a/n: so if hal is the epitome of willpower, does that make zaria the epitome of rage? 🧐

happy new year folks!

"Zar, call for you!"

"On your Ring? If it's the Guardians, tell them to shove the Book up-"

"PG, Zar!" Wally laughed and my eyes widened. "Surprise!"

"I'm in the middle of a League meeting when Barry started complaining so John and I compromised... you get three minutes." Hal smiled and sat down.

"Who's with you, Wall?" I asked and deconstructed my mask.

"Just me. Went on a mission with uncle Barry and I'm in debriefing before I head back to the Cave for another mission." He said and I frowned. "But we miss you, Zar. All of us miss you."

"Anything happened since I've been gone?"

"Uhh... Roy's searching for the real Roy, Robin got taller and his voice is cracking which we all tease him for excessively, I met Artemis' mother recently and we're inviting them for Thanksgiving, uncle Barry's more annoying than usual and Wolf almost bit Conner over a steak! It was hilarious!"

"That's it?"

"Wonder Woman's sister Troia recently joined the Team. You two would definitely get along! Same with Tula and Garth." He added and I chuckled. "Speaking of... How's the Ring?"

"Still have the Safeguard on it, but it's weaker than the one before. Hal lets it go periodically so I can train with Kilowog on regaining control."

"Any luck with that?"

"My constructs are stronger without feeding into my rage as much. I'd say it's good progress."

"So you're coming home soon?"

"I hope so, Wall. I miss the Team greatly... Oa's great, but they're all so stuck up!"

"Hey!" Hal and John protested but I waved them off.

"Marines and Air Force. I think that's more than enough." I smirked and Wally laughed. "I'm currently in the middle of something, KF, but I promise I'll visit you as soon as I can."

"Having fun without us?"

"Feeling the aster."

"Anything we can do to help?"

"Not unless you guys have a miraculous solution on how to stop the Red Lanterns from killing the Greens that isn't murdering Atrocitus... because I just received a two hour lecture by Kilowog on why killing people is wrong."

"It is wrong!" Kilowog defended.

"Laira would let me!"

"Zaria, you beat him in a duel once!"

"I didn't kill him, therefore I didn't win. I just bruised his ego."

"I love your idea of diplomacy, Red." Wally laughed and frowned immediately after. "Time's up."

"Give the Team my best, Wall." I begged and he nodded. "I'll be back before you know it."

"You handle whatever's going on with the Lanterns. Your spot's still on hold for when you come back." Wally promised and I smiled. "And please try to contact us somehow every once in a while if you can't come visit, please. We miss you."

"I'll try my best considering I'm in the middle of nowhere in deep space."

"Save the stories for when we see you again." He laughed and Hal ended the transmission.

"You alright, kid?" He asked and I shrugged.

"I miss my friends, Hal."

"You said you didn't want to go back until you regained full control."

"I'm not putting them at risk... I'd rather punch my way through and lose control fighting aliens than risk hurting my friends."

"Makes me wonder why a Green Ring hasn't chose you yet, Zar." Kilowog said and we both turned to him. "What!?"

"Yet?" Hal asked and stood up.

"Red Lanterns don't create constructs, their rage doesn't allow them to. Zaria has willpower in spades, there's no denying it. Just a matter of time before a Green Ring notices. You've seen her out there, Jordan."

"Kilowog, that's not exactly how it works. You can't—"

"It is how it works," Kilowog interrupted. "Rings seek out worthiness. You think her Green tether ain't teaching the others a thing or two about her? Could explain why they're acting weirder than usual."

"Weirder than usual?" I tilted my head and he nodded.

"You've noticed how the Greens get quiet when you train with me, right?" He smirked. "They're watching. Probably trying to figure you out. And that Safeguard tether Hal slapped on you? That's some unprecedented poozas right there. Never heard of a Green tethering a Red permanently. Maybe the Ring's waiting to see if you're ready."

"I don't think a Green Ring is in my future, Kilowog. I don't know if it'll even work."

"Zar, you don't give yourself enough credit. You've got control most of the time, and when you lose it, you've got the sense to make sure no one gets hurt. That's not just willpower, that's responsibility. Honestly? I wouldn't be surprised if Kilowog's right." Hal shrugged.

"You think I'd say it if I didn't mean it? The Red Ring's all about rage, but you've been pulling something off none of us have seen before and that's the fact that you're learning to work past it. Control it. That ain't just impressive, it's downright unheard of." Kilowog defended and crossed his arms.

"I can't just remove my Ring if a Green one chooses me, Kilowog. The Red Ring renders my heart useless... You both know this!" I pointed out.

"We know, kid. And we're not saying it's gonna be easy or even possible without help. But if any Red Lantern could figure out a way to make it work, it's you."

"Kilowog's got a point, Zar. You've already beaten the odds just by holding onto your sanity this long. Most Red Lanterns don't even try to control their rage. You? You're not just fighting it, you're mastering it."Hal said and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Even if I could balance both Rings somehow, what's the point? If I take a Green Ring, I'll be stuck in some never-ending cycle of trying to juggle willpower and rage... And can one even balance two Rings at once!? It's impossible!"

"Kid, have you met me? I have a track record of making the impossible possible."

"Name one time, Hal!"

"Fine. Her name is Zaria Eloise Jordan and I'm staring at her right now." He smugly said and I rolled my eyes. "Everyone, even the Guardians said that it was impossible to train you and that it was a lost cause."

"That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"

"Not even close, Little Red."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Red, I've got a job for you."

"Depends on what it is."

"We've got a stray." Hal said and pushed a Red Lantern forward. "Aya found him just floating around."

"The new recruit." I smirked. "Oh, this should be fun."

"You know the rules. Everything's valid except-"

"Unspeakable amounts of torture and killing. Got it." I waved it off and chained the Lantern. "You got a name?"

"You... You can make constructs!?"

"Yeah, get with the program."

"My name is Razer."

"I'm Zaria. Sounds like the Red Lanterns left you for dead out there, Razer."

"Why would you care? You're one of us, aren't you? Rage is what binds us. Compassion? That's not part of the deal." He spat and I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe not for everyone, but I'm not your typical Red Lantern, and neither are you if they ditched you. What happened?"

"I left." He admitted and my eyes widened. "Atrocitus... He destroyed an entire system... And I didn't embrace the rage enough, according to him."

"Is this your natural form?"

"Yes."

"Then you clearly haven't embraced it enough. Once the Ring fully takes over, you will transform into your own embodiment of rage." I explained and slowly let my fangs and horns show before shifting back to normal. "Takes a good amount of control to keep that thing at bay."

"You can suppress it?" Razer asked intrigued and I nodded. "How?"

"I've learned the hard way that I am more than pure rage and anger." I sheepishly shrugged. "Plus it helped that I had literal willpower shoved down my throat when I first said the oath."

"Rage doesn't just go away, not even through willpower."

"Who said anything about making it go away?" I shot back. "You don't fight the rage, you learn to channel it. Use it as a tool, not a crutch. That's the only way you'll last long enough to do anything worthwhile."

"Channel it? That sounds like Green Lantern nonsense. Rage is the tool. Without it, what are we even left with?" Razer scoffed.

"You're left with control. Power that's actually yours, not the Ring's. You think this little piece of glowing jewelry makes you strong? It doesn't. The strength comes from you, from what you do with it." I held up my hand, the red glow of my own Ring pulsing faintly. "I've learned that the Ring's just a means to an end."

"And that green hue around it?"

"An experiment." I waved it off and stepped forward. "My job is making sure people like Atrocitus don't destroy everything I care about. I use my rage for something bigger than myself. You can either learn to do the same or let it consume you like the rest of the Corps."

"And if I do?"

"Then I wasted time and spit just talking to you." I shrugged and turned to Hal. "I hate being good cop! That's your thing!"

"Any ideas on what we should do?" Hal chuckled and ruffled my hair. "You were a decent good cop."

"Holding cell until he cracks or listens to reason, I guess. Have Aya search for one nearby... We've got too much on our plates to be dealing with a lost cause."

"As you wish."