Chapter 19
Diana stood watch from the roof of the building across the street from the Red Light Tavern. Decades ago the building had been a brothel. When the Madame of the establishment lost the favor of the current police chief it was finally shut down. It was bought by a lowly mob enforcer shortly after that and turned into a bar; named the Red Light Tavern in honor of its history. There were rumors it contained hidden rooms and secret exits. The owner likely played up the rumors and that made it popular among the Italian low-lifes that frequented it.
The local Italian gang went by the name Il duce, which was a clear calling they either weren't very bright, didn't care what message their name sent, or did care and liked it. It was composed of the young men and boys who weren't connected enough or weren't intelligent enough to join the mafia. Diana had seen a significant number of them go into the bar. She knew they were likely to leave soon to hit their target. That was, as long as they weren't hit first. Bruce had information the Jets were going to hit this place as their first target. Due to his inability to gather proper timelines, Diana didn't know what was going to happen first.
"I think we need to be more proactive, Bruce," she said to him through her comlink. "I could go in there right now and find out their exact battle plan by using my lasso of truth."
"Not everyone knows the plans," Bruce instructed her. "If you don't catch the right guy right away the leader with the plans might escape. Also, we need this to end tonight. We have to round up every gang member taking part. Unfortunately, the best way for that to happen is for us to let this get started and then take down every gangster that comes out of the woodwork."
Diana wasn't sure if Bruce was right or not. There was definitely merit to what he said. Still, there were times where he pushed everyone into the back seat, and she felt like these might be one of those times.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of two car engines roaring toward her. She looked and saw two cars full of Jets gang members racing down the street. Guys were grabbing their guns and beginning to lean out the windows in preparation for a drive-by.
Wonder Woman jumped off the roof and landed right in front of the first car. Instead of letting it hit her she sidestepped it and spun it around as it drove by. As it started spinning the other car hit it and flew into the air.
Diana flew after the car, grabbed it and laid it on the ground. As soon as it was resting on blacktop she threw off a door and started tossing out the guys inside. By this time the guys in the other car had collected themselves and started firing their semi-automatics at her.
Only two guys were able to fire their guns at her at first. She was able to block their bullets with her bracelets. When she saw the other guys who had been in the car raising their guns she jumped backwards and over the car that was sitting on its side, landing behind it.
She could hear the bullets hitting the car, but they didn't come through at all. She ran and pushed the car towards the other one, using it as a shield. When she reached the shooters, they ran around the car to get to her. She was quick and was able to take them down in no time.
The gang members from the other car had all fled, not wanting to share in the punishment the others were going to get. Diana would have gone after them, but she turned her attention to the group of gang members that had congregated outside the bar.
There was a large man in front of the group. When he saw Diana gazing at them he ordered everyone inside. She guessed he was the leader of their little group and flew to the bar, reaching it just as the big Red door was slammed shut. She kicked the door down and saw the group leader running for the back. She took out her lasso and used it to grab the man and drag him back to her.
"I know you guys were going to strike somebody. Tell me who and where."
With the lasso of truth around the man, he couldn't lie. "We were going to strike the Sharks. We had some info they are taking refuge at Mike's automotive repair shop on the South Side. We were just going to be one half of the attack force. Some others were supposed to meet us there."
"When is this attack going to happen?"
"In half an hour," he replied.
Diana didn't waste any more time with the man. She flew out the bar and reported to Batman. "I just found out about an attack that's going to take place on the South Side."
"Good, find the place and wait for it," he replied. "I just found out about a strike that's going to be made on the Il Duce's at some restaurant. Superman is on his way to stop a strike against the Sharks, who are hold up on a boat at the docks."
For a couple hours the three superheroes ran around the city stopping one gang attack after another. They did their best to incapacitate the gang members and leave them for the police. With all the action going on that night they knew the police were going to have their hands full as well.
After stopping two car loads of opposing gang members who had stumbled upon each other, she radioed into Batman to tell them about their intended targets. She knew he was currently close to the place one of the gangs was hanging out and could stop them as they left to hit their target.
She heard silence on the other end of the line. She began to panic as she imagined the worst had happened to him. "Bruce, Bruce," she shouted as tears started to fill his eyes.
"Bruce is alive, but not exactly unhurt," a calm, deep voice said over the intercom. "I would suggest you come quickly; unless you want to see him join his parents."
The person on the other end broke the connection. Diana could have used Bruce's communicator to find out where he was, but she didn't need to. The bit about Bruce joining his parents told her exactly where he was.
Maril stood still as Rheandr'a adjusted the lingerie she was wearing. Normal Tamarean clothes were skimpy, and their lingerie was nearly non-existent. She was wearing so little she would have preferred to just meet Warhawk naked, but had been told that wouldn't be classy and would be against decorum. Maril was surprised to learn decorum had actually been developed for this kind of thing.
"Done," the girl said as she stood back and looked Maril over.
"Thanks," Maril replied. She was going to ask the girl to leave so she could be alone when a knock came at the door.
"Come in," Rheandr'a replied without first asking Maril for permission to do so. Maril gave the girl an icy stare, but the girl missed it as her eyes were focused on the door.
Maril braced herself as the door opened. She was surprised when instead of seeing Warhawk, she saw his aide Lal Talek walk through the door. He followed right behind her, but having someone else come in made her much more conscious of her near nakedness. Warhawk was still wearing the full body armor he had on for the ceremony. She didn't exactly expect him to walk in wearing a skimpy, sexy outfit, but she though he might have something that wouldn't take half the night to remove.
Lal Talek bowed to Maril as Rheandr'a bowed to the General. "I present to you, Warhawk, ruler of Thanagar," Lal said to them.
Rheandr'a looked back at Maril before she began to speak. "Queen Maril is pleased to accept the company of Warhawk for the night." The two aides both bowed again and Maril glanced at the king and then at the two of them again. She couldn't see his face or read him, but she wondered if he found what was happening as ridiculous as she did.
After bowing Rheandr'a turned to Maril. "I would like to take my leave now."
"Yes, go," Maril said to her. She looked across the room and saw Lal was doing the same thing. Lal and Rheandr'a bowed to their respective royal before they exited out the door. The second Maril was alone with her husband, she began to feel apprehensive. Her heart raced and her breath shortened. She wondered if Warhawk could detect her mood, and rather or not he was feeling the same thing.
The two stared at each other for a while. Maril found it disconcerting she couldn't see his eyes, but from the way his head was cocked she knew he was looking at her. She was hoping he would make the first move, as she had no idea how they should proceed.
The man stayed silent, but finally took a few steps and walked towards her. His metal boots clanged loudly against the stone floor, and Maril almost laughed over it. When he reached her he stayed silent. She couldn't make out much about him, but his breath seemed to be short as well. She guessed he was just as apprehensive about this as she was.
Instinctively, Maril walked over to the bed. She grabbed the covers, then dropped them and looked over her shoulder at her husband. I guess we should get undressed then. Maril pushed the lace off her shoulders and her lingerie fell to the floor. She continued looking back at Warhawk as she stepped out of it.
He stood still and did nothing. She took this as a sign he was nervous as well. "Do you need help taking that off?" she asked.
Instead of speaking, he merely shook his head no. She knew for a fact he was able to talk through his helmet, but he still stayed silent. It annoyed her to no end.
He turned his back to her and walked to one end of the room. She heard the armor pull back from his body as she turned back to the bed. As she turned she saw the armor pull back from the front of his body, but didn't notice anything detach from his wings. "Are you sure you don't need help getting the armor off your wings?" she asked as she pulled the covers down on the bed.
"I don't actually have wings," Warhawk's unaltered voice said. "I wear mechanical wings as mine were torn from my body several years ago."
Maril's legs gave out as she immediately recognized the voice. She began to fall, but grabbed one of the bedposts to stop and used her flying ability to right herself again. She clutched her chest as she felt her heart stop momentarily. She took several deep breaths as she ran Warhawk's voice through her mind again and again. Her brain told her it was Rex's voice, but she knew that couldn't be.
Trembling, Maril turned around. She expected to look at Warhawk and realize immediately he was not Rex. His back was still turned away from her and his face was in the shadows, but he looked like he could have very well been Rex. He stood unmoving, afraid to show himself to her.
For a moment Maril didn't know what to do. She found herself exhilarated by the thought Rex might still be alive and here, with her. She didn't want to have that exhilaration taken away by finding out he really was not Rex, which was likely. She didn't want to ask him directly who he was. She started walking slowly over to him.
Warhawk stayed unmoved. He had taken his armor off and laid it on the ground, but was still holding it up. He was so motionless he looked like a statue to Maril. She could see two huge lateral scars on his back and immediately thought back to the horrid day they had been sent Rex's wings. She thought how this man before her had his wings ripped off, but lived.
"I didn't hear what you said," Maril told him, her mouth dry. "Can you. . .repeat that?"
Warhawk had to know she could see he had no wings, but he repeated what he said anyway. "I wear mechanical wings as mine were torn off several years ago."
Once again, the voice sounded just like Rex's. Maril's heart jumped up into her throat. She reached him and held her hand up, hesitant to touch him. She pressed a hand against one of his big scars and he twitched immediately. She wondered if touching the scar hurt him, or if he was as exhilarated by the touching as she was.
She ran a hand along the scar and tears fell from her eye as she thought about how much pain he must have went through because of this. She looked over his back and saw it riddled with scars, wondering how any man could have endured so much. She smiled briefly as she knew Rex could have endured it.
She closed her eyes and ran her hand off the scar and along the rest of his back. She thought back to the last time they had been together and how he felt then. The scars gave the skin a different texture, but Maril was sure she was touching Rex's back. She looped her hand around his waist and pressed it against his stomach. She took a step towards him and pressed her cheek against his back. She thought back to how she used to lay on his back, between his wings. He felt just like Rex, except for one thing; the man she was pressed against was taller than Rex had been.
Maril's heart began to sink as she realized she had been wrong. She began to feel like she had lost Rex a second time. The tears of joy became tears of sadness. They fell onto the cheek she had pressed against him.
"I had a growth spurt a few years ago," Warhawk said. "I'm four inches taller than I was five years ago."
Maril almost jumped through the ceiling when she heard what he said. Rex must have sensed she had questions about his height, and he answered them for her. Maril began trembling again as she stepped back and walked around the man.
She pushed the armor he was still holding and it fell back and on the ground. Maril looked up at him and saw the face of the man she had lost years ago. She floated off the ground so their lips were on the same level. She grabbed his head with her trembling hands, leaned in, and kissed him. Even though she didn't need any more confirmation on who he was, she noted his lips felt like Rex's. He kissed her the same way Rex did.
When the kiss ended she started crying softly and buried her face where his neck met his shoulder. She could tell he was crying too. "It's you, Rex. How is this possible?" she said in a soft voice.
"I'm sorry Maril," he said as he wrapped his arms around her. "I've put you through so much. I-"
"You haven't put me through anything," she said as she grabbed his face again and stared at him. "The people who. . ." she looked him over for a second, taking in all the scars, "The people who did this to you-"
"I could have sent you a message so many times. I could have let you know and saved you so much pain."
"I have you now, that's all that matters," she said as she started sobbing harder. "I have my dream, we're married."
She wrapped her legs around him and they started kissing as he held her tighter. Rex started kissing Maril's neck and working his way down to her breasts as he walked them over to the bed.
Rex laid Maril on the bed gently. He kneeled over her and kicked off his boots as she undid his belt. Together they took his pants off.
The two of them both felt a surge of ecstasy as they started making love. Any doubts Maril might have had as to whether the man she was with was truly Rex or not were removed as they went at it. Everything felt the same on Rex to her. He tasted the same and smelled the same. Rex kissed her, caressed her, and touched her just as he always had.
Maril felt like the clock had turned back on them. She felt so close to Rex that the years they had spent apart just disappeared. She felt like it was just yesterday that she had said good-bye to him and seen him leave for Thanagar. .
When the two were done they faced each other, lying on their sides. Maril kept her arms tightly around his, while he kept a loose hold on her. She buried her face in his chest and felt the coolness of his body as she fought falling asleep. She was afraid when she woke up Rex would be gone again, and she wanted to savor every moment she could.