Complex

Shayera remained sleeping on Harley's bed, her wings cocooning her in warmth. She remained unaware of the conversation Dinah was having with Harley, informing the ex-psychiatrist about Shayera's episodes.

"Poor Shay," lamented Harley, swirling her spoon around her cup of tea, "I've tried to save her, I really did."

"I know sweetpea," consoled Ivy, "We all did. Do you remember when you had your gang salvage as much materials as you could to build our rocket?"

"You tried to build a rocket?" asked Dinah, bewildered at the closeness that Harley and Ivy had with Shayera.

"Yeah," said Harley sheepishly, "It was a long shot but we tried. I even had Big Tony try to help me learn rocket science to get it up and running."

"What made you stop?"

"Well, when it came clear that neither one of us was going to be able to build a rocket, I hoped for the best. I was hoping one of you heroes would eventually help Shay."

"You believed from the start that Shayera was innocent all along?" asked Dinah.

"You never talked with her have ya? Shay always wanted forgiveness from the world, which in my opinion is was about as likely to happen nevah, but I cheered her on anyways. Shay really worked hard to show everybody how sorry she was and that she wanted to regain your trust. Nobody evah gave it to her."

"Yes we did," argued Dinah, "She came back to the League-"

"-Only to have everyone judge her every move." counterargued Harley. Ivy stood on the side, interested to see where this was going. She already knew about Shayera's struggles anyways but it is interesting to hear it from a hero's perspective.

"She told me about how she discovered the Watch-List." said Harley.

"How-"

"-Did she find it? Come on birdie, even you had ta know how curious Shay gets when she spots classified files. She wouldn't stop askin' me questions about psychology or she wouldn't leave Ivy alone for a bit about her plant connection."

"You never found it offending?" asked Dinah to Ivy.
"She was the first after Harley and Selina to truly try to understand me and in a way she did. Has Shayera ever told you about her ability to communicate with the avian species?"

"Shayera can talk with birds?"

"You nevah knew?" asked Harley.

"No but I guess she wasn't all that comfortable sharing that bit."

"She told me that the Lantern knows but that's it. But see Canary, the point is being that no one took the time to see things through her perspective. Most of you heroes only evah see the white or the black. Very few of yah can ever see the shades of grey."

"Shayera is on the list because of-"

"Wait! You mean ta say that she's still on the list? Delete her off the list!"

"Harley, nothing's that simple!"

"Only when you make it hard! Shay told me how she keeps checking in on that list every week to see if she managed to get off but everytime she sees her name she gets discouraged! Why is she still on the list?" demanded Harley.

"I'm not worth trusting." said Shayera, surprising everybody. Dinah couldn't say anything to defend the League while Shayera's watery eyes bored into hers.

"Shay, you are worth it."

"No…. It's why they didn't even bother to question me in the beginning. I deserved it.." said Shayera. She cursed herself again for her actions, forcing herself to believe that she deserves it when Dinah said, "We were wrong Shayera. We… None of us bothered to learn about your struggles or your perspective. None of us are soldiers."

"John did," argued Shayera, "He still didn't trust me anymore. His name was under the verification."

Dinah struggled to find words to help Shayera move from her distress but found nothing. Harley only hugged Shayera and rubbed her back as Ivy moved to the kitchen to make tea.

The League still haven't found how Shadow Thief had infiltrated their Headquarters and it was only Hawkman's suggestion that Shayera remain with Harley that they haven't moved towards Coney Island yet. Dinah sighed as she thought about the Watch-List. Allies to the League are placed on the list when no one is sure where the true allegiances lie. Harley herself is on the list but Dinah doubts Harley would care. Shayera on the other hand, who suffered even before the accusations, wanted their trust again unconditionally.

Dinah got up from her seat and moved towards Shayera. Taking the sobbing woman in her arms, Dinah promised, "That list doesn't mean we don't trust you. I trust you. With every ounce of my being, I know for a fact that you are loyal and honest. I promise that your name won't be on my list, League or no League."

Shayera's eyes watered again, this time out of happiness. She hugged Dinah tightly, wrapping her wings around the woman. Harley chuckled and Ivy could only smile a little, happy that at least Shayera had a female companion.

The rest of the day was spent helping Harley run her apartment complex and getting introduced (or reintroduced in Shayera's case) to Harley's gang of Harleys.

Shayera had a grand time reconnecting with them, Dinah amused that a villainess could come so far to being… well not a hero, but something else extraordinary.

A knock on the front door distracted them and Dinah opened it up to reveal Red Tornado and Batman waiting outside.

"Let's go." ordered Batman. Harley snorted at his abruptness but gave Shayera a hug and said, "I'll be down at your fancy tower first thing tomorrow afternoon."

"Use this to tell us when you're ready." said Red Tornado, handing Harley her own comm-link.

Harley gasped and asked, "Does this mean I'm in the League?"

"Don't read too much into it," warned Batman, "This is only connected to the Metrotower Entrance. You'd have to be escorted in. I already have the paperwork filed."

"Well don't you just take the fun out of everything." snarked Harley. Dinah and Shayera smiled at her before following Batman and Red Tornado outside. The Javelin was parked at the pier where Flash stood by on guard, taking pictures with tourists and fans. When he spotted Shayera, he zoomed over to her and asked, "How are you?"

"Good." squeaked Shayera, terrified of the people murmuring around her. Noticing her panic, Flash attempted to escort her to the Javelin when people began to crowd around Shayera. Curious adults and children began to question Shayera, causing her to back up behind Batman.

"How are you?""Are you well?""I'm sorry for doubting you!""Can you fly?""I hope you're resting.""Get the hell out of my planet!"

Silence.

Shayera trembled when a large tattooed bearded man walked up to to the group. His large leather jacket carried a swastika and the American Flag stitched to each side of his sleeves. As he stood over menacingly, he snarled, "Winged bitch! No one wants you here! Get the hell out of my country and out of my planet!"

"Excuse me?" said a voice behind him. The man turned to be hit upside with a mallet before a pair of hands threw him over the pier. Harley and her gang of Harleys smirked as they listened to the man curse and wail that he can't swim.

"Flash." said Batman, hinting that he should quickly get the man out of the water.

"I mean, he's in the shallow part of the pier." muttered Flash, not wanting to even touch the despicable man. Batman could only give a slight roll of the eyes and glanced at Tornado. Not even attempting to be gentle, Red Tornado formed a large tornado into the water to lift the man and catapult him towards the shore. The man face planted before he picked himself up and stormed away from the laughing crowd.

Shayera muttered a silent thank you which was returned by a nod of the head by Bruce, a grin from Flash, and a pat on the shoulder by Red Tornado. As they quickly entered the Javelin, Dinah turned to Shayera and looked at her in the eyes.

"No worries Shayera," said Dinah, "You have more supporters here than opposers. You're safe."

"Are you excited for your new room?" asked Flash as they made their way towards the Metrotower.

"New room?"

"Yeah, we are going to move you to the Metrotower to help you meet with your new counselor better. It's a lot easier than having to go through all the security measures for the Watchtower." fibbed Flash. He and Bruce had a long talk about how best to explain things to Shayera. It was decided that they will keep her in the dark for now in order to let her mind heal properly without any stress.

"Oh." said Shayera, recalling how Dinah and Harley were whispering about a new room yesterday. Perhaps this is what they were talking about.

As Flash continued to tell Shayera about her new room and the new perks of the Metrotower, Batman quietly talked with Dinah while Red Tornado steered the aircraft.

"She knew about the list?"

"She kept checking to see if she managed to get off. From the way Harley put it, Shayera was slowly getting depressed. We might have to put her on suicide watch just in case. She still believes she is unworthy of forgiveness… the list just proves it to her." said Dinah.

"Tell her that it is on me." said Batman when Dinah shook her head and explained, "She knows that John verified her name on the list. Telling her it is you when she knows it is John will only add salt to the wound."

Batman could only silently curse at the unbelievable string of bad luck that seemed to follow him as of late. He agrees with Dinah that Shayera should be on suicide watch for a while, knowing how delicate her mind is already and made a mental note to place Hawkman and Green Arrow on watch just in case. It also bothers him how Shadow Thief managed to break into the Watchtower. His disappearance also caused Bruce to look into possible routes the villain could have taken. He would need to work with Hawkman in order to develop a shield force using Nth metal, whatever was left behind from the Thanagarian Invasion would be used.

Shayera and Flash fell asleep in their seats while Dinah looked over Batman's scheduling to know where and when she is to be around Shayera. Shadow Thief's break in has forced his hand to move Shayera into her new room where his designs will help in prohibiting foreign materials from being placed in her room. If anyone were to attempt to place a spy camera or microphone inside, he'll be alerted and he'll be ready. It's high time Shayera had her peace.

When they arrived, Question and Hawkman were waiting for them at the port and greeted them as they walked outside. Shayera timidly followed closely behind Batman, her wings tucked against herself. Question began to relay the schedule to Shayera while Hawkman silently followed behind, his presence guarding and a bit brooding. Shayera and the others didn't notice, not seeing how his shadow morphed under the light for a bit before it settled.

Shadow Thief had to fight temptation with great difficulty, wanting to grab his beloved and make a run for it. The fools still don't know how he had broken into the Watchtower or that Hawkman has long since been dead, the body inhabited by another 'soul'.

The Lantern was still up at the Watchtower, helping set up new security measures. He wanted to laugh at how easy it was to manipulate these idiots, so separating them from his beloved should be an easy task. As they escorted her to her new room, he thought about possibilities in how to get her alone. Whatever Luthor and Brainiac wanted with the Absorbascon is not his concern, so long as they promise to deliver what is due to him. He'd have to add fixing Shayera's body to the list. It won't due to start a family if she can't have bear children. As they reached her room, he wanted to sneer.

This is the only drawback to his plans and it was going to be even more difficult trying to at least keep tabs on her 24/7. The Batman had made the walls sensor sensitive so even if someone were to knock the nightstand against the wall, it will alert him what happened. He needed to walk a very thin line now. He has her on Earth now so all he has to do is get her alone.

Shayera smiled at her new room. It was a modest size and it wasn't too small or big. She quietly thanked everyone, earning a hug from Flash and pat on the shoulder by Red Tornado again. Flash remained with her while everyone else left to go about their own schedules.

"How do you like it?" asked Flash.

"It's good and roomy." offered Shayera, smiling weakly.

"You miss John?" asked Flash. Shayera turned a bright pink and nodded her head.
"It's ok to confess," teased Flash, "We're all friends."

Friends who condemned her, friends who only took her back in the League to keep an eye on her, friends who refused to believe her, friends who left her to die. Shayera tried to let go off the thoughts but it was difficult. Flash noticed her dark look and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shayera remained silent, unsure how to approach the subject, when Flash gently pulled her in for a hug.

"If I was accused of murder again… will you protect me this time?"

A stab to the heart. Flash hugged Shayera tighter and said, "I won't let you go. That's a promise."

He felt her tremble and could only rub her back in comfort as she cried silently. He hated that his tough and hard as nails friend was reduced to an insecure and frightened woman. Letting her recomposed herself, the two friends didn't notice that the door was left slightly open, allowing Shadow Thief to overhear Shayera's question.

After leaving Hawkman's body in his room and ensuring the door was locked, Shadow Thief traveled through the shadows to reach his beloved's room where he heard her question. Recognizing an opportunity, Shadow Thief quickly went back to his domain where he needed to contact Brainiac and Luthor for a quick conflict.

"Have you tried flying yet?" asked Flash, when Shayera stopped trembling. Shayera shook her head,her feeling her stomach flip flop. Her wings aren't in her full control so the thought of flying high up in the air isn't a comforting thought.

"Is it because you're afraid?" At Shayera's nod, Flash thought to include flying lessons with her time with Red Tornado.

"It's ok Shay."

"The sky was my home," lamented Shayera, "if there was one place I could be without everything weighing me down it was up there."

"We'll get you there Shay," promised Flash, "I promise you that you won't be alone and that you'll have us help. Don't worry."

Shayera only muzzled into Flash's shoulder in response, not wanting to give Flash a clarification of whether she believed him or not. It is better anyways to ignore things for a bit.

Hey readers :) hopefully you like the chapter. Tell me the bits you liked or didn't like :) until next time, thanks for reading :)