A/N

Hope you enjoy the twist at the end!

"It's a-me Mario!"

-Mario

Episode V: The Last Straw, Part II

The way that he's stood.

The way his head doesn't dare flicker away from perfect alignment with his spine.

The way he taps away at the computer with a fervent ferocity, fingers barely touching the surface of the keys before searching for their next target to caress.

Everything about the Batman's stance conveys the impression of a man who is incredulously focused- on what, Hal intends to find out. He's tired of simply abiding Batman's secrecy, and ignoring the fact that ninety-nine percent of the time, he is working some hidden agenda which more often than not doesn't align with the League's own thoughts on the matter.

Not that many in the League would stand up and say anything to him. No matter what, he'll always have Superman and Wonder Woman stood behind him at every turn. Sometimes, they act like his sidekicks- defending his every action.

Hal has seen enough of Bruce to know what truly makes the man behind the mask tick.

He lies about his whole 'crusade' just as easily as he lies to those he's supposed to call friends. He's no more than an angry boy still trying to shake his fist to the heavens even after decades of his parents dying.

It doesn't matter how many villains we defeat, or how many people we save- to him, the world will never be good enough to say 'there's nothing more left to do'. He'll be here long after this war against the Supervillains has ended, and he'll take his anger with him to the grave.

Hal isn't going to sit by and let him take those kids down with him. Sinestro wanted the same things as Bruce does- order and stability, but at the same time, Sinestro let his fear drown those who followed him, until there was nothing left but that raw stench of horror.

"No," the Batman loudly states, eyes still glued at the screen, and fingers tapping away.

"Come on, bat, I've known you long enough to see that you've rehearsed this," Hal shakes his head. "Usually, when you rehearse things, it's because you have something to hide- more than usual, anyway."

"How smart of you," Batman sarcastically deadpans.

"There's that classic Wayne ego- thinking that because you can make a snarky comment, you're somehow better than me. The League would be a lot better if you just told us what you know. Or does it all come back to your paranoia, huh? The only person you can truly trust is yourself, blah blah blah."

"I just don't trust you," he responds.

"Ahhh... so that means Superman knows?... Diana?" Hal counters, staring at the back of the Batman's head with his arms folded. When no answer comes, he continues, "Thought so."

"Let's cut to the chase, Batman, I know you have some clue where the kids went to- even you would've been more distraught if you thought Robin was dead," Hal attempts to get straight to the elephant in the conversation, tired of the witty remarks and diversions.

"You're right. I don't think they're dead," he admits, though not giving much more away than that, as usual. "But, I don't know where they are."

"Yeah... I don't believe that?" Hal retorts, growing more impatient by the moment. So much so, he's beginning to tap his ring in his bicep, barely realising it.

"I doesn't matter what you believe. I can't tell you what I don't know."

"Fine, let's play it your way," Hal grumbles, storming off towards his quarters with much more doubt and uncertainty than he entered the conversation with.

Only one thing is for certain: he will find those kids, and keep them safe.

Rallying together as many of his trusted friends as he could without a rousing too much suspicion, he calls them to a meeting inside of his room.

It doesn't take long for Shazam, Flash, Green Arrow, Hawkwoman, and Black Canary to arrive. But before he could begin the meeting, Wonder Woman also makes her way through the doors, rather unexpectedly.

"I heard you called a meeting, and I assumed it's purpose. A lot of the League knows you had some choice words for Batman earlier, so I'm guessing you think he knows where the children are," she greets them.

"Yeah... and I think he's got something planned," Hal responds, looking over the assembled group of discontents, "whatever it is, he's obviously going to dangle the team as bait. I can't allow that, we can't allow that."

"Damn right," Green Arrow agrees. "Those kids should never be could up in his machinations."

"So, I want to officially invite you to join this little club of ours. Together, we're going to try our damn hardest to help those kids, and stop them from doing this alone if necessary," Hal speaks up, waiting for any refusals, but only sees serious nods.

"What about Superman? Should he help us?" Shazam asks, a look of confusion on his face, clearly barely grasping the secrecy of this group.

"Superman? That Boy Scout can't hide anything from anyone. We tell him, the whole League will know in no time," Hal answers, to Wonder Woman's quiet agreement.

"Hal's right. If Superman knows, Batman will too," Diana states, looking at Shazam. If anyone would be the one to tell Superman, it would be his adoring young fan.

Though, Shazam nods in agreement, and with a lot more confident and determination than usual. Clearly, he's at least going to try and keep a secret this time.

Still, it's only a matter of time before the world's greatest detective finds out about their little agreement. So, it would be best to work quickly.

"First order of action: we need t-"

Being cut short by a loud beeping, the entire room turns over to Hal's drawer, where the intriguing sound of emanating from.

"That's odd," Hal shrugs, thinking nothing of it really. But, the beeping keeps on getting louder and louder, until the drawer keeps on thudding, as though something is trying to escape.

Flash is the first one to investigate, opening the drawer. Something attempts to fly out, but Flash reacts and pinches it between his thumb and finger.

Struggling to get free is Kyle's Green Lantern Ring, beeping and violently trying to wriggle free from Flash's control.

"I thought Kyle's ring couldn't choose a new bearer," Diana smartly recalls.

Since there's technically a Lantern in charge of Earth's sector, the ring given to Kyle was kind of a 'one-off' duplication of Hal's ring which he sent off when him and the other human lanterns were all indisposed.

"It can't," Hal gasps.

Seeing Hal's reaction, Oliver warily asks, "What does that mean?"

"It means... Kyle is still alive."