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Post by Green Lantern on Apr 11, 2015 1:24:34 GMT
Stewart kept his eyes on Shayera as the ball had left his hand. Erm, ya know, simply to watch her form....Stance! To watch her stance as she swung the bat! And to be honest John even smiled a bit as the bat collided with the speeding baseball. However that slightly faded as instead of screaming off into the distance; the ball flew straight up into the air.
Ha!
John heard Shayera exclaim.
I told you I could do it.
Fair enough. She had indeed hit the ball. And John couldn't blame her excitement too much either. Shayera had seemed a lil bit embarrassed to have missed the first pitch.
Uh Shayera...
The lantern began but paused. He watched as the baseball finally plummeted back to the Earth and landed with a PLOP! in the dirt beside home-plate. A small chuckle escaping from him. John began walking towards Shayera.
That was a nice swing. Lots of power in it that should've sent the ball flying right out of the state.
As he approached Shayera, Stewart's ring lit up and a construct of a pitcher begin to materialize on the mound.
But your stance was off just a bit. Here let me help you..
He truly believed that once Shayera started knocking the ball out of the park like Sammy Sosa or Mark McGwire, or even Barry Bonds; that she'd really begin to enjoy the game.
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Post by Hawkwoman on Apr 26, 2015 0:53:15 GMT
Shayera scoffed at him telling her 'she was close but not close enough' this game was stupid and tedious, what real skill did it involve? Hmm? How hard was it to hit a ball with a wooden bat? Not that hard, she had done it...just because she didn't hit it the 'right' way didn't matter. As he came closer to her and began setting up things to help her the Thanagarian didn't really pay attention to what John was doing, having already lost interest in this silly earth game. It wasn't until he started getting closer and then closer did she start to pay attention again.
John was standing just inches from her and suddenly Shayera became all too aware of what was happening, not that anything was happening he was just trying to show her how to hit the ball properly but her mind instantly wandered to places it shouldn't and that made her adjust her step a little as her mind tried to give herself something else to focus on. (meh)
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Post by Green Lantern on Apr 26, 2015 1:58:12 GMT
The construct of a baseball pitcher was fully materialized on the mound. It stood lifeless, waiting for John to will it to make a pitch. Meanwhile John was standing close behind Shayera. As he'd crossed the distance between them, John got the feeling from her movements an expressions she was both annoyed and bored. All she needed was to just one pitch out of the park! Then, then John knew that Shayera would be hooked on at least going to a batting cage sometime.
When the lantern stood behind Shayera, the redheaded beauty changed her stance a bit. Maybe she was a bit uneasy about this, but it passed by John.
Alright Shayera raise the bat up.
That was foremost here. And once she had, Stewart put his large hands on Shayera's hips. John pulled down and back slightly on Shayera's hips to bend her knees. Seeing as how he was right up behind her now, it pulled the Thanagarian more into him.
Now ya wanna grab it like...
John leaned into Shayera more now. His chest was against her back, face over her shoulder. He had to reach a hand up to pull some of her firery red hair away and brushed her neck slightly. Hmm. The lantern thought he detected the slightest hint of a perfume as he inhaled.
...this.
He brung up his hands from Shayera's hips to her arms, just above her wrists. John slid his hands down over Shayera's to adjust how she had the bat held. For a moment Stewart's train of thought left him at the station. He was somewhat enamored with how smooth Shayera's skin was. So so soft.
"No Stewart! Don't even think like that.."
The lantern was inwardly chastising himself. He knew way better than to think any kind of thoughts like the ones trying to flood his mind. John and Shayera were just friends. That's all they'd ever been despite his crush on her. It was all they ever could be because of...well....yeah. A good, deep breath, and John was ready to go. He had Shayera in a perfect stance to bat.
Here we go..
The pitcher construct went through the motions and launched a baseball towards homeplate. At just the right moment, John went through the motions of the swing with Shayera.
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Post by Hawkwoman on May 1, 2015 3:19:34 GMT
Everything that was happening didn't really register with Shayera at first. When John came up behind her her first instinct was to turn around to defend herself but she had to tell her body not to react how it was trained. This was John after all and there was no reason to send him to the infirmary for trying to help her, that would just be rude. While she was preoccupied with trying not to instinctively smack or elbow him Shayera wasn't paying attention to just how close he was until she felt hands on her hips and her mind did a complete 180.
This wouldn't be the first time someone has placed her in the correct stance but something about the way he touched her was different. It was so soft and tender, his hands were so warm and the way they moved..it was like a caress. Maybe she was imanging things given how close they were but she couldn't ignore the shiver that shot down her spine either. What was going on? This wasn't supposed to happen. Shayera wasn't stupid, she knew what this was but it couldn't be that...it just couldn't. It was wrong and it would create too many problems for the both of them. No, it was best to push this aside and focus on the task at hand.....what was that task again?
Oh yeah, trying to hit this damned ball.
Shayera set her jaw tight as she tried to focus on what she was supposed to be doing, finding it harder with him so close to her but as the ball was released and she felt John move her with him Shayera's mind was a million miles away right now. She would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it before...a few times but that was all it was, a passing fantasy and one that could never come to fruition. It was best to forget that this ever happened.
The sound of a 'crack' brought her back to reality as she heard the ball and bat collide as the bat flew forward toward the grass field beyond the diamond. Huh, well she guessed that it was possible after all. "We did it!" She said, stepping forward and away from him so she could look at him without being so close. Not that she wanted to move but...it was better if she did. For both of them.
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Post by Green Lantern on May 3, 2015 18:33:46 GMT
If there was ever any doubt that John Stewart possed one of the strongest wills in the Green Lantern Corps, then today....right now, this moment...those doubts would be put to rest. That is, if anyone knew John's story and what he felt towards Shayera Thal. Because it had been so long since Stewart had held a woman in his arms that he cared so deeply for. So very long. He had put his heart under lock and key after his beloved wife was viciously murdered. His mission....his duty as a Green Lantern was what the young man from Detroit focused on. To other members of the Justice League it made him seem somewhat cold and distant. Yet along had come Shayera breaking the lock on his heart.
Of course she was a vision of beauty with her curves and that auburn red hair. Where others see her wings and immediately draw the comparison with a hawk, John sees wings like an angel's. And he loved the way she tended to crinkle her nose at times when she was thinking intently on something. But its so much more than just that physical beauty that has drawn the lantern's gaze longer than it should on many occasions. Shayera was such a strong woman. So sure and confident in herself and her abilities. The woman stood before an alien tribunal and never flinched. The number of people that could do that was short. Oh and her firery temperament/attitude. It was a bit too much for some, but not Stewart. He admired the way she was in your face and unapologetic for it. Shayera was Shayera and she didn't care if that bothered ya.
Now here John had found himself with this woman he loved, no matter how much he told himself it was just a really big crush, in his arms. Literally she was in his arms right now. Yeah, he was just intending to show her the proper way to bat. That was all. But being this close brought those thoughts and feelings he always pushed down around her back to the front of his mind. John wanted nothing more than to let the pitcher construct fade from existence. His heart wanted him to turn Shayera to face him, confess his feelings for her, and then kiss her. But thankfully John did possess a truly superhuman will. Instead he pushed those thoughts back and concentrated on the task.
CRACK!!!!
Together John and Shayera smacked the ball with the bat. Thank god too because it brought John further back to Earth as the ball went screaming over the outfield fence. He didn't see where it had landed. Nor was there too much care for that. The lantern was disappointed as Shayera stepped out of his arms. Of course he hid that well as she turned to him and exclaimed about the hit.
We did it!
He gave her a wide smile and smacked his hands together.
Yes! That's what I'm talking about Shayera! See, I knew you could blast that ball outta here!
The fact Shayera seemed to genuinely be excited about it added to John's own excitement for her.
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Post by Hawkwoman on May 28, 2015 0:32:40 GMT
Shayera watched her ball as it kept flying and then she looked at her bat. "I don't see why I couldn't do it myself." She was still a little pride broken that she needed John's help..even if it did get them closer. 'People actually make a living off of this game?" She asked, turned back to look at him. It seemed silly to her, spending all that money on some simple sport but, she supposed she couldn't talk much. They had something like that on Thanagar only it was fighting pits but a hawk could make a good living doing it, if they made it that long.
Noticing how close they were standing again Shayera inched herself away a little more. Safer, better that way. Once she had she let the tip of the bat touch the dirt on the field..might as well keep conversation going instead of make things weird. Not that they were.. "So, this is what you do in your spare time, play baseball? I would have thought you'd live a more exciting life, maybe have a nice girl to go visit..not this." esus Shayera, that was smooth, she wanted to kick herself but this was just two friends catching up, relationship talk was bound to come up.
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Post by Green Lantern on May 28, 2015 17:33:41 GMT
I don't see why I couldn't do it myself.
John thought he could detect a bit of sulk in that statement. Shayera was a very proud woman, rarely seeming to want or need help. But hey we couldn't all be great at everything on the first try. So the lantern shook his head and half chuckled.
Its alright Shayera. You did pretty good for your first time ever trying the game. I struck out or popped-out several times before I ever got my first hit in little league. But its just all connected. From your stance to the way you hold the bat down to your swing.
People actually make a living off this game?
A nod.
An incredible one. The best players, if they saved all the money they made, could probably rival Bruce's fortune.
Just let that thought set in. Here they were out saving the world on a weekly(sometimes nightly) basis and didn't get paid for that. Yet a guy hitting a ball with a stick had potential to have a fortune in the same league as Bruce Wayne. Hmm. Then again none of them got into their line of work for the money. It was just the right and good thing to do with the powers and abilities the members of the Justice League possessed.
John frowned slightly as Shayera moved a lil further back from him again. He kind of wondered what he was doing to make her uneasy being that close. Maybe she'd picked up on his affection for her. Noticed how much he'd enjoyed having Shayera in his embrace before. Hmm. If that were the case maybe it best if she did move away then. The lantern didn't want things to get weird and awkward.
So this is what you do in your spare time, play baseball? I would have thought you lived a more exciting life, maybe have a nice girl to go visit...not this.
At the last part there, Stewart arched a curious eyebrow. It'd been a good while since John was into the dating scene, but that almost sounded like fishing to find out if someone were single or not. nah! That couldn't be what she meant by that. All more likely was that Shayera was just making conversation. So the lantern relaxed a bit.
Saving the world isn't exciting enough a life Shayera?
He asked jokingly.
Actually I don't get a chance to play as much as I'd like. As I said before, it kind of difficult to connect with people on Earth anymore. I feel like an outsider with as much time as I've spent patrolling the sector. People usually just want to see tricks with the ring or ask about other members of the League. Quite a few guys have asked for your number by the way...
John added with a wink.
Usually I just stay in my apartment and watch the Tigers or listen to the police scanner for a chance to help out. So no....No nice girl to visit.
A sigh followed.
After Katma...I..I can't put someone in danger like that, being associated with me in that way...Besides, not many women on Earth are going to want to sit around and wait while their man goes ring-slinging around the sector.
John laughed.
I think Hal and Clark might've found the only two anyways. But what about you? Bookworm just doesn't fit the image I have of Shayera Thal in my head.
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Post by Hawkwoman on Jun 6, 2015 5:29:37 GMT
Shayera felt bad once he mentioned Katma, she knew the weight that was on him because of her loss and everything leading up to and after that. He had told her once and it was something she didn't think he told many, it made Shayera feel honored but at the same time she couldn't believe how clueless she had been in asking a question like that knowing full well what could have come from it. But, John seemed to shrug it off as he laughed and turned it back onto her.
The mention of her sitting and reading not feeding into the image he had of her caused Shayera to raise a brow. "We all have our secrets." She teased "who knows, maybe one day I'll tell you one of mine." Maybe she should tell John the one that had been weighing on her for months now, it would probably help to talk to someone about it but talking to John about her problems didn't seem right.
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Post by Green Lantern on Jun 6, 2015 23:16:32 GMT
Thinking of Katma was a mixed bag of emotions for John ever since...since...well, since that day. Of course when he thinks about the time he and Katma had together, the lantern can't help but be filled with a sense of joy. Those were some of the best times of his life. On the opposite side of the coin? Thinking too much on Katma brung up the memory of how she was taken from him. His love murdered by a vengeful Fatality.
*Sigh*
Even now it was depressing. Few members of the Justice League knew details of what all had transpired. Even less knew all the details involved. As their friendship had grown over the years, Shayera was one of the few John chose to talk to about it. She'd been there with a shoulder during the dark times.
The fact she was here with him now was what led Stewart to deny himself a dip back into the depression. Nope. John had laughed off the tease about thinking he'd have a pretty girl to spend time with. Though, if we're being truthful here, he was spending his time off with the one woman he wanted to. But, ah-hem, moving on...
"We all have our secrets"
Shayera teased.
"Who knows, maybe one day I'll tell you one of mine."
One day?! One?!
John scoffed at the very idea. He'd very well earned a few....A couple at least. And damn sure earned them sooner rather than later. Though Shayera was a great friend, she still seemed to keep a lot of things closely guarded to herself. But this lantern was ready to break through some of that armor.
I saved your butt today Shayera. Shared a meal with you...
If you could count a hot dog as a meal that is.
...and taught you how to hit a home run. I've earned at least a couple of your secrets Ms Thal.
John told her point blank and crossed his arms now. All the while attempting to look like he meant it. Trying his best to hold back the smirk.
So spill 'em.
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Post by Hawkwoman on Jun 8, 2015 3:54:03 GMT
At his demand that she spill her secrets Shayera thought a moment, what could it hurt? Really, it might be good to get things off her chest and talk with someone about them. That was what she had always been told to do, share her burden and even if that was never really Shayera's style right now it seemed like it might be helpful. But, that didn't mean she was going to make it easy for him.
Looking out over the baseball field Shayera noticed that the sun was getting low in the sky, it would be dusk soon, had they really been out that long? It hadn't seemed like it but she supposed she had been having such a good time that she hadn't been paying attention. As she was looking out over the horizon Shayera spotted some birds flying and chasing each other which gave her a idea. A small smirk crossed her lips and she turned back to look at John "Fine" She said "but, you'll have to catch me first." With that Shayera dropped the bat that she was holding and flapped her wings at the ground, her feet lifting off as she kicked up a cloud of dust from the pitch and took off toward the sky.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It had been a long and interesting day, definitely better than the one she had planned. Sitting alone and reading didn't really compare to sitting here on top of a skyscraper watching the sun go down over the city.
After Shayera had started her little game John had given chase and the two had playfully dodged and weaved around each other until finally Shayera lead them to the top of a building to sit. Even though John never technically caught her Shayera still decided that she was being unfair and once they had settled in she told him a few of her 'secrets' like: Her favorite color was green, she had a soft spot for kittens, her favorite earth movie was Gone with the Wind and Terminator..things like that but kept her major one just that for now. No need to ruin a perfectly good day.
"I don't think I've had this much fun in a long time." She said after any teasing from John about her revelations had died down "thank you." Shayera turned to look at him, she meant it and she wanted him to know that.
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Post by Green Lantern on Jun 9, 2015 2:26:35 GMT
John could see that Shayera was thinking over his call for her to spill her secrets. He certainly had hoped that she would go ahead and do just that. For one he was curious just what secrets she had, and secondly if they were bad then it could be helpful spilling them.
"Fine"
He began to feel a lil pride. That was a lil easier than expected..
"But, you'll have to catch me first"
Wait...What?!
Before the lantern had chance to get the words out Shayera was airborne. She'd dropped her bat and flapped her wings in a fluid motion, lifting off the ground. Stewart shook his head and raised his right hand up towards the air. Suddenly John was flying off after Shayera, determined to catch her and further earn her secrets.
~*~*~*~*~*~
After a round of playful dodging and weaving, Shayera had led them to the top of a Chicago skyscraper. Now they were sitting there watching as the sun dipped down below the horizon. It was a fitting end to the day. A day spent in the company of a great friend having, in John's mind at least, great times.
Stewart had given Shayera some playful razing when she finally let slip some of her secrets. But it was of course only playful picking though. There was certainly nothing wrong with her preferring the color green. Nor was there anything at all wrong with that soft spot for kittens. Honestly that didn't surprise John. He imagined she had a soft spot somewhere. Terminator seemed like an obvious movie choice, though Gone With The Wind was a shocker. That one he really picked at her about.
The laughter and picking had finally died down. Now they were just sitting there in their own thoughts as the sun sank lower an lower. John's attention was drawn back to now as Shayera spoke.
"I don't think I've had this much fun in a long time."
She'd started. Stewart smiled and was about ot suggest it was no trouble, something he was happy to do. Then she kind of stunned him.
"Thank you."
Shayera had turned to look at him when she spoke those words. There was something about the way that she spoke the words. Something about the way she was looking at him. John could really feel how sincere she was right now. The honesty moved him to share some of his own.
Anytime Shayera.
He gazed into her eyes.
And thank you. Thank you for making me feel at home again on Earth today. Its honestly been quite a while.
John turned his body more to really show his attention to Shayera. As Stewart did he went to place his hand on the ledge they were sitting on. Unintentionally his hand landed on Shayera's. Both of them looked at his hand atop her's. There seemed to be a spark between the two. At least it certainly felt like there was, because as wrong as he knew it was, the lantern couldn't resist what felt natural in this moment. John moved his hand as he leaned in towards Shayera, that hand stroking over her cheek en route to pushing some strands of hair from her face. Then his lips met her's while his hand slid through her hair and held the back of her head. It was at this moment, sitting on the edge of a skyscraper that John just lost all sense of the world as he finally planted the kiss on Shayera he'd been wanting to lay upon her lips for a good while now.
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Post by Hawkwoman on Jun 11, 2015 1:18:17 GMT
This was the worst position she could have put herself in and that was saying something considering that she had been in plenty of sticky situations in the past. Shayera had more than a hunch of John's feelings for some time now but it wasn't until today when she knew for sure, she had struggled with her own feelings for some time as well. Constantly denying them and brushing them off as something else. They had done their dance around for months but There was no dancing around this any longer.
Shayera knew she was in trouble when their hands touched and she should have pulled hers away, it would have been the smart thing to do to end this before things got any more confusing and complicated but, she didn't. Nor did she move as John pushed her hair back or did she move away as he leaned in closer.
As their lips touched Shayera tried to justify her pulling away, trying to will herself to do it but she didn't want to. This felt right, it was warm and his touch was caring, much like what Katar's had been once before.
Katar..he was still a factor in her life, this wasn't right.
But, if this was happening then that meant that there was something else, right?
Maybe this wasn't as wrong as she was making it?
Shayera tried reasoning and questioning, her mind trying to find ways around to justify this as not as bad as it seems and she was doing somewhat well with that until she felt herself lean more into the kiss and her hand slip to John's shoulder. It was then that her mind snapped back to reality and she pulled away.
"John..we cant." Shayera didn't know what else to say, what else was there to say? It was true, they couldn't do this, there were too many factors: They worked together and it would cause gossip and problems with their duties as heroes and she was married. This was wrong, everything was wrong and she should have just got up and flew away. But, she didn't. What was wrong with her?!
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Post by Green Lantern on Jun 11, 2015 1:53:03 GMT
John Stewart was a good man. A GOOD man damn it! He wasn't the type of man to wreck a happy home. No. Not this man. The strength of John's character had been a big factor in his being chosen to be a Green Lantern. He was a well respected member of the Justice League, a position he'd worked so hard to re-earn after Xanshi. John's will was absolute, he didn't fall to temptation.
Those were the things Stewart told himself as their hands touched. Over an over again he told himself this as he watched his hand brush the hair from Shayera's face. Then their lips touched and the world seemed to fade away.
Gone. Everything was gone but the two of them. It was a moment in time that John could've lived in forever.
Still there was that nagging at the back of his mind. What he was doing was wrong. You just didn't kiss another man's wife like this....Like this?! You didn't do it at all!
But then again Shayera wasn't making any effort to break away. In fact though John had been out f the scene for awhile, he could still tell when someone enjoyed a kiss. It was obvious they both were caught up in their kiss. Obviously Shayera was liking it. John felt the way she was leaning in towards him. And if she liked it, enjoyed their lips together in a passionate kiss like this? Well all must not have been right at home...
"No! Bad John! You can't think this way!", he tried to tell himself. But it wasn't until Shayera's hand landed on his shoulder that one of them snapped back. Almost instantly it seemed Shayera was back to her senses, pulling away.
John...we can't.
She said simply. John though was quite embarrassed with himself. He instinctively jumped from the ledge to give her some space. The lantern now floating in the air a few feet away from Shayera. The elbow of his right arm rested in his left hand whilst the right hand held his chin. Stewart's gaze was fixated on the ledge below Shayera now. He'd just pushed them and their friendship past a line that shouldn't have been crossed, there was no way he could look at her in this moment.
Shayera, I...I'm....I never should have done....Look I'm sorry, I understand if you don't want to...to..
To what? hang out anymore? Be friends? Work together? Gah! The lantern was trying to pull his words out of thinair like a construct, but luck was not on his side right now.
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Post by Hawkwoman on Jun 29, 2015 0:34:56 GMT
When John distanced himself from here Shayera sat on the ledge for a moment deep in thought. What had they just done? What if someone had seen, just because they were up here didn't mean anything, what if someone was watching, how was she going to explain this to Katar? What about Katar? Even if they had their problems Shayera didn't want to hurt him like this but she also didn't want to hurt John either.
She hardly heard a word he said to her as the guilt and the mixed feelings hit her hard like a truck.
What did they do now? Did they talk about it? Did they ignore it and pretend like it never happened? That would be the best thing, never mention it again and act like everything was normal. Yes, that seemed like the best idea, pretend nothing happened because nothing did, that kiss meant nothing it was just a heat of the moment thing, a mistake, a fluke. Best to leave it as it was.
Speaking of leaving things...
Shayera looked at John for a moment and then down toward the city below them. "I have to go." She said before pushing herself from the ledge and free falling a little before her wings started moving and carried her. Shayera was never one to run from things but this was something that needed to be ran from. They could talk later, right now she needed to get her head on straight. (Last one is yours if you want it)
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Post by Green Lantern on Jun 29, 2015 16:39:27 GMT
Neither of them had looked at one another for several moments after the kiss. John was embarrassed that he had let himself do that. True enough he'd let himself develop strong feelings for Shayera. There was no denial of it. However he'd made sure to always keep it in check since she was married to Katar. Stewart would never want to be that guy who stepped in between a husband and wife, ruining what they had.
Dammit that kiss though!
John could only imagine what kind of thoughts Shayera was working through in her mind. She was probably worse off than John himself right now. He raised his gaze to her, but almost immediately dropped it back down. She had looked up at him for a moment.
I have to go.
Shayera said. He figured that was coming. Couldn't even blame her as she slipped off the ledge. Stewart watched her free fall before flapping her wings and flying off. He found himself reaching towards the direction she flew, muttering her name softly.
Shayera...
Stewart shook his head before stretching said arm above his head and flying up towards the orbiting WatchTower, hopeful there weren't many other league members currently aboard.
(((Stamps the done sticker on this baby!)))
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