Chapter Text
“Bruce?” Hal asked entering his small apartment. It smelled of rotting wood and damp wallpaper. The yellowing wallpaper peeled off of every corner, dirt staining the roof dragging down down the top of the walls. Dust covered every corner and dust bunnies shoved into the crevices of furniture. An old black leather couch stuck on the side of the room with a small scratched TV with a sage green tug stuffed under it. On the other side of the room, beige tiles covered the small kitchen contrasting against the stained oak flooring over the rest of the apartment. An island with cheap fake marble on top of the wooden counter. Cabinets lined the walls stopping at the end of the moldy tile. A break in the counter laid an oven and fridge sat next to each other sticking to the wall. A small squared off space with a white door seemingly newly painted sticking out from the rest of the dull colours of the room.
Hal’s eyebrows raised as the window opened a familiar caped figure coming in view. “Hey Spooky-” “Where have you been.” Bruce’s gruff voice echoed in the empty apartment. “I was on a mission in space again, the guardians had more problems.” The brunette frowned, trailing off into random thoughts. “Hal,” Bruce stated, cutting Hal from his thoughts. “Yeah Spooky, Something wrong?” He innocently tilted his head slightly as he approached the still man. “Hal I needed you here this week, do you even know what day it was?!” Bruce’s voice raised, escalating the fight. Hal stopped his steps, flinching slightly at his lover's yelling. The brunette tried to read Bruce’s expression. All he could tell was that Bruce was very upset, but anyone could tell by the icy glare and tension hanging over the room. “Our anniversary Hal, you missed our anniversary.” The gravelly voice laced with a disappointed tone. Shaking his head Hal frowned his eyes guiltily looking downcast, the floor looking much more interesting all of a sudden.
“I didn’t forget Bruce… I guess you didn’t find it, and you're still labelled as the greatest detective on this planet.” The guilt bubbling into petty anger. “Find what Hal?! You are never around, I don't think I can fucking do this anymore! Your. Never. Here.” This time Hal’s brown eyes widened, his anger disappearing into… ‘Fear? But that couldn't be right, he is a green lantern, the man without fear.’ “B-Bruce, I-...” His hazelnut hair dropped in front of his face as he tilted his head down. “I-I’m sorry,” the tension thickened the room becoming deathly cold. “I’m breaking up with you Hal. Goodbye.” And that was the breaking point. Hal Jordan cried for what felt like the first time in years.
1 Month Later Coast City 2:46 AM
Beer bottles lined up one by one on any unused counter space, the tiles even more dirtied and moldy than the month before. The couch was stained even more so another small stack of beer bottles clustered by the left arm. The TV was still scratched and even more dust clustered among the screen and stand. Hal laid on the black couch, his eyes closed as his mouth hung slightly open and snores echoing in the alcohol cluttered apartment. “Ring at 0.3 percent” echoed his lantern ring, his eyes widening as he jumped out of his sleep. Rubbing his eyes tiredly the brunette sighed, moving his aching limbs to the counter. Stretching his arm he reached for the lantern a small green glow appeared in his peripheral vision. The hand crept towards the lantern before grabbing it and pulling back towards Hal.
Sighing tiredly he faced the ring towards the lantern. The ring glowed brighter and it made contact with the charger. “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light.” Finishing his oath the ring flashed a bright green before he pulled his hand away from it. String at the bright glow of the ring. Smiling Hal stretched getting up from the sunken couch. Raising his arm above his Head the brunette groaned in relief as he felt his back crack. “Finally getting out of this shitty apartment. His eyes drifted towards the small off room, the door slightly open just enough to see a dull blue light. His brow raised as he turned around nearing the bathroom door. Peering inside he found the bright glow coming from behind the shower curtain. Hal narrowed his eyes, putting on his ring for self defense. Quickly opening the shower curtain he got ready to swing, but before he could even move a muscle he felt a hard smack on the back of his head.
He dropped to the floor as blood seemed from the large bash on the back of his head, blood trailed down the side of his face before dripping onto the cold bathroom tiles. Wincing Hal tried to grip the wound but again he had been to slow another hard smack on the back of his head knocking him out. The intruder smiled his deadly smile shining in the blue light. He draped Hal across his shoulder and walked out of the room. A small drop of blood sticking to the floor…
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