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They're rolling on the ground as punches fly, mostly from John hitting Hal over and over again, the man trying in vain to defend his face and gain the upper hand.
It doesn't work, John's stronger than him — physically, at least, but Hal's too bitter to admit that his trainee is also mentally stronger — and younger, able to easily overpower the older Lantern.
They don't talk. They did talk, briefly, when John burst into Hal's motel room as he was charging the ring and. Well, John mostly told Hal about his varying frustrations and Hal threw in a quip or two at John's expense.
It was becoming very usual of them.
As was the fighting, this rising tension that had finally snapped between them.
John throws another punch and straddles Hal's hips, pining the man down on the dirty and scratchy rug.
He grabs at Hal's hand that tries to come up and block the punch and shoves it roughly down, doing the same with the other.
Hal lets out a grunt in pain and his eyes shutter closed. A crease forms between his brows at the pain that radiates down his arms, into his shoulders and down his back that's in the most uncomfortable position, arched off the carpet.
His face is bloodied, it trickling down from his nose and onto his lips. There's bruises forming on his reddened cheeks, faint now but for sure to be darker later and his eye is busted.
He must paint a picture, pathetic on the floor at the mercy of his trainee. At the mercy of his replacement.
He feels even more pathetic, unable to break out of his hold John has him.
"Well then, what the hell are you waiting for Junior? Fucking finish it." Hal bites out, spiting in John's face. "Come on, you'd be so fucking happy, huh? With me out of the way."
The man scrunches up his face in disgust at the saliva.
"What the fuck man?" John grunts out and gets close to the older man's face. "And what the fuck are you talking about? The ring? I'll get to that."
But something in Hal's expression, like disbelief, makes John pause as he's gearing up to hit Hal again.
Almost like... he was expecting something else.
...finish it ... out of the way.
Finish... Hal himself?
John quickly releases Hal's hands and leans back, still on top of the man. He wipes at his face, still disgusted, but his eyes find Hal's again.
The man's rubbing at his wrists with a wince and refuses to meet John's eyes.
"Finish what?"
"Just shut the hell up, okay? It's nothing. The ring."
John's frown deepens.
"You wanted me to punch you again. To take it further."
It's like a light bulb clicks on when Hal bites his lip in nervousness.
"Hal..." John poses it as more of a question, but his voice has softened considerably.
"Drop it, Junior," Hal hisses out and his eyes are full of venom as they meet John's. Eyes which are dragged down by heavy eyebags.
John's breath stutters.
His mentor really was going to accept death.
How come nobody had noticed this? —Well, that alien had. He had spelled it out. Him and Kerry had just been far too busy worrying about the threat to properly digest that piece of information.
Hal must see the gears turning into John's brain or maybe the expressions he makes, but he really doesn't have time to ask more question.
To ask Hal why in the hell he'd do this? Why he'd want this? Hadn't he gotten everything he could ever want? The ring, the title, the glory which he hoarded like a dragon would its treasure.
To ask him how he'd be able to leave all these people behind — but really, what people? In the months John's been with him nobody has contacted him. Nobody at all.
To ask him if he'd just straight up abandon being the Green Lantern?
It made no sense to John, far too many contradicting thoughts mushing his brain.
He doesn't have time to ask anyway because the laser blows up the motel merely a second later and darkness washes over any thoughts of Hal Jordan's relationship with death.