The real exchange had begun, and it was a far more pleasant spectacle to watch than the League had anticipated. This wasn't a brawl; it was a dance of captivating intensity.
Hawkgirl, with her explosive strength and aggressive style, was like lightning. Every punch, every kick was meant to strike hard and fast. Utopian, meanwhile, was the perfectly calm center of the storm. He never met her force head-on. He deflected it, absorbed it, used it against her with remarkable economy of motion.
"You're faster than you look," Hawkgirl called out, evading a rapid series of hand strikes (the chain punches of Wing Chun) aimed at her pressure points.
"And you, more strategic than people think," Utopian retorted with a slight smile, as he blocked a hook and countered with subtle pressure on a point in her arm, momentarily deadening the feeling in her hand.
There was an exchange now that went beyond blows. A dialogue made of glances, half-turned smiles, and quiet comments only they could hear.
"That technique... it's ancient, right?" asked Hawkgirl, pivoting for a heel kick that he dodged by dropping low.
"Very. It favors intelligence over brute force," he replied, using her momentary imbalance to lightly brush her waist, not to trip her, but as a demonstration of the opening he'd created. "Much like you, right now. You're adapting your style."
A faint blush, barely perceptible, rose to Hawkgirl's cheeks. "Stop talking and fight, Professor."
"As you wish," he said, and he slightly increased the pace, his movements becoming a little smoother, a little closer. At one point, as he unbalanced her again, his hand landed firmly but delicately on her back to prevent her from falling, their faces now just inches apart.
"You're lucky this is a no-powers fight," she murmured, her breath a little short.
"Luck has nothing to do with it," he whispered back before releasing her, allowing her to regain her stance.
The rest of the League exchanged amused looks. Flash pretended to fan himself with his hand. Green Lantern had an eyebrow raised so high it threatened to disappear under his mask. Even Batman had the slightest upturn at the corner of his mouth, which, for him, was the equivalent of roaring laughter.
Finally, after a particularly long exchange where neither could gain a decisive advantage, they broke apart by mutual, unspoken agreement, breathing a little faster but both smiling.
"Draw," declared Superman, unable to hide his own smile.
"Alright," Hawkgirl breathed out, wiping her brow. "You can handle yourself, Utopian."
"And you are a formidable sparring partner, Hawkgirl," he replied with a respectful nod. "I hope we can do this again."
"Count on it."
As they stepped off the mat, the romantic tension between them was almost palpable, a new bond forged in the heat of action.
Later, as the party was winding down, Utopian approached Superman and Batman.
"I have some news," he said. "For my manga work... I've decided to relocate to Japan for a while. It's the heart of that culture, the perfect place to learn, soak up the atmosphere, and launch my series."
He cast a glance toward Hawkgirl, who was talking with Wonder Woman. "It won't stop me from answering the call when the League needs me. The transporter is fast."
Superman put a friendly hand on his shoulder. "That's an excellent initiative, Marcus. Building that part of your life is important. The League supports you."
Batman nodded. "Keep a secure comm line open. And stay vigilant. Queen Bee hasn't forgotten her 'Subject M'."
With a new chapter of his life opening in Japan and a budding, unexpected relationship within the League, Utopian's future promised to be as complex and exciting as a volume of manga.