tushanshu_logs | catch-all log

[Through the whole fight Hal pays little attention to his wound, or even the fact that there's now a knife sticking out from his arm. It doesn't hurt, after all, and while the blade is still there he's not going to bleed to death as well. He'll be fine in the meantime--although of course it would be good if they can finish this up quickly.

Barry - or rather, Flash - lives up to his name and helps Hal clean up double time, including tying the goons up which is something Hal doesn't really do. Usually all he does is just punch them out and leave them in a spot where people can call the authorities.

All of it is done with minimal fuss, and once its over Barry is looking at his injury and being all worried, so Hal does what he does best and shrugs it off.]

Might give them a chance to escape if I protected myself. I just took a chance to get them ASAP.

[Its all a pretty logical explanation.]

[There's the tiniest, pettiest part of Barry that wants to retort that the bad guys won't get away while he's around, but he's aware of where he - and the rest of the League - stands in this Hal's eyes and so he doesn't comment, instead making his way over to where Hal stands, blood seeping from his arm wound.

Also sorry Hal, but you - any version of you - aren't exactly known for your cool, logical explanations.]

If you say so. [His words are doubtful.] How much does it hurt? Can you still move your arm?

[Hal simply looks unconcerned and shrugs.]

It doesn't hurt. I'm fine. Don't worry about it.

[See? He's even moving his arm freely to show you he's okay.]

I'll just go and get it fixed after this - its no big deal.

[Nuh uh. You are not fooling him. Folding his arms, Barry shoots Hal a very solemn stare.]

I realize we're not the best of friends [or even good friends, really] but you don't have to put on an act in front of me.

[Barry's still under the assumption that this Hal is just as macho as the one he knows, and not aware that the injury doesn't actually hurt. There'd be a lot more freaking out if he knew.]

At least let me go with you if you go get it checked. [He'll rest easier that way.]

[Hal just blinks at Barry here, almost owlishly even.]

I'm not acting. [Really, he isn't. He flexes his arm again just to prove it, and then hitches a shoulder.] You don't need to worry, really. I'm okay.

[He opens his mouth to say something, stops, blinks, and then squints at Hal.]

Is the ring giving you some sort of anesthetic?

[--oh crap, he screwed up somewhere didn't he.]

Er. Maybe? [Do the rings of the other Lanterns do that? Hal isn't too sure about that.]

[Considering just who his best friend is, Barry's still fairly ignorant when it comes to all the different things Green Lantern rings can and cannot do. Had Hal just confidently stated 'yes' Barry probably would've dropped the subject and attempted to maneuver the wounded Lantern to the nearest clinic.

As it is, he doesn't like the uncertainty currently in Hal's voice. He stares at the ring, stares at the knife, and then in the space of a second, pulls out the knife and jabs it into Hal's shoulder just hard enough to draw blood.]

Wha--

[Flash, just like his name, moves too fast for Hal to really understand what he's doing - and by the time he does, blood his already dripping down from the wound and Hal is making a distinctly annoyed face rather than an expression of pain or agony.]

What the heck are you doing? Do you want me to faint from blood loss or something?

Neither of your wounds are deep enough to cause major blood loss within such a short amount of time; you're fine.

[The words are automatic. While he's had plenty of experience with the police department to back up his words, he's honestly more concerned over the lack of reaction to pay much attention to potential blood loss.]

You didn't feel that, did you. [Said as a statement, not a question.]

[Annnnd he's caught, isn't he. Hal just cringes a little because yeah this is not what he had hoped would happen.]

Yeah. [Since its useless to deny it--] Your point?

[His point is that it's not normal, but that implies then that Hal himself isn't normal and somehow he figures that's not what the other man wants to hear. And for all he knows, this Hal might have just come from a planet where pain receptors aren't a scientific miracle of life. (He doubts that but hey, it could be possible.)]

Have you always not been able to feel pain? [Let's get that out of the way first.]

[Hal just kind of does a noncommittal shrug thing, neither confirming nor really denying anything, although his answer is more helpful in that regard.]

Uh, no? I'm a normal guy, if that's what you're wondering. [Well, at least until he got his ring. But that's another thing altogether.]

[Define 'normal'. But that's a good enough answer as any, if only because it tips the scales towards one direction. Unfortunately, Barry's no medical doctor and things that don't involve dead bodies aren't really his area of experience. Though at the rate things are going, he might end up with one on his hands if he doesn't figure out what's up with Hal.

Part of him wants to bulldozer forward and interrogate Hal like he would any suspect; another part of him realizes that could be incredibly alienating.]

We should get you patched up first. Is there a clinic you prefer?

[Yeah Barry bulldozing forward isn't going to help with things here, you made the right choice.

At the question Hal simply lifts his uninjured shoulder and shrugs.]

I'm fine with anything. [Well, so long as he doesn't have to deal with the other Hal.]

Clinic it is then.

[And before Hal can protest, he's being picked up and carried and then deposited on a clinic bed some six feet away. The kedan nurses are protesting at the sudden intrusion, but Barry simply waves a hand and points to Hal's stab wound.

All that done, he turns back to the patient.]

Sorry about that. I figured it would be faster. [Apology out of the way:] Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? I promise I'll make it quick.

[akl;jare Barry what are you even doing--

Hal barely has any time to react once more and he really has to wonder if this is going to be a thing because yeah Barry, rude. Kind of. But at least you're nice about it so...]

Right. [Under his breath, and Hal takes in a new one before he gets to the next bit.] And even if I said 'no', I doubt you'll listen to it.

[He's a superhero too, you know. He knows these things.]

[Hey now, that's hurtful.]

If you say no, I won't ask.

[Not all superheroes are douchebags, okay? Some of them actually take the time to listen every now and then. Sometimes he wonders if that's the only thing he's good at, listening, because most times it seems like he just messes things up more when he opens his mouth.]

I won't lie and say I'll be happy about it, but you have a right to say and do what you want, when you want.

[Well that is certainly a change. Hal blinks, surprised by those words - and it's not hard to appreciate Barry just a little more. Guess he's actually different from the rest who just seem to demand respect and stuff without giving him any whatsoever.]

You're nice enough about it, so-- [Shrugs] --feel free, I guess.

[There's a ghost of a smile on Barry's face at the acquiescence but it fades quickly enough as he gets to work. He's not going to waste this opportunity in case Hal decides to change his mind.]

I'll make it quick. [Like everything else he does.] How long has this been going on, as far as you can remember?

[A brief pause as Hal recalls it all.]

Since Halloween. [Bluntly. Yeah, it makes it obvious, but its not like Hal can lie though it anyway.]

[Of course. The disappearances and their side-effects. He really should have guessed, all things considered. But at the same time it's relieving to know that whatever's afflicting Hal is part of some common thread and not an additional thing he now has to worry about. There's enough going on as it.

Barry nods, filing that information away before he follows up with another question.]

Have you noticed anything else strange since then? Physically, mentally...?

[Hal shrugs again here.]

You mean aside from--? [Gestures to himself here.]

[Hal sure is eloquent, isn't he? Barry sighs and places his hands on his hips. Why does it feel like he's talking to a child right now?]

Yes, aside from that. You should get it checked out, by the way.

[He means specifically by Batman, but any specialist clinic should probably do.]

[Because Hal is a manchild here, true story.]

Besides that, there's nothing else.

[And that is the truth this time.]

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