"Fallen Angels"
Disclaimer: I own no one.
Rating: PG-13 for the usual stuff. (coughs)
Spoilers: Through "Initiation"
Pairings: Wouldn't you like to know?
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Part Two: Metropolis
Chapter 7:
"How many people do you plan on having at the banquet?" The Green Lantern asked J'onn from the monitor womb of the new Watchtower. The Martian had just come relieve John of his duty. Nowadays, J'onn monitored most of the time, controlling which teams would go where. This way, not an inch of the planet went unprotected.
During the few hours that J'onn slept, or went into his Martian trance, one of the other five veterans would take The Manhunter's task.
"Batman and Superman will be inside the building."
"I presume they've been invited," John concluded and scratched his beard.
The telepath nodded. "Yes."
"Didn't Batman say he wanted others surveying the scene?"
"He did. That is why I am stationing Supergirl, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and myself outside the building. I hope you don't mind taking monitor duty that night."
"Not at all, but just know that I'll have a team there within minutes if anything goes wrong. That includes me, by the way."
"Of course."
Lantern offered a small smile and rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I better get going... unless you need something."
"No. Thank you, John."
"Right... How is Batman planning to get to Luthor anyway? It's not as if he and Lex were roommates in college."
"I trust Batman to find a opening in Luthor's defenses, one way or another."
"Yeah. You're right. See you later, J'onn."
"Yes. Later." The Martian turned away from the ex-marine and resumed his never-ending observation duties.
Now alone, John Stewart actually had time to himself, even if he didn't want it. When he was by himself, it gave him time to think about the past and everything that had occurred within the last year. A whole lot had changed within an instant. One second, he was happy and in love. The next... although miserable, he was still in love, this time with the memory of a woman who had understood him, gotten him... A woman who John thought he had understood as well.
Needless to say, John had grown up quite a bit since the invasion. Sure, he had lived through breakups and betrayals before, but nothing that could match her significance. She had been everything to him and still was.
But he was alone. He avoided his apartment as much as possible, except when he needed the occasional change of clothes, shower, and hour of sleep. John usually stayed in his quarters on one of the many Watchtower satellites, either reading or exercising. He tried to occupy himself twenty-four/seven, as if it would help his pitiable heart.
Nothing worked. Nothing ever would. He knew that. He wasn't as naïve as many of the new members believed; he knew he couldn't just forget her.
He could feel her beside him sometimes, lying in bed and cuddled up next to him. She was the shadow that walked beside him, the heart that rung in his ears all day and night. Once in a great while, he would catch a glimpse of her turning the corner. She'd flip her auburn hair to tease him and swiftly stroll away to prevent him from seeing her face.
John would find traces of her everywhere. Her perfume had been stashed behind his shaving cream, feathers had been swept under the rug, and the menu from their favorite Chinese restaurant had been hidden beneath his phone...
The more he tried to get his meaningless life back on track, the more she'd pop up at him. It didn't matter what time it was, what day it was, she'd always manage to put a damper on his plans.
Sometimes, he couldn't blame her. Sometimes, or most of the time, he didn't want to forget her. He didn't want to throw out her perfume or the menu. He kept the feathers beneath his rug. They'd stay where they were, as if she had never left...
"You all right, Greens?"
John snapped from his thoughts and moved his eyes to meet Flash's.
"You look a little pale." Concern clearly flooded the hotshot's gaze. "Want something to munch on? I was just about to get some grub with –"
"No thanks, kid. I'm going to my room." The Lantern didn't wait for the red speedster to respond. He whirled around and briskly headed toward the stairs.
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"Mr. Luthor –?"
"Please call me Lex."
The blonde twenty-some year old reporter giggled quietly and restated her question. "Lex... Have you come to grips with your past?"
"I have, actually." The sly Metropolis billionaire sat down on the imported divan and patted the cushion beside him. When she joined him, he smiled and continued. "I've come to realize how many sins I have to atone for, wrongs I have done that must be made right."
"Pardon the expression Lex, but don't you think you sound a bit 'cheesy' or 'corny.' Some of my readers say you sound like any other ex-con, any other reformed politician."
"Well, I think honesty can be quite tawdry sometimes, but that's what you get. I'm open to criticism, Mrs. Saunders."
"Miss Saunders," she corrected and crossed her shapely legs. "By criticism, do you mean all reviews? Even those made by The Justice League perhaps?"
"Even those made by the League."
"Do you find it reasonable for many people not to trust you, heroes included?"
"Of course. I had gone astray from the path of morality... several times, but I am not ashamed. All I can really do is say 'I'm sorry' and move on."
The reporter wearing the bright pink blazer and skirt stopped her recorder and set it onto the coffee table. "Off the record Lex, is there a woman you're seeing?"
"No. No there isn't anyone I'd say was serious."
The heel of her Prada shoe grazed his shin, and he couldn't help but notice. When her freshly manicured hand rested upon his knee, he had to take action.
That action took affect on the expensive coffee table...
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"This is bullshit!"
Clark raised his stare to see an angry Lois Lane stomping toward him.
"Did you see this article in the Metropolis Magazine?" She threw the publication onto his desk and rested her hands on her hips. "This woman has no concept of anything Luthor's done. Fifty bucks says Sleazy Saunders slept with him."
The reporter, originally from Smallville, made a face. "What makes you say that?"
"Because she's a slut."
"I had already gathered that."
The fiery brunette came around his desk and perched herself on the edge. "Is everyone blind? Did they forget that Lex tried killing Superman?"
"Along with the rest of The Justice League..." he added with a muttered tone. "I don't know, Lois. That's why Perry got us on this story."
She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "If he gets into office, you know we're all doomed. It's as good as signing a death wish.
"Who in their right mind would vote him into office anyway? I mean, we're talking about an unstable egomaniac that has worked with other insane criminals on numerous occasions." She bit her lower lip in concentration and then picked up Clark's phone.
Quickly, she dialed a number and waited for an answer.
"Hi. This is Lois Lane of The Metropolis Daily Planet. Is Bruce Wayne there? He's not? Really. All right. Thank you." When she hung up, a smile spread on her face.
"Did you just call your ex?"
"I did. He's on a jet, which is on its way here."
"He's coming to the banquet, then?"
"I guess so. I'm happy he is, actually."
Clark pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose with his index finger and narrowed his eyes. "What have you got in mind, Lois?"
"I don't know quite yet. Whatever it is, I bet it's going to be good."
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("So?"
"So what?"
He saw his girlfriend glance at him from the corner of her eye and smiled to himself. As much as she tried to play hard to get, she was obvious.
But he didn't mind at all.
"Well, we both have the night off." The Green Lantern reached across the table and glided his gloved fingers over her knuckles. "I figured you might want to do something."
"Like what?"
John wanted to laugh; she probably believed she hid her smirk well. "I don't know."
"Sure you do, otherwise you wouldn't be asking me." The winged wonder finally made eye contact and offered a sly grin. Her foot then tapped the side of his. "If you're interested in Chinese, I think I could fit you into my schedule."
"Good. I rented a few movies, and there's kettle corn in my cabinet."
When her foot grazed his shin, she asked, "What kind of movies?"
"You have to come over to find out."
"John?"
"Yeah?"
"John? John?")
"John?"
GL groaned and sat up in his bed. He glanced at his alarm clock and noted that it was only three in the morning, Detroit time.
"John? You up, man?"
"What is it Wally?"
The young Flash sped inside and closed the door behind him. "J'onn told me to get you. Seems as if there's been a disturbance in Rome, and he wants you and me to check it out."
"Are you kidding? You know how many other people there are on this damned satellite?"
"Yeah, but that's what he wants. Anyway, we could hang out and flirt with some Italian ladies."
"Right."
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"Nice place you've got here."
Carefully, Shayera lifted a heavy picture frame from a desk and studied the picture inside. It was of Bruce, Dick, and Tim.
That morning, Bruce Wayne and Sara Hall had arrived in Metropolis, a good six hours after they had expected to arrive. With the morning light sneaking its way into the penthouse, Shayera investigated her new surroundings.
"I'm glad you like it." Bruce then led the way to her bedroom. After setting her bags on the floor of her room, he said, "Get some sleep."
She nodded and bit her lower lip once he left.
Shayera ran a hand through her short hair and sighed.
"Well, here goes nothing."
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