𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭 || D. Grayson

ɢʀᴇᴇɴ

a/n: hi?

uhhh... small filler while i regroup with this story

"Red, just say the oath!"

"Hal, for the love of the Guardians... Nothing's gonna happen because it's your Ring!"

"Oh, just try and stop whining." Hal rolled his eyes and I raised an eyebrow. "Zaria, you know this oath like the back of your hand. Just try and see what happens, okay?"

"I'm telling you it's pointless." I sighed and put on the Ring.

"Just humor me."

"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight..." The ring's light flickered and my eyes widened.

"Finish it." Hal encouraged.

"Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power... Green Lantern's light."

I stared down at the Ring but nothing happened. The light dimmed and I sighed, handing it back to Hal.

"See? Pointless."

"It didn't reject you or else it wouldn't have glowed at all."

"It knows I'm a Red."

"It knows you're not ready yet." He said and I rolled my eyes. "Zar... You've been telling yourself that you're worth nothing more than being a Red Lantern. That the Green Ring wasn't meant for you, but you're wrong."

"Rage is what I know, Hal. Willpower's not who I am."

"You think I didn't feel the same way when I got this thing? And when I found out it was Avra's... Hell, I never thought I could live up to it."

"It picked you because you belong in the Green Corps. Just like the Red chose me."

"It picked me because I could belong, Zar." He shook his head and gave the Ring back to me. "These things don't pick the perfect person, they pick the one with the potential to grow into it."

"Hal-"

"Willpower isn't ever about never being angry  or afraid. It's about standing up despite those things and you do that all the time, Red!" Hal defended and stepped closer. "You fight for control over your rage every second of every day. You've got just enough, if not more, willpower than I'll ever have."

"Sure doesn't feel like it." I muttered and glanced at both Rings. "I don't think it's possible for a Lantern to wield both Rings, Hal. It's never been done."

"First time for everything, huh?" He chuckled. "I took a chance when I took you in, Zaria. Do you know why I did that?"

"You took pity on an eight year old in the middle of a battlefield with a dead Lantern not even fifteen feet from me."

"I saw your spark, kid. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were meant for something more... something great. And you proved it time and time again."

"You've got a knack for blind optimism, old man."

"One, I'm not old. I'm almost thirty and thriving! Two, it's not optimism, it's faith. You think I stuck around all these years because I felt sorry for you? Because I thought you couldn't handle yourself?"

"It may or may not have crossed my mind once."

"You're tougher than anyone I know, Zar. Stronger too. And yeah, you're angry. Hell, you've got every reason to be! But you've never let it consume you. You've always found a way to stand back up."

"You are filling her head with lies." Razer called out from his cell and Hal scoffed. "All we are is rage."

"You know, for someone who spends so much time preaching about rage, you sure talk a lot about limits. I get it, anger fuels you, drives you. But that's not all it is, and you know it."

"Spare me your Green Lantern wisdom, Jordan. Rage is pure. It doesn't ask for permission. It doesn't fail you. It is who we are."

"You've haven't met my kid, then." Hal grinned and I smiled slightly. "She's got more fight than you think."

"Fight fuels rage and rage fuels the Ring."

"Willpower also fuels her Ring."

"She walks a fragile line, Jordan. One day that rage will consume her... It consumes all of us. She is no exception."

"Then why did the Ring glow when she put it on?" Hal taunted and steered me away. "Don't listen to the poozer."

"Poozer?" I laughed. "That's clear evidence you've been spending too much time with Kilowog."

"Razer's just mad because he can't see past his own nose... or his rage."

"He's not entirely wrong, though," I muttered. "It's not like I've got this figured out, Hal. Half the time, I don't know if I'm more Red Lantern than anything else."

"Zar, you don't have to have it figured out yet. Hell, I didn't have it figured out when I started. The point is, you're trying. That's what separates you from Razer and from a lot of others, too."

"Trying doesn't mean I won't screw it up, though."

"Of course not. But screwing up doesn't mean you're done, either." He said and took the Ring. "The fact that this ring glowed for you even a little? That's proof you're more than just rage, no matter what Razer or anyone else says."

"You're starting to sound like the Guardians with those speeches of yours."

"I'm taking that as an offense."

"You should."