"Pride and Tears"

Hal stormed through the doors of his apartment, slamming them shut behind him. He couldn't shake off the feeling of hurt and betrayal that lingered long after he'd left the charity gala. The words Bruce had spoken still echoed in his mind, a bitter reminder of the pain he'd endured. As he made his way to the living room, Hal's eyes landed on the couch, and he collapsed onto it, running his hands through his hair. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, his pride wounded and his emotions in turmoil. For a moment, he just sat there, trying to process everything that had happened. He thought about his friendship with Bruce, about the good times they'd shared and the battles they'd fought side by side. But most of all, he thought about the hurtful words Bruce had spoken. Hal's eyes began to well up with tears, and he tried to fight them, but it was no use. He'd never felt so vulnerable, so exposed. The Green Lantern, the hero who had faced down countless villains and saved the world from certain destruction, was reduced to a blubbering mess. Tears streamed down his face as he thought about the argument, about the way Bruce had looked at him, with a mixture of disdain and superiority. Hal had never felt so small, so insignificant. As he cried, Hal's mind wandered back to their friendship, to the way it had started and the way it had grown over the years. He remembered the laughter, the adventures, and the quiet moments when it was just the two of them, talking about their hopes and fears. But most of all, he remembered the trust they'd built, the trust that had been broken in an instant. Hal felt like he'd been punched in the chest, like his heart had been ripped out and trampled on. The tears finally began to subside, leaving Hal feeling drained and exhausted. He lay on the couch, staring up at the ceiling, his mind reeling with thoughts and emotions. He knew he had to find a way to deal with this, to process his feelings and move on. As he lay there, Hal realized that he'd been so caught up in his own pride and ego that he'd forgotten what truly mattered. He'd forgotten that friendships were about trust, about vulnerability, and about being there for each other, no matter what. The Green Lantern slowly got to his feet, his eyes red and puffy from crying. He took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination wash over him. He knew he had to find a way to move on from this, to heal the wounds and rebuild the trust. But for now, Hal just stood there, feeling lost and alone, his heart heavy with sorrow and regret. Little did he know, Bruce was already taking steps to make things right, to mend the fences and restore their friendship to its former glory.