Batman returned less than a minute later holding what looked like Shayera's old workout uniform. A simple sports bra, leggings, and a pair of her old shoes. "I thought the league burned all of my stuff," Shayera joked, taking the articles of clothing from him.
"We did, but Barry kept an outfit just in case you ever returned and needed something to wear."
"That is so sweet of him," Shayera cooed in all seriousness.
"Or creepy," Batman said dryly. "I'll wait for you." He once again left the room with a swirl of his cape. Shayera quickly pulled on the shoes and leggings, but she paused staring at the top. More specifically, she stared at the place her wings would have been. She sighed softly as a wave of longing flowed through her. Oh well, she shrugged, no time to dwell on it.
Batman and Shayera walked the halls in relative silence. Shayera tried to ignore the stares and whispers, but the stares were unnerving, and the whispering was loud. "At least they don't gawk at me anymore," Batman said from beside her. "The young and new members would stare at me all of the time."
"Well, yeah," Shayera smiled. "You're mysterious and broody. You're an imposing figure. Someone they aspire to be like. You're the Batman." Batman hmphed in response. "Also, and I am not speaking for myself," Shayera clarified, "you're…cute."
"Cute?" Batman said the word like it was gross.
"Though your nose is barely visible, and your mouth and jaw are all that is seen…you're handsome."
"What about Bruce Wayne?"
"No," Shayera answered quickly, "I refuse to feed your giant, oversized ego. You know very well where you rank on the hotness scale," Shayera said resolutely. Batman smirked underneath his cowl as he and Shayera took the elevator down to the lower levels, where prisoners were temporarily held.
Lobo sat in a clear cell, trying to flirt with Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman looked about ready to kill him. Superman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter were there. The only person missing was Green Lantern. Flash sped over to her, greeting her with a hug. Lobo's eyes flashed to Shayera. He immediately charged at her, hitting the indestructible barrier. "You blew me up!" he pointed at Shayera. "That hurt!"
"You were trying to take me against my will," Shayera said, folding her arms. "We're even."
"Let me guess," Lobo began to mock, "you want to know who hired me."
"We know who hired you," Wonder Woman said. "It was the Thanagarians." Lobo looked genuinely surprised. Shayera rolled her eyes. How could someone as talented as Lobo be so stupid? "And they paid me well," he added, "very well."
"They gave you my sword," Shayera stated.
"I don't ask where the payment comes from as long as I get paid."
"That's what we want to discuss with you," Superman said.
"I don't break contracts," Lobo said.
"Unless you get a better offer."
"There is nothing in the universe better than Nth metal," Lobo said. "Nothing I want, anyway."
"We'll see," Flash said with a knowing smirk.
"I always get my bounty," Lobo said menacingly as the door opened. Green Lantern entered. "I got approval from Oa. He is here and ready to go." Superman, the one being in the universe who Lobo could not beat, opened the door to the cell and grabbed Lobo, yanking him out of the cell. "Hey! Where are you taking me?" Lobo protested loudly; trying to swing at and kick the Man of Steel.
The walk to their destination should have been 30 seconds. But with the fuss Lobo was making, it took about 5 minutes. They finally made it to the room where the teleportation pad was located. Standing, or floating, in the open space – looking very out of place – was a Space Dolphin. Lobo's countenance completely changed. He stopped fighting Superman's grip; he gasped; his eyes widened in love and wonder – it was a terrible sight to behold. Shayera didn't know what to think as Lobo exclaimed, "A Space Dolphin!" Superman released Lobo, allowing him to run over to the creature.
"This is Lundgren," Green Lantern introduced Lobo. "The only Space Dolphin in the entire universe that can survive in an oxygenated environment." Lobo got right in the face of the dolphin. "Lundgren, this is Lobo. In an oxygenated environment, Lundgren can't speak," Green Lantern continued. "If you look out that window, you'll see a whole pod of Space Dolphins." Lobo ran to the window, pressing his face up against it like an eager child on Christmas Eve looking for Santa. "Lundgren has graciously opened his pod up to you."
"Like to hang out?" Lobo asked in awe.
"Yes. All you have to do is stop hunting Shay- "
"Deal!" Lobo said before Green Lantern could finish. "Where's my Space Hog?" he asked eagerly.
Lobo sat on his bike, preparing to leave with the Space Dolphins. "I don't know how you did it," he said looking back at the league, "but thank you." The 'thank you' floored every single one of the League members. Lobo turned to Shayera, "I lost your sword."
"I stole it after we blew you up," Shayera said.
Lobo laughed boisterously before saying, "Your sister hates you."
"I know," Shayera said.
"No, she really hates you. She is going to be pissed when she finds out I stopped hunting you. She may get the Gordanians involved," Lobo said. Shayera nodded. "See you later, bird girl," he said as he took off with the Space Dolphins. "I hope I never see a Thanagarian ever again," he muttered.
The founding members sat around a circular table in the conference room. "Lobo has been successfully taken care of," Superman sighed gratefully.
"That guy is so weird," Flash said. "How is he so good at what he does?"
"Did you see his face when he saw those dolphins?" Green Lantern shuddered. "Lobo smiled."
"The image will never leave my head," Flash said.
"Back to the business at hand," Batman said, steering the meeting in the right direction.
"Right," Superman agreed. "We have the Thanagarians, the Gordanians knocking on our door. Not to mention the Thenagarian currently occupying one of our guest quarters." That was putting it mildly. Chey-Ara was on house arrest. She wasn't allowed to leave her room unless absolutely necessary, and she always had to be accompanied by a leaguer.
"Do we continue to interrogate the Thanagarian?" Wonder Woman asked.
"Chey-Ara is not a threat at the moment," the Martian Manhunter said. "I still believe she can be swayed to our side."
"I agree with J'ohnn," the Green Lantern concurred. "The Thanagarians and Gordanians are who we need to concern ourselves with."
"There's someone else I would like to bring in," Batman said, "he's not a threat. He could be of some help."
"Is he a friend or foe?" Superman asked.
"He's an ally. His name is Carter Hall."
"The hawkman?" the Martian Manhunter asked, thinking for a second. "Yes, I think he will be of much help."
"Okay," Superman said in agreement. "Anything else to discuss?"
"I have something I would like to discuss," Flash said standing to his feet. Everyone remained silent, all eyes on him. "I would like to discuss the reinstatement of Shayera as a league member." Everyone froze. Shayera, who'd been silent the entire time, stood up to speak. "No, no, no," Shayera said. "We don't need to do that."
"No, Shayera," Flash said. "Let me. This is getting ridiculous. The way the younger members talk about her – "
"Flash," Shayera gasped, thoroughly embarrassed.
"She's an outcast because she betrayed us," Wonder Woman leaned forward.
"But did she?" Flash said, "Think about it…what would we have done in her position?"
"It does not matter," Wonder Woman stood up menacingly, "we weren't in her position."
"Hey!" Shayera yelled, getting everyone's attention. All eyes turned to her. "I did not put Flash up to this. I didn't want any of this. None of you were supposed to get involved, I just…." She thrust her fingers into her hair and began pacing. "I was perfectly fine, alone, on that mountain. I was fine! I didn't want to come back!"
"You know why Batman brought you here," Wonder Woman folded her arms.
"I know, Diana," Shayera seethed, "but a vote is not necessary. I'm not rejoining the league. I can't. I don't deserve…it's unwise," she plopped back down in her chair and buried her face in her hands.
"Well, I think you deserve to be here, Shayera" Flash said looking at her.
"How can she possibly help us?" Wonder Woman said, leaping to her feet, slamming her hands on the table. "She doesn't have her wings!" Shayera flinched at the reminder.
"Diana," Superman uttered her name softly.
"No!" Wonder Woman silenced him with a glare. "Shayera's not a child, she can handle the truth! And the truth is - she is absolutely no use to us without her wings!" Wonder Woman breathed heavily after her rant, taking her seat. She then looked up to see surprised looks on the faces of her colleagues, except for Batman…and Martian Manhunter (his facial expression never changed). Shayera was looking down at her hands.
An awkwardness settled in the room, while Wonder Woman sat down, and put her head in her hands. Her tirade had left her surprisingly exhausted.
As for Shayera, she didn't know what to do with herself. She didn't know whether to leave the room or stay. She wished there was a way she could sneak out.
"That was cold, Wonder Woman," Green Lantern eventually broke the silence and discomfort.
Flash glared at Wonder Woman - hard. He looked seconds away from attacking. "You know what, princess," Flash sneered, "I would rather have her here than you."
"Of course, you would," Wonder Woman replied, "You lovesick – "
"ENOUGH!" Superman's voice roared. "Flash," he turned to the speedster, "now is not the time, there's too much going on. We will discuss this after the Thanagarians and Gordanians are dealt with." Flash nodded. "And Wonder Woman," he paused, "we'll talk later." Wonder Woman looked away from Superman in anger. "It is 4:00 a.m. Some of us need sleep. Let's reconvene tomorrow." With that, the members piled out of the room, all but Shayera.
Shayera stayed right where she was, as still as a statue, thinking. These past six months, she'd been living in ignorant bliss. Living in a comfortable manor, recovering from her well-deserved punishment - getting used to the comfortable life Bruce had supplied her thus far. Today was a wake-up call. She didn't belong here. She didn't belong anywhere. This flirtatious thing with Bruce…what was she doing? She couldn't let her heart get involved. They needed to deal with her crazy family and the Gordanians and then she needed to disappear for good. Maybe steal a Thanagarian ship. Yes, she thought, that is what she needed to do. She pulled her fingers through her hair and stood up and paused. Where would or could she go? There had to be a planet out there, a place that would hide a broken bird.
Shayera walked out of the conference room in deep thought and ran into, what she thought, was a brick wall. Turns out it was Batman. Shayera couldn't meet his masked eyes. Bruce would know something was wrong; he'd peel her apart. Shayera couldn't have that. "You ready to go?" Batman asked. Shayera nodded slowly, thankful when Batman finally turned, and she could no longer feel his intense, piercing gaze.
