a/n: a flashback chapter this early? yes, because i say so.

and there's gonna be like 2-3 of these.

bring on the tissues. hal being an overprotective dad has made me cry already.

song for this chapter: More than anything - Hazbin Hotel

~Hal's POV~

"It's about time you showed. Now, lower your voice. Red's been in space all day training and passed out on the couch."

"Long day at work."

"Yeah, because writing newspapers is so hard, Clark." I smirked, leaning down to pick up Zaria, causing her to stir slightly. "Shh... go back to sleep, Zar."

"Dad? What time-"

"Time for you to go to bed, little Red." I whispered and tucked her into her own bed. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Mhm." Zaria grumbled, covering her head with the duvet.

"She called you Dad." Clark smirked once I shut the door and went back to the kitchen.

"Zar does it sometimes when she's asleep, but that's it. I don't force it on her... she's been through a lot and I've been the only one taking care of her these past five years."

"You called me why?"

"You need to mentor the Superboy or at least be nice to him. I may not necessarily be on board with the idea, but he's a lot like Zar when she started with me. Hell, I even wanted John or anyone else to take her because she was so difficult to handle... A Green Lantern never trained a Red before."

"I'm a constant reminder of what he's not."

"That's where you're wrong, Krypto." I taunted and opened the fridge, tossing him a beer but he set it on the counter. "Goody two shoes."

"Hal-"

"Zaria hates the Red Ring, absolute despises the thing which in turn keeps feeding it. I know how she looks at it in hatred and then looks at mine... I'm everything she wants to be. But it's my job as her mentor to teach her that, no matter on what side of the spectrum she is, she has to stop pretending to be something she's not and embrace who she is. It's the only thing that helps her have complete control of the Ring."

"Hal, you don't understand." Clark sighed as we both walked to the living room.

"I understand more than you think, Clark." I chuckled. "I never told anyone how Zar became my protégé... mostly because I want to torment Bruce and never tell him."

"So, naturally you're gonna tell me?"

"As long as you don't ever tell Spooky. I like it when he doesn't know things because it drives him mad and he can't make a contingency plan against Zar."

"You know about that!?"

"Keep your voice down." I hissed and pointed at the door of Zaria's room. "And of course I know about the plans. Unlike Spooky, the Boy Wonder actually likes me... and I may or may not have been snooping around once and found them."

"Then I won't tell."

"Okay, so it was my first year as a Lantern. I've had the Ring for about eight months when..."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

~5 years ago~

"Why is Atrocitus here?"

"You're kidding me, right? It's the middle of a battlefield! Someone must've gotten a Red Ring, which means it'll eventually be another problem we're gonna have to take care of." I rolled my eyes just as a loud scream was heard, followed by a blast of plasma. "Speaking of the Red Ring... I think it just chose someone."

"Uhh, rookie. You might wanna check this out." Kilowog called out. "It chose-"

"A child!? That thing chose a kid!?" I yelled, flying down to the battlefield and shielded the young girl before she got hit. "Hey, kid. Wanna tell me where you got that?"

The girl looked no older than eight and was wearing traditional Tamaranean war attire. She was holding a sword on her left hand, where the ring was placed, and bright red veins were slowly creeping up to her neck and face.

"I do not wish for help, Green Lantern." She hissed, her voice coming out distorted.

"Get her out. We've got this!" Kilowog said and I picked up the girl, despite her protests and flew to the nearest cave. "If the Ring takes over completely, she belongs to Atrocitus, Hal."

Once we were in the cave, I slowly set her down. The girl immediately pointed the ring at me and I noticed her eyes turn from white to red. I took off my Ring and tossed it to her.

"Not here to hurt you, kid... But I don't speak Tamaranean without my Ring." I shrugged.

She picked up the Ring and glanced at it pure curiosity before walking up and held my hand, the veins losing their glow for a few moments.

"Help me... please." She whimpered, placing the Ring back on my finger. "It hurts... the Ring hurts me."

"I'll take you to Oa. The Guardians will know how to help... but I need to know your name to plead your case, kid."

"Zaria... my name is Zaria."

"My name's Hal Jordan, Zaria. I promise I will help you."

"Thank you, Hal Jordan."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Woah, woah, woah! Why the hell is she chained down!? You're hurting her!"

"Hal Jordan!" Zaria yelled, struggling against the chains on her hands, legs and neck. Blood was seeping through the chains and I widened my eyes, immediately flying over. "Hal Jordan, please help me."

"This is really unnecessary. She's eight years old!" I defended, breaking the chain constructs and Zaria immediately hid behind me. "She's a child and the Ring chose her. Is it really that bad!?"

"She bears the Red Ring. You have brought great danger to Oa, Hal Jordan." Ganthet said and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"She's eight!"

"And dangerous."

"Is this the face of danger? She's crying for the love of God!" I yelled as Zaria hid her face and heard her sniffle. "Look, if none of you are going to help her, at least give me the name of someone who can."

"Ysmault. If you seek answers, you must go to the source." Lianna sighed and I nodded, turning to pick up Zaria who immediately hid her face on my shoulder. "But you must be careful, Hal Jordan. A Green Lantern is not welcome in Ysmault after its destruction."

"I'll take my chances." I scoffed and walked away. "Don't worry, Red. I'll find someone to help you."

"Why does it hurt?" She mumbled and I glanced at her hand to see the Ring glowing bright red and the veins turn a darker color. "It... it screams at me, Hal Jordan."

"What's it saying?"

"To hurt you."

"You wanna hurt me?" I asked softly and brushed the hair from her face. "Because the line is kinda long, but I think I can move you up."

"I do not think so."

"Then you won't. I have faith."

"You trust me?"

"Sure as hell trust your willpower to not kill me than that Ring, but let's go with that."