[Definitely less traumatic than getting struck by lightning. Comparatively, of course, because a spaceship containing a dying alien crashing in front of you is still a little traumatic. Hal returns the kiss, briefly, and then he's moving away. He starts walking away from Barry, out into the desert, eyes on the sky. After a minute there's a glint visible through the clouds and then a ship appears, damaged and heading straight for the ground. The ship crashes, there's an explosion and then a fire. It's all very dramatic and just like Hal remembers it.
Hal never really knew Abin Sur but he's always been grateful to him. He was always doomed to die, honestly. Even without his ship going down he was badly wounded and would not have made it back to Oa for treatment. Hal's just glad he made it to Earth. The Lantern ring is the only thing that ever really gave his life meaning. Which may be a sad way to look at things but...well, it's true.
He approaches the downed ship and opens the hatch. Sure enough, there's Abin, just like he remembers. There's a part of Hal that still feels guilty, that wishes he could have done something to help Abin. He knows there was nothing he could have done, logically, but it doesn't make the feeling go away. In a flash of green Hal is reunited with his ring. His powers come from an object, they're not a part of him in the way Barry's are but he still feels much more like himself once he has his ring back]
[Barry stays put, keeping half an eye on the sky and half an eye on Hal, moving toward a crashing ship. He practically vibrates as he stands still, because it's always hard to see some kind of trouble and not rush in to help. None of this is real, though - it's a memory, something that's already happened. It's just as dramatic as being struck by lightning, though, thank you - that was a hell of an explosion, and it makes him wince.
It's sobering to watch Hal receive his ring from a dying alien. Whatever this meta did to them, it's bringing up all kinds of feelings, it seems, but dealing with them will have to come later. After they've beaten this guy.
With that familiar green glow enveloping Hal, it's like the scenery around them is starting to glitch out and fade away.] Looks like my theory was right. Ready to get this guy?
[So maybe it is a little traumatic. It's fine. The main point is that they both have their powers back and they can work on getting out of here]
Yup. Luckily, he didn't take into account how smart you are. [Ignoring that Barry was more susceptible to the mind control than Hal was. That doesn't matter. He's the one who figured out their way out]
More than ready. I call punching him in the face. [Because this whole day? Rude]
Or how stubborn you are. [To break the mind control and all, far sooner than Barry would have been able to on his own. This is why they complement each other so well, and always have worked well together in situations like these.]
Be my guest. [This meta has more than earned a few punches to the face by now. When the scenery fades fully, it's like waking up, only to find themselves in a pretty piss-poor cell with barred doors, the both of them shackled to metal chairs. The illusion, or mind control, or whatever it was, was clearly meant to keep them here, because these restraints won't. Barry vibrates out of his immediately, and then pulls Hal out too, and blows up the lock on the barred door.
It swings open easily by then. They're in some kind of makeshift warehouse, it seems, and he can hear frantic footsteps and a voice farther down.] No one told me they were gay! What the fuck? How was I supposed to know the control wouldn't work right?
We work well together. He didn't count on that, either. [They complete each other in a lot of ways, honestly.
As soon as they're out of their shackles, Hal's ready to kick this guy's ass. He hates the idea of someone being in his head, digging through his memories. He has to snort a little at the meta's ranting, though, leading the way towards the sound of his voice and footsteps. The meta gets a greeting in the form of being charged by a construct bull and knocked on his ass]
Hey. We're here to kick your ass now. Also? You're an idiot.
[Honestly, Barry is fine to just kind of stand back and let Hal handle beating the meta up. He's good at that, and can always use a target to work his anger out on.
The meta seems about middle aged, male, probably newly come into his powers and not particularly good at this whole villainy thing. Barry's eyes light on the stolen STAR Labs tech immediately, and he makes a note to return it when Hal is done and they've hauled this guy off to jail.
He gets bowled over by the construct bull, sputtering and cursing.] You're one to talk, you got caught in the first place, Green Lantern! Or should I use your real name?
[It's a bit of a pathetic threat, Barry thinks. Blandly,] I guess we'll have to call Martian Manhunter.
Ooh, he knows my real name. Scary. [He grabs the meta by the front of his shirt and hauls him up off the ground] So does a murderous pink alien who either wants to kill me or fuck me. I'm never sure which, honestly. You're not much of a threat in comparison.
But you probably knew about that already, since you were digging around in our heads. You gonna make this a whole thing or can we just haul your dumb ass to jail now?
[The meta flails, trying to throw a punch, but honestly he's- not that good at it. It's his first day, okay! His very first heist! And apparently he bit off more than he could chew.
Meanwhile, Barry is making a face.] Please don't say Sinestro wants to fuck you.
[The meta growls in frustration, struggling against Hal's hold, before his eyes glow and he tries to meet his gaze, intent on putting him back into that trance.] You don't know who you're messing with!
Don't look at his eyes. [There's a blur of red, and then the meta suddenly... has a tie tied over his eyes like a blindfold.] Have you even picked a supervillain name yet, buddy? You might want to work on that before you get to Belle Reve.
[That attempt at a punch was...pathetic. Kind of like a toddler taking their first karate class]
I said or kill me. Could be either one.
[He's never sure and that's actually the worst part of Sinestro. Then the villain attempts to take a stand again and when that kind of flops it's...this whole display is pathetic, honestly]
I know I said that I called punching him in the face but honestly? This is just sad now.
What the hell kind of heroes are you two assholes anyway! [The meta shouts, indignant, and Barry rolls his eyes.]
Let's just take him in. Martian Manhunter will wipe his memories of what he saw in our memories, and drop him in Belle Reve. [Another flash of red, and another, and Barry removes the equipment stolen from STAR Labs, taking it back to where it belongs. Once it's all gone, he dusts his hands off.] And everything stolen is back where it belongs.
Now, I'm sure the guards do their jobs and keep the peace inside the prison. [Barry always has to be the good cop, and besides, he maybe feels a little bad for the guy whose face is turning white.
He calls in J'onn to come wipe sensitive information out of the meta's mind, and J'onn offers to take over his transport to Belle Reve. It happens fairly quickly, efficiently, and leaves Hal and Barry in the empty warehouse, cleaned out of its stolen goods.]
[Meanwhile, Barry just feels... tired. Nabbing the guy finally was easy, but he really got to the both of them, somehow. Or at least he got to Barry, bringing up that vision of his life with his dead wife. That kind of idyllic peace that he misses sometimes, even if he'd never go back to try and change how things are now.
[Hal hates the idea of anyone being in his head. Even if in this case, it seems they didn't dig too deep, there's something about the very idea that unsettles him. It's probably trauma related. Most things in his life seem to be. He's also deeply annoyed about this guy throwing Barry's dead wife in his face like that. He's annoyed about the memory fuckery, because he hates the idea of that too. He’s annoyed about having to watch Abin die again. Overall, he's just annoyed and he doesn't want to be here anymore]
And the dumbass didn't even have the courtesy to be good to punch. Yes, I want to go home.
[Hal's in a bad mood, but Barry can hardly blame him for that. He smiles slightly wryly at Hal's grumbling that he couldn't even get a good punch in on the guy, and shakes his head once. He's sure it would have made him feel better, but it's always good when things don't come to fighting, in his opinion.
He just picks up Hal, and speeds them off back to Central City, to their back door so that no one sees them. He sets him down on the back porch again, and unlocks the back door to let them in, pulling down his cowl.]
I think I'm going to order some food. Do you want anything in particular?
[Bad mood is an understatement. It's not even a big deal but just the idea of someone being in his head makes his skin crawl. He didn't even know that was a thing for him and he's so annoyed that he's had to learn that it is. That and he's sure that Barry needs to talk about the whole fake Iris thing but he's not even remotely sure how to bring that up. Just a thoroughly annoying day all around. Zero out of ten, honestly]
Okay. [Barry doesn't even argue as they step into the quiet house, and he starts flipping on lights, needing the house to seem less... dead. Needing the lights on, maybe, to look at the little personal touches around and remind himself that he lives with Hal in the here and now.
It's hard when there's a part of his brain trying to tell him, falsely, that he was having breakfast with his dead wife just this morning.
He taps on his phone for a moment, aimlessly ordering some Chinese food for delivery, and then he just... sort of moves into Hal's space, wraps his arms around him, and drops his forehead to his friend's shoulder as he hugs him tight.]
[The more Hal thinks about what just happened, the more it bothers him. It's a nice distraction, honestly, when Barry is suddenly in his space. He'd rather focus on that. He wraps both arms around Barry, pressing a kiss into his hair. For several minutes he stands there in complete silence, content to just hold Barry]
[It takes Barry a moment to answer, as he tries to come up with something to say that's both true and won't worry Hal too much. He doesn't manage, though, so he settles for truth, blowing out a tired breath.]
Not really. [No one really would be, after what they went through this morning.] Are you okay?
[Similarly, Hal debates just saying he's fine. But he also figures Barry would know immediately that that's a lie because it is. He kind of wants to crawl out of his own body right now, actually. It’s not a great feeling. And really, he just doesn't have the energy right now to lie. So instead he sighs, hugging Barry tighter]
I don't think I'm doing great, no. You wanna talk about it? [He's not so sure he's down to talk about how he feels regarding this himself but if Barry wants or needs to, he will too]
[It's almost a relief when Hal admits he's not doing well either. Not because Barry is happy about that, but because at least it means Hal is being honest, and not trying to bury everything down deep. By now, he knows how his best friend works, and knows he won't want to talk about it right away; he's just not that kind of guy. It'll be a while before he's ready to even broach the topic of his own not-okayness.
Barry isn't so reticent. He leans into that hug, remaining there for another few minutes, before he starts to pull them over to the couch instead. They might as well sit, and he can lean against Hal for strength.]
...My deceased wife should really be off-limits for this sort of thing. [He finally says, with a heavy sigh.] I know none of it was real, but it's harder to convince my brain of that.
[He's still processing his own not-okayness. Between how generally unsettled he feels and his annoyance at learning that people messing with his mind is apparently a trigger topic for him, he's not having a great time. But he'd much rather focus on Barry. It's always easier to talk about other people's feelings rather than his own. He lets Barry steer them over to the couch, sitting and tugging Barry down next to him]
She should be. But I think we've both learned that idiots committing crimes in costumes don't really have that kind of moral code. [He settles his hand on Barry's leg, giving it a little squeeze] It wasn't real. But it seemed like it, for a little while. It's understandable that you'd be having trouble wrapping your head around it not being real.
[Hal's the kind of person who takes more time to process his own feelings, but that's okay. Barry will be here when he's ready. And, maybe it works, because it lets him get this all off his chest before it drives him too crazy.]
Yeah, I know. [It'd be nice if villains did have some kind of basic moral code, but he knows his own rogues are a little weird.
Barry leans against Hal's side, resting his weight against him, quietly appreciating how sturdy and solid he always feels when Barry's world is upside-down.] I don't know how long it would have taken me to break the illusion myself.
[He might be ready by the time Barry gets all his own feelings out. Who knows. Hal wraps an arm around Barry, hugging him tightly]
I can see why you'd want to stay there. [That had been the whole point, hadn't it? To keep them there. It hadn't worked so well but, had it just been Barry, it might have. Iris will never not be a sore spot for Barry and that's completely understandable. It's annoying and unfair that this meta managed to uncover that and use it against Barry] I should've punched the guy just for that. No matter how pathetic he was.
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Hal never really knew Abin Sur but he's always been grateful to him. He was always doomed to die, honestly. Even without his ship going down he was badly wounded and would not have made it back to Oa for treatment. Hal's just glad he made it to Earth. The Lantern ring is the only thing that ever really gave his life meaning. Which may be a sad way to look at things but...well, it's true.
He approaches the downed ship and opens the hatch. Sure enough, there's Abin, just like he remembers. There's a part of Hal that still feels guilty, that wishes he could have done something to help Abin. He knows there was nothing he could have done, logically, but it doesn't make the feeling go away. In a flash of green Hal is reunited with his ring. His powers come from an object, they're not a part of him in the way Barry's are but he still feels much more like himself once he has his ring back]
That's so much better.
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It's sobering to watch Hal receive his ring from a dying alien. Whatever this meta did to them, it's bringing up all kinds of feelings, it seems, but dealing with them will have to come later. After they've beaten this guy.
With that familiar green glow enveloping Hal, it's like the scenery around them is starting to glitch out and fade away.] Looks like my theory was right. Ready to get this guy?
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Yup. Luckily, he didn't take into account how smart you are. [Ignoring that Barry was more susceptible to the mind control than Hal was. That doesn't matter. He's the one who figured out their way out]
More than ready. I call punching him in the face. [Because this whole day? Rude]
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Be my guest. [This meta has more than earned a few punches to the face by now. When the scenery fades fully, it's like waking up, only to find themselves in a pretty piss-poor cell with barred doors, the both of them shackled to metal chairs. The illusion, or mind control, or whatever it was, was clearly meant to keep them here, because these restraints won't. Barry vibrates out of his immediately, and then pulls Hal out too, and blows up the lock on the barred door.
It swings open easily by then. They're in some kind of makeshift warehouse, it seems, and he can hear frantic footsteps and a voice farther down.] No one told me they were gay! What the fuck? How was I supposed to know the control wouldn't work right?
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As soon as they're out of their shackles, Hal's ready to kick this guy's ass. He hates the idea of someone being in his head, digging through his memories. He has to snort a little at the meta's ranting, though, leading the way towards the sound of his voice and footsteps. The meta gets a greeting in the form of being charged by a construct bull and knocked on his ass]
Hey. We're here to kick your ass now. Also? You're an idiot.
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The meta seems about middle aged, male, probably newly come into his powers and not particularly good at this whole villainy thing. Barry's eyes light on the stolen STAR Labs tech immediately, and he makes a note to return it when Hal is done and they've hauled this guy off to jail.
He gets bowled over by the construct bull, sputtering and cursing.] You're one to talk, you got caught in the first place, Green Lantern! Or should I use your real name?
[It's a bit of a pathetic threat, Barry thinks. Blandly,] I guess we'll have to call Martian Manhunter.
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But you probably knew about that already, since you were digging around in our heads. You gonna make this a whole thing or can we just haul your dumb ass to jail now?
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Meanwhile, Barry is making a face.] Please don't say Sinestro wants to fuck you.
[The meta growls in frustration, struggling against Hal's hold, before his eyes glow and he tries to meet his gaze, intent on putting him back into that trance.] You don't know who you're messing with!
Don't look at his eyes. [There's a blur of red, and then the meta suddenly... has a tie tied over his eyes like a blindfold.] Have you even picked a supervillain name yet, buddy? You might want to work on that before you get to Belle Reve.
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I said or kill me. Could be either one.
[He's never sure and that's actually the worst part of Sinestro. Then the villain attempts to take a stand again and when that kind of flops it's...this whole display is pathetic, honestly]
I know I said that I called punching him in the face but honestly? This is just sad now.
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What the hell kind of heroes are you two assholes anyway! [The meta shouts, indignant, and Barry rolls his eyes.]
Let's just take him in. Martian Manhunter will wipe his memories of what he saw in our memories, and drop him in Belle Reve. [Another flash of red, and another, and Barry removes the equipment stolen from STAR Labs, taking it back to where it belongs. Once it's all gone, he dusts his hands off.] And everything stolen is back where it belongs.
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[This is the most disappointing part of this whole day, honestly. Couldn't even be decent to beat up, could he?]
Let's go, then. Maybe someone will kick his ass in Belle Reve.
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He calls in J'onn to come wipe sensitive information out of the meta's mind, and J'onn offers to take over his transport to Belle Reve. It happens fairly quickly, efficiently, and leaves Hal and Barry in the empty warehouse, cleaned out of its stolen goods.]
Well. I guess that's all done.
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This entire day has been obnoxious.
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He exhales a breath.] Yeah. It has been.
Want to head home?
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And the dumbass didn't even have the courtesy to be good to punch. Yes, I want to go home.
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He just picks up Hal, and speeds them off back to Central City, to their back door so that no one sees them. He sets him down on the back porch again, and unlocks the back door to let them in, pulling down his cowl.]
I think I'm going to order some food. Do you want anything in particular?
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Get whatever you want. I'm not hungry.
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It's hard when there's a part of his brain trying to tell him, falsely, that he was having breakfast with his dead wife just this morning.
He taps on his phone for a moment, aimlessly ordering some Chinese food for delivery, and then he just... sort of moves into Hal's space, wraps his arms around him, and drops his forehead to his friend's shoulder as he hugs him tight.]
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Are you okay?
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Not really. [No one really would be, after what they went through this morning.] Are you okay?
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I don't think I'm doing great, no. You wanna talk about it? [He's not so sure he's down to talk about how he feels regarding this himself but if Barry wants or needs to, he will too]
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Barry isn't so reticent. He leans into that hug, remaining there for another few minutes, before he starts to pull them over to the couch instead. They might as well sit, and he can lean against Hal for strength.]
...My deceased wife should really be off-limits for this sort of thing. [He finally says, with a heavy sigh.] I know none of it was real, but it's harder to convince my brain of that.
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She should be. But I think we've both learned that idiots committing crimes in costumes don't really have that kind of moral code. [He settles his hand on Barry's leg, giving it a little squeeze] It wasn't real. But it seemed like it, for a little while. It's understandable that you'd be having trouble wrapping your head around it not being real.
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Yeah, I know. [It'd be nice if villains did have some kind of basic moral code, but he knows his own rogues are a little weird.
Barry leans against Hal's side, resting his weight against him, quietly appreciating how sturdy and solid he always feels when Barry's world is upside-down.] I don't know how long it would have taken me to break the illusion myself.
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I can see why you'd want to stay there. [That had been the whole point, hadn't it? To keep them there. It hadn't worked so well but, had it just been Barry, it might have. Iris will never not be a sore spot for Barry and that's completely understandable. It's annoying and unfair that this meta managed to uncover that and use it against Barry] I should've punched the guy just for that. No matter how pathetic he was.
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