Shayera shot up in bed, her heart racing. Did I just…? She looked back to see Bruce staring up at her from his place on his bed. His eyes twinkled with mischief and a know-it-all smirk graced his face. "Damn it," Shayera swore in Thanagarian, dragging her fingers through her hair. "This didn't happen," she breathed out.

"It did," Bruce said as Shayera felt a warm hand gently stroke the scars on her back.

"N-No," she stood from the bed.

"Shayera, breathe," Bruce reminded her as he sat up.

"This – this can't happen again," she turned to him, blushing at his heated stare. "I'm sorry," Shayera frowned.

"I'm not," Bruce stated simply as he handed her a shirt.

"You're not?" Shayera looked at him incredulously before taking the shirt from Bruce's outstretched hand. "Of course, you're not," she muttered. "Playboy Bruce Wayne."

"Do you really think that is what this was? Me being playboy Bruce Wayne?"

"I don't know what this was," Shayera frowned as she put on Bruce's shirt. "I don't know what you want from me."

"I don't want anything from you. I just – " he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not sorry this happened. I am sorry that felt like it wasn't genuine." Shayera continued to stare at him. "Maybe, I'm moving too fast or I'm not making my intentions clear. Look," he stood from his bed completely unabashed. Blushing, Shayera tried to discreetly look away. "I feel something for you," Bruce stood before her. "I don't know what it is, or – or maybe I don't want to acknowledge what it is. I don't know." He stopped.

"But…?" Shayera asked breathlessly, willing herself to not look away from his stare.

"There's too much happening right now. I can't sort out my feelings for you while concentrating on the Thanagarians and the Gordanians." Shayera nodded in agreement. "How about we put this on pause until after the Thanagar and the Gordanians have been dealt with?"

Completely unsure of herself, Shayera nodded in agreement. "Okay," she whispered. He nodded once. Expecting Bruce to leave, Shayera gasped audibly when he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. Longing and arousal swirled in her chest and stomach as her body responded without her permission. It took everything in her to hold back a moan when she felt his tongue on the seam of her lips, but she refused to allow him entrance. She was going to stick to her guns and remain stubborn.

The urge to reciprocate became nearly overwhelming, and just when Shayera was going to give in, Bruce pulled away. Shayera didn't understand how she was breathless, but he was fine. "I meant to tell you – we're heading to the Watchtower tonight."

"Oh…um…okay," Shayera slowly spoke, surprised she was able to utter words of any kind. "Okay." Bruce gave her a small nod before turning on his heel and entering the shared bathroom. As for Shayera, she sat on the bed, and a hand went to her swollen lips. What am I doing?


Chey-Ara lay on her back, staring at the white ceiling. This was how she spent her time, now. She had no idea what day it was, no idea how long she'd been here; and she wondered about her place in the universe. If everything they've told me is true, she thought about her conversations with J'ohnn, Superman, Wonder Woman, and sometimes Batman. If Thanagar wins, what will happen to me? Chey-Ara failed her mission. She knew for a fact, which meant punishment. It would be a harsh punishment. She'd probably end up on a prison world. Or worse, locked away and forgotten as her father had been until the day he died. Chey-Ara shuddered at the thought. However, if Thanagar loses…Chey-Ara felt guilty just entertaining the thought, but the league had been so…good to her. If living in captivity meant being stuck in a roomy cell, given three meals a day, and never flying again – Chey-Ara was oddly okay with that. This cell alone was better than her life had been on the lower levels of Thanagar. "I can't believe it," she muttered. It really was in her best interests that Thanagar lost. "No," she berated herself. She couldn't think that way. She was loyal to Thanagar…but she'd seen Issi's wrath firsthand. Chey-Ara didn't want to be on the receiving side of Issi's wrath. She swore in her native tongue. Her head hurt, and she was beginning to question…everything. Too much downtime, she decided. Rolling off of her bed and landing in a plank position on the floor, Chey-Ara began to do push-ups. Two-hundred push-ups and then she'd be able to think clearly.


J'ohnn stood a few feet away from the cell, invisible, watching as the young Thanagarian completed 100 push-ups and kept going. A strange feeling – one that he was familiar with – filled his chest. After the death of M'yri'ah, their two daughters, and every green Martian, J'ohnn didn't think he'd ever feel this way about anyone ever again. He'd been on Earth for a little over 100 years, and he'd never once had a – what was the human word? Right. Crush. He never once had a crush on anyone, but then this young Thanagarian who had to be at least 85 years old appeared and now. Well, J'ohnn wasn't sure what to do now. She was very clearly of age and so was he, but she was a criminal…maybe. He wasn't quite sure.

So deep in thought, the Martian Manhunter didn't register the door opening and someone else joining him. "J'ohnn?" Superman called out. "I can hear your heartbeat." J'ohnn immediately became visible. "What are you doing in here?" Superman asked. "Red Tornado said you disappeared almost an hour ago. Have you been watching Chey-Ara for an hour?"

"I have not," the Martian hoped he wasn't blushing, but he wasn't lying. "I came in about 15 minutes ago?"

"And you've been invisible because…"

"I do not know, Superman."

A playful smirk lit the Man of Steel's face. "I've heard more and more Chocos have been disappearing from the kitchen."

"Quite a conundrum."

"Indeed," Superman smiled. "Well, if you're done spying on our Thanagarian prisoner, Ma and Pa wanted me to invite you over for dinner."

"That is very kind of them, Superman, but I must decline."

"Oh, come on," Superman threw an arm around the Martian, "Ma even made apple pie. I know how much you love my ma's apple pie."

"This is true," J'ohnn sighed. "Okay."

"And while we're there, you can tell me everything you've learned from spying on Chey-Ara."