A/N: This is a happy belated birthday to dracula-key! Here's some Hal/Verena love for you! :)

COAST CITY
OCTOBER 25, 2010
01:51 PDT

"No."

"Yes."

I took a glance at Hal, as he didn't listen to me. He turned around the corner and I heard screams as his character onscreen was killed by a zombie.

"I told you!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms in the air in frustration. "I told you there was a zombie hiding behind the corner! Don't you doubt me!"

Without even looking at the screen, I finished off the rest of the zombies with three consecutive shots to their heads. The scores came on the television screen, displaying that I had won. Of course.

Hal let out an impressed whistle.

"Are you honestly surprised?" I inquired, arching a brow at the older man.

Hal shook his head, pursing his lips. "Nah, not really. But it never ceases to impress me."

I put down the fake gun onto the coffee table, and sat back on the couch. I exhaled deeply and bounced a bit as Hal landed on the cushion next to me.

"What grade are you in again? Seventh?"

I looked at him strangely. "Tenth, Hal."

"Of course, of course," Hal nodded. "How could I forget that you, twelve-year-old Verena, are in your sophomore year. You gonna go on to college next year?"

"Don't be ridiculous," I snorted. "That's the year after. I'm starting my senior year next year."

Hal shook his head and commented dully, "I'm so stupid. Of course."

"Glad you realize that," I responded, grabbing a pillow and pulling it towards me. "It's a wonder what Carol sees in you," I teased.

Hal looked at me with feigned offense. "I think I'm quite the catch."

I looked at Hal. He was dressed casually in a thin white t-shirt and heavyweight jeans and because we were in his home, he was barefoot.

His short brown hair was disarrayed, falling over his forehead without a specific pattern. His chocolate colored eyes twinkled in mischief, something he usually had around me.

I gave another look, seeing that his t-shirt clung around his upper torso quite similar to how t-shirts clung to Bruce and Dick's chests, emphasizing their fit muscles.

"You probably are," I responded, even though I knew Hal was a great guy. I tossed him a grin, to show him I was just joking.

"I saw you looking at me. I know," he sighed. "I'm sexy."

"That's wrong on multiple levels, Hal," I laughed, whacking him with the pillow. His hand shot up and caught it easily and his deep laugh joined my own.

Once Hal was done laughing, he said, "Y'know, a friend was over the other day and he thought you were my daughter."

Immediately, my eyes darted over to a picture that Hal kept framed on his wall. It was a recent picture, just taken less than a week ago. I had gotten two tickets to an aircraft show, and usually, I went with Dick, but because we were fighting, I went with Hal instead.

"I forget you're old enough to be my dad," I commented, looking at Hal. "You're old."

"Thirty-three isn't old! I'm considered in my prime!" Hal refuted.

"You're starting to sound like a woman there, Hal," I teased. "So what'd you tell him?"

Hal shrugged. "I just said I didn't have a kid and that you were my friend."

That piqued my interest. "Really?" I cocked my head to the side.

The pilot looked at me strangely. "Yeah… what else would I call you? My friend's daughter?"

"Well, yeah," I nodded. "Don't you think it's weird you consider yourself a friend to someone my age?"

Hal shook his head. "Nah. I trust you as much as I trust Bruce, Barry, or Ollie. To not call you my friend would be like I'm ashamed of it, and I'm not."

I smiled and reached over, wrapping my arms around him. "You're a great friend, Hal."

Hal chuckled softly, returning my embrace. "You're not such a bad friend either, Verena."

A/N: D'awwww. :) Hal and Verena are such good friends... Remember to review! ALSO, SHOW YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SEQUEL OF BLACK FALCON, WHICH WILL BE COMING OUT THIS WEEKEND!