In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 4 - Welcome to the League

"Take him in with us."

The League was taken aback by Hawkgirl's proposal, even Goldwath was a tad bit surprised at her statement. Green Lantern was the first to respond her, his eyes blazing with anger. 

"No way!" he snarled. "We're not taking this freak anywhere but jail." 

He began to advance towards him, which immediately set off Goldwath's anger. He lowered himself into a defense position, slowly shifting himself to attack. His muscles tensed, his mind raced, he was so close to just wanting to rip the Green Lantern's throat open-

Superman had wedged himself between Green Lantern and Goldwath, staring down at Green Lantern. "Knock it off, John," he said calmly. "Let's discuss this matter amongst ourselves."

Although hesitant, Green Lantern stood down, puffing out a breath of anger. 

Superman nodded his head to Hawkgirl. "Hawkgirl, a word if you may in private." 

Goldwath watched as the League had moved further in the alleyway away from him to discuss the matters out of his earshot. As they headed, Green Lantern brushed by him with a death glare, eyes squinted. Goldwath's nose twitched as he stared back at him with the same glare. He huffed out angrily, the anger still locking his muscles. He already hated Green Lantern with every fiber of his being and how he acted towards Hawkgirl. He didn't like how protective he was of her. 

Their voices were soft, hardly audible. Goldwath couldn't listen in on them. That was only fair he couldn't; they didn't want him to hear on what they were saying about him. He sat down as they talked, nervousness overtaking his anger. He shook and couldn't stand sitting down for long. He got back up and paced back and forth, limping. 

His mind was occupied on Hawkgirl, wondering what she was saying to them. Would she be able to convince him? 

He could only hope.

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"We shouldn't take him in."

"Why not?"

Green Lantern shifted his eyes back to where Goldwath was before looking back to Hawkgirl. "Haven't you seen what he's done to half the city?" he asked. "What he did to us? To you possibly!?"

"He was not in the right mindset, I could tell you that," Hawkgirl responded. 

"How would you even know?" Superman asked. 

"Look at him!" Hawkgirl nodded her head in his general direction. "He's clearly guilty of his actions. His tone of voice and body language is not like any villain we dealt with. We should give him another chance."

Green Lantern rolled his eyes. "You're just saying that because he's one of your kind."

"What is your problem with him!?" Hawkgirl snapped, her wings shooting out in anger. She saw him visibly flustered as he tried to fumble his words into a sentence. She rolled her eyes and looked to the others for reassurance. "Can't any of you agree with how odd he acts? I mean, if he wanted to do something so heinous to us, we would be caught in another brawl."

Everyone was silent in thought. Flash was the first to break the still silence; he turned his head around to look at Goldwath and tipped his head. "Hawkgirl does have a point," he spoke. "He would have done something already while out backs are turned to him." 

J'onn followed his statement with his own thoughts: "I have read his mind; it's scrambled but...he does seem overwhelmed with uncertainty and pain." He turned to Superman. "Hawkgirl tells the truth about him."

Superman lifted a paw to his jaw and tapped a claw to it. Hawkgirl looked to him hopefully and waited patiently for his final judgement. The silence and heat was near unbearable as he took his time. Finally he straightened himself up and looked to Hawkgirl.

"I will take everyone's word on such a matter as this," he began, "and my mind has been made up. We will help him, but only if you promise to look after him, as he seems to be more trustful of you than us."

Green Lantern gaped his jaw in shock but immediately closed it, looking away with narrowed eyes. Hawkgirl took no notice of that and nodded to Superman. 

"I understand."

"Then, let's tell him."

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Goldwath looked up when the League began to walk back to him. He saw Superman and the others--apart from Green Lantern--had hopeful smiles across their face. He lowered himself to the ground when Superman went up to him, blinking as the Thanagarian wondered what he was gonna say to him.

"We have discussed what Hawkgirl proposed to us, and we've come to the agreement that we will take you in and help you."

She really convinced them!? 

Goldwath lifted himself up slowly and smiled. "Oh- Thank you all so much," he said, stuttered. "I...truly appreciate the gesture."

Superman lifted a paw. "But remember this." He went serious. "While we will accept you, you must also abide by what we say and do. Your actions today can not and will not be forgotten. We only hope for the best that this isn't a ruse to have you with us only to backstab us later on."

Goldwath sat down as he lifted his only good arm. "No no no, I would never!" he said franticly. "Even I'm not that stupid to know not to mess with the Justice League."

Superman nodded. "In that case...welcome to the League. Come with us."

Goldwath could not believe it. He rushed over to Hawkgirl's side as they headed to the Javelin. Wonder Woman, by now, had caught up with them, with Flash questioning where she had been the entire time. Goldwath was embarrassed when she looked to him as she explained what happened to her. Flash then began to catch Wonder Woman up to speed (no pun intended) on the situation. Goldwath saw her expression turn into a suspicious kind of warmth. 

As the League entered the spaceship, Goldwath stopped and turned back to face Hawkgirl. His face burned but he shook away the feeling.

"I...just wanted to thank you for...actually caring about me, you know," he said, smiling.

"Not a problem. Anything to help a fellow Thanagarian."

He blinked warmly at her. "Oh- I never got to introduce myself to you, haven't I?"

Hawkgirl laughed. "Nope."

"The name's Goldwath. Your's?"

"Hawkgirl."

Hawkgirl... 

"Well...it's nice to meet you, Hawkgirl." As they entered the spaceship, Goldwath couldn't help but notice Green Lantern's deep stare at him, green eyes searching him up and down with intent. Goldwath felt a twinge of anger.

What exactly is your problem with me? he thought. 

{To be continued...}