Title: These Silent Conversations
Author: suckeggs
Rating: T
Spoilers: Possibly nothing. Possibly everything.
Summary: A drabble series featuring Bruce and Shayera.
Disclaimer: Own, not I.
A/N: These are drabbles. They've no context, no obligations to Timm canon. Make of them as you will and use your imaginations to fill in the rest.
—
I.
It's Mari who announces that she and John have gotten engaged. In the middle of the mess hall, during its most busy hour, she stands from her chair, John at her side, and with a flare of charisma and a million dollar smile, she spreads the good news. John flashes an embarrassed grin and thanks all who congratulate and tell him he's one hell of a lucky man, but his gaze wanders around the mess, searching for someone who isn't there.
When word reaches Shayera, it doesn't seem to affect her as much as she'd thought. She continues with her duties, chatting with acquaintances, eating, sleeping and doing what she does everyday. Still, when she sees them from time to time together, standing close, from the corner of her eye, her breath quickens just slightly and she can't deny that she feels something.
Mari's eager to finalize it, as if she's trying to beat out something that might get in her way. The wedding comes shortly after the announcement of their engagement and all of the Justice League is invited to the reception. Out of graciousness, she argues, Shayera attends, seating herself with the other founders at the head of the gathering.
When the vows are said, the bouquet thrown, and the cake sampled, her visage breaks down and she finds that she can't take it anymore. Excusing herself, she heads toward the ladies' room, slipping past the view of the happy couple and those who surround them. A splash of water jars her face into the reflection of the mirror, and as the mascara runs down from around her eyes, she sees and pities herself more than she ever has before.
Things don't change much after their marriage as John and Mari remain active members of the League. Operations continue as normal until Mari decides it's time to make another big announcement.
Three months before the child is due, Shayera finds herself in the arms of a dark figure, after falling from the sky with a wing half disintegrated. It's just sex, they both say to each other, and when she makes sure that they never use protection, Bruce doesn't complain.
She holds herself steady before greeting them and their newborn girl. The smile she has on her lips is real because the child she sees in front of her is beautiful. She turns to John, who's thrilled to be a new father, and sees some sort of lasting relief in his eyes and her grin becomes bitter. She congratulates him, not for his daughter and never for his marriage, but for fooling fate.
In dreams, she's always flying. She goes nowhere, but it soothes her to be caressed by the lightness of air. Satin sheets are a close match, but the callused grip around her middle drags her down sharply from this hapless flight.
John's right, she thinks. All these choices are hers to make. And like her ex-lover, she won't become another one of Destiny's puppets.
