In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 3 - A Soft Heart Beneath

"Well, what's your name?"

The two Thanagarians just sat side by side one another in the alleyway, slowly easing on one another. Goldwath stared at Hawkgirl with suspicion, rolling his eyes. "Like that matters to you."

Hawkgirl crossed her paws, narrowing her eyes. "It does matter to me; never in my time here on Earth have I seen another Thanagarian here. What are you doing here?"

"As I said, like that matters to you! What are you doing here?" Goldwath snapped at her. "Clearly you don't have any injuries that would leave you useless, are you on some secret mission? Who sent you?"

Hawkgirl tipped her head in confusion; he was certainly a strange one for sure. Just like J'onn. But she also wondered why he was so angry. She looked to his injuries. "Your arm..." she said in a soft voice, ignoring his question. "You're hurt, let me help you." She began to stretch out a paw towards him.

Goldwath immediately jerked away from her, growling as the pain brought back unpleasant flashbacks. "Don't touch me!" he snarled. 

Hawkgirl half flinched at his response. "Why?"

"You're only going to cause more additional pain! You're not going to be of any help! You're just like the other Thanagarians!" His anger began to subside as the pain brought him hurt. He went silent, closing his eyes as he stood up. He turned his back to her. "Just...leave me alone, or do whatever you guys usually do with criminals. You caught me; have me locked up. I don't care anymore..."

Hawkgirl blinked at the sudden mood change of the Thanagarian, watching his head hang low in defeat. "I never said you were a villain," she told him, carefully resting a paw on his shoulder. He didn't react immediately to that; instead she heard a sharp inhale as he tensed up. "You seem really hurt right now, and I only want to get to know and help another fellow Thanagarian." She smiled. 

He had turned his head back to her, his eyes scanning her.

"You'll help me?"

She nodded. "And I mean that. But you need to tell me everything; right now, you are a little bit sus--"

"HAWKGIRL!"

She immediately froze upon hearing Superman calling out to her. Goldwath shot his head up and frowned, looking back to Hawkgirl with anger. "You're gonna give me away, aren't you?" he asked.

"Don't worry, I will handle this," she whispered to him before spreading out her wings and taking off to the clear sky. The sun was beating down on her with its heat. Looking around, she finally saw Superman, Green Lantern and J'onn heading her way. Hawkgirl waved to them. "Over here, guys!" 

"Are you okay?" Green Lantern asked her as soon as he got to her. 

"I'm fine!" she answered him. 

"Where had he gone to?" Superman questioned. 

Hawkgirl pointed down and guided them to the alleyway, Goldwath backing away as soon as they landed. Flash had finally found the rest and joined up with the group, blinking at the sight of the disabled Thanagarian. He opened his mouth to say something, but Green Lantern had smacked him behind his head, making him whimper and rub the pain. Green Lantern gave him a look of "Don't say anything stupid right now," which Flash finally backed down. Once she knew everyone was paying their attention to the Thanagarian, Hawkgirl spoke up.

"I want you guys to hear my out first though before anything," she told them, making her way in between the League and Goldwath. "We should give him a chance-"

"A chance!?" Green Lantern raised an eyebrow. "He tore through half the city, terrorized citizens, caused major damage!"

"John's right, Hawkgirl," Superman said. "He's a threat to society, and he must be dealt with accordingly."

"He didn't mean to! I mean look at him!" She pointed to his injuries. "He's in a great deal of pain, and he had only let his anger get the better of him. No ordinary villain we dealt with has the same pattern of destruction as he does."

Everyone, including Goldwath, widened her eyes at Hawkgirl's statement.

Goldwath was staring at her intently, his heart squeezing in his chest. She...she understands me? That's never happened before, she's the only one. Well...apart from Amberwath but... His pupils widened as he felt a strange wave overtake his body. He began to limp closer to Hawkgirl but Green Lantern snarled.

"Stay away from her!" he snapped.

"John, it's ok!" she said, looking to Goldwath. 

He narrowed his eyes at him, and Goldwath did the same to him. 

He didn't trust how he was being protective of her. He didn't like how Green Lantern always seemed to be by Hawkgirl's side. Something within him tugged him towards Hawkgirl, to be by her side, to get to know her more. Already he was feeling something else rivaling his tugging feel. And the wolf behind this rivalry...was Green Lantern.

"So what do you suggest we do with him?" J'onn spoke up amidst the silence.

Hawkgirl looked back at Goldwath and smiled at him, his heart jumping at her warm gaze. She nodded to him and finally turned back to the others.

"Take him in with us."

{To be continued...}