The Return of Hope and the Revelation of the Missing

[hopeburnsbright]

Traveling from Odym, the home world of the Blue Lanterns, to Earth was a familiar route and one that Avalon navigated with ease. His heart raced with joy - he had been away from Earth for several weeks but now he was on his way home. The Guardians no longer needed his service at the Battery, and Avalon had been allowed to return to his previous assignment - Earth's sector of space.

Arriving in a flood of blue light, the Lantern came to land in the backyard of what had come to be his home, and headed inside the house. Was anyone home? Avalon didn't know.

"Hey guys?" he called out, from the door.

Comments

[hopeburnsbright]

Blinking a bit at the sounds, Avalon is all but knocked over by the rushing Josh. He ends up swallowed in a hug, a big laughing smile on his face as he wrapped his arms around Josh and hugged the young man back.

"Josh, I was only gone for a few weeks," he teased gently, once his feet were replaced back on solid soil.

[healingbug]

Josh eventually let Ava down and loosened the hug but kept hands on his shoulders for a few moments.

"A few weeks too many and we had no idea when we'd ever see you again!" he protested, ending up pouting. It didn't last long though, the healer smiling again. "How long are you back for?"

[hopeburnsbright]

"I'm back. For good." said Avalon in return to Josh, his expression quite sober and serious. Reaching out, he pressed his palm to Josh's chest right over the other you g man's heart. "I do not intend to be kept away again."

[healingbug]

Josh let the news sink in, his smile growing. He'd been excited since he sensed Ava getting closer and this was just amazing news. Josh waited for a moment, placing his hand on Ava's chest. "We have to tell Henry! Oh man...where did I put my phone..." he trailed off, patting his pockets.

[lantern_kid]

Henry burst in the front door at just that moment.

"Josh! We have to get moving! We..." He froze, looking at the Blue Lantern there for a few seconds in shock.

Then a smile crept around the corners of his mouth.

"Well, about time you got here, Blue. We need to get going. You want to join us?"

[hopeburnsbright]

Not wholly expecting Henry to burst in through the front door, Avalon blinked a time or two in his own surprise. It wasn't until the other young man began to smile that Avalon's own expression broke into a wide grin.

"I would love to come along, Green. What's got us in such a hurry?"

[lantern_kid]

The smile fades at that question.

"Jon. He's... missing. We're getting together a search party."

[healingbug]

"I'll suit up," Josh replied quickly. He turned on his heel, heading for the stairs to get his uniform from upstairs.

[hopeburnsbright]

Avalon's smile dims as well and he moves a few steps closer to Henry. "All will be well, Henry." he says with confidence. "We will find him."

[lantern_kid]

"You're back," Henry told him with a wink. "Of course we will."