Inspired by 'Dear Agony of Breaking Benjamin. Hope you guys like it! Enjoy :)
It was midnight. The entire world was still, asleep. It was January, a few days post New Year's and the world's excitement had finally settled down. However, the holiday mood had still not vanished. People, from different countries, social strata, economic backgrounds- whatever and wherever they came from, had someone or the other in the world, regardless of a friend, family or a special someone. Even those who had no one were united in their silence. It was a truly shocking sight to see every single person celebrating in their own different ways. It didn't have to be Bruce Wayne's infamous lavish parties, it could be simply a quiet home-cooked meal or a night at the movies. The point was, everyone in their own manner was celebrating.
That was, everyone leaving one person. Yes, Diana despised holidays. It was not easy for the Amazonian princess. Yet, she always brushed it off with a bright smile, carelessly commenting that she needed a few days off to sleep in anyway. Who was she to intrude on someone else's holiday celebrations? Every single year since she had been exiled from Themyscira, she had never felt more alone on these particular days. At first, she'd celebrate with various members of the league. But eventually, it became clear that they had their own lives and although they kept inviting her, she politely declined, wanting some 'alone time'. The truth was that no matter how hard she attempted to conceal it, she was an outsider and that was one fact that would never change. Yes, she appeared to be a human, well a gorgeous one. But in reality, she was far from it. She was a Demi-Goddess, well, she was one anyway. Now, she had no idea what the hell she was. Her protection from Athena and Artemis vanished the moment she stepped out of her native island. So just what was she then? Who the hell knew, she thought to herself with a bitter smile gracing her lips.
At the present moment, she was somewhere in Ireland. Nothing but the moonlight was present, along with sparkling stars that were peppered across the seemingly never-ending midnight sky. Not a single human being was in sight. Only and only faint whispers of animals and nature were heard. Yes, she was isolated and she loved it. Sometimes, it was nice to be alone. She loved her colleges and people in general but... not at this time. They had their own lives to live. Besides, this was a clear reminder- she was immortal. They would die eventually, fading away into time and she would remain the same. She was destined to be alone, cursed really. They would age, they would form bonds and would fall in love. They would settle down and start their own families. She would never be able to do such a thing. She would remain the same as she had always been. She would never age and therefore, she would never allow herself to get close to well, anyone. That was why she refrained from dating in general. Of course, that along with the principles she had learned as a child. She would never abandon those. She may have been banished, but she would never abandon her culture. She came from a race of immortal female warriors that despised the world of the man. However, now, Diana lived here, saving and protecting this world under the pretense of 'Wonder Woman'. Nevertheless, just because she did so, hardly meant that she would forget her native culture, even if they wanted nothing to do with her.
Yes, she was homesick. Who wouldn't be? It had been quite some time since she had left. Yet, that day was burned into her memory. Her mother had turned her back towards her. Yet, Diana could see her usually formidable, regal figure slightly quivering- she was crying. For the first and last time in her life she had seen her mother cry that day. She had turned away from her only daughter, not wanting to allow her daughter to witness her own moment of weakness. In that manner, she had tearfully banished her only child away from the sacred island of Themyscira as punishment for breaking their sacred laws. Diana had seen a ship sinking and thus, she left the island to bring the survivors to the shores of the island to heal them. Then, she had erased their memory of course and had sent them away without a single recollection of what had happened. However, her mother and her sisters did not denote this moment of courage in the same manner. It was betrayal of the highest order to them. She had left the island and brought men back, exposing their secret and placing them in danger. It didn't matter if they recalled anything or not. Damage was done and princess or not, Diana had to pay for it. Thus, she left along with the sacred armor that was blessed by Athena.
At first, she drowned herself in self-pity, sorrow and anger. Diana could not understand why her own mother would do such a thing to her own flesh and blood. However, as time passed, it became clearer and clearer to her. That day replayed in her mind like a broken record. The more she thought about it, in a sick way, she loved and respected her mother more for her action. Her mother had banished Diana, punishing her just as if she was another Amazonian warrior, without placing any special treatment towards her. She had not allowed her emotions to cloud her judgement and that was what Diana admired most about the Amazonian ruler. She really was a great ruler wasn't she? Yes she was, she thought to herself as once again, she felt the familiar sensation of wet tears rolling down her smooth cheeks.
Yes, she was crying. It was weakness yeah yeah, she knew and that was what she despised about herself the most. She allowed herself to expose her weakness, even if no one was there to witness it. The point was that she knew and that was enough. Briefly, she wondered what her sisters would think of her to see her crying like a little child. Oh come on, she was an Amazonian princess, not an infant. Yet, she could not stop crying. Never in her life had Diana ever felt so disgusted with herself as she felt now. If her sisters, if her mother were to see her like this... they would disown her all over again wouldn't they? Perhaps they were right to banish her like this. She was not fit to be an Amazonian warrior. She was, as much as she despised to admit it, weak.
For a brief moment, her mind flickered to her own actions as she began to critically analyze herself. That was what she seemed to be doing the most these days. After all, what else had she do anymore? She belonged to no culture, she was nothing and no one. She had brought shame to her family. She had betrayed them. Helping the man's world... really, it was just the cruel compensation of the guilt she harbored. For the first time, she understood the meaning of the curses her previous patron Goddesses had placed on her. They whispered to her in her dreams, every single night since she had left one simple thing- you will pay the price of your crimes.
Of course, Diana had assumed that they meant Ares. She'd defeated and shamed the God of War in the end, ending his seemingly immortal life. But naturally, she knew that he wouldn't die. He seemed to die momentarily but as long as war existed in the world, he would be alive. Thus, she knew that he would be revived soon enough. Diana had honestly expected Zeus to come thundering after her for harming his child. However, that never happened and she should have figured that something was wrong at that moment but she quickly dismissed it. But now, it all made sense. Ares was the God of War and anger and therefore, he was easily swayed by his emotions. However, Athena was the Goddess of strategy and wisdom and Artemis was the Goddess of the Hunt. If there was one thing, Diana knew that both were dangerously logical. Physical wounds always healed but emotional ones never did. That was what they were abusing weren't they? Wrecking her brain- this was psychological warfare, the most dangerous and effective of its kind as well. Yes, she humiliated their brother an now, they were going to torture her.
A bitter peal of laughter escaped her lips as her tears intensified. A lifetime of psychological warfare like this was beyond torture. It was... cruel. She had no escape either. After all, she was immortal. Then, there was the issue of telling anyone about this. Diana recalled whispers of her colleges that had become her closest friends- they all seemed to speak their problems out. Apparently, saying it out loud and sharing it with people seemed to aid them as they did not have to carry the burden alone. But this was not the kind of thing she would ever say to anyone. It was unfair and disgustingly selfish for her to pull someone else into her own issues wasn't it? Just so that she could feel better...
Was... was this why... could it be? She did not understand her mind. Seconds ago, she was drowning herself in self-pity but now, the only person on her mind was Bruce Wayne. Yes, she knew who Batman was and really, it wasn't all that hard to figure out in the first place. Bruce Wayne was one of the richest and most powerful men on the planet and Batman... his technology was anything but cheap. It all fit. Who would think twice about a billionare playboy anyway? But it all suddenly seemed to make sense. Perhaps that is why he refused to let people get close to him? Maybe he felt the burden was too large to allow someone else to hold it? That was how she felt anyway... but it did make sense. He hated to let people get close to him. He always pushed people away, cold and blunt as Batman and cruelly charming as Bruce Wayne. She never thought he was cold in the first place. In fact, she liked his silence and she got along with him much better than what she got along with others. He seemed to... understand her in a way she couldn't explain.
When she came to the League, people either loved or hated her. Either way, they treated her differently, some doting after her and others bluntly being obnoxious towards her. He was absolutely indifferent. He treated her as just another person and it was so refreshing. He never once lied to her, she could tell after all. He liked the truth and didn't believe in sugar coating anything. She was like that too. As people began to finally accept her, she was told over and over that if there was anyone like her, it was the Dark Knight. As Bruce Wayne, she had observed that he seemed always bored at his parties. Girls of all ages fell at his feet for his money and status. He seemed to know that. Yet, he charmed them with dazzling smiles that she had always found rather empty. He strung them along and he left them hanging. Either way, he refused to allow people to get close to him as Batman and as Bruce Wayne. There was always a wall that he used to keep the rest of the world out. He seemed to despise parties and social events- his eyes were always empty or wandering in some other thought. She'd noticed it soon enough and found it odd that not many others did so as well. She'd tried to ask him about it but for some reason, he seemed almost shocked for a moment and then, avoided the topic entirely. She didn't understand him, but at the same time, she understood him better than anyone else in the world.
Finally sitting down on the slightly damp grass, she pulled her legs closer to her, resting her chin on her knees as she faced the dark wilderness ahead of her. Her mind really did wander didn't it? How she got to thinking about Bruce was unknown to her. But what she really didn't understand was how she felt about him. But either way, it was absolutely irrelevant, at this point anyway. She was sure that he liked well, anyone else. She didn't see him as the kind to fraternize with his colleges anyway.
As she turned to glance up at the endless cosmos, she lay down, the damp grass penetrating into her soft cotton t-shirt and her jeans. She could feel the damp grass under her hair that was, at the moment sprawled out across the grass as her eyes were fixed at the sky. Diana hadn't noticed when she had stopped crying. But it was scary how even the simple thought of him... made things better. Another bitter smile appeared across her lips as the thought of him flickered across her mind. What wonderful taste in men she had. Anything with him, it wouldn't work. They were too similar- she had her issues and he had his. They would clash too much. He was against killing entirely and when pushed enough, she enjoyed it. After all, she was an Amazonian warrior princess. It was hardwired in her blood to fight and really, it was what she lived for. They clashed on far too many moral and ethical issues... so even if she liked him, which she did.. as a friend of course, would it even work? Probably not. The very look on his face would be hilarious if she ever mentioned this to him. But really, if there was anyone she'd ever consider dating, it would have to be him.
At that very moment, she heard John's familiar voice, asking her to take care of a remote problem in another corner of the world. As she agreed, she pulled herself off the damp grass, running her fingers through her thick ebony locks to sieve out any stray blades of grass and dusted her clothes down. Closing her eyes, sh transformed into her armor, and within a second, she vanished, piercing the atmosphere of the sky as she was ready to complete her new job. A small yet evident smile was placed across her lips.
The truth was, people always said that she compensated for her guilt by her activities. But in reality, she did it for one reason- she liked to do so and for nothing else. So what if she wasn't immortal. The point was that she was still powerful and to waste all of that power in moments of self pity was absolutely well, it was useless and if there was one thing Diana wasn't, it was useless.