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As usual, Hal Jordan was in trouble. His startled yelp had very nearly been inaudible over the rush of the river but Sinestro could never have mistaken it.
Despite the regularity of the situation, Sinestro was prompted to respond as he always was. Everything in his body burned for him to turn, to leap to the side of the human that had become his responsibility and friend. Losing all sense of dignity, he hurried to where Hal had disappeared.
They'd been walking very close to the edge of the waterfall and a white gloved hand was just barely gripping onto the slippery rocks at Sinestro's feet. "Sinestro!" That was Hal, again barely audible but calling for help.
Without a second prompting, Sinestro dropped to his knees and seized Hal's wrist. It wasn't a moment too soon as Hal's fingers had been slipping.
If Hal fell into the cascading golden waterfall, he'd never survive. Their rings were ineffective in countering that one particular colour and miscellaneous yellow droplets were drenching the both of them so they were covered in it. There would be no escape for Hal.
Cold water splashed against Sinestro. The yellow was already coating Hal's arm and the only thing holding him was Sinestro's natural strength.
"Do not let go," Sinestro ordered. His own fingers were gripping into Hal with every bit of force he could muster.
Though the waterfall still rushed in Sinestro's ears, he heard Hal quip, "Glad you mentioned that. No way was I thinking about it before. Where do you get all this genius advice, I wonder?"
Busy shifting around for a stable position and trying to keep his ring far away from the water while his right hand gripped Hal, Sinestro ignored the snark. His plan was to tow himself and Hal free with a construct but he was having difficulty making the light form.
While Sinestro was distracted, another of Hal's hands gripped onto him. At first, the fingers slipped and slid, struggling to get a good great. Then they were squeezing tightly enough to bruise Sinestro's forearm.
"My arms are numbing," Hal muttered thickly and his teeth were starting to chatter. "It's getting too cold."
In response, Sinestro gripped onto him tighter. "I will never drop you," he pledged. If it came down to it, he'd willingly follow Hal into the waterfall. That was preferable to the alternative of losing Hal.
The feeble construct Sinestro had created was struggling to apply any force at all. It might as well have not been there. Too much water was spraying everywhere, infecting Sinestro's constructs, and he couldn't beat the yellow impurity even when he so desperately needed to.
With a frustrated growl, Sinestro abandoned the construct and gripped into the grass for leverage. "You will not fall." It was said as much to convince himself as it was to convince Hal.
Every ounce of strength Sinestro had was poured into trying to pull Hal up. Though his muscles strained, though Sinestro was determined, Hal didn't budge. The water making everything wet and slippery wasn't helping and Sinestro had to use half his energy just to stop himself tumbling in after Hal.
The longer it took to save Hal, the more water they'd both be covered in. Every bit of yellow infected their force fields, weakening the protection and lessening their survival chance. They were running out of time.
"Sinestro." Though Hal was hanging off the edge of the cliff and about to die, he managed to be quite calm.
Already aware of what would need to happen next, Sinestro shook his head fiercely. "No," he refused. It didn't matter that it was the only sensible option, that he'd have suggested it himself if he'd been in Hal's position. He wasn't going to do it.
"If you fall with me," Hal persisted with that characteristic stubbornness, "we'll both die. You have to let me go."
Hearing it said aloud didn't help. "I will not lose another Lantern," Sinestro hissed, holding onto Hal even tighter. "You are my partner. Losing you would be devastating for the Corps... and for me."
The last bit was spoken quieter, almost lost to the sounds of the waterfall, but Hal's gaze softened. "You're more honest when you're upset." It was fond. "Be honest now. I'm the better swimmer. I might just survive."
Usually, Sinestro might have accepted such a logical assessment but when it involved losing Hal, everything in him rebelled. Dying with Hal was more appealing than living without him. It was unfair for Sinestro to be forced through so many tragedies and he didn't want to experience any more.
For Sinestro to actually release the muscles in his hand, to be the cause of Hal's death, was repulsive. The inevitable result would be never seeing Hal again.
That thought of losing Hal cut into Sinestro. Never again would he hear Hal's voice, or watch him trip over the flat ground. There would be no more incomprehensible mistakes to fix or emotional crises to support him through. No more stubborn presence would guard his back with the occasional terrible joke.
Others might've considered such traits of Hal's to be flaws but to Sinestro, it was familiar and Hal and so it was perfect.
Whether from the water or for another reason, Sinestro's face was wet. He didn't particularly care other than to blink rapidly to clear his vision and focus utterly on the figure he was clinging to.
"Don't leave me hanging, Sin," Hal said gently with just a trace of a teasing smile like he wasn't the one in danger. "I don't want to be the one who gets you killed. Just let me go. I'm ready."
Though Hal was trying to act calm, shivers were wracking his body from the cold and he was sending the occasional apprehensive glance downwards.
It tore at Sinestro to be forced into such a position. "If it were possible, I would hold you forever."
The smile Sinestro received in response to those small words was blinding. "I know," Hal assured him. "On three, alright? 1... 2... 3."
All that time, Sinestro's muscles had been burning, straining to hold onto Hal and yet he still hesitated. It didn't matter. With that streak of fierce determination, Hal had taken control of the situation, wriggling free and doing his best to shove Sinestro away from the edge even as he fell.
Loss crushed Sinestro's chest and he couldn't breathe. Then he heard a crack, a yell, and a whole lot of swearing.
Heart in his mouth, Sinestro carefully peered down into the waterfall. "Jordan?"
For an awful moment, nothing was heard but the rushing of water. "I'm alright!" was finally yelled up at Sinestro and it was definitely Hal.
The rush of relief was dizzying. Beneath Sinestro, his knees buckled and he had to hastily throw himself back from the edge. There, on the ground, he sat, trying to regain some semblance of control over himself.
"I might've broken something!" Hal amended after a brief silence. "It wasn't my head!"
As smoothly as he could, Sinestro got back to his feet and flicked water from his suit. Everything about him was perfectly composed and entirely unconcerned. It was as though he'd never been moments from a total breakdown.
Back at the edge of the waterfall, Sinestro searched for any sign of Hal. "Where are you?" he demanded. Just looking at the yellow water was making him wish the colour was burned from existence.
"There's a cave!" Hal shouted back. "Behind the waterfall! It's a big drop so don't follow me!"
Desperate to see that Hal was well, Sinestro had been vaguely considering the jump but his reason asserted itself. If he got hurt, he wouldn't be able to help Hal.
A cry of pain cut through the rushing sound of the waterfall. "It's just my leg!" Hal was quick to assure.
Most of Sinestro's composure had vanished like it had never been there and he was worrying agonisingly over Hal's health and location and the best way to save him. "I will find you!" he promised Hal. "Do not move!"
"Where would I go on my broken leg?" Hal shouted back. "Genius advice, Sin!"
Exasperated, Sinestro didn't deign to reply but a small smile was on his lips. Even if he had to carve up the entire waterfall, he would find Hal. Nothing was going to keep them apart.