"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?
Thanks for all the reviews!!
A/N: (From the last chapter...) I want to explain that John and Shayera's conversation in bed was a flashback. For some odd reason, deleted the ( ) I placed around it… Sorry if that confused you.
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Chapter 12:
Shayera knew that the trio hadn't taken the front door to enter Luthor's mansion and figured that way would be the safest. When they left with the unconscious Lex Luthor, she darted for the door and then for her car. Because a woman with wings was not hard to spot, she had to be as discreet as possible.
Before she climbed into her car, Shayera spit on the ground to rid Luthor's taste from her mouth. She then started the Volvo and shifted from park.
After racing out of the driveway, Shy looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror and shook her head. "Hol, that is by far the most disgusting, most degrading thing you've done for a case, ever." And, to her surprise, she smiled. "Welcome back. It's been a while…"
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"Anything else I can check out for you?" Batgirl's voice said over the comm-link.
"No. Has Nightwing returned to Bludhaven?"
"He got there a couple of hours ago." There was a pause before Batgirl spoke again, but when she did, it struck a nerve. "You're worried about her. Aren't you?"
Bruce didn't answer.
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
"I've got to go. Batman out."
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"What do you want with me?" Luthor demanded as Two-Face's men shoved him into a chair and clasped his wrists to its arms. When they were through, the criminal ordered them away. "Is it money?" Lex asked. He had been ranting ever since he had awoken.
"Money sounds good, Harl," Ivy snickered and sat down in Lex's lap. "That'll suffice as our motive."
"How much ya willin' to pay, Lexy?" Harley Quinn asked and pressed the barrel of her revolver against his temple. "'Bout how many smackaroos are ya worth?"
The bald man struggled with his restraints and tried to pull away from Ivy's caresses. "What does it matter? You three will kill me whether you get the money or not."
The redheaded criminal shrugged. "You've got us there, Lex, but we've already flipped a coin. You see, I wanted to kill you. Harley didn't."
The woman dressed as a jester bent to whisper in the rich man's ear. "You and Mistah J go way back. Who am I to ruin a beautiful friendship?"
"Harvey couldn't make a final decision." The green-clad female laughed and pinched Lex's cheek. "He's always two minds about everything, you know."
Luthor swallowed hard but tried to hide his fear as best he could. "You wouldn't dare kill me. You wouldn't live to see next week."
"Pa-leez, Lex!" Harley chuckled and stood from her position. "You don't have a single person who would take revenge on us, especially if you weren't around to pay 'em."
"Then how did my luck wager?"
"In your favor," Two-Face answered. "Regrettably."
"But think of all the publicity you'll receive," Ivy added. "You're sure to make office in November."
"Uh-huh." Harley danced around the chair and smiled. "If wrestlers and movie stars can be the governors of states, why can't you? Think about it. You'd be representin' all of us. You'll be the first criminal in office. I swear that we should declare a holiday."
Lex narrowed his eyes. "Then let me go if you want me in office; I'm no use to you here."
Poison Ivy stood, allowing the wall to be at her back, and placed her hands on her hips. "Do you honestly believe that a single book can convince both a city and a state that you're reformed? And what happens in a few years? Do you believe that book would have convinced an entire nation?"
This time, his eyes widened with realization. "So, you wanted to prove that I no longer have connections with your kind."
Two-Face snarled. "Be careful with your choice of words, Lex. You were once one of us."
"No. I never was like you. The only thing I had in common with you is –"
Ivy interrupted. "You crave power, money, and blood like we do. You want Superman's head on a silver platter; we want Batman's bruised and broken body suspended in the middle of Gotham square. I think we have a bit more in common than you like to admit."
"Maybe, but didn't the thought of a mutual agreement cross your minds? What if the public thinks we –?"
"Made a deal?" Harvey Dent, the former district attorney of Gotham, finished. "Metropolis knows you'd never jeopardize your life, not even for this kind of power. So," he pulled out his gun as well and pointed it at the politician, "let's talk about that money."
"What about it?"
"You were going to transfer twenty million to a Swiss bank account."
"Was I?"
Two-Face pulled the trigger and shot Luthor, sending a bullet into his left arm.
"Son of a bitch!" the billionaire screamed and clenched his teeth. "You mother –"
"Now, now Lex. Calm yourself down. This kidnapping will be much more believable if you've been riddled with a few bullet holes." Ivy smirked and tousled her red strands, playfully.
Quinn agreed. "Yeah. You're not the type who would just let himself get shot… over and over again."
The only male captor gave a twisted smile. "Now, where should the next one go?"
Suddenly, the gun was knocked from his left hand due to a flying… object. If Luthor hadn't known any better, he would've thought it was a batarang.
But it had been gold in color.
Another object was thrown in Two-Face's direction; this one latched onto him. It sent an electric current through his body and brought him to his knees. Soon enough, he was rendered unconscious.
"What the hell was that?" Harley asked, but never received an answer. Something was shot into her neck. Joker's girlfriend ripped it out and held it up for her teammate to see. "Red?"
"A tranquilizer dart."
"I don't feel… so… good." Quinn fell to the ground and dropped her revolver at the same time, leaving 'Red' to fend for herself.
"Batman?" Poison Ivy questioned the room as sweat drizzled down her forehead. "Show yourself, you bastard."
A voice came from the darkness, but it hadn't belonged to Batman. "He would if he were here, but I'm positive he sends his regrets."
A winged woman flew from the rafters and landed before the villainess. She, although dressed in Kevlar, resembled a former Leaguer that Lex knew all too well.
"Hawkgirl?" Luthor whispered in disbelief, not knowing whether to feel relieved or vexed.
Her gold boots were firmly planted on the ground of the darkened warehouse, and her knees were slightly bent, indicating that she was going to strike. A mace had been clipped to her… utility belt, and her gloved hands were tightened. Even her massive hawk wings looked prepared.
Luthor couldn't help but notice the helmet she wore. It was fashioned to match the one Hawkgirl wore when she had been part of the Justice League.
Something told him Batman was the hero to thank for the new look.
"Well, if it isn't the pretty polly; I thought the League left you for dead."
"Sorry to disappoint you."
Ivy smiled. "I'd give you a cracker to calm your nerves, but –"
"Quiet," Hawkgirl commanded and unclipped her mace. "I don't have time for name calling."
"Who do you think you are, showing up here like you're some kind of hero?" The vixen took a step forward. "You're nothing of the sort. You're no Batman."
"Maybe not. But he taught me a few things."
"Like what?"
"Like not to underestimate you." Hawkgirl tossed something at Ivy, but the criminal evaded the object, allowing it to attach to the wall.
"You missed, darling."
"I guess so."
The bomb blew, shattering the brick wall and sending Ivy forward. The woman skidded across the cement floor and to Hawkgirl's feet. Like her comrades, she was out like a light.
"What the hell happened to you?" Luthor questioned, referring to her stealth and technical advances.
"The invasion," she answered and pulled three sets of handcuffs from her belt.
"And the Dark Knight, from the looks of it."
After she sent him a glare and the three Gothamites were cuffed and piled in the middle of the room, Hawkgirl made her way to Luthor.
"Hey!" he yelled as she ripped fabric from his blue dress shirt and tied it around his wounded arm. "Untie me!"
"No," Hawkgirl refused calmly. She then pulled a tape recorder from her golden belt, rewound it, and slipped it into his pocket. "Make sure the MPD get that when they find you."
"What?"
"It's a recording of your conversation with them. I've already radioed the police; they're on their way."
"You're just going to leave me here? Like this?"
Hawkgirl sized him up quickly and sent a slanted smile. "I believe so."
"You bitch! Who the hell do you –?" His words were cut off when the woman shoved some of this shirt's fabric into his mouth.
"I don't need to hear you, Lex. You're not worth my time."
Luthor narrowed his dark eyes but then noticed someone move in the shadows behind her. Before he could try and warn the woman, a shot was fired, and she went down.
Then he heard his laughing…
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"Hawkgirl, come in. I repeat, come in. Give me your location." Bruce ran a hand through his black hair and let out a frustrated breath.
Something was very wrong.
Her signal had vanished over two hours ago, and he couldn't locate her. But before Bruce could try to contact J'onn, a knock sounded at his front door.
Bruce wished the person was Shayera.
To his surprise, a trench coat and sunglass wearing John Stewart stood on the opposite side of his door. He didn't utter a word and waited for Wayne to invite him in.
Bruce's invitation was stepping aside. "What do you want?" he demanded softly.
"Where is she?"
"With Luthor, most likely milking him for information by now."
Stewart pulled off his sunglasses and glared at his teammate with his radiant eyes. "I already talked with J'onn. He explained your rationale."
"I could care less if you agreed with it or not."
"That's not why I'm here."
"Then why are you?"
"To take her home when this mission is over. She wanted out of this life of lies, and you pulled back into it." The black man watched Bruce close the door and added, "You gave her a false identity, a device that conceals her Thanagarian assets, and a communicator? And you made her believe that everything is as it was?"
"She knew what she getting into."
"Did she?" he countered. "Does she know that you had voted her out of the League and have no intention of letting her in again?"
"That doesn't matter to her. Shayera has no –"
"I don't care. You have no right."
"Really. And you do?" When John's eyes widened, Bruce continued. "Why? Because you bedded her? Because you believe the two of you shared an open and honest relationship?"
"You watch your mouth, old man," John warned, his eyes glowing brighter than before.
"I'll contact you when I get word from her, but not before."
John didn't move as Bruce passed him, but Wayne noticed his jaw drop. "Wait… You don't know where she is, do you?"
Bruce, once again, answered a teammate's curiosity with silence.
"Tell me you have a tracking device on her."
"I lost her signal."
"What? Where was she last?"
"Luthor's estate." Before John could fly off and to a hopeless mission, Bruce shared that Superman had already searched for her there.
"What do you suggest we do, Bruce? Wait until we find out that she's dead?"
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The Joker's sadistic laugh filled the empty warehouse as he approached the helpless Luthor and Hawkgirl. Lex watched his crazy eyes scan the scene as he blew the smoke from his pistol.
"Well, well, Lex-y-boy. Looks as if we've brought a friend." The clown squatted beside the girl and chortled some more. "I believe the birdie has sung her last song. Poor little hawk; go fly to that birdcage in the sky." Joker aimed the gun at her forehead, biting his tongue as if it were a difficult task.
The billionaire couldn't just sit there any longer. He used every ounce of energy to kick the clown aside, and the gun went off. Luthor's chair slipped, sending him onto his back and facing the ceiling. He didn't know if he had saved the woman from being shot but knew he was dead if she didn't wake soon.
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Superman landed outside the abandoned warehouse and noticed that Batman and The Green Lantern had already joined the Metropolis Police. Quickly, he went to their side.
"What happened here?"
"They found Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and the Joker handcuffed to one another. Luthor was bound and gagged in a chair, lying on his back." GL crossed his arms over his chest. "He had a recording of their plan in his pocket."
"Is he all right?"
"Gun shot wound. He'll live."
The Man of Steel eyed the Dark Knight and asked, "Is she all right?"
"She wasn't here when they arrived, and she hasn't contacted me…"
"But…"
"But, there was a puddle of blood that didn't belong to either Luthor or Joker." Batman turned away from the scene and started for the Batwing. GL and Superman followed close behind.
"Joker lost blood?"
Lantern nodded. "The girl gave him a concussion. Must've gotten a mace to the head."
Superman allowed a grin to surface. "Good. So, where is she?"
"I don't know."
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