Kyle turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder. “You know, if you were anyone else I’d think you were stalking me.”
“You have decided.”
The Spectre’s voice always had an element of other to it, but within it Kyle could always hear the man who had been Hal Jordan. “Yes, Hal. I think it’s best this way. Ion … it’s a lot of power. More than one person needs.”
He could feel the presence floating at his shoulder, even out here in space. The Spectre projected an aura of … well, as close as Kyle could describe it was as if the entire Universe was standing next to you. And as Ion he’d become more sensitive to it. Electricity prickled up his spine and throughout his body, his brain was buzzing and, disconcertingly, he suddenly had a raging erection which he hoped Hal wouldn’t notice. He guessed it must be from all the power between the two of them — it got the Alpha Male juices flowing. Though he wasn’t sure why it would be so strong now. Maybe because he was on the verge of releasing all that power?
“It is a wise choice.”
Kyle nodded. There was a lot in that statement, a lot more than just The Spectre complimenting him on his decision to give up Ion’s godlike powers. There was regret in there, too, that Hal hadn’t made the same choice when he had the power of Parallax.
“You had a lot to do with it, Hal. You set me on the right path to make it. And you believed in me, that I could make the right choice.”
“It’s only fair. You believed in me when no one else did.”
Kyle nodded. The Final Night. When Hal had overcome his … rage, or whatever it was that drove him as Parallax, and had sacrificed his life to save them all. “Hal...” Kyle reached out to touch his shoulder, wanting to tell him ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ and a million other things all at once.
The Spectre actually startled at the touch and turned to face him. And Kyle couldn’t help but notice that Hal appeared to be as turned-on as he was. Oh…
In the blink of an eye he was naked, his legs wrapped around Hal’s waist, his arms twined around his neck as they kissed. Kyle’s skin felt white-hot in the Spectre’s embrace, but it didn’t burn. He was just … powerful.
The Spectre’s hands gripped Kyle’s waist, pulling him close, and Kyle realized that he was naked, too, his hard cock rubbing against his own. “I want you,” Kyle whimpered against Hal’s mouth, because every ounce of lust/love he’d ever felt for Hal Jordan suddenly became magnified a million times and he suddenly, desperately needed him.
“I know what you plan to do,” Hal whispered. “I can help you.”
Kyle only half-heard Hal’s words, too intent on relieving his need. “Please, Hal,” he moaned, writhing in The Spectre’s grip, trying to position himself so Hal could push inside him. “Fuck me,” he pleaded. “Please.”
“Kyle. Look at me.” The Spectre’s hands gripped him harder, held him still, and Kyle groaned but he didn’t fight it. “I know you want to bring them back. But they are the Guardians. It is beyond what you know. Beyond what Ion knows. But I can show you.” His grip loosened, allowing Kyle to move again, and he thrust against Kyle’s belly. “For a brief time I can give you the knowledge to Create.”
Kyle frowned, not really understanding what Hal was saying. He just knew that he needed him. A part of his mind reminded him that he was cheating on Jen with a ghost, but he pushed it away. He had to do this, just the same as he had to draw breath. He returned the thrusts and his fingers dug into Hal’s shoulders. He could already feel the orgasm building. He tipped his head back and closed his eyes.
“No, Kyle!” Hal’s hands gripped his face. “Look at me. Look into my eyes.”
Kyle did as he was told. And then he understood.
The mask was gone and he was looking at Hal’s face, into Hal’s eyes, but it was more than Hal. And in his eyes Kyle saw everything, the entire Universe at the moment of Creation, the Big Bang, whatever you wanted to call it. His thrusts quickened, driving him toward climax, because what better way than through this act, this joining, to relay the knowledge of Creation, the knowledge he needed to bring back the Guardians of the Universe?
“Hal!” His orgasm exploded and he shouted it to the Universe, and Hal’s voice joined his in shared ecstasy. And Kyle knew. He knew everything. And he knew…
He collapsed against Hal, wrapping his arms around his neck. “I can … I can bring you back, Hal! You can be alive again! I can bring you back!”
“No, Kyle,” a voice whispered in his ear. But there wasn’t any trace of The Spectre, it was only Hal speaking to him now. “Don’t waste it on me. You know what you need to do. You need to do this for me. Create what I destroyed.”
Kyle wanted to protest, to scream at him that he could do anything he wanted now with Ion’s power and the knowledge he’d been given. But then his fears would come true, he’d be just like Parallax, and then he’d just be another of Hal’s failures. And he couldn’t do that to Hal.
Hal reached up to touch Kyle’s cheek. “You have to go now, Kyle.”
Kyle nodded. He was bursting with power and with the knowledge The Spectre had given him that was already starting to fade away. And he would need all of it to do what he needed to do. But he wasn’t ready to give up quite so easily. He kissed Hal one more time, then embraced him, pressing his mouth close to his ear. “I’ll find another way to bring you back, Hal. I promise.”