Disclaimer:

The Justice League and all it's characters belong to DC Comics.


Chapter 10: The Memory of the Dancer

Location: Apartment rooftop in New York City

Shayera was dancing on her roof. She didn't care that it was raining or that she had someone watching her from the shadows. She was pinning and spinning before dropping hard to her knees, and banging the floor.

'Why didn't they do something...say anything,' Shayera thought, standing up and doing a fan kick before moving on to more difficult moves as the memories turned.

Silence can be so cruel

I laugh for the words I can't find

You left it behind

Like the last broken glass

On the floor

And I'm aching to be

Free from these riddles and from

These monsters of rage

For some… thing…

Above this creation

"Traitor," Crimson Fox said, as she came out of the showers in the gym.

"You know, I'm a girl with very little patience for bullies," Black Canary said, pushing Fox against the locker.

Your white washed heart

"She should be locked away like filth she is," Hourman muttered, as she walked down the hall. A red blur flew passed her, and then Hourman was pressed into a dent in the walk by a pissed-off Flask.

"Say that again-I dare you," Flash said, after punching Hourman across the hall.

All the saints

And the angels

Couldn't save

This soul from sinking estranged

And bereft of innocence

Ohhhh, ohhhh

"I hear you said anything about or to Shayera again-" Green Arrow threatened Vigilante. Shayera had just rounded the corner but stopped at the voice.

"You'll what? She's a filthy hawk," Vigilante spat, and then Shayera heard snap and a cry of pain.

"I'll snap your other wrist," Green Arrow growled.

In the mirror is a... forgery

Of someone that I used to be

Aged and torn to pieces over you

Yeah

Ohhh-ohhh-ohhh-oh-yeah

Your white washed heart

I'm...

Falling away left in the dark

For your new start, yeah

Dianna walking out of the room when she see me.

Clark acting like I'm not there when we are assigned watch together.

J'onn at first avoiding her and now nothing.

John and Vixen parading their relationship around her.

How can it be that morning and dusks the same

Oh, and how can you feel only numb at the sound of my name

As heaven falls under your feet I try to smile

As forever goes out of style

Yeah

Ohhh-ohhh-ohhh-oh-yeah

Your white washed heart

I'm...

Falling away left in the dark

For your new start

"We should just deal away with her like they used to do with traitors," Sandman said to Ray and Starman, as she sat at her table eating lunch.

"Touch her, and I will hurt you," Batman said, startling the table.

"You wouldn't hurt him," Starman said, "We're all on the same side. And you are a good guy with rules-you should side with us."

"First, I don't side with people who plot against others," Batman said, glaring at Starman.

"And second..." Ray asked, trying to act brave. Batman was one scary guy.

"Good men don't have rules," Batman said, "I suggest you don't find out why I have so many."

Ohhh-ohhh-ohhh-oh-yeah

Your white washed heart

I'm...

Falling away left in the dark

For your new start

Shayera ended in a spin as the music came to a close. And then she heard clapping from the building ledge. She turned around to the person and smiled.

"Hello, Talia," Shayera said.

~JUSTICE LEAGUE~

Location: Loft in New York City

"When I said, you could visit me, I didn't know I would get a show as well…not that I mind," Talia called out from the kitchen, as she poured wine into two glasses. Shayera was sitting at the window, wrapped in a towel from her time in the rain. The rain had stopped and the sun was setting.

The sky was a mixture of red and orange. The sight made Shayera smile. Sunset was the time of day when Earth and Thanagar were the most similar. If she closer her eyes, Shayera could pretend for a moment that she was back on Thanagar. Before her mission…before falling in love and making a new family…before her fall from grace.

Shayera was alone for a few minutes, before Talia came over to the window with the wine and some fruit.

"What you thinking about," Talia asked, coming and sitting on the window ledge with Shayera.

"Thanagar...it's almost Oktobris," Shayera said, taking the offered wine glass.

"What happens then," Talia asked, pulling up one leg and letting the other dangle out the window.

"The Sahayera flowers are in bloom and the Dejotāji are performing at the palace," Shayera said.

"What," Talia said, tilting her head.

"The Dejotāji are royal dancers, and the Sahayera flowers are almost like your lilies except the petals are red and the stem are white with thin green strips," Shayera explained, "My father would get me and my mother some every year for my dzimšanas...he said they reminded him of me."

"Your what," Talia said.

"Dzimšanas...my birthday," Shayera said, "I think I miss those flowers the most. There were something special about how no matter what, my father always gave me one."

"That's so sweet," Talia said.

"Yeah," Shayera said pushing back the memories before she got too emotional and taking a sip of the wine.

"So what brings you to my home," Talia asked.

"I'm back for months and they still can't stop talking about me," Shayera said, leaning back against the window side.

"Some take that as a sign of greatness," Talia said, grabbing a strawberry from the bowl.

"Really," Shayera asked, going for a grape.

"Yes," Talia said, "What better revenge against them that to be the center of their world."

"I don't want to be the center of their world," Shayera said, "I just want to be apart of it again."

"Then be apart of it," Talia said, simply.

"They hate me," Shayera said.

"No, they hate Hawkgirl and Shayera," Talia said, and then reached forward and touched the pendent on her necklace from Doctor Fate, which hid her wings. She continued on speaking gently, "But with this, you can be someone else. You could no longer be Shayera of Thanagar."

"I don't want to be someone else," Shayera shouted, standing up, angry at the whole matter, "I am Shayera Hol, last of the House of Flame, daughter of the General of the West and a priestess of the second moon. I have already given up my honor, my family, my whole planet for this world….I will not let them take me name as well. I am Shayera. I will not hid under some other name for their sake. I won't let them take my name from me."

Talia was smiling and reached for strawberry. "There she is…I was afraid I'd lost you for a moment," Talia said, smirking, "Let the world do what it will. Let them hate you or fear you or whatever else is their wish. You are not to be broke by them…Like a reed in a river, you may bent a little in storms but you never break."


Author's Note:

The song Shayera was dancing to was: White Washed Heart by Jiva.

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