Lanterns on the Beach

(inspired by the fanart comic)

Summary: Hal, Kilowog, Aya, and Razer get a vacation after helping take out Atrocitus. After months of hard work in frontier space, it's time the crew had some well deserved fun. Razaya.

Chapter 3: Company is fun

Disclaimer: I do not own Green Lantern: The Animated Series or any of its characters. *insert witty disclaimer joke to break up the monotony of this reminder*

"Galia!" Kilowog threw his arms into the air and hugged the star sapphire. She returned his embrace enthusiastically.

"Good to see you, Kilowog the brave! I have missed you greatly," Galia near-squealed, wrapping her arms around him.

"Good to see you, too, but what're you doing here?" Kilowog asked. "Shouldn't you still be back on Zamaron?"

Aga'po chuckled as she watched the exuberant couple. "The planet Ha'van is, believe it or not, one of the star sapphires' favorite retreats. We drop by here from time to time to relax. Just as, I assume the, two of you are here to do. How fare you, Hal Jordan?"

"Just fine," said the human, "A lot better than I would be if you hadn't helped me when we were last on Zamaron."

"Ah yes," the queen's blue eyes sparkled, "News reached our sector of your triumph over the red lanterns. I must admit myself impressed by what I've heard. They sing your praises highly. Of course, I'm sure the second-hand tales would pale in comparison to a first-hand account."

The queen cocked her head slightly and winked at Galia, who nodded knowingly, before setting her gaze back on Hal.

"Would you perhaps oblige us with the story over a repast?"

"Yes, join us!" Galia exclaimed. "It has been far too long since we were together last, and there is much to catch up on. We were just heading for an inhabited settlement not far from here. They have many markets and places to eat. Would you dine with us?"

Hal scratched his head thoughtfully. He and the star sapphires hadn't started out on the best of terms, but they seemed to have sincerely changed. The part of him that believed in the best of everyone was instantly ready to give them the benefit of the doubt. Plus, the…ahem…"chivalrous" part of him couldn't turn down a request from two beautiful ladies, especially the radiant queen.

"Yeah, sure thing. I was actually just starting to get the munchies. Which, if I know Kilowog like I think I do, means that he's about ready to eat a horse by now."

Sure enough, seconds later, Kilowog's stomach was rumbling audibly.

"Ah…Heh heh." The Bolovaxian blushed. Galia had to covered her mouth to keep from laughing. Hal noticed the whole exchange and was about to start chuckling again himself.

Forget teddy bear…he's like a love-struck puppy right now. This I've gotta see more of.

"Forgive me," said Aga'po suddenly, "but did you not have two other companions? The red lantern and the NavCom? What has become of them?"

"Oh, they're here with us," said Hal. "They're a little ways down the beach though."

"They will not be hungry?" Galia questioned.

Kilowog snorted. "Nah, Poozer and Aya will be fine. The kid barely eats anything to begin with. I'm sure they're having more fun over there. It'll just be the four of us."

"Very well," said Aga'po. "Come, let us be off." Calling on the power of their rings, they drifted toward the settlement.

Farther down the beach, Razer and Aya were still with the youngsters.

Razer was getting close to losing it.

"BOOM!" screamed the little boy as he kicked through the sandcastle Razer was helping him build for the fourth time in a row, showering him with more sand. Every minute the red lantern was looking more like the sculpture Aya made of him earlier.

Instead of yelling at the child to behave, his frustration was channeled into clenched fists and grinding teeth. The kids' parents were sitting not far away, watching them, and he wasn't about to be the one to cause a scene. Unfortunately, the young boy seemed almost hell-bent on it.

"BAM, BAM, BAM!" The youngster trampled the ground with each successive exclamation.

"So tell me," Razer said, forcing his voice to remain calm, "Did you really want to build a sandcastle, or just destroy one?"

"DESTROY! RAWR!"

The kid jumped into the air and landed right in the middle of the other one that Aya had been making for his younger sister.

The little girl immediately began to tear up.

Oh no…not this again.

"WHAAAA! FEEMA, YOU MEANIE!"

The young girl wailed loudly as Feema, her brother, continued to prance around wildly.

"Shut up, Kee'va, you're just a sissy, blom-kissing Skeev—,"

"HEY! Watch your language!" Razer scolded.

The boy stuck a forked tongue out at him and ran away screaming profanities, leaving Razer and Aya to deal with the crying girl.

Razer groaned internally. Kill me… someone just kill me…

Aya was finding children to be unlike anything she had ever dealt with. It was as if they sought to defy logic, or at the very least were incapable of understanding it.

"Please remain calm, Kee'va. Your hyperactive emotional state is having a negative effect on your vital signature."

The girl continued screaming.

"What is the cause of your distress? I will do my best to alleviate it."

"It's the sandcastle," said Razer, "she's upset about her sandcastle being knocked over. Keep her quiet will you? It's causing a scene." He glanced around self-consciously.

"Razer, I believe I require assistance. This behavior is foreign to me."

Razer flinched. "Wha—me? What makes you think I know anything about kids? Besides, coming over here was your idea. You deal with it."

The android turned from the crying girl to face him, her stark blue eyes glinting dangerously.

"My programming is for maintaining the Interceptor. I do not know how to respond to these circumstances as an organic life-form would. I require your knowledge in this area."

"I don't—,"

"You. Will. Help."

That shut him up. Aya watched as what little color there was to begin with drained from Razer's face. He bent down to console Kee'va while Aya stood over him.

Immediately, she felt bad, realizing she had raising her voice at him.

Did I go overboard?

In the past, she'd only bossed anyone around when the conditions were extreme.

Perhaps I am malfunctioning. There was no reason for that reaction. I should continue trying to learn about adolescents...

"Here, look," said Razer, handing the alien girl a clod of sand, "Pat this down on that lump there."

"NO!" Kee'va threw it back in his face with a shriek. It stuck there for several moments before falling back to the ground with a small "plop". If looks could kill…

Well, the AI amended, perhaps I will let Razer handle it for a little longer…

Kilowog and Hal sat down in restaraunt feeling distinctly out of place.

When Aga'Po said they were going to get some food, Hal assumed she meant, like, a burger stand or maybe a beachside shack where folks were wandering in with rediculous flowery tropical print shirts, and all the windows were thrown open so the ocean breeze could float in.

This setting looked...distinctly more formal.

Aga'Po had led their group directly into the heart of the "settlement" which was in fact a sprawling metropolis, then ushered them into the polished wooden doors of this fine establishment-dim lights, quiet atmosphere, understood white tablecloth. Galia said it was called Arbora da Feu. For some alien language, it sounded suspiciously like French to Hal. He wondered briefly if they would be seated in their lantern garb, but despite how scantily dressed Aga'Po was in her star sapphire outfit, she simply waved to the matradee and he took them immediately to a private booth.

"Nice service here," Hal commented when the four of them were alone again.

"Yes," Aga'Po smiled, "it is my favorite restaraunt in this sector. You simply must try their tartare of..."

That's about the point where she lost Hal, as the queen began listing off menu items that she claimed were "simply to die for."

I wonder what the chances are they have hamburger... The human thought wistfully.

"-Hey! You listening, Jordan?"

Hal was snapped out of his reverie by Kilowog's grating voice. It was then that he noticed his fellow lantern was offering him what appeared to be a wet, rolled up towel. The star sapphires were also taking towels from a platter their steward had arrived with.

"Oh, thanks," said Hal, accepting the cloth. It was icy cold to the touch. He unrolled it and began wiping his hands, before depositing it on the side of the table.

Bad move.

When Hal looked up, everyone at their booth, including the steward, was staring at him. There were several seconds of awkward silence. The human was accutely aware that he must have just committed some kind of unforgivable dining faux pas.

Oh great...what exactly did I do wrong?

Aga'Po coughed lightly and turned to the waiter.

"Please excuse my companion. He's unfamiliar with these dining customs, I think."

The man knodded, and left.

"Smooth, Jordan."

"I get it, I get it. Poor Hal, he doesn't even know how all us aliens eat at fancy restaraunts."

"Forgive me, Hal Jordan. I didn't anticipate that your customs might be different." Aga'Po apologized.

"Don't worry about it," Hal sighed, picking up his now-crumpled towel. "So what is this for if it's not to wipe your hands with?"

The two star sapphires took their towel rolls and fit them snugly inside their crystal goblets.

"It chills the glass, so your drink will be cool," explained Galia.

"Can't they just use ice for that?"

Kilowog rolled his eyes.

"Well they could, but then the drink would end up all diluted."

Lord forbid... thought Hal.

Aga'Po decided it was time for a subject change.

"So tell us, Hal Jordan of Earth and Kilowog of Bolovax Vik. What exactly transpired since we last met?"

Thankful for the diversion, Hal launched into the thrilling tale of their truimph over Atrocitus.

After Razer and Aya had been watching over the siblings for slightly over an hour, Kee'va and Feema's mother walked up to them.

"Thank you two so much for playing with these guys. It's nice to see they've made some new friends," said the woman, smiling.

"Do not mention it," said Aya, attempting to pry Kee'va off of her torso, "This is one of the first times I have interacted with younglings. It has been a very…enlightening experience. I see you are carrying most of your belongings on your shoulder. Are you preparing to leave?"

Was it just Razer, or did she sound slightly hopeful? Maybe he wasn't the only one getting sick of babysitting.

"Why yes. As a matter of fact, my husband and I were going to run into the nearby settlement and buy supplies real quick before leaving for our home planet," said the alien woman, motioning to some buildings in the distance.

"Well, it was…a pleasure…meeting you, Feema and Kee'va," said Razer as he untangled the unwilling boy from between his legs.

"Oh no, no!" Feema's mother waved her hands dismissively, "I didn't mean the two of them had to leave just yet."

"Come again?" said the red lantern.

"I can see that the two of you are responsible adults. So if it's alright with you, Feema and Kee'va can stay here on the beach while we run to get the supplies. You wouldn't mind watching them a little while longer would you?"

Before either Razer or Aya could protest, the woman was crouching beside her children.

"Be good for the nice couple while mommy's gone, sweeties," she kissed them both on the forehead.

"C-couple?" Razer balked.

"Just make sure they stay out of trouble, won't you? 'Kay thanks, bye!" she trotted off in a hurry, leaving the AI unit and Razer stuggling to process.

It took several moments for Razer to regain his power of speech.

"What…just happened…?"

Kilowog cleared his throat.

"So Galia, why is it that you of all people are here with Aga'Po? N-not that I have any problems with it. It just seems like a huge coincidence."

"Why, it's no coincidence at all!" said Aga'Po, "Galia is one of my finest warriors. Since joining the sapphire corps, she's proven her strength and tenacity time and again. As such, she was the obvious choice for my first lieutenant."

"Lieutenant! That's great!" Kilowog exclaimed, "Congratulations, Lieutenant Galia!"

"Stop it!" she slapped him playfully on the arm, "I would have never been able to rise to that rank without your training. It's you who deserves the credit."

The Bolovaxian blushed a deep shade of red as Galia launched into a tale of his instructive expertise.

Hal was beside himself trying not to chuckle. He wished desperately that he had a camera at this instant.

"Charming, are they not?" Aga'Po smiled.

"Never seen him like this before," Hal replied. The happy couple was too enamored to notice.

"Yes. Love does funny things to people. I would wager it is the same when you are with your love, is it not?"

He scratched his head. "Who, you mean me and Carol?" Hal thought about this.

"Well...now that you mention it, yeah. I guess so. Although I'd like to think I don't get quite as puppy-eyed as this big lug."

He patted Kilowog on the shoulder for emphasis.

"Wha-huh? You say something Jordan?"

"Nope."

"Oh...Okay. So anyway, Galia..."

"See?" Hal turned back to Aga'Po, "I'm not that bad. What about you?"

"I beg your pardon?" said the Queen.

"You know. You're like, the leader of the Corps dedicated to love. Don't you have someone special?"

Aga'Po's face went blank. Hal wondered if he had said something wrong.

"I mean, uh, not that there's anything wrong with being single."

Once the words left his lips, Aga'Po was laughing.

"Fear not, green lantern of Earth. I take no offense. We Zamarons extend love to all."

"...Oh," said Hal, somewhat lamely. Aga'Po said nothing more, so apparently that was supposed to clear everything up.

"What of your companion, Razer?" asked the queen.

"Oh, I thought I had already mentioned that," said Hal, "He's back with Aya."

The Zamaron's brows furrowed in confusion.

"You mean to say they were together once before?"

"They-...wha?" Hal tried to make sense of that remark, "Together before?...Oh! NO! No, I didn't mean like, together together! I just meant physically they're back at the beach. You were...asking if he's in a relationship?"

"Yes," said Aga'Po, "Apologies. I didn't specify."

"No, Razer's not in any relationships that I know of. Definitely not with Aya. I can't imagine him with...well, anyone."

"Is that so?" the queen flashed a smile, knowing otherwise.

"Yeah? I mean, can you imagine Razer in love? Guy's as prickly as a porcupine."

"You talkin' about the Poozer?" Kilowog said, finally aware of something other than Galia. "Darn right. The day he falls in love with someone or vise versa is the day I eat a sack of Glorf."

Galia frowned.

"I've never met this Razer, but surely he can't be that bad?"

"You better believe he is!" Kilowog shot back, "Kill-joy of the century. It seems like all he ever does is brood, sulk, and complain. Who in their right mind would fall in love with someone like that!"

Aya frowned in concern. At first the situation had not been worrisome. By her initial calculations the problem, if given time, would have corrected itself. But that was over thirty minutes ago. Perhaps it was time to inform Razer.

The red lantern in question was still babysitting the adolescent female, Kee'va, who's interests had shifted from sand-castle building to story-telling. Razer wasn't all that pleased, because honestly most of the stories he'd grown up with had to do with wars and weren't exactly child-friendly material. He had to wrack his brains to come up with ones suitable, and even then usually had to make last minute changes to the content to keep them PG.

In the meantime, the young girl had invented a delightfully entertaining new game called "Find Ways to Make Razer Uncomfortable". Kee'va had discovered its euphoric effects during their first story session when she had tried to sit in his lap, much to the red lantern's dismay. Since then, she had employed many other forms of physical contact in the hopes that he would re-create the facial expression that had left her in a fit of giggles.

Razer was trying to keep her from grabbing onto his shoulders and dangling from his back when Aya interrupted them.

"Razer, have you seen the youth, Feema, around as of late?"

"No, haven't seen him for a while. Why—?"

"He would not appear to be in the immediate vicinity."

As Razer processed what she was really saying, his insides turn to stone. Mouth dry and with a look of utter horror on his face, he half whispered the next words.

"…Aya, do you mean to tell me that we lost one of that couple's offspring?"

"Affirmative."

The A.I. was alarmed as Razer's vital signs suddenly skyrocketed.

"Razer, are you alright?"

"Oh certainly…I'm just having a small heart-attack because we LOST THEIR KID."

"Calm down. All will be well. We simply need to locate the child."

"Oh really? Thanks, I hadn't figured that out yet."

The AI's brows arched in something close to annoyance. Usually the android possessed endless patience, but today's events were beginning to wear even her steel nerves thin.

"You are being sarcastic. This will not help us. We should fan out and search separately to cover a larger area. That will help us discover Feema's whereabouts more quickly."

"Right," said Razer, his eyes already roaming the shore for that mop of green hair, "I'll search the northern side of the beach and you check the southern. We'll keep in touch using my ring."

"Wait. We must not repeat our previous mistake again. Someone must watch the other one."

Aya motioned to Kee'va, who was still playing in the sand. As if on cue, the young alien sneezed loudly. A trail of mucus dripped down from the girl's nose. Aya and Razer both watched her impassively.

"We shall flip a coin."

"I call heads."

End of Chapter 3

You guuuuys, I'm sorry!

I'm one of those terrible people who updates maybe once in a blue moon.

And it doesn't help that it's summer and I'm currently plagued by writers block.

I got inspired enough to finish up this chapter mostly because I found yet another piece of GLTAS beach fanart. It looks like the the site update destroyed my previous links, but if you want to see them, you can visit my tumblr page. My username, like on this site, is Gaaraxluvr.

Anyway, thank you all for reading! Please leave me some more reviews!