sylph_fics | A Darker Path side-fic: Emerald Rest

A Darker Path sidefic

Title: Emerald Rest
Rating: R
Characters: Hal, Ollie, Dinah-around-the-edges
Warnings: Tissues, guys
Summary: A few quiet--and not quiet--moments.

Once back, Ollie breathed a sigh of relief that the kids were safe and sound now at Titan's Tower.

The speed of the kids' reactions to their approach had been comforting, if slightly startling. The news they'd had was worrisome, but he was too badly needed here to go gallivanting off into space to fight a storm. He'd leave that to the kid, this time, unless thinks went even more wrong...

"They'll be fine, Ollie," Hal said as his hands settled on his shoulders, thumbs pressing at the first hard knot of muscle he found--high in the nape of his neck. //Oh, Ollie...// He knew what it took to put those knots there, and it worried him. "That's a good bunch of kids. Quick, too."

"They'll keep each others' back," Ollie said darkly.

"You're right, they will," Hal agreed, still rubbing. With Ollie in this dangerous a mood--and who could blame him?--it was best to take it easy.

Ollie grunted, but let his head hang forward, knowing he did not need a knotted muscle right now.

A knot? What wasn't knotted up, at this point? They'd all learned, with varying degrees of skill, how to ease some of the pains their lives brought, and Hal kept working, touch occasionally lightening to a caress, just for a moment, letting himself take the time to breathe his scent... Of all the things he'd missed and regretted and wanted... Ollie had topped the list.

"Thanks Hal." Ollie sounded almost calm. "Can't keep pushing with those muscles corded...won't get a good pull."

"No problem, Ollie. Anytime, you know it..." He laid his cheek against the back of the other man's head, working out his shoulders.

Ollie smiled, pressing into the touch briefly. "I really ought to get back out there, now the kids are safe."

Hal sighed softly, closing his eyes, still working. "Ollie, if there's a source in three states that knows anything, they've gone to ground deep. I can't find them, J'onn," his eyes shut tighter, "told me he couldn't hear her, even Bats is running blind... and what's left of the League is going to need us both..."

"Hal...I have to find them. How can I choose the fucking League over my granddaughter? Over my son?" //Over the woman I wanted at my side for eternity?//

Hal sighed softly, "What good is it going to do to run yourself into the ground chasing shadows, Ollie? I've tried everything I can to help, I'm..." His hands shifted, before going back to working on his shoulders.

Ollie leaned his head back, shifting with too much anger, too much hostility. "Hal, I'm not sitting in this house while the world falls to hell and back."

"When was the last time you slept?" His hands caught that rise in tension and he tried again to smooth it away... Dealing with Ollie when he was knife-edged like this was, in its own way, as difficult as dealing with the Bat--and he hated trying to work around it... Once, he wouldn't have had to...

"I don't know." At least Ollie admitted it. He did not try to hide when he did not sleep or eat. And there had been too much of both happening even before his family vanished, as the whole mess with Light had come out.

"Then it's been too long," Hal told him, frowning.

"I can't!" Ollie shot up and away from him, falling into the tiger-pace he had when he felt the world was ignoring his efforts to save it. "I see..." //her face, the blood, feel the fear...him, so thin, so haggard because I screwed up...that sweet baby, crying...looking for us// "I can't, Hal. Better to keep looking."

Hal judged that for a long moment, unable to smile even at all of the memories of that same motion, then stepped and caught him, wrapping an arm around him, "You've got to, Ollie. You need it..."

Ollie's jaw clenched, and Hal saw those failures haunting his friend, saw the pain of Speedy's addiction, of The Slasher, of Lian in the Yakuza's clutches written in every fiber of the man. "Hal, I need to keep working."

"And you need to be at the top of your game," Hal replied, holding him against him, hand hard against his back.

"Bruce isn't quitting...he's going after that satellite...I should be with him if I am so useless here," Ollie growled.

//He did not just...// Hal's brown eyes snapped with flame. "Bruce, as we all know, can be an idiot, and he's got to find the damned thing before he can go after it, Ollie. Which, as far as I know, he hasn't managed yet." //So what do you know that I don't? And since when are you two so tight?// Hal's hands tightened on him possessively, at the very thought.

Ollie looked down at the hands, then back up. //I knew him first...and he was there, when you...// Even in his heart he could not say it, remembering the horror of striking Hal //not Hal, Parallax// down with an arrow. "He always has a plan."

Hal's eyes narrowed, remembering that look the Bat had thrown him, as if he had the right.... His blood ran hot at the thought, and it was a fight not to lash back at his long-time lover--but this was how Ollie got when he was hurting, like a sore-toothed bear, he lashed out at whatever was nearest. "Think you're going to do him any good exhausted, especially if he's being too stupid to take care of himself, too?"

Olllie flinched, not getting the response he expected, then he sagged into Hal's arms, resting his head on the man's shoulder. "God, Hal, what am I going to do?"

One of those tight-gripping hands slid up his back into his hair, other arm shifting to pull him closer, hand sliding over his back. //That's right, Ollie. I've got you.// "You're going to hold on," Hal wasn't taking no for an answer on that. "We're going to make it, and once we get a handle on some of this, there's someone that knows where they are... and we'll find them."

Ollie shuddered hard, fighting not to howl at the injustice of it all. In one morning he had lost half his family, and there was nothing he could do about it that seemed to work. Even Hal's strength could only go so far to keeping him going.

Hal's hand rubbed at his neck again, holding him in close, sensing a break-point coming... and he wanted it to fall his way, so his hands said, "I'm here, I know..." in their touch, sliding over him...

Ollie tensed, almost breaking, almost giving in to the need to sob through it, but an image of Roy, his green gold eyes sunken in a junkie's face penetrated the urge. "Sleep... maybe a bite to eat," he mumbled, pulling away.

"Food first, then bed," Hal replied, unwilling to let him go, arms tensing.

"Probably something in here," Ollie muttered, moving toward the kitchen, Hal in tow. He opened the refrigerator, and it was a good thing Hal was so close. Hal felt the muscles under his hand bunch and tense all over again, before Ollie irritably shoved a large pot to one side.

//Damn it...// Hal bit his lip, and stayed close, watching Ollie raid the fridge with sharp, hard moves.

The archer finally pulled out the makings of sandwiches, and set it all on the counter.

Easy enough for Hal to put together and it was about time he ate, too. Not like he needed to give the man with him any more reasons to lash out at him.

Ollie let Hal make the sandwiches as he rummaged for glasses and something to drink, growling when he could not find anything strong, not even wine. He was going to have to tell Connor to cut that crap out.

Hal knew what that noise was about, and sympathized... but the kid had done pretty good. He floated a sandwich over in front of him, waiting.

Ollie accepted it absently, distracted by trying to remember the last place he had stashed a bottle. "Did you drop by Alan's?"

"Since what point?" Hal asked, then downed a bite of his own food.

"After..." //after he had to bury his little girl// "Everything." Ollie gave up, poured them both cold water and gave a glass to his friend.

"Yeah. They're a mess... and man, I would not want to be on their bad side right now. That house is JSA central, and they're spoiling for a fight."

"Was Ted..." Ollie bit it off. "Yeah, I'm sure they're not going to go light, next fight they find."

"That's the truth," Hal agreed with him, drinking deep from the glass.

"Oracle finally admitted Pretty Bird is officially missing. Heard that while trying to coordinate with Bats. His kid being missing too, we're hoping they both have each other's backs."

"We could hope to be that lucky," Hal replied. "The list of people that are going to line up to beat them if they're okay..." It was a long, long list. That eased some of the tension, though, because it made sense for them both.

"Yeah." Ollie finished off his sandwich, clearing his mouth with a long drink of the water. "The boys could surprise us all yet."

Hal sighed softly, watching Ollie, worrying, having polished off his own food. He found that... unlikely, but he wanted it to be, for Ollie's sake.

Ollie grew silent; much as he could hold hope out for the boys having each other's backs, he was far more pessimistic for the woman he loved. She had been alone, taken under her own team's nose...and she was used to having a team these days.

"You need to rest, Ollie," Hal told him, finally, after waiting several moments.

"Yeah." He mechanically obeyed that, heading for the stairs.

Hal followed him up after dumping the few dishes in the sink with a flick of his ring

Ollie was struggling out of his clothes, his momentum slowing down and letting the exhaustion bleed through, and Hal slid into that space, hands easy as they started to strip him, motions familiar.

"Thanks, Hal," Ollie managed, his hands coming to rest on Hal's shoulders for support.

"Anytime, hotshot," Hal told him, a question in the touch of his hands, the line of his jaw.

Ollie answered by moving closer. He was in no shape to do more than surrender to Hal, but it would do them both good.

Hal pulled him close, hands strong on him as he kissed his lover deep, then eased him down into the bed, getting rid of his suit swiftly.

Ollie felt the kiss reaffirming the age old bond between them, that reminder of their narrow escapes and checkered past. He pressed into it, needing to have someone to hold onto, needing to be sure that this other love was truly with him.

"I've got you. Ollie. I'm here," Hal said once he finally broke the kiss, hands stroking over him, holding him close.

"Show me," Ollie pleaded...making a demand he normally would not.

"Easy, Ollie... anything you need..." he kissed him again, hands sliding down those arms--//god, he put more damned muscle on...//--over his wrists, shifting slowly against him.

Ollie pressed up, his mouth moving over Hal's chest, trying to feel and not think, to blot out the imagery in his mind. It was hard; even now the cruelty of all that was happening made him see a scar in the center of Hal's chest, a scar that simply did not exist, no matter how Ollie's subconscious made it be there.

"Ollie, Ollie... I'm fine, I'm here, stop... it's not there..." When Ollie had broken the kiss to mouth at his chest, he'd known... and the look on his face had confirmed it. "I'm fine, Ollie..." If that didn't help...

Ollie put both his hands on the chest, stroking it. "Yeah...I know." He closed his eyes. "Not sure I can do this right now, Green Bean...mind's playing tricks all over.

Hal pressed hard against that touch, //god, I missed you...// "You need to stop thinking. I used to be good at making that happen... but it's your call, Ollie..."

Ollie nuzzled him, and pressed up with all his body...but Hal could feel he was not coming around. "I know, Flyboy...just can't shake...God, if she's dead?!" he sobbed, finally losing it completely, hands turning to fists as he shook.

Hal wrapped tight around him, holding him with everything he had, blanketing him against the bed, wishing for one fleeting moment he still had that connection to heaven to reassure his heart's brother, his lover, that his lady lived... but he was merely mortal again, and all he could do was hold him, tight, run a hand through his hair and talk at him, "wish I could tell you she wasn't, hotshot, god, Ollie, do i ever, but she's smart, and crafty, if there was a way out she'd find it... she's not gonna leave us, she can't..."

"Dammit, Hal...when we find her...I'm marrying that girl, hell or high water." Ollie had to focus on that. "I've been too damned stupid. I'll make it work, the three of us...and she won't ever have reason to not be at my side."

Hal thought his lover was being ludicrously optimistic. Dinah would never stand for what Ollie was proposing, she didn't have it in her... but if they could make it work, he wasn't about to get in the way. "Okay, Ollie. Okay... and yeah, you were an idiot... but she's forgiven you for stupider shit before... She'll be okay. She's got to..."

Ollie pushed deeper into Hal's protective arms. "Yeah," he said sleepily.

Hal held him tight for long moments, then started to shift enough to spoon around him tightly.

By the time he settled, the archer was passed out, and hopefully dreamless.

If he didn't rest easy... well, there was a Lantern at his back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ollie/Hal...loved it. Love that Ollie was to make it work with both, even if he is a little overly hopeful in that thought. His fear, his guilt, it comes through so clearly. Just wonderfyl. :-)

Thank you! I do wish Ollie could have a happy ending all the time, but he's got a very jealous bird.

Ollie... he loves deep, he really does.. and yeah, way too optimistic.

Filly did a hell of a job with bringing that all to the surface with him.

Thanks!

Oh god! *twitters with glee.* They have no idea. They have absolutely no idea.

His kid being missing too, we're hoping they both have each other's backs."

You can say that, they definetly have each other's backs, just not at all like you hope and pray. I like how you have Bruce and Ollie coordinating with each other and finding a common link in their missing boys. It would have been so easy for the two 'fathers' to splinter in opposite directions over this.

Hal is just wonderful, he's concerned and considerate, loving and supportive even though he knows not to be as optimistic as Ollie is hoping to be. Especially about Dinah being alive and willing to marry Ollie if/when she is found. He has no idea that she is doing what she is doing.

I feel so badly for Ollie, pushing himself to and past the breaking point and not being able to get past, well the past shooting Hal and all that.

If he didn't rest easy... well, there was a Lantern at his back.

This end line was beautiful, so full of double meaning to me at least. Lantern, light, a Green Lantern, a force to be reckoned with. Just perfect.

Will there be a similar fic of Hal trying to console Ollie when all is revealed?

You assume there will be a living Hal or Ollie...

I am glad you enjoyed this.

That was evil. Now you have me thinking all kinds of bad thoughts. *sighs* Fortunately I understand the concept of no omlette without breaking some eggs.

Oh god! *twitters with glee.* They have no idea. They have absolutely no idea.

You are evil for being gleeful at their pain.

"His kid being missing too, we're hoping they both have each other's backs."
You can say that, they definetly have each other's backs, just not at all like you hope and pray.

I dunno, they did pretty good protecting each other...

I like how you have Bruce and Ollie coordinating with each other and finding a common link in their missing boys. It would have been so easy for the two 'fathers' to splinter in opposite directions over this.

They could have.. but not with the way they interacted in "Heavier than a Mountain"... the Brave and the Bold are back in action.

Hal is just wonderful, he's concerned and considerate, loving and supportive even though he knows not to be as optimistic as Ollie is hoping to be.

Hal had to fight with his temper some, but Ollie's his best friend, his partner... And yeah. He thinks Ollie's crazy for being that hopeful.

Especially about Dinah being alive and willing to marry Ollie if/when she is found.

Yeah. *WINCE*

He has no idea that she is doing what she is doing.

No, and thank god he doesn't. They don't.

I feel so badly for Ollie, pushing himself to and past the breaking point and not being able to get past, well the past shooting Hal and all that.

Yeah... he hurt so much. So, SO much... Filly did such a fantastic job with him, pulling out all that grief and guilt... and yeah. Owwie.

"If he didn't rest easy... well, there was a Lantern at his back."
This end line was beautiful, so full of double meaning to me at least.

*coos at you.* OH, Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it! I was pleased with it.

Lantern, light, a Green Lantern, a force to be reckoned with. Just perfect.

Yes, to all of the above, and thanks again!

Will there be a similar fic of Hal trying to console Ollie when all is revealed?

*points to Filly's answer, shrugs*

Wonderful..heartbreaking and awsomely written as always!

Thank you! Yeah, this one... ripped at me, too. Both of us, I'm pretty sure.

Thanks hon! It was heartbreaking for me to write.

Nicely done. For once I actually feel sorry for Ollie. Normally I think he's a flake, and prefer to see Dinah elsewhere... even with Barbara, when it comes down to it. Very nicely done.

I want my OTP back together darn it...but if they can't be, at least I can show how tortured they are.

Oh, wow, please please don't tell me you'll kill Hal or Ollie.

That would break my heart beyond repair.

I've always loved GA with all his flaws and loudness, his bravado and great heart. Hal was too straight (pardon the expression) and too square for me. But here you could see the two of them just so right for each other - and that there's a pretty lady somewhere with Ollie's heart doesn't destroy the picture.

JSA spoiling for a fight? GOOD.

Even if this whole thing started with Dick, Ollie was the most injured of all heroes - he didn't just lost one family member, he lost almost all. And much as he would like to, he simply cannot take out Deathstroke. Can Hal do it for him

Brain tinkering now: wonder if they do meet in the field, and Deathstroke threatens Ollie's life in the process of combat, will Roy just stand by? And what will Dick have to say about that?

This is not critcon. :) This is an avid fan watching.

I cannot spoil anything. We're moving pretty close to endgame now, with maybe three major events left.

Just suffice to say, that when everything clears, NO ONE is safe. Doesn't mean there will be mass death, or injury or none at all...just means this thing's ending...still not set in stone, and DC's finest and Worst may never be the same.

*is not spoiling anything*

I'm getting pretty attached to the man myself, and Hal, well... Hal can be grand.

Yup, the JSA's NOT okay right now.

*nod* Yeah, you're absolutely right, Ollie's lost the most of all of them.
*repeats not-spoiling comment*

Hrmm.... *grins*

I didn't cry, but I came damn close. Poor Ollie. He's lost practically everything and I'm just glad that he has Hal to . . I don't know, help pick up all the broken pieces.

she's not gonna leave us, she can't...

Oh - OW.

oh...you read it...

I feel so damn bad for what I have done to them...

*goes to put her in bed with the Bat and the Arrow*

Yeah. Tell me about it. Freaking hurt, all the way around.

And yup. It's a damned good thing Hal's back, and right there.

This one tore out my heart. All the hopefullness against what we know is going on... owwie. Loved Hal, trying to take care of Ollie. Giggled at Connor hiding and or throwing out all the alcohol. But Ollie's hopefulness nearly killed me. This was so bitter-sweet.

It is very bittersweet. And it hurt me lots to write.

Sorry about the heart-rending... *sheepish look*

If it makes it any better, it hurt for us, too. Yeah, all that hope, and how bad things are if they only knew... *whimper*

And yeah, Hal was trying.

Connor's a doll... and yes. It hurt a lot.

A Darker Path side-fic: Emerald Rest

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