"A Simple Kind of Life"

By: Angelic Temptress

Disclaimer: I bet you didn't know they weren't mine.

Rating: PG-13. Why not?

Spoilers: None really. (Um… I really hope EVERYONE saw the new episodes, though this doesn't have anything to do with them.)

And thanks to Missy for the beta and taking my side. ;)

VV

Tuesday

Shayera, wearing jeans and a tee shirt, casually walks into the apartment of Mari's photo shoot. Some of the crew members notice a Thanagarian among them and briefly stare but go about their business. With no trouble, she finds her way to where Mari is.

John stands not a foot from the beverage and donut table, watching his girlfriend. Mari has both feet on the pale yellow loveseat and is propping herself up with her elbow. She's wearing knee-high brown boots, a hippie floral shirt, and plenty of bracelets.

After taking a deep breath, Shayera moves to John's side. "She looks great. Doesn't she?"

John looks at her with surprise and tries to keep his jaw from dropping. He's not successful. "What are you doing here?"

"I invited her," Mari states as she makes her way to her co-workers. "We're spending the day together."

"That's… nice, I guess." John sends both women a skeptical smile and then motions to the door. "I've got to get going."

Mari wraps her arms around his neck and presses her glossed lips to his. Shayera wonders if the kiss feels as awkward as it looks.

She also wonders which one is still in denial.

"I'll see you around."

"Bye," the women say in unison as Shayera pours herself a cup of coffee. She raises her eyes for a split second to be sure he's gone for the day.

"He surprised me," Mari assures. "I really didn't mean for you –"

"It doesn't matter, Mari." Shayera sips the watered-down liquid. Her face crunches with disgust, and she forces herself to swallow. After shaking off the feeling, she sets the full cup on the table and asks, "What magazine is the shoot for?"

Mari's eyes brighten. "It's a Gucci advertisement and will most likely be in a few magazines." She then takes her friend's elbow and guides her to the bedroom. "We've got a long day, but I need a change of clothes."

"We have a long day?"

"You bet." Mari closes the door behind her and gives a sly grin. "We have an appointment in an hour because I have an invitation for me and a guest to attend Oprah Winfrey's birthday party here in Chicago." Before Shayera can counter the statement, Mari adds, "And since John's working and neither of us have a secret identity to hide, I figured we could go as friends. I'm sure Oprah would love to see both of us at her party."

Shayera feels a growl tickle her throat and looks away. "And the appointment is for what?"

"Representatives from Vera Wang and Versace are on their way over to have us try on some of their evening gowns."

"Gowns? As in dresses?"

"It's a black tie affair, and the invite says we can only wear black and white. Oprah probably wants to stand out in red to show off her great body."

"Honestly, it's so nice of you to even consider taking me, but I don't do parties."

"Do women on Thanagar wear dresses?"

Nearly annoyed, Shayera rolls her eyes. "No, what does it matter?"

Her friend and competitor gives an expression of pain. "Shayera, Harry Winston agreed to loan us jewelry. Don't back out now."

"Who?"

"And we'll get our makeup and hair done by professionals. I promise you'll look great." Mari steps behind a screen and changes clothes as she continues pestering. "Now would it kill you to put on a dress and a little makeup?"

"I'm not going to make any promises," she mumbles and turns toward the nightstand where a picture of Mari and John sits.

VvV

"What the hell am I doing?" Shayera mutters with her eyes glued to her own body. She is wearing a black satin Vera Wang gown that gives a hint of cleavage and dips dangerously low in the back to both accommodate her wings and accentuate her muscles. Her red hair has been pulled into an up-do with loose curls framing her face. A diamond necklace acts as a choker with a tail hanging against her spine.

"You're going to have fun." Mari, wearing a white Versace, moves her honey eyes to look outside the tinted window of the limousine Oprah had paid for. Her gown is silk with inset lace revealing all the right places. "Here we are," she announces. "Ready?"

"I suppose."

The two women climb out of the limo and are immediately met with flashes of paparazzi cameras. Their superhero names are called. They take a few steps toward the party, and Mari stops to pose next to Shayera.

"Let them take pictures. It's what they want." Mari moves away from her friend and poses alone.

"Hawkgirl! Hawkgirl! Show us your wings!"

Shayera considers the request and turns to look at the cameras over her shoulder, displaying the back of her gown and her trademark.

"You look great!"

"Beautiful, Hawkgirl!"

"Look this way!"

Before Shayera can plaster a million dollar smile on her face, Mari snags her elbow. "Come on. We've got a party to get to." She discreetly yanks Shayera's arm and says through a faked smile, "Always leave them wanting more."

Mari then suggests they mingle within the crowd, and they speak with actors, lawyers, celebrities, doctors, and reporters, but they eventually get separated. With Shayera clutching a glass of champagne in a lonely corner, Mari gets tied up talking to Halle Berry.

Once making sure no one will notice, Shayera downs the alcohol…

"Hawkgirl?"

… And almost chokes. Shayera turns to see who is speaking with her. "Ms. Winfrey?"

"I was so excited when I heard you were here!"

Trying not to panic or obviously search for her date, Shayera smiles. "I'm very excited to be here." She quickly glances over the red corset dress Oprah has on. "You look breathtaking."

"Well, aren't you the sweetest thing?" Oprah motions for Steadman to leave and rests her hands on her hips. "I just want you to know that I admire you."

Simply, Shayera is shocked. "You do?"

"I read the revealing interview you did with Clark Kent for The Daily Planet. You are the pinnacle icon of a strong woman who surpassed all her obstacles. You fought for what was right, and sacrificed your reputation with both worlds. I think you should write a novel about your life, and I'd be happy to invest in it. Women need to hear your story and relate it to their own lives."

Shayera shrugs. "I, ah… I'm flattered that you find me to be a symbol for women, but I couldn't expose my co-workers to that type of publicity. It wouldn't be fair to the League or to Thanagar."

"Then maybe you'll consider a televised interview." The talk show host then unexpectedly hugs Shayera.

"Happy birthday," she blurts in response.

VvV

"It looks as if I'm sitting with very lovely ladies tonight."

"Mr. Wayne?" Mari's face illuminates. "How have you been?"

Bruce Wayne takes his seat beside Shayera and reveals his perfectly whitened teeth with a debonair smile. "You look as beautiful, if not more beautiful, since I saw you last, Ms. Macabe." His blue eyes catch Shayera's for a second.

She gives him a death stare that Mari interprets as confusion, and she explains, "Mr. Wayne and I met a few years ago at a Milan fashion show. He bought me a drink."

"Oh. I see." Shayera sips her wine. "You move rather quickly. Drinks with Vixen in Milan. A dance with Wonder Woman in Paris. Where do you go from there?"

Bruce turns his head to face Shayera and chuckles. "I'd love to tell you, Hawkgirl, but I'm afraid you'd be embarrassed if I did."

Not shaken by the blunt statement, she finishes her wine. "Try me."

"There are some Vogue representatives at the bar. I'll be back." Mari winks before snatching her purse and elegantly speeds away.

"I think you'd be more comfortable calling me Shayera, Mr. Wayne."

"And you can call me Bruce."

"Thank you for the permission."

Bruce Wayne fakes another smile before finishing his bourbon. "Would you honor me with a dance?"

"What if I told you I don't dance?"

"You'd have to dance with me anyway." He stands from his seat and pulls out her chair when she does the same.

Bruce brings her close, setting his hand on the small of her nearly bare back when they step onto the dance floor.

"You're pretty good on your feet," he mutters in her ear as they spin. Bruce then dips her easily and holds her there.

"I've been told that I'm even better off my feet." When his face loses a bit of color, he lifts her back up. She laughs. "Please. Your reputation precedes you."

The doors burst open, and both snap their heads in that direction. Two-Face stomps inside, wearing his trademark black and white suit and armed with two revolvers and a mess of lackeys.

Shayera offers a devilish smile for Bruce and straightens his tie. "You take it easy. Let the women fix this little predicament." She turns from her dance partner and starts to walk to the door. She sees Mari doing the same.

"You take the ten on the right, and I'll get the ten on the left?"

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Shayera admits.

Mari smiles. "We'll meet in the middle."

Shayera jumps into the air, flying as fast as her wings allow. As quickly as any Thanagarian can, she evades each of the bullets headed her way and tackles the first man. She rips the gun from his grip and hurls it at another's head like Batman would fling a batarang.

She punches the first guy and elbows the one behind her. After griping his shirt, she shoves him into the next armed minion to create a domino sequence that finishes three more.

Mari, with the speed of a cheetah, runs past her half of the group and hits their guns out of their hands. She screeches to a halt and touches her medallion a second time. This time mimicking the strength of a gorilla, she lifts one man to throw at four.

It takes a little less than three minutes to finish off the lackeys, leaving Dent for last. He's got his guns pointed at each woman, waiting.

With a smile, Shayera questions, "So Harvey, what are you going to do? Kill us or let us live?"

The sweat begins to trickle down his forehead.

VV

Having fun yet?

Good.

By the way, Shayera's adventures don't end until day 8…