In the Upper Deck Lounge of Watchtower 1, Hawkgirl finally found Wonder Woman, who was relaxing to the sound of Classical Music.

"There you are Diana … I need to discuss something with you, privately." Shayera said.

"But of course my sister," Wonder Woman said, "Shall we go to my quarters or can we discuss things here? We are quite alone."

Hawkgirl sat down next to Wonder Woman, looking a bit nervous.

"Well Diana, here goes: I like the new recruit, Joey Lucas, a lot." Hawkgirl said.

"No kidding? I never would have known!" Wonder Woman said, giving Hawkgirl a wink.

"Please Diana, I’m serious!" Hawkgirl said, looking annoyed, "this is the first time I feel I can open my heart to a man since John and I broke up. I’ve been so confused …"

"I know Shayera," Wonder Woman said, smiling. "I apologise for teasing, Joey’s a fine young man. Have you told him how you feel?"

"You know me Diana: talking about my feelings is not easy; let alone stepping up to the man I’m attracted to and telling him I’m crazy about him. I did drop him several hints …," Hawkgirl said, her voice trailing off.

"Trust me Shy, men and hints often don’t mix very well." Wonder Woman said with a grin, "sometimes a more direct approach is best. No matter how flamboyant he may have been before the car accident, he became a changed, humble man from the moment you rescued him. He’s in awe of you; put you up on a pedestal and worships the ground you walk on, or have you missed that?"

"No, Diana I haven’t." Hawkgirl said with a smile, "it’s cute, flattering, endearing and annoying all at once!"

Wonder Woman nodded, "He feels you’re well above him; that he’s way out of his league with you as the male saying goes, and that he doesn’t deserve you … I know that was a hurdle between Bruce and me."

Hawkgirl smiled. "Human males … must I to throw myself at him so he understands the way I feel about him?" She said.

"Probably," Wonder Woman snickered, "but be careful, the male ego is very fickle. Be firm but gentle: coming on too strong might frighten him."

Hawkgirl nodded and smiled. "Thanks Diana, I will take a more direct approach!" She said, getting up.

"What are you planning?" Wonder Woman asked, with a curious frown.

"Joey Lucas is about to receive a personalized training session from yours truly." Hawkgirl said, with a grin.

As she left Wonder Woman thought, "I’ve seen the puppy dog-eyed looks Joey gives Shayera… he’s already as good as hers…if she doesn’t kill him trying to seduce him!"

Joey was in his quarters, getting some rest. The physical training was tough, but nothing he could not handle: years spent learning Karate as a teen, then amateur wrestling training in College were not lost; neither were the years performing in MCW.

Wildcat was a great teacher and coach, if a bit gruff at first. And his sponsor, Hawkgirl checked up on him frequently … and one day he would work up the nerve to ask her out. "Business is business; don’t read too much into it when she’s being nice to you!" He thought, trying to rationalize his feelings.

On the other hand, the detective training, both done by Batman and Hawkgirl is what made him a bit more nervous. "They haven’t thrown me out yet, so I must be doing something right! I haven’t seen much of my apartment lately though …thank God the rent’s covered by Wayne Enterprises …who knew training as a future Justice Leaguer had such great benefits?"

He startled and bolted out of bed as his intercom buzzed. "Hawkgirl to Lucas, are you there Joey?"

Joey could not repress the smile on his face. "I’m here Hawkgirl, what’s up?"

"How would you feel about a one on one training session?" She asked.

"When do we start?" Joey asked, heart beating faster.

"Right now, meet me in the gym a.s.a.p." She said.

"I’ll be right there, let me change!" Joey said.

Joey put on his tracksuit and ran. "It’s only a training session; don’t read too much into it. I don’t care…I’m gonna be with her, one on one!"

Joey nearly collided with Flash.

"In a hurry there pal, where’re you off to?" Flash asked, jokingly.

"The Gym, Hawkgirl wants to see me there right now." Joey said, looking like an excited teen on his way to his first date.

"Say no more my friend!" Flash said, grabbing Joey by the arms. Before he knew it, Joey was in front of the Gym entrance, Flash standing by his side, smiling.

"Wow, how did you?" Joey asked Flash, a shocked expression on his face. He then shrugged, "Never mind Flash, thanks for the lift!"

"Any time buddy!" Flash said and zoomed out of sight.

Joey took a deep breath and walked in. Hawkgirl was there, waiting for him; smiling. Her helmet was off revealing her pretty face and her thick mane of red hair. "Sweet Lord in Heaven she’s gorgeous, truly an Angel!" He could not help thinking.

"Joey, you were fast!" Hawkgirl said.

"I ran into Flash who gave me a lift," Joey said, "I wouldn’t have missed this for the world Hawkgirl!"

Hawkgirl smiled and said, "Do me a favour will you? For one, from now on call me Shayera unless we’re on duty. Secondly, pay attention and you may learn something."

Joey comically gave her a military salute, "Aye, aye Shayera!"

She chuckled. "Come closer to me Joey, on the training mat." She extended her hand to Joey who took it

Swiftly, she hip tossed him to the mat. He grunted as he hit the mat, giving her a puzzled look.

"Lesson number one in facing a female opponent: always be on your guards. Even the prettiest, sexiest women can be deadly. Think Star Sapphire, Cheetah, Cat Woman, Poison Ivy or even Harley Quinn. They’ll kill you if you let their looks distract you."

Joey got up, rubbing his lower back. He nodded.

"Always pay attention to body language, make sure you read the signals. Whether your opponent is male or female, you can tell what your opponent is up to …" She lunged to grab him by the shoulders, but he ducked and rolled, catching her legs in a drop-toe hold, taking her down face first, rather hard.

She let out a loud "Oomph!" as she hit the mat.

"Nice move!" she grunted, in a husky voice that went through him like a sharp knife through melted butter.

"Shayera, are you okay?" he asked, concerned, releasing the hold.

In a move too fast for him to register, she rolled on her back, catching his waist between her legs in a body scissors, not hard enough to be painful, but firmly enough to be uncomfortable. She rolled him on his back, straddling his hips.

"You see?" She said with a teasing grin," you’re letting my gender get in the way, don’t hold back, I won’t!"

Unexpectedly, he thrust his pelvis upward knocking her off balance; she grunted and rolled to the mat. He took advantage of her fall to get back up, assuming a defensive stance.

"Okay then sweetheart," Joey said, with a focused look on his face, "let’s dance!"

Shayera smiled, enjoying the sparring. Joey was not backing down and it was exciting her, like a good old-fashioned Thanagarian seduction dance. "Joey’s not Thanagarian though, this may not be his idea of flirting!" she thought.

She threw a punch at him, which he blocked, and responded with an attempted knee to the stomach, which she sidestepped with ease. Joey smiled at her agility; she was good, very good, considering she was not using her full strength.

She tried a kick of her own, that grazed his chin.

"Nnh, bit my tongue!" Joey said, holding his mouth.

Shayera looked at him with concern, "Joey, I’m sorry! I didn’t realize I hit you that hard! Are you okay?" She came closer to him putting a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face her, catching her in a bear hug and followed up with a textbook belly-to-belly suplex, falling on top of her.

"Gotcha!" He said with a grin, looking into her eyes.

"Why you sneaky …" She said also grinning. She rolled him on his back, pinning his arms above his head, smiling, panting. She looked in his eyes and brought her face closer to his, wanting to kiss him. To her disappointment, he moved his head back a bit.

She looked angry, squeezing his wrists. "What Joey? Don’t you want me? I usually don’t give personal one on one training sessions, Joey Lucas, and unless you haven’t noticed I’m throwing myself at you! And you reject me?" She said,almost yelling.

She squeezed his wrists a bit harder, panting, and unable to hide the hurt expression on her face.

"No Shayera, that’s not it at all!" He said, wincing as his hands were going numb.

"Then what, Joey, explain yourself and make it good, why won’t you kiss me?" She said, with her voice near tears.

"Damn, Shayera, I’ve been wanting you since day one," Joey said, "I never realized you felt the same way. In fact, I thought you and Green Lantern still had feelings for each other, that’s why I never had the nerve to approach you! Just now I wasn’t sure if you were still testing me, as if a female Super Villain tries to seduce you?"

She relaxed her grip on his wrists, her expression softened. Looking into his eyes, she said, "John and I gave it a shot, it failed. We gave it a second shot, and it failed again. He’s moved on with is life, he’s in love with Vixen and we’re all cool. I’m trying to move on with my life now Joey. What you say next will decide if my life moves on with you or not!"

Joey raised his head and kissed her, long and passionately. She released his wrists, gently holding his face between her hands, and they kissed some more. They gasped.

"I take it you’re interested Mr Lucas?" She said.

"Definitely!" Joey said, smiling.

They stood up. "I hope this isn’t your idea of foreplay, I don’t think I could survive!" He said.

Shayera laughed good-heartedly, and put her left hand on his face, squeezing his cheeks to pucker him up.

"I promise I’ll take it easy on you!" She said and kissed him.

"Wow, that’s some grip you have!" He said, rubbing his face.

Shayera laughed some more, and held his right arm. They left the gym.

"By the way Joey, when’s your birthday?" She asked.

"Why do you ask?" He said.

"Oh, no reason!" She said with a smirk, discreetly putting her left wing around his back.