At the command console of his massive computer in the middle of the Bat-Cave, Bruce Wayne types at a casual pace. He inputs the final information into the file he's been keeping on Selina Kyle, and the hunt to incarcerate her for the murder she committed 6 months prior. He needed to bring her in, for closure's sake. The hunt was exhaustive, the many near misses in apprehending her finally led to a show down at a private air stripe last week. She had chartered passage on a small plane out of Bludhaven, trying to flee to Canada, then on to Europe. However, a well-coordinated effort from Batman & the GCPD managed to lock down the air stripe quickly and stall her exit. Adding to this effort, Diana came into the fold as air support to stop anything from getting too far away. Selina never stood an actual chance of escape. Bruce would never have allowed it, and deep down she must have known that. Still she had no options left, leaving Diana and Bruce to cause her plane to crash in an attempted evasive maneuver after they boxed her in while trying to take off. This left Selina to be taken into custody unconscious, and so proper interrogation would have to wait until she was out of Arkham's infirmary.

Bruce typed in the last lines of his report, reclining back a bit in his chair and reflecting on the past few months' action. Bruce had had time to process the full spectrum of variables in this case. He had come to terms with the trust now forever lost between himself and his former love. In all their shared past, his one hope was that Selina was not beyond redemption, that her illicit tendencies were not character defining motives. But all his hopes for her were left in ruins with the one action she'd taken that had put her outside of Bruce's intimate notions indefinitely. In one expressionless motion, Bruce moved from the annotated section, returning to the mugshot he had on file of Selina. A slight inclining of annoyance in his eyes, he closed that portion as well. Even looking at her now brought him feelings of wrath at his misplaced trust in her. Bruce selected the key to close the file. The computer enacted it standard notification in response "Are you sure?" Without hesitation, Bruce affirmed. Now the screen was fittingly empty for a moment, as whatever was between them was now gone, as vapor in the wind. Bruce had finally written the ending of this tale of betrayal and misery.

The computer returned to the clip of the surveillance footage Bruce hacked from the air field's cameras the night before. This stream of moments locked on a loop of Batman & Wonder Woman making a discrete exit after the apprehension was complete. At this, Bruce became contemplative. He owed much of the success of this operation to Diana, having volunteered so much of herself and her time to helping Bruce bring this to its fruition. Bruce wasn't sure if this was born out of concern or duty or perhaps her initial proximity to the situation. After all, she was the one who responded to his distress beacon when he was left, poisoned on a rooftop, seemingly to die. She was the first face he saw when he woke up. She was first to comfort him in his following distress. And she was the first to take up his cause. The more he thought about Diana's selfless accompaniment over the past months, the more found himself conflicted. He had always admired her, but working beside her so closely, getting to know her more truly, had brought something out of him. Many nights they had spent together staking out potential information or following a trail of evidence, giving way to conversations on the nature of their shared mission, of themselves and their motivations to live this life in service of the greater good. She spoke of hopes for life in a more peaceful time; he spoke of purpose given to him by insuring the common good. Usually, he wouldn't be so open with anyone like this, but something about this amazon, in her ways of navigating the darkness of man while not being consumed by it fascinated him. And she was enthralled of his many facets, having glimpsed a side of him very few had.

And yet, Bruce withdrew. Not wanting any emotion to overtake his course of action too completely, such thoughts were usually locked deep within himself. He was still dealing with the so much, and the aftermath of Selina's actions had turned him even further inward. But he couldn't ignore this, try though he might. Even in his attempts to dissect the situation in search of flaws, he only found his rational side advocating for him to give in. He had trusted her with his life, surely he can trust her with his heart.

Leaning in, Bruce noticed something on the monitor, a shared moment that he wasn't aware of as it happened. There was a glance between them, very subtle, but very telling of something Bruce hadn't quite come to terms with in the course of this mission. In seeing this exchange of expression, objectively from the outside, he realized he had only been diluting himself. This small look he gave to her, and her mild attempt to hide her reciprocal inclinations was all the validation he needed. Now the only question was... What to do about it?


She gave a slight sigh as she began the decent into the cave. No turning back now. The stairs seemed endless, but she could see the light emanating from the massive computer below. It enticed as much as it panicked her. She knew at the bottom, no doubt wrapped in his signature aura of shadows, awaited The Dark Knight himself. Her steps slowed, as she thought again about what she came there to say. Stopping momentarily, her resolve returned to her. She was an Amazon! Not just any Amazon either, she was their princess, and daughter of the great hero-queen Hippolyta! She's bested more formidable challenges than this. Her expression now one of determination, her pace quickens as she heads further into the cave.

She was here to get answers. They had spent 6 months together working side by side, fighting and bleeding and working to bring a murderer to justice. She had seen his cynicism, his barriers, and all the other devices he used to distance himself from people. But, she had also seen beyond that, into his noble and determined side. She had felt the same connection that he had. She knew the anxiety that had taken him out of the moments that brought them so close together, only to hang over them making the tension all the more tangible. But, now was the time to settle all of this. She would leave this cave with an answer, for the uncertainty was its own manner of hell. If Hera's champion was this pained by the circumstances, she could only imagine the state her Dark Knight must be in.

She couldn't help thinking whatever he was working on must have been very complex to hold his attention so much that he totally ignored the sound of her oncoming footsteps. She had been approaching for some time now, and he hadn't acknowledged that in any way, his head was still facing forward and focused on the computer screen. She continued ahead, finally seeing what had captured his eye. As she paused in the solitary light of the computer, she was taken back at the revelation before her. Of all the things to be consuming him, she couldn't have guessed it would be the coalesced moment of catharsis they'd had at the end of their shared odyssey of justice and ardor. Instantly, she cannot help but find herself alight in expression.


Still turned toward the screen, Bruce finally acknowledges his seemingly unexpected guest. He turns to find the statuesque Amazon before him, a mild sense of shock washing over him. He masterfully downplays it, casually addressing her "Hello Diana" he says in a low monotone. The timing couldn't have been more inopportune, but it seemed he now had to finally confront what had been burning within him for too long. He had no choice.

Smirking, she responds "You know, if you missed me Bruce, you could have called..." as she discreetly gestured toward the frozen footage on the screen.

Coolly, he retorts "I think I still have your number..." he returns her smirk. Transitioning quickly he queries "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, princess?"

Dryly, she turns things around on him before becoming more empathetic "Bruce, you really don't have to be so formal. And I thought I'd check up on you after... what happened. How are you handling things?"

This was not the subject he was hoping for, but something he has none the less anticipated. Taking a breath, and evening out his tone he replied "Honestly Diana, I'm much better now knowing that this ordeal has concluded, and there is one less killer free in the world."

Taking a step closer, she again becomes dry with him" Bruce, for once, please don't be you. I want to know how you are." Her two big blue eyes have met his, as if she was trying to break from the physical and contact his very essence.

Sighing, Bruce meets her gaze. He relents "Diana, I've made my peace with this... with her. Whatever there was, died in that warehouse that night alongside that thief."

Still staring into him, she asks "Bruce, we spent 6 months dealing with this case together. I know where you stand in that regard. That's not what I meant in coming here to check on you."

Half anxious, half intrigued, he found himself gravitating toward Diana in an almost involuntary way. "Something on your mind, Miss Prince?" he said with a cocked eyebrow.

Dangerously close to each other now, she replies "Bruce... I understand why you withdrew before, and I can't imagine what dealing with all of this must have been doing to you internally... But I know you felt what I did between us. We didn't intend for it, we've both questioned it, but there it remains still. Something is there, and it's alive and enveloping. A reason to show up when something goes wrong and do the work with a little more fire inside you, knowing that you're not just fighting for yourself, or principles, or for the nameless many in harm's way out there. But for someone close to you, someone you can't imagine this world not having in it. I need to know Bruce, if living this reality has been slowly making each day as bitter in the moments of absence as it is sweet in the silent recognition of this in times of proximity, for you as it has me?... Can we just finally acknowledge that we ended up needing more from each other than we thought, and we owe it to ourselves to see that to its fruition, whatever that may be?"

Bruce looks down, eyes clenched. Her hand finds his face and brings it back to her gaze. She concludes "We are already so very close, Bruce. There is no great leap between us, only the final step"

Finally he speaks "I usually have a multitude of reasons why things like this won't work before I ever get into them. But my standard list of concerns doesn't seem to apply with you. Diana, I've never known a woman like you..."

"Well then, perhaps... the time for talk has ended..."

He inches in close to her, their faces now grazing each other as they eye their lips with amorous intent, both hovering centimeters from the other, both too anxious to make the final move...

...And without the slightest warning the JLA alert pierces the soundless cave. Rapidly, the screen switches over to a feed of Clark, now dressed as Superman, looking distressed.

"Bruce? BRUCE?! Come in! J'onn's been..." Clark looks down at his two team mates in near embrace, becoming instantly flushed with embarrassment

"Oh... Hi Di... I hope I didn't... I mean, I hope I wasn't... interrupting anything..."

Instantly lacking in patients, Bruce interrupts "You picked a hell of a time to use the override feed, Clark. Now, what could possibly be so important?"

Coming back into the moment after realizing his mistimed intrusion, Clark responds "I need you both up to the Watchtower ASAP, something has happened to J'onn..."