Hal could definitively say that this was the healthiest, easiest relationship he'd ever been in. He thought everyone should date their best friend. Being with Barry was as effortless as breathing, more passionate than any night spent making up with Carol after a fight, and completely amazing.
The Lantern was finished moving in; he'd unpacked the last box a week ago and plugged himself into Barry's life pretty neatly. Wally loved him too, which was really the icing on top of it all – even if he didn't know yet that Hal was dating his dad. Explaining that would come later.
Right now, the only dynamic in his and Barry's relationship that had changed was the physical one. They were both a lot more conscious of little touches and too long looks. Hal was actually making a huge effort to not be as gross in front of Barry. He put more time into looking good and dressing well, although he only owned a handful of nice shirts. Barry wasn't just a really good bro anymore; he was someone who made Hal's heart race and his throat go dry. Hal absolutely wanted the stunning speedster to find him attractive.
That's why it was so infuriating when Hal woke up one morning and found an ingrown hair. He didn't know how he hadn't noticed it before, because it hurt like a bitch and was the size of a friggin dime. The main problem was…it was right in the middle of his back…and he couldn't reach it. He'd considered using a ring construct to get it, but he'd probably end up stabbing himself accidentally.
So, he needed someone else to get it for him. Unfortunately, Wally was six, and Hal would be the worst adult ever if he gave him a knife. He also wasn't about to go to the hospital for an ingrown hair. So, the only person left was…
Hal buried his face in his arms and let loose a pitiful whine. He was straddling one of the kitchen chairs backwards while Barry swabbed the bump with rubbing alcohol.
"Oh, quit being a crybaby. I know you've had worse than this," Barry squeezed his shoulder and then left to get the tweezers. Hal couldn't see his face, but he could hear the smile in his voice.
"It's not the pain," Hal sighed, rolling his forehead across his knuckles in misery. "There's gonna be pus and all kinds of nasty smelling hell fluids and stuff. I'm sorry I had to ask you to do this."
Barry was back now and scooting a chair closer while he prodded at the bump experimentally, "Are you kidding? This is like a dream come true."
"Uhh…" Hal opened his eyes and half glanced over his shoulder. "Explain that, please."
"There's something you don't know about me, Hal – something you couldn't possibly know," Barry told him in an overexcited, slightly creepy tone. Hal could hear the chair creaking as the speedster fidgeted happily in his seat. "A secret so deep and dark that no one else knows but me."
"Um, please don't say you're secretly a cannibal or something," Hal joked, but he was seriously baffled.
"Nope. I have literally spent…" Barry began dramatically. Hal felt him splay a hand out on his back and touch the tip of the tweezers to the bump. "-hours watching cyst lancing videos on the internet. You have no idea how much I've wanted to drain one myself!~"
Hal rolled his eyes in exasperation, "You have got to be kidding…"
"Uh-uh," Barry gleefully kissed him on the cheek and then got down to work. "By the way, I'm definitely videotaping this. You don't mind, do you babe?"
"No, of course not. Go right ahead," Hal said sarcastically as he rested his chin on top of his arms. He didn't know why he'd even worried in the first place. His boyfriend was such a colossal dork.