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Every muscle in Hal's body ached. Pain seared through him whenever he moved, taking ahold of him and making it so hard to think although he didn't exactly want to anyway. His thoughts always returned to the disaster he'd just been through and, if he was honest, it had all been caused by him.
In the end though, it had all worked out. That was what mattered. That was the important thing. Or at least, Hal had assumed so but Kilowog hadn't agreed. Neither had the rest of the Green Lantern team. Their doubt was becoming Hal's doubt and he was wondering if he really had made the wrong decision. Placing himself in the crossfire against orders could've been a mistake.
Teeth gritting together, Hal shook his head and lowered his eyes away from the mirror he was standing before.
Everything Hal had in the Corps was built upon one person, and that building was made of straw. If Hal let Sinestro down, the consequences would be severe. Not only would his own life be destroyed, but so would Sinestro's and that was the worst part. It had been made very clear to the two of them that, if Hal screwed up, Sinestro would pay for it. They were bound together. Hal didn't want to let him down.
The door to the bathroom opened. All traces of negative emotion slid smoothly from Hal's face and he tried for a casual smile instead as he looked up.
"Jordan," Sinestro greeted. Of course it was Sinestro. Never could he let Hal have a minor breakdown in peace.
Just over that brief resentful thought, Hal felt bad. Then again, all of Hal's worries were Sinestro's fault. If Sinestro hadn't been so determined to keep Hal in the Corps, none of it would have happened. Although, it had to be acknowledged, Sinestro had been well aware of the consequences. He'd just thought Hal was more important, for some reason.
In truth, Hal had more reasons to be grateful to Sinestro than mad at him. He was just looking for someone to lash out at.
Behind Sinestro, the door closed. It was strange to see him framed by something so mundane when he was the epitome of otherworldly with his silk sunrise skin and those yellow eyes of fire that saw right through Hal.
"I have been informed -" Sinestro began but another Green Lantern entered, rudely brushing past. The tall and intimidating Sinestro glared at the intruder as though to burn holes in them. "Out."
The order did not need to be repeated. With that one commanding growl, the unknown Lantern was sent scurrying back out the door.
While Sinestro smirked, Hal just turned back to the mirror and examined his own features once more. Traces of blood were still on his face, glittering like smears of rubies in the will bright light. After sucking on a finger, he scrubbed hopelessly at those red splotches. All he succeeded in doing was creating a red tinge across a patch of his skin.
Without Hal noticing, Sinestro had snuck up on him. That Korugarian accent was purring against his ear, "I have been informed of what has occurred."
Startled by the new and sudden proximity, Hal jumped and spun around, careening backwards while he did so. While he knew Sinestro was as quiet as a predator at times, Hal was standing before a mirror. The reflection alone should have tipped him off to Sinestro's approach.
Just in case, because no one could really be sure with aliens, Hal side eyed the mirror. There Sinestro was, reflected back at him. It proved Sinestro wasn't a vampire and that Hal had only been really distracted.
The Sinestro who was not a reflection had an air of distinct discomfort about him, almost awkward, before he asked stiffly, "Are you well?"
It brought a smile to Hal's lips. Judging by the long suffering and impatient edge to Sinestro's tone, he didn't like having to ask the question. After all, the answer had to be obvious but it was only polite to ask first and Sinestro believed politeness to be the biggest waste of time. That he'd ask anyway was very sweet.
Also, possibly, Sinestro expected others to have already asked about Hal's injuries. They hadn't. Most of them had been too busy chewing Hal out or dealing with their own problems. One person had ordered Hal to report to medical but, obviously, Hal had not gone. Listening to more admonishments hadn't been too appealing.
Since Sinestro still wanted some kind of answer, Hal brightened his smile and tried to lean casually against a sink. It backfired. One of his bruises bumped against the sink and he couldn't stop his flinch.
Bright yellow eyes narrowed. "Show me," Sinestro ordered. "Now." Those dangerous gleaming eyes got closer to Hal. "Or must I remove your clothing myself?"
Naturally, Hal's brain immediately played out that exact scenario for him. "Could be fun," he quipped. His imagination was really getting carried away.
As much as Hal was tempted to insist Sinestro do exactly as threatened, he eyed the way Sinestro was in no mood to play along and decided against it. Rather than roughly removing clothes or something equally exciting, Sinestro would probably just storm off. Then Hal wouldn't be able to talk to him for any time between a couple of minutes and forever.
For once, though it truly hurt his soul, Hal did as he was told. With just a thought, his Green Lantern suit disappeared.
As Hal began to take off his jacket, Sinestro watched with an unwavering stare. "How's life?" Hal asked him in an attempt to break the silence and not think about actually literally half stripping in front of Sinestro.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" was Sinestro's unencouraging frosty retort.
With his arms crossed, Sinestro shifted his weight to his other leg. He didn't like small talk. In fact, he didn't like much of anything other than sometimes Hal and always messing with people.
Since Hal did like talking, whether or not Sinestro would listen, he continued, "I'd say it's going better than mine." Finally, he set his shirt aside and look down at the collection of bruises scattering down his bare side where he'd been hit. "Those are not pretty."
Seeing the damage he'd done to himself, Hal was reconsidering his decision to avoid medical attention. It wasn't because he was concerned about his own health or anything. What worried him was if he collapsed and then he wouldn't be able to hang out with Sinestro. Although if he had gone to medical, he wouldn't have run into Sinestro in the bathroom. Between having no pain and getting to spend time with Sinestro, the decision was easy.
Even in the face of the red and purple patches of skin decorating his side, Hal just smiled. "What's the verdict then, oh doctor?" he asked dramatically, glancing at Sinestro. "Seconds from keeling over? Will you have to carry me -"
"Hush." Though the word was quiet, Hal heard it and snapped his mouth shut. "I am an anthropologist, not a doctor."
As smooth as ever, Sinestro stepped in close to Hal and scanned the half naked human with his ring. A glow of green light emanated and Hal turned his head away.
The big word of Sinestro's profession was translating awkwardly, leaving Hal not too certain what it meant. "A professor then?" he guessed. Fascinated, he tilted his head to the side and conjured up a vague picture of Sinestro on Korugar, wearing glasses and surrounded by books. It was all very stereotypical and distractingly attractive.
"I wouldn't know." The green light disappeared, indicating the scan had completed.
When Hal caught sight of Sinestro's face, his brow was furrowed but the emotion was unreadable. Nevertheless, Hal prepared himself for another lecture, steeling his mind against it.
Instead of lecturing Hal, Sinestro just sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. Then he instructed, "Turn around," and his hand dropped back down to his side.
Although confused, Hal obeyed. Immediately, his eyes were drawn to the mirror where he could study Sinestro's reflection.
Something Hal couldn't place was in those pretty yellow eyes like the most unique of gemstones. It could've been anger or disappointment, or some other emotion but Hal was drawn to the first two because those were what he was expecting. His own inadequacy, his sense of failing Sinestro, was putting a damper on his mood.
Nothing was said. The cold touch of a cool construct settled against Hal's tender side and gradually eased his pain, along with his apprehension. He was hopeful enough to believe he wouldn't be getting lectured in the end.
Beginning to relax, Hal let his gaze wander over Sinestro's reflection. Because he didn't want to get caught staring, he was cautious about it, ready to hurriedly look away at any moment. On Sinestro's lips was the slightest upwards curve, angling his lips in a way Hal was fascinated by and kind of obsessed with. He could be swallowed up in staring.
In the mirror, Sinestro met Hal's gaze and his lips formed into a smirk. Though it was much too late, Hal averted his eyes.
Cool hands settled on Hal's shoulders, against his bare skin, and Sinestro stepped in close, a brush against Hal's back that he needed all of his willpower not to sink into. Those fingers pressed down, firm and precise. They began to massage out the kinks in Hal's upper back muscles where the flesh was sore rather than bruised. Everything faded away as Hal relaxed with closed eyes.
Lightly tickling Hal's exposed neck was Sinestro's chilled breath and it lifted every hair on his skin with a shiver. "If you don't die first, Jordan," Sinestro murmured, "you will be an adequate Green Lantern."
It was the highest praise and Hal knew it. Sinestro didn't throw around compliments like he threw around disdainful stares. That was good enough for Hal.