I tried and failed miserably... I was truly hopeful to fit this all in 2 chapters, but a third installment is necessary. So my apologies for cliff-hanging this one, but also ...oh well. I'd rather prolong it than squeeze it all together and make it feel rushed.
The feeling in her hands was just starting to fully come back as she breathed in the calming smell of the beverage in her grasp. Wafts of the steam warmed her face and she was earnestly grateful for her friend's hospitality and companionship. Casting her eyes over to Usi, he protectively watched over Bec who was sprawled across his back, blissfully snoozing away. Next to them was a nightstand with a clock - 11:48. She hadn't realized it was so late, or that they had been talking for nearly 3 hours at this point, splurging on even a 2nd cup of hot cocoa.
She had learned so much about Audrey that evening and received plenty of perspectives through her friend's experience, even gaining insight from others in Audrey's life who had gone through a similar trial.
It didn't completely alleviate her doubts and worries, but talking things through had opened her eyes to plenty of possibilities.
For starters, after explaining the conversation in which John told her of his desires to not father children with her - in warped detail to avoid revealing too much about their line of work, of course - Audrey pointed out that "the dream" he saw could mean so many different things.
She said that being with Mari but dreaming of a family with her may have rattled his morality and loyalty. His guilt for wishing for a life with someone else may have shaken him to the point of sharing it with her, just so he could finally reject it and come clean.
Or maybe he had simply wanted to get back at her for hurting him in the past, and knew stringing hope in front of her eyes only to rip it away gave him that opportunity.
Whatever his reasoning, Audrey assured her that his words didn't seem like an upfront statement of "I don't want children" but rather an "I don't want children right now because things are complicated".
Not that their life would ever be without complications, Shayera thought to herself.
Audrey admitted that while things may not have worked out between her and Rebecca's biological father, that didn't mean things would be the same for her and John.
"I've seen the way he looks at you - the way you both interact with one another - and I've never met two people more perfect together," Audrey said, sipping her drink.
"-Steven and I weren't like you and John," she continued solemnly. "-I loved things about him, and vise-versa... but we weren't in love with one another. We were so different, just not in ways that complete people. But ...we were young and wild ...and stupid." She chuckled, looking over to her little girl. "-I know it's probably strange, but I don't regret any of it. A part of me will always hate him for leaving us, but that other part of me will always love him for giving me her."
Closing her eyes with a sigh, Shayera took in her statement. She didn't know if she could bring herself to feel the same way should things turn sour, but she was hopeful. At the very least she could cling to that to get her through this.
Shayera grimaced then, putting a hand to her mouth and looking at Audrey in panic. Apparently, 2 cups of hot cocoa on an empty stomach wasn't the smartest thing she'd done today.
Audrey's eyes widened in knowing and she pointed. "Down the hall, second door on your right!" Before she could even finish her sentence, Shayera was bolting toward the restroom.
She grimaced sympathetically as she heard the woman dry-heaving shortly after. Usi's head snapped up in worry and Bec jolted upright at the sudden movement, blinking rapidly as she adjusted her eyes. "...Momma?" She said, her voice thick with sleep. "-Is Tenny otay?"
"Pronounce your k's, baby," Audrey instructed, taking another swing from her cup.
Bec groaned dramatically but repeated herself with exaggerated effort. "Is Kenny otay?"
Close enough. She thought as she moved to sit next to her daughter, playing with her hair. "Thank you... and remember what I told you about kissing boys?"
The little girl nodded her head. "Ah-huh, it'll gib you da totties."
Audrey couldn't stop the smile from spreading on her face. "Yup, and what do you think Kendra was doing?"
Bec's eyes sparkled with mischief and she giggled. "Kenny was kissing on a boy."
The two laughed together, Audrey squeezing her into a hug. "Yup. She was kissing on a boy and she got the cooties. Tragic, isn't it?" Speaking of tragic, Audrey sighed as she heard Shayera go through a second wave of cocoa. The woman cursed, not realizing how thin the walls were.
Bec gasped and drew out an "Awwww...Kenny said puck."
Feeling her mother's glare, she immediately covered her mouth and shrunk under her Audrey's gaze, "Sowwy, momma."
Audrey sighed heavily, feeling too warn out to discipline her daughter at the moment. "You stay here and watch over Usi, I'm going to be a good friend and hold back some hair."
John breathed a heavy sigh for what he felt like was the millionth time. He could practically feel a migraine forming under his skull as this so-called "meeting" kept going in circles. His patience was starting to rival someone else he knew fondly. Thinking about her put him in a sour mood. Home-sickness kept up his spine; he wanted nothing more than for these two powers to finally sign this damn, peace-treaty so he could just go home. What he wouldn't give to simply hear her voice, to take in her familiar scent, run his hands through her hair, and down her -
"John Stewart - Green Lantern of Earth!" The yell pierced his ears, startling him out of his thoughts. Glares about the room settled on him. He straightened his back and cleared his throat with a mumbled apology. "-Forgive us if we are boring you, but some of us wish to treat those around us with respect and dignity. But I should expect no less from your kind," the Heliconian sneered.
Katma Tui thinned her eyes at the man, lowering her pitch in a threatening tone. "You will not speak to him, or any others within this room that way... is that understood?" He shrunk under her gaze, setting his lip in a firm line. "-While this may be hard for you to believe, we have better things to concern ourselves with than this war between your people. We are here to help you find resolution despite that... so do think before you speak."
The Kalanorian monarch - Saranna - nodded her head in agreeance. "The Green Lantern is correct. We have kept our honored guests overdue and must come to some aggreance."
She dipped her head and met the eyes of those within the Helicon council. "-We on Kalanor understand your struggles as we too were faced with harsh leadership under the influence of Despero. It is only because of the outside forces of the Green Lanterns and Earth's Justice League, that we became a free people and our now blessed with our current resources. But we are still recovering from the wrath and destruction we faced, and cannot relinquish your requests in the amounts you've settled upon."
The head scientist, Hari, huffed in disagreement. John grumbled internally as he had been their main source of problems - always causing discourse - though, John tried to find understanding in his heart for their circumstances.
"Yes, and we were also affected negatively by Despero - your former authoritarian!" Hari exclaimed. "-We, however, did not receive the blessings of the Py'tar as you Kalanorians did. It is within our right to take our share as compensation for the suffering we Heliconians have endured." He threw his hands in the air. "-Are we to just accept your scraps with thankful hearts when our children starve? When our ill succumb to their diseases? Or when our soldiers bleed and die, fighting for what should have been freely given? Our harsh leadership - as you so carelessly stated - comes from a place of desperation!"
Grumbles turn into heated arguing and quickly into full-blown screaming matches around the room.
John wanted to beat his head in with an Nth metal mace. His eye twitched and his fists clenched and unclenched before finally pounding against the table in frustration. "Okay, that's enough!" He bellowed, startling the room in silence.
"-This is going nowhere, and has been since we started nearly 5 weeks ago! I have every right to relinquish myself from this counsel, but I genuinely want to help... so I've held my tongue. But both the Kalanorians and the Heliconians need Kalanor's resources to make it by, and there's simply not enough to go around. We get it! But bickering over what is or isn't yours isn't going to help either of you come to that conclusion. Your people are dying out there while you all sit on your hands and twiddle your thumbs, and I'm sick of it!"
John stormed out - slamming the large, double doors behind him with great force.
Katma stood and addressed the table, her voice precise and firm. "Please forgive Green Lantern John Stewart's outburst. We will take a brief recess to allow everyone to clear their heads. This meeting is temporarily on hold; we'll reconvene shortly. Thank you." As per their agreement with the Guardians of Oa - Katma's words were final.
Out on the balcony - John breathed in the views around him, marveling at the sights as he fiddled with a cord around his neck, easing his anxieties. Kalanor's beauty had only increased since he had traveled to this place not so long ago. Healing began here in both the land and within his own heart and mind. He had been dealing with so much internal struggle then. Now, seeing the Kalanorians facing their current, outward struggle brought unease to his heart. He thought of this place with fondness, undoubtingly giving him bias.
The Arcturus star was beginning to set and his heart yearned more knowing who would love this view. His chest tightened and he sighed in hopes of relieving the pressure, unsuccessfully.
"What is wrong with you?!" Katma fussed from behind him, Ch'p and Isamot in tow.
John shook his head, stowing the cord beneath his uniform before turning to address them. Isamot growled, his tail swishing with agitation. "If he hadn't said it, I would've."
Katma glared at the Lizarkon. "Quiet! You are not helping."
John held his hands up in defense, hoping to defuse the situation. "Look... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out like that. But, come on! There's just no end in sight - we're at our wits end here."
"If I remember correctly - I am mission leader," Katma said with narrowed eyes. "-You do not get to decide when the end is. We have a job to do. But you are off daydreaming about that Thanagarian. You -"
"This has nothing to do with Shayera." He corrected, displeased with Kat's tone of voice as she referred to his partner. Challenging her glare, John neared them. "-Yes, I miss her, and I want to go home. I won't deny that. But that's not why I spoke up... It's been over a month, Kat! Their people are dying out there while we're sitting around, playing peace-maker. When do we finally put our foot down and say this has to end?!"
Ch'p and Isamot turned to Katma, waiting for her answer. She breathed through her nose and met his steely gaze, giving her answer thought before she spoke. "Our mission is to keep the peace between these two people as they make their demands, and that does not warrant your version of justice."
She neared him, practically nose-to-nose. "-And should you pull another stunt as you did today, I will not hesitate to put you in your place... Do I make myself clear, John Stewart?"
He didn't back away from her, only narrowed his eyes deeper. His voice was low and threatening as he responded. "...Crystal."
Everything considered - John was in a terrible mood.
He huffed around the guest suite given to him by the Kalanorians, trying to keep himself occupied. But he kept replaying the day in his mind and felt his anger rising with each playback.
Grabbing a pillow from the comforter, John loudly groaned into it. He momentarily thought about suffocating himself with it but thought against it. Bitterly tossing it back against the headboard, John laid flat on his back and stared at the ceiling.
His hand rested against his chest, finding the indent of what rested between the fabric and his skin. The anger faded to sadness as his careful plans had been uprooted by the Guardians and this mission. Though he knew he shouldn't, he pulled the cord out from his shirt and held the item between his fingers to stare at it.
Building up to the day in which he intended to give it to Shayera, he remembered how anxious he had been. He was only 5 days away when he'd been called here, much to his dismay.
Aside from the cold - Christmas was her favorite Earthen holiday - he mused with a smile. His grin broadened as he thought about her complaining about the temperature in their home, how she would wrap herself in blankets and his modified hoodies, and burrow into his chest to steal his warmth, putting her cold hands up his back much to his protest.
The woman drove him crazy, but he knew there was no one else he wanted to suffer through the winter season with more than her. He was so hopeful things would wrap up before Christmas arrived, but he was sorely mistaken.
Running his thumb over the golden band, he watched the stone atop the ring glitter in the light.
He wondered how much more dazzling it would be resting on her finger instead of between his. All his anxieties on this matter had morphed into a blinding - all-consuming - yearning. The second he saw her again, he knew he wouldn't be able to wait. Where he stood mentally, he wouldn't put it past himself to throw it at her head, demanding she put it on so he could finally be rid of it.
A chuckle escaped him at the thought, knowing that probably wouldn't go over well with his hot-tempered, Thanagarian.
The rhythmic knocking on his door pulled him from his thoughts. He groaned as he lifted his body off the bed, having gotten comfortable. The knocking persisted and he immediately knew it was Kat about to give him the ringer a second time. "I'm coming," he grumbled, opening the door.
John's line of vision went to his company then promptly fell to the weapon pointed in his direction. His eyes widened in realization; before he could react, the blast sounded. He fell square onto his back and groaned in searing pain, his eyesight failing as he searched for the nightstand where his ring lay.
A muffled voice met his ringing ears. He could tell his assailant was saying something, but he couldn't make out their words.
The blurry figure looked down at him and John saw the light of their weapon illuminate once more, directed this time at his head. He couldn't move - his body felt numb and cold, and his heart sank as he realized his fate and what was to come. His mind felt fuzzy but all he could think about was one thing.
He wouldn't get to see Shayera again - he was about to die.