The bridge was empty, which was unusual for that time. The cars honked in the distance along with news vans all piled up at the front, being held back by rows of police cars and their officers. They set up the tape, all trying to talk over the sound of the helicopter in the distance.
Standing outside of it, his hand holding the door was none other than Sophist. He took off his hat with his free hand and bowed before the audience, a grin on his face.
Attached to the helicopter and hanging below was a glass container containing a total of ten people, all screaming for help and huddling each other in fear.
Hawkgirl arrived soon after, now hovering around twenty feet from Sophist, her mace in her hand and still without a helmet.
"Good evening, Hawkgirl! Welcome to tonight's exercise," his voice echoed through the megaphone.
"Sophist. What is this?" she demanded.
"A test of endurance. I've focused a little too much on the emotional lately. This container holds ten civilians, all very scared, I must add. This rope is holding them strong above the water, and soon I will release that very rope. You might be thinking that you could let them land in water safely, but that's where you're wrong. You should know me better than that by now. I've introduced a small amount of francium to the bottom of the container. Francium is a highly reactive element that has a tendency to explode when in contact with water. So as you would guess, if this container touches the water... well, I don't think I need to go into much detail," Sophist told her.
"You're insane."
"Tell me what's new!" Sophist joked back.
"Alright. I get it. Just help them back up to the bridge. Should be easy," Hawkgirl replied, flew up towards the rope and grabbed it, preparing herself. She pulled a little, to get a feel for it. It was heavy, alright. It would be difficult but doable.
"I'll assume that means you're ready now? The game starts now. Release the rope!" Sophist added, with a certain showmanship and wave of his arm, and with that the rope was released and the helicopter flew upwards.
Hawkgirl wrapped the rope around her hands and braced herself. This was going to hurt.
Anton had seen the news while admiring his collection with a glass of wine. He knew Hawkgirl would be there, armour on and wings spread out. He couldn't go back to the apartment. A member of the Justice League would definitely be prepared for his return, so he needed to find her elsewhere. What better time than when she's preoccupied?
He turned invisible and simply walked past the police barriers, ignoring the sounds around him. He walked up to the side of the bridge and looked at the container.
He teleported to the top. The people looked up in confusion, hearing the sound of footsteps walking along the glass roof. Anton pulled out a knife from his pocket and started sawing at it. He didn't do it completely. Otherwise, it would be obvious there was interference, and Anton didn't want to be the first to find out what happened if you messed with one of Sophist's games. He could hear the rope strain. He put the knife back and teleported back up to the bridge. Now he just had to wait.
Hawkgirl groaned as she slowly started to lift the container. It was difficult but she was making steady progress. It was almost high enough now. Then she started to feel the rope slowly give way. She was running out of time.
The rope snapped, and in an instant Hawkgirl dove, wings snapping out. She reached the bottom and grabbed the container from below. She was holding it barely, but she couldn't get a proper grip on it. The people were screaming inside.
"That's not supposed to happen?" Sophist muttered to himself, his eyes squinting in confusion.
The container was now only fifteen feet above the water and only getting closer.
"Hawkgirl! Let go! I'll..." Sophist screamed out.
"Can't! They'll die!" She yelled back, interrupting him.
Eight feet turned into six feet. If she let it even graze the water, they'll all die, including her. Maybe with her psychology she could survive, but unlikely.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
She was now four feet above the water. This wasn't a bad way to die, trying to save a bunch of people. Just when she was learning to love living again and feel free again. What luck. But at least this life meant something.
Two feet.
Hawkgirl looked up, and the people started to disappear from inside the container along with a certain lavishly dressed figure. In seconds everyone was now gone. The people now just collapsed on the bridge, relieved and confused.
She felt an arm gripping around her waist, and for a second she thought she could see Sophist's anguished face. Hawkgirl appeared a second later, landing on the concrete. Her legs fell to the ground, and her wings were still spread out.
BOOM
An explosion bellowed from under the bridge, and water gushed upwards, even landing on the bridge.
Then she saw Sophist, about twenty feet away, staggered. He dropped to one knee. His face was pale, and sweat was visible along his forehead. He was breathing hard, like he ran a marathon.
He looked at Hawkgirl, and they made eye contact for a few seconds before he collapsed.
Hawkgirl still stared. She'd only ever seen Sophist composed and flamboyant, going over everything like a TV game show host. It was infuriating honestly. Now he looked like a man who went well past his limits.
Hawkgirl moved towards him, not sure if it was another one of his tricks. A part of the game. He looked up at her, his eyes unfocused and exhausted.
"Someone...interfered. Rope wasn't...supposed...to snap..." he manged.
"What happened?"
"Don't know. Need to...find out who..." he tried to reply before his eyes rolled back and he was out completely.
Hawkgirl kneeled besides him and checked his pulse. Rapid but steady. It was clear he pushed his ability to its limits, and now he was enduring the repercussions. To save them. To save her.
She should restrain him. Call Batman and turn him over to custody. He's a wanted criminal. But he also just saved ten people and her. He also showed her the will to live again. How to grieve. That complicated things.
Sirens started to approach. Emergency services were waiting close by on standby for when Hawkgirl saved the civilians. That was what was planned at least. Before someone interfered.
She pulled Sophist towards her, laying his head on her lap. He put himself in that state to save her and everyone else. She heard footsteps. A civilian who was still shaking from fear.
"Is that...him? The man from the news? Sophist?"
She didn't know how to answer. "He saved you. That's what matters right now," she answered finally.
The civilian didn't look convinced. Neither did the rest of them. He put them in there in the first place; the fact he saved them didn't change that fact. But it did complicate the matter.
Emergency services arrived and paramedics attended to the civilians. Hawkgirl gave them her statement. No one asked about the man in an expensive suit, unconscious on the floor behind her. She was protecting him, and she didn't understand why.
"How long was I out?" Sophist asked, looking up towards Shayera. His voice was still weak.
Hawkgirl looked down to her lap and into Sophist's eyes. He was still pale. "Twenty minutes. Everyone's safe," she said.
"You didn't arrest me?" he replied back, confused.
"You collapsed from saving them and me. Seemed like poor timing," she answered.
"How sincere of you," Sophist replied with a slight smile.
"What happened? Why did the rope snap?" Shayera asked.
"Someone interfered. A recent friend of yours, if I had to guess," Sophist mubbled back to her.
"The Fadeaway Man?" Shayera asked.
"Yes. I can assume that since your precious mace seems to be no longer in your possession," Sophist replied and glanced towards where Shayera's mace was supposed to be held.
Shayera glanced at her side. "Shit!" she exclaimed.
Sophist leaned forwards and used the side of the bridge to help himself stand again.
"I'm fine. Just worked on my legs a little too much today," Sophist joked, and then he looked directly at her. "You were going to die."
"I know."
Silence fell between them.
"You saved us and nearly killed yourself doing so. Why?" she asked.
"You weren't supposed to die. Neither were they," he answered.
"So you have limits? Rules you don't cross," Shayera asked.
Sophist wanted to say yes. But he couldn't. He was the villain. He needed to stay that way. "No. I just don't like being cheated. I make these games for my own enjoyment. I don't like someone else ruining the fun," he replied.
"Why lie?"
Mike didn't answer.
"You're not the villain I thought you were," she said.
"I'm exactly the villain you thought I was. I just have standards. Standards someone violated," Sophist corrected.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
Sophist paused. "I need to pay someone a visit."
"He's mine! He's stolen from me twice now," Shayera shouted back.
"We can share."
"I don't work with villains," she snapped back.
"You're working with me right now. You protected me while I was unconscious," Sophist retorted, gesturing towards the police cars.
"This was different."
"How?"
"You saved us. Nearly killing yourself while doing so. That counts for something," Shayera answered.
"Does it? I put them there in the first place. I've committed numerous terrorist attacks, not just towards you but Martian Manhunter too," Sophist replied, tilting his head.
"I know, but...you have rules. Tonight I saw you break them to save lives. That means you're not the monster everyone thinks you are," Shayera replied, struggling to find the right words.
"Everyone's a monster. The question is what kind. I'm the kind that puts others in danger, and you're the kind that protects strangers. Have you seen Monsters Inc.?" Sophist replied.
"You seem like Mike. Trying to help Sully," she replied.
"Go home. Heal," he replied and turned away, seemingly ready to leave. "For the record...You're exactly the hero I thought you would be," he added before vanishing.
Hawkgirl was now alone on the bridge, staring at the empty space. Hawkgirl had spent months hating him, and now that was changing. He became a rival, but now she saw him vulnerable. Now she couldn't help but wonder about the man behind the mask and top hat.
Life just got more complicated. As always.