Disclaimer: I don't own any of DC characters or stories.
The phone was ringing, ringing, ringing, vibrating in his right hand, threatening to spill out of his trembling hands as his mind whirled. His other hand held a tight grip onto the hand of the unconscious vigilante on the ground as he tried not to think about the blood spilling out of him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Should he have called the Justice League instead? Perhaps the infirmary and technology on the watchtower would be better, but Jason was also in civilian clothes, and he had expressed discomfort over even the idea of interacting with Leaguers on a normal day, much less when he is run down.
But his safety and life should take priority, right? Maybe? But perhaps there would be a lot of clearance needed to get Red Hood medical treatment on the watchtower. The Bats were a complicated bunch and he knew Jason didn't exactly get on with Bruce, so perhaps there would be less procedures in a hospital? It would certainly be nearer to fly him to a hospital than to the watchtower in any case, and time is of essence when it comes to injuries, right?
Stumbling across his boyfriend suddenly being dropped from a ridiculous height and subsequently stabbed viciously in the chest while he had simply been taking a wild flight around to clear his mind hadn't left him in the best state of mind. He wasn't even sure he was in America at the moment and in his panic, he had instinctively grabbed Jason's phone (he hadn't brought his own) and called the first number on speed dial. It was what he had been attuned to do since he was a child, what he still fell back on when he panicked. "Whatever happens, sweetheart, if you're in trouble, just call mom, okay?" Maura's voice rang in his head. But he didn't have his phone, and even if he did, his mom wasn't exactly around for him to contact anymore. He wasn't even sure who he had contacted, he thought hysterically. Did Jason even set speed dials? The phone was ringing at least.
If only he had enough strength to have held on to the white lantern ring and it hadn't split off, returning him to only green. The loss of the power of the rest of the spectrum and his failure to keep a hold of it was not something Kyle liked to think about often. After all, there's no use crying over spilled milk and all, but the fear of the situation brought it to the forefront of this mind. Unavoidable. Maybe he should have worked harder on the feeling of hope and mastered the blue lantern ring, he thought irrationally.
He should have gone straight to find Jason when he returned to Earth, perhaps then this wouldn't be happening. Why had he thought he needed time to clear his mind anyway? Jason was always good company and soothed him and he should have gone to him. No, no, no, he thought to himself. not helpful. As the blood seeped out from the wound in Jason's chest, Kyle tried desperately not to fall prey to the guilt he knows would render him useless.
"Hello Jason," a smooth voice came through, "Is something the matter?"
Who, Kyle barely wondered, before his voice, shakier than he expected, spilled through the speaker. "I… Jason… he's hurt… he needs help, hospital… he was dropped from I think about 20 feet up and stabbed and I don't…"
Something in the air felt like it sharpened with those words. "Where?" the lady asked, her voice commanding.
"I don't…" He could scan. The ring would know. He could find out. "Southwest of Metropolis, fifty miles out, I don't see…"
"Who are you?"
He paused, unsure if he should say. He did, actually find Jason by accident, so there should be no issues with identity at the very least. "Green Lantern, I found him by…"
She released a breath of relief. "Good. I'm contacting the nearest hospital as we speak to prepare what is necessary. I require you to fly to LexCorp Tower in Metropolis this instant…"
"I can't just leave him!" Kyle insisted angrily, before she could finish. Who was she to just demand that he Jason while he was severely injured just to, for some reason, fly to LexCorp?
There was a pause as she seemed to be considering something. "Is he badly injured?"
"Yes," he whispered, trying to keep the edge of distraught out of his voice, although he highly doubted he succeeded.
"Are you confident that you can carry him without jostling his injury?"
Kyle paused. "No…" It was why he hadn't dared to move Jason and carry him directly to the nearest hospital. The stab wound was in his chest, near his heart but Jason must have dodged. It was bleeding a lot, too much, but Kyle was terrified of jostling it. Removing it would cause him to bleed out more, he knew. Moving him might accidentally lead it to actually cut something even worse than whatever it already has, not to mention whatever injuries he might have gained from falling from that height. He doesn't have much medical know-how beyond using the blue ring to heal, but that hadn't been medical in nature, the ring relied on hope, he had simply believed that it could be fixed, that he could stitch anything back, that it was possible and he would restore what was damaged.
"Then fly here at once and bring me there. I can help with that and we'll fly him to the hospital. It will be faster than the ambulance. Make haste." The line cut before he had a chance to respond.
Kyle looked back down at Jason. Injured and unconscious, he didn't want to leave him here, in the middle of nowhere. He wasn't sure if there was anyone nearby, or worse, it was unsafe to begin with, but he wasn't even sure if the assailant had left the area. He had fled the moment Kyle appeared, but he could simply be hiding nearby.
There was no use stressing over it. Steeling his nerves, he built a quick dome construct around Jason, concealing and protecting him from the surroundings. It would hold as he flew to LexCorp and back, he decided. He would make it hold.
"I'm sorry, that won't do, we will need a family to sign off before we can proceed with the operation," the nurse explained patiently, with far too much calmness considering Jason's life might still be at risk. To be fair, Talia should have expected this, but perhaps she was not as calm as she was projecting to have missed the little detail like that.
No matter, there was a solution she had immediately at hand, thanks to her own foresight. It was a failsafe really, just a backup in case it was ever necessary, but never really meant to be used. It hadn't been something Talia had cared about before and hence had never been part of their deal, but she would surely not fault her for using it like this. Not that Talia was intending to ever let her find out. This had never come up before, considering most procedural hurdles were easy enough to cross with a little cash, but of course this hospital located at the far corners of Metropolis would be impossible to tackle.
"But…" the Green Lantern begins.
"Very well, bring the papers to the private room, we will have one of his parents sign it."
The nurse raised an eyebrow for a second before quickly composing herself. "Yes ma'am, we will bring it over right away."
The Green Lantern turned to her. "Did you…"
"Don't worry about it. I have a way. Just sit down, Green Lantern, you look like you're about to faint. They will begin the operation soon," she promised.
He scowled at her comment, but did not sit down, following her into the room instead. She would highly prefer if he didn't see what she was about to do, but there was no time for her to be wasting by trying to keep him out and raising his suspicions further. With luck, if she puts herself at enough ease, he may not even notice.
Waiting for their return, she pondered the reaction of the Green Lantern since he first called her. He had been far too affected by the whole ordeal, almost acting more agitated and worried than she had been feeling. She wasn't sure what Jason had been doing with a Green Lantern in the first place, but either he was extremely unused to injuries on the field (extremely unlikely given his job) or he felt something personal towards Jason. His strange decision to call her, his outburst at the mere thought of leaving Jason injured, the trembling in his voice and hand, the way his expression would crumble every time he caught sight of Jason's injured form, all of those pointed towards something she did not wish to see or think about. She hated that she had no idea who he even was and wasn't even aware that Jason had such a friend. She hated even more that she had never realized it would be something she would be concerned about, and yet here she was, worrying about people who were potentially interested in Jason apparently. Infuriating.
"So… how did you and Jason meet?"
"Meet?" The boy blinked. He looked younger than what she knew of the Earth Green Lanterns but they were always multiplying. His eyes slid to the side for a second, clearly faltering, before looking slightly above her. "I was just having a casual flight when I saw some person fighting him. He ran off when I arrived. I don't know…" He trailed off, and it took enormous effort not to roll her eyes at him. Did he take her for a fool? She sincerely hoped his… affections were one-sided, but surely Jason would not pick one so transparent as this one. Or perhaps he would find comfort in the fact that he could not lie to him. She hoped not, she would want someone more capable for him. He had saved Jason's life at the very least.
Before she could continue, the door opened again, revealing the nurse. Quickly scanning the papers, she signed her name. "Thank you. Call me the moment the second the operation is complete and please get the doctors in immediately. If the delay has led to something happening to him…" she drew herself to full height, letting her threat hang in the air. The nurse nodded, bringing the paper out.
"So," the boy started the second the nurse left the room. "Natalia Knight?"
If not for all her training, she might have froze. She hadn't noticed him watching her. She turned smoothly. "Talia is fine."
He blinked. Don't make the connection, she hoped. His eyes widened as he clearly made the connection. Unfortunate. "Talia al…"
"Short for Natalia Knight," she cut him off smoothly, shooting him a sharp look.
He faltered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Right, of course."
"So, given you know who I am, perhaps we can stop with the lying, hmm?" she suggested.
The Lantern bit his lip, turning a pretty shade of red. Perhaps that was what Jason saw in him, a pretty boy. If it wasn't one-sided that was. "We had a mission together once, quite a while ago," he offered.
"And?"
"And we became friends."
Uncooperative, how frustrating. "What were you two doing this time?"
He frowned. "I wasn't lying, you know. We weren't doing anything together, I really just saw him on my flight," he grumbled. Truth. That was interesting. What was Jason doing here then and who was targeting him? That was important to find out, but given they were at the hospital right now and she had the Lantern with her, it could wait. They clearly did not want to attack him with the Lantern in the vicinity.
"So why are you still hanging around here then? Don't you have other places to be, things to do?"
"Not really," he gave her a cheeky smile. "I thought I should just like to make sure the civilian I saved is fine." Either he wasn't picking up her annoyance, or perhaps he was simply ignoring it. She couldn't decide which option was worse.
"You're drawing attention, you know. A Green Lantern staying to wait for a civilian's operation for no reason would bring questions."
"I'm pretty sure having a scandal with Green Lantern would amuse Jason actually."
She ignored that. "Don't you want to change back to civilian clothes at least?"
He tilted his head at her. "You just want to know my identity."
"You know mine," she pointed out.
"You don't exactly hide it."
She scowled. "Right now, as Natalia Knight, I can kick you out, you know?"
The Green Lantern sobered up. "Okay, okay, jeez, I'll change back on one condition. Tell me who you are to him. And who Natalia Knight is."
"Awfully concerned for a friend, aren't you?" she shot back.
He blushed. Not that he hadn't already been bloody obvious, but she was starting to worry that this may not be as one-sided as she thought, for him to be so bold with his demands. Then again, he is a Green Lantern and boldness was often a given trait with them. He shrugged, clearly trying to appear casual. She could deny him the answer he wanted, but he had saved Jason's life. Besides, appearing cooperative would likely help immensely with putting him at ease, possibly allowing her to gain more information about their relationship and about him
"I nursed him back to health after he came back to life and provided him with training. I was a sort of… mentor to him, I suppose."
The Green Lantern frowned. "You were his speed dial."
Talia tried not to react to that statement, even if something in her heart tinged at the thought of that. She wasn't aware and certainly hadn't expected that. She hadn't even stopped to consider why the Lantern was calling her even while he clearly hadn't known who she was. She shrugged. "I don't pretend to know how he arranges his contacts. Natalia is his adoptive mother, she won the custody case against Bruce, but left her in his care after her life was put in danger and she disappeared. Now, who are you?"
His eyes widened at the information about Natalia. Whatever stage of the relationship they were in (if any), they clearly hadn't gotten into talking about their history to each other, she thought, taking comfort from that thought. "But Bruce has custody now?"
"It was not difficult to arrange paperwork to arrange it so that she would also hold custody if she ever returned."
"But why would she stay away? And do you have permission to just…"
"I don't pretend to know what logic dictates others' actions, Green Lantern. Now. Who are you?" she asked again, letting a bit of irritation leak into her voice, although she was glad that at least he hadn't presumed to questions why she would make such arrangements yet.
He withdrew sheepishly. "I'll fly back and be back in a moment." To avoid questions and the sudden appearance of his civilian identity while Green Lantern disappeared. He wasn't a complete imbecile, she scowled. "Right now, as Natalia Knight, I can kick you out, you know?"
The Green Lantern sobered up. "Okay, okay, jeez, I'll change back on one condition. Tell me who you are to him. And who Natalia Knight is."
"Awfully concerned for a friend, aren't you?" she shot back.
He blushed. Not that he hadn't already been bloody obvious, but she was starting to worry that this may not be as one-sided as she thought, for him to be so bold with his demands. Then again, he is a Green Lantern and boldness was often a given trait with them. He shrugged, clearly trying to appear casual.
"I nursed him back to health after he came back to life and provided him with training. I was a sort of… mentor to him, I suppose."
The Green Lantern frowned. "You were his speed dial."
Talia tried not to react to that statement, even if something in her heart tinged at the thought of that. She wasn't aware and certainly hadn't expected that. She hadn't even stopped to consider why the Lantern was calling her even while he clearly hadn't known who she was. She shrugged. "I don't pretend to know how he arranges his contacts. Natalia is his adoptive mother, she won the custody case against Bruce, but left her in his care after her life was put in danger and she disappeared. Now, who are you?"
His eyes widened at the information about Natalia. Whatever stage of the relationship they were in (if any), they clearly hadn't gotten into talking about their history to each other, she thought, taking comfort from that thought. "But Bruce has custody now?"
"It was not difficult to arrange paperwork to arrange it so that she would also hold custody if she ever returned."
"But why would she stay away? And do you have permission to just…"
"I don't pretend to know what logic dictates others' actions, Green Lantern. Now. Who are you?" she asked again, letting a bit of irritation leak into her voice, although she was glad that at least he hadn't presumed to questions why she would make such arrangements.
He withdrew sheepishly. "I'll fly back and be back in a moment." To avoid questions and the sudden appearance of his civilian identity while Green Lantern disappeared. He wasn't a complete imbecile, she supposed.