NOT YOUR AVERAGE FLYBOY. │🎶

The statement only makes him jump back up from his chair all too fast– arms waving back and forth in a hurried fashion to clear whatever misunderstanding an unclear mind might of created. He knows Hal drinks; it’s part of his character and they all had their own vices ( Barry’s more then likely being binge eating while watching Netflix on a lonely night– so yeah, some where worse then others ) but as long as Hal wasn’t drinking and driving he didn’t have to go full cop on him. ❝ What– no. I’m not– I just… usually I do this by myself. It’s Christmas Eve Hal, even when Bruce attempts to volunteer I send him home to his family…. ❞  Oh Barry– always self sacrificing. He shifts uncomfortably at the last word. Hand running up to blonde hair to card through just a bit too slow as blue eyes darted down. ❝ Y’know people have traditions– and if you have one, I don’t want you stuck here being miserable. I’m not saying to go home cause you’re drinking. I’m saying that…. ❞ To go home and do those traditions and not be stuck with boring old me. The thought gets caught in his throat. Jumbled in a mess of noises that are spoken low and fast that unless Hal was a speedster he wouldn’t of understood.       ❝ I’m just saying that if you have something better to do–      It’s okay. I can handle this by myself. ❞

                    anger unfurls within his stomach quickly, SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE as he eyes Barry ; the utter audacity of him to even criticize Hal -----

                    and as quickly as it envelopes him, it vanishes within a plume of smoke. his increasing ire depletes at the sight of Barry’s surrender, and GUILT is soon to follow. shoulders slump and eyes avert as he itches at his nape. he hadn’t meant to get onto the speedster -- let alone, assume the worst of him -- but...maybe he was just a touch TOO-tipsy. 

                    a sigh passes through the part of his lips ; gaze lifting, he stares Barry in the eye and mutters, ❝   ‘m sorry, Bear. I didn’t mean to ---   ❞ he gives a shake of his head, and he sorts through his thoughts as he struggles with an apology. ❝   I didn’t mean to get mad at you. I just... I did have plans, but now that they’re canceled...   ❞ he lifts his shoulders in a shrug. walking around the console, he drops himself into the chair next to Barry’s unoccupied one and quickly places his feet atop the flat surface. ❝   Looks like I’m STAYING, and I’ve got eggnog to go with your cookies.   ❞ 

A roll of his eyes as he watches the Lantern’s ridiculous reaction to his remark. Clutching the bottle like it was his life line on a sinking boring boat and for a second it registers exactly what Hal was doing before Bruce called him in; drinking his night away alone somewhere in his apartment or a bar. Hal was drinking to combat loneliness just like how Barry was hiding away from the festivities in fear of jealousy rearing it’s ugly head. Except Hal was already a bottle or so in and Barry just took to celebrating his own lonely Christmas yearly in the tower. ❝ It’s okay– I’m not going to take it away from you. Christmas Eve is usually quiet anyways…. I got um, snacks and stuff– so if you really want to go back to what you had planned I got it under control. ❞ An absent minded hand waves towards the table with food before plopping himself back down in the chair with an ‘oof’. It wasn’t like he hadn’t offered it before ( he had to everyone he did monitor duty with on Christmas Eve ) and it wasn’t like he was waiting for someone to say ‘nah I’ll stay’, ( because for the record they almost never stay ) he’d rather just– self sacrifice. If Hal had other things planned, then he should go do them. Barry could explain away to Bruce later on why he wasn’t there. ❝ And just for the record it’s NOT ugly it’s cool— or would you think it would be cool if I wore the version with YOUR symbol on it? ❞

                    always the ne’erdowell amongst the League, Hal is very much aware of how the other members view him and his...TENDENCIES. his proclivity for drinking -- and drinking a lot -- don’t sit well with his teammates ; if anything, they often chide him on being far too LOOSE with his morals and choice of activities outside of the costume. 

                    if there was ONE PERSON he THOUGHT he could count on, it was Barry. he and the speedster had been through a lot---enough to make them best friends. and yet...Barry was now regarding him with a lifted brown and the beginnings of a disapproving frown. 

as he parts his lips, beginning to retort...he’s given pause. his mouth flattens as he considers his words---because she was right. he HAD caught on fire last year. ( not that it was his fault or anything. )  ❛❛   We BOTH know, Dinah, that it was an accident.  ❜❜ brown eyes shift to settle on the blonde. ❛❛   And we BOTH know that it was Ollie’s fault since he spritzed me with lighter fluid right next to the grill.   ❜❜

There’s a physical jump to Hal’s voice; feet darting off the table and the speedster standing in a under a second flat. Face flushing as his mind register’s the comment while arm tries desperately to hide what he was wearing over his Flash suit.  ❝ It’s uh— well they were selling them in a store by me and… I thoughttheywerekindacoolso…. it’s sorta a tradition isn’t it? To wear a sweater? ❞ He really didn’t know. Barry didn’t have Christmas traditions. Instead watching this monitor every Christmas Eve being more then one then anything he had. At least he could help make the world safer on night where no creature should be stirring. He shifts and Barry catches the faint whiff of alcohol on Hal’s person and there’s an immediate change of attitude from flustered to a raised brow and a tight smile. ❝ Hal– did you really, really get drunk before you came here? ❞  

                    amusement flickers within chocolate eyes as he listens to Barry’s explanation---or to what little of it he can actually understand. ( something about traditions? Hal had no clue about those ; the last time he’d had any sort of ‘ritual’ with Christmas was when he was a freshman in high school... anything past that was varying. ) ❝   You thought an ugly Christmas sweater featuring your own symbol was -----   ❞ laughter erupts from his throat as he sets down his bag ; he promptly begins to double over as his chuckles fill the wide space between them, echoing off the walls of the metallic room. ❝   You are such a nerd, Bear, I swear.   ❞

the memory inspires a smile to cross his lips ; he struggles to maintain a straight face as he replies, tongue darting out to wet his lips, ❛❛   Oh, Bear... LIVE A LITTLE. It was a surprise, gag gift, remember? Besides...   ❜❜ brown eyes focus on the speedster as his grin adds to the devious glint sparking in his gaze. ❛❛   ...you so ENJOYED it.   ❜❜

❝ I uh– I… ❞ He runs a hand through his hair and laughs a bit, albeit uncomfortably. ❝ Daughter from a future timeline? I uhh…. listen. ❞