Disclaimer:

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


Chapter 39: Old Dogs Learn Some New Tricks

Location: : Everest-Underground City-Barrack Lounge

Edward walked into the lounge to see Harley by herself hanging pictures.

"You're redecorating," Edward asked, looking around.

"I thought I'd brighten the place up a bit," Harley said.

"You take these," Edward asked, looking at the different pictures around the room. He stopped in front of one that looked like a curved line of blocks with an explosion in the center.

"Yeah, that's a cross section of what a 12 gauge did to an L3 to L5," Harley said, straightening a picture hang up.

"Shotgun-shattered backbone," Edward asked, looking closely at the picture.

"Ya, the middle one there is a cross section of an icepick to a cerebellum," Harley said, point to the aforementioned picture.

"Is that the duodenum," Edward asked, grimaces at another picture.

"Good eye…Yeah; I like to call it 'Duodenum with a lye chaser'. It's a sad end of a Drano drinker," Harley said

"You need to get out more, Harley," Edward said, looking over all the pictures.

"Is that an invite," Harley asked, smiling at him.

~JUSTICE LEAGUE~

Location: Everest-Underground City-Training Block 6

"Ahhhh," Shayera yelled, as she flipped another soldier over her shoulder. The soldier was flat on his back groaning, when Shayera pushing her foot down onto his chest.

"Yield," Shayera said.

"I yield," the soldier groaned.

"Who can tell me how he failed," Shayera asked, turning to the soldier (and some heroes) shattered on the back wall.

"He got in the ring," Raquel (Rocket) whispered, but looked away when Shayera turned towards her.

"He focused more on your offense than his defense," a soldier said.

"Excellent," Shayera said, smiling, "Who's next?"

No one moved, and Shayera smirked. Looking around, Shayera sized up each of potential opponents before focusing on John.

"John, get on the mat," Shayera said.

Everyone in the training room got very quiet; Shayera never talked or even acknowledge the Justice League heroes if she could help it.

John stepped on to the mat, and Shayera didn't waste any time before beginning her attack. The first part of the fight John was on defense. Shayera attacked relentlessly and the hits she did land showed that she had a lot of pent up anger and that she was using John as an outlet.

Shayera pulled John into a headlock, and John struggled to get out of it. John had never realized how strong Shayera was. She looked so small, but the girl could pack a punch. John flipped Shayera forward onto the mats. Shayera kicked John's legs out from under him.

Shayera forces John onto his back and gets on top of him. They rolled over one another until they were in the corner of the mat. Shayera flips John over her and kicks him in the stomach. Shayera straddles John's neck and aims a punch to his face, but John wraps his legs around her chest and pushes her body down.

John rolled them over again, and had Shayera pinned by her shoulder. Shayera struggled against John, but he wouldn't move.

"Yield," John said, and Shayera bucked under him.

"Yield," John said again.

"I yield," Shayera said, "Now get off me."

"No," John said, "You're going to answer my question first."

"Get off me," Shayera screamed.

"What is your problem," John said.

"You," Shayera yelled, and swung her legs up and wrapped them around John's neck. She pulled her legs back; and John was so surprised that Shayera was able to throw John off her. The Justice League heroes helped John stand; and Wally and Helena, who had gotten there halfway through Shayera and John's fight, went to Shayera, while everyone else stay clear.

"You didn't defend me," Shayera said, standing up, "You let them all say anything they wanted about me."

"We never did," Diana said.

"I was labeled the League's whore because they said I let you all have me, so I could come back. They thought I was blackmailing you all," Shayera said, her eyes tearing up, "They thought I had been pregnant, John...and that I was threatening your son's life if you didn't let me join."

"Hawkgirl, we didn't-" Clark started.

"You let them belittle me 'till I felt like nothing," Shayera said.

"Shayera," Wally said, reaching for her.

"No," Shayera said, jerking away from Wally, "They made me feel like I was worthless. I wasn't-I'm not worthless. I am a person...and every word they said broke me."

"You are the one never wanting anyone else getting in you battle," Diana said.

"I shouldn't have had to defend myself from them," Shayera yelled, "When Superman was brainwashed by Darkseid, we always defended him; so why not with me?"

None of the heroes said anything.

"Answer me," Shayera demanded, but still no one spoke, "Silence just like before. And here's what it got you. A broken, bitter, and hurt woman, who does care about anything you all have to say."

Shayera turned to leave when heard John speaking.

"Is this how you treated Batman," John asked, and Shayera froze.

"Bruce and Wally at least tried. They told those people to shut up and get a clue...but they really should have told that you all," Shayera said, before disappearing out the door.

"I think that is enough combat training for today," Wally said, "All soldiers are to report to ED17 and await Helena for weapons evaluation."

Once all the soldiers had left, Wally turned to the heroes.

"You have to understand, Shayera been hurt enough in the past...Yes, she betrayed us first, but she came through when it counted. And afterwards, none of us defended her," Wally said, "that leaves wounds that take time to heal."

"She looks at you without disgust in her eyes," Diana said, looking to the floor.

"She's hurting," Helena said, "but don't forget, Princess, you gave her the exact same look all those years ago."

"She'd just betrayed earth," Diana said.

"And she gave up her home world for us," Clark said, "I don't blame her for pushing us away; we started that process for her a long time ago."

"Then what can we do," John said.

"That's something for you all to decide," Wally said, rolling to the door, "You can expect her to just forgive you; after all, you never really forgave her."


Author's Note:

Please review! Reviews motivate me to post, and let me know that the story is actually wanted.