In the dead of night, Hal Jordan landed in Barry Allen's front lawn, sluggish and tired. He'd just returned from a grueling mission which involved the revolution of an enslaved planet, so right about now, he was thinking, 'Jeez I could really use a nap'. What better place to do that than Barry's couch? Not that he had anywhere else to go.

Being an intergalactic space cop wasn't exactly what you called a well paying job. So naturally, he fell into debt, lost most of his belongings, his apartment, and his job at Ferris Air. So for a year or so now, Hal had been hopping from one friend's house to another. To be honest, it was embarrassing having to rely on other League members to kindly let him into their personal lives. Hal liked being independent.

That said, he'd stayed with Clark for a while. The Kents had been warm and welcoming, but Hal left after a few days, because being polite was exhausting. And he didn't want to overstay his welcome with the nicest people he knew anyway.

After another stint in space, he stayed with Oliver, in his family's mansion, for as long as Moira Queen could stand having him. The line had been drawn when he and Ollie returned from a boy's night out with 4 heavily intoxicated women. Moira lost a priceless vase that night, so Hal figured it was time to g when a large shard of it was being aimed for his head.

Hal stayed at the watchtower for a whole night before he decided it was too cold, and creeped him out. Besides, he really wanted his feet on the Earth during his down time anyhow. So the search for somewhere to lay his head dragged on.

He'd spent about 2 minutes on paradise island after that. He was promptly booted off for making a sideways comment to one of the Diana's amazon sisters about firm hindquarters.

And forget even asking Batman for a favor. He was about as warm as Victor Fries's butt in a snow storm.

That left Barry. His best friend.

Hal had avoided asking Barry for any favors because he didn't want to create tension between the two of them. The last time the League got together and fought an alien invasion on Earth, he and Barry were sure they were goners. When it looked like the end for them, Barry blurted out that he had feelings for Hal, and he was sorry he didn't say something before. Hal was completely blind-sided by his confession. Up until then, Hal thought Barry was completely straight, what with Iris and all. So, when they were saved in the nick of time by a very angry Kryptonian, Hal was at a loss for words.

His silence probably wasn't reassuring either, because Barry quickly said "Just forget I said anything okay? I'm sorry. Ishouldn'thavesaidthatIknowyou'restraightThatwasstupid." Then he ran back to Central City before Hal could even snap out of his surprised state.

They had spoken since then. They were integral parts of the Justice League after all. It was impossible to avoid each other. Hal had tried to broach the subject to relieve a little tension. But Barry would usually remember he had somewhere to be, or that he'd forgotten something at work, and take off in a blur of red and yellow. Since then, they'd avoided topics like spouses, dating, and sex. They used to share everything, and now that Hal was sleeping on his couch every now and then, he felt that he had an obligation to make things easier for Barry. There had to be some way to make him comfortable again.

Powering down the emerald ring around his finger, Hal let himself into Barry's cozy, not to big-not too small house. His clothes changed from the sleek black and green uniform, into a weathered aviator jacket, and jeans that had seen better days. He removed his boots, lumped them in the pile of shoes by Barry's front door, and padded his way into the living room. He settled on the couch, and turned the tv on. It was no surprise that cartoons filled the screen with their bright colors and looney sound effects. The tv was on the same channel he'd left it on last time he was here.
He kept the volume low, laid down, and then let himself nod off to sleep. Maybe he'd talk to Barry in the morning about what he said. Maybe things would be better.

A few hours later, he was roused by the sound of Barry trying to come down stairs without waking him. Barry sighed softly, picked up the remote, and turned the tv off. Then he covered Hal with the blanket that usually laid on the back of the couch. Hal didn't move or signal that he was awake, but he really wanted to. Barry was so important to him. It made his heart ache that they weren't as close as they were before.

Barry just stood there in the dark for a few moments. Maybe thinking, maybe watching Hal 'sleep'. Which... should have been creepy, but strangely wasn't.

Barry hesitated, but then leaned down and brushed away the few strands of hair from Hal's face. Hal couldn't see it, but Barry smiled when he saw the beginnings of grey streaks forming at Hal's temples. He combed his fingers through it and chuckled quietly.

"Grey? When did we get so old, huh?" He whispered.

"I'm not old, I'm only 30." Hal said in a sleepy voice.

Barry's heart leaped. He jerked his hand away. "Jesus Christ, Hal! I- I thought you were sleeping! You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry." Hal chuckled softly. "What are you doing up anyways? It's still dark out."

Barry's heart began to settle itself. "Couldn't sleep. I felt the tv on."

"You... felt it? Oh, right. Electricity."

"Mmn." Barry nodded, and sat down on the carpet next to Hal, leaning back against the couch.

Hal sat up on his elbow and just looked at the silhouette of Barry's head in front of him for a bit. It was a comfortable silence, interrupted only by the AC kicking on, and a humming car passing by the house occasionally.

"Hey... Barry?"

"Hm?"

"Do you have to work today?"

"No, I'm off weekends."

Hal usually lost track of time when he was doing Green Lantern things. He wondered how long he'd been gone this time, and Barry must have read his mind, because the next thing he said was, "It's March 30th."

"Oh." It had been 2 weeks.

They continued chatting idley about the League, what they'd been up to since Hal was off planet, and how Wally was lately.

They were quiet for a while, and then Barry said, "You talk to Carol yet? About maybe letting you fly again?"

Hal winced at the mention of his ex. He dreaded the thought of having to talk to her again after he'd crashed a one million dollar F-15, and then booked it to Oa without so much as a 'ttyl'. She was probably still fuming about it.

"I've been busy." Which was true. For the last few weeks, he'd been either on watchtower duty, training Green Lantern recruits, or fighting to protect some planet he'd never heard of. "Just got back too..."

Barry just nodded.

"Listen, if this is about me finding my own place-"

"No!" Barry turned to look at him. "No. I like when you're here." Hal was relieved. Maybe things weren't weird for Barry? Maybe it was all in Hal's head?

His eyes had slowly adjusted to the dark, and now he could see Barry's bright blue eyes. Maybe it was how tired he looked, or the sad sound in his voice, but Hal sensed Barry wanted to say something.

"Barry, you okay?"

Barry said nothing. He just pushed his face against Hal's chest and let out a soft whimper.

"Whoa, Bar-" Hal put his hands on Barry's shoulders. He should have pushed his friend away, and asked what was going on, but instead just pulled him close, and coaxed him onto the couch.

Hal didn't expect what happened next. Barry kissed him.

...and Hal let him.

Barry's skin felt like touching a static charged surface, and Hal liked it. He leaned in again and Hal rose to meet him, his heart was thrumming in his chest.

The kisses were closed mouth at first, but after a moment, when Hal hadn't shoved his friend off, Barry got a little more bold. He climbed over Hal's hips, straddled them, and continued kissing like he hadn't moved at all. Saying Hal was surprised was an understatement. Questions about Iris, and 'I thought you were straight all those years, what makes me the exception' popped in his head, but nothing came out of his mouth as Barry worked him over.

Barry threaded his fingers across Hal's cheeks and through his hair as he kissed him, full mouthed and needy, and Hal kissed him back just as greedily. His hand roamed from Barry's shoulders, down his sides, and onto his rear. Then he gripped Barry's hips firmly, and pressed his groin upward. Barry gasped.

"Sorry!" Hal said in a loud whisper. "Sorry! I-"

"No." Barry pressed his forehead to Hal's, catching his breath. "D-do it again."

Barry sat up, rocked forward, and it made Hal shiver. The electricity was literally tangible between them. Hal could hear little pops and snaps as he smoothed his palms over Barry's skin.

"Shit, Barry, are you even real right now?" He lifted his hips up and rubbed into the crease of Barry's boxer briefs.

"I don't know, just need you to-" He grabbed Hal's dominant hand and pressed it into his hardening cock. There was only a thin piece of cotton between his hand and another man's piece, but that didn't seem to bother Hal. "Need you to..." Barry's voice was raspy and desperate.

"To what?" Hal asked, completely mesmerized by Barry's hands. Hal reached down with his other hand to pull that annoying piece of cloth down. Just a little closer...

"-Need you to wake up." Barry said.

"What?" Hal looked up at Barry. "No no no!"

Barry was suddenly standing above him. "Wake up, Hal."

Hal's eyes flew open, and the room was suddenly bright. He groaned angrily, cursing the windows around them. Barry was standing in the middle of the living room, fully clothed, and not looking impressed.

"Come on, get up." He tossed a bundle of dress clothes at Hal. "Get showered. We're going job hunting."

Hal had one foot firmly planted in his dream, where Barry was half naked, writhing over him, and begging for affection though. His cock was at full attention, but 'real' Barry hadn't said anything about it. He was too polite to. And there was no way he hadn't noticed. Hal smoothly sat up and used the blanket and clothes to cover himself.

"You really want me out of here, huh?" Hal said sleepily.

"I want you self-sufficient." Barry said matter-o-factually. Satisfied that Hal was waking up, he left the room.

Hal groaned and flopped back down on the couch. Things were about to get more complicated for sure.