GREEN LANTERN NEW GENESIS: RECHARGED
Chapter 7: Shot in the Dark
"And so on February 26 1952 the event known as "Mystery Men's walk of shame" from the congress is considered the end of the first era of superheroes. With the Justice Society announcing that their team disbands and all of them are going into retirement, concluding the period that between 1938 and 1952 is referred as the "Golden Age", with the next 50 or so years without heroes until the appearance of Superman."-The history teacher recited pointing at the image on the screen as Shinji, in the safe haven of his desk kept staring at his history text book, ever since he begun to attend high school their history lessons revolved around the after war period of changes in the American society. Most notably the fall of public's trust in the "Mystery Men" or "Masked Good-doers" how the old media called superheroes. They learned of the paranoia surrounding the fact that literal gods were flying over their heads or could run at speeds faster than sound. How they were accused of being communists and Nazi sympathizers, with the person leading the charge upon them being Joseph McCarthy and Richard Nixon, referring to people who fought Nazis and…Japanese defending the United States as "Masked Freaks doing Un-American deeds.". 'Bureaucracy to doom us all…sounds familiar does it father?'-Shinji thought as suddenly hand risen above his head.
"Yes miss Kane?"-The teacher asked as Shinji turned around to see Amy with her hand up.
"Pardon me teacher, but isn't the death of Hourman considered as a turning point in the whole situation regarding governent's push for the ban of Mystery Men?"-Amy asked as the teacher sighed pressing a button on his remote as the image of various superheroes walking away from the American congress building after denouncing their loyalty to the American government to a black and white picture of a scientist dressed in a lab coat and holding a test tube.
"Normally you wouldn't cover something as…taboo as this, especially in this day and age with all those new heroes and the Justice League dealing with one space threat after another. But since your teacher is the one of those who like to show his students the truth and since miss Kane already mentioned it I guess we can cover this man in full detail. This is Rex Tyler, born in 1919 in New York Ithaca. Founder of TylerCo, a company in terms of chemistry second behind Lexcorp to this day. A great chemist himself, with a mystery man alter ego to boot."-the teacher said as Shinji kept looking with non-stop attention. He was one of the people who fought alongside the first human Green Lantern, yet still outcasted by society for doing the good thing, probably one of the reasons why Shinji and Kid Lantern were not one and the same person, and why he wore a mask. He needed secrecy to at least as Hal said…"have some semblancy of a normal life.". As his thoughts kept divulging the picture on the board changed to a picture of a muscular man dressed in black suit with yellow pants and red boots, with a yellow cape and hood covering his face that was hidden by a black mask that only showed his eyes and lower part of his face. What caught not only Shinji's attention but also the other students was a small red hourglass hanging from his collar. He stood on top of what appeared to be a building with barrage balloons in the distance.
"This is Hourman, aside from Jay Garrick the only original member of the Justice Society of who we learned the real name and surname. The same Rex Tyler we just saw. He died in the January of 52, not knowing what his death would do to his pals in the JSA and beyond."-The teacher continued as another picture appeared. This time of an issue of the New York Times dated for January 10 1952 with the headline being "HOURMAN DEAD!: NEW YORK'S OWN CAPED DEFENDER PLUNGING TO DEATH: Taking three policemen and a NYT reporter with him. Secret identity revealed post mortem.". Many students looking at each other with Shinji almost putting a hand over his mouth. The picture that was apparently recovered from the camera of the dead journalists. Showing Hourman falling with debris surrounding him, fear visible not only on the police officers faces but also on Hourman's, someone who should be invincible.
"It was a cold January night, Hourman was one of the few who even after a country-wide arrest warrant on the former Justice Society members who carried on their good deeds. After facing off with yet another crime he seemed to forget what could happen to him, but Police had its orders. And so three policemen alongside a journalist from the times ran after him, shooting at him as if he was another costumed supervillain. Tyler's power was both his bless and curse, from his audio journal and notes that were given to the public by his family we've learned of the origin of his powers. The Miraclo, a vitamin that boosted a human's strength, speed and endurance. But only for an single hour at a day, it appeared that the Miraclo had ran out just moments before his death and his body came smashing down on the ground. From what Tyler said on his recordings, he had gotten addicted, in his last days recorded it sounded that putting on the cape was less for "good things" as what he referred to his deeds between early march of 1940 and the last days of 1949 and more for the temporary boost of strength and ability to be more than just a regular human. Tyler's drug addiction and the fact that officers of the law were killed during his escapades proved enough to serve as a scapegoat for the anti-hero politicians, using Rex Tyler's drug-addicted scribbles and fumbling in his last days as Hourman to berate the Justice Society. To calm down the tensions between the Mystery Men, freshly elected president Eisenhower, the same one who fought alongside them in Europe. Invited them to the congress and offered them a chance, to become fully government sponsored agents and to reveal their secret identities. In that congress session the Justice Society proclaimed that they won't serve a country that doesn't trust them and with that they all vanished into obscurity."-The teacher concluded his speech just as the bell rang, with all the students rushing out, Shinji only sighed, collecting his things before joining the crowd of students. It was the first time a lesson had sent shivers to his spines, but as a fellow hero he could understand of what Rex Tyler was going though. The fear and paranoia of the public and politicians were spreading was something else. He couldn't help but compare it to his world and what he knew about the post Second Impact society.
"Taboo, taboo my ass! My Dad works in the Police and just weeks ago the cops were chasing down Robin and Kid Lantern!"-One of the students, a tall and muscular one dressed in the clothes of the high school's sports team exclaimed as a girl put a hand on his shoulder.
"Well…Robin is a vigilante and Kid Lantern is a space policeman, it makes sense why they would chase one and not the other."-She explained as Shinji in the distance begun to internally fume.
"Yeah, but I think it's odd that Green Lantern lets him to go out like that on his own, considering that he struggled with holding a helicopter. Maybe him being a sidekick comes down with less power?"-Another kid asked as Shinji begun to mutter under his lip.
"Not a sidekick…"-he muttered as then the small crowd turned towards him.
"Ikari, you actually speak?"-The boy in the jacket asked as Shinji realised what he just did and in what position he put himself in. His mind racing though different scenarios of what to do.
"Yeah, I think I heard him saying something...about sidekicks."-the girl said as Shinji turned around looking for getaway.
"I think you've heard something wrong."-Shinji said before turning on the heel and walking away as the group shared a look.
"Weirdo, and with the way he acts you would think that he is Kid Lantern."-He said as the girl chuckled.
"What? No! I've seen Kid Lantern once, and he seems as a happy, kinda cocky and hot guy In that costume. Ikari on the contrast seems…meek, way too mild-mannered and afraid of his own shadow."-She said as meanwhile Shinji made his way throughout the high school wiping the sweat from his forehead. 'That was close, I need to control myself better, lucky that you are nothing without your ring.'-Shinji thought as he tried to calm himself down, he then noticed the opened door as he walked inside the nearest room. He turned around to see the various instruments as he connected the dots…it was a music room. Shinji sighed in relief as he sat down on the floor, the calm quiet helping him to silence himself and his thoughts.
"All right, I guess I can wait here throughout the whole break."-Shinji said out loud as he reached out towards his pocket for his IPod before setting his eyes on the eyecandy that was the brand new school-owned cello. 'And I guess I can try to test it, it will be better to do something then just sit around doing nothing for 15 minutes.'-he thought as he walked up towards the cello, sitting behind it and grabbing the fiddlestick, in just seconds the room was filled with Bach Cello Suite number one as Shinji closed his eyes allowing his muscle memory to take place. Completely shutting himself off from the world and focusing on his music, not noticing the fact his ring begun to faintly glow, a signal he set if it would pick out something from the police scanner.
"Excuse me?"-Someone finally said as Shinji opened his eyes to see their school's music teacher. A woman dressed formally in a white shirt and a black skirt, her eyes being covered by glasses and her brown hair tied into a ponytail. Shinji feeling like a deer in headlights as he begun to spurt out sentence after sentence.
"I-I'm sorry! I-It's just, I w-wanted to test out this cello."-Shinji said standing up as the teacher raised her hands.
"Don't worry, nothing is wrong! In fact I was looking to test out this cello myself. But, I can see that someone did the job for me. Are you a cellist?"-The teacher asked as Shinji turned his head, him then realising that his ring begun to glow. 'Shit, I need to get out of here fast.'-he thought as he pressed fast-forward on his conversation skills.
"I never was a professional cellist, I only studied for myself back in Japan and just didn't stop."-Shinji said him barely managing to hide his tensing body. The teacher only nodded to his words as she walked up towards Shinji.
"I see, and the fact we don't have a cellist in the music club I can see that you could fill this hole very nicely. If you want to play on this cello legally then come to me after school."-She said as Shinji nodded before rushing off from the classroom leaving the confused teacher. 'He didn't even asked me for my name.'-she thought as meanwhile Shinji ran towards the bathroom. His ring instinctively summoning a pair of small green earbuds as he locked himself in the cabin.
"All police units in the vicinity of Northpoint, we have a supervillain with a…crotch gun? Robbing the main Citibank. Requesting assistance, I repeat requesting assistance."-the voice said as Shinji smirked. 'This looks like a job for Kid Lantern.'-he thought as on instinct he summoned his uniform. Although not before someone knocked on the cabin just as the upper portion of his uniform appeared.
"Ikari? Are you ok?"-A familiar voice called out that Shinji connected to Amy, the only person in this school he bothered to open his mouth for. 'Crap crap crap.'-Shinji thought as he came up with an explanation, although it would sound stupid it was probably the only way he could fend Amy off.
"No, I think I have a stomach ache, tell the teacher I'll be late."-Shinji said as on the other side of the door Amy looked concerned.
"Do you need help? I can walk you to the nurse's office?"-She offered as the masked head of Shinji rapidly turned even though she couldn't see him.
"No, I'll come back soon, if I won't then know I headed home."-Shinji said as on the other side of the door Amy begrudgingly agreed and walked away, as Shinji heard the door closing he let out a sigh as the rest of his uniform appeared over his body. Kid Lantern, who had already mapped the entire school since his arrival knew that from that he could leap out safely into the sky using his density shift without bringing the attention to himself. And so he did, finally feeling the fresh though his aura as he soared higher before heading to from where the signal was coming from. Luckily for him and for the police offers it didn't take too long as Kid Lantern landed next to a couple of policemen.
"What's happening?"-He asked as the policemen turned towards him relieved.
"Great…you're finally here, we have a supervillain inside. A guy who appears to be having a big…problem, it shouldn't a big problem for you right?"-The policeman said between silent chuckles keeping his serious demeanour, Kid Lantern only nodded before lifting himself up and flying into the bank, luckily for him aside from bank employees and few clients appearing to be scattered around it appeared that the villain didn't bother to take any hostages. 'Here we go…'-Kid Lantern thought before shining his light on the villain who looked up towards him.
"All right…crotchgun-man? If you want me to deal with you smoothly then surrender and take off this dumb harness."-Kid Lantern said as he barely hold his emotions on a tight leash as he himself could understand why even the policemen were silently chuckling and even those with a serious approach to the job were amused. The villain was dressed in black jumpsuit with orange shoes, kneepads, gloves and helmet. All playing with the…weapon mounted on his crotch. The villain only turned towards Kid Lantern before firing his weapon, not doing any real damage as the beam was absorbed by his aura.
"Crotchgun-man? My name is Codpiece!"-He exclaimed as it was this was the part where Kid Lantern…or Shinji Ikari…or both of them actually lost it, laughing mid-air not noticing the fact that Codpiece almost took one of the people hostage before he was stunned with Kid Lantern's stun beam. The hostage, an elderly man was surprised by the fact how quickly the boy's demeanour changed. Now with a serious expression and ring risen at Codpiece.
"Damn you, I was hoping Green Lantern would show up or even someone else, at least breaking his brat sidekick to pieces should be satisfactory."-Codpiece said as he fired missiles from the codpiece's weapons system, which Kid Lantern nonchalantly caught with an Eva hand before detonating them in the safety of his force field. 'Shit, I'm out of options.'-Codpiece thought as he looked like a dear in the headlights as Kid Lantern turned his head.
"I really wanted to deal with this smoothly crotchgun, but taking a hostage is a no-no, so let's cut it short."-Kid Lantern said firing a beam at Codpiece utterly destroying his harness before decking him in the jaw as much as his build allowed him, it proved enough to send Codpiece flying towards the hole in the wall he blew up as Kid Lantern rushed towards the elderly man.
"Are you ok sir?"-He asked helping the man up and handing back his cane, for what felt like blissful seconds as behind him Codpiece managed to get up.
"Young man, look out!"-The elderly man trying to warn Kid Lantern as he turned to see Codpiece trying to land a punch upon the young Lantern's face, suddenly multiple green tendrils appeared tying Codpiece up.
"Well, it appears I'm late to the party."-A voice spoke up as Green Lantern flew into the bank earning cheers from the gathered crowd.
"I had him."-Kid Lantern said as he begun to clean up the rubble as his older partner looked at him with an amused facial expression while summoning a group of pin-up girls dressed in stylized janitor outfits to help him with the clean-up.
"Yeah, I can see that. Although you left quite an opening there, and we need to talk Kid."-Hal said as the duo dealt with the clean up before flying out of the bank with Green Lantern dropping Codpiece down in front of the policemen.
"Crotchgun-man is out, without his weapon he is powerless so you won't have a problem with apprehending him, good day officers."-Green Lantern said before he flew upwards to the sky with Kid Lantern following before the two found themselves floating above the skyline with Green Lantern dropping his mask with Kid Lantern doing the same.
"Shinji…we need to talk about this."-Hal said as Shinji sighed.
"Is it about me running off from school in order to stop Codpiece? And weren't you supposed to be at work?"-Shinji asked as Hal nodded before sighing.
"I was, but I had break and flew here after learning what happened. Listen…I'm not mad, and not disappointed as well if you think of it that way. I'm actually concerned, you know…that you put the Lantern before the Kid. Also what was with those quips?"-Hal asked as Shinji sighed.
"So, was I supposed to let the guy run freely while I sat in a classroom? The quips are only there to differentiate Kid Lantern from Shinji Ikari, you know…the mild mannered guy and a brave superhero type of thing, besides you've heard say quips before."-Shinji said as Hal nodded while rubbing his chin.
"Kid…you may be a Lantern, but you are still human. You're not omnipotent so that you can rush to any emergency. I know you're a good student, but please don't let your Lantern life overwhelm your personal one. As for the second question, yeah you did say quips but not as much as to prolong the fight. Lemme guess, you ran yourself into a corner by talking about superheroes and almost spilling the beans? Don't worry about it, in fact some guy I met said that I look like Green Lantern and I simply said "No, bye." and walked out, it happens to all of us."-Hal said as Shinji nodded while checking the hour and realising what has occurred, he spent entire lesson crime fighting.
"I should probably get back, I'll just say that I have a massive stomach ache."-Shinji said as Hal turned his head.
"Since it's your first time you've proven difficulties with the whole double life I'll let it slide this time, go home, I'll call the school and tell them you got sick mid-lesson. And speaking of getting sick I should head back to Ferris before Carol turns me inside out."-Hal said as Shinji nodded before showing a small salute and disappearing in a green streak. As the older of the Lanterns flew out of the city he was struck with an realisation. 'Wait, he actually talked with someone? At least it's some form of stepping forward.'-Hal thought as meanwhile Shinji flew into his room, not even bothering to fly through the window and just phasing though the wall, he desummoned his uniform and took off his backpack. He then followed on his typical routine, dealing with homework and preparing dinner for himself and for Hal as he put it in the fridge knowing he would come late. He spent the rest of the day watching tv and searching for news reports regarding his newest escapade. In a blink of an eye it was already dark as Hal, now dressed in his civilian clothes walked into the apartment.
"Hey there kid."-Hal said as Shinji turned towards him, who in a blink of an eye rushed to the bathroom.
"Welcome home, so…are we going on a patrol?"-Shinji asked as Hal peaked his head though the doorsill.
"Sorry Shinji, tonight you'll have to go solo. I have a really, really important meeting I can't miss."-Hal said in a tone that Shinji already had figured out what Hal meant.
"Sending me to pick up a slack while you go on a date? So what would you do if I wasn't a Lantern?"-Shinji asked with a slight tone that even Hal picked it up.
"I guess that it is a rhetorical question? And to my defence, it's a very hot girl. Besides, you do still get confused with being a sidekick, if you want to be a Lantern if your own right then you should do more solo stunts, bust some robbers…you know, all this hero stuff."-Hal called out as unbeknownst to him Shinji slightly raised his eyebrow.
"What happened with "Putting the Lantern in front of the Kid"?"-Shinji asked as he could hear the sound of running water.
"That is for your school life, now there is nothing stopping you from going out and helping people Lantern Ikari."-Hal said as Shinji nodded. Meanwhile with the senior Lantern looking at the mirror before a thought struck down his head. 'Wait, was I supposed to tell him something? Nah it's probably just my imagination from today's fight.'-he thought as he returned to preperation for his date.
"Roger, have fun I guess."-Shinji said as he grabbed himself a soda from the fridge before heading to his room, opening his drawer to reveal the shining light of his power battery. To which Shinji reached out before inserting his ring.
"In brightest day, in blackest night, now evil shall escape my sight. Let those who warship evil's might, beware my power, GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT!"-Shinji exclaimed reciting his oath as he felt the power from the battery enveloping his ring with power.
"Ring power: 100%"-the AI of his ring spoke up as Shinji grabbed his wallet and IPod before engulfing himself in his uniform. 'Watch out Coast City, here comes Kid Lantern!...this sounded for more triumphant in my head.'-he thought as now Kid Lantern flew out of the apartment. As he soared though the night's sky he allowed himself to be immersed with thoughts as he looked out for trouble. 'I pick up the slack while he goes on a date. I can't but feel the biggest Déjà vu in my life.'-Kid Lantern thought as he flew over the local park before he felt something slightly bump off his head. A green balloon blissfully floating higher into the sky before Kid Lantern caught it in his small yet strong hand.
"What the? Some poor kid had to lose it, ring? Can you locate me where is the kid that lost it?"-Kid Lantern asked holding the balloon in a green tendril as his ring gave it a scan.
"Affirmative: Fingerprints matched."-The AI exclaimed as Kid Lantern's mask suddenly zoomed in to reveal a small crying girl holding the hand of her visibly tired Mom. With that information the young Lantern quickly took a nosedive into the city before correcting his flight and suddenly landing in front of the pair visibly startling them. Kid Lantern panting as he held the balloon tightly in his hand.
"Excuse me, but I believe this belongs to you little girl."-Kid Lantern said as the girl immediately stopped crying, her facial expression lit up in a way that even someone as stoic as Kid Lantern's alter ego couldn't help but find it cute, and satisfying. If anyone years from now would ask him why he did what he did, he would think of that little girl's smile.
"Thank you Mister Lantern!"-She happily exclaimed as Kid Lantern's masked face covered itself with a blush as he wiped the back of his head just as the mother let out a sigh.
"You have no idea how much I want to thank you Kid Lantern, she wouldn't stop crying if I didn't get her a new balloon and you can imagine how hard it would be at this hour."-She said as before Kid Lantern could stutter out a reply all three of them heard the sound of police sirens in the distance.
"Please pardon me ladies but duty calls."-Kid Lantern said as the little girl waved at him. After a quick salute and wave he shot into the night as he fallowed the pair of police cars before they stopped in alley with two other police cars guarding the second end of the alley. 'What happened here?'-he thought as he saw someone wave at him to come down, as his feet touched the ground he noticed the familiar face of detective Jennifer Marz.
"Kid Lantern…I was expecting Green Lantern more in this situation."-She said as Kid Lantern narrowed his eyes behind his mask.
"He is busy…but I'm already here, so what happened?"-He asked as Jennifer sighed before pointing at a nearby stretcher with a man visibly in pain, his shoulder almost ripped a part but what seemed to be an arrow.
"We have a group of drug dealers used as target practice, which is odd…considering the fact Green Arrow isn't from around here. The fact that some of them kept screaming about a hood makes it more suspicious."-Jennifer explained as Kid Lantern looked around to see other crooks with arrows in different parts of their bodies.
"Is anyone dead?"-He asked as Jennifer shook her head.
"No, but some of them came really close, the inexperience clearly visible in the archer's skill."-Jennifer explained as Kid Lantern nodded before looking back towards her.
"Do you have a copy of an arrow I can scan though?"-He asked as Jennifer turned towards a couple of policemen and with only less than a minute passing Jennifer, now wearing white gloves showed a freshly removed arrow towards Kid Lantern, who scanned though the arrow with his ring.
"That's what I need, now I look into the case."-Kid Lantern said before jumping into the air and quickly finding himself above the skyline level.
"Alright, ring…can you tell me what superheroes use arrows as a primary weapon?"-Kid Lantern said as his ring gave a quick reply.
"Affirmative: Individual designation, Green Arrow, real identity Oliver Queen, Speedy, real identity Roy Harper, residing in Star City California, USA."-His ring's AI spoke as Kid Lantern rubbed his chin.
"Right, are they still in Star City?"-He added before his ring displayed the map of the North American west coast.
"Negative: both Green Arrow and Speedy are currently residing in Coast City."-The AI corrected him as Kid Lantern cycled through the information he now had. 'All would seem to add well, both he and his supposed partner are currently in Coast City…wait, that's it!'-he thought as for a second he thought that sometimes his genius…was almost frightening.
"Ring, display me the 3D model of the scanned arrow and assemble me a model of Green Arrow and Speedy's arrows."-Kid Lantern said as his ring let out an "Affirmative" before his ring shot out a model of three arrows, written in Japanese as Kid Lantern felt an eureka in his head. The arrowhead from the unknown vigilante's arrow was different both from Green Arrow's and Speedy's.
"And they're still here…one way to find out. Ring! Locate me Green Arrow and Speedy."-He commanded his ring as the map of Coast City appeared with a sonar like signal telling him if he was closer or not. He crossed the Santa Maria channel as he found himself in the slums, finally reaching them after less than 10 minutes he found himself floating above the two vigilantes from Star City. One dressed in a green coat and a hood and another boy dressed in red and wearing a yellow hat. To signal himself he raised his right fist and flooded the area with green light as the two archers turned towards him covering their faces.
"What are you doing here?"-He asked sternly as the red-clad archer uncovered his eyes.
"Put down that light before-"-He was cut off as suddenly a hooded figure in green flew past them with a grappler arrow. 'There you are.'-Kid Lantern thought before flying after the figure.
"Stop!"-He exclaimed as he used his mask to scan though the buildings searching for their biosignature. 'Crap! Guy's good in hiding, and my ring cannot seem to get itself in check.'-he thought before his ring finally picked up the enemy's location as he landed on top of a nearby building. His ring summoning a down-sized Eva handgun on instinct. Seconds seemingly extending to hours, awaiting for anything to break the calm before the storm. Finally getting his wish as two hours flew directly into him before in a blink of an eye he fired two green bullets utterly destroyed the arrows, creating a pile of smoke that the figure leaped out of. Firing another of pair of arrows tanked by Kid Lantern's bullets. Seeing that the supposed attacker was preparing for a kick he reinforced his aura, creating a cover shield that the figure used as a springboard to proper themselves in the air, jumping behind Kid Lantern before firing another pair of arrows, him expanding his aura into a sphere making the arrows break upon impact. Kid Lantern finally having enough of this person's games, finally let the person land a kick on him, not knowing that they fell into Kid Lantern's trap, as he clasped them between a pair of green walls.
"Are you the one who almost killed those drug dealers?"-He asked sternly as the figure turned their hooded head towards him.
"Why do you care?"-A soft and fairly feminine voice replied as hiding his surprise behind his poker face Kid Lantern crossed his arms.
"This is my town, and let's just say I don't like people dying when a vigilante runs around."-He replied as the figure let out a chuckle.
"Big words coming from someone like you Kid Lantern. Especially when your partner is way taller and hotter and you look like a 12-year old playing hero."-They said before taking out something from their pocket, in a blink of an eye a cloud of black smoke enveloped the entire rooftop. Although it didn't affect his breathing though his aura. But It took a heavy hit on his construct, using his mask's infrared vision he managed to locate the figure again, now lunching a zip line and trying to get towards another building. Visibly fed up Kid Lantern took into the skies, before grabbing the figure mid-flight and crash-landing on a nearby rooftop. The figure managing to free themselves and jump off Kid Lantern as their hood fell down. Kid Lantern turned towards them as he saw with whom he was fighting against.
"You're a girl?"-He asked surprised, the girl taking the opening he was leaving her, punching him into the stomach. Kid Lantern feeling the overwhelming sensation of pain striking him in his stomach, leaving him no space to defend himself before the girl decked him on the head, knocking his lights down allowing his body to fell down on the rooftop. 'Serves you right rookie…one wearing a tight black and green suit, I guess you're not as hot, but definitely more cute.'-she thought as she took a look over his figure. Noticing the muscles visible under his uniform. But before she could say anything she heard the sound of attaching grappling arrows, signalling for the girl as a sign to leave she took a final glance at the sleeping lantern. 'See you around Cutie.'-she thought before jumping off the rooftop.
"Hey, hey! Wake up. Kid Lantern? Come on."-A voice called out as the young Lantern finally regained consciousness to see the face of Green Arrow, his face covered by a black domino mask and a blonde goatee with a curious yet friendly face. Kid Lantern managed to get himself up from the ground before turning towards the second end of the rooftop.
"The girl, where did she go?"-He asked as Green Arrow turned his head.
"No idea, after you gave chase we followed you both to find you knocked out cold."-Green Arrow explained as Speedy, who it this point kept looking at the rooftop's end slightly turned towards Kid Lantern.
"We would've caught up with her anyways if you didn't get in our way."-Speedy grunted out as Kid Lantern internally sighed. 'Must be one of those angry types.'-he thought before turning his facial expression as stern as possible.
"This is Green Lantern's city, if you were hunting someone you could've told us to allow you to work freely."-Kid Lantern said as for a second Green Arrow's facial expression changed from kinda angry to really confused. 'Wait, he doesn't know? Oh damn it Hal!'-he thought before finally formulating his reply.
"Green Lantern already knew about our manhunt, I guess… he forgot to mention it to you before he sent you out, probably because of a date."-Green Arrow replied as Kid Lantern, although confused by how Green Arrow's guess was correct, so he only put down his head in shame.
"Sorry…"-He muttered out as Speedy shot him another glance.
"You should be, next time don't get in our way."-Speedy said as Green Arrow shot him with a warning look, before turning back to Kid Lantern with a smile on his face.
"No worries kid, it's your partner's fault for not bothering to tell you, I'll make sure to have a word with him later."-Green Arrow said as Shinji reached out his hand.
"You must be Green Arrow."-Kid Lantern said as Green Arrow shook his hand.
"And you must be Kid Lantern, the silent type over there is Speedy."-Green Arrow said pointing at Speedy, to whom the young Lantern also reached out his hand.
"Come on, maybe we can still find her."-Speedy said before shooting a grappler arrow and swinging away to which the Emerald Archer sighed in disbelief.
"Don't mind him, see you around."-He said shooting a grappler arrow himself leaving Kid Lantern puzzled, his best calls of action was getting back to the apartment and getting some sleep, flying through the open window before dissolving his uniform. Shinji let out a loud moan as he stripped down from his clothes before finally falling asleep, face flat on the pillow and his right hand still wearing his ring instinctively covering his stomach.
Shinji finally got up from his bed awoken by the faint glow of his ring, him still tired from the night before. Knowing that he had school he quickly dealt with the morning toiletries and putting on fresh clothes, as he drank his morning coffee he noticed the door to Hal's bedroom open, him dressed only in boxers, visibly tired and suffering from a hangover from the night before.
"Let me guess…long night?"-Shinji asked while washing his plate and cup as Hal gave a slight nod before arms of an attractive redhead wrapped around him.
"Oh, you didn't say you had a cute boy living with you."-She said as Shinji sighed before putting both the now cleaned cup and plate back in their spots.
"And still going…"-Shinji said as he made his way out of the apartment, opening the door to reveal Green Arrow. Or Oliver Queen judging by the lack of the costume and bow. Now dressed in plain grey pants and jacket over a green shirt. Him visibly startled and surprised by the scene he walked on.
"Uhm, 'scuse me, but I hope I'm not interrupting breakfast..."
A/N: Hello everyone! It took us four months, but it's done! With this chapter we are finally wrapping the arc set before the first episode of Young Justice, Shinji had his ups, he had his downs. But now begins the story of a young Lantern trying to fit into a team and a particular group of young teens. For the chapter itself. I completely omitted some facts and ideas from the prior A/N. The character of Jennifer isn't an OC. She is supposed to be grown up first Girlfriend of Hal Jordan we've learned about in the classic/character assassination Emerald Twilight when Hal went insane and became Parralax and that Hal broke up with her because he wanted to sleep around….yeah Hal is probably one of the biggest horndogs in the whole DC universe. We've also got a cameo from the greatest Doom Patrol villain ever, and some expansion on what Shinji is doing when he isn't Kid Lantern. Since I thought that it felt omitted in the original story as an quick exposition, here I want to show how much the lives of Shinji and his masked alter ego differ. With only a chosen group people knowing the man behind the mask and who he really is. And still not know everything. Also more golden age references plus things inspired by The New Frontier like the death of Hourman and the Justice Society disbanding in 1952 is the canon set in this universe, it may convolute with what Greg Weisman said but still…it's my story and looking over my notes the roads will be splitting even more as it will become focused less on fighting the Light…which judging by season 4 doesn't seem to differ from the actual show. So this marks the start of Shinji's journey as he makes his way from the bottom to the top and standing proud as a Green Lantern and a hero. Join us next time on the days 3rd and 4th of July 2010 as the league gathers it's young heroes. Until next time! And as always I don't own Evangelion or DC Comics, that belongs to Studio Khara and Warner Bros Discovery.