessing you’re not Batman?”
John visibly gulped from beside the redhead. “Guy!” He yelped, his face paling at the other’s outburst. There must’ve been a nicer way to go about their curiosity without showing their disappointment in front of Hal’s…very close friend.
Guy promptly ignored John, opening his mouth whether he got the former’s silent message or not. “What?”
“Why would you think Barry’s Batman?” Hal interrupted, speaking at the same time as Guy’s seemingly innocent question. The senior Lantern looked at his friends, equally confused. What part of flying to Central City made them think he was here to pick up Bruce? Hal thought, looking at Barry with a raised eyebrow, wondering if the speedster had any idea what the fuck was happening.
Evidently, Guy and John were not on the same page as Hal and Barry. “Detective? Smart guy? We thought it was obvious,” Guy spoke for the both of them, his expression conveying his and John’s assumption like it was the most straightforward thing in the world. “Hello? Batman, anyone?”
Ah.
Hal let out a massive sigh of realization. So they thought all his talk about meeting his smart detective friend in the League was about Bruce, not Barry. Well, sorry to disappoint Guy, but in what world would Hal seek Bruce’s help if Barry was always, always there for him? The speedster would be the first person Hal went to for anything.
And here Hal thought John and Guy would figure it out after all his talk about The Flash. He’d heard enough complaints about him shutting the fuck up about his “precious Flash” to assume that they knew Hal was only thinking about Barry.
Bruce could never hear about this. It’d just be another reason not to accept John on the Justice League if he’d discovered the Lanterns shitting on his reputation as the World’s Greatest Detective. Really, Hal was doing this to protect Bruce’s ego; he knew Barry was way better than him, even if he’d never admit it to Bruce’s face.
Barry must’ve thought the same because he snickered, playfully fist-bumping Hal’s shoulder, his eyes wide in understanding. Guardians knew how many times Hal reiterated to Barry to stop humbling himself and accept that he was intelligent, and blew Bruce out of the water for him to finally believe and agree with Hal’s thoughts.
It was nice to see Barry seeing himself the way Hal saw him. It honestly made him all the more hotter because it showed that the speedster valued Hal’s opinions.
Another opinion? Barry’s blush always looked the best after Hal complimented him. The Lantern chuckled, pulling a flushed Barry close to introduce him properly to Guy and John. “Barry is a detective. And the smartest person I know.”
“Technically, I’m a Forensic.”
“Not helping your case, Bar,” Hal snorted, shaking his head playfully. “You’re the best in the business. I wouldn’t have asked anyone else.”
“That’s just because you can’t stand Batman.”
Hal scoffed in mock offense. “That’s not true. How could you, Bartholomew? You dare accuse me of cheating on you with him?”
Barry giggled, hiding his laughter in his fist. “Well, in that case, I’m glad I was your first choice, Harold.”
Hal’s heart skipped a beat, his confidence momentarily skyrocketing. “You’re my only choice, Bar,” he sighed lovingly, hoping his best friend would understand the double meaning behind his words. It wasn’t an ideal confession, but it was better than anything Hal had said or done the previous times he’d tried to tell his best friend how he’d felt for so long. He just hoped Barry would get it—that maybe he’d blush and tell Hal that he reciprocated—that he liked him, too.
The blush was the only thing Hal received. He felt his heart crack in pain like a construct shattering into nothingness, his face heating in embarrassment. Barry didn’t say or do anything to let Hal know that he’d understood the underlying message, the subtlety behind his confession. And that fucking hurt.
Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. Every time Hal thought they were getting somewhere, Barry always seemed to pull back, like he knew Hal was overstepping their boundaries as best friends. As if the line they were tiptoeing on was getting too uncomfortable for Barry and he was trying to communicate that he didn’t feel the same.
But then Barry would do something so…not best-friend coded to make Hal think he wasn’t delusional for feeling a spark between them.
“Hal?” Barry grinned, pushing himself further into Hal’s space as he searched the Lantern’s eyes with his worried blue ones. “Are you alright?” He asked, squeezing Hal’s hip affectionately.
Case in point.
“I’m fine, Bar,” Hal beamed back, ignoring the twin mischievous looks from Guy and John as he gave Barry the quick rundown. Thankfully, the speedster eagerly agreed to help the Lanterns, saying something about waiting for him to change and collect his things.
Barry zipped back onto the roof seconds later, his Flash suit snug against his body and a forensic case slung across his shoulder. Jesus, Hal thought as he raked his gaze over the speedster’s body. He’d been working out. Those thighs looked more toned than ever and those arms….
Hal would’ve drooled if it wasn’t for John making a mix of a shocked and confused sound from his throat. “You’re…you’re the Flash?” Beside him, Guy looked equally blindsided, his mouth slack-jawed.
Barry cocked a curious eyebrow at Hal, blinking in bemusement. “I thought you told them?” He smiled, adjusting the strap pressed across his chest.
“I thought I did, too.” Hal shrugged, internally swearing that he’d mentioned Barry was the Flash before. Surely if he’d talked about Flash, he also discussed Barry just as much? Maybe Hal just assumed that he did, mixing his Barry stories into the Flash ones because, in his mind, they were the same person.
John must’ve figured the same because he recovered first, a smirk painting his features. “So he’s the guy you’re always talking—”
“Okay!” Hal clapped, interrupting John’s sentence. He did not need his other friends to broadcast his secrets to the object of his affection, especially since they were heading off to a planet where Hal had nowhere to run away from Barry if he got embarrassed because he was his best friend’s ride home. Again, he could accept the ribbing on the way back to Oa, just not when Barry was around to overhear and potentially reject him right then and there. Hal wasn’t sure his heart could take it if the speedster threw his heart away just like that.
With a burst of power, Hal’s ring flickered to life, the green aura surrounding him and Barry as he subconsciously willed his protection onto his best friend. The speedster smiled, gripping the handle of his forensic case as a construct appeared.
Hal knew Barry hated free-floating in his will.
He constructed a couch—Barry’s favorite—for him to sit on as the other Lanterns flew alongside him. Barry had always laughed at the idea because it’d made him feel like Santa Claus, with him decked out in red and everything. Last holiday season, he gifted Hal a reindeer antler headband just to remind him how hilarious he found it. They’d even taken a picture to commemorate the occasion.
When Hal got lonely out on missions, he frequented the image. Barry didn’t know he’d snuck a copy onto his ring, pulling it out on those nights when he missed him the most. Barry’s expression in the picture, the way he looked at the Lantern, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight…it made Hal think his little crush wasn’t so unrequited—that maybe Barry liked him, too.
A guy could hope.
Hal and the Lanterns made a pit stop at the Watchtower so Barry could pick up a few more things. Guy asked about Batman again, which made Hal almost flip. Thankfully, Barry returned to the hangar in the nick of time, shooting a double thumbs up when he met Hal’s eyes before patting his forensic case to show he’d gotten everything.
The evidence collection was a breeze after their arrival on the planet. Guy and John conducted a quick sweep of the area, informing the inhabitants of their business to keep them away from the crime scene. After they gave the all-clear, Hal transformed his couch construct into a platform for Barry to stand on and gather everything he needed. The speedster worked methodically, bagging and tagging everything, using Hal’s ring to take pictures. Barry’s little forceps went into overtime, picking up anything the scientist thought would be helpful for the Lantern’s case.
It only took Barry twenty minutes to run the length of the deceased giant and gather all the information he needed to take back to his lab. He’d been quick—too quick, as John and Guy pointed out—but after triple and quadruple-checking his work, Barry only took five minutes more.
Barry always left Hal awe-struck. The way his fingers fiddled with the evidence bags, how they flew across the construct buttons of Hal’s camera, how they danced with every procedure Barry performed. It was still mesmerizing to watch him, even after all these years.
“Trust me,” Barry smiled at the two skeptics, looking to his best friend for support. “This was a routine thing, right, Hal?” He beamed, slinging his forensic case across his chest as he stared at the Lantern with those gorgeous blue eyes.
Hal could only nod in support, at a loss for words. Barry was so hot right now. Hal was ashamed—not really—to admit, but he really wanted to jump his bones and just kiss him silly.
Good thing John came in clutch, interrupting as he threw his hands up in surrender. “You seem smart. I’ll believe you.”
Guy was less confident, but he, too, nodded, powering up along with his fellow Lanterns. He and John stayed behind to help bury whatever was left of the poor creature, saying they’d meet up with Hal again in Central City after they finished. Hal agreed, knowing Barry would need some time to analyze everything, opting to give his best friend as much of a head-start as possible so he didn’t feel like he had to rush because of the urgency of their timeline.
The trip to Central City was fast, mostly because Hal suggested a race. After some convincing, Barry relinquished his forensic case and let Hal tuck it into his ring. The Lantern cheered excitedly at Barry’s reluctance, the former rolling his eyes playfully at Hal’s reaction, watching as Hal formed a construct path for Barry. With a loud “Go!”, the two friends took off, high-tailing it towards Earth.
Barry let Hal win. He knew because Barry had always beaten him when they’d raced before.
Barry was a gracious loser, though, smiling as he caught up to Hal and jumped off the construct path to the CCPD roof. The speedster inhaled, fist-bumping Hal on the back as the Lantern stuck out his tongue in a childish tease, egging Barry on about being slow.
The banter ended in a bout of giggles, both friends gripping their stomachs from the laughter as Hal extended an arm to hold on to the speedster for balance. Barry snickered, graciously taking Hal’s hand in his own as the Lantern used the leverage to stand, moving closer to his best friend.
Barry blushed as they locked eyes, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous tell, their hands still intertwined. His expression and the fact that he wasn’t letting go of his hand made Hal’s insides flutter, his chest echoing in overdrive at the sound of his beating heart. Could it be…?
Maybe it was the adrenaline that made Barry lean in and try to kiss him. And maybe it was also the adrenaline in Hal that made him want to meet him halfway. They were so close, just a moment more, and Hal could finally taste what he’d craved for so long.
Hal slipped a hesitant free hand around Barry’s waist, pulling the speedster close. “Barry?” He whispered, their chests flush against one another as he searched his best friend’s eyes for permission.
“H-Hal I—” Barry whispered back, his eyes trained on the Lantern’s lips as he wet his own, his pink tongue gliding across his mouth. “I…,” he sighed, rubbing his thumb across the back of the Lantern’s hand still tangled with the speedster’s. “I should…,” Barry’s voice trailed off, his blank expression shifting to one of panic as he looked upward, meeting Hal’s gaze.
The sudden change was like a switch flipping in Barry’s mind. “Hal,” he said, his face filled with horror as he stepped back, tugging his hand away from the shared grip. “The analysis. I should—my lab,” Barry motioned awkwardly, looking everywhere but Hal’s face as he walked backward toward the door, fumbling as he opened it and sped away.
Hal froze as the door finally closed, feeling his heart crack as Barry walked all over it.
What the hell just happened? He thought….
That was the problem. Hal was thinking with his stupid heart—his stupid emotions. Of course, Barry wouldn’t—not with Hal. It was just a moment of weakness. Barry didn’t actually mean to lean in and kiss him, no matter how well Hal thought he was reading things.
It was probably just from the excitement of the day; of their reunion. They’d missed each other, so it was natural for Barry to get caught up in the moment and do something stupid with Hal. The feelings weren’t anything beyond platonic, that’s all.
Hal could just pretend nothing had happened, no matter how much it hurt to shove his feelings down. He had to if it meant maintaining their friendship. He couldn’t lose Barry because of a dumb crush.
Yeah, Hal thought. For their friendship.
But fuck, would it be hard. Yet Hal wasn’t a Green Lantern for nothing. He’d power through it with that famous will of his like he always did and they’d remain best friends and Hal wouldn’t be responsible for ruining the best thing he’d ever had.
For Barry.
Speaking of the wonderful guy who just broke Hal’s heart, he really should get back to him. The analysis would be simple, Barry had said, if he had the Lantern’s ring for help. And where was the Lantern ring? Still on Hal’s finger.
God, he needed to get a grip. The mission was more important than Hal’s feelings right now. As long as he could get through the night with Barry without a conflict, he could cry on the way back to Oa with the evidence to confront the Darkstars.
Hal sucked in an exhausted breath, steeling himself as he knocked on Barry’s door to announce his arrival. The scientist turned around, his suit since shed, smiling tentatively at Hal. “Hi.”
“Hey,” Hal grinned back, ignoring how his heart lurched excitedly at Barry’s expression. “How far along are you?”
Barry’s smile grew wider. “Almost done. Just need your ring,” he smirked, his playful side back in full force, as evidenced by his shit-eating grin. He knew the only thing stopping him from finishing the analysis was the data on Hal’s ring.
Hal internally face-palmed, berating himself for asking such a stupid question to fill the awkward silence. He’d feared that the speedster would’ve sunken back into his shell because of their…tension. But judging by Barry’s lighthearted tone, they seemed to be okay. Hal hadn’t fucked up anything yet by revealing his feelings. Maybe it was just nothing, after all.
Hal knew better than to ignore what had just transpired between them, but he’d much rather brush the kiss under the rug if Barry weren’t bringing it up either. No harm, no foul, and they could just go back to acting like nothing had happened and still be best friends.
Best friend Barry must’ve thought the same because he held out his hand for Hal, awaiting the Lantern’s ring. Hal chuckled at the silent communication—they knew each other so well.
“It shouldn’t be long,” Barry hummed as he placed Hal’s ring on the Bat-top’s scanner. The computer imported all the images and notes Barry had taken during the evidence collection, adding them to the scientist’s “Hal’s” folder.
Hal chuckled from his seat on the desk when he saw the folder name, just missing the cheeky sideswipe from Barry. They messed around for a while more before Barry cleared his throat—ever the more disciplined of the two—and returned to his work, remembering the time-sensitive nature of the assignment.
Hal always loved how Barry kept them on track during missions. He also loved watching him work, his fingers flying across the keys as he analyzed and put together the report—which made the Lanterns’ lives way easier because everything was in one document and organized neater than Hal would’ve ever done. It was fascinating how beautiful Barry made something so boring look.
They locked eyes again.
Hal felt his heart leap from his chest when he saw the sparkle in Barry’s. He unconsciously leaned closer, feeling his pulse speed up when Barry mirrored his movement, his heart pounding into overdrive over what this meant.
Maybe…Hal could allow himself one kiss. To know what Barry’s affection felt like. His eyes became half-lidded as he looked down toward Barry, licking his lips in anticipation. Just one kiss….
A loud knock on the glass interrupted Hal’s moment. He frowned, turning toward the culprit—culprits.
John waved sheepishly, his body language full of embarrassment, while Guy looked on behind him, his arms crossed with a big dumb smirk on his face.
Hal internally growled at his two so-called friends. Those motherfuckers, he thought, sighing as he tore his gaze away from the window to find Barry’s.
The speedster only smiled sadly, reaching to squeeze the Lantern’s wrist, disappointment written all over his touch. “I’ll just be a minute, Hal,” he affirmed, staring at the other Lanterns behind Hal before he returned to his work with a tight-lipped expression.
Hal exhaled, annoyed. Why did it feel like he’d just fucked up with Barry somehow? He hated how closed off the scientist had suddenly become, isolating himself from Hal to finish his work. The banter, the flirting….
Sulking around a busy Barry wasn’t gonna do him any good. Hal blinked, pointing upward to Guy and John before he took his ring from Barry’s palm, his fingers brushing against the latter’s during the exchange. “I’ll—I’ll be on the roof, Bar.”
Barry nodded, his blue eyes wide, his face flushed for whatever reason.
Hal almost leaned down to kiss him again when he saw the red dusting across his cheeks, but he decided against it in favor of protecting his heart. That blush wasn’t meant for him—it was probably just from the embarrassment from John and Guy earlier.
Adjusting himself, Hal powered up to wait for Barry with his fellow Lanterns. At least then, he wouldn’t be tempted to do something impulsive and ruin his closest friendship with the person Hal loved the most.
“Dude, he’s totally into you.”
Hal side-eyed Guy from his position against the cement wall. “No, he’s not,” he scoffed, his shoulders sagging in denial as he scuffed the dirt with his boot. “Barry wouldn’t—not with someone like me.”
“What, is he straight or…?”
Hal shook his head.
“Then what’s the problem? He likes guys; you like guys. You’re both guys,” Guy laughed, chuckling at his own joke.
Hal stifled a snicker, appreciating Guy’s efforts to cheer him up. “It’s not that. It’s just…,” he sighed, staring at the ground as his lips pulled into a thin, dissatisfied line. After a moment of contemplation, Hal looked up again, staring past his friends. “…back there, we almost kissed, and he pulled away.”
“Oh.”
“So what?”
John and Guy said at the same time. “That doesn’t mean he’s not into you, bro,” Guy shrugged, motioning to John to agree.
The younger Lantern nodded, stepping up to support the former. “He was probably embarrassed because we interrupted,” John offered, waving his hand around. “That was poor timing on our part, and I just want to apologize if we interrupted—”
Hal stopped John with a hand, his mouth down turning in sadness. “I’m not talking about that. It was before you guys—we almost…,” Hal’s voice trailed off, his eyes watering dejectedly as he recalled how suddenly Barry pushed him away. “He’s not into me like that.”
Guy uncrossed his arms and hummed, placing a reassuring hand on Hal’s back. “Yes, he is, Hal. We barely know the guy; and we can tell he wants you bad, man.”
“You really think so?” Hal gave a weak smile, his voice filled with hope. If his friends thought so…then, maybe? Maybe Barry wanted him, too.
“Yeah,” Guy nodded, while John shot Hal a thumbs up in support. “He wants to fuck you so—”
“What Guy means,” John cut in, placing a comforting hand on Hal’s other shoulder, “Is that Barry likes you, too, Hal. Don’t get in your head about it. The chemistry’s there.”
Hal slowly nodded at John’s reassurance. He was right: the mutual feelings were there; Hal could feel the tension in the air when they’d almost kissed. And Barry had looked…devastated when he’d pulled back, like he regretted making such a decision.
Still, Hal couldn’t help but be a little unsure about all this. What if he confessed with Guy and John’s advice and Barry threw his heart away like it was nothing?
Barry wasn’t cruel. He wouldn’t do that to Hal—if anything, they’d work through a romantic rejection and remain best friends.
But what if Barry just didn’t feel this way, and they were reading him all wrong?
Barry wasn’t affectionate with his other friends like he was with the Lantern. The comforting touches, the natural closeness, the nervous blushing—it was only for Hal.
But what if—
No.
That kind of thinking hadn’t gotten Hal any closer to confessing to Barry. He always prided himself on his fearlessness, but when it came to Hal’s feelings for Barry Allen….
Hal was afraid. Afraid that Barry didn’t see Hal the way he saw him. Afraid that Barry would just be friends with Hal out of pity after his failed confession because he was just that nice. Afraid that things would get awkward between them, their friendship would slowly crumble before Hal’s eyes, and it would be his fault.
Hal was getting carried away again.
John and Guy thought Barry liked Hal. They wouldn’t lie to him about that.
Steeling himself with a deep inhale, Hal stood straighter, mentally hyping himself up for Barry. He was a fucking Green Lantern, goddammit. Nothing could stop Hal from getting what he wanted.
Besides, who knew when he’d get the chance to return to Earth? Hal had to tell Barry before everything went to shit with the Darkstars and Sinestro Corps. Barry deserved to know where they stood with each other. He deserved to know how much Hal loved him before it was too late.
The door opened, announcing Barry’s arrival. Impeccable timing, as always (for once, the speedster was right on time, Hal laughed).
Guy winked at Hal, pushing the latter toward the waiting speedster with a firm hand on Hal’s back. He overestimated his strength; however, Hal caught himself before he smacked his face onto the concrete and embarrassed himself in front of his best friend.
At least the stumble made Barry giggle. He stifled his chuckle, steadying Hal with a free arm looped around his waist. “All done,” Barry smiled, handing Hal the freshly printed report.
Their contact sent electricity coursing through Hal’s nervous system, Barry’s warm hand pressing against his side—it was like the Lantern could literally feel how Barry felt about him.
The implications made Hal’s face flush. It meant that Barry thought of their relationship as something beyond platonic. Perhaps romantic….
Hal’s heart raced. It was now or never—quick, before his confidence waned.
John smirked as he took the report from Hal’s hand, sensing the tension between him and Barry as he glanced back and forth like he was viewing a tennis match. “We’ll meet you on the moon,” he smiled smugly, motioning for Guy to follow.
The redheaded Lantern mirrored John’s expression, stifling a snicker at Hal’s embarrassed blush. “Don’t get distracted,” Guy wiggled his eyebrows, laughing at Hal’s deep coloring before getting dragged away into the sky in a hurry.
Hal flipped a construct bird at his lame-ass friends, poking at Guy’s ribs with the comically large green finger. “Fuck you,” he called out, his construct morphing into a broom to sweep the others away when Guy blew a raspberry at him.
Barry giggled from beside Hal, the speedster’s nose crinkling cutely in exasperation as he rolled his eyes at the antics. “What was that about?” He asked, detaching himself from Hal as he held his arms and shrugged.
“Nothing,” Hal waved Barry off, hoping the heat from his face had dissipated as he conjured a wall construct to block Barry’s view of the kissy lips construct John shot his way. “They’re just fucking with me. Anyways, thanks for doing the report, Bar. I owe you one.”
Barry chuckled, his smile bright, “You owe me plenty, Harold.” The speedster beamed, his teasing expression like a beautiful painting, his eyes glimmering with so much affection; Hal wished he could take a picture to save this memory forever.
Hal felt a boost of confidence when Barry colored and fidgeted anxiously under the Lantern’s grin. He must’ve been just as scared as Hal was—the anticipation was too much.
If there was one thing Hal was good at, it was calming Barry down, grounding him.
It was now or never. The Lantern had to confess and tell Barry how much he loved him. No matter the outcome, Hal had to know where they stood—how Barry felt about him.
“Yeah? How ‘bout,” Hal sucked in a nervous breath as he reached to clasp Barry’s hands in his own. “I make it up to you when I come back? Dinner and a show?”
That wasn’t exactly the confession Hal’d planned during those lonely nights in space, the carefully crafted speech thrown out the window. But he wasn’t the planner of the two, yeah? Always impulsive and unpredictable; it’s what made him a great Green Lantern.
How would Hal’s impromptu plan work out for him this time?
Barry hesitated, contemplating. A second turned into two, then three, then four….
Oh god. That wasn’t a good sign. Hal shouldn’t have—he should’ve—fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, Barry wasn’t into it—
“Like…on a date?” Barry finally asked, his voice tentative and quiet, like he feared that if he spoke any louder or assumed the wrong thing, Hal would hear and get mad at him.
But Hal could never be angry with Barry.
“S-sure,” the Lantern stumbled, eternally grateful that he and Barry knew each other so well that the speedster could read between the lines. “If you want, of course.”
Barry’s smile only grew wider. “Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I’d love to go on a date with you, Hal. Will you go out with me?” He asked, his excitement palpable as it manifested in flickers of lightning across his body.
Hal internally exhaled a massive sigh of relief as he watched the electricity dance on Barry before humming in agreement. “Yes. I’d be honored to go out with you, Barry,” he giggled, gently running his thumbs over the back of his best friend’s palms. “I’m glad you feel the same,” Hal added, mentally face-palming himself for not making things clearer and giving himself a heart attack when Barry didn’t reply in those seconds between. Hal was already preparing his apology speech and was about to grovel at his feet for forgiveness if he’d gotten rejected.
Thankfully, Barry knew what Hal meant. And he wanted Hal just as much as Hal wanted Barry.
“I am, too. You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this—wanted you—Hal.”
The Lantern’s heart fluttered, his face heating in embarrassment at the effect Barry’s words had on him. “You can tell me on our date,” Hal said for lack of a better reply, stepping forward into the speedster’s space to cross the threshold of their friendship as their eyes locked, both gazes so full of love. “I promise I won’t be long,” Hal affirmed, sealing his vow with a kiss on the back of Barry’s hand.
Barry flushed as red as his suit. “A-alright,” he stuttered, his smile suddenly shy.
They shared another intimate look before Barry leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. “Don’t do something stupid,” Barry whispered. “I want you still intact for our date.”
Hal chuckled behind his closed eyes, reaching to cup a hand behind Barry’s head. “I’ll try my best,” he reluctantly pulled back, though his grip on the speedster’s hand stayed firm. Hal watched as Barry’s eyelashes slowly fluttered open, his eyes so full of worry that it made his heart clench. They stared at each other before Hal made a rash decision, his heart lurching in his chest as he leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss on Barry’s cheek.
“Goodbye, Barry,” the Lantern whispered, pouring all his silent promises into his voice, hoping his best friend would understand that Hal would do anything to get back to him.
Barry nodded at the unsaid words. “Goodbye, Hal. Be safe,” he whispered back, his eyes telling Hal he’d wait however long for him to return. That Barry would be here to welcome Hal home when the time came for them to be together again.