Something was off. If he was honest, he was confused, which was his usual state of mind. But this was a different confusion. A few hours ago, her scent was leading North. But now, it was leading him West and smelled slightly different. It was like she was trying to mask it. Smart. Not effective. But it was a good try. Unfortunately for him, if this bird-girl was trying to cover her scent, that meant she knew she was being hunted. Someone had tipped her off. He needed to have another chat with a certain short, dark-skinned, pretty, Thanagarian. I really hate those bird-people.


Shayera sat on the balcony railing to Bruce's room…her room for the time being. She pulled the oversized sweatshirt over her knees, protecting herself from the brisk morning air and watching the sunrise in the distance.

Moments ago, Shayera heard Bruce enter the adjacent room and fall into bed. Now she could hear him up and about, getting ready for the day. How he was able to function on two hours of sleep, she did not know. Maybe he really does have coffee flowing through his veins, Shayera thought.

But Bruce's habits weren't why she was staring into the distance instead of catching up on much-needed sleep. No, the kiss had her mind racing. Like, Bruce kissed her. Batman kissed her. She had just been kissed by Batman and Bruce Wayne. And she loved it – loved it. It was driving her crazy. She didn't want – she didn't have time… "Argh!" Shayera dragged her hands through her hair in annoyance. She needed to talk to someone about these feelings. Usually, she would talk to Diana; but if she appeared before the princess now, Shayera was 100% sure that Diana would run her through with a sword. Actually, Shayera was positive that, at one point, the beautiful Amazon harbored feelings for the billionaire. So…there was that to consider.

But who was she kidding? Again, she had to remind herself, I have no time for this. She didn't have time for kisses and feelings and emotions. Shayera had the Thanagarians, Gordanians, and an intergalactic bounty hunter to worry about. She needed to get back into fighting shape. She refused to sit idly on the sidelines while the league battled her demons. Her demons were her responsibility, no one else's. Feelings of love and desire and emotions can wait. She had a fight to prepare for.


Bruce stared blankly at the accountant…or manager… person giving the report. He could not care less about what the guy was saying. He was exhausted. Not because he spent his nights fighting thugs and entertaining teammates. Bruce was exhausted because he spent his nights tossing and turning in bed, thinking about the female in the next room.

Bruce had never, not once in his life, behaved like a lovesick puppy. He never had to. Girls flocked to him; they followed him in droves. They fought for his attention. Literally, it used to happen all of the time in high school and a few times in college. Even if he smelled like garbage, girls would still swarm him. (He knew this for a fact; he tried it in high school to prove a point to his friends.) But now, he was at a loss. He never actually had to work for a girl's attention. And, he had Shayera's attention. Bruce just didn't know what to do. Usually, he was the emotionally stunted one in relationships. This was new territory.

For example, Shayera ran away after he kissed her. Again, new territory, as no female had ever run from him before. They ran to him. And – how much longer was this guy going to be talking? They'd been in this conference room for over two hours. It was dinner time, he wanted to go home – and wow, was his mind all over the place today. "So, what do you think, Mr. Wayne?" Bruce stared, just now realizing that all eyes at the conference table were on him, and he had not heard a single word. "Uh…I…"

"What I think Mr. Wayne is trying to say," Lucius Fox spoke up for him, "is that he is excited for this project and would love to hear more about it. So, if you could drop a business plan off at his office by the end of the day, he would be most pleased."

"Yes," Bruce agreed, giving him his award-winning CEO smile that had fooled many people so many times.

"Thank you, sir," the presenter all but bowed to Bruce.

"How about we pick this up tomorrow, and we call it a day." The rest of the board agreed and filed out of the room. Only Lucius stayed behind.

"So, who's the girl?" Lucius asked once they were alone.

"Excuse me?" Bruce asked.

"Bruce, you excel at masking your emotions, but I know you well enough to tell when something is bothering you. I also know the face of a man whose world is turned upside down because of a female."

"You're not wrong."

"So," Lucius Fox grinned, "tell me more. Did you sleep with her?"

"No," Bruce answered exasperatedly. "You do know that most of the time, I pay women to say I slept with them, right?"

"I know. I know. I'm kidding."

"I did kiss her."

"And…"

"She ran away." Lucius burst out laughing. "Thanks," Bruce deadpanned.

"I'm sorry," Lucius said between laughs, "I never thought I'd see the day when a girl rebuffed you. Did she literally run away?"

"Yes," Bruce admitted, a little embarrassed. Lucius laughed even louder. "It really isn't that funny."

"Does Alfred know?"

"He's been texting me one-liners all day," Bruce held up his phone grimly.

Lucius laughed before asking, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," Bruce leaned back in his chair in exhaustion. Shayera, the Thanagarians, Lobo – what was he going to do? He honestly did not know. But, it was time for him to begin planning.


"I don't know what to tell you, Lobo," Lieutenant Issi growled to the intergalactic bounty hunter. "You should have anticipated how difficult this may get."

"I thought this bird-girl was an outcast. Now you're telling me the Justice League may possibly be helping her?"

"I didn't think they would be a problem for someone of your caliber," Lieutenant Issi said via hologram. "But if you are not up to the task-"

"I am more than capable of-"

"Then get it done!" Lieutenant Issi shouted, obviously enraged. "And don't contact me until you have her." With that, Lieutenant Issi canceled the connection and disappeared.

Lobo turned to the silent Thanagarian standing beside him. "Your leader is a piece of work, you know that?"

The bird-girl said nothing. She continued to stare, deep in thought. "The Justice League has a shapeshifter. Maybe he is pretending to be her."

"Even if he is pretending to her, he wouldn't be able to copy her scent."

"I don't know. From the files we have on him, he's pretty powerful…and handsome."

"I have never come in contact with a shapeshifter who could mimic the scent of another."

"Whatever," Chey-Ara shrugged. "You know best." She began to float a few feet off the ground.

"Wait," Lobo said, "what do you do during the day? Where do you hide?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," the female hawk replied with a smirk before taking off into the night sky.


After Issi ended her call with Lobo, General Trogaar of the Gordanian army appeared on the main screen in the room. "Where is the prize you promised us?" General Trogaar demanded in a gravelly voice.

"You will have your prize as promised," Lieutenant Issi spat at him.

"When!"

"When we get her!" Issi yelled.

Katar, who had been standing behind her the entire time, rushed forward and said, "Three weeks. We will have her for you in three weeks. The heroes of Earth are hiding her at the moment."

"Then maybe we should pay a visit to Earth," the Gordanian general said.

"It is under our control," Issi said, "your help is unnecessary."

"If – "

"We're done," Issi said, canceling the connection.

Katar glared at her before asking, "What are you doing?"

"Leading."

"How dare you behave so rudely! Are you out of your mind?" Issi growled at her husband. "We are trying to reach an entente with the Gordians," Katar grabbed her upper arm. "What you just did can be taken as an insult." Issi rolled her eyes at Katar. "I mean it, Issi," he snapped, "you need to think before you act!"

Issi swore in response before squaring up to Katar. "You do not order me."

"You will thrust Thanagar into another war we cannot afford!" Katar yelled.

"Do not question-"

"If Shayera were here-"

"Shayera is not here! I am! I am in charge! I will be the next great ruler of Thanagar!" Issi screamed at him.

"Then stop acting like a petulant child, making enemies wherever you go!" Katar shouted in her face.

Issi pursed her lips together. She hated to admit it, but Katar was right. "What do you suggest I do?" she asked calmly.

"Call the general back and apologize. Tell him if we need help, we will not hesitate to contact him."

"Fine," Issi relented. Katar gave a satisfied nod before turning away from her. "And Katar," she called. Katar turned to face her as she continued. "If you ever compare me to Shayera again, I will not hesitate to kill you."