damage/salvage

[bossymarmalade]

John had been out on patrol when his ring alerted him to an incoming message from Guy of only John’s name and nothing else. It was like some sort of bizarre ring-page that set him on edge. Guy was the talkative sort. If he wanted you for something, he’d let you know exactly what it was when he called, or at least give you enough information to make you curious. This was just… odd.

So he sent a response:
[RING TEXT] Guy? I got your message. What’s up?
A few minutes later, he sent another:
[RING TEXT] Guy? Are you awake? Why did you message me?
Ten minutes later, he sent a text to Guy’s phone:
[TEXT] Guy. Are you there? What’s going on?

Eight minutes later, he called Guy’s apartment landline.

No answer.

Two minutes later, John was on his way to L.A., now considerably worried about his friend. True, if Guy had company, he might not answer his cellphone or the landline. If Guy had company, he definitely wouldn’t be answering either of those. But there was no way that a functioning GL, busy (in any way that could mean) or not, would not respond to their ring, especially after sending a message first.

( first assault )

apokolips now

[bossymarmalade]

“He. Did. WHAT?!?!” Darkseid bellowed, rising from his throne. A strong backhand slap sent Desaad flying across the room. ”If I find out that you had anything to do with this Desaad, even the Presence will not have enough pieces of you to put back together!”

The Lord of Apokolips strode over to his command screen. ”Where is he now Desaad? Where is that lowly maggot Kalibak?”

The ground shaking, unmistakeable sound of a boom tube rattled the throne room. ”Ah… There he is now. I’ll be back when I’m done ripping Kalibak’s hide from his flesh!” Darkseid left Desaad alone in his throne room.

Rising from the ground, Desaad pulled out his communicator. ”Kalibak. Be prepared. Your father is on his way to find you. And he is… not pleased.”

Kalibak carried the unconscious Lantern to a torture chamber, growling over his communicator at Desaad. ”There is little that pleases my father, except the execution of his will. I have brought him what he wants. Father will not shun me again.”

The doors to the Torture chamber of Apokolips burst open…

( the in-between )

crucem passus

[bossymarmalade]

Darkseid, Lord of foul Apokolips, trudged into his throne room carrying his long-sought prize over his shoulder. He dropped his prize - the unconscious, beaten, and maimed Green Lantern Guy Gardner - unceremoniously to the floor. Darkseid nudged the body with his boot. “Pathetic…” he whispered as blood began to pool under the hero.

Leaving Gardner in a heap, Darkseid made his way to a control panel and opened a listening and viewing channel to the monitor room where he left his son and his lackey. He would know when the action there began. He would know when the so-called ‘heroes’ of Earth took his bait.
And the Prophet of Anti-Life would be ready.

Returning to the human, Darkseid kicked Gardner in his ribs, flipping him over onto his back in the process. He could see that the Lantern’s usual uniform was gone, replaced with what seemed to be the latest Earth designer fashion. If Guy were not already bloodied, bruised, swollen and missing a hand, the sight of him would have sickened Darkseid. As it was, his current appearance seemed to fit both the mood and the location.

Guy began to cough up blood and bile and who know what else. “Ah, you are waking up insect?” Darkseid asked. “Good. My work is always better with a thinking and struggling subject. And your pain has only just begun. I tend to blunt myself on the pathetic maggots that live here. They have usually already given up by the time they lay eyes on me.” Darkseid bent down, putting his fearsome face close to Guy’s bloody face. “But that’s not the case for you is it? You still have the will to fight. You still have a spark of hope left in you. That means you still have something for me to take from you.”

( shadows of the past )

return to me

[bossymarmalade]

The second he heard Guy was out of surgery, Dick was bolting down the halls of the Watchtower, running as fast as he could. One agonizingly slow hour later, while the doctors and staff finished stabilizing Guy, Dr. Smith came out to speak to him.

“I understand you want to see him, but it might be better if you came back in a few days. Give him a chance to heal some.”

“No!” Dick all but shouted. At Dr. Smith’s glare, he demured slightly, quieting down. ”I’m sorry. I just… I need to see him. I need to.”

Dr. Smith looked at him for a long moment and sighed. With a sharp nod, he led Dick into Guy’s room, warning him to prepare himself.

John Stewart was sitting next to Guy’s bed, head bowed and ring glowing. Dick couldn’t tell what exactly he was doing—or see Guy well for that matter—but he was sure it had something to do with the ring-healing Guy’d used on him so many times. John looked up when they entered, nodding once, and stood up to greet them. He squeezed Dick’s shoulder sympathetically, promising to come back when Dick left. Finally, Dick was alone with Guy and the sound of medical machinery.

( solo tu, solo tu, solo tu )

good cop bad

[bossymarmalade]

Casa Verde.

At 1049hrs, Hal offered to come along, but Kyle refused. Sure, their GL powers were limited; but compared to not being able to use them at all, even limited powers were something of a mixed blessing for Kyle. And he needed to do this alone.

At 1104hrs, Kyle flew himself to LA, glad to see the graffiti off the side of the building was gone. He met with Kurt, only briefly, just to touch base without saying ‘oh so Guy is like nearly dead, nbd, carry on’. Instead they talked about Kurt’s vacation over the holidays - visiting his relatives in Bridgetown, Barbados. A tropical Christmas, he joked. Normal stuff. Everyday happenings. Kyle nodded and smiled and inside he was amazed at just how out of touch he was with regular people.

At 1302hrs he headed upstairs. The rest of the day was spent cleaning.

If I could still access Ion, I could’ve just—

Casa Verde was their home, his and Guy’s. Cleaning was good. It felt good. He went up to the roof several times that day and looked at the zeta tube for long, agonizing minutes. Everytime, he’d turn and go back downstairs.

My poor friend. What is happening to—

At 2356hrs, Kyle tried to sleep.

( lantern on the verge )