He was still bitter and partly blamed himself for Jack's death but that did not ruin Batman's focus, nothing ever truly did. He weaved back, using a forearm to block as he gripped a thug's collar and with a curl of his body brought him around and slammed him to the ground. He heard Hawkgirl's cry and could pick out the anger, he then heard the crunch of bone and saw a man slam into the wall and slide down, breathing, but with a few ribs broken.

"Shayera, we still need a man conscious."

"Yours is."

Batman peered down at the man before he then picked him up and gave him a shake. The man gave a murmur and opened his eyes. They widened quickly seeing who was grabbing him. Batman then slammed his back hard into the wall of the weapon smuggling factory Two-Face planned. This was one of several attacks on his operations that the pair hoped would draw him out, but so far they have had no luck. Each interrogation ended with Hawkgirl beating a man senseless, he let her occupy herself with the thugs as he interrogated him.

"Don't even try to stay quiet," he said in his low threatening tone, "where is Two-Face?"

"L-Like I'd say anything…"

"Tell me," he warned, glancing over his shoulder at Hawkgirl who picked a man up and threw him across the room, "or you're answering to the lady with the mace."

His eyes widened and he shook in Batman's grasp. "Y-You didn't hear this from me, e-eh? He's at his club, always is at 2am when business is just finishin' up."

That would make sense. It would give him time to collect the earnings and store it somewhere before anyone could get a good look at him or try and question his motives. Two-Face always had his plans with a two sided effort, one public and the other always a twisted agenda. He slammed the back of the thug's head against the wall to knock him out. He turned to Hawkgirl who stood there amongst a few downed men, panting and gripping her Nth metal mace tight in both hands. Her hair was a wild mass about her neck and sweat dripped down her arms. Batman approached in his calm, brooding nature and carefully placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I know here he is, come on, still need your strength here."

"Ha! You could have taken these men down easily."

He smiled knowingly. "I don't mind the company."

He had his grapple out and was flying across the rooftops until he felt himself rising further up in the air. He panicked for a moment, thinking he over swung until he heard the flap of wings above him. He peered up and narrowed his eyes on Hawkgirl who grinned down at him in turn.

"What?" she asked.

He gave her an unimpressed look despite his cowl. "You're not telling the League about this."

She only grinned at him, but not in the way Batman usually saw.

There was a sad tone to her voice whenever she spoke now and only the saddest of lines on her lips. Jack had changed her and connected to her and within a short time he was taken away from her. He wondered what she was going through on the inside, fighting between the urge to kill for revenge or to hand out justice as it should be done. Bruce had the same battle before and also a fair bit of girls at his beck and call to help him forget the bad ones. He only a few serious relationships and they always ended poorly. He winced, thinking of Cheetah. There was a chance to have something there, he kept telling himself that. It did not however change the base fact however; he was a hero, she was a villain albeit of circumstance.

"It's just up here." He said while pointing.

The Silver 22 was one of the newest additions to the club scene in Gotham. One that Batman had been monitoring due to the reported sightings of Two-Face and his gang around it. He peered down at the streets, seeing a few cars pulling in more guests. He then saw the second floor of the building where the lights were still on in the back. He glanced up at Hawkgirl then back to the windows.

"Throw me in." he said after a moment's thought.

"What?"

"I said; throw me in. We don't have much time."

She nodded and picked up speed, diving down and then arching up as she released him. He flew straight and true curling his arms in front of him. He felt the glass give under the impact, feeling a few shards slice along his cape. He heard the crunch of boots on the glass with the surprised gasps of the guards and the clicking of ready weapons.

"Kill him!" Two-Face growled.

He leapt forward and let his foot slam into the side of a thug's head before he threw several batarangs to scatter a cluster of others. More closed in, deciding to use their fists and makeshift weapons instead of risking shooting each other. He weaved to the side, bringing both forearms up to let a chair shatter along them before he kicked forward, knocking a man to the ground as he elbowed a man behind him. He twisted and swung out, catching arm and flipping men to the ground.

A shot rung out and Bruce felt his shoulder blossom in pain and blood shot up into his eye. Two-Face was there holding a pistol with the other held loosely in his grip. He turned and blocked another strike before slamming his shoulder into the man, sending him back.

Hawkgirl then literally brought the roof down.

She landed amongst a threesome of men, sprawling them on the ground before her mace knocked a man clean off his feet, crashing onto a pool table and then slamming into a wall. Batman blocked a strike, ignoring the pain in his arm and then elbowing a man in the chest before slamming his forehead into his face. The man was on the ground with a busted nose and a whimper. A pool cue cracked along the back of his head. He stumbled and spun, landing a kick into the thug's side. It wasn't long after that the pair only had Two-Face left who was running upstairs to the roof. Batman ran along as Hawkgirl rushed forward. He was half-way across the roof by the time the pair ascended the stairs. Batman saw Hawkgirl's face contort in that bubbling anger and bring her mace back.

"Hawkgirl do-!"

Her mace flew and struck him hard in the back, sending him to the ground. Hawkgirl was on him in an instant, punching and swinging her fists at him. Batman reached down, coiled his powerful arms around her body and pulled her away. She was kicking and screaming all sorts in her native tongue, he imagined none of it good. He tightened his grip on her and soon she was sobbing again. She spun in his arms and her arms went around his neck.

"Gordon, need a medevac… We got Two-Face."

He held her close letting her sob away into his chest. She pulled back after awhile and peered up at him and she stared at him, silent. He could tell she was trying to search under his cowl. She would only find narrowed eyes, but soon he relaxed as well. Two-Face was still, breathing, but still. She was still lost and confused about Jack and he was of Cheetah. It wasn't right, none of it. Dating amongst the team especially was a disaster waiting to happen. He saw how Diana looked at him, in a part respect, part lust. He saw her more then Hawkgirl, but he saw traces of that look on Hawkgirl. His hands slowly dropped to his sides and his cape covered them. He saw the helicopter in the distance and Hawkgirl stepped away.

"My lord what happened here?"

James Gordon had red hair that was fading with age to a dull blonde. His glasses were glinted with the searchlight from one of the copters and he held his coat closed.

"Two-Face had several smuggling operations that were about to make a big buy. All the evidence you need will be here."

He handed Gordon a small USB drive that had all of his findings ranging from the addresses of the operations to a list of known buyers and packaging details. Gordon gave a thankful nod and gave Hawkgirl a once over. His brow lofted at Batman who only stared at him in silence. He circled his hand above his head and soon the pair was left in silence again.

"What was that look he gave me for?"

"Not many have seen a Thanagarian up close."

"Yeah but he looked at you after."

"Suppose he's not used to seeing me with someone, an adult I mean."

"So he's used to seeing Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl-?"

"Then an alien adult female with me I suppose."

She frowned. "I don't like being called alien."

"Isn't that what I am to you?" he retorted.

"No, I prefer the term 'friend'."

His brow lofted beneath the cowl. "Was Jack a friend?"

"He…He was…I don't know, charming, handsome."

"Red haired?"

She glared at him. "That had little to do with it."

"Played a part, you even dyed your own."

"It reminded him of someone."

"You shouldn't have to change yourself to impress him. You certainly don't need to for me."

She was silent for a moment and Batman just kept up his glare. She nodded meekly and pushed some loose strands behind her ear. "Thank you…for this I mean…"

He nodded and called the Batplane, suddenly finding the need to be alone for awhile. Something nagged in the back of his mind to just patrol the streets on his lonesome, to clear his focus again. It had been getting too far out of hand now. His plane hovered above him and without so much as a good-bye he hissed into the plane and sped off, leaving Hawkgirl there with her arms wrapped around herself and staring down at her mace.

He had been off the streets for a few days now. He attended a few WayneTech meetings with some new contracts overseas with Kaznia and Germany and managed to actually be home for dinner for once. He didn't worry about the cowl and focused on being Bruce, it was a nice change and one he needed. He had distractions, always distractions but never focusing on the core of his many problems.

He ran a hand over his face as he looked over a few files on the Batcave's computer concerning a string of robberies leaving the scene scorched in flames. Firefly if he had to guess, but he couldn't be sure most young criminals preferred arson. He held up his chin in a hand in thought.

"Sir?"

"What is it, Alfred?"

"There is a young, erm, young lady for you at the door."

He got to his feet, wearing a dress shirt and a pair of dress pants to match. He hadn't changed much out of his work attire since he got home. He opened the door and felt a small chill tickle down his spine. Hawkgirl stood there, out of attire. No helm, no nothing. She just wore a tight looking pink dress, a matching purse and her wings. She seemed to have gotten the dye out of her hair however, the red strands flanked her face nicely and brought attention to her bright emerald eyes which Bruce found he was staring at.

"Shayera what are you doing here?" he asked finally in a low tone.

"I need a distraction," she said, "with everything that has happened… I don't be at the tower tonight. I just can't deal with one more day of the 'You're going to be alright' pity party."

His eyes narrowed on her and he sighed. "…I'll grab my coat."

"Already here, sir."

He shot a glare to Alfred who only smiled at him in return. Bruce had a dark four door car that he used in his civilian identity. He admired the long, lean curve of her leg as she stepped in. He shook his head, scowling at himself as they were on the streets of Gotham again.

"Where would you like to go?"

She gave a small shrug of her slim shoulders. "Just…anywhere."

He frowned at her and nodded, bringing them to LemmarsPark in a short time and parking near the edge. He turned then, staring his cool daggers at her. "Be serious here, what are you doing?"

"I needed the distraction, as I told you, and by how've distant you've been lately I think you needed one too."

He scowled at her, knowing what she meant immediately. "It wasn't going to work out anyway with my luck."

"You really cared for her despite the short time didn't you?"

He looked over at her again, using a hand to hold his head up. He then nodded, not delving further into the subject. She offered a small little smile of her plush lips. "It was the same with Jack and I. Just the way he held himself in a fight, and off the field. He was…normal."

"I'm certain any human to you is normal."

"You're not." She blurted.

"How am I not normal?"

"You dress in a bat costume."

"So did he." He noted, "Try again."

"He seemed to live a normal lifestyle, while you're a…uh…"

"Rich kid with lots of issues. Pretty sure I've told others that before."

"Others?" she accused. "Or just women that want to get close?"

"Both, I suppose."

Her hand on his cheek caused him to turn and glare at her. "I don't want to get close, not yet… I just need a distraction…I just need to forget for awhile…"

He was about to protest but he found the protests dying as their lips met in a fiery embrace. Soon the kisses were wearing down, turning into gentler brushes. Their hands were slowly to explore, both unsure if they needed this. Her dress came off and her tall, lean form was exposed. Her eyes a clouded green stared down at him as he leaned against the locked down. His shirt was off and her warm digits slid along his scarred, muscled chest.

"Do they hurt?" she asked softly.

"In more ways then you know." He murmured.

They kissed again delicately as she pulled him from his pants. Her hand stroked along him slowly. Without a word of exchange she eased herself down. A soft gasp slipped past her and her forehead pressed to his. Slowly her hips began to curl and thrust down on top of him. His hands traced along the base of her wings, making her shudder and cry out. She moved faster, gripping his shoulders. He felt her tightening on him and his hips started to thrust up into her own, meeting each movement.

She moaned loud as she came, shuddering along his length and before he realized it he was giving in as well. To what he never knew, but his body did his warmth splashed along her insides as her form eased on top of him and their lips found one another's again in a delicate kiss.

They both needed the distraction.