miss maggie (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bossymarmalade) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thejusticelounge2013-06-25 11:43 am
bossymarmalade) wrote in thejusticelounge2013-06-25 11:43 am
Entry tags:
accountable
Guy was supervising the unloading of a large delivery of supplies to the Watchtower, and was using the area in front of the Zeta tubes as a staging to direct where various crates were to go and placing them on anti-grav lifts for the technicians. He should have been done by now, but a few things had been misdirected and had come back. So what if he mistook rice cakes for urinal pucks? Anyone could have made that mistake. The damn things didn’t even look like food, and from what he’d heard, they didn’t taste much like food, either.
He was just double-checking the delivery order to make sure nothing had been missed, when the Zeta tube hummed to life behind him, and Superman stood where there had been a bright light only a moment before. “What’s new, Big Blue?”
Clark greeted Guy with a warm smile as he dismounted the transport pad, his cape draping down the stairs behind him. ”Hi, Guy! Just checking in to see how my son is doing with Monitor Duty. He takes it much more seriously than some among us,” he added with a fond chuckle. He used his penetrative vision to help Guy check the rest of the supply order before the two walked the vast corridors of the Tower together. ”How have you been, Guy? Any luck in rebuilding Warriors?”
Guy tensed for only a moment at the mention of the destroyed bar, and Clark heard his heart rate increase slightly. ”Well, kinda, yeah. I got an investor willin’ to partner up, an’ I’m talkin’ to John Stewart about designin’ the new place. Not sure if I’ll call it Warriors, though… too much history.” He looked absently at the walls of the corridor of his current home. “At least the Watchtower’s back to 100% after Sinestro blasted it. She’s all shipshape an’ ready to be shot at by the next villain who wants to give it a try,” he joked.
Clark responded with a polite chuckle, but the muscles in his jaw bunched and a heavy silence fell between he and Guy. Clark broke it when he paused in their stroll and turned to face his colleague. ”We were fortunate this time,” he said pointedly. ”We were taking a big risk with the League initially being told to stay out of the fight.”
Guy frowned a bit, annoyed that Clark was questioning his judgement so conveniently long after the fact. He fixed a hard glare into the eyes of the Man of Steel, and then figured out where he was going with this. “Yeah, well, it woulda been a bigger risk havin’ the League get in the middle of that ruckus. When it comes the Sinestro Corps, Green Lanterns don’t fool around. We needed the freedom to open up our rings on ‘em, not be constantly bubble-shielding everyone else that wanted in on the action. John an’ I kept ya out of it for yer own good, and ours.”
Clark folded his arms across the shield on his chest. ”I understand the intention behind your decision, and I, along with everyone else, agreed to respect it at the time. But surely you understand the League doesn’t ‘fool around’ when it comes to a threat of this magnitude, either. We all had a lot at stake, not just the Lanterns.” Clark frowned, his lingering frustration over the situation with Parallax and the Sinestro Corps rapidly surfacing despite his effort to keep it contained. “The League is a team. When something threatens the people we protect, we respond as a team. This is something I have to remind myself of when it comes to Darkseid. It’s easy to fall into the trap of making it personal and thinking you’re the only one who can handle it.”
Guy blinked. “Yer kiddin’ me, right? I’m gettin’ a lecture from the Boy Scout himself about bein’ a one-man show?” He matched Clark’s posture and crossed his arms, keeping his increasingly-sparking ring visible as his fingers curled over his broad biceps. ”When it’s a Corps matter, we call in our own reinforcements to handle it, and WE respond as a team. In case ya haven’t heard, we got some experience protecting planets. Oh, wait, I mean the universe. For millennia. We don’t got time to get permission from OR explain our battle tactics to whatever local heroes happen to be livin’ there at the time. That’s like… the U.S. Marines gettin’ a local county sheriff’s department to rubber stamp their battle plans when fending off an invasion! Besides…if four Earth GLs could kick even your ass, you can be damned sure the Sinestro Corps working collectively would. The League isn’t a match for them.”
Clark held his hand out in a placating manner, but his expression was stern. ”When it affects people on Earth, it isn’t only a Corps matter. I’m not questioning your ability, Guy. I am questioning your implication that Corps jurisdiction gives the Lanterns the right to bench the League.” His eyebrows shot up at the condescending analogy and declaration that the League is no match for the Lanterns, but Clark kept his voice even. “The League has faced many serious threats before and prevailed. I don’t think it benefits team unity to claim that any of us are more powerful or ultimately more useful than the others. If you believe the Lanterns could conquer the League, then what do you gain from being a part of the team? What you’re saying makes it sound like you think we hold you back in battle.”
“Wow, you thought I meant four GLs could take out the whole damn team, when I was only talkin’ about YOU. Ya really DO think you’re the whole damn Justice League, don’t ya Boy Scout? Ya sure got the speakin’ for them part down pat!” He pointed a finger at Clark as he said it, then folded his arms again. It didn’t escape his notice that they were starting to attract the attention of others passing by or in nearby rooms.
“Ya know, I could understand the others bein’ so naive as to think the League could hope to defeat the entire Sinestro Corps without our help, but you got the ability to get off this rock without a ring an’ see for yerself how powerful they are. But now that ya know I wasn’t talking about Earth GLs conquerin’ the League, ya raise a good question: what DO I gain from bein’ a part of the team? For your information, rejoinin’ the JL wasn’t my idea in the first place. I only did it because my partner did!”
Clark shook his head insistently. “I did misunderstand, but I’m not trying to speak for the League as a whole. Though I don’t think I’m the only one troubled with how the situation was handled,” he couldn’t help but add. “I was concerned for Kyle and Hal too, you realize. We all were. Do you really think it was safe to let Hal face Parallax alone? We could have lost both of them, easily. We could have at least had backup nearby in case anything went wrong.”
Clark sighed and cut the air with his hand. “I’m not saying the League intended to attempt defeating the Sinestro Corps without the Lanterns’ help. It seemed very much the opposite, which is what I can’t understand. And as far as your being a part of the League is concerned, it shouldn’t have anything to do with who else is or isn’t a member. If you’re a part of this team, you’re a part of it because you believe you better serve the people we protect alongside others who share your goals than as an individual putting up the fight alone.”
He looked at Clark like he’d lost his mind, and laughed a little in disbelief. ”First ya wanna get between two intergalactic armies collectively armed with literally hundreds of power rings, and then you think you could stop Parallax and save its host once it’s taken over a Green Lantern. Riiiiiiiight. Because that attempt worked SO well the last time, didn’t it? You’ll pardon me if I didn’t wanna see Kyle wind up with a fuckin’ arrow through his goddamned chest,” Guy said coldly.
“Face it, it was Hal who defeated Parallax the first time, and the four of us and Kilowog who defeated it when it took over a Guardian, in spite of Batman trying to get in Hal’s way, and it was Hal and Kyle who defeated it this time. It took a Green Lantern every time. What the hell do you think the League could have done to help Kyle that wouldn’t have killed him?
Guy again unfolded his arms, this time punctuating each of his statements with jabbing his finger right in the centre of Superman’s insignia. “The Corps had every authority to bench the League, and every reason as well, given their shitty track record with Parallax. This ain’t about skills and ability, this is about the League’s precious illusion of autonomy from the authority of a universal body of law enforcement! I’m startin’ to think Godfrey might be right about one thing, you really can’t stand havin’ to be answerable to anyone!”
Clark’s eyes tightened a millimeter more with each jab to his chest. He finally seized Guy’s wrist when the other tried to poke him again and held it tight before releasing his arm. ”Trust me, my memory of what happened when we previously encountered Parallax is just as distinct as yours,” he advised lowly. ”But as long as the Lanterns call themselves members of the Justice League, *it is not exclusively a Corps problem.* The League complied with the directive to stand down until John gave us clearance. We proved ourselves willing to cooperate, and rather than acknowledge any concern about the League’s role in resolving the situation, you insist I’m challenging you on the grounds of some power-play?”
“Godfrey has expended all his efforts with the goal of tearing the League apart. Do you really want to side with him here, Guy? The League in itself is a means of making certain meta-powered individuals are held accountable for their actions. I answer to every other person on this team, and as long as you’re a part of that team—” Clark stepped closer, jaw set and voice hard as flint, “—*so do you.*”
Guy didn’t balk, and stood his ground even in Clark’s attempt to intimidate him by stepping into his personal space. If he hadn’t been focussed on forming his next argument, he might have laughed at the thought of the Kryptonian trying to intimidate a Green Lantern. ”Just because I think he’s got a point about the League tryin’ to be its own authority don’t mean… Christ, you think I wanna tear the League apart like Godfrey? You’re actually accusin’ me of bein’ on his side, Clark? What, I gotta drink the League Kool-Aid an’ THINK just like you an’ Queen an’ all the other Liberals around here just to be deservin’ of an opinion?”
“You answer to me? Like hell you do! When was the last time this League even had a fuckin’ committee meetin’? Nothin’s changed in years, it’s still you an’ a precious few callin’ all the shots an’ speakin’ for everyone.”
He reached into the pocket of his vest and removed two objects. ”Ya know what? SCREW YOU, Superman! You were a sanctimonious bleedin’ heart hypocrite five years ago when ya booted me out of the JLI, an’ ya still are, except this time I ain’t givin’ ya the satisfaction…” He threw down a plastic card and a standard-issue communicator onto the small amount of floor space separating their feet, and turned away. ”I QUIT!”
Clark watched Guy’s retreating back in silence until the Lantern was out of sight, stone-faced and unmoving. He finally stooped to retrieve the communicator from the floor and turned to meet Kate’s eyes, knowing she’d emerged into the hallway before he looked at her. Something was exchanged in their gaze, but neither spoke. Superman handed Manhunter the communicator that once marked Guy Gardner as a member of the Justice League, and they parted ways as well, the corridor now eerily quiet in the aftermath of the confrontation.
He was just double-checking the delivery order to make sure nothing had been missed, when the Zeta tube hummed to life behind him, and Superman stood where there had been a bright light only a moment before. “What’s new, Big Blue?”
Clark greeted Guy with a warm smile as he dismounted the transport pad, his cape draping down the stairs behind him. ”Hi, Guy! Just checking in to see how my son is doing with Monitor Duty. He takes it much more seriously than some among us,” he added with a fond chuckle. He used his penetrative vision to help Guy check the rest of the supply order before the two walked the vast corridors of the Tower together. ”How have you been, Guy? Any luck in rebuilding Warriors?”
Guy tensed for only a moment at the mention of the destroyed bar, and Clark heard his heart rate increase slightly. ”Well, kinda, yeah. I got an investor willin’ to partner up, an’ I’m talkin’ to John Stewart about designin’ the new place. Not sure if I’ll call it Warriors, though… too much history.” He looked absently at the walls of the corridor of his current home. “At least the Watchtower’s back to 100% after Sinestro blasted it. She’s all shipshape an’ ready to be shot at by the next villain who wants to give it a try,” he joked.
Clark responded with a polite chuckle, but the muscles in his jaw bunched and a heavy silence fell between he and Guy. Clark broke it when he paused in their stroll and turned to face his colleague. ”We were fortunate this time,” he said pointedly. ”We were taking a big risk with the League initially being told to stay out of the fight.”
Guy frowned a bit, annoyed that Clark was questioning his judgement so conveniently long after the fact. He fixed a hard glare into the eyes of the Man of Steel, and then figured out where he was going with this. “Yeah, well, it woulda been a bigger risk havin’ the League get in the middle of that ruckus. When it comes the Sinestro Corps, Green Lanterns don’t fool around. We needed the freedom to open up our rings on ‘em, not be constantly bubble-shielding everyone else that wanted in on the action. John an’ I kept ya out of it for yer own good, and ours.”
Clark folded his arms across the shield on his chest. ”I understand the intention behind your decision, and I, along with everyone else, agreed to respect it at the time. But surely you understand the League doesn’t ‘fool around’ when it comes to a threat of this magnitude, either. We all had a lot at stake, not just the Lanterns.” Clark frowned, his lingering frustration over the situation with Parallax and the Sinestro Corps rapidly surfacing despite his effort to keep it contained. “The League is a team. When something threatens the people we protect, we respond as a team. This is something I have to remind myself of when it comes to Darkseid. It’s easy to fall into the trap of making it personal and thinking you’re the only one who can handle it.”
Guy blinked. “Yer kiddin’ me, right? I’m gettin’ a lecture from the Boy Scout himself about bein’ a one-man show?” He matched Clark’s posture and crossed his arms, keeping his increasingly-sparking ring visible as his fingers curled over his broad biceps. ”When it’s a Corps matter, we call in our own reinforcements to handle it, and WE respond as a team. In case ya haven’t heard, we got some experience protecting planets. Oh, wait, I mean the universe. For millennia. We don’t got time to get permission from OR explain our battle tactics to whatever local heroes happen to be livin’ there at the time. That’s like… the U.S. Marines gettin’ a local county sheriff’s department to rubber stamp their battle plans when fending off an invasion! Besides…if four Earth GLs could kick even your ass, you can be damned sure the Sinestro Corps working collectively would. The League isn’t a match for them.”
Clark held his hand out in a placating manner, but his expression was stern. ”When it affects people on Earth, it isn’t only a Corps matter. I’m not questioning your ability, Guy. I am questioning your implication that Corps jurisdiction gives the Lanterns the right to bench the League.” His eyebrows shot up at the condescending analogy and declaration that the League is no match for the Lanterns, but Clark kept his voice even. “The League has faced many serious threats before and prevailed. I don’t think it benefits team unity to claim that any of us are more powerful or ultimately more useful than the others. If you believe the Lanterns could conquer the League, then what do you gain from being a part of the team? What you’re saying makes it sound like you think we hold you back in battle.”
“Wow, you thought I meant four GLs could take out the whole damn team, when I was only talkin’ about YOU. Ya really DO think you’re the whole damn Justice League, don’t ya Boy Scout? Ya sure got the speakin’ for them part down pat!” He pointed a finger at Clark as he said it, then folded his arms again. It didn’t escape his notice that they were starting to attract the attention of others passing by or in nearby rooms.
“Ya know, I could understand the others bein’ so naive as to think the League could hope to defeat the entire Sinestro Corps without our help, but you got the ability to get off this rock without a ring an’ see for yerself how powerful they are. But now that ya know I wasn’t talking about Earth GLs conquerin’ the League, ya raise a good question: what DO I gain from bein’ a part of the team? For your information, rejoinin’ the JL wasn’t my idea in the first place. I only did it because my partner did!”
Clark shook his head insistently. “I did misunderstand, but I’m not trying to speak for the League as a whole. Though I don’t think I’m the only one troubled with how the situation was handled,” he couldn’t help but add. “I was concerned for Kyle and Hal too, you realize. We all were. Do you really think it was safe to let Hal face Parallax alone? We could have lost both of them, easily. We could have at least had backup nearby in case anything went wrong.”
Clark sighed and cut the air with his hand. “I’m not saying the League intended to attempt defeating the Sinestro Corps without the Lanterns’ help. It seemed very much the opposite, which is what I can’t understand. And as far as your being a part of the League is concerned, it shouldn’t have anything to do with who else is or isn’t a member. If you’re a part of this team, you’re a part of it because you believe you better serve the people we protect alongside others who share your goals than as an individual putting up the fight alone.”
He looked at Clark like he’d lost his mind, and laughed a little in disbelief. ”First ya wanna get between two intergalactic armies collectively armed with literally hundreds of power rings, and then you think you could stop Parallax and save its host once it’s taken over a Green Lantern. Riiiiiiiight. Because that attempt worked SO well the last time, didn’t it? You’ll pardon me if I didn’t wanna see Kyle wind up with a fuckin’ arrow through his goddamned chest,” Guy said coldly.
“Face it, it was Hal who defeated Parallax the first time, and the four of us and Kilowog who defeated it when it took over a Guardian, in spite of Batman trying to get in Hal’s way, and it was Hal and Kyle who defeated it this time. It took a Green Lantern every time. What the hell do you think the League could have done to help Kyle that wouldn’t have killed him?
Guy again unfolded his arms, this time punctuating each of his statements with jabbing his finger right in the centre of Superman’s insignia. “The Corps had every authority to bench the League, and every reason as well, given their shitty track record with Parallax. This ain’t about skills and ability, this is about the League’s precious illusion of autonomy from the authority of a universal body of law enforcement! I’m startin’ to think Godfrey might be right about one thing, you really can’t stand havin’ to be answerable to anyone!”
Clark’s eyes tightened a millimeter more with each jab to his chest. He finally seized Guy’s wrist when the other tried to poke him again and held it tight before releasing his arm. ”Trust me, my memory of what happened when we previously encountered Parallax is just as distinct as yours,” he advised lowly. ”But as long as the Lanterns call themselves members of the Justice League, *it is not exclusively a Corps problem.* The League complied with the directive to stand down until John gave us clearance. We proved ourselves willing to cooperate, and rather than acknowledge any concern about the League’s role in resolving the situation, you insist I’m challenging you on the grounds of some power-play?”
“Godfrey has expended all his efforts with the goal of tearing the League apart. Do you really want to side with him here, Guy? The League in itself is a means of making certain meta-powered individuals are held accountable for their actions. I answer to every other person on this team, and as long as you’re a part of that team—” Clark stepped closer, jaw set and voice hard as flint, “—*so do you.*”
Guy didn’t balk, and stood his ground even in Clark’s attempt to intimidate him by stepping into his personal space. If he hadn’t been focussed on forming his next argument, he might have laughed at the thought of the Kryptonian trying to intimidate a Green Lantern. ”Just because I think he’s got a point about the League tryin’ to be its own authority don’t mean… Christ, you think I wanna tear the League apart like Godfrey? You’re actually accusin’ me of bein’ on his side, Clark? What, I gotta drink the League Kool-Aid an’ THINK just like you an’ Queen an’ all the other Liberals around here just to be deservin’ of an opinion?”
“You answer to me? Like hell you do! When was the last time this League even had a fuckin’ committee meetin’? Nothin’s changed in years, it’s still you an’ a precious few callin’ all the shots an’ speakin’ for everyone.”
He reached into the pocket of his vest and removed two objects. ”Ya know what? SCREW YOU, Superman! You were a sanctimonious bleedin’ heart hypocrite five years ago when ya booted me out of the JLI, an’ ya still are, except this time I ain’t givin’ ya the satisfaction…” He threw down a plastic card and a standard-issue communicator onto the small amount of floor space separating their feet, and turned away. ”I QUIT!”
Clark watched Guy’s retreating back in silence until the Lantern was out of sight, stone-faced and unmoving. He finally stooped to retrieve the communicator from the floor and turned to meet Kate’s eyes, knowing she’d emerged into the hallway before he looked at her. Something was exchanged in their gaze, but neither spoke. Superman handed Manhunter the communicator that once marked Guy Gardner as a member of the Justice League, and they parted ways as well, the corridor now eerily quiet in the aftermath of the confrontation.