Oh Sweet Child of Mine
Summary: When one of the League's young partners goes missing, someone they least expect picks up the mace to go find her young friend. Sequel to "Innocence of a Small Child".
Important Note: If you have not read "Innocence of a Small Child" you are going to be terribly confused.
Disclaimer: I own… (sniffle) nothing except the plot line.
Set after "Starcrossed" and after "Wake the Dead" and before "Hunter's Moon."
Answered Reviews are at the end now.
Chapter 3: Fight and Flight
Typically, Dick Grayson, the rich adopted son of Bruce Wayne by day and Nightwing in the dark of Gotham's nights, would let his phone ring four times. The first two times he'd simply ignore it. The third time he'd curse the person's father, and on the fourth ring he would answer it.
Tonight was no different as he laid asleep on the couch, a soda can dripping off the table, TV running in the background and drool running down his cheek. Grumbling as he sat up hearing the phone ring for the fourth time he made to answer it. With a quick hand through his dark hair, he grabbed the phone and curled it into his dangerous, but gentle hands placing it to his ears.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, in a tired, grumble voice he answer, "Uhhh… uh? Oh yea… Hello?"
"Dick."
The voice on the other end was deep. A voice that Dick Grayson could never forget, "B-bruce..?" he yawned out. Bruce never called. Unless it was for Nightwing business or the every now and then check up.
"We need you on the mission. Now. I'm sending coordinates to your computer," he said not answering to his birth name that Dick had just called him. With a lump in his throat, Dick knew this was strictly Batman and Nightwing business and that something had gone wrong, "Meet me there as soon as you can," he father figured said sharply.
Blinking twice in confusion, Dick answered back, more awake now, "Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Yes," Batman said shortly.
"What happened?" Dick wanted answers now as he stomach did back flips with a gut bad feeling of wrong, "Is Tim—Robin alright?" he questioned concernedly.
"Get down here."
And with a click of the Batman's communicator, Dick was left listening to a dead signal from his own phone.
-The Abandoned Villain Hide Out a.k.a. Where Robin Is-
"Isn't it just cute ta watch 'em struggle?" asked Harley Quinn as she turned her idiotic smile towards the Joker as she watched Batman's youngest partner being strangled by some of Poison Ivy's roots.
With a grin plastered wide on his face, the Joker couldn't help but laugh at how the Injustice Gang's plan would unfold. But he still felt as if he was in the dark. Lex was the ringleader, as he was before, but it didn't seem as his driving force was behind this, at least not as strong as last time. Joker, though dubbed critically insane, wasn't as dumb as he looked. He was getting the funny feeling that there was someone much bigger involved in the League's demise. Someone controlling Lex or offering him something more.
"Let… go… of… me!" hissed Robin through gasping breaths of air as one of Poison Ivy's roots wrapped itself around his throat.
Joker attention was now drawn back to Batman's 'little' Robin as he watched the Boy Wonder choke on his own words.
"Ha," Joker said softly to the child, "I think those vines have a crush on you. Ha ha ha!"
"Get… off!" Robin let out a cough and then flung his arm into his utility belt and reached for something. Sticking his hand in his back pocket of the belt he pulled out what appeared to be a bird-a-rang and threw it at the plant. The device embedded itself into the plant and in less than four seconds, fire began to pour out causing the plant pain and Poison Ivy a lot of grief.
"My baby!" screamed Poison Ivy.
Unwrapping itself from the Boy Wonder, it dropped him onto the ground leaving him gasping for air. As he was about to stand up and regain some of his balance a cold hand grab his neck from behind, squeezing harder than ever, "How dare you!"
It was Poison Ivy.
"Ack—!" Robin choked out.
Two-Face grabbed Poison Ivy's arm, "Drop him."
"What!" she sounded outraged, "He just murdered those poor—"
Annoyed, the spilt personality man glared at her, "He needs to stay alive you wretched woman," Two-Face growled.
"Doesn't matter if he's alive or not!" screeched Poison Ivy dangerously, "Either way the Batman is coming for him."
"You know, the man is right," sneered Star Sapphire to Poison Ivy, "He's better off alive."
Poison Ivy let out a horrid laugh with a cold smile, "What ever happened to the phrase, better off dead than alive?"
"It would make the fight more interesting with his life on the line, Ivy," stated the Penguin.
At this point, the Joker had turned around to see what all the fighting was about. He watched Star Sapphire and Poison Ivy shout, scream and begin to fight one another. Two-Face held a struggling Robin while Lex Luther, followed by the Shade came storming over.
"ENOUGH!" roared Lex as he flipped his cell phone closed and into his pocket grabbing Star Sapphire by her arm and yanking her away.
The Shade got a firm hold on Poison Ivy, "He's right. You two need to stop acting like immature children."
"You're telling me to stop acting immature?" questioned Poison Ivy, "Ha. This is coming from a man dressed up in a top hat." She said with a sneer.
Lex shoved his way over towards Two-Face who had Robin in a choking grip. "Drop him." Lex said plainly.
With a shove behind his hand, Two-Face dropped Robin. Coughing and sputtering as he was dropped to the ground the Boy Wonder rubbed the back of his neck before he felt another pair of hands grab him. It was Lex.
"I thought I told you guys to get… off… of… ME!" roared Robin as he flipped Lex powerfully over his shoulder.
"ARG!" cried Lex painfully as he hit the ground, "Stop him!"
Robin made a dash for the window. He could jump through it. The cuts and scraps would be worth it if he could just escape. Grundy lunged forward and with a loud stomp, tried to crush Robin. Shade flung his nightstick towards the Boy Wonder. Reacting quickly, Robin flipped upwards and landed on the high ledge.
Through the window Robin saw four figures coming towards the building at full force. It was Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman and the Green Lantern. But suddenly they stopped as a dark shadow approached over them.
Making ready to jump through the glass barrier, Robin stopped himself when he saw a grouped of winged shadows flying right towards the window.
Robin braced himself for a fall and then it happened.
A crash came in from the window and Robin gazed up to see a frightening image. His feet seemed to naturally back up and he began falling of the ledge but was caught by a pair of strong hands. Lex's hands once more. Grundy made a loud moan as he covered himself trying to hide from the glass flying in all directions. Two-Face stood in place and kept his position while the Joker and Harley Quinn screamed "Bomb!" and ducked to the ground. Poison Ivy laid low as he Scarecrow stood hunched over slightly looking murderous. The Shade and a few others had started running away at this point but all stopped when a bright pink orb caught them.
As more glass sprung in, Star Sapphire had decided to create a bright pink vortex to shield the villains, Robin and the unconscious Flash.
The glass had all fallen to the floor and the sound of footprints began to echo through out Robin's skull like a single drip coming from a sink late a night. He felt himself shaking slightly, and was almost afraid to open his eyes. But as the footsteps grew louder and closer, the Boy Wonder made himself look up and see.
Lex grinned as Robin peeled his cape away from his face, "They're here." He said happily.
Joker opened one eye, then his other very slowly looking around, "Whose here?"
"Us." Replied a thick accented man's voice.
Everyone turned they're heads to see a large winged man with a green armored suit standing in front of them. He strong arms crossed his broad chest and his hawk symbol glistened in what little light the abandoned factory had. His helmet mimicked that of a frightening hawk and his eyes pierced the room with a bird like pattern. And in his hand stood a powerful axe cackling with electricity. But the greatest thing about him was his giant wings that came from his back. Robin looked up with a curious expression.
Behind the large hawk like man, stood a female in a white suit. Her helmet was of a different design as was her weapon. She had the same bird like glare and looked hungrily around the room. Lingering behind her were several other hawk like creatures in red suits.
"Glad you could make it," Lex said finally breaking the silence, his hands still grasping Robin tightly incase he thought about escaping, "So, we are doing business then."
-Gotham Square-
Shayera sat upon the rooftop of Gotham Square with a sinking feeling in her heart. She had left Tim and had planned to leave the League permanently this time as well. Where else was there for her to go? People would always give her strange looks and scared glances when around her. And she feared for Tim's sake that their friendship would surely ruin his and Bruce's relationship. She knew Bruce had never regained her trust after the invasion. Afterwards he had clearly told her to stay away from Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl. If he ever found out that she was talking to Batgirl frequently at the tower, having Nightwing teach her different martial arts moves and hanging out with Robin, she knew Batman would kill her.
With breeze of the cold chilling wind dancing on her skin, Shayera stood up and stretched her wings. It was time to go now. No need for supplies or necessities. She would rough it.
As she looked out into the Gotham water line, an explosion and a loud sound caught her ear. She sharply turned her head and gasped in fear when she saw a Thanagerian class 2 (small) cruiser standing above a building and winged figures fly out of it.
"No…" she said in fear. They were back. It was real. They were back and there was only one reason they would come back.
For her.
"Oh my god… please no…" Shayera had never been this scared in all her life. The League was in danger, innocent people, John and…
"Tim!" she flew up into the sky immediately. They were in Gotham meaning Batman and Robin would surely answer to the threat. Meaning Tim would surely be in grave danger.
Flying as fast as she could, she grabbed her mace and let the electricity flow through it rapidly. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Her teeth gritted together and determination filling her veins with energy she prepared to fight.
She would not let her people get in her way of her feelings and friends ever again.
-Nightwing's Motorcycle-
Sirens started to echo in Nightwing's ears as he drew closer to the coordinates that Batman had given to him. His heart had a sinking feeling, but his will to prove to his father figure he could handle this was the driving force that kept him going.
With a sharp turn, Nightwing turned the cycle into the highest acceleration mode it could take and listened to the sirens grow louder. He flipped on his communication link.
Ready to speak he stopped when something caught his eye. A bird like creature… a woman…
"SHAYERA!" The original Robin called to the winded woman.
Looking down, the red head spotted the dark figure and swooped down, flying next to him, "Dick! What are you doing?" she questioned.
"I was about to ask you the same question," Nightwing said, "I got a call from Bruce. Trouble—"
"No! It's worse than that!" Shayera said flying as fast as she could next to the young adult trying to keep up with the speed of his cycle.
Nightwing gave her a quizzical look. Shayera gulped, "They're here…"
"Who?" Nightwing asked. What was she talking about?
He thought he saw Shayera's wings droop ever so slightly, "The Thanagerians… their back… and its all my fault… the League is in danger!"
"Tim's on that mission!" Nightwing felt fright for his younger brother figure.
No… Shayera thought, Of all the missions to train Tim on… it had to be this one… my god please let him be okay…
Nightwing looked up with fear. If they were back, that wouldn't be anything good for the League or Tim. Pulling back on the throttles has hard as he could, Nightwing raced to the coordinates he needed to be at.
-Justice League's Current Position-
Batman normally kept an even temper, calm and collected. It was hard to ruffle his feathers some would say. His emotions were not worn on his sleeve but hidden in his jacket almost. But at the current moment, Superman had never seen Batman run as fast as he was now.
He was running to stop the Injustice Gang for hurting Robin. But now it was more than that. He was running faster and harder because now there were two threats…
The Thanagerians had flown right by the League and the League was going to waste no more time in stopping the villains and the birds.
It would have to take someone with a close eye to see the concerned looked in Batman's cowl as he ran. They were closing in on the building fast when Batman stopped suddenly and turned around.
"What's wrong?" Green Lantern asked.
"Nightwing," he said simply as he heard, then turned around to see the young man parking his cycle and ripping off his helmet running towards his adoptive father. But as Batman watched his eldest running towards him, he also saw another figure.
Green Lantern's jaw dropped, "Shayera!" he said with disbelief. Was she connected to the attack. John prayed silently she wasn't.
Nightwing came to a graceful halt and almost as if he had ignored the rest of the Justice League turned to Bruce, "Your trouble seems to have grown more from what you told me."
Batman nodded but gave no response, but understood Nightwing's comment. And so did the rest of the League. They all knew that spaceship belonged to the Thanagerians.
The Dark Knight then started to head in the building. Nightwing was the second to follow. Wonder Woman soon caught onto the drift that Batman was not going to waste anytime giving orders and followed as well. The rest of the League followed and Shayera stayed towards the back, flying behind John.
"What are you doing here?" John asked softly towards the redheaded beauty.
Shayera stated in a business tone, "These are my people, are the not?"
"You weren't assigned to this mission."
"Why should I have to be assigned to something that involves me?" she retorted coldly leaving the Marine in silence.
"You didn't call them did you?"
Shayera turned a painful glace on John, "Why would I call someone if I've been exiled from their planet…"
Bitterness flowed through her voice and John felt his heart drop and inch. What a dumb thing for him to say.
Batman had reached the door and kicked it open with his black boot with tremendous force. But the sight they saw was not what they had planned.
The villains that they had once been worried about, need not to be worried about anymore. In the corner tied up was the Injustice Gang with hawk soldiers standing guard over them. Joker started laughing when he spotted Batman walking in.
"Ha! Hey Guano-Man! Looks like someone beat you to my capture this time… unfortunately they're not as fun loving as you are," he laughed..
Poison Ivy made a disgusted face, "Hey Batman," she puckered her lips, "Perhaps after you and the Disaster League finish with these pests… you can come rescue little ole me?" she blinked her heavy eyelids in a flirt and pushed out her chest through her tightly tide ropes.
Superman looked over. The Hawk soldiers had captured Injustice League. Obviously they were in the way of something the Thanagerians had planed. But wait… where was—
"Flash!" John cried as he saw Flash, awake and being pushed to the ground by a gravitational gun a Hawk man was aiming at him.
Superman gritted his teeth. He looked around again.
"Lex?" Superman said shocked as he saw the man in his power suit standing next to the commander of the Hawk men. Commander Hro Talek.
And holding a struggling small figure in his hands, Superman spotted Robin struggling with all his might to escape Lex's grip. Superman thought he spotted Batman cringe and Nightwing crack is knuckles out of the corner of his eye.
Shayera put her hand to her mouth in shock. No… she thought bitterly, Please let him go. Oh god please let him go… please… If they found out the connection between him and Shayera, they would surely use that against her and the League.
"Surprised to see me Superman?" Lex said grinning widely, "You do look terribly confused right about now. Perhaps some explaining is in order."
Robin tried to move again and Lex yanked back on him. Wonder Woman spotted a pair restraints on him. The same one's they wore when they had been captured by the Thanagerians the first time.
"Let him go," ordered Superman as he saw Robin grit his teeth in pain as Lex pulled back on him.
Lex smiled once more but did nothing.
"That was an order, not a suggestion," Superman remarked coldly.
Laughing, Lex answered him, "And since when have I even taken orders from you?" Superman remained silent as he watched Lex push Robin over towards Hro.
The winged man grabbed hold of Robin's shoulder's tightly squeezing him. Trying to resist the urge not to scream Robin closed his eyes painfully before letting a little scream escape his lips as softly as he could make it.
"Ack! Get… off…" he said with pain written in his voice.
"Don't hurt him!" Shayera said quickly, fear nibbling at her like some sort of snack.
Batman turned around at her slightly. Why was she so concerned? True she was a member of the League but the way she said it. That was his child in danger not hers. But her voice was pleading and desperate. Did she know something about this attack or have anything to do with it?
Lex stepped forward a step, preparing to explain, "He will remain unharmed… for now."
"You filthy, son of a bi—"
"Nightwing." Batman said harshly telling his oldest ward to fall silent.
The younger man shot a dark glare towards Lex and Batman watched his fists curl and tighten as Lex began to speak.
"It started off like any normal day," Lex started off in a cheerful tone, "But then, I got a very interesting phone call. From a very interesting someone. That someone happened to be Commander Hro Talek."
Lex gestured towards the grim looking Hro still holding Robin tightly ignoring the boy's painful cries. Shayera held her breath and desperately wanted Lex to finish his story. Perhaps she'd have a better understanding of all this once he was done.
"You see," Lex continued, "During the first invasion, Hro and I had a little chat. At first it was just to keep him from putting me under the martial law, but soon I realized we had a common goal. To rid ourselves of the Justice League. Well you can only imagine once they were defeated by the League and not being able to save their people due to a certain traitor…"
Shayera found the eyes of not only Hro Talek on her, but the League's as well. Lex was opening an old wound. She begged internally for this to stop.
"Shut up!" hissed Robin, "Don't call her that!" he shouted at Lex.
"Keep quiet child. Do not demand for something you do not understand," Hro said in a deep, thick voice squeezing Robin's shoulders and trying to push them together.
"AHHH!" he screamed in pain.
Batman glared and looked up shocked, "ROBIN!"
"Let go of him!" Nightwing demanded. He had heard enough. He made to charge but felt a hand on his shoulder. Bruce… how can you hold me back? Let go… he thought bitterly.
"Is there any more interruptions?" Lex asked with a confidant gaze. The League remained silent and Hro loosened his grip on Robin, "Good. Now, not too soon after the Thanagerians had come to earth and were defeated, I got a call. And from who? None other than Hro Talek. Thanagar had lost the war. Only 45 of his kind were left."
"No…" Shayera whispered softly. She had killed her own people. They had lost the war. In the back of her mind she had always thought perhaps they would regain strength and find a way to win. But she was wrong apparently. Shayera felt the tears build up and swim in her green eyes. John took notice and could only feel pity for her. She had killed her own race to save another she had hardly known.
"He asked me for help" Lex continued, "I was eager to help him. I do repay my debuts and he told me of his desire. To kill the one person who caused the death of his people. He asked me to find Shayera Hol and have her killed."
Shayera's eyes widen and she felt her heart drop. She knew where this was going. What she didn't know that John was looking at her, his eyes trying to meet hers.
"I told him that why kill just her, but also the team that stopped you from completing your mission. Why not the Justice League as well?" Lex grinned, "We were in agreement. So, I called the Injustice Gang back together to get your attention. But then I thought deeper. How could I really get the Justice League's attention?"
Superman held his breath.
"Well, it was simple. I had recently seen Shayera in Gotham. Not out in the open… but hiding from the residential bat."
Batman turned a glare towards Shayera.
"But she wasn't alone. Oh no, I had found the perfect means of bait. But we'll get to that later," he laughed softly, "It would be simple. Have the Injustice Gang cause trouble. I'd make home base in Gotham. Invite some of the famous Gotham villains over to get more attention. And to add the final touch take something that meant the world to Shayera."
Shayera felt her face grow red… Please… no. Don't let this happen…
"I knew that if we were in Gotham it'd lour out Shayera's precious Robin. Yes, I sent a few spies. They had reported that Batman's young partner and Shayera had been meeting each other on regular terms since the invasion and that they had a close bond." Lex was smiling an evil smile.
Batman wanted to scream but kept his emotions in check. That explained Tim's late nights. His behavior. The way he wouldn't let Bruce or Alfred in his room sometimes. The phone calls where he'd tell Bruce it was 'a close friend' but never share the name. It all made sense. How could he have been so blind. Now Tim was in danger because of Shayera. He told her to stay away from Tim and now look what happened. And for that, he hated her.
"Well, you can imagine how thrilled we were when the you had placed Robin as the spy and used Flash as back up. Joker found him, and decided to pop by. He had no idea of the plans, but his capture of Flash was good incase Robin was nowhere in sight. But lucky for us," Lex seemed pleased with himself, "Both showed up."
Shayera let a tear escape and run down her cheek. This was all her fault.
"Once the Hawkmen arrived, I had them capture the Injustice League. They served their purpose and were done. They captured Flash and Robin. All we had to do was wait for you… and here you are," Lex laughed, "And now look at where we are."
"HRO!" Shayera called out, "What are you planning! Please, if it's me you want, I'll go. Don't hurt anyone else. You have me now! Drop the boy!"
Hro turned and faced his former promised mate, "How dare you even talk to me. Traitor. Filthy traitor. As for what I'm planning? The ultimate revenge. We plan to kill these hostages and make you watch before finishing off you and the Justice League."
"NO!" she begged, "Please don't!"
Hro turned to Lex, "Your studies were correct, this child does contain some importance to her as does it to some of the other members of the League." He looked over towards a angry Batman and a violently glaring Nightwing.
"Get… off… of… me!" Robin brought his leg forward and raised it. With all his might he kicked backwards kicking Hro in the stomach.
But the kick seemed to have little effect on the winged man. The most he heard was a grunt.
Lex grinned.
"Your offense is lacking young one," Hro told Robin, "If you want to leave a dent on someone, you need to mean it."
Hro began to squeeze Robin's shoulders together again. He started to shout in pain as though his body was going to crack and leave him broken.
"STOP!" Shayera cried, "Please! He has nothing to do with this! Hro stop it!"
"ROBIN!" cried Nightwing and he began to dart forward.
Batman tried to grab him. Nightwing was letting his anger get the best of him. He could make things more dangerous than they already were if he just went for a down right attack, "Nightwing!" he called back.
Ignoring his adoptive father, Nightwing ran right towards Hro. Raising his hand to punch the man, he smiled slightly. This guy was going to pay. But with in a split second, a female hawk in white pulled out her mace as slammed Nightwing straight in the chest.
"ACK—!" he screamed in pain.
Batman started to run forward, "Nightwing!" he yelled. Only Superman caught the small flutter of emotion flying through his voice.
Electricity flowed through his body as Nightwing was sent flying back and Batman caught him in the chest knocking him back slightly. His breathing was harsh and rapid and his face rippled in pain he was trying to hide from his mentor. Batman looked livid.
"Thank you, Paran," Hro told the winged woman in white. She smirked a flirtatious smile and took her place beside Hro.
"Ahhh!" Robin was struggling to breath. Hro was crushing him.
Shayera flew forward, her own mace cackling with electricity. She flew towards Hro. He looked up at her, and keeping one hand on Robin used his free hand to pull out his axe.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Hro said. As Shayera raised her mace and readied to attack, Hro placed his axe back on his belt and grabbed Robin with both of his powerful hands. He held the boy up almost as if he were a shield.
Shayera backed off with inches of Robin's face. She saw the look of terror even through the mask on the young boys face. She had almost killed him.
"You're sick!" cried Shayera.
Hro smiled, "All is fair in love and war."
"Using a child as your advantage and shield! It's low!" Shayera spat at him, "Fight me like a real soldier! Or do you need a child as your protection?"
"How dare you insult me!" Hro said angrily, "If it's a fight you want woman, a fight you shall get." He turned to Paran, "You know what you have to do."
Paran smiled and raised her mace, "Soldiers…" she began, "Attack your targets."
The Justice League looked up as the remaining race of the Thanagerians came flying towards them.
Wonder Woman took a fighting stance and smirked, "Hera… let the Gods be on our side today."
And then the Princess of the Amazons took of with speed. She took her buttermilk soft hand and curled it into a fist. She let out a cry and punched a soldier. Blood splattered on her hand.
The battle had begun.
Superman flew as fast as he could. He took out as many guards as he could. "Arg!" he said as an electric whip slapped his neck. He reached behind him and grabbed the whip and flung it in front of him, the hawk man holding onto it went flying with it.
He flew over to Flash ad freed him from the weight of the gravitational gun and punched the hawk man holding the gun across the room.
"Thanks buddy," the Fastest Man Alive said as he zipped through out the room preparing for his own brutal fight.
Green Lantern was fighting differently. He was fighting dirty. And down right dirty. He punched one in the nose. The crack satisfied him. A kick to a man's stomach. A rib breaking echoing in his ear. A drop kick to the head. The blood washing onto his boots. These guys were going to pay for what they did to him last. What they did to Earth. What they had done to Shayera…
You're not going to hurt her ever again… he thought bitterly, "That's a promise!" he shouted as he flung another soldier into the wall who skidded past Nightwing and Batman.
With a triumphant smile Nightwing flung a bird-a-rang into the chest of a hawk man. Coming up behind him one hit him on the back of the head with his weapon. Nightwing cursed.
"You son of a bit—"
"Nightwing! Watch your mouth," Batman said angrily as he flipped two hawk men over his shoulders and into the ground as he saw his eldest punch off three soldiers.
Pulling out stun-a-rangs, Nightwing flung them from his fingertips and let them hit the hawk men as they fell to the ground not moving.
"Now's a hell of a time to be correcting me on my grammar!" Nightwing snarled drop kicking a birdman.
Batman paid no attention to his remark for he was trying to keep an eye on Robin through out the chaos.
"Paran… take the boy," he said thrusting Robin into Paran's arms. She nodded.
"Now Shayera…" Hro said taking out his cackling axe, "We fight."
Shayera felt the bile fill up in her throat and she tensed as she raised her mace. This was it. She could do this. She knew she could. But she somehow felt that this situation was only going to grow worse.
And then with in seconds, the battle had started. Feathers flew, electricity dance and angry glances filled their battle.
Shayera hit his axe back.
Hro punched her face.
Shayera kicked him to the ground.
Hro grabbed her hair and hit her in the back with his axe.
Shayera swung her mace at his head letting the electricity burn him.
Hro screamed.
Shayera smirked.
Hro grabbed her neck and started to choke his former lover.
Shayera gasped for breath.
Hro smirked.
"NO!" Robin called out wrestling with Paran. He struggled with all his might but with the large restraints on it was proving to be difficult as was Paran.
"SHAYERA!" Tim screamed.
And in all the fighting, Green Lantern heard Tim's shouts to someone. He heard the name. He let it register and then saw something he never wanted to see again.
Shayera was gasping for breath at the hands of Hro Talek.
"Shayera!" Green Lantern punched three hawk men out of his way, "Shayera! I'm coming!" He flew as fast as he could. His eyes turned a vivid green.
Thinking hard, Green Lantern let energy out of his ring and created a giant fist and sent it hurdling towards Hro. Not looking up in time, Hro's eyes widened as he came face to face with a bright, glowing, green, giant fist.
The force behind the ring sent Hro flying into a pile of boxes resulting on them crashing down upon him. Satisfied with himself, John smirked. But his smile was short lived when he remembered—
"SHAYERA!" he called as he dove to catch her limp falling form. Her red hair tickling her face as she dropped and the air ran through out her fingers hungrily. He gingerly caught her and flew softly to the ground.
"Shayera? Shayera!" the former Marine shouted franticly, "Shayera!"
A stifling cough erupted from her mouth and her eye fluttered open, "J-John?" she asked not understanding what happened, "You—"
"Thank God you're alright!" John said pulling her into a warm embrace as he held her.
Shayera felt her cheeks blushing and burning. John. He had saved her. And now, John. He was hugging her like he used to. Before Vixen. Before the invasion. Before they hardly knew each other. It was comforting and Shayera found herself smiling at her Green Lantern.
But, in love and war, unfortunately, war comes first.
A loud bang was heard disrupting the pair. John looked around to see a hawk soldiers throwing down tiny pellets and watched smoke emerge from filling the room with a thick cloud.
"Fall back!" ordered Hro as he rose from the boxes "Go to Operation Two!" he commanded.
Batman looked up and twisted the neck of a hawk soldier. Operation Two? That must have been their back up plan. It meant that there was more to this twisted plot.
"Nightwing!" he called over as he kicked off a solider on his first son. He put down a hand offering him up. Nightwing took it.
"Nightwing… we need to keep an eye on Talek," he said darkly as the smoke started to crowd their view. "Night vision activate."
Inside Batman's cowl, the white in his mask shinned a little brighter and he was able to see through the smoke. He heard Nightwing do the same.
"Where's Tim?" Nightwing asked.
Batman shot his grappling hook to the ceiling and pulled himself up. As he lifted himself through the smoke he saw Robin's small figure fighting of Paran's grasp as she tried to drag him to—
"The ship!" Batman looked down at Nightwing, "DICK! GET OUTSIDE! NOW!" he ordered with concern and anger painted in his voice, "THEY'RE TAKING HIM AWAY!"
Nightwing immediately started running, the Justice League following him as they saw the Space Cruiser full of hawk soldiers taking off and Robin fighting for his life as a gun was pointed into his shoulder and his figure fell to the ground.
"TIM!" Shayera screamed as she felt her heart drop and let a tear drop down her cheeks as the ship started to fly off.
Superman and Wonder Woman flew at the fastest speeds they've ever flown. They made ready to grab the ship when to laser beamed guns shot them in the chests. They let out a painful howl as they came hurdling to the ground with the guns powerful rays surging through their bodies. Flash zipped over towards them to give them a hand.
"No…" Shayera whispered as she watched the ship fly away, "Tim… oh my god. This is all my fault… all of it."
"You're right." Batman said glaring at Shayera, "It is."
The anger in his voice was enough to break Shayera in half if it was a blade. She felt broken and helpless and the Dark Knight grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her into the near by building's wall.
"Talk!"
Author's Note: Sorry for lack of update! Hope you like this chapter. I wrote it rather fast so its a little messy. Sorry about that. Hope you're not too mad at its horrible-ness. Review please?
Reviews Answered:
Night-Owl123: Glad you liked it.
A dragons wings: Ha ha! You guessed correct. It is the dude with the wings Shayera liked. Hro Talek. Thanks for the review.
Gotham's Princess: Holy Fear Gas Batman! Lol! I loved that. Lol. Thanks for the review princess.
Alicia Keyboard: I know. Poor Tim. Scream away.
JuStIcE LeAgUe RoCkS: Thanks again.
Hawkgirl04: Thanks. Here's that update.
Shayera13: Here's some more, more, more.