Hawkgirl soared through the sky, which was painted with shades of orange and yellow, over Midway City as the sun began to set. Below her the city sprawled, mostly rebuilt from Satanna's assault just over two months ago.
For the first time in years, she was enjoying it. The pleasure of the wind flowing through her hair and wings. She banked left with a spiral just because she could and laughed.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed like this when alone. She was actually feeling the joy of simply being alive.
Shayera levelled out, going into a glide. The city was quiet tonight, with not a crime in sight. She had to simply be.
Ever since she had that conversation with Sophist she changed, and she knew it herself, but she didn't quite know what. The pain from her reincarnations still pressed down on her, but the fear of outliving everyone she loves became more manageable.
Shayera descended slightly, watching people through their windows. A couple arguing. A kid doing homework with his headphones on. A guy breakdancing in his living room. Normal lives. Beautiful in their brevity.
She used to resent them. All these people who got to live without knowing you'll live while they die. Not having a choice on whom you love before it's too late and the memories return. Now she just watched, without bitterness.
"Hawkgirl! We've got a situation. A crane malfunction has left a worker strapped in the operator cabin in the harbor district with structural failure imminent," her comms crackled.
Her wings snapped into full extension, and she changed her trajectory, speeding towards the incident.
Three minutes later she was hovering beside the crane cabin with the groaning of support cables. The man inside stared at her from the window, his eyes wide with terror.
"I've got you. Stay still," she called.
She jabbed her mace towards the window, shattering it, the glass falling onto the cabin's floor. She reached and grabbed the worker by her arms and pulled him out. Moments later the cables snapped, and the crane fell to the ground.
Shayera carried the man to safety and set him down gently on the ground. He was shaking and gasping for breath.
"You're okay. Breathe. You're safe now," she said.
He nodded, still unable to speak, with a few tears streaming down his face. Emergency services arrived, and Shayera gave them the rundown of what happened. She started to prepare herself to take off when the worker grabbed her arm.
"Thank you. I have...I've got two kids. Two girls. Thank you," he managed.
"You're welcome. Get home safe and spend the rest of the week with your daughters," she smiled.
She lifted into the air. Two kids now still had their father instead of a wife planning a funeral. That mattered to her now more than it used to. It was enough this time.
Later that night, Shayera was sitting in the Watchtower with a coffee in her hand. Flash zipped in and noticed her alone and decided to sit with her, appearing in a flash with three protein bars now suddenly laid out on the table.
"You okay? You've been sitting here for like forty minutes now, hardly moving. It's kinda creepy," he asked.
"I'm fine. Just thinking," Shayera replied.
"About?" Flash questioned.
"About how I used to hate being here. Surrounded by people who'd die centuries before me and count down the time I have left with all of you. The time until I was alone again," she replied.
"That's a depressing way to start a conversation...but what about now?" he asked quietly.
"Now I'm just...here, drinking bad coffee. Talking to you. And that's okay. You'll die long before me, and that's sad, but it doesn't make this conversation meaningless," she replied, looking at him.
Flash was quiet for a moment. "Wow, it somehow got even more depressing. That was really sad but kinda beautiful at the same time."
"Yeah. It is," Shayera smiled.
Flash grabbed his food and started to leave, pausing when he stood up. "For what it's worth. I'm glad you're here. You're good people, Shayera," he said, gone before she could respond.
Shayera finished her coffee, rinsing the cup, and headed back to her apartment.
Across the city in his apartment was Sophist, standing before his holographic displays. It showed plans for 'Hawkgirl Phase Two' along with the audio of her conversation with The Flash. Mike studied the information.
She was different. Not fully healed yet, but she was definitely better than she was the last time they met. Her death wish was gone.
"She's better now," he said to himself, alone in his apartment. Like usual.
But Mike saw something new in Hawkgirl. Small movements and micro-expressions that seemed to show fear.
"She still fears loss," Mike whispered, tapping a pen on his chin.
He made a note in her file. She'd come far. From a suicidal warrior grinding through life to someone who's genuinely happy to see the next morning sun. That was significant progress.
But she wasn't done. Wasn't at her full potential. Mike studied the screens a while longer before closing the files.
THE OTHER UNIVERSE
Derek Dick kicked the thug's corpse aside, watching his system interface update with casual satisfaction.
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: +250]
[LEVEL UP! You are now Level 6]
[SKILL LEVEL UP: Enhanced Reflexes II]
"Fucking finally," Derek muttered, dismissing the notification with a thought.
The alley was a mess. Three bodies lay on the ground. They pulled out knives thinking he was an easy target. He snapped their necks. Idiots.
Derek stepped over the second corpse without a care. To him, they were just NPCs that didn't matter besides fueling his growth and desires. His interface flickered.
[QUEST COMPLETE]
[FIRST BLOOD]
[Reward: +500 XP, Skill: Charm Enhancement]
"Hell yes," Derek grinned.
The system made it clear to him that he could gain power, seduce women, and level up until he became untouchable, and the universe made it easy for him. They weren't real people to him
He checked his stats.
LEVEL: 6
STRENGTH: 9
CHARISMA: 7
INTELLIGENCE: 6
POWERS UNLOCKED: 3
Still weak compared to what he'd eventually become, but he was growing and learning. Derek pulled out his phone, reading the articles about Rave, Power Girl, and much more, dreaming about what he'll do to them.
The system told him he was special. Chosen. He intended to use it to give him the ability to create the universe as his playground. For himself. For power.
Why? Because why the fuck not? He was done playing nice.