Chapter Text
Hal blinked.
He was surprised to find himself sitting on a chair, in his quarters at the Watchtower. There was an open file in front of him on his desk he didn't remember opening. Well, now that he was thinking about it, he didn’t even remember coming here.
He really should sleep more, his constant trips to Oa were messing up his memory. His previous whereabouts were a total mystery. He didn't remember anything that had happened after his last flight, just after lunch.
Someone knocked. Hal turned around.
"Hal, you're ready ?" a familiar voice asked through the door.
Hal checked his appearance in the mirror and made his uniform appear.
"Uh yeah, sure.” he said, opening the door.
He wasn’t certain why Bruce had thought necessary to escort him to the meeting. Meeting he had forgotten about, but Bruce couldn't know that and he didn’t remember having missed any lately. If it was anyone else, he would have thought it was for company but that wasn’t really Bruce’s kind of thing, was it ?
And what was it with the Hal thing ? He usually was Jordan for Bruce.
They walked together to the meeting room. The distance between them was shorter than usual and their armored arms brushed against each other several times on the way there. Bruce did absolutely nothing to prevent it and soon enough they reached the right room.
"Don't be so tense. It will be okay." Bruce said, squeezing Hal's hand before holding the door for him.
Hal threw him a confused look but went in. Most of their teammates were already there. Hal went to sit next to Barry but Bruce held him back by his wrist.
"Hal." he said, and he was frowning.
The Green Lantern wasn't sure why but he felt compelled to stay at Bruce's side and shut up. Now didn't seem the right time for questions. He could feel how jittery Bruce was despite his self-control, perceived it in a way he wasn't used to.
Someone closed the door of the room and Hal barely noticed it. Why was Bruce so nervous ? Why were he and Hal the only ones not seated ? Why did he have the strange feeling that Bruce was his lifeline right now ?
He straightened, crossing his arms on his chest and Bruce took a discreet step closer to him.
"Today's reunion is not about League matters. You have been convoked on mine and Hal's behalf. Most of you are aware that we're in a relationship." Bruce said before pausing.
Hal felt himself blink once, twice, three times. It didn't do anything for his hearing - he was quite certain Bruce had told the League they had been dating.
Hal wouldn't have minded that much if they had been dating for real. He was quite certain they hadn't but kept his mouth shut. Maybe it was a prank of some sort, or he was dreaming, or it was an elaborate plan or, or…
No one seemed to find it funny however. They were all looking at Bruce expectantly, as if what he had just said was perfectly reasonable and they just wanted him to indulge them and go on. Which he did.
Bruce offered Hal an hesitant smile, which was definitely a first. Hal tried to smile back not too awkwardly. Bruce intertwined their fingers and that was it, Hal was going to wake up. Soon, hopefully. This was getting embarrassing.
"Hal and I have an announcement to make. No, we're not having a ceremony. Hal, maybe you want to share why ?" Bruce said, and his voice was velvety soft.
It was a bit upsetting since he was still wearing his suit.
What had he asked for, again ? Hal’s participation in something ? Hal was too busy staring at their hands to form coherent thoughts.
"Er, I am good, thanks. You can go on."
Bruce applied some pressure on Hal’s hand. He looked a bit surprised but mostly concerned.
"I can -" he started saying in a low tone, apparently for Hal’s -and everyone here possessing superhearing - benefit.
Hal shrugged. He hadn’t a clue about what was happening here. Possibly if he ignored the situation, it would just go away.
"Do as planned." he said, and his throat felt a bit dry suddenly.
Bruce nodded and turned his attention back on their audience.
"Right. We're not having a soul ceremony because despite how much we care for each other, we're not soulmates." Bruce revealed.
The silence was so loud after that Hal wanted to cover his ears and get away from here but Bruce’s hand was still in his and the man hadn’t moved at all.
"You're not soulmates ?" some voice raised in the assembly.
Hal turned his attention away from Bruce’s thumb rubbing calming circles on his hand. The atmosphere in the room, until then rather friendly and open, had shifted drastically. Many arms had been crossed, some people were frowning, surprise or outright disgust could be read in many faces.
Hal shivered slightly and Bruce moved even closer. Hal could feel the heat radiating through his partner’s body. It felt oddly familiar. He had rarely been so close to Bruce.
"How can you ?" someone spat.
"Why ?" another voice raised.
Bruce looked at Hal, shook his head and sighed before speaking up again. His voice had lost all his warmth. It was icy cold now, more adapted to the current atmosphere of hostility surrounding them.
"Silence, please. We were under no obligation to share this with you. We did because we believe honesty and trust are important in a team. We're not asking for anyone's opinion or judgment on our private lives. We thought it was important to come clean with it but now that it's done, it should be considered dealt with.”
Some other voices raised. Hal kept his focus on Bruce’s body language. Trusting towards Hal, wary of their current audience. Voices kept rising in the superheroes' ranks.
"This is absurd."
"I need to think about this."
Hal felt the anger rising in him in waves. Those people were their most trusted friends, people each of them would have trusted with their lives, and they were judging them about some trivial matters ? What the hell ?
"Hal ? Come on, we should go.” Bruce murmured, tugging at his hand.
Hal followed him through the corridors to Bruce’s own quarters.
“Why did you make us run ?” Hal asked once the door was closed.
He had taken his uniform and shoes off and sat on the queen sized bed instinctively, a leg folded under the other. Bruce hadn’t even protested.
Bruce had removed his cowl and started undoing his suit before answering.
“A fight wouldn’t have resolved anything. Clark is going to smooth things out and hopefully it’s not going to affect the team too much. I am sorry, Hal. I really thought it would go differently.” Bruce said, letting his now naked hands caress Hal’s cheeks as he kissed his forehead briefly before looking for civilian clothing.
Some part of Hal’s brain was definitely aware that Bruce stripping in front of him casually, wandering half-naked looking around for clothes and making comforting, intimate gestures as they chatted wasn’t something he was used to. Another part just felt sad and angry about what had just happened and relished in Bruce’s attention.
"Are soulmates that important ?" Hal asked and he sounded rather vulnerable to his own ears.
He had wondered so, but the question almost seemed like it wasn’t his own. Bruce stilled for a second, his shirt only half buttoned and his armor only partially removed, before sitting next to Hal.
“I know this isn’t easy. But some of them will come around. And if they don’t, that’s okay too. It could be worse. My kids don’t care and your mother doesn’t mind either.”
“That’s not an answer.”
"You know that soulmates are important, for society at least. But you also taught me to not care. You might not be my soulmate, Hal, but you're the love of my life. I wouldn't trade that for the world."
“Bruce, I -”
“It’s okay, Hal.” Bruce murmured before leaning forward.
Hal was starting to panic - should he tell Bruce he didn’t know what had happened but he wasn’t his Hal ? Should he let him kiss him ? The idea wasn’t so unappealing but that was hardly fair, right ?
Thankfully, the decision was taken away from him. Just as he was starting to feel Bruce’s breath on his lips, he found himself back in his bed.
He laughed, turned in his sheets… and screamed when a muscular arm wrapped around his waist.
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"It's going to be fine, it's going to be fine." Hal muttered under his breath.
For some reason, he was in his old flat. It would have made better sense for him to wait for Bruce at the Watchtower and now he was going to be late.
Like he had not enough pressure on his shoulders as it was. He went to the bathroom and splashed some water on his face. Right now didn’t seem like a great time for a panic attack.
The funny thing with panic attacks was that there was rarely a great time for them.
Bruce. He needed to think about Bruce, Bruce who was probably waiting for him worriedly and was going to flood him with texts if he didn’t show up at the Watchtower soon. Knowing him, he may have already organized a search party. The thought made Hal laugh. Good, he had regained his composure and was breathing easier.
Hal shook his head to focus back on what he planned to say at the meeting and got out of his flat. There had been something bothering him as he had been there, as if the flat wasn’t in his normal state but Hal couldn't pinpoint what and didn’t have time to figure out what was different. Well, he rarely went there anymore, so that might be why the place had seemed so unfamiliar.
Why would he come back here, when he could come back from OA directly to Bruce’s arms and fluffy pillows instead ?
He managed to be barely late to the reunion, which owed him a frosty glare from Bruce. Hal arched an eyebrow at him, confused. His partner had started the reunion and hadn’t even kept a seat next to him for Hal.
Something was obviously wrong but they hadn’t argued for some time so Hal wasn’t sure what. Of course, planning their status reveal had been kind of stressful, but they had agreed on it, talked about it at length.
Maybe Bruce had felt uncomfortable, waiting for Hal to show up and not knowing if he was still in agreement with the plan or if he was going to chicken out.
Well, maybe ignoring Hal’s glances the whole meeting was unnecessary anyway.
After the meeting, Bruce had just left swiftly, not waiting for Hal.
Hal had followed him outside immediately, and noticed it had owned him a few surprised looks. Well, the other Leaguers could think whatever they wanted. Trouble in paradise ? he could already hear Oliver ask him compassionately.
Bruce walked quickly and Hal cursed him before walking faster to close up the distance that separated them. He grabbed Bruce’s arm just before the next turn.
“Wow, I am five minutes late and suddenly we’re strangers ? I know it was an important meeting and I am sorry for having been late but that didn’t mean I -”
Bruce made an annoyed hand gesture to make Hal shut up. The Green Lantern had acted strange during the whole meeting, staring at him for the whole meeting first and having followed him to babble about something or other after. It didn’t seem to quite make sense.
"Look, Jordan, I don’t know why you’re acting so upset today -"
Hal’s face went quite red.
"Jordan, really ? You're wondering why I am upset ? Oh God, I was feeling bad for missing the start of the reunion but you’ve actually forgotten ? How could you ?” he said, and his voice was so, so quiet.
Just like a volcano before a volcanic eruption. You could know when Hal was really upset and going to lash out when he went very quiet. Well, some people could tell, and that day, it didn’t seem to include Bruce.
“Lantern, what are you talking about ? Are you drunk ?” he asked, ignoring the warning signs.
Hal chuckled, looking at the ceiling too intensely, before turning his gaze to Bruce.
“That’s - you knew it meant a lot for me. I know we’re not soulmates, oh do I know that, but I didn’t think it prevented you from respecting me. I know we said rather ugly things to each other in the past, but that was supposed to be the past.” Hal said, in a higher pitch than his usual one. “I was idiotic enough to think I meant something to you.”
“Something’s not right.” Bruce murmured.
He was frowning, looking at Hal with clear interest, like a scientist in a research lab examining a rat.
“Yeah, you.” Hal told him with a murderous glare.
Bruce shook his head and pointed his chin towards a door.
“Come with me.” he told Hal.
Hal sighed and rubbed his hands over his eyes.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I am angry at you. I am not going home with you just because you asked - ever so nicely, should I add -, I am going back to my flat for tonight. That should give you enough time to figure out what you did wrong and to start working on an apology. Tell Alfred and the kids I am sorry but I couldn’t make it, I am sure you can make something up about my flight schedule or something.”
Bruce looked at him even more sharply.
“What are you even talking about ? You need to be examined.” he said, taking a step closer as Hal took a step back.
“Stop fussing ! My head wound happened weeks ago and has healed nicely. If it’s some fucked up way to have me to agree to stay, I swear to God -” Hal started saying threateningly just as Clark appeared in the corridor.
“Clark, I think we have a problem. Can you confirm it’s Hal ?” Bruce asked to the alien.
Clark frowned but did as he was told, checking Hal for anything unusual.
“What the hell, Bruce ?” Hal snapped.
“There’s a curious mark on his arm, but expect for that, he’s the exact same Hal than usual.” Clark reported, shrugging.
Hal had turned his face away.
“A mark ?” Bruce asker, none the wiser.
Hal scowled at his partner and crossed his hands.
“You know. The mark. On my right arm. Becky. Can we not discuss it in front of someone else ? No offense, Clark but that’s… quite personal to say the least.” Hal said.
Clark just said he didn’t mind Hal thinking so and should go, but Bruce asked for him to stay, and Hal just shrugged.
“Show me.” Bruce said, coaxing Hal into baring his arm.
Hal looked at his feet. No matter how many times Bruce had said he didn’t care, that it was part of Hal and Hal’s history, the Green Lantern was still self-conscious about it. And not very interested in showing it to Superman.
“You’ve seen hundreds of times, I promise it hasn’t changed since the last time you've seen me naked.” Hal muttered, making the joints of his hand crack.
He did it when he was feeling uneasy. And when Hal felt uneasy, he could be quite mean. The naked comment was a low blow, because Bruce carefully kept the life they had built for themselves away from the spotlight.
“Sorry ?” Bruce said, and his eyes had widened.
Hal decided to take pity on him.
“It hadn’t moved an inch.” he affirmed, rubbing his arm just where the inelegant mark was, testimony of a soulmate who had been long dead.
“Last time I've seen you naked ?” Bruce parroted.
He looked genuinely intrigued. Hal shrugged, if Bruce wanted to expose more of their personal lives to Clark, so be it.
“I don’t keep a detailed record of the number of times we have sex, but that must be Wednesday evening, right ? We’ve been too busy afterwards. Maybe you should be the one getting an exam.”
Clark was looking at them strangely too, he must have felt that the atmosphere was getting quite tense.
“I didn’t realize you two were involved.” he said.
Hal raised an eyebrow, he hadn’t considered this eventuality, persuaded that Clark’s soulmate or Bruce had ended up telling him. He turned to Bruce, because that had gone too far.
“I am sorry, I didn’t realize your best friend didn’t know. I thought you or Diana told him, since it had been going on for a while.” Hal said, taking a step closer to Bruce.
“Hal, why don’t you come to the medbay and sit there for a while, uh ? Clark, I assure you that me and Hal had never been involved.” Bruce asserted and Hal felt like he was a lab rat once again, one just about to be dissected by an overzealous scientist.
What a charming feeling. Yesterday had been such a nice day. What had happened ?
“I can understand you not wanting to share… the specifics with your friends, but outright denying our relationship ? After all we went through ? You know what ? Maybe my soulmate’s dead but she’d never played with my feelings the way you did.” Hal said quietly.
“Your soulmate ?” Clark asked.
Hal lowered his head, he should have been ready for that question. He would have taken Bruce’s hand into his to answer this, if they hadn’t been arguing.
“Yes. Bruce isn’t my soulmate and I am not his. Not many people know. Just Bruce’s kids and my Mom. And you, now.”
Hal felt an armored hand on his shoulder and looked up. Bruce. He didn’t look apologetic, just worried.
“Do you think he had been drugged ?” he was asking Superman as if Hal wasn’t right there.
Superman just shook his head and made a gesture for Batman to shut up.
“Hal, am I to understand people have soulmates where you live ?” he asked seriously.
Hal made a face. Weren’t Kryptonians supposed to have soulmates too ? Diana and Clark rarely acknowledged it but they were soulmates. Looking at Clark’s face, Hal noticed something was amiss.
“What the - where’s your mark ?” he said, urgency in his voice. “Where’s Diana ?”
“Sorry ?” Clark asked, looking even more surprised, as if not having a mark was totally normal.
“Diana kept hers hidden, but I should be able to see your soulmark, you’ve never covered it. What happened to it ? Where is she ?”
Before Hal could get an answer, he found himself back to his true world, his lover’s arms wrapped around him.