I'll Light the Way

“Break in is such a STRONG word.” Really, it was. Had all the bad connotations and everything. “It’s more likeeeeeee entering without a key.” Not really great either but it was better than breaking! “And it’s more like I forgot my key, and left my stuff in there and you could get the door open without breaking anything and I mean I could vibrate my molecules through the door but I figured this might be uh, easier?” 

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“And the right word” Hal replied looking at the other knowing they were about to commit some lawbreaking. “Okay but if Barry asks I’m telling him you broke in” He mused using his ring to create a key to unlock the door, after all, it wasn’t the first time he’d broken into a friend's place. “It would be easier and less expensive though I wonder why you forget both your keys and your things.”

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     “Oh I’m not judging” Wally assured him, holding his hands up. “If people need something like that to help them believe that there’s a reason that things happen or for why they are they way that they are then you gotta let them. While it’s not hurting anybody, I have much bigger things to worry about” the redhead nodded, listening to his old friend as he spoke. “It’s great to have you back around” he grinned, always happy to see an old buddy. “Nothing too new…just the usual” Just throwing himself into his work. 

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Hal looked at the other for a moment nodding his head “Everyone has their own little thing, that is something I learned earlier, especially with all my “cool” coworkers. I completely understand what you mean Wally” He mused looking at the other before chuckling softly “Yeah it’s good to be back around, everyone seems to be doing their own thing lately. I know I’ve been given a bit of a break from being a test pilot so I’ve been trying to find other things to fill my normally busy schedule”

Hal sighed looking at the other he should’ve known Barry would’ve given them a key if he wanted them in his apartment but at the same time speedsters were just in their own world. “Let me get this straight you want me to use my ring, which was a great honor given to me by aliens to craft a key to break into Barry’s place while he is at work?” He questions the other raising an eyebrow at them.

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Dinah flashed Hal a smile. “Yeah, well, it’s one of my many talents,” she said. She offered him a softer smile as he went on. “You know, you can always talk to me about anything,” she said. “Barry or whatever, anything.” She laughed. “Hal, I’m sorry, I feel like if you’re going to watch these shows, you have to accept that they’re absolute bullshit. They’re entertaining bullshit, but they’re still bullshit.” Dinah snorted softly. “They’ve also made hundreds of stories about girls falling in love with guys who relentlessly pursue them after being told no, like that’s not stalking. So, you know, grain of salt and all that.” She chuckled. “That sounds good. How’s sushi?”

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Hal looked at the other chuckling softly “Yeah I know Di, I’m doing okay for now just enjoying being back home you know? It was almost a year this time and I have to say I’ve missed everyone so much.” He replied seriously he loved his job don’t get him wrong but it got difficult to keep lasting relationships outside of his very good friends. “Oh My God did I mock your soap phase? Or that time you changed your looks to revamp your image?” He teased his friend “Of course they are bullshit, anyone with a brain could understand that with a little communication problems like that would never happen.” He mused before laughing shaking his head “It’s not romantic at all to chase after someone who doesn’t want you, it's just pathetic” He mused before nodding his head “Sure, It’s been a while since I’ve had that.”

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Barry snorted softly. “Yeah, well, if you can see my ass while I’m running that fast, more power to you,” he said. “Maybe Superman could clock me.” He raised an eyebrow as Hal spoke, a dry chuckle leaving his lips. “I work for the city, I don’t think you’re allowed to talk to me like that,” he teased. “And I only get off 5 as long as there’s not a crime scene waiting for me, which considering where we live, isn’t particularly likely.” He laughed. “He’ll show up when he feels like it,” he said. “Guys like him and Bruce, they always do. In the meantime, I’m guessing you’re mostly bugging Dinah because she’s gorgeous and fun to be around.” He smiled a little as Hal spoke, shrugging. “Yeah, I get that,” he said. “Most of us didn’t really ask for this. But if not us, who?”

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Hal smirked at the other winking “You know when you are running from it I get the best view of your asset right?” He replied chuckling softly “I think because you work for the City I can talk to you this way, believe me, I’m tamer than most” he teased his friend rolling his eyes at his answer “If you are trying to skip out on date night, you could say so then hope for a crime scene, I’m hurt” He pouted at his friend but knew out of most them Barry worked his civil job harder than the rest of them but he had missed the speedster and wanted to hang out! “I mean of course she is gorgeous and wonderful to be around, plus she always makes time for me when I’m sober too” He mused before shaking his head “But I got some pretty great friends out of the deal, and I got to see things some only dream of. Did you know I always wanted to be a pilot like my father? He used to take me up when I was real young, the closest to touching the sun we’d ever get he’d say.”

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Barry grinned at him cookedly and shrugged. “Yeah, well, most people are behind me in certain situations,” he teased back. “I don’t think they were looking at my ass.” He grinned again, glancing over at Hal. “I don’t think that’s something you’re gonna get me to admit without a few more drinks in me, buddy.” He snorted softly. “What’s Ollie been busy with?” he said. “Brooding and having a cleft chin you could drink water out of?” He looked over at Hal as he spoke, a thoughtful little frown pulling his eyebrows together. “Yeah, I know other jobs tend to come in between people,” he said. “Been there.” He snorted. “Okay, yeah, that’s what I’d call it, for sure.”

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Hal looked at the other smirking softly “Yes so naturally they are catching the view as you run away” He winked at the other after all he had very little shame when it came to Barry Allen but that was just how well he cared for the other. “Ohhh I do so love a good challenge, Let’s see you get off at 5 today? Sounds like I’ll have to invite you to my place for a nightcap so I can all the pretty compliments to spill from your lips.”  he teased his friend before shrugging “heck if I know, I’ve been bugging Dinah thinking it would pull the troll out from wherever he has been hiding yet no luck.” He replied before nodding his head “There are times I wish…I didn’t qualify for my other job but at the same time...I also know it was my calling to be him.” He replied honestly before winking at him.

-

She flashed him a smile and shrugged. “Being a buzzkill is just part of my charm,” she said, grinning at him again. “Although I personally like to call it getting to the bottom of shit rather than avoiding it. You’re welcome.” She only smiled as Hal spoke, shrugging her shoulders again. Her relationship with Oliver was definitely complicated, to say the least, but she knew that Oliver cared about her. And she cared about him. Nothing else really mattered. “Oh my god,” she said, laughing. “That’s absurd. If people in a twin’s live can’t tell her apart from her sister, that’s because they’re idiots. They should get help.” She giggled. “Well, I’m not as popular as Lian, so I’m free.”

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Hal looked at the other chuckling softly “I suppose you got me right there Di” He replied before shrugging his shoulders “You say that like I always am here spouting out shit to you, though to be honest you have a great listening ear” He teased his friend looking at the other he always felt closest to Dinah and Ollie it was like they grew up together even if they’d only met in their young adult lives. “Oh come on don’t ruin the drama for me!! We both know sometimes twins when unknown can be very convincing. Also what about those plot lines of long last twins they’ve made hundreds off media like that” He questioned before nodding his head “Well  neither am I so we can suffer together, how about we go out for lunch?”

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Barry raised an eyebrow. “Have you been looking at my ass?” he said, twisting around and looking behind himself as if he could actually catch a glimpse of his own butt. He supposed it was kind of hard to avoid looking at it while he was wearing the Flash suit. The spandex didn’t exactly leave very much up to the imagination, unless you had a cape to hide behind like Batman or Superman did. Barry snorted softly as Hal spoke. “Yeah, that’s me, I’m so cruel,” he agreed, sarcasm laced heavily in his tone. He gave a little shrug and looked over at him. “On a war path about anything in particular?” he asked. He laughed. “Okay, because you’ve gotten rid of so much of that cockiness, you’re practically a wallflower,” he teased.

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Hal smirked at the other’s attempt to check himself out “I mean I’m usually behind you in certain situations of course I’ve looked at your ass, don’t lie and say you haven’t checked me out Bar” He teased his friend before poking his head to regain his attentions once again. “Yes, you can be leaving me out to dry, can’t hang out with Ollie since he’s busy, and your working all the time.” He pouted cutely before shrugging “We are kind in the outs again about my other job, I feel like we are fighting more and more about it to the point where I’m kinda over it” He replied honestly before smirking “I’m the best damn wallflower you’ve ever seen” He smirked at the other.

Mia laughed. “I try, though the Flash family may have me way beaten in the mile a minute-ing. Or Tim when he’s had more coffee then the usual and the case is science-y.” She mused with a grin upon her face. “Oh come on Uncle Hal, I’ll let the elder excuse slide here but only the once,” She chuckled. “No way I’m gonna start listening the likes of Lex Luthor or-” She made an ‘ew’ face. “Vandal Savage. Yuck.” She snorted at this words. “Oh my god-  Uncle Hal no, just the same Titans and Justice friends we already know. As for ‘lovers’,” She could barely get the word out without chuckles. “Uncle Hal I assure you that you, Barry and Oliver will know when you get invited to the wedding.” Despite the joke, it did warm her heart that he was so readily to shovel talk someone for her sake. It felt good knowing he cared so much, so ready to watch her back from a new angle she hadn’t even looked at yet. “Oh that’s not so great,” She grimaced. Mia knew so little of Hal’s history, she realized with a stab of guilt in her chest. She should ask more often, learn more, she sure cared to know. He was family. “Awwww Hal,” Mia grinned widely at him. “Guess your real power is willpower.” She joked. “Oh little shrimp? Those are fighting words if I ever heard em. Bring it on Uncle Hal.”

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Hal looked at the other for a moment “You aren’t wrong there we have many colorful people in all families, Tim is someone I still can’t get over, such a bright boy but works himself too hard at times.” He mused before smirking placing his hands on his hips “Rude! I’ll have you know I’m quite the wise old owl when I want to be, just because I do it with a smile doesn’t mean I can’t be serious” He pointed at the other before laughing “You sneaky little devil! Though I’m always down for the looks of shock they’ll have of me knowing and they don’t.” He replied throwing his arm over Mia’s shoulder. “Life so rarely is fair, especially for those with higher callings, I never lose hope though I’m just not built that way” he mused honestly looking at the other smirking ‘You got that right! My willpower is so strong the ring sought me out.” He laughed moving to hold out his hand “After you Little shrimp I can’t wait to see how you’ve grown in your archery”

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Dinah flashed him a smile and shrugged. “I am on your side, that’s why I’m being honest with you,” she said. She laughed. “I don’t have any hot billionaires in my pocket, I don’t know what you mean,” she teased. Of course she knew exactly what she meant, but she didn’t think anyone really had Oliver in their front pocket. “Oh my god, you don’t actually binge a whole week’s worth at once, do you?” she teased him, smiling. “You have to have better things to do with your time. Like anything.”

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Hal managed to shake his head at his friend's words “Honesty is such a buzz kill Di” He teased her before laughing “Oh please put a pair of doggie ears on Ollie and he’ll be like a golden retriever with the way he follows you around” He bumped into her shoulder to joke with her. “Um, I’m not out here trying to wait a whole day to figure out if Anna is really her twin sister Ashley okay? “ He replied with a straight serious face before looking at the other “Like anything? Please I can’t even be scheduled in Lian’s schedule is booked for two weeks how can I wait that long, unless my favorite bird is free to hang out??”

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roy loved the sound of lian’s giggle, she knew the truth about most of the family. for a child she was surprisingly good at keeping secrets. she probably got that from her mom. “i’m happy your back, hal,” he said giving a warm smile.

“What could I say? I move fast, there’s a reason I go by Speedy.” She joked with a broad grin upon her face. “If I’m always gonna be a youngster then does that make you always an oldster?” She challenged him with almost a devious smile upon her face at the words. “I know, I see it with you guys, it’s nice.” The way they were with eachother, Hal, Barry and Oli. It was sweet, Mia hoped to have friends who remained close like that at their age too. “Yes I bet you do, especially when you’re not falling out of it.” She teased him with a happy chuckle accompanying her words. She did listen intently however when he spoke of the Lantern Corps more. “So is it the whole rainbow type thing or more of a limited capacity?” She asked curiously. “No amount of teaching from Ollie is gonna get you on my level, ‘big’ Hal.” She teased him. 

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Hal chuckled listening to Mia he couldn’t fault her there “Well Speedy is your name so of course you can go on for a mile a minute” He teased her before nodding his head “Of course it is, I’m elder meaning you have to listen to me, It works forever in my favor” he joked before looking at her “Alright enough about my besties, what about you huh? Made any new forever friends I should know about? Or lovers I need to give a good shovel talk to?” He questioned after all he’s spent loads of time off world he had to figure out what everyone was doing at the moment. “More rainbow type thing but each ring holds a different power, when I was first drafted into the corps, my mentor actually changed sides and became my enemy, the Green Lanterns are strong because of our will and the deep seated belief that we should always use our power to help those who can’t help themselves.” He explained before looking at her “Ahh we’ll see little shrimp, I’ll even be nice and let you pick the stage for us to hold this battle.”

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Barry snorted. “Crime scene techs don’t have assistants,” he said. “We’re not that important on the totem pole.” He groaned and put out his hand to Hal, cupping the man’s face and turning it away as if he could divert his words in another direction. “Oh, yes, it can,” he said, laughing as he let Hal’s face go and sat down at the bar. “Yeah?” he said, looking over with a little twinge of concern at Carol last name’s name. He knew how much Hal and Carol Ferris had been through together. “How did that go? Do you see a lot of Carol?” He smiled a little. “Did the training go okay?”

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Hal smirked at the other “Not even if they have great asses? I mean I see it now, I’ve brought you some coffee Mister Allen” He chuckled teasing the other before he was pushed away “You are so mean denying me love just because I’ve had a two” He pouted looking at him before sobering up a bit when it came to his boss “she is on one of her war paths again, but It’s nothing I couldn’t handle.” He mused, sipping his drink and mostly just focused on the work and learning more. “It wasn’t all bad I learned a couple of new techniques while doing the training and met some new pilots, cocky things they are but I’m sure I was the same way fresh out.”