The Adventures of Batman and Wonder Woman

The Man Behind the Bat -

Diana has a decision to make: save the earth or save her mother and sisters from the Dark Sorcerer, Foust, who is trying to open the gate to Tartarus and release Hades. It's up to Batman to help her make her decision. (JL S1EP8: Paradise Lost)

Diana stormed out of the flight deck in a fit of rage. Hera, she hated to be tricked, fooled, and used.

She and the rest of the team just returned from the Dark Sorcerer, Foust's, manor.

Batman discovered it was the key to the underworld he was after. Foust planned on freeing Hades, the man who tricked her mother and turned against Hippolyta and the gods.

If he didn't hold the fate of her mother and sisters in his hands, Diana would personally see to it that he was taken care of.

She balled her hands into fists by her side, storming down the corridors of Watchtower. They had to stop back on base for fuel before heading to Themyscira.

"Diana," she heard Bruce's gruff voice call her name from behind.

"Not now, Batman," she answered through gritted teeth. "You know I've a decision to make and only thirty eight minutes and twenty-five seconds to make it before Foust kills my family and destroys my home."

She paused, sighing. "I'm not in the mood for a 'hero speech'. Kal already gave me one."

Bruce caught up to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her down the nearest abandoned hallway, pressing her up against the wall and leaning in close.

Diana gasped when he did but quickly composed herself.

"I'm not Clark," growled the Batman. "I don't make speeches."

Diana looked at him, her bright blue eyes staring right into the white slits of his mask.

She choked. Her emotions were getting the best of her. Curse these mood swings she'd acquired since joining the league.

Hera, help me. She bit her lip, hoping to force back the tears trying to fall from from her crystal-blues. She let out a grunt of frustration, bringing her hands up to her face and letting out a deep sigh along with all of the other emotion she'd been holding back for the eight months she'd been away from her family.

"I left them, Bruce," she whispered. "I wasn't there for them. And now they've been turned to stone. If I'd been there—"

"—You'd be a statue too, Princess," answered Bruce, firmly. Though a bit of his frustration had disappeared and was replaced with tenderness.

"But—" she began to argue, but Bruce raised his hand to stop her.

"—No, Diana. It's the truth," he replied. "You know it is."

She felt herself growing agitated toward him whilst at the same time feeling grateful for his persistence in helping her to see there was nothing she could've done to save her family.

"At least with you being here, you can help save them," he reasoned.

"If I do, the world will be in grave danger. If the doors to Tartarus are opened and Hades is released... Hera..."

Diana stopped herself, fear seising her not only for her mother and sisters but for the earth as well.

The decision lay in her hands but neither choice seemed to be the right one. If she chose her mother and sisters, the earth would be doomed. But if she chose the earth, her family would be destroyed.

"Diana," called Bruce, grabbing her face with his hands, his firm voice breaking the racing thoughts in her mind.

Diana blinked her eyes, returning to this moment with him.

Bruce did something he hadn't done before, he looked around to make sure no one was coming and pulled his cowl back, revealing to her his face.

Diana blinked. She'd never seen Bruce before, only the bat. They'd not been around one another long enough for her to truly know the man behind the mask.

She studied him. He was the most beautiful creature she'd ever seen. His eyes were as magnificent and blue as the ocean on Themyscira, but beyond them lie a pain like no other... a pain she had a sudden urge to take from him.

She moved her hands up to run her fingers along the five o'clock shadow he'd grown, memorizing every inch of his well defined facial features.

He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing her to touch him, admire him.

He didn't allow her to do so for very long. He stopped her, grabbing her hands. She looked at him quizzically. He brought their hands down to his chest, his own two resting on top of hers in a tender, gentle manner so unlike the Batman.

"If it was my family, and I had the chance to bring them back," he began, his voice deep and filled with a tone laced with pain and longing she'd never heard from him before. "I would do whatever I had to do, no matter the cost."

She gulped back the bile forming in her throat, his intensity taking her breath away. She ached for him, the pain in his words made her practically buckle over. She knew what happened to his parents. Kal had been the one to share what happened to Bruce as a child. She hated he had to go through so much pain, but she admired him for the brave, fierce warrior he became because of it.

Bruce stepped back, releasing her hands from his. He returned his cowl to its rightful place, becoming the bat once more. Diana ached, the space he created between them leaving a feeling of emptiness within her.

What happened? What were these feelings growing inside of her? Feelings for a man, a mortal man, was something Diana never knew was possible for her.

Diana shook her head, clearing her mind of the thoughts toward Bruce. "Saving my mother and sisters it is," she made her choice, breaking the silence.

"Don't worry," answered Bruce, heading out of the private corridor where they stood alone together. "We'll have your back."

"Men on Themyscira?" questioned Diana, stopping Bruce in his tracks. "May Hera help you in dealing with Mother's wrath when she wakes."

"I've dealt with my share of challenging women over the years," said Batman through a smirk as he turned toward her. "I think I can handle her."

Diana frowned. Her brows furrowed as a wave of jealously washed over her. She'd never experienced jealously over a man before. "I wouldn't be so sure, Batman. My mother is a force to be reckoned with."

Batman's smirk grew into a grin, and he studied her intently. "I've no doubt about it, Princess."

"Come on," he said. "You've not much time left before Foust kills your family."

Diana nodded and stood up from the wall. Her determination and drive returned at once. She followed Bruce back toward the others to share their plan with them.

Diana returned to Themyscira with the team and the key to save her family, along with feelings toward Bruce she'd no idea what to do with.

There would be time to process her feelings for Bruce. Right now, though, she had to save her mother and sisters from the dark sorcerer threatening to take them away from her forever.

A/N: hello lovely readers! This will be a one-shot series, acting as a place to post random creations dedicated to the lovely Batman and Wonder Woman. I hope you all enjoy!