feels like i'm drowning.

I feel like I'm drowning. You're holding me down and killing me slow So slow, oh-no. I feel like I'm drowning.

[renegadelantern]

bxrryallxn·:

“Hey, I’m always smart. We just don’t count the Flashpoint on that list.” He fired back at the man, shaking his head. He looked over the plane for a moment as Hal spoke, raising a brow when he mentioned Carol but waiting for him to finish before talking. “Carol’s pissed at you??” He questioned. He nodded some and patted the metal of the plane a bit. “I guess transport jobs aren’t too bad of a gig. Kind of boring for my tastes.” He rolled his shoulders some. The speedster turned and looked over the male for a moment. 

Out of everyone in Star City, there were only three people Barry was most concerned about reconciling with. He’d already been trying to work things out with Wally, even if they weren’t going so well. Iris was nowhere to be found in the City; and that only left Hal. All of Barry’s adventures with the League; the friends he had made; Hal was probably the closest out of all of them. They’d always been close friends, for as long as Barry could remember since they met. “So, do you just fly now?” He asked, walking back over the man and tucking his hands into the pockets of his coat. “I mean, is it just Hal Jordan these days? Or did the Corps put a pass on being possessed?” He asked.

“When’s she not pissed at me.” Hal said with a laugh. It always seemed like he did something to screw things up just as they started to get good. Hal almost mentioned that he was starting to see Linda now, but something kept him from revealing that information to Barry. Hal wanted to see how the man had been doing before unloading every detail about his new life. “Just Hal.” He nodded. “Sinestro killed Laira and after I went on a rampage as a Red Lantern, they took my ring away--- permanently.” Hal pursed his lips, “I get it though.... I hurt a lot of people.”

[renegadelantern]

As soon as the client left Linda’s office, Hal got up from his chair in the waiting area to poke his head in. “Doctor Martin, I know I didn’t make an appointment, but it’s an emergency.” He faked a frown before grinning widely at her. They’d been seeing each other pretty casually for the last couple of months. Though with Barry popping back in all of the sudden, Hal was really thrown for a loop. He needed time to collect his feelings and to just be who he wanted to be with and not deal with any stresses. “I’m afraid I’ve come empty handed though, the Thai place on Third was fucking packed--- and I couldn’t wait another minute to see you.” Hal grinned.

@therapisttothedevil​

[renegadelantern]

Hal hadn’t spoken to many people in the League since he came back. He briefly met with Diana, maybe exchanged a hello with Clark, and caught up with Michael on a park bench. The only ones who he kept a daily contact with at this point were Ollie, Dinah, and Barry. So when Bruce approached Hal in the abandoned hangar, Hal was more than surprised. “Hey, old man.” he smirked, putting his tools down to greet Bruce. “Uh--- need something? Never pegged you as the type to want to catch up over coffee.” Hal attempted to joke.

@justicealwaysprevails​

[renegadelantern]

Hal hadn’t met with Flash for a few weeks, partly his own doing. He wasn’t drinking again or anything, he was just not feeling up to leaving Oliver’s penthouse and venturing into the world. It was just an odd mood Hal got himself into once in a while, but once he was back to his normal self, he still hadn’t heard from Flash. Hal left several texts and voice messages, only to get nothing in return. So when he found himself free that afternoon, he went down to the VA office to find him. “Hi---uh-- Flash Thompson? Has he been here recently?” Hal nervously asked the woman at the front desk, fingers drumming anxiously against the counter.

@agentvxnom​

[renegadelantern]

grnerror·:

“I’m sure you’re ahead of me on the list,” he replied. “It’s not like we’re on the best terms these days.” Ollie knew that he and Roy were as close to a lost cause as things could get. It was enough to drive him crazy, knowing that he was the reason everything between them was so messy, knowing that everything that had led up to this boiling point of anger could have easily been avoided if Oliver had been smart enough to actually do the right thing instead of acting impulsively and ruining everything. He wrinkled his nose slightly. “It’s not just an identity crisis thing.” He paused. “Well, it’s mostly an identity crisis thing.” He sighed. “I don’t know. Things are easier now, but maybe I just think I’m supposed to be doing better because I took all this time out, but honestly, I don’t know if I am better.”

“Running doesn’t do us much good. I learned it the hard way too.” Hal shrugged. He spent months alone in his old house drinking himself under the table. Some days he didn’t even get out of bed. He just drank under his sheets and fell asleep again. Those waves of not getting up to do anything came and went, Hal just had one while Oliver was gone and he was trying to get over it. Both of them couldn’t mope around, it’d only be bad for the relationship. “Rather than running away, try running towards it. Go deep into the city, get back to work, do some charity gigs--- bring the old Oliver Queen back I guess. It’s worth a shot, right? Maybe you’re better, you just haven’t been in the situation to realize it again.”

[renegadelantern]

bxrryallxn·:

“No, I uh, kind of made it a point to stay away from our friends – I stuck to the past and kept to myself so I wouldn’t risk changing anything in the future. One Flashpoint situation is more than enough.” He explained with a soft laugh. He listened to Hal’s tale and his eyes widened some. “Damn, I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you out with any of that… Red Lantern, too? You know I like the color red, but green suits you much better I’d think.” He grinned. At Hal’s comment on his looks, he shook his head some. “I’m proud of you for the sobriety man. THat’s great.” He said. “Missed you, man.” He added before coughing some. “So, uh, what you doing here?” He asked, gesturing to the plane. 

“So you finally got smart, huh?” Hal teased with a smirk. “Yeah it was---- it was a lot. I went through a lot.” And because of all that, Hal started shutting people out. He shut out Carol which only drove her away. He shut out Wally and Dinah, and if Barry had been around, he probably would’ve shut him out too. Now though, Hal was getting back on his feet and it seemed Barry came back at the perfect time to not get shut out of his life. “Missed you too.” Hal nodded with a small smile. “Uh, fixing it. I fly for Ferris still, despite the fact Carol’s pissed at me. But I still take up transport jobs and such so... kinda need my plane to fly in order to do that.”

[forceoflegacy]

[renegadelantern]

@bxrryallxn

[renegadelantern]

bxrryallxn·:

Barry’s lips curled into a light grin as the other approached. “Hey.” He chuckled out softly. Thank God. Barry mentally sighed with relief. Hal didn’t seem too angry at him showing up out of nowhere. “Uh… here and there… and then and now?” He scratched his neck some. “I was in the Speed Force and bounced between a few different years.” He explained shortly. “What about you? I’m glad to see you’re still around.” He smiled again. “You look good, man. A little scruffy. Good though.” He joked.

“Years?” Hal’s brows shot up. “You see me anywhere in there?” He asked with a small chuckle. “Oh--- you know... possessed by a demonic parasite--- uh, was a Red Lantern for a bit. Then for some reason I showed back up here and got really stupid drunk.” Hal said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m coming up on six months of sobriety though.” He pulled out a necklace with his chip on it, “Got my five month chip last week, see.” Hal moved closer before looking up at Barry. “Uh, yeah, you-- you look good too. Nice.”

[renegadelantern]

pulitzcrwinner·:

Lois pursed her lips lightly, her arms folded over her chest. She tapped her index finger against her upper arm, obviously full of nervous energy. She wanted a drink but her budding alcoholism hadn’t gotten to the point where she would continue to be blatant about it in front of a recovering alcoholic—instead, she just sat down across from him, crossing her legs and forcing herself to take some deep breaths. 

“He doesn’t even want to see me anymore,” she said simply. “He hates me for leaving.” It was even harder to try and take care of the people she loved when she was sure that they didn’t want her there, that they didn’t want her around. She couldn’t blame Jon for being angry, but she had thought the anger would subside. It still hadn’t. 

“I don’t think you can push it--- not that I think you are at all, but these things take time.” Hal nodded. He was still working on fixing the trust and relationships between him and the other Lanterns. Jess seemed to forgive Hal for Parallax pretty quickly, but Guy and Kyle were something else. They needed more time to heal. “I believe he still wants you around though, you’re his mother. No matter how mad a kid gets, they never want their mother to go.”

Hal swallowed thickly before sitting back. He was never the advising type, but after spending more of his time with Linda, he could at least figure out how to keep Lois calm. “How’s work going?” Hal attempted to change the subject.

[renegadelantern]

grnerror·:

Ollie wrinkled his nose when he realized that the lump on the couch wasn’t a pile of blankets, but was, in fact, Hal himself. He took a swig of water straight from the tap, sticking his head under the faucet for a moment before he looked back up. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, observing Hal with a keen gaze for a moment before things started to click into place for him. He knew Hal too well. 

“When was the last time you went outside, Hal?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at him before he walked back towards the living room. “Yeah, if you can count shaving my head and doing a lot of silent reflection on aforementioned head-shaving fun.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “It’s good to see you, buddy.” 

“Uhm--- the other day. I had to watch Lian. You and Connor both being gone put Roy into a real frenzy, you know. I think I’m the last person he’d want to leave alone with her, he even tried calling Jade before me.” Hal said sarcastically, slowly sitting up and pushing his hair out of his face. “Oh, the good old identity crisis head-shave. I’ve yet to have one--- and I’m quite proud of myself for it. My looks really are all I have going for myself.”

Hal watched Oliver, head tilting as his brows furrowed. “Really? Well--- good to see you too.” His eyes shifted awkwardly. Hal felt a pull with Oliver’s eyes on him, and he snapped himself right back out of it by keeping his eyes glued on the TV. “Uh-- I took the trash out last night so you don’t have to worry..”

[renegadelantern]

bxrryallxn·:

“HAL JORDAN!!!” Barry shouted loudly as he strut his way through the open doors of the hangar and plastered a wide, pearly grin on his face as he went. “Where are you? Come on, don’t tell me I walked here for nothing!!” He called into the hangar as he strode farther inside.

“And I mean walk-walked. Took a bus over and everything, so you better be here man.” He continued rambling as he went. “Meant to come by sooner when I got back in town… I just, wasn’t sure what I’d say.” He rolled his shoulders once more.

@renegadelantern

Hal nearly hit his head when he stood to look out the door of the plane. “You’re shitting me.” He said with a small grin when he saw Barry Allen easily strolling into the hangar. Hal dropped his tools and ran down the steps to walk towards him. He pushed his hair out of his face before letting his hands fall easily at his sides.

“How about a hello? For starters.” Hal smiled softly. Reuniting with everyone after Parallax was hard, and awkward. But he and Barry had been awkward their whole lives, he hoped they could skip it this time. “Where’ve you been?”

[goldengauntlet]

[renegadelantern]

@bxrryallxn + @justicealwaysprevails

[maurawrites]

Michiel Huisman as Dawsey Adams in ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’

[jonostarsmcre-deactivated202002]

I’m not leaving you, Barry. Never, okay?

[renegadelantern]

@bxrryallxn

[renegadelantern]

like / comment for a starter from hal jordan !!

[grnerror]

@renegadelantern liked for a starter!!

He told Hal to stay at his place while he was gone. It felt right—at least, it felt better than kicking him out. However, now that he was back, he wasn’t sure that Hal would be thrilled to see him. He had hidden away from all the terrible shit that had happened in his city. He had abandoned his friend. He walked into his familiar penthouse and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly, dropping his bag by his feet at the doorway. His chest felt tight. 

Oliver stepped further into the apartment, his boots making dull noise against the floor as he ran his hand over his head before dropping his fingers to squeeze at the back of his neck. “Hal? Are you here?” He wasn’t sure if he hoped Hal was or not. He wanted to see him. He felt bad for leaving. He didn’t want to get into a fight. He leaned against the counter in the kitchen and let out another heavy sigh. He needed to do something with himself. He didn’t know what he could do. 

[renegadelantern]

While Hal had been sober for months now, he was still mentally slipping. He felt more tired than normal, generally just uninterested in things he used to love. He hadn’t worked on his plane in weeks, he stopped going to AA meetings, and just started lazing around Ollie’s place. Hal didn’t know what this phase was, but he hadn’t done much to get out of it besides watch whatever cheesy Hallmark movie was on when he was actually awake. 

The door opening woke him up from his sleep on the couch. Hal lifted up to see Oliver, a small smile on his face as he rubbed his eyes. “Hey, you.” He said as if Oliver hadn’t gone this entire time. Hal ran his fingers through his growing hair that reached down to the back of his neck now. His eyes fluttered shut before shaking his head to turn to watch Oliver in the kitchen. “Have fun?”

[renegadelantern]

pulitzcrwinner·:

Lois had strong opinions on just about everything, whether it was the latest Met Gala’s fashions or it was the civil war in Yemen. No matter what the subject, Lois had something to say about it—and usually, she had a lot to say about it. Something like this, however, with the force of the police and the oppression of their government constantly suffocating them…it took a whole new level. Lois was so angry sometimes that she felt like her skin was on fire. She worried about her son. 

“What am I going to do if Jon gets into trouble?” she asked, something desperate in her gaze now, almost (but not quite) masked by her anger. “What am I going to do if they take him? He’s my son and I can’t protect him.” She shook her head, her hands dropping to her hips. “Good for you on the sobriety thing, though,” she said, deflating slightly. “It’s really, really good, Hal.” And was probably something she should work on. 

Hal didn’t hold attachments to people anymore. There were people he cared for deeply--- Oliver, Dinah, Barry, Carol--- but what he’d done as Parallax would set him apart from them all forever. Hal couldn’t feel personal attachments anymore, he couldn’t physically or emotionally bring himself to have those bonds again. He cared deeply and wanted to protect them, but he couldn’t form the same bonds he once had.

“I don’t--- I don’t know, Lo.” Hal said with a soft sigh. He didn’t know how to give her advice on something he had no clue about himself. “I guess--- I guess you just have to watch out for him. Make sure he’s in by curfew, that he not being stupid. You just gotta keep an eye out.” He tried, giving her a nod. “Yeah, it’s whatever.”