Needing A Father (Ask That Guy)

[Ask Thatguy]

Ask thatguy smiled softly at Jim as he pointed out he was similar to him, due to falling in love with someone with dark powers and wearing the color black. He chuckled softly "I suppose you are. I guess I never thought of it like that" He then sighed as Jim pointed out the mechakara issue again and replied "I don't think anyone is expecting you to be best friends with mechakara. However, it is best to forgive him and to be kind towards him due to him being brainwashed. I know the robot does feel a immense guilt towards us. As does his daughters. So when you are ready, and that is at your pace not anyone else's, I think it is best to at least be friendly towards him"

"You and the children had good intentions. No one is denying that" Ask thatguy knew the children were just trying to help. Being cooped up in a war wasn't easy. Besides, it did make them realize they had to train and had to learn to fight. Being stuck and helpless made them sitting ducks. Sure critic was trustworthy to not harm them but facilier could grab them up and hold them as hostages... or worse. Ask Thatguy sighed "But still, what you did could've really gotten you and the other children hurt. Or worse. And I do not want to think about it. Still, we learned from it and it is best to move on" He hugged Jim after this and felt lucky one of his oldest sons was still in one piece.

"Please do. Do whatever you can to protect yourself. You must understand I only don't want you to go to protect you. But you are old enough now to fight. I can't stop you forever. I have to give you this blessing by this point. Consult with BLS and chuckles. And please go with a partner. Do not go alone. At all" Ask thatguy was firm with this. He couldn't bare the thought of seeing jim alone in battle and unprepared.

[Indigo Lantern Jim Black]

Jim sighed.

"I know it's not his fault. But still seeing him just brings back bad memories. I hate that my boyfriend can't spend time with his best friend and his boyfriend at the same time. I should be stronger than this but it just makes me feel weak. He's so strong. You and mom are so strong. Even Mano, Ronno, Pinocchio and Mowgli are strong in their own ways." said Jim.

Jim nodded.

"But the road to hell is paved with good intentions right?" asked Jim.

He sighed again.

"But to be fair keeping us out of the war and out of the fight doesn't help us either. That won't be the last time some of them will fight. They will sneak off to a battle or get attacked somewhere. Maybe you don't want them to fight but it's going to happen. And if they end up fighting unprepared out there next time we could lose some of them." said Jim.

He grinned as he said he could fight with his blessing even though he didn't want to. Jim hugged him in return.

"Thank you! I'll do my best. Between Black Lantern Spoony and Chuckles there's no way I'll go into battle unprepared." said Jim./div]

[Ask Thatguy]

"My son in time those memories will be less constricting. When you are ready you and mechakara can co-exist. This however does not make you any less weak than your mother and I, as well as your siblings. Mano and you have specific strengths meant for your own individual identities. You have your own strengths jim. And I do not want you to think you are any less strong. You are a black and the black family is always strong" Ask Thatguy insisted. He did feel pity that his son still had fear but to get rid of fear, one had to make sure they knew what the fear was and learn to cope with it. Fear couldn't be forced out, only encouraged out. That was one thing the dictator knew.

"Exactly. I understand but what you did was far too dangerous. Still, it taught me that you children must be fighters since all you are doing is living in an environment of fighting. Your siblings, except mano, are too young to fight but they must train in preparation of a time of desperation. Although I do not agree with what you did, I understand why and I cannot be mad at you forever" Ask Thatguy smiled affectionately. Jim and mano were his oldest sons and they would most likely be next to officially be leaders but even then the black children would all be board members or at least co-leaders with jim and mano. Which was why all his children had purpose. But it wasn't just that, atg loved his adopted children, hence why he felt guilt for the past treatings of mano and vowed to never let mano be hurt. He also vowed the same for jim. So this attack had frightened atg terribly. But he couldn't be too mad for the children had a point, without the children fighting things would look a bit differently.

"I'm afraid you're correct my son. We cannot shield them we can only prepare them. I won't let your younger siblings into battle but they do have to train, in case of home invasion and to prepare them from getting captured or hurt" Ask Thatguy agreed with jim. His children were not going to be babies forever, if anything they were forced to grow up a little faster than most children. What could a parent do other than prepare them for the future?

"Good. I expect you to be with them or at least with someone at all times. I do believe you're ready but I still wish for you to at least be careful" Ask Thatguy gently added. He was a bit afraid to do this for jim but he was old enough and it was fruitless to stop him. He would be eighteen soon and that would mean he was an adult and all adults would have to fight.

[Indigo Lantern Jim Black]

Jim sighed.

"I hope so. I don't want my boyfriend to be caught in the middle. I mean he hasn't tried to force a reconciliation or tell me to let it go. He's been so good during all of this. Sometimes I think I don't deserve him." said Jim.

He nodded.

"I don't like feeling weak. Maybe I'm stronger than I know but I can't know that by hiding." said Ji.

Jim nodded.

"I don't want them to fight myself but surprise attacks could happen anytime. I want them to protect themselves. Having weapons or teleporting will do no good if people have magic or technology to block it. Those will be good to have but if they don't work they'd be useless." said Jim.

Jim smiled.

"Thank you for this chance. I won't let you down. I have to fight and show everyone including myself that I can do this." said Jim.

[Ask Thatguy]

"Now Jim don't you say that. BLS understands you need time to heal. I would hope he would be kind to you. Nothing is too much for you" ATG replied insistently. He would not allow his son to settle for anything less than the best. ATG was egotistical and tended to want his children to express confidence in themselves and expect the best type of treatment. ATG then realized more than maybe it was genuinely right to approve of all his children to train and both Jim and Mano to actually go out there and fight. They couldn't be confident if they were not trusted by the adults. ATG sighed and replied "You are not weak. This is why you must learn to fight. I want you to realize how strong you are"

"I know. I know they need to be prepared. So training is best for them. If only to make sure they never get captured. Still, only you and most likely mano will be the only ones ready to go out during real battles. Your siblings are still far too young to go out, but yes they do need some preparation" ATG was not going to let pinnochio or the younger ones go out but jim wasn't wrong in letting them get training in case the enemy came to them. It happened before, it could easily happen again. ATG was not prepared to let any of his adopted children get hurt. He then hugged jim tightly "I know you'll do well. I know you are capable enough to fight"

[Indigo Lantern Jim Black]

Jim smiled.

"I know. I guess I just feel guilty I can't even do much. Like it's harder to eat, go on dates, even just holding his hand. I can't wait till I've healed up." said Jim.

Jim shook his head.

"I'm weak now. That is why I must learn. To get stronger. I won't let that happen again. Mechakara was brainwashed but the next person I fight may not hold back. I have to be able to protect myself and my allies on the battlefield." said Jim.

Jim smiled glad his father was at least considering training them.

"Then maybe you and mom should oversee that training. You can make sure they don't go too far. But not just my brothers but all the kids need to at least have self-defense. I mean we've been attacked here by both armies. When Facilier's army tried to take over they almost got Pinocchio. If Duke Nukem and the others hadn't been there..."

He trailed off clenching his fists just thinking about it. His little brother was still so young and naive. They could have brainwashed him, hurt him or worse.

Jim's grin grew at Ask That Guy's praise.

"You really think so?" asked Jim.

[Ask Thatguy]

"You need to give yourself time. We cannot rush healing. But don't worry you'll be able to do more soon enough" ATG assured. He was aware his son was antsy and getting impatient but ATG knew it was best to wait for your wounds to heal. He had many times ignored his wounds and it almost cost him his life. He then listened as jim argued that not training did technically make him weak. Ask thatguy didn't really have a valid argument for that. He could only nod and hum in agreement there as his son did have a astute point.

"Oh we will definitely keep a vigil on your little brothers. You and mano will eventually go into battle because you are both definitely older but your brothers are still far too young. But like you said, they could easily be targets anyway, so they will need to train too. Nella and I will work that out one way or another" Ask Thatguy firmly replied. Jim was right. Pinnochio was definitely a target. He was next in line other than jim and mano. And should something happen to him, nella jim or mano pinnochio was the heir. It was a process of divide and conquer. They needed to be prepared. He then sighed "You're right. They will try again eventually. Maybe not now but soon. Your brothers need to be prepared"

"I know so, son. That's why I gave you my blessing. I trust you enough to be able to" Ask Thatguy replied back sincerely. He wanted his son to understand that he genuinely did care.

[Indigo Lantern Jim Black]

Jim smiled at his father.

"I hope so." said Jim.

Jim nodded.

"As much as I'm sur e the younger kids including my brotheres will want to help they are inexperienced and too young. Even if they were experienced children shouldn't be in war. But at least the training will keep them safe. we don't need Pinocchio to get hurt or kidnapped again. said Jim.

Jim grinned at him.

"Thank you father. I will try to make you proud." said Jim.