DCU Green Lantern Corps #39 Pain (Sins of the Father)

The trio of Green Lanterns zoom through the air. Below them, they see the two men causing the cries. The first was clad in white cloth like material with pieces of metal scattered around it. To his left was someone who looked to be completely ice blue. He wore a gunmetal suit that left his hard and arms exposed.

 

 

The three lanterns landed, causing the two villains to look up. "Ah, yes. Finally they are here. Jr, kill 'em."

 

 

Suddenly the one with exposed arms launched his hands forward, sending out a glacier of ice the size of the entire block. "EXCELLENT MY BOY!" Shouted the father, sounding extremely joyous. The joy faded as a green drill pierced through the ice. As the drill faded, the three lanterns stood with their rings ready.

 

 

"You guys are pretty weak for su-"

 

 

"You fucking failure! You're just another failure. Like always."

 

 

Suddenly Guy stopped talking, something that didn't happen. Ever. His ring stopped casting a green glow around him, sliding off of his finger. Jess dropped to catch him from falling onto the pavement.

 

 

"What happened?" Shouted Simon, turning around to see Guy and Jess on the floor. "I d-d-don't know! Guy just fell over. I- I think he m-might be having a p-p-panic attack!"

 

 

Simon looked at Guy, then back at the villains. "Help him. I'll hold these two off." He began to fly but heard Jess call out, "Simon!" He turned his head, "Be careful." He nodded then went to fight.

 

 

You fucking failure! You're just another failure. Like always.

 

 

The door swung open, slamming against the wall. A small boy with long orange hair flipped to the side as his head turned to stare at the doorway. He stared at the man in the doorway, stains on his tank top and a bottle in his hand.

 

 

"The fuck are you lookin' at?" The words slurred from the man's mouth, obviously drunker than drunk. "Ah, n-nothing. S-sorry." The boy was stuttering as he turned his head back to his homework that sat on the kitchen table. The older man stepped over to him, looking down on him.

 

 

"Jamie said he got his little shit's report card. Where's yours?" The boy's shoulders trembled, his breath speeding up. A hand struck him across the face. "WHERE IS IT YOU LITTLE BASTARD?"

 

 

The boy scrambled into his backpack, pulling out the paper. He looked at it with tearful eyes, handing it to his father. He looked down at the floor, his eyes closed as tight as he could, and his teeth biting his lip to stop him from crying.

 

 

"Three F's!?" A loud thud is heard as the chair the boy was on falls over. The boy, now on the floor, struggles to pick himself back up. "All I've done!" Another hit is heard, this time it was a kick to the stomach. The boy looks up to see his dad now holding his belt.

 

 

"You're just another failure!"

 

 

The rubber if the belt smacks hard against the boy, causing an audible cry of pain.

 

 

"You fucking failure!"

 

 

Like lightning, the belt strikes again, a whiz of air following the strike. The hiss of the hit, like that of a snake, fills the air. "Aghghhh!"

 

 

"Worthless."

 

 

Smack.

 

 

Cry.

 

 

"Waste of money."

 

 

Smack.

 

 

Cry.

 

 

"A burden."

 

 

Smack.

 

 

Cry.

 

 

"Like always.

 

 

The final hit connects, this time being the metal buckle of the belt. The metal connects the child's back, sending a deathly scream throughout the house. Then silence.

 

 

The man puts his belt back on before spitting at the child on the floor. "Do better next time. Now go to your room, you're grounded for 2 weeks."

 

 

The boys tears intertwine with his blood that leaks from where the belt struck his face. "Why…?"

 

 

"Why?"

 

 

"Guy!? Guy you gotta get up!" Jess is relentlessly trying to shake Guy out of his panic attack. She is used to the feeling, she knows what it's like to feel trapped. "Guy please!"

 

 

His eyes, glistening with tears, look up to her. "Why?"

 

 

She knew what happened.

 

 

John had told her about Guy's past. The trauma that he had been through in an abusive home. The look in his eyes spoke to her, what the villain said must have been a trigger.

 

 

Feeling her own tears in her eyes, she simply hugged him by the head, "I… I don't know."

 

 

He just held him for a minute. Guy sobbed, she looked to her right to see Simon fending the villains off. She looked back at Guy. "He can't hurt you."

 

 

He stared at her. "B-b-but…"

 

 

She shushed him. "I won't let him. Never again."

 

 

"W-what if… what i-i-if he h-h-urts you too? O-or John, or S-simon, or-or H-h-hal?" He was still shaking. His tears stained his cheeks, he was just a boy, hurt by someone he was supposed to be able to trust.

 

 

"Do you see this?" Jess held his ring that had fallen in the palm of her hand. "This means something. It means that he isn't a part of you anymore. That you're one of the bravest… and strongest people in the galaxy."

 

 

She stretched her hand out towards him.

 

 

"This means you're the Green Lantern. A protector. A hero. Someone that makes sure no one has to ever be hurt like that again."

 

 

The tears in his eyes dried. He stared at her as his pupils ignited a neon green. The ring jostled in her palm, the same green as his eyes engulfed the ring. It zipped from her grasp onto his finger.

 

 

"He can't hurt me, not anymore."

Done