Reasons
By: The Angelic Temptress
Disclaimer: The same as before
Rating: PG-13
A/N: Prequel to "Funerals"
vVv
Years Ago-
Morgan Edge holds ties with international smugglers; universal bounty hunters; Lexcorp, and many unknown, underground gangs. That is why the Thanagarians sent her and her husband to Earth. There are people, like Luthor and Edge, who have the power to threaten, intimidate, and destroy others without getting caught.
Her husband is stuck in Midway, the camouflaged base of Intergang's operations. Some still think Metropolis harbors its headquarters, but the Thanagarians know better. For once, they know more than the League believes.
The wife of the commander has assumed the identity of an unknown human. She sports a brunette bob, glittering green eyes, and a set of beautiful wings; because she is attending a New York masquerade party, no person questions her. She knows the easiest technique of hiding something is to keep it out in the open.
Politicians, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, corporate officials, and other "important" people are dancing and drinking and laughing in the decorated room. Many of those important individuals steal a glance at the woman wearing the white dress. Both men and women are admiring her costume, her amiability, or her body.
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He steps into the party wearing a disguise he thinks won't work; he's dressed as The Phantom of The Opera and has already counted two others with the same costume. The man passes three Jack Sparrows, a colonial soldier, and a Queen of Hearts before he reaches the bar. After he grabs a beer, the dark-skinned man glances around the room.
Immediately, he recognizes some of the most notorious drug lords, mob bosses, and weapons dealers socializing. They aren't hard to spot.
Without warning, his breath gets caught in his throat.
A dark-haired woman, dressed as an angel, is standing alone in the crowd of people. Her wings, which are white in color, are pressed to her back. A satin dress covers her shapely figure; it barely reaches her knees. The beautiful dress is low in the back, where the wings are attached, where most probably think they are attached.
The black Phantom strolls to her side, taking a champagne glass along the way, and hands the woman the glass.
"Now, are you my 'Angel of Music' tonight or what?" he whispers. Before even laying his dark eyes upon her face, he knows who she is. Her green eyes slightly widen when their gazes meet for the first time in years.
"What are you doing here?" the angel asks and sips her sparkling wine.
"I could ask you the same question." He notes the smiles plastered on both their faces. Even though they are both uncomfortable, they know how to keep appearances. He knew she was good at it.
"I'm just observing."
"Yeah. We got a tip. An anonymous criminal gave it to the Bat."
"Catwoman?" she mouths, and he replies with a shrug. The gorgeous woman moves her eyes from his and stares at the crowd surrounding them.
"Then you're here for the same reason?"
She nods. "Edge is smuggling Kryptonite into Metropolis; Intergang's base is in Midway."
"Is that where you've been staying?" He notices a regretful expression roll across her stunning features. He knows she hasn't returned alone.
"Yes," she answers. "Does the League know who Edge is trading with? Or what they're trading?"
He shakes his head.
"The Gordanians want human slaves. They believe human and Thanagarian anatomy are rather similar."
His eyes widen as well, and his body tenses. "How many have –?"
She interrupts him. "There were twenty. None of them were killed. We intercepted the ship."
The Phantom relaxes and then inches closer to his one-time lover. He whispers, "How have you been, Shayera?"
He uses her name, a name very few had ever known. When Shayera's eyes meet his again, he sees the sadness hidden in them. Without a word, he takes her glass and sets it on a table with his beer. The Phantom then guides the woman to the dance floor and brings her close.
"Now no one will question our whispering,"
The naturally redheaded Shayera grins and moves her lips to his ear. "I've been busy, but I'm okay." Her familiar breath sends warm shivers down his spine. "How've you been, John?"
John Stewart instantly becomes rigid. How can he tell her the two relationships since their split had been complete failures? Can he tell her that he still loves her, even though he had cared for both Katma and Mari? Can he say he fantasizes about her when he's alone? Can she see his pain?
"Fine." John knows he still needs to forget the past. "How's Katar?"
She hesitates before speaking. "He's keeping tabs on Intergang in Midway."
"So you flew here for the weekend?"
The song ends long before either of them realize.
vVv
"I want you to come back with me."
Shayera Hol, the Lieutenant of the Thanagarian Empire, feels her stomach churn. He knows about John; Katar isn't blind. If the Flash could see it, he can.
"Things have happened in the last five years."
"I know. You were lonely. We both missed the warmth of the other." He touches her delicate shoulder with one hand and pushes a red strand of hair from her face with the other.
"I need to think about it."
"You were lonely, Shayera. I was too, but you were galaxies away from home and anything familiar."
"But –"
The commander presses his lips to hers. She doesn't know her human lover has seen the entire display and won't wait to see Shayera pull away from Katar's embrace.
"I doubt we'll see anything tonight," she tells the disguised Lantern as they nonchalantly walk to a dark corner of the room. "This is too public."
"You're probably right." John looks over her body, sending familiar trembles down her spine, and asks, "Did you dye them?"
Knowing he is referring to her unusually colored wings, she nods. "It'll wash off in the shower."
"And the hair? It's a wig?"
"Yeah."
"Who knew you could pass for a brunette?"
Katar knew. It had been his idea.
"This party has been pretty dull."
"I think I'm going to leave."
"I'll walk you."
Shayera slightly shakes her head. "John, you don't have to. I'm only a couple of streets over. I'm staying at Diana's apartment."
"I can still take you."
The angel and the Phantom leave the costume ball without speaking to anyone. He keeps a hand on the small of her back as they step outside the hotel.
It takes ten minutes of complete silence to reach Diana's empty apartment. She has monitor duty and isn't returning until the next afternoon.
"Would you like a cup of coffee?"
John's genuine smile heats her soul, and she returns a mimicked one. He enters and removes his mask. After he pulls off his cape, she notes his muscles; he looks stronger even though he's aged.
"I take it with –"
"I remember." Shayera sets the coffee machine to brew.
"Long time since you've been to Earth, huh?"
She nods again. "Rumor has it, you transferred to Oa for a little while."
"Rayner missed home. I did the kid a favor." He lies to her. She can tell because his defeated posture tells her so. "So, how's Thanagar been treating you?"
"All right. Some things had changed."
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"We need to talk, John."
The Lantern puts the dumbbell down and shakes his head. "It's a great offer."
"But –"
"I know you missed your home."
"You're not listening. We need to talk about where you and I stand."
"On two different plains of existence: Thanagar and Earth." John narrows his radiant eyes. "Shayera, you are not a single woman, and you abused that fact. I was the other man. You used me, and you lied to me."
John sees tears flooding her eyes. "I never used you," she states, her hard voice barely above a whisper.
"Go home, Hawkgirl. You have your own kind to protect." He turns his back to her and returns to his weightlifting. John doesn't utter another syllable, and she leaves when the air falls thick with silence.
John swallows the hot coffee and keeps his now glowing eyes on her. He can tell she feels a little uneasy. It happens. The feelings never really die, even if the relationship does.
His mask and cape have already been tossed onto the couch, but she hasn't changed clothes.
"So, how are the others?"
"They're good." He checks the clock on Diana's wall. It's getting late, and he wants to get a good night's sleep before reporting to the other six in the morning. John stands. "I need to go."
Her face falls for a brief second, and then she smiles again. "Ok. I'll walk you out."
John follows her to the front door and notes her wings are pulled close to her back. She's still uncomfortable. After grabbing his stuff from his teammate's couch, he steps outside and gives Shayera a quick hug.
"Thanks."
"Sure."
He pulls away without really wanting to and scratches the back of his neck. "So. I'll see you around?"
"Yeah." She bites her lower lip and then considers something for a few seconds. Shayera carefully places a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth but never gets the chance to back away.
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Ten minutes after they had shared a cup of coffee, Shayera's back is pressed to the wall. John's body pushes against hers. His lips, hot with passion, cover her mouth. Their hunger is getting the best of them both.
She wants him. She loves this man. She always has.
Suddenly, he stops kissing her and takes two steps back, shock filling his green eyes. "We can't do this," he says. "You're married, and I'm not playing the part of the other man again."
Before she can tell him how she really feels, his communicator goes off. He presses it with his index finger and tells J'onn he's listening. When his eyes widen, she knows it isn't good news.
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"Lantern here."
"John, I have terrible news. Something has happened," J'onn says.
"I'm not a telepath, J'onn."
"It's Katma. There has been an accident."
vVv
A couple of days later, Katar and Shayera are sitting near the back of Katma Tui's funeral. Mari and Wally are sitting beside John, obviously providing some sort of support.
They pay their respects and return to their room.
That night, Katar makes love to his wife. Both had felt death that day and imagine life without the other. Shayera realizes her husband could be taken from her at any time, any minute.
Then she remembers John's kisses and tries to recall when and where guilt had replaced love.
END