DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago. Here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air, so Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy. And the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, The Savage Time. All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. Quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes here. Sigh. Still, the rule of Wayback Wednesdays: no George Lucas-like revisionism.

4. Or perhaps I just can't be arsed to go through it all and fix it. And with that, enjoy!

PART 2

Hawkgirl sat in her chair, arms folded, and an impatient look on her face.

She obviously did not want to be here.

Snapper cleared his throat, then tentatively asked his first question. "How did you come to Earth?"

Hawkgirl looked at him. "Don't you know?"

Snapper was taken aback. "Well…"

"Because I've been asked this several times over the years."

"It's just to give an overview…"

Hawkgirl shook her head. "I've even been asked by YOUR paper that question before. I'm not answering it again."

Snapper was silent for a few moments, then consulted his notes. "OK…" He decided to ask another question. "How do you find your life has changed by being in the Justice League?"

"Better," Hawkgirl replied. "When I first got here, I wasn't trusted a lot. Oh, I was generally accepted, but not worshipped like Superman. Heck, even Batman was more trusted than I was…"

"Do you think your alien backround was a factor?"

Hawkgirl darted her head at Snapper. "Gee, let me think. Girl with big wings on her back. Not exactly USUAL is it? At least Superman looks Human…"

Snapper blinked. He had seen Hawkgirl before, and he now found that his initial impression of her was dead on. She was brunt, in-your-face and quick to anger. Still, there had to be another side to her.

"But that's changed since the formation of the Justice League… ?"

Hawkgirl sighed. "Yeah, I must say it has. People aren't so quick to dismiss me now. They're actually starting to look PAST the wings and mace…"

Snapper wrote some notes on his clipboard, then asked his next question. "What are your relationships like with your fellow heroes?"

Hawkgirl appeared in thought for a few moments, then shrugged her shoulders. "We all get on… for the most part. We're all professionals, and we know that what we do is serious business. Some more than others, obviously. I mean, Flash acts like a kid sometimes…"

Snapper smiled. He knew what the Thanagarian meant.

"And there are some I get on with more than others," Hawkgirl continued. "Batman and I think alike, in that we're both detectives and very professional. Diana, being the only other woman on the team, is someone I spend a lot of time with. Although until recently we differed on our opinion of men…"

Snapper raised an eyebrow. "'Until recently'… ?"

"Yeah, since she began seeing Ba…" She suddenly stopped. "Er… I mean… since she saw how dull it was… back in Themyscira…"

Snapper frowned, not entirely certain that was what she really meant. But, before he could expand on it, Hawkgirl continued. "But I'd have to say that I get on best with Green Lantern."

"And why's that?" asked Snapper.

"Oh, he's just a wonderful man," Hawkgirl said. "He pretends to be cold and distant, but there's a real depth to him… He's warm, and a very emotional person really. I understand him like no other." Snapper noticed how Hawkgirl seemed to light up at the mention of Lantern. Were his suspicions correct?

"I've noticed for a few weeks now, from video footage and past interviews, that you and Green Lantern seem to have a bond," said Snapper. "How accurate would you say that was?"

Hawkgirl was silent for several moments, and appeared to be thinking about the question deeply. Eventually, she answered the question, slowly. "There is a bond between us," she said. "We… care about eachother. We spend a lot of time together." She was then silent for another moment, then sighed. "To be honest, we're… seeing eachother."

Snapper's eyes widened, though he was not completely surprised. "Really."

Hawkgirl shrugged. "Yeah… I mean… he probably won't be happy about me saying this… but I think… what's the point of hiding it? We care about eachother, and it's not as if we have to worry about our privacy. If anyone had to say anything about it, we could easily kick their butts. That's why I think that Diana and Ba…" She suddenly stopped again. "Er… never mind."

The rest of the interview went by quickly. Just an overview of what she had been doing on Earth before the formation of the League, and some of the adventures the team had had. But as far as Snapper was concerned, he had already gotten all he wanted.

He had hoped the other Leaguers would be as multidimensional as Flash. With Hawkgirl, he had found out that there were more to ALL the Earth's heroes than people knew.

He could not wait until the next interview…

/

Superman looked around the room as he poured himself another cup of coffee. Hawkgirl was still being interviewed. Flash had already left; he had a date with Linda. Green Lantern was hovering around, waiting impatiently for his interview. J'onn was the complete opposite, sitting silently at the table, in no hurry. Superman had not seen Batman since he had arrived in the Batwing. He was not completely surprised; the Dark Knight had been less than thrilled with the idea of the team being interviewed. And Diana… had just disappeared. She had been gone for over an hour.

Superman walked over to the table and sat down. "Sounds like it's going well," he said.

"I can't hear anything," J'onn said.

"Exactly. She's not screaming, so she's obviously not hurting him."

"I'm sure she could find some quiet way to do it," the Martian said.

"No way," Lantern remarked. "That lady's never quiet."

Superman and J'onn looked at him. Lantern froze.

"Er… forget I said that," he said.

Superman smiled, and took a sip of his coffee. Although Lantern was naturally cautious and secretive, he had told the other Leaguers about his relationship with Hawkgirl. That he trusted them enough to let them in, pleased the Man of Steel no end. When the team had first come together, he was unsure if the various heroes could get on. That they did, and they actually had formed real friendships, was fantastic.

And that two of them had even become a couple was just wonderful.

Of course, as great as his relationships with the other Leaguers had become, Superman could no longer claim them to be his ONLY friends.

He had his life back. Finally.

He remembered when he walked back into the Daily Planet offices, just like that. The reaction he had received was overwhelming. Perry, Jimmy, Cat, and of course Lois, were all overjoyed to see him. And he was overcome with joy to see all of them again.

He would always be thankful for Bruce to getting into his steel head and getting him to take his life back. And it had worked: he was now more confident, more assertive, more successful in his superheroing duties. He was truly the Man of Steel again.

He was even considering telling the woman he loved who he really was…

Speaking of women… just where was Diana? She had said she needed to take care of some business… but she had been gone for over an hour. What would take that long?

He looked at J'onn. He seemed to know what the Kryptonian was thinking… though that was pretty obvious. Superman decided to give voice to his concern.

"Does anyone know where Diana is?" he asked.

There was silence for a moment, then Lantern shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he said. "Maybe she's training…"

Superman sighed. Wherever she was, she better get back quick. He did not want her to miss her interview…

Suddenly the door in the corner of the room opened, and Hawkgirl slowly walked out. She stretched her wings and sighed. "Well, that was dull," she moaned. "He wants you next, John."

Lantern went over to her. "I feel like I'm going to the Principle's office."

Hawkgirl smiled. "Well, if you are, then he's clairvoyant. Because I have yet to meet you behind the bikesheds… but I will…"

Lantern froze, and his embarrassment was obvious. He looked at Superman and J'onn, who tried to remain as straight-faced as possible.

Lantern's shoulders sunk. "Guess I better get it over with…" Before he left the room however, he turned back. "When Diana shows up, SHE is going next. She's not getting out of this, wherever she is." He then went into the interview room.

Superman finished his coffee and smiled. He loved being part of a family.

/

Snapper was striking out wherever he went. It seemed none of his interview subjects actually WANTED to be interviewed. Flash had been pleasant enough, but he took the first opportunity to get off the Watchtower. Hawkgirl had been… grumpy during her session.

And now… Green Lantern looked like he wanted to do bodily harm.

Snapper consulted his notes. "So… how do you find life in the Justice League?"

Lantern sighed, then folded his arms. "I'm used to team situations. I was in the Marine Corps, and of course I'm part of the Green Lantern Corps. So being in units is nothing new to me. That said, the League is incredibly talented. They operate with the professionalism that many organisations never do even after many years."

"That's quite a compliment," Snapper said. "What do you think you bring to the team?"

"I bring professionalism," Lantern replied. "We have very professional people in our team, but Flash makes up for the comedy all by himself. Superman is very sensible – he HAS to be, let's face it – but he can let his spit curl down on occasion. Diana… is very prim, but she is starting to lose the attitude. Hawkgirl can be very… emotional. And Batman… well, I think the only person I have more in common with apart from him is the guy I look at in the mirror every morning."

Snapper took a deep breath. He was taking a risk, but he had to take it. "Hawkgirl said you two were… a couple."

Lantern's eye's widened, and Snapper could sense the air chill. The hero looked at him for a moment, then said, slowly, "Did she."

It was not a question.

Snapper knew better than to talk.

Lantern closed his eyes. "Yeah… we are." He then looked at Snapper. "Next question."

Snapper quickly looked at his notes. He almost considered skipping the next one, but Perry's teachings were too engrained in him. "Explain your relationships with each Leaguer."

Lantern sighed, then responded. "There… are no relationships. We don't see eachother outside of League business. Superman has his world responsibilities, I have my OUTER-world responsibilities. J'onn… is still adjusting to his new environment. As is Diana. And Batman isn't exactly chummy."

"And Flash and Hawkgirl?"

"I find Flash trying at the best of times," said Lantern. "Obviously, I get on with Hawkgirl the most. I hope you're not going to ask me WHY I say that."

Snapper smiled nervously. This had been the hardest interview so far. He was surprised to find Lantern the least sociable… then again, he had yet to interview Batman.

Snapper took a deep breath. "Is there anything you can't do with that ring?"

Lantern raised his hand and his ring glowed with power. "Only avoid the press."

TO BE CONTINUED