Added this chapter very quickly, because I basically write a chapter a night, but that'll change when school starts...

The Family Business

Chapter 3

Lu and Vola

"No," John said calmly as he sipped his coffee, it was eight o'clock the next morning the family was eating breakfast together.

"Excuse me?" Ira asked, she on the opposite end of the table, eating a bagel, plain, uncut and untoasted.

"No, you're not trying out for the Justice League," her dad said as he once again flipped the paper.

"Dad, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm twenty-two, you don't really have a say in what I do now," she said truthfully.

"But I'd expect my daughter regardless of age to listen to me," he said now realizing she was putting up a fight. He put down the paper. Wren and Shay we're watching from the other seats at the table. Wren sat closest to the door.

"So if you told me to jump off a bridge, you'd want me to do it?" she asked using her mother's glare once again.

"Well of course you can fly," he said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Dad this isn't a game, the final word is I'm doing this. I wouldn't even be on the League I'd be stationed in Gotham; I'd be a few hours away. And Ethanial would be my partner," she replied.

Johnny walked in groggy eyed wearing his t-shirt and boxer pajamas, he yawned and poked Wren gently in the back of the head, "What's going on?" he asked through a yawn.

"Dad and Ira are fighting about her joining the Justice League or not," Wren explained.

"Ira is joining the League? Cool," he replied.

"Gotham is the most crime ridden city in America. Even though it's only a few hours away in this kind or work, second's count. I don't care if you'll be with Ethanial, you'd be safer still be safer here. And you're doing this for all the wrong reasons," he added starting to get angry.

"I'm doing this to help people, I might actually be good at it," she started to yell, "just let me try it out, and if I'm no good I'll come home."

"Ira, I'm not letting you go," he said sternly.

"Dad you can't expect me to not listen to my heart, isn't that what you did with mom?" she asked.

"John, just let her go, she'll be..." Shay defended her daughter, but John interrupted her.

"Shayera," everyone in the room knew it was now serious, he never called their mom by her full name unless it was serious, "I'm not sending our daughter out into the streets to be killed. It's more dangerous out there then it was before, and she's naïve to all of it. The girl is smart but she hasn't been in this kind of situation before. Shay, I'm not going to bury our daughter because she wanted to be a hero."

Everyone in the was silent as John looked down to the opposite end of the table, Ira stood up shaking her head, "You think I might die Dad, but if I don't go out there and try, hundreds of people could die in result to me not giving this a chance," She looked him straight in the face with tear filled eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry Daddy." She quietly pushed in her chair and left the now soundless kitchen.

('.')

Ira was in her room, which she had just returned to. She found herself packing again. She sighed while placing all her clothes and toiletries in her luggage. She had fifteen minutes to pack and get to the train station.

She through in a stuffed angel doll and zipped up the luggage. She checked her cash amount and made sure she had extra change. Those workers at the train and bus station always charged her extra due to her wings.

There was a knock on the door, which she didn't understand, she had said goodbye to her family members prior to packing. She opened the door.

"Mom if you're here to apologize for dad or beg me to stay it's not going to work," Ira tried to sound intimidating but her voice came out in squeaks.

Shay shook her head, "I'm not here for that Sweetie, can I come in?" she asked Ira complied. Her mom walked into the room, which was when Ira noticed she was carrying a bag.

"Sweetie, I want you to know that whatever you want to do, I'll be proud of you and so will your dad, event though he may not show it," Shay told.

"Thanks mom," Ira hugged her, "you always know what to say."

"I'll be fine with you fighting crime, however you'd better take good care of yourself. If you get hurt don't hide it get help, don't be ashamed to call for help ever, and call me everyday." She said holding her daughters hands.

"I promise mom," Ira agreed.

"Now this," Shay brought the bag up to the top of the bed, "I thought you could use these if you wanted them," she pulled out a pair of 'Hawkgirl's' tights, "These are an unworn pair of the tights I used to wear. They may look flimsy but they keep you warm," She smiled and handed them to her daughter, "These are authentic Thanagarian broaches, I thought maybe you'd want them for you're costume or what not."

Shay handed them to her oldest daughter and watched as she raveled in them.

"They're beautiful mom" she said as she held the broaches. One was small, about the size of a normal pin, and the other was bigger then her hand. Both had a black hawk emblem on a red background.

"And this is the best part," Shay said as she brought something shiny and metal out of the bag. "You remember this, don't you?"

"Your mace!" Ira loved her mom's mace; she'd practice with it whenever her mom let her.

"I trust you'll take good care of it?" she asked.

"You know it."

('.')

That day at the Wayne Manor Ira was put through dozens of tests, stamina, dexterity, offence, and defense to name a few. She passed all with flying colors. The rest of the day was used for costume design and naming.

Ira kept all the items given to her by her mom. The body of her uniform was a red dress, which was strapless and short. She wore her mom's spandex underneath the dress and had high dark green boots. She had long green gloves that came past her elbow leaving only little skin shown. The last accessory was a forest green hood that ran into a cape, which flowed perfectly between her wings. The two broaches were used as a belt clip and to pull the two sides of her cape together.

Ethanial on the other hand chose to mimic his dad's costume, using the same design of glove and basic costume. The two changes made, were the underwear on the outside were taking off and red metal strips were placed in certain area, along the sides of his costume were colored carefully, having the affect of fire on his two sides.

Next they had to choose names. Ethanial chose Lurid because he said it described him better then he can describe himself. Ira chose Volacious because it described her main asset.

From then on Ethanial swore to call Ira, 'Vola'. She swore to call him 'Lu', and Bruce just swore.

('.')

Finally at one o'clock in the morning they were finished all the tests for the day. Bruce sighed and placed his head in his hands, "Well I think you guys are finally ready to patrol the streets. But for now go home and get some sleep, because tomorrow as soon as the sunsets the streets are yours," he reached his desk and pulled out a piece of paper with an address on it, "Here," he said tossing it to Ethanial.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Ira's apartment address, I sent someone over to set it up, so you're all unpacked," he turned to his son; "Drop her off on your way home."

"On my way home, she lives on the other side of the city," he stated, "Why can't she walk home or take a cab?" he questioned his father.

"Because I'm telling you to do it. Ira hasn't been here in awhile," he said sternly.

"It's okay Bruce," Ira said thoughtfully, "I can walk home, and if something happens I can take care of myself."

"You don't need practice for tomorrow yet. Ethanial take her, now!" He demanded.

"Okay, okay come on Ira I'll drop you off at your house, jeez," He opened the door for her, "I don't understand why I have to do it," he walked out the door behind her and shut it.

"You'll understand soon enough," Bruce smiled cunningly.

Chapter three was short and sweet (for the most part), Chapter four and five will be a little more exciting and dare I say...Provocative?

PS if you want to see pictures to go with the story visit my home page...