Relationships with superheroes sucked.

Dating a superhero like Hal was already hard enough to begin with, but now that the relationship had developed into marriage with a man who was oftentimes gone for days or weeks at a time on missions - Earthly or otherwise - the stress and anxiety seemed to become even more overwhelming.

Hal had warned you early on in your relationship that having a normal schedule would be difficult, borderline impossible, but you had assured him that everything would be alright, that you two would be able to make it work; whether it be through having to reschedule date nights, postpone family dinners with your parents, anything so long as it meant working through it together.

Hal wasn't sure he'd ever met someone who was so understanding of his double identity as one of the Lantern Corps. members, much less a person so wholly dedicated to making things as easy as possible for both of you in ways that wouldn't make him feel like the worst partner in the goddamn world whenever he had to call something off or leave for an emergency.

This particular day was a little more painful, though.

His anniversary with you was meant to be celebrated with a nice dinner and dessert later on tonight, yet he'd been gone for nearly a week halfway across the world helping other members of the League fight and neutralize a threat that he hardly remembered the name of.

The two of you had only spoken once since he left for his mission, that being the night prior to your anniversary when he'd apologized to you and admitted he wasn't sure he'd be able to make it back home on time for such a special day; He was sure he heard his heart break a little in his chest when you'd only smiled on your side of the screen and assured him it was okay.

But it wasn't okay to Hal, not when the last thing he wanted was for you to be alone a second longer, leading him to where he was now - flying back to your shared home in Long Beach before you got out of work, stopping in an alley to change into his civvies before jogging the rest of the way to the house and unlocking the front door.

Entering quickly and kicking the door shut behind himself, Hal tossed his duffel bag onto the couch and immediately set about starting dinner for when you came home, fretting for the next two hours in the kitchen to ensure everything was perfect for you, his own way of apologizing for being gone so often.

Hal was in the middle of setting the table when his ears caught the sound of your key turning in the lock, his movements stopping as he straightened up slightly and allowed a soft grin to tug at his lips when you finally stepped through the doorway, watching you stiffen for a fraction of a second at the unexpected sight of him.

"Hey, hon'." He greeted, walking closer to you and helping you out of your coat, chest tightening at the realization that he was finally home with you again.

God help whoever tried to pull him away from you tonight.