"Alright. You ready, Shayera?" Bruce asked as he and the former Hawkgirl circled each other on the sparring mats.

"Don't go on easy on me, Bruce," Shayera said.

"Wasn't planning on it," Bruce said with a smirk as he lunged for Shayera. She blocked his attack, only for Bruce to sweep her legs. She landed on her back with a thud. "Ow," she said.

"You okay?" Bruce asked with slight concern.

"I'm fine," Shayera said jumping back to her feet before throwing a series of punches, uppercuts, and elbows. Bruce blocked them all. "You're a little rusty," Bruce said as he blocked yet another punch before twisting her arm behind her back in a painful hold. "I remember you being better than this." Shayera expertly released her arm from Bruce's grip. "You used to be as good me," Bruce mocked.

"Don't worry," Shayera said, holding her fists up, "I still am." She swung at Bruce, who expertly dodged every punch thrown. Shayera swung again – a fist Bruce easily caught. He whirled her around, placing her in a rear naked choke. Her back was against his front, and she froze. She could feel every single muscle in his chest and stomach. Bruce put more pressure on her neck, but Shayera remained stiff. "Shayera?" Bruce asked, relaxing his hold. Shayera returned to reality. She expertly escaped the hold, and before Bruce knew it, Shayera had him in the same exact choke hold…only he was on his knees. "Do you yield?" Shayera breathed into his ear. Bruce responded by rolling on the mat, bringing Shayera with him. After grappling on the ground, Bruce was able to get her into another submission hold. His entire body weight was on her. One arm was pinned between their bodies, and the other was locked in Bruce's powerful grip. "Yield," Bruce's breathless voice rumpled deep in his chest. Shayera felt it on her stomach. "Yep," she croaked out. Instead of getting off of her, Bruce swung his leg over her body and straddled her. Shayera looked up at him curiously. "You know, this is the worst position to be in. I could just bridge and throw you off of me."

"Why haven't you yet?"" Bruce all but purred, stretching over her, their faces inches apart. Shayera held his blue gaze and inhaled deeply. "Good point," she said as she bridged, affectively throwing him off her, allowing her to escape. She immediately jumped to her feet and resumed her fighting stance. "Good," Bruce said as he picked himself up of the map. He then walked over to a bo staff rack and grabbed two, tossing one to her. "I know a staff isn't your usual weapon of choice –"

"Don't worry," Shayera said as they once again began circling each other. "I know how to use one. Don't go easy on me," she said.

"I won't," Bruce said as he attacked once again. And once again, Shayera found herself on the defensive, blocking instead of attacking. She hated being on the defensive. Absolutely hated it.

"Come on, Shayera!" the 10 year-old heard her father scream at her from the edge of the mat. "Issi is younger and smaller than you! Stop playing defense! Get on the offense! Do something! Stop reacting!" She attempted to hit Issi with her bo staff, but Issi blocked her easily. "Concentrate, Shayera!" Issi swung, attempting to hit Shayera in the head, but Shayera ducked and swept her younger sister's feet. Issi hit the mat with a thud. Before she could get up, Shayera had kicked Issi's staff away from her, and she had her own staff a few inches from her sister's face. "No! No! No!" her father ranted, stomping up to the two girls. "Why are you stopping?" he demanded of his eldest.

"She was already down," Shayera began to explain.

"And?" Shayera didn't have a response for that. "You don't stop attacking until the enemy is dead or surrenders. And once they surrender, you make sure they are never able to fight again."

"But Issi isn't my enemy," Shayera said looking at her younger sister who was glaring at her through her mask. "She's my sister," Shayera continued.

"Not in here when we are training. When we are training, you are rivals. Now finish her off!" her father demanded. Shayera's eyes snapped to Issi's and then back to her father's. "B-b-but," she stuttered.

"That is an order," her father growled. Shayera shakily raised her staff above her head, prepared to deal Issi a final blow. "Now, Shayera," her father said again. But after a few seconds, Shayera dropped her arms to her side and hung her head. Issi gasped in shock. No one disobeyed an order from General Talov. No one. In the next second, General Talov had picked up Issi's fallen staff and began attacking Shayera with all of his might. Shayera blocked and dodged her father's attacks, her small wings doing everything in their power to help maneuver her. "Only the weak run from a fight!" her father yelled as his staff made contact with her small wrist. Shayera ignored the sickening crack and continued to block. "You are not weak!" He swung hard, his staff connecting with hers, the vibrations from the impact sending a wave of pain shooting up her arm. "You are strong!" his bo sliced through the air, barely missing her face. "And when I give you an order, your will obey!" Shayera heard and felt a crack to her skull right before she crumbled to the ground, succumbing to darkness.

"Shayera?" Shayera heard a voice in the distance. "Shayera?" Snap! Snap! Shayera shook her head, returning to the present. Bruce was gazing at her with worry. "You okay?" he asked. Shayera looked around. She was standing with her bo staff up at the ready. "Um…" she said, dropping her weapon. Bruce came and stood right in front of her, close enough for her to see thin beads of sweat decorating his neck. And, wow…what a neck, Shayera thought to herself. "Are you okay?" he asked in concern and confusion.

"What happened?" she asked, looking up into his deep cerulean eyes.

"We were sparring. All of a sudden you froze. Out of nowhere."

"Huh," Shayera said taking a small step away from him, while awkwardly scratching the back of her neck.

"Maybe we should take a break."

"No, Bruce, I'm fine," Shayera argued.

"We've been at it for over three hours," he countered, as he walked over to a bench, p;icking up his bottle of water.

"No, I'm fine. Lobo and the Gordanians are out there. I have to be ready."

"We will be ready. But you need a break. And that's saying something coming from me," he said with a chuckle as he sat down and began wiping himself off with a towel. Shayera shook her head no. "No, Bruce, let's continue –" her voice broke. Was she about to start crying?

"Shayera, you don't want to push your body," Bruce stated calmly. "You're still recovering."

"We need to keep at it."

"We can continue sparring tomorrow," Bruce said, staring at her in bewilderment, not quite understanding what was going on.

"We can continue now," she said.

"Shayera – "

"Bruce," Shayera placed her hands on her hips.

"What is going on with you? I'm just suggesting we take a break," Bruce said as he stood up, trying to make her see reason.

"I don't need a break," she argued.

"Yeah, you do."

"I'm not weak." Bruce paused. He studied her for a moment. "Shayera," he said. "I know you're not weak. I do not see you as weak. You are one of the strongest people I know. You know that don't you?"

"I…I just," Shayera stuttered as Bruce approached her. "I'm not weak," she said in a whisper. Bruce reached up and gently cupped her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. "I know that," he assured her softly. "But I do think you're tired. And a little stressed." Shayera opened her mouth to argue, but the longer she stared into Bruce's eyes, the more relaxed she began to feel. His eyes promised her safety and security and a whole slew of other things she had not felt in…ever. She felt her body began to move closer to him of its own volition. She really wanted a repeat of what happened two nights ago. But sensibility won out in the end. She slowly backed away from him and said, "You're right. I'm tired. And hungry. We should take a break." She swallowed thickly. She automatically began to miss his touch as soon as she moved her face away from his hand. "Well," he said, giving her a small smile. "Let's see what Alfred decided to cook, shall we?" He motioned to the door with his head.

"I'll be up in a second. I need to go to the bathroom." Bruce nodded before exiting the gym. Shayera walked into the bathroom and cried.