Satanna stalked forward while Baradoosh positioned himself between her and Hawkgirl. The last gorilla stayed back.
Midway City was wrecked, with smoke columns high in the air from a hundred small fires.
The fight was drawing to a close, and both sides knew it. The question remaining was who would fall first, and Hawkgirl wasn't going to wait any longer.
Hawkgirl launched herself forward, prepared to use everything she had left, using her wings for extra speed, soaring past Baradoosh, who could only look at her pass him, and slamming into Satanna.
They went in a tangle, Satanna's claws screeching across her helmet and drawing five lines of blood across her cheek. Hawkgirl drove her knee into her ribs, cracking bone before they rolled apart, gasping.
A sonic grenade landed between them, a shockwave hurling both of them in opposite directions.
Hawkgirl recovered first; 5000 years of battle overrode all the pain and exhaustion. She wouldn't let an opportunity like this go. She charged before Satanna could stand and grabbed her plasma gun, throwing it away against a wall.
Satanna's claws carved deep cuts into her exposed skin, drawing blood that flowed over her armour and onto the floor. Hawkgirl sent a brutal elbow strike to her head and then followed up with a headbutt, and blood from Satanna's nose splattered on her helmet.
Satanna tried to back away, to create space, and Hawkgirl wouldn't give her the chance. She tackled her through the nearest store in an explosion of glass, crashing through electronics.
Satanna tried to strike back, only for her wrist to be caught midway through. Hawkgirl twisted it, driving her backwards into a collapsed shelf, pinning her throat with her forearm.
Hawkgirl raised her mace and slammed it down into Satanna's chest, causing her to cough up blood, her lips stained.
Baradoosh charged like a battering ram through the broken window, devoted to protecting his boss.
Hawkgirl turned too late, Baradoosh slamming into her, lifting her off Satanna completely and driving her through the back wall. They burst through into the alley in a shower of brick.
Hawkgirl hit the far wall hard enough to crack it, but instead of pushing his advantage, he stayed back, ensuring Satanna was safe. To protect his family.
Satanna struggled to sit up. "Baradoosh, no. Fall back, it's over," she whimpered.
Baradoosh didn't listen; his eyes were focused on Hawkgirl. The willingness to die for someone else in his eyes. Something Hawkgirl recognised.
Hawkgirl rose slowly; every second was agony, and her right leg nearly collapsed.
She raised her mace as if to challenge him, and Baradoosh charged. They met in the middle of the alley, the sound of their weapons clashing erupting.
Baradoosh slammed his fist into his side. She could feel the force ripple throughout her entire body.
She swung her mace into his knee, Baradoosh roaring in pain but not falling. He grabbed her overhead and hurled her through a parked car, it crumpling around her.
Using her mace, she lifted herself, coughing blood onto the road and wiping her mouth. Baradoosh charged again, and Hawkgirl met him, driving her mace heavily down, biting deep into his shoulder.
Baradoosh's left arm went limp, and he responded by piercing her chest with his horn. Hawkgirl slammed her mace across his face, releasing herself while holding her wound. Baradoosh vomited blood all over the floor.
Both were heavily injured but too stubborn to fall.
"Stop! Please, Baradoosh. It's not worth it; there's no need to go this far." Satanna called, her hand pressed against the hole to support herself.
"You gave me life. I was just a grass-eating and shitting rhino, but now I have dreams, hopes and a family I must protect. I didn't just follow my instincts before; you gave me a heart, and I'll make sure you get your wish. That's the least I can do to repay everything you've done for us. You may pretend to be ruthless, a mighty leader, but we see through the act, Satanna." Baradoosh answered. He didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
If he stopped, Hawkgirl would put her and everyone else in a cell, and to him, that was unacceptable.
Hawkgirl used every last bit of energy she had remaining in this final move. She dashed forwards, her mace coming down in a perfect arc, landing on Baradoosh's chest, the impact powerful.
Baradoosh flew backwards, his massive body crashing into the ground a few feet away. He trembled to his feet, refusing to give up, but there's only so much pure will can do when your body reaches its limits. Baradoosh slumped forward, falling to the ground, not moving.
Satanna limped forwards, forgetting everything except if he was ok. She dropped to her knees beside him and held his hand.
His chest moved, only slightly. He was still alive. "Come on. Stay with me. Stay with me, you big stupid oaf," she begged while tears streamed down her face.
Hawkgirl staggered towards them, her mace dragging across the ground. "It's over," she said. The words felt amazing, a massive release of stress. She'd won.
Hawkgirl reached for her comms and signalled that it was all over, asking for emergency medical attention with blood still dripping to the floor.
Sophist appeared in front of her and just stood there. He didn't attack and instead handed Satanna a syringe. "It'll help with the pain," he said.
Satanna looked at the syringe before injecting it into Baradoosh.
"No. I won't let you get away!" Hawkgirl yelled.
"I'm sorry, Hawkgirl, but what would happen to my reputation if I let my first partnership end with them getting arrested? I'm sure you understand." Sophist replied.
"No!" Hawkgirl lunged forwards, her fingers outstretched.
Sophist teleported around the destruction of Midway City, rescuing everyone and getting them all somewhere safe.
Hawkgirl started to fall to the floor, Sophist appearing before her and catching her. "You were remarkable today. You made the right choice."
"No," Hawkgirl murmured, her eyes slowly closing. She could feel the warmth of his arms before fading away. Sophist gently laid her across the ground and smiled before vanishing.
Sophist appeared a few steps behind Satanna, who cradled Baradoosh.
"You know that little thing we had?" she said quietly.
"Little? Undercutting it a little, no?" Sophist replied.
"It was fun. But it's always just going to be just that. I found my soulmate a long time ago." She looked out into the distance.
"I know. It's probably better that way. I did tell you that workplace romance complicates things," he replied.
"You did. Yes, you did," she laughed.
A red blur ran through the city and picked up Hawkgirl. "Don't worry, I got you now," the Flash said, taking her to a Justice League base in mere seconds and on a hospital bed.
Batman had his scanner ready, running over Hawkgirl's vitals. "Collapsed lung, three broken ribs, severe laceration,"
"I know, I was there," Hawkgirl managed, her voice barely a whisper. Hawkgirl slipped into unconsciousness, the winner.