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Booster noticed it first. He saw Guy suddenly lay on the floor and begin messing with the carpet and mumbling to himself, then making action figures with his powers before turning and glaring at Booster.
With a smile, Booster leans forward from where he’s sitting on the couch and asks, “What’s that look for?”
“‘m doin’ stuff.”
“I can see that. Have you named them yet?”
“Psh. ‘Course I have. Who do you think I am?”
“So…What are their names?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Guy proceeds to go back to messing with the action figures and glaring at Booster every now and then until Booster finally decides to lay on the floor with Guy. Although Guy tells Booster to go find his own things to play with, he still hands Booster the action figure closest to him, which happens to be Rayner, as he informs Booster, “That one’s Missy, this one’s Rayner.” Booster giggles at the names, although he tries to stop when Guy threatens to take his action figure back.
As Booster examines the action figure that he’s holding he comments, “I’ve never seen this guy before.”
Guy juts out his chin, looking proud as he informs Booster, “She’s a girl and I created her myself.”
“That’s cool! I guess it makes sense that a lantern would be creative.”
Guy looks tense for a moment before asking much quieter, “You think it’s cool?” Booster can’t help but feel sorry for Guy. Something must’ve happened to make him doubt himself this much. Without hesitation, Booster answers Guy, “Who wouldn’t! Does she have any powers?”
Guy goes on to explain their lore and how Missy’s supposed “power” is concussing people whereas Rayner can jump, quote, “super super super ridiculously high.” Booster doesn’t bother himself with questioning anything Guy says, simply rolling with it.
ིྀ 𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟 † 𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི
Guy’s been closer to him, Booster realizes, and he means that literally. Whenever Booster is in the Watchtower and he turns around he can guarantee that Guy will be there with crossed arms and a harsh glare. That being said, Booster can tell that Guy isn’t truly upset. He’s just embarrassed, cautious, or both, but to point out to Guy that something is up with him is a recipe for disaster, so Booster allows him to keep his distance.
Guy only approaches Booster when he sees Booster looking bored with his head in his hands. Guy’s quiet, then makes a construct and pushes it towards Booster. It’s Rayner. Or, not the real Rayner, but rather the action figure Rayner. Booster’s face immediately softens into a smile.
“How about we go to my room?” Booster suggests. Even Booster’s surprised by how mature he’s being right now. Guy, surprisingly, doesn’t get mad. Right now, he’s much more docile. Booster remembers Guy claiming once that he used to actually be much different as a person despite Guy seeming to not even want to consider who he was and who he is are the same person, which is fair, Booster supposes, considering how he doesn’t ever want to consider himself as “Michael” ever again.
As they walk to Booster’s room Booster can’t help but notice how much Guy is hunched over onto himself. He’s more like an insecure, scared kid rather than a powerful, feared lantern.
When they enter Booster’s room, Guy mumbles, “You’re stupid.” Suddenly Booster grabs Guy and picks him up. Although he barely manages to pick Guy up off of the floor, Guy begins to giggle. Guy tries to “correct” himself by clearing his throat. Feeling flustered, he pushes Booster away. So, Booster asks him gently, “What’s going on, big man?”
Guy turns away from Booster with a pout and crossed arms as he claims, “Nothin’!”
“Now I know that something’s wrong. Are you…”
Booster stops himself from asking if he’s embarrassed and instead asks, “Are you upset with yourself? Because sometimes I get upset with myself.”
“I can- I can use my own room.”
Something about the way Guy talks sounds different than he normally does, which Booster notes. Guy holds his hands close to his chest almost as though he’s cuddling something.
Booster grabs a Skeets plushy and shows it to Guy. “I claim that I only keep this for merch, but honestly I just really like cuddling something while I sleep. Wanna try it?”
Guy scoffs. “No.”
“Okay. I’ll just…leave it in my bed then.”
Guy hesitates, then reaches out for the comfort item. Booster smiles, handing it over to him. Guy seems to almost sink into it.
ིྀ 𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟 † 𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི
Guy’s entire face was burning red. “I’m a man,” he muttered to himself before hitting himself in the head with his own fist. “I’m a man and I should act like it!”
He thinks back to his dad and suddenly feels this anger. He shakes the thought out of his head and decides, Fuck whatever that man told me. I’m my own person now, and I’m better than he ever was or will be! Easier said than done, but at least some progress was being made.
Guy tries to stand tall as he exits the alley he was hiding in and faces the enemy with defiance. John and Kyle are here, he reminds himself. It’s one yellow lantern and one red lantern against three of the best green lanterns. Easy.
Lo and behold, it wasn’t nearly as easy as he thought it would be. Sure, it wasn’t the hardest thing that he’d done, but in this mindset everything becomes difficult. Guy tries storming off when Kyle follows after him. “We won!” Kyle tries typing Guy up. “We won and nobody got hurt!”
Guy turns around. He hates how Kyle’s face partly falls when he sees Guy’s expression. Guy huffs, then tries forcing himself to be honest, “I am…not feeling well.” The words come out monotone and very obviously practiced. Guy has been working on communicating rather than reacting with anger, but hadn’t made any real progress until now.
Guy turns his head away for a short moment, pissed at himself and clenching his fists, but damn Kyle says as though caring for Guy is the easiest thing in the world, “I know. That’s why I want to cheer you up.”
“Nothing cheers me up.”
“Okay, edgelord.”
Guy cracks a bit of a smile only to try elbowing Rayner in the ribs. There’s a pause and Guy looks more serious again. He tells Kyle straight up, “We’re going to meet up, but this time it won’t be at a bar. It’ll be at my house or…or somewhere that isn’t annoying.”
“You mean someplace quiet?”
“That’s what I said.”
Kyle smiles. “I’ll go get ready!”