Chapter Text
Glass shattered around Hal as he was tossed through the window and he smashed into the ground with a significant amount of force. It left him dazed and struggling to focus.
While Hal lay there, he could do nothing but stare at the ceiling and it was that which distracted him, for pink was everywhere. It was like Hal had been tossed into a magenta cave of crystals or a field of flowers the same colour. There was no escaping the obnoxious shade, no matter where Hal looked.
After Hal had blinked several times, it became clear that he had in fact, landed in some commercial human building. Though why there was so much pink, he had no idea. Maybe the owner just liked that colour.
A concerned face appeared in Hal's field of vision, slicing through the unending wall of similarly coloured decoration. It was a relief, to be honest, and Hal lifted a hand in a brief acknowledging wave. "Sorry about the window," he said. "Just dealing with a… little problem. I'll be out of here soon enough." Right now would be best.
It was quiet while Hal heaved himself up into a sitting position, then the civilian said awkwardly, "Happy Valentine's Day."
This caught Hal by surprise and his gaze was quickly drawn to the pink decorations around him. It all made sense now. If he hadn't been distracted fighting love crazed Lanterns, he might've even figured it out sooner.
Grinning now, Hal nodded his thanks. "Happy Valentine's Day," he responded. As it was something he usually had very little time for, he enjoyed being friendly with the people in his city.
A new shattering crash split the air behind Hal and presumably, it had split the window too. Reacting instinctively, Hal threw himself at the civilian and knocked them to the ground so he could shield them with his body. It worked. Small bits of glass rained down on Hal's back like hail, his ring the only thing preventing injury.
When the glass settled, it was most likely safe to move and Hal glanced around. The Star Sapphire he'd been fighting lay unmoving on the ground while Sinestro hovered above her in a jagged frame of broken glass. Frankly, he looked amazing. Winning such a fight had caused him no visible exertion.
"Have you ever seen anything more magnificent?" Hal murmured to the civilian he'd rescued, though he couldn't take his eyes off Sinestro. The question was rhetorical. Of course there was nothing more magnificent.
The civilian just looked confused and with a jolt, Hal understood why that was. Right. Sinestro was evil. Not magnificent.
Hal didn't care. It didn't matter what the civilian thought anyway, since they were running off and leaving Hal alone with Sinestro. Every event of the day had to have built up to this moment. The chance meeting with Sinestro, fighting side by side, and even what day it was. "It's fate," Hal decided aloud, and he smiled.
***
Humans ran wildly in all directions, no doubt fleeing from the destructive force in the middle of the road. She glowed with violet light, a Star Sapphire hovering in the sky and looking out over those fleeing.
Just why a Star Sapphire would be here, Thaal had no idea. He could take a guess though. This was the city of Hal Jordan. She was here for him.
The idea caused Sinestro to bristle. It was insulting to him that this Star Sapphire could think to hold Hal's attention while he, Sinestro, was around. Clearly, this fool of a Lantern needed to be taught a lesson. And Sinestro would be the one to teach it.
Decision made, Sinestro started forward. Only to stop as a green streak dropped out of the sky and landed smoothly beside him.
There was a pause. Then, "Sinestro?" as Hal noticed him. "What are you doing here?" All of Hal's attention was focused solely on Sinestro with the Star Sapphire left forgotten in the background.
Smirking to himself, Sinestro indicated to the Star Sapphire. "Simply removing this little problem. And yourself?" It was obvious. There were two enemy Lanterns in the street and Hal was all tensed up for a fight. But which was he here for?
After a pause, and a wary look around him, Hal responded slowly, "I'm here for her too. No one causes trouble in my city." He set his hands on his hips.
The answer opened the perfect opportunity to avoid fighting with Hal - by focusing their combined energies elsewhere. "In that case, shall we join forces? This will end far quicker if we do not fight over who indeed will take down this Star Sapphire."
Hal was nodding, apparently agreeing with the words. "Excellent," Sinestro said. He reached out and turned Hal in the direction the human should go. "Get on her other side and distract her. I will take her out."
There was no time for Hal to offer a protest, though Thaal could guess he wanted to. It was a rare day when Hal followed his orders without questions.
Leaving Hal in an instant, Sinestro stalked around to the perfect ambush site. Already, he was planning his attack and just how precisely the Star Sapphire would be taken down. Each move would have brutal efficiency.
To Sinestro's satisfaction, after a second of hesitation, Hal did as he was told and approached the Star Sapphire from the direction indicated. She turned to face the oncoming Green Lantern and tossed him across the street. A loud crash rang out as a window was destroyed, and Sinestro struck.
It all went according to plan. With several carefully placed strikes, Sinestro had confused and dazed the Star Sapphire and to top it all off, he tossed her through the window after Hal. Then, just in case she was still conscious, he followed after her.
Not a move did the Star Sapphire make. She was in no fit state to keep fighting. It was a very pleasing accomplishment and perhaps now the Star Sapphire Corps would know they had no right to cause destruction in this place while Sinestro was around.
When Sinestro looked to Hal, the human appeared to be fine. More than fine, in fact, considering the wide grin spread over his lips. "It's fate."
Interested in the reasoning behind such a statement, Sinestro quirked an eyebrow in Hal's direction. "Oh?" he said. Now the Star Sapphire had been taken out, Thaal was feeling a whole lot more relaxed. There was no one to compete with here, no one to disrupt whatever plans he might wish to carry out.
Without much hesitation, Hal got to his feet and brushed tiny pieces of glass off of his body. "Yeah," he sighed his confirmation in one long exhale. Then his eyes fixed on Sinestro. "Go out with me."
In moments like this, there was no word to describe Hal other than ridiculous. Radically ridiculous.
Two windows had been destroyed, humans were still fleeing in terror and a Star Sapphire lay unconscious between Hal and Sinestro. She needed to be dealt with. And yet here Hal was, irresponsibly paying it all no mind. None of it mattered to him.
What answer could be given in response, other than one just as ridiculous? That was Sinestro's thought process as he landed on the mess of a ground before Hal. "Very well," was his answer.
***
Half the universe away was where they ended up, in a place where none knew of Lanterns or the other things that tended to complicate matters. It was peaceful, unlike Earth had been, nor any other place. And Hal was taking full advantage of that.
Amused, Sinestro watched as Hal shovelled food into his mouth at a breakneck speed. Did he not get fed on that backwater planet of his? It seemed likely judging by his table manners, but Thaal couldn't know for sure.
Once, he would've known. There would've been no escaping the knowledge of everything Hal had eaten that day, and everything else he might've done as well. Hal would have happily said it all, rambling on until Thaal was lost in the pleasant rhythm of his voice. Now though, they were far more separated and neither had time for such indulgences.
At long last, Hal had cleared his plate, and the frantic scraping of fork against ceramic dish ended. "I must ask," Sinestro then spoke, a lilting playful note to his voice, "was your intention in this simply to garner free food from me?"
Hal choked on a laugh, or perhaps on the food still in his mouth, but either way, he started coughing. "I'm not that desperate," he finally got out. "I can get food from somewhere else, you know."
That seemed doubtful as Thaal had already decided Hal was being starved back on Earth. "I don't mind," Sinestro was quick to assure. If Hal wished to eat, he should. And in fact, Sinestro could even help him with that.
With a quick glance down, Sinestro pushed towards Hal the half empty plate that had been in front of him. The tips of his fingers were warmed by contact with the dish. "You may have mine, if you want it. I have eaten all I require." Fighting the Star Sapphire hadn't been much of a drain on his energy so he had not felt exceedingly hungry after.
It was gratifying when Hal pulled the plate farther towards himself and began to scoff that food down too with a pleased expression. Perhaps, if Thaal maneuvered himself correctly, he could make this a more common occurrence.
As soon as Hal had taken his first few bites of the food on Sinestro's plate, his face flushed with colour and his eyes went wide. His hand scrambled around for a bit before snatching up his glass of water and he downed it in several gulps. Sinestro again watched, this time with concern.
When Hal set the glass back on the table, Sinestro took the opportunity to inquire, "You do not like my taste in food here?" Actually, now he thought of it, he and Hal did tend to clash in that area.
For a brief moment, Hal looked panicked. "No, it's fine," he said quickly - an obvious lie. Nevertheless, he picked his fork back up and had another bite.
This time, Hal's glass was empty when he frantically reached for it so Sinestro offered his own instead. "Perhaps you should consider not eating any more," he suggested. "Or I could get you something else?" He took back his plate regardless of what Hal's answer would be and tasted the food. To him, it was fine.
With the back of his hand, Hal wiped the last traces of water from his mouth, then he stood up. "I'm good," he said. "Let's get out of here. Unless you want to keep eating?"
To be honest, Thaal had no preference about what they would end up doing. It was bound to be interesting either way with Hal around. Still, he was curious. "What exactly do you have in mind?"
"I don't know." Hal shrugged. "But we're bound to find something. It's a big universe out there, after all."
When Hal smiled, his entire face lit up. The curve of his lips and the sparkle in his eyes were accented by the delight in the rest of his body as well. He was stunning to look at, and it only ended when he turned away, like a light going off.
Sinestro quickly followed after Hal, and the two of them stood outside together, scanning their surroundings and basking in the afternoon sun.
Suddenly, Hal grasped Sinestro's elbow and yanked him close. "It's a mountain, Thaal," Hal said excitedly, pointing to it. There was indeed a mountain, though perhaps it was more like a steep hill, not too far in the distance. "Let's climb it."
Once again, Thaal thought of how ridiculous Hal could be, and of the ridiculous answer he was going to give in return anyway. Because really, what reason existed that prevented them from doing exactly what Hal wanted?
***
As Hal leaned his weight against the cliff face, a small hard object dug into his hip bone. Probably his ring, Hal decided. He'd shoved it into a pocket before starting the climb, just so he could have the threat of death looming over him. It was more fun that way.
Not too far above Hal, Sinestro paused and glanced back. Maybe he'd noticed Hal had stopped and wondered at the cause.
Smiling reflexively, Hal lifted his hand in a brief wave to Sinestro. Other than that though, he didn't move. It was hot and he could feel his heart racing, pounding against his rib cage. He just needed a moment to catch his breath before he would be able to continue.
They were very high up now and while it wasn't enough to limit Hal's oxygen intake, he was tired from travelling so far in the first place. Still he wasn't about to give up. The top of the mountain, his desired goal, was in reach.
Small stones shifted and slid under Sinestro's weight as he climbed down to Hal, creating a harsh gravelly sound. Even when he'd stopped, dropping lightly beside Hal, it took a few seconds for the path he'd taken to settle down again. It was distracting and so Hal offered Sinestro a quick glance.
One of Sinestro's hands was tangled in long grass above his head, keeping him flush against the cliff. The other hand was held out to Hal. Delicately clutched between two fingers was a single bright flower.
"For you," Sinestro said, his gaze unwavering on Hal. The flower couldn't possibly match the intensity of that stare.
Nevertheless, Hal smiled again and took the flower. It was very pretty, though he did have to wonder if it was an evil flower that would do something terrible to him. That did seem like something Sinestro would find.
This day hadn't turned out anything like Hal had expected upon waking up that morning. No, it was better. That wasn't to say he didn't enjoy his usual routine - he loved it, in fact. But Sinestro's interruption had a way of changing everything for him.
"Thank you," Hal said, and he only wondered after, when Sinestro nodded and moved back to continue the climb, if the sincerity was obvious in his voice.
It would have been so easy for Sinestro to decline all of this. That he hadn't was something Hal was incredibly grateful for, even if it meant he was going to have trouble severing himself from Sinestro once more. He had no other options. This could never last.
But, Hal decided as he tucked the flower away into his pocket beside his ring, he did not have to start pulling away from Sinestro now. So he scrambled after the Korugarian, determined not to be parted from him.
***
Not long after was when Hal finally reached the top and he was left satisfied by his accomplishment. It proved to him that he did not in fact need his ring for everything.
That wasn't the only reward however, and Hal turned to gaze out over everything he could see now he was at a higher altitude. It was unlike flying for he could not change his position to view the scene from a different angle, but it was still frankly quite exhilarating.
There was very little sign of civilisation below. Only the occasional unnaturally shaped object marred the otherwise sharp beauty of the landscape and not one person was in sight.
A soft breath escaped Hal's lips and it was like any remaining tension he'd had eased out with that breath. "I think that was worth it," he said brightly.
"Indeed," Sinestro responded, drawing Hal's gaze. The Korugarian was facing away from him, taking in the view on the other side of the mountain instead. He made quite the figure, outlined against the smooth gradient of the sky.
Without fully realising what he was doing or what his intentions were, Hal made his way over to stand by Sinestro. Only then did he hesitate. The last few hours had been wonderful and everything he could've hoped for. Being with Sinestro was so freeing for him and really, it had made his day. Was it wrong or selfish or greedy to want more?
Even if it was, Hal couldn't bring himself to care. Not right then, blood thrumming with adrenaline. He'd think about the consequences of his actions later.
When Hal reached out though, Sinestro twisted, caught his wrist and used that grip to pull him dangerously close. "I'm admiring the view, Jordan," Sinestro chastised while Hal froze. "Don't interrupt."
Uncertain and confused, Hal frantically tried to work out what he was supposed to do now. Was this Sinestro's way of rejecting him? Or was he just messing with Hal's head? It was hard to work anything out when Hal was distracted by the detail he could make out in Sinestro's features and the fingers that had ahold of his wrist.
Eventually, Hal wet his lips and said, "I'm admiring the view too. I just didn't have to climb all the way up here to see it." In a very deliberate way, he eyed up Sinestro.
So maybe Hal hadn't been totally serious with his comment, really only trying to alleviate any irritation Sinestro might've been feeling towards him. Now though, he really was more interested in Sinestro than in nature. It was rare to spend so much time in Sinestro's personal space without fighting him. And Hal didn't want it to end.
All of a sudden, it was terribly difficult not to go straight back to reaching out. Hal didn't care where his fingers landed, as long as they were on Sinestro and retracing every protruding bone, every slim muscle.
One eyebrow was quirked at Hal and Sinestro's expression was amused. "Is that so?" he questioned, smirking now. No doubt he enjoyed the compliment.
Hal resisted the urge to roll his eyes and just smiled instead. Then his wrist was released and he could finally move past that last barrier, resting his hands on Sinestro's sides. No further action was taken to stop Hal. So he didn't stop himself either.
Both of Hal's hands slid up, feeling the multiple bumps of Sinestro's ribs. They shifted with every breath, pressing against Hal's fingertips and palms, and he couldn't wait any longer. His arms criss crossed over Sinestro's back and pulled him close.
There, Hal buried his nose in Sinestro's neck and felt enveloped by him. He didn't even need the arms wrapping around his own back in return. "I don't want to stop," he murmured.
The pressure of Sinestro's chest against his own was hard, but in a good way. If their bones ground together and they prevented each other from breathing because of it, Hal wouldn't even care. It would all be worth it to feel this completed.
In Sinestro's voice when he replied was something different, something thick and with that low barely there current of emotion. "I don't want you to," was what he said.
But Hal shook his head because for once, he wasn't thinking about the present. His thumb stroked over Sinestro's shoulder blade. If only he could do that again and again and never have any end to it. But he couldn't. It would have to stop eventually. All of this would have to stop eventually. There was no way out of it.
Frustration rose inside Hal, infecting each of his muscles until he was tense once more. "I don't want to stop," he repeated with that tension on his tongue and his tone coloured by his frustration. Why couldn't Sinestro just understand and give him what he wanted? Or did he know it was hopeless too?
Fingers gripped into Hal's hair and tugged his head back, forcing his gaze up. "I don't want you to." It was all but a growl and Hal laughed then. Of course Sinestro understood. It helped little though, and that was why Hal's laugh was bitter and hopeless. That was why it was quickly muffled and Hal moaned softly into Sinestro's mouth.
At some point, Hal could no longer keep standing and he fell into the spiky alien grass underneath him, pulling Sinestro along too. It was uncomfortable, but still better than anything else Hal could imagine. This was what he wanted and he couldn't have it any other way.