In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 10 - And the Adventure Continues...

......Ow. My head hurts...I can't even see beyond this darkness...Where am I? 

"Is he going to be ok, J'onn?"

"Mhm. He'll be ok."

Oh...Hawkgirl! Wait...where are we..? Where's Dazzling Hawk!?

Goldwath fluttered open his eyes in a rush and tried to stand up. He realized his mistake when spots of white and black dotted his entire vision. His head throbbed painfully against his skull, sending searing agony throughout his body. He rubbed his temple gently, groaning.

"Ow, ow..."

"Woah now, Goldwath. Take it easy! You sustained a pretty bad injury."

Goldwath huffed out and looked to Hawkgirl. The rest of the League were also there, most unscathed. He looked around and realized he was back in the Watchtower. He looked back to Hawkgirl again.

"What happened? Are you ok??" Goldwath inquired.

Hawkgirl laughed, putting her paws to his shoulders. "I'm fine, I'm fine! We're all fine! Those bad guys retreated as soon as you went down, so we had to bring you back here." She blinked at him. "So...what was all that about? And who was..." She paused to look back at the League before leaning her head closer to Goldwath's ear. "...who was that Thanagarian?"

Goldwath's ear twitched, a rush of warmth flooding his face, before he pressed his paw to his face. "I...He's an old...I wouldn't say acquaintance but he's someone I am familiar with..." he answered. When he saw all of the League staring at him with inquisitive eyes, he slowly explained the situation. "His name's Dazzling Hawk...We were both in the Army, alongside my brother, Amberwath... When I was promoted to commander in chief...Well...he wasn't exactly happy about that. He began to hold a grudge for me..." 

His missing memories were slowly emerging as he recalled the challenge Dazzling Hawk called on him, questioning his role. It hurt him, and Hawkgirl could see it. She gripped his paw gently and looked to him reassuringly. Goldwath sighed and continued, thankful that Hawkgirl was calming down the anger that would have spiked out of control. 

"And...now, since I know he's been exiled here, and he knows I have been exiled...He's not going to stop until he gets what he wanted to accomplish long ago..." 

Silence wrapped around everyone as they processed the information, a lot of questions certainly racing in their eyes as Goldwath could see it. He looked worriedly at Hawkgirl, searching her gaze for any emotion, but she seemed void of it. Just staring casual with little to no reaction. Batman approached him, which was a bit surprising to Goldwath.

"This Dazzling Hawk is going to be a threat to us, especially since he is after you..." Batman said in his usual cold voice, sending shivers down Goldwath's back. 

Goldwath could feel Green Lantern's smirk burn him. He ignored it as he spoke. "I promise you I'm not going to let him do anything to you all. To all of us!" He hopped to the floor and stood in a determined pose. "I'll let him do what he wishes with me, but if he dares harm any of you with his lackeys, you can be rest assured that I will protect each and every one of you. Over these months we have spent together, I have come to realize how much of friends you all are. I have a new purpose in my life: to take down Dazzling Hawk and his little group of renegades. So who is with me?" 

He stuck out his only good paw, which was at first met with Hawkgirl's before slowly the League all pitched in. Green Lantern had to take some convincing but he finally gave in, rolling his eyes off to the side.

"And we promise to protect you," Superman spoke, "since you are now one of us."

"Wait whaaaaaat?" Flash said.

"What ever do you mean?" Hawkgirl asked with a smirk.

"I am saying, he's an official honorary member of the Justice League." Superman blinked softly at Goldwath. "We have been discussing amongst ourselves and we have deemed you to officially join us."

The League nodded.

"I am in favor of this," Wonder Woman said.

"As am I," J'onn J'onzz pitched in. 

Goldwath widened his eyes. He couldn't believe it...His life was changing for the better. As the League dispersed, he looked out to the window and the space. Dazzling Hawk was beginning to haunt his memories, everything coming together. He narrowed his eyes and limped out the Med Bay.

You're right, Dazzling Hawk...Our fight is on hold. But we will meet again someday. You and your...little band of misfits. We will get all information on you guys and take you all down. And our fight from years ago will resume between you and I. I will end what has been started. Then we'll see who's the weak and cowardly one.

Our adventure of cat and mouse...begins now.

{End of Act 1. To be continued in Act 2...}