"And so, we come to what I've come to understand is the best part," J'onn said with a smile, making Clark grin too, having to resist the urge to already mop at the tear of joy forming behind his glasses. "Repeat after me, if you will. I, Diana…"
She bit her lip. Clark could see it. Even stronger than the realisation of a childhood dream, it was living a dream that she had only recently realised she had. An almost childlike glee shone in her eyes as she stood there, looking over at the third man stood up there. An almost mischievous look. A look of exquisite happiness.
And one that was shared. Not just by Clark and her other dear friends. But the man who for so long hadn't known what it meant to be happy.
"I think it's your line Princess," Bruce said through the smirk on his face. Almost smug, it just wouldn't be Bruce if the grin was too cheesy.
But Clark could see it in him too. He could see just how much Gotham's Dark Knight had actually opened up his heart. Well, maybe it was more like 'how much Diana had smashed it open with a sledgehammer and dragged her way in', but it meant the same. Bruce Wayne was getting married. And to Diana of Themyscira no less!
"I Diana…" she finally repeated, her own grin now broad. Clark had to admit, she looked absolutely radiant in the dress. Just as Bruce looked dapper in his tux, but neither was a surprise. Not really. But then, they could have been stood there in rags. Clark would still have found the sight of their union one of true beauty, hope and love.
He was maybe grinning even more than either of them as he watched Diana repeat after J'onn, their chosen conductor. Secret identities still had to be secret, after all, which meant that only those so very close to the pair were there. But that just made it more intimate, even more personal. And perhaps even more special.
"And do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?"
"I do." The playfulness was still there, but now with an ever growing sense of reality. It was really happening. After all this time, all the doubts, all the issues, all the inhibitions, she had said the words. And it seemed to be like a weight off her shoulders.
Now J'onn turned to Bruce, clearly ready for his turn. "And so, I Bruce…"
"I do."
Typical Batman. He never played by anyone else's rules! J'onn was still catching up with him as he skipped right to the end. The confused look was only just starting to disappear from his face as Bruce was turning Clark's way. Luckily, Clark didn't need Bruce to say the words. There was no way he was going to stand in Batman's way. Not today anyway!
The rings were out of his pocket so fast even Clark wasn't sure if he'd used his superspeed. Rings that couldn't have been cheap, laced with diamond and precious metal, but also inscribed.
"Συνοδεύεται από τη δικαιοσύνη. Αφιερωμένο στην αιωνιότητα".
It seemed Bruce had decided that he completely couldn't wait for J'onn anymore. Already he had taken Diana's hand in his. Already, he was sliding the ring onto her elegant finger. And already, there were practically tears in her eyes.
"With this ring, I thee wed…" Bruce muttered, going so far as to kiss it as he bent down low.
"You old smoothy," Diana practically winked at him as she gently helped him rise again so she could look him in the eyes. She didn't say the specific words herself, too busy smiling as she slid on Bruce's ring for him in return.
And there they stayed, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. But the restraint they were showing was obvious, intense. And Clark understood why. He looked up to J'onn, to find the Martian still stunned by what he was seeing. In a good way, but leaving him motionless. Thankfully, Clark was just able to catch his eye, mouthing the words at him to give him the prompt.
"I. er…." J'onn finally began as Superman got through to him. "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
"Don't mind if I do."
And that was it. Bruce didn't hold back any longer. But then Diana didn't exactly either.
"Yeah, wooooo!" The confetti was already falling as Wally began to howl in jubilation from behind them, Clark looking back at him, GL, Shayera and Lois all gathered up there with them, his own grin huge.
But not as huge as that on either of Bruce or Diana's faces in those few seconds they could break apart from each other, left continuously grinning away in joy.
They'd done in. The Batman and the Wonder Woman. Now the husband and the wife.
It was some time later that they walked into the transporter room. The group party hadn't been too wild, this was still Bruce after all, but there had certainly still been plenty of celebrating. But now it was time for the two to get to be alone. Now it was time for the Honeymoon to begin.
"So where is it you're actually going? If you don't mind me asking."
"Themyscira," Diana was quick to answer Clark's question. "It has to be the first stop. Mother and my sisters have to be able to share in this joy. I've already contacted Antiope to make the arrangements for us to have a traditional Amazonian union ceremony while we're there, to receive the gods' blessing."
"But…don't your people still have issues with…you know…men?" Clark fumbled his way through the follow up.
Diana could only look to Bruce initially, before finally answering with a grin. "In this case, I'm sure they'll be happy to make a lone exception."
"Besides, we'll not be staying long," Bruce was quick to add once he broke his eyes off that smile that had always had a power over him. "Paradise Island may sound ideal, but its too…populated for what I have in mind. That's why the real honeymoon is going to be somewhere else. Another island that I know. It may not be the real Paradise, but its pretty close. And since I own the place, I can guarantee we'll be alone. Away from all prying eyes…"
"Oh my…" Clark couldn't help it. The words were out of him before he knew it, one hand held up to his mouth as the boy scout in him took over. Because he knew exactly what Bruce meant. And from the gleeful, mischievous look on Diana's face, she certainly did too.
"Hey, Bats! Wondy! Wait up!"
The call came just in time, saving Clark from his natural prudishness. Just as the pair themselves did, he looked up to see as Flash came speeding into the room, looking remarkably pleased with himself. And behind him, looking somewhat less thrilled but clearly being dragged along regardless, GL flew in too.
"Couldn't let you go without giving you your other present!" Flash added as he came to a stop with such a spring like twang through his body that he looked like something out of Loony Tunes.
"You shouldn't have…" Bruce growled. For a moment, the Bat in him shone through, and it made Clark smile. Bruce clearly wanted to get out of there sooner rather than later. Diana, though, typically was much more approachable.
"That's his way of saying thank you, Wally. From both of us. For…?"
"For this!" Flash didn't wait around, but he did leave them confused as he brushed through them to the control console at the Watchtower's boards, punching in the commands.
"He insisted it was a good idea," GL uttered, arms folded as he still didn't look too enamoured. "And since it was a gift for you two, I couldn't stop him. No matter how corny it is."
Clark gave GL the look at almost the same second Bruce gave him a momentary glare, with Clark's born purely of confusion. But it was only then that he noticed it. It looked like both of them had tried to wash it off, but minor traces remained on both of their hands, and on Flash's feet. Visible only to Superman's enhanced vision, but still there. But what it was didn't make sense… Was that…honey?
"Et voilà!" Flash declared as he hit the final button, and the image appeared on the screen. And immediately, it not only all made sense, but Clark also couldn't help but laugh.
It was an image of the dark side of the Moon, clearly designed to keep it away from prying eyes. To keep it so only they could see what was there, now laid out on the Moon's surface. A symbol… A pair of symbols, even more symbolically intertwined. The Bat symbol, and the Wonder Woman symbol. United, just as their bearers. And painted on the Moon, in the very honey Clark had seen.
A literal honeymoon, especially for the honeymooners.
"Wally, I love it!" Diana beamed at him. "Thank you for this. Menalippe herself would be proud."
"I don't know who that is, but thanks! And I'm so glad you liked it. Especially as it was your new husband there that paid for all the jars of honey!"
Flash was a blur the next second, the glare Bruce turned his way at that one of those looks that could kill almost on its own. Clark kept up with him all the way to the point where Flash wound up cowering right behind the Man of Steel. It only made him grin again.
Diana chuckled too, putting her freshly adorned hand on Bruce's chest. "Come on Bruce, its not like you can't afford it. And besides, I think its now time you put away your grumpy face and we made a move."
Finally, Bruce's look broke as he gazed at her instead, the playboy smirk taking over. "I would say that's the best thing you've said all day, but its got plenty of stiff competition. This way, Mrs. Wayne."
He gestured to the teleporter pad as he said that, with Diana gladly following it. After pausing only long enough to punch in the co-ordinates to the computer, Bruce was soon joining her there too. But even as he did, he couldn't help but cast one more look Flash's way, no matter how much he tried to hide.
"Of course, what Flash hasn't realised is that he now has to clean all of that up from the Moon. And I think all the Watchtower systems are going to conveniently stop themselves from helping him…Clark, care do the honours?"
"Of course. Have fun you two!" And with that, Clark leant forward and slid active the buttons. The next moment, both Batman and Wonder Woman disappeared into the light. Leaving Clark standing there, still with the huge grin on his face. He still couldn't believe it. Bruce and Diana, married. Mr and Mrs Wayne. It didn't seem like it could have been possible. In ways, it still didn't even seem like it should work. Which was maybe why it so very much did. And why it was so very special.
And of course, a small part of Clark's smile was at Wally's expense. As he turned back round, he couldn't help but add a quip of his own.
"You know, I'm sure Ma and Pa have got a few brushes and pans back on the farm they can lend you, if you'd like."
"Hey!" Wally immediately protested, but GL quickly cut him off with a laugh.
"Relax, Wally! Don't let the nasty man get to you. Besides, that smile's going to be wiped off his face any second. Wait til he finds out what happened as Diana was on her way down here."
"Why, wha…?" Clark began to ask, but then he was stopped in his tracks. He heard her coming first, thanks to his sensitive hearing, but soon he was seeing her too as she arrived in the entrance way to the transporter room. Lois was there, looking very pleased with herself. And soon Superman saw why.
For there, clutched in her hands, was the bouquet.
Those boy scout reactions kicked in again. For Clark couldn't help but gulp.
"Chin up Smallville," Lois remarked as only she could. "We're next."
A/N: Day 1: Honeymoon
SURPRISE!
Well the Lady Literation did declare today the start of #WonderBatWeek2018...how could I not do anything else for it? A lot rougher, more quickly cobbled together and a lot less editted, but I could hardly sit idly by and let everyone else have all the fun now!
Keep a weather eye out folks - this should be a good week!
That said, I'd still more than appreciate reviews for Shadows in the Dark. That's still my precious...
