"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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Chapter 9:
Diana rubbed the back of her neck as she took a seat in the new chair of the Watchtower's monitor womb. After sipping her hot mocha, she logged onto the computer and established connections with J'onn, Supergirl, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Superman, and Batman.
She knew that the team needed to keep a close eye on Luthor, for this election could mean the doom for their nation and, possibly, the world. After all, she knew the Justice Lords had killed the President Luthor in their world... She didn't want the same to happen here, even if they did loathe him.
On the television closest to the computer screen, Diana flipped the stations to get coverage of the banquet. Although it was not a Republican or Democratic Convention, it had received quite a bit of attention. But that didn't surprise her; who wouldn't be interested in an ex-convict's banquet?
Reporters were interviewing company owners, billionaires, other candidates, entertainers, and political officials as they entered the giant mansion. Luthor hadn't prevented the media from standing outside his house; after all, he had invited Lois Lane to interview him.
Everyone from Donald Trump to Tom Cruise to Bruce Wayne was in attendance that night, but she didn't want to see Bruce. They had experienced a "falling out" just a little while ago, and she couldn't help but still feel anger for him.
Finally, his limousine pulled up to the house, and he stepped out first. Wearing a perfectly tailored tuxedo, Bruce flashed his faked smile and offered a slight wave to the cameras. He then offered his hand to the woman still in the car, helping her out.
The princess's jaw dropped as her heart stopped beating.
"That –"
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"– Son of a bitch!" John screamed at the computer screen and stood from his seat. His temper woke Flash from his sleep, causing him to bolt up in bed.
"Whoa. What happened?" The speedster darted his eyes around the room and then settled them on Lantern. "GL?"
"Look!" Although it was half-past two in the morning, John had stayed up to watch the reports being sent to him from Wonder Woman. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"What?" Flash groaned and came to join him at the computer. "So what? It's Bruce with... Oh my God."
"That bastard. He got her to help him out. He knew where she had been hiding all this time. Damn him, and damn her. Damn that –"
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"Sara?"
It had taken Shayera a few seconds to realize that Bruce was talking to her, since he was calling her by her false name, but tried to quickly recover from her daydreaming state by sending him a reassuring smile.
"Yeah?"
"We're here."
"Good. Let's get this damned thing over with."
The black limousine stopped and the young boy waiting for the guests' arrivals opened the door. Bruce stepped out, with a smile plastered on his face, and waved to the herds of reporters and cameras that had moved their focus onto him. Within the next few seconds, he reached for her hand and helped her out of the car.
Her stiletto heels touched the pavement, and she could feel her knees' desire to buckle. Bruce's strong hand kept her alert as they made their way to the French doors of the giant mansion. When they were opened for the couple, Bruce and "Sara" stepped inside and were greeted by celebrities and politicians. Although the entire ballroom had been filled with guests, the detective in her already spotted the intended targets: Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and Clark Kent.
She let out a breath of anxiety and felt the tension leave her shoulders. Nothing would make Shayera ruin this night; she couldn't let Bruce down... again.
"Bruce? So glad you could make it," Luthor greeted and eyed Sara with an interested expression. "Didn't think you'd show."
"Well, let's just say I'm the curious cat."
The bald politician chuckled and handed the duo filled champagne glasses. "Who is this lovely woman on your arm, Bruce?"
"Sara Hall, meet Lex Luthor. Luthor, Sara."
Without hesitation, she extended her hand. "Nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Luthor."
"Please. Call me Lex."
She gave a forced but impressive smile. "Okay, Lex."
"Don't go away. I need to speak to a few colleagues, but I want to learn about that beauty." He turned on his heal and headed back to the bar, where other politicians were stationed.
"Well, well. Look what the wind blew in from Gotham."
Both Sara and Bruce glanced to their right to see Lois and Clark walking toward them. Lois wore a grin that outdid Clark's; after all, Clark wasn't smiling.
"Good to see you too, Lois," Bruce said as the reporter pulled Sara's date into an embrace. Clark watched with an expression that resembled jealousy. "How've you been?"
As the two friends entered a hollow conversation of their lives, Sara's gaze moved to the marble floor. She could feel the Kryptonian's eyes on her, searching for answers that his x-ray vision would never find.
When Bruce noticed, he intervened. "How rude of me. I forgot to introduce you to my beautiful date." The billionaire carefully used his index finger to lift her chin and grinned at her. "Sara, these two amateurs work for me at The Daily Planet. Meet Lois Lane and Clark Kent."
Lois immediately extended her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Yes. Very nice." Sara took it and faked a smile. "I've read your work. It's very good."
"Thank you. Unfortunately, Bruce hasn't mentioned you to me. What field are you in?"
Before Bruce could answer, Hall did. "I work at the Midway City Museum as a weapons caretaker, specializing in both ancient and modern armaments."
"That's interesting. Bruce has never dated a weapons expert."
Sara noticed the glare Bruce had shot Lois and the sly smirk the reporter gave in response.
"Hope you don't mind my stealing your date for a few minutes. We need to catch up. Smallville, keep the lady company."
Once their companions were out of hearing rage, Clark dropped the silent act. "What are you doing here?"
She answered honestly. "Bruce asked me to help. Why does it matter?"
"It's not protocol for him to just have a woman help spy without letting the rest know, especially when that woman had spied on those who trusted her."
"Last time I checked, he didn't consider himself a real member anyway." She discreetly took a step away from the man of steel and continued, "What makes you think he'd follow your protocol? You and I both know him better than that."
"Actually, I don't doubt that for one second."
The redhead drew in a breath and sipped her sparkling champagne, knowing exactly how he had meant the statement.
And for someone who didn't care what others thought of her, the remark had been a dagger to her empty heart.
She knew it was true; she knew Batman, Flash, Superman, J'onn, Diana, and Lantern better than any other person, except for Batman, could. Days and nights were spent investigating them and learning their identies, their weaknesses, and their strengths. Lieutenant Hol had even sent pages of reports to her commanding officer, giving the Thanagarian Army access to the lives of the six people she can come to love the most.
She hadn't only betrayed her friends.
Lieutenant Hol had betrayed Hawkgirl.
She had betrayed Shayera, John's Shayera.
She had betrayed herself.
"Stand sharp, Sara. We've got eyes everywhere."
Instantly, she found her own eyes searching the room. She spotted J'onn standing near the entrance to the kitchen with a human disguise. Supergirl had perched herself near one of the windows, and Sara figured the other two lookouts were stationed in the trees of the property, observing the guests who were arriving. When she turned to face Clark again, she was surprised to see that he had left her alone.
She had figured that Batman was the only one who did that.
When a warm hand took hold of her elbow, she resisted the instinct of punching whoever it was and whirled around to face him instead. When she realized it was just Bruce, she relaxed.
"He wasn't too happy to see me," she muttered and finished her glass. "Can't say that I was too surprised by that."
The billionaire looked at someone from the corner of his eye, most likely Clark, and whispered, "Get over it," into her ear. His breath on her earlobe sent chills down her spine, so she slowly pulled away. "You're here to do a job, not get his opinion."
The corner of her mouth perked up. "Is it just me, or is there a bit of a rivalry going on between you two." When he didn't answer, she added, "If I were anyone but myself, I'd advise you to play nice."
"But you are who you are."
She nodded. "That must explain why I'm here."
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"So, she's gorgeous. Where'd you pick her up?"
Bruce slightly narrowed his blue eyes and guided the lavender-clad Lois to a corner that no one had inhabited. Before he could speak, she did.
"Obviously, you don't want her to be alone for too long. You'd be a little more nonchalant with your interrogation tactics if it didn't bother you." Lois's bright eyes peeked over at their dates and raised an eyebrow. "A girl that's dating you needs to learn how to take care of herself, you –"
"This isn't a social call, Lois. You know that."
"Of course. What can I do for you?"
"Steer clear of Lex for the time being."
"But –"
"We've got operatives taking care of everything."
Her jaw almost dropped. "What do you think he's up to?"
"I'm not sure, but whatever it is, we don't have much time to get to the bottom of it."
The reporter blew her bangs from her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, you better get back to your girl. It looks as if she's not having a good time."
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"Who the hell does he think he is?"
"Batman, maybe?"
John scowled at his companion and immediately used his ring to suit up. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to blow this Popsicle stand."
"Whoa. Wait a minute, Greens. Let's do something I never do: Let's think about the predicament rationally." Flash shoved his partner onto the bed and sat down next to him. "What if Bats needed a spy on the inside?"
"Not the best choice of words, kid."
"Okay. Bare with me." Flash sighed and cracked his knuckles. "Let's say he needed a woman to go undercover, right? Well, he can't get Diana, Barbara, or Kara for obvious reasons. You following?" When his only reply was Lantern's radiant eyes blinking, he persisted. "Hawkgirl wears a mask and has wings. Lex wouldn't think twice about her."
"That's not the point."
"But isn't it? I mean, GL, don't you think Old Bruce is playing it a little smart? Who in the world wouldn't trust that knock-out?" When John sent another frown, Flash winced. "Alright, another bad choice of words, but you caught my drift, right?"
The hotshot stood and crossed his arms over the lightening bolt on his chest. "It hurts me too, knowing that he's been keeping her whereabouts a secret all this time, but I trust him with my life. I know that he wouldn't do anything to put the team at risk. If nothing else, Bats is the brains of our operation, whether J'onn and Supes like it or not."
John slightly nodded and set his hands on his knees. "I'm almost embarrassed to say that you've got a reasonable argument."
The Flash smiled and tabbed on his head with his right index finger. "See. This thing does come in handy once in a while."
"Yeah. Once in a while."
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Bruce led his companion to a vacant table and handed her another glass of champagne. Just before she could raise it to her plump lips, he stopped her.
"Keep sipping it but take longer to finish it. This way, you look as if you're busy, but you're not getting yourself drunk."
"Thanks for the tip," she mumbled and brushed a few curls from her eyes. "How do you expect me to get his attention anyway?"
"Well, I hypothesized that we should –"
"Blackball that thought, Bruce. I've got a better idea. Forgive me." Without warning, Sara threw the rest of her alcohol into his face and yelled. "How dare you! Just because you were born with a silver spoon in your big mouth doesn't mean you can treat me like trash." Angrily, she set the glass on the table, grabbed her purse, and dramatically stomped over to the bar.
All the while, Bruce had to keep himself from laughing.
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"Scotch, and make it a double."
Lex Luthor felt his thin lips shape a grin as a quiet chuckle escaped his throat. He found himself joining Sara Hall's side without a moment's hesitation.
"I take it that you and Bruce have experienced a..."
"Break-up?" she snapped and downed the shot. After slamming the glass onto the bar, she wiped her green eyes of the tears that had slipped that had formed and tousled her auburn strands. Then she let out a sigh.
"If there is anything I can do..."
Sara laughed. "Ha. You're probably no better than he is: A sad mama's boy who always gets want he wants."
"Well, at least I'm ahead of him by one characteristic." Lex offered a smile and permitted his eyes to take a peek at her petite, but pleasing, cleavage without her noticing. "I don't want you to spend your first night in Metropolis in tears."
"How did you know it was my first time here?"
"Because I would have seen you before. Rumors say you are a weapons expert..."
"And you used to bid on weapons." She smiled. "Logical."
"Yes. It is, isn't it?"
"It may even be interesting, Lex." She took the wine glass from his hand and sipped it. "So keep talking."
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