Title: Dragons, Demons, and Other Wonders of the Heart (15/??)
Author: Allaine

Disclaimers: DC Comics, Cartoon Network, Bruce Timm, the JLA animated series, etc, etc. No profit intended from my infringement.
Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Up to the episode "Starcrossed".
Feedback: Please, please, please!
Summary: With five of the seven members of the Justice League in relationships, the Flash is determined to meet someone now. But what will it do to the rep of the self-proclaimed "ladies' man" if he's the last to find love? The sequel you demanded to "Always a Bridesmaid".

Chapter 15

"To my guests," Hawkgirl read aloud from the card. "Isn't he sweet?" she asked Green Lantern.

"He's also late," John muttered as he bit into a potato chip.

"Sorry if I'm not there before you," she continued, "but I'm picking up my date." She stopped and looked at John. "I thought Starfire was recovering from her injuries. You don't think - "

"He's not that insensitive - maybe," GL chuckled.

She glared at him. "Enjoy the food and beverages. Don't touch the music, I have everything programmed. Back in fifteen." Hawkgirl sighed and set the card down. "Looks like we're the welcoming committee until he gets back."

John grinned. "And what a welcome sight you are."

Hawkgirl smiled and looked down at herself. Both she and GL were in civilian clothes. After all, it wasn't like either had a secret identity to hide. She brushed imaginary lint of her dress, which was cut very low in the back so her wings could fit. The fact that the slinky gown showed off her entire backside when her wings moved the right way didn't bother John in the slightest. "You really like it?"

"I love it. There's going to be seven women in here soon, and you're going to outshine them all." He tugged slightly at his tuxedo. "Although I do feel a little overdressed."

"Hey, I wasn't going to dress up like this if you were coming in jeans, Mister," Hawkgirl said, laughing. "Besides, you know you'll love taking it off later."

"It" could have meant his outfit or hers. Whichever she meant, she was right. "Yes, ma'am," he said, saluting.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Raven said doubtfully as she adjusted the sari that would double as a cape that night. "I - am not much for conversation."

"I can talk enough for three people, Raven," Flash said. He had been unsure of what he should wear - Catwoman would be there, after all, and Batman had been maddeningly vague about her status as a cat burglar - and eventually played it safe, wearing his red costume. He wouldn't be the only one, after all. "Is that the only thing bothering you?"

Raven smoothed the simple black dress she had on. It was similar to what she often wore, but Koriand'r had helped her select it, and so it was made of a better material that clung a little more tightly to her petite frame. "Hardly," she murmured. "I am sure I will look quite plain next to some of the other women who will be there. And - I do not know how welcome I will be."

Flash wasn't concerned about the first part. Admittedly, he'd wanted to show Koriand'r off in front of the others, but Raven was more attractive than he'd realized until tonight. It was her last remark that got his attention. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"My father - "

"You're not Trigon, Raven. Everyone understands that. You told me Wonder Woman has known all along, and it never bothered her, did it?"

Reluctantly she shook her head. "But Superman . . ."

"Is a good guy, and he knows you fight to be different from your father every day. You just had - a bad day last week."

"A bad day? That is not the expression I would have used."

"Yeah, well, it's an Earth custom. We're all entitled to one or two. You're not saying you want to back out, are you?" he asked nervously.

Raven paused. "No," she finally said. "I know how much this evening means to you. I also know that you had hoped to bring Koriand'r. And - it was pleasing when you asked me. I owe it to both you and Koriand'r to try my best and have a nice evening."

Not exactly the enthusiasm he would have liked, but enthusiasm wasn't really in Raven's vocabulary. "So you're ready?"

"You're really going to carry me all the way?"

"Just to the nearest teleportation pod. We should be there in a few seconds." He offered her his arms.

She allowed him to pick her up the way a groom might carry his bride across the altar. Her skin was a trifle flushed. "Thank you," she whispered.

Flash smiled. He was taller than her, and their eyes were rarely on a level with each other. Right now, he could see that this actually meant something to her. "You're welcome."

Then they were gone.
"Someone's certainly glowing tonight," Shayera said as she noticed the newest arrivals.

Their little circle, which by now included Superman (in costume) and Lois (looking quite ravishing in her bright red dress - obviously determined not to be outshone by the other guests), looked up and saw Diana arriving with Princess Audrey in tow. Audrey clung to the taller woman, not because she was nervous, but because she was positively beaming. With her arm linked with Diana's, Audrey appeared to be announcing to the room - not that it was necessary - that they were in love.

Something she'd never really been allowed to do before.

Audrey had always preferred white and cream-colored attire, and that night was no exception. Her sleeveless gown with its high collar accentuated her curves and sparkled faintly in the light. Diana, meanwhile, was obviously wearing something Audrey had picked for her. The black dress offered a more generous view of her cleavage than the League would have expected. And the hem was slightly above her knees.

Superman coughed into his fist. Audrey's salacious spirit was well-known among Wonder Woman's fellow members of the Justice League. If her smile was her way of saying she was the happiest woman in the world, then Diana's dress was Audrey's way of saying that it was because she was dating the world's sexiest one.

Diana smiled knowingly at Superman before sliding her arm across Audrey's back, squeezing her gently. Audrey seemed to beam even brighter as she glanced up and smiled.

"You two certainly look nice tonight," Diana said, looking at Shayera and John.

"So do you," John replied. "Princess."

"Green Lantern," Audrey said. "Hawkgirl. Is this not a lovely night?"

"Very," Superman said.

Diana was looking around. "Um . . ."

"He's not here yet," Lois told her.

"Ms. Lane," Diana said calmly.

"Diana."

Superman and GL looked at each other. Just because some tabloids persisted in erroneously linking Superman and Wonder Woman as a romantic item, it was no reason for there to be coolness between Lois and Diana. And yet it was there. Clark sighed.

"Lois," Audrey said happily. "How glad I am to see you."

Diana looked surprised.

"I can't thank you enough for what you did last week," Audrey continued.

Everyone except Superman looked at Audrey, then Lois, who turned a little red. "Don't mention it," Lois said casually, perhaps hoping no one would ask.

"I didn't realize you knew each other," John said.

"She interviewed me once for her newspaper," Audrey explained.

"Oh, right."

"Then last week, during that awful incident in Athens . . ." Audrey stopped and her mood dimmed.

"Has there been any sign of the Slaughterhouse Five?" Hawkgirl asked quietly.

Diana shook her head grimly. "Wherever Circe hid them, they haven't poked their noses out again."

Audrey returned the earlier squeeze as she put her arm around Diana's waist and pulled herself closer. "I saw them hurting Diana on the television," Audrey said, subdued. "I had never seen that before. I mean, I've seen her fighting in person, but never on the television. I felt very helpless, and of course I panicked - so I called Ms. Lane."

Diana looked incredulously at Lois. "Why?" she asked, obviously having heard none of this before.

Lois sighed. "She wanted to know how I dealt with it," she confessed. "Watching Superman risk his life, not being able to do anything about it."

There was silence for a moment as, despite the festive atmosphere, everyone reflected on the dangers inherent in their "line of work".

"Lois visited me briefly in my hotel room," Audrey finally went on. "She said it helped to be with someone who understood."

Superman now looked startled. "I didn't know you were there," he said to Lois.

"It's not a happy subject. I didn't feel like bringing it up," Lois told him, shrugging.

"Of course, Superman came later and told me you were going to be all right," Audrey added, looking at Diana. "But I wasn't as frightened after I spoke with Lois."

Diana glanced over at Lois. "I'm grateful for that," she said quietly.

Lois tentatively smiled at her and nodded. "I wish I'd had someone with me the first time. God knows, my partner never seems to be around."

That remark was for Audrey's benefit, as she was the only one there who didn't know that Superman was Clark Kent, and she laughed now. "Yes, I must meet him some day. You made him sound very amusing."

Hawkgirl hid a smile as Superman looked at Lois. "He certainly is," he said dryly.

"You won't believe what he said to me this morning," Lois said, grinning naughtily.

"You know," Superman said, interrupting her, "that thing you did for Audrey - I've never known you to be so mat - "

"So, anyone want to place bets on when the host arrives?" Lois asked, changing the subject as she glared daggers at Clark. "Maternal" sounded suspiciously like "old".

Superman smiled. "How about last?"
Koriand'r sat up sleepily. She'd spent so much time recuperating that her sleep rhythms were completely off, and she found herself waking at the oddest hours. She looked at the clock and saw it was the evening of the thirteenth. Mercy had undoubtedly left by now for her romantic evening.

Then she heard a noise from another part of the apartment, and she started. Even if Ms. Graves was out, this was still her home, and by X'Hal, certainly Koriand'r could still protect that.

She hurriedly slung her robe on, feeling slightly foolish as she did so - what bodyguard met trouble in sleeping attire?

Not that she was Mercy's bodyguard. She'd been terminated, remember?

Koriand'r shook her head as she made her way toward the source of the noise. Mercy had already written a substantial check to Luthor's campaign. A fundraiser would be announced in a few days. She still didn't understand why Mercy had felt the need to cave in to Luthor's demands. There was something going on that she didn't know about.

But then, she didn't understand why Mercy had allowed herself to fall under the sway of a man like Lex Luthor in the first place. Certainly he was rich and powerful, and he'd offered her a way out of the situation she was in, but how . . .

Then she found herself in the living room, and Mercy was sitting on the couch, nursing a glass of wine. The bottle was on the coffee table next to her, and it appeared to be half-empty. "Mercy?" Koriand'r asked, surprised.

Mercy looked up. Her eyes were a bit too bright. "Koriand'r," she said after a moment. "Didn't mean to wake you."

"Why are you here? You weren't stood up, were you?"

Mercy appeared confused. "Stood up?"

"Your secret rendezvous tonight."

"Oh, that." Mercy laughed humorlessly. "Never existed."

Koriand'r was growing increasingly bewildered. "What?"

"Yup," Mercy said before finishing her glass and pouring another. "Made it up. Figment o' the imagination. The bright shining lie."

"Mercy - "

"I was embarrassed, all right?" Mercy snapped at her. "I didn't want people knowing that Mercy Graves, high-powered CEO, was alone on Valentine's Day. So I let it slip to a few people that I was meeting someone privately tonight and staying with him all day tomorrow. Woulda told you, but you heard me talking about it first, and . . ." She shrugged. "Didn't want you to know I was so pathetic. Thought I'd just do some work, sleep the holiday away."

Koriand'r sat down next to her, but Mercy shied away uncomfortably. "Mercy, you didn't need to feel embarrassed with me. I wouldn't have treated you any differently. Although, you know, you shouldn't have given me the time off. If you were going to be alone, I should have been with you. You know how much danger you were in."

Mercy exploded into laughter, and Koriand'r reared back.

When Mercy's overly boisterous laughter subsided, she tried to take another drink, but Koriand'r stopped her. "Mercy, what's wrong?"

"Can't tell you."

"What, I won't get the joke?"

Mercy shook her head. "Not when it's on you. Believe me, I know what THAT'S like."

Koriand'r sat there for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. "Fine," she said finally. She took the wineglass away from Mercy and downed it herself. "I'm not leaving until you tell me the truth."

"Hey, that was mine! If I feel like getting smashed, that's what I'm going to do! And you work for me!"

"I was terminated, remember?"

"You're also a guest in my home!"

"Isn't it the host's job to accommodate her guest?" Koriand'r asked as she took the bottle and poured herself another glass. She knew what alcohol was, having encountered it in different forms on several planets. Here on Earth, it was little more than water, and she suspected she could drink three bottles before it had an effect on her.

Mercy glared hatefully at her. "I'm getting my own then," she muttered. Unsteadily she rose to her feet and left the room. She returned defiantly with a new bottle, this one filled with red wine instead of white. She set down a new glass and opened the bottle. Or at least, she attempted to. "Stupid cork," she grumbled as uncoordinated fingers attempted to work the corkscrew.

"Here," Koriand'r told her. Their fingers brushed as she took the bottle and opened it easily. "Now, what's the big secret?" she asked, holding the bottle away from Mercy.

The CEO looked petulant. "You tricked me," she growled.

"I guess you're right. You can't get the joke when it's on you."

Mercy screamed a battle cry and jumped on top of her.
By the time Flash arrived with a more-quiet-than-usual Raven, beating Superman's prediction by being the fifth couple to appear, the party had grown the point that people had broken off into smaller circles. The first to notice their arrival was Catwoman, who was speaking with Green Lantern and Lois. She crinkled her brow under her mask. "Who's that?" she asked.

John and Lois turned and looked. "I don't recognize her either," Lois said.

"Well, that's a surprise," GL murmured. "He brought Raven."

"Who?" Catwoman asked again, while Lois' face lit up in recognition.

"According to Superman," he explained, "that's the woman who put Luminus in a coma when he tried to kill Mercy Graves."

"I should say hello," Lois added. "I want to tell her she's my new hero." She moved away from the Lantern and the burglar and walked toward Flash, whose arrival had drawn the notice of the others as well. Superman, who appeared to be trying to draw Batman into a conversation, looked bothered - either because Raven was there, or because Lois was talking to her.

"What's that about?" Selina asked.

"Luminus has been obsessed with destroying Lois for a few years now," John told her. "One less thing she has to worry about."

Catwoman smiled. "Superman's been catching her for more than a few years. You'd think she would stop worrying by now." She looked over at Batman. "You know, he told me he was getting me a drink, but unless he's making me a margarita from scratch, I think he's just trying to avoid casual conversation. I'd better collect him. Meow."

John nodded as she left to corral Batman. "Couldn't have happened to a sweeter guy," he mused as he went over to thank Flash for dumping hosting duties on he and Shayera.

"Raven doesn't strike me as his type," Superman was saying meanwhile to Batman.

Batman just sipped the drink in his gloved hand, saying nothing.

"Why did you come to this party again?" Superman asked, sighing.

"Because I knew that whip would be good for something some day," Catwoman answered for Batman as she came over. "Hey, handsome," she added, giving Batman a peck on the cheek. "I was thirsty, so I thought I'd get a drink. Since, you know, I didn't have one?"

"Sorry," Batman said.

"Why don't I leave you two alone?" Superman suggested as he left.

"While I'm sure the word 'alone' holds a great deal of appeal for you," Catwoman said, "I'm not ready to leave."

He grunted.

"I hear the new girl put Luminus into a coma. Nice trick," she continued.

"Actually, she appears to have removed his soul and trapped it in some kind of hell dimension," Batman replied.

She stopped for a moment. "Did she do that to you too? Because you look like you're in hell."

Batman glared at her. "This isn't why I joined the Justice League. We exist to save people, not to have get-togethers."

"You just wish you were on patrol. Speaking of comas, Eddie told me - "

"Riddler?"

"Yes, that Eddie. You really are the world's greatest detective, aren't you?" she replied, teasing him. She knew he was aware of who she'd meant. He just didn't like to refer to the Rogues of Gotham by their given names. It made them sound like actual people. "Anyway, Eddie tells me they have a running wager at the Iceberg. Whoever comes closest to guessing when Harley Quinn breaks out of Arkham wins the pot. Interested?"

Batman grunted again. Harley had set a personal record. She'd made no attempt to escape from Arkham in months. Everyone knew why. She was waiting for Poison Ivy to wake from her coma. She seemed to be the only person who thought that would happen.

Catwoman rolled her eyes at him. "Do we have an opinion on the matter?"

"Were you expecting me to make a bet?"

"No, I mean about Quinn. Why do you think she's been spending all her time in the infirmary where Ivy is kept?" she asked, exasperated.

He frowned. "I told her that Ivy is in a coma because of her."

Catwoman looked surprised. "Is that true?"

Batman nodded. "Ivy was trying to have the Joker killed. That was when she received her head injury."

"There never was any love lost between THOSE two," Selina said. "Still, you'd think Harley would have run off with the Joker by now. I figured she was too flaky to do something like this."

"I guess we all can surprise each other," he replied.

Like the woman before him. He'd expected her to attend the party in a dress of some kind. Selina had several that were stunning. And everyone had known Selina Kyle was Catwoman since her trial in Gotham several years ago, so unlike him she had nothing to hide. Instead she'd come in the purple catsuit. Admittedly, she was stunning in that as well, but still - she'd explained that since he would be going in his cape and cowl, she thought they should "match".

For a woman who'd been called selfish and greedy in the past, she never stopped considering his own feelings.

And Batman could see that underneath the smile, Selina was a trifle frustrated that he was forcing her to work the crowd alone while he hung back.

He'd never truly fought Ra's for Talia's heart, because she didn't mean enough to him. Whereas Selina - he realized he would do practically anything for her.

Including mingle.

"Why don't we go see what our host thinks of his party?" Batman asked dryly, offering her his hand.

There was a brief delighted smile as she accepted, which quickly became something naughtier. "Batman unfurled his wit, and the partygoers tremble," she purred.

The corner of his lip twitched upward for a moment as they walked together.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Talia said, unknowingly echoing Raven's words from earlier.

"Neither am I," J'onn replied, "but I think we have to."

She folded her arms and looked at the teleportation pod that would bring them to the Watchtower. "I mean, we're still trying to explore what our feelings are for each other. I don't think getting the Justice League involved is going to make matters simpler."

He nodded. "Shayera cornered me. I could hardly refuse."

"I'm sure you could have," Talia said. "Sometimes you're too willing to say 'yes' when you should have said 'no'."

"I don't think - "

"When Flash suggested you have sex with me while disguised as Batman, what did you say?"

J'onn shifted uncomfortably. "All right, that was one time."

She sighed. "Look, I'm not trying to make you feel bad, J'onn. I'm just . . ."

"Afraid of being in the room with Batman?"

Talia looked down. "Yes. The moment I enter, the party will be over. You must realize that."

"Why do you think we're leaving so late?" J'onn tried to joke. It fell flat, however. "I think perhaps this is a good thing. Maybe this can bring some closure to your relationship with Bruce. Which in turn may help us move forward. Besides, better to gauge the League's reaction now, before we've - gone too far."

"Do you think that could happen for us?" Talia asked.

J'onn turned to face her. "You have awakened feelings in my body that have not stirred in some time. And I enjoy your company. Are these not the things on which many relationships are formed?"

Talia's cheeks turned a little red. "It's nice to be told that."

"Told what exactly?"

"That you find me attractive. I - don't hear that very often. Not when it matters, anyway."

"You look very nice tonight," J'onn said.

"Thanks." She looked down at her dress, which was simple but elegant. "I could have worn something much more daring, but I did not think that would create the right impression. Like I was there to compete with anybody."

J'onn held out his hand. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"J'onn, you didn't ask me how you look."

He looked quizzical. "I am dressed the way I always am," he said. There was no reason for him to hide his Martian features tonight.

Talia stepped forward and past his outstretched hand. "I mean you didn't ask if I found you attractive too."

"Oh . . . do you?"

She put a hand on his chest. "You have wonderful eyes, J'onn," she told him, looking up at his face. "They show what is in your heart. And it is what is in your heart that makes you a handsome man. Yes, I'm ready."

J'onn smiled. There were those feelings again. Strange. He'd never believed another woman could do that after his - wife.

But those were thoughts for another night. Now, he was with Talia.

"Then let's go."
"It seems our paths always cross every time we are on the Watchtower," Audrey said to Selina. She glanced at Diana, her eyes alight. "Remember the Christmas we spent here?"

"Oh, yes," Diana said. "I'm sure we all do." Looking over at Batman and Catwoman, she grinned. "For more than one reason, I'm sure."

"At least tonight I'm not stealing the champagne. Or anything else, for that matter," Selina replied. "Although I may have to steal him away if the party goes too long, right?" She waited for an answer, but none was forthcoming. "Earth to Dark Knight?"

His jaw was clenched as he stared at the entrance. "I don't believe it," he growled in the tone of voice he reserved for the worst kind of scum in Gotham.

Catwoman followed his eyes. The Martian Manhunter had finally arrived. Once Flash had made his belated appearance, conversations had turned to the identity of his mysterious date. Several guesses were hazarded, including a villainess or two by Flash.

Not even he had imagined Talia al-Ghul on J'onn's arm, however.

The room grew deathly still. And Batman's glove was the only thing that protected his hand from injury when the glass he was holding broke apart.

Talia took a step back, but J'onn held her hand. "Welcome to the Watchtower," he murmured.

To be continued . . .