Title: Pairing: Wonder Woman/Superman
Series: DC, Superman Comics
Rating: Type: AU
Summary: Set during the thousand year war in Asgard, from Superman comic 761. Wonder Woman and Superman join Thor's army in defending Asgard against a demonic horde. Over the centuries, these two comrades come to regard each other in a different light. Could the Greek maiden finally be the one to melt the man of steels heart?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the DC comic characters or anything from the universe of DC. I am just taking the characters and playing with them a while – promising to restore them whole and unblemished! Thanks to DC comics for creating these toys for me to enjoy. Please don't take any of my playing as having any bearing on the actual franchise. Enjoy.
()()()
It was in this place that Clark finally saw Diana in a new light.
Suddenly transported to Valhala, the two of them had been thrust into the midst of an ancient, ongoing and deadly battle. Plain old good and evil, with the world at stake; everything was simple… black and white.
For the first decade at least.
Thor, their greeter to this new plain of mystical existence, had explained how they were now in the realm of the Gods and time worked differently. He had also made a passing mention at being the Norse deity connected to thunder.
Diana understood immediately where they were and launched into battle.
Clark had watched in wonder, on that first day, as she sprang into action. No thought or hesitation. There was no doubt in her mind of her duty.
She had often explained how the life of an Amazon was about duty. Clark hadn't really grasped the concept until he heard her agreeing to stay for centuries, if need be, to rid the worlds of evil.
Diana was committed.
How could he leave her?
At first, he could hear the voice of his wife in his head. He imagined her crossing her arms and glaring at him. "She knows what she's doing," Lois would say, "She has no right to drag you into this."
That image of Lois had been so perfectly clear in his mind, but Clark couldn't leave Diana to battle uncountable hoards of evil alone. Lois would surely understand that.
Or so he kept telling himself.
But after the second decade of war, her image began to blur about the edges. Her voice began to loose its accent.
Thor was a constant at his and Diana's side. He boomed with laughter after each battle won and gripped them fiercely to his breastplate, singing of their victory and the vanquished at their feet.
He wondered at Clarks countenance; how the alien managed to keep his oath in the face of such temptation.
"I will not kill," Clark had stated, feeling a guilty pride swell in his chest.
Thor had laughed and given him a heavy slap on the back as he said he had not meant that oath and then directed a glance toward Diana.
For a moment, Clark was caught off guard as she stretched to sweep her cloak about her and join them.
He tried to ignore the comment from the God, but had to admit that Diana had been on his mind a lot over the past thirty years.
The next decade was spent contemplating his fate. For every meter of ground gained in battle, another was lost down the line. And, though they were fending off the enemy in their droves, they kept coming and the side of good was diminishing rapidly.
Clark wondered if he could actually die in this place.
He wondered if Diana could.
At night he thought about what would become of them; how many years they had fought, if they would ever get home…
Diana slept close to him. Her breathing would ease him and help him sleep.
Then he would think of Lios... and tried to remember the colour of her eyes.
After fifty years Thor declared he was going to rally more troops to their cause and, in a dramatic clap of thunder, disappeared.
Clark rolled his eyes, but Diana has said it could only be a good thing. It could only mean that he would return to Lois that much sooner.
Clark wasn't sure what to say in return.
()()()()()
Diana was made for this war. It was simple good against evil, right against wrong, victor and vanquished... much easier than the world of man.
And yet, without her time in the world she would never had met Kal.
He was a source of constant wonder, surprise and confusion.
Here was a man with almost limitless power and yet he refused to kill even the foulest of creatures.
In Valhala, Diana remained uncertain if her friend's choice to stay by her side was a wise one. But it was important to Kal; as important to him as Diana herself.
At night she allowed herself the indulgence of thinking on her own guilty pleasure at his presence.
She knew it cost him dearly and that he missed his wife, Lois, profoundly. But even though this mythical epic war was not his to fight, he remained at Diana's side. There was nowhere she could be he could not find her.
Many times she had reminded him that he had no commitment to fight alongside gods and demi-gods against demons. But Kal would simply look at her with wide, ocean blue eyes and smile. "I have a commitment Diana," he would say, shaking his head as though it was obvious.
The commitment was to her, because she was his friend; because he loved her… Diana wasn't sure she liked the selfishness that surfaced when she thought of their relationship.
She had kept him from returning to Earth… to his wife… because she enjoyed his company. She enjoyed how he made her feel about herself.
Diana was not blind. She was aware of the many admirers whose attentions and affections she claimed; none of whom held any of her interest.
On occasion, she would think of Steve Trevor. But her feelings for him were more fascination. From living on an isolated island with only female company, she had been introduced to a different way of thinking. It was new and exciting… and addictive.
After years of listening to the other women in the league, she came to realise that what she had felt for Steve was nothing more than infatuation.
Diana berated herself for trying to believe a falsie.
She realised she hadn't loved Steve when she had first met Kal.
Kal El of Krypton had stood before her as a shining example of what man should be. And even if their methods or ideals clashed, they held and cherished a mutual respect.
It had taken a while to realise she loved him.
Learning that he had already given his heart was a hard thing for Diana to adjust to. It weighed heavily in her for years after.
She pretended that the feelings she had for Kal El were honourable friendship, but in private she admitted feeling her chest constrict when he left her to go back to Lois each night.
But Lois was not with them now.
And it had been over a hundred years.
Make-believing Kal had trapped himself in Valhalla for love of her kept Diana fighting. Knowing she would be by his side all day; that he would not leave her. She knew that by nightfall he would have prepared their beds, which had grown closer and closer over the past few decades…
And Diana knew that his eyes… Kal's eyes were the last things she would see before sleep and the first things she would see when she woke.
How could she not be in love?
()()()()()
Clark watched as Thor returned to his comrades after another lengthy absence. He brought with him a band of demi-gods and ancient war lords who had all been promised various wishes in exchange for defending Valhala.
All the war weary souls left on this plane were glad to see the titanic figure boom into the great hall and announce his success in conscripting several newcomers.
Clark was a little less overjoyed, casting a critical eye over the band the God of Thunder had brought before them. Amongst the straining muscles, long hair and sharpened teeth were a few possible heroes. They were no Justice League… but perhaps they weren't all a loss.
Then his attention was drawn by Thors great voice booming, "Diana!"
Trying his best to restrain himself, Superman watched Wonder Woman cross the hall and embrace the deity.
It was a reaction that caught him off guard with the strength of emotion he felt. A frown deepened across his brow as he watched his friend fall into the arms of the goliath that was laughing with joy and holding her close.
Superman tried to push away the revelation that the primary feeling overtaking him was jealousy… jealousy? Really? Wasn't he beyond that?
The Kryptonian in him shook his head. What a ridiculous thing; to be jealous of another man. Was he not spoken for? Did he not have a wife?
And though it had been over a century, Clark still thought fondly of Lios. He thought of her stubborn lip, which quivered when he was near… of her soft skin that surrendered when he took her in his arms…
And though he couldn't remember her middle name and her voice was now a distant memory, he still felt the need to recall his engagement.
But Diana was so close…
Thor boomed with laughter and swung a smiling Diana up into his arms.
Clark struggled to stay where he was and not snatch the Amazon from the Norse God.
It was a ridiculous reaction. But his blood boiled.
Thor set the woman down and gave her a hearty slap on the back. Clark stifled the snort of amusement as he watched Diana frown.
Wait-a-go on impressing the lady, meat-head.
A childish smugness overtook him then, as he noted his friend's reluctance while the God hugged her closer and took her hand.
Diana had never minded him holding her and often rushed into their vice-like embraces. A slightly less welcome thought of how snugly her rounded form fitted his snapped into his mind.
He pushed it back and watched as Diana was introduced to the newcomers. She seemed as impressed as Clark had been on first observation.
That was until the draggle parted and a man turned and bowed to her.
He was not like the others, Clark observed with chagrin, he seemed to beam with goodness and humility. A demi-god, Clarks Kryptonian side whispered.
Tilting his head slightly, he heard Thor introduce the man as Heracles.
It made sense; he was suitably muscled and tanned for a Greek, humbled and abashed as a mortal would be in the face of such beauty as Wonder Woman. He was also exactly what Diana would find attractive in a man; fighting for justice, struggling to prove the right in the world… a hero.
The peace Clark had felt a moment ago was forgotten.
Heracles smiled and gave a dip of his head in greeting, taking Dianas hand and kissing it politely.
Diana blushed slightly and Clark found himself stood next to her in an instant, reaching out and saying; "Hi there. I'm Superman. Glad to have you with us."
Smooth.
Heracles smiled and accepted his hand, wincing as Clark put more pressure on the shake than was necessary.
"I have heard of you Superman," Heracles gave a nod of his head, "I am told you are a great champion… the Man of Steel."
Clark raised an eyebrow, "And I have heard of you, Heracles. I had thought you a myth. But I am learning that myth and legend are true and in this world."
"We do have a tendency to crop up," the demi-God smiled.
"Like a bad penny," Clark smiled back.
Diana inserted herself between the men, placating the demi-God and wishing him well in the battle and telling him she hoped she would see him later that evening at the shared meal.
Clark smugly watched the other man leave.
"That was ungracious," Diana said in no uncertain terms.
Superman felt the blush raise up from his toes to his hairline, "What? I was welcoming him."
Diana looked at him a moment, "Heracles is here to assist us in battle and did not deserve your abrupt dismissal. Explain to me why you treated him so."
He was stunned… and embarrassed into stuttering, "I… well… I…" then, in a flurry, it was blurted out, "I didn't like the way he was looking at you."
Dianas wide eyes beheld him, "I can not think you, of all people, have just said those words…"
Clark held his breath a moment… why him, of all people? "I care about you…" he replied lamely…
Diana eyed him for a moment, as though searching his very soul. "You do not own me, Kal. I can speak to whomever I choose."
Clark was dumbfounded, "I didn't mean…"
"You have marooned yourself here, with me… for what? Out of responsibility?" The conversation took on a dangerous edge as Dianas eyes hardened… "Do not presume I am in your debt."
"Diana," Clark began, feeling abashed, "I didn't think you owed me…"
"Good," Diana said with a firm nod, "I should not have expected you to. You are free to leave whenever you wish, Kal-El. I would not think less of you."
She held herself high, eyes trying to read him as she braced for his next words.
"I'm not going anywhere Diana," he said, looking straight back at her, "You stay and I stay."
A smile quirked the corner of her mouth and Diana nodded, turning away from him and walking back to the newly acquired soldiers.
"Besides," Clark added when she was out of ear-shot, "I have no one to go home to. It's been over 100 years." Lois would be a very old woman… if she wasn't already dead…
Clark looked at the empty space on his ring finger and thought about what he would return to if this war were to end…
()()()