Nervous would not even begin to cover the emotions she was feeling at this point.
Ever since she'd come to Patriarch's world she'd focused almost solely on her duties. If not to the justice league then to the various charity and good will functions she deigned were worthwhile enough to go to.
Those with the tittle of "sponsor this add of footwear" was not her definition of worthwhile.
Still, as it was, this was going to be her first outing that did not involve high heels and a dress.
So yes, she was nervous.
But, squaring her shoulder's she'd decided early on that she'd face the problem of her nervousness like she faced every other problem.
Head on.
So it was with Amazonian pride, and the fact that Batman still owed her a dance, backing her will that she descended to Gotham City and the infamous Wayne manor, keeping as out of sight as she could in the middle of the day before she landed right outside the front door."
She moved to knock, when suddenly the door was opened before her hand had even curled into a loose fist.
The prim and poised visage of Alfred Pennyworth stood there, as though having been waiting for her.
"Princess Diana." He said, bowing his neck as he smiled before stepping to the side, allowing her entry.
"Hello-Alfred isn't it?" She asked taking a tentative step inward.
"Yes madam" He answered. "You're right on time, the dinner is almost prepared, Master Clark, and young miss Kara are in the main living room Mr. and Mrs. Kent are both in the kitchen. I will join them in preparing the meal shortly. I believe Master Bruce is with Master Clark and Miss Kara as well.
At that, Diana raised an eyebrow. "He's not down in some recluse somewhere?"
"I believe he decided to join the festivities when he realized kryptonite would not work on the Mrs. Kent as well as it would on Master Clark. I must ask the lady for her methods before she leaves us."
Unbidden, an image came to her mind of the scowling dark knight trying to ward off an older woman with a block of kryptonite, with said older woman responding by beating him with a walking stick until he emerged from the cave and started having some fun.
She quickly tried to curb her humor, the corners of her mouth twitching with half success.
Alfred raised a slender, knowing eyebrow, then mercifully distracted her from her thoughts by asking "Will Sir J'hon not be joining us this evening Princess?"
Unfortunately, his question brought just a slight melancholy to her mood. "No, J'hon volunteered to stay behind at the watchtower to stay on monitor duty. He and I were assigned this posting for the week since Shayera is gone and since...well." She trailed off. "When we got the invitation, J'hon said someone needed to keep an eye on things and that I may as well enjoy myself."
Her guilt at leaving Jhon was becoming a little too apparent for Alfred's tastes, gently, the English gentleman took her hand, patting it softly. "If I may be so bold madam; Sir, J'hon gave you this opportunity to enjoy yourself. Do not waste it thinking sorrowful thoughts."
Diana smiled, she'd barely known him for two minutes but Already she could tell she was going to like the man. "Thank you Alfred. Can you tell me where the Kitchen is?"
"Follow me Princess Diana." He said with another small bow of the head before closing the door and marching down the hallway.
As they walked, she took in the decorum of the Mansion's interior, far different than any architecture she would find on Themyscira, it held a strange sort of appeal.
Where on paradise island any building would find itself at home next to a river, or field of wildflowers, or even luscious green mountains, here this house seemed to fit perfectly with both the city and owner. Dark, mahogany wood, suits of plate armor lining the wall, she even saw a picture of a stuffed Raven over what she assumed to be the living room fireplace.
Yes. She could picture this as Batman's residence almost perfectly. The thought brought a sardonic little smile to her face.
But as they continued just a little ways further down, she found her ears picking up the sound of laughter, muted as it was.
With a soft knock, more out of courtesy than anything else since he really didn't wait for the answer to come in, Alfred opened the door and Diana's senses immediately became aware of the bright, friendly atmosphere, the smiling, laughing faces of Superman, his newly found cousin, and surprising of all, the owner of this home they currently occupied
Bruce sat in a large, leather chair, at the other side of the room from where she entered, a small cup of what she assumed to be coffee in his hand, trying, possibly desperately to eliminate that small upturn of his lips and replace it with his patented scowl.
So far, he was obviously failing.
"I present Princess Dianna of Themyscira" Alfred said formally as he stepped aside, allowing her, in all her jeans and tennis sneaker glory to march on through.
Clark and Kara stopped their conversation, turning, almost in unison to face her, their smiles stretching across their faces.
"Diana!" Clark said, marching forward and enveloping her in a hug.
Surprised, by the informal welcome, having long been used to the more distanced status-quo of the Justice League's leader addressing a comrade, she did not immediately react, when she did Kal-El was already pulling away, the smile still on his face. "I'm glad you could make it."
"So am I." She answered. "Hope I'm not late or anything."
"You're not." Bruce answered her simply before taking another sip of his drink.
She smiled, hugging Kara as she addressed him. "I'm surprised you're anywhere to be seen. It is daylight after all." She quipped, smiling gently.
He returned the expression. "The threat of a lady's cane is a powerful incentive to brave the daylight princess.
The image from earlier returned to her mind and the laughter she'd bitten down before returned with a vengeance and she found it literally clawing its way past her lips in a broken hiss before she could clamp down and stop herself. The Batman she knew didn't like to be laughed at much.
But today he must have been in an absolutely marvelous mood because the smile he'd already been struggling to put down became just a bit more pronounced.
"Diana." Kara said, drawing her attention away from the Dark Knight. "Come over here, you have to try some of the stuff at the Bar, I saw Alfred make this mixture that's just to die for."
"Hey!" Clark said, clearly worried at his cousins attentiveness to the alcohols in Bruce's selection, some of which would knock him flat on his ass with just a few shots, Kryptonian physiology or not. "Since when do you drink?"
"Since I learned that mixture." She answered back.
Shaking his head where he sat, Bruce mentally shrugged. He never drank (Though Alfred could make a B-52 to kill for) so those spirits may as well go to some use.
As he swallowed some more of the hot drink in his hand the Billionaire found himself smiling just a little more. The peacefulness of the house was strange. And he wasn't really sure what had brought this feeling within him. Normally, holidays like this, or Christmas brought on various, other feelings, most of which were not positive. But this time, he felt more at peace than he had in a long time.
Maybe he'd resigned himself, figuring somewhere he may as well enjoy it rather than make Kent's parents feel awkward and out of place with his normal moodiness. Or maybe just the general good nature of the family and genuine feelings of contentment were simply too infectious even for his emotional buffers.
Whatever it was, it was strange.
But it was a good kind of strange.
A part of him felt guilty for various reasons. For not having given Dick or Tim the Heads-up about the event early enough for them to return. They'd always pestered him about not celebrating Thanksgiving.
Another guilt came from allowing his guard to lower like this, infront of two other league members no less, and three virtual strangers.
And the last part felt guilty simply because he was truly enjoying this event.
But those thought's were distant, and as he watched Kent worriedly glancing at his cousin as she mixed a drink for her and Diana, and the Princess' own amused smile he decided that, just for one day, he'd let himself indulge, and relax.
One day only.
The sun was only just beginning to rise along the island of Themyschira, the golden rays of the sun cut through the thick blanket of clouds left in the wake of the passing night.
Before those rays of light had graced the gentle shores of the secluded paradise however, Antheia was already awake, and finishing her morning rituals.
She hadn't always been this to be sure. She'd walked many paths within her life here on the blessed islands. She'd been a warrior to be sure, all amazonian sisters had been at some point before leaving that road for others.
Of course, as immortals they could not remain with one profession for their entire lives. She'd done many things. Warrior, Poet, Sculptor, Philosopher, there were many others; servitude was just the latest in her long line of professions, and though such a thing may seem as a significant step down from her previous roles she found that there was a definite feeling of contentment in the simplicity of her role here.
Of course there were others, others who could not leave a path once they've begun to walk it. Like Philippus and Artemis, both entrenched firmly onto the path of the warrior since the exodus of their people onto the island more than two thousand years ago. Or Galene, who still resided within the realms of the artist after nearly a full millennium.
Still, there were times when Antheia wished for more than the idilic shores had to offer. Times that she wished she could experience what the Princess must be witnessing in the lands beyond this protected place. When she'd brought men from Patriarchs world to defeat Felix Faust and reseal Hades into the hellish abyss of his prison she'd raised questions in her mind that the Amazonian women as a whole had all but buried over the times that they lived here.
Were there other men like the one's she'd brought here?
Did they offer to come to the Princess' aid freely or had the chosen of the god's needed to satisfy some boon in exchange?
Unlike most of the Amazonian's, whom had each been working on repairing and rebuilding the palace's foundations and temple's which had been damaged, and desecrated by Faust respectively, she'd had the privilege of actually seeing the men whom had come to save their island before they were sent off.
There was the one whom had called himself 'Superman. Though his name seemed to border upon the egotistical, Antheia could see reason for such when he'd lifted a stone pillar as though it weighed no more than a child's toy.
Pulling herself away from her thoughts, she finished fastening her tunic, she walked out of the quarters then, slipping on her leather sandals before descending the sloping hill towards the gurgling stream at the base of the incline, a washbowl held in her hands.
Antheia pulled up her clothing, fisting it in one hand before she marched in, ankle deep in the ice cold water.
She shivered, but the momentary discomfort was soon over and she dipped the bowl into the churning water with practiced ease as she continued to allow her thoughts to drift through her mind.
Clad in blue and red, the man had seemed a Paragon of Patriarchs world that had come to aid them.
The remnant's of her walk along the path of the artist could be seen in Antheia's eyes as she related the one called Superman to their own Princess Diana. To think the princess would leave to save Patriarchs world only to have the best of theirs come in turn to save Themyscira. The value of such Irony was not lost on her.
Then there was the other one, dressed in red, the Flash.
Antheia's lips dipped down into a scowl.
Now, that, was an example of the Male she'd remembered from the dark days before their blessed ascension to this paradise.
Blatant lust in eyes that could not remain anywhere above the neck, confidence born of ignorance and sheer stupidity. That one, was one who'd left many of the palace guards itching for a fight day's after he'd gone.
Where the Superman and the others had been the picture of poise and dignity. The flash was the picture of moronic barbarism barely above that of the Spartans. And he was far more juvenile.
The Dark Skinned one had been much more polite. Though both he and the Green skinned...creature...for she was sure it was no human that had walked these shores, had said much less than the other two, the other one. The one dressed all in black, he'd said nothing at all.
Those eyes of his though. Antheia, repressed a shudder.
The princess certainly kept interesting company.
She reached her quarters again, slipping off her sandals she marched into her rooms, plucking a rose from the bush just outside. She placed the washbowl on the center table before separating the flower petal's from the bud and spread it across the water.
She reached across the table, grasping a vial of oil before dipping a few drops into the water as well.
Then, standing, she began to make her way towards the Queen's bedchamber, as the sun began to rise clearly over the horizon.
As she made her way closer, she was not certain how encouraging it was that, out of the five males the princess had brought here to save Themyscira, she only trusted one to keep the princess safe.
It was a few minutes later that Antheia found herself opening the door to the Queen's bedchamber. "My lady." She called softly by means of announcing herself as she'd done for years now.
As she opened the door however, the washbowl slipped from her numb fingers, and a cry of shock and fear found life as it rose from her throat.
Queen Hypolata lay on the cold stone floor, her life's blood escaping her blue tinged lips and her skin a pallor of ashen gray
Hour's later, as night crept up on the city of Gotham, an odd assortment of friends sat within the Wayne mannor study.
"Nah- do you remember the first time we met?" Clark Kent asked, chuckling in his seat as the ice in his glass clinked, settling.
Bruce smirked. "I remember throwing you into a wall."
Cocking her eyebrow, the dark haired female among them leaned back against her seat. "You two mind telling? Or is this what Flash calls an inside joke?"
Coughing out another laugh Clark shook his head. "No. We'd been investigating Luthor."
"He was trying to muscle in a partnership with Wayne enterprises." Bruce added. "So, I spied on him eventually, I was interrogating a suspect and Clark here-"
"You mean beating the crap out of him while throwing a question or two in between punches."
"Clark bumbled in on the situation." He continued, as though he'd never even heard the Daily Planet reporter speak. "Eventually, that ended up with me throwing him into a wall and he nearly breaking three of my ribs."
"I barely even touched you." the Kryptonian said defensively, catching Diana's shocked look.
"Clark. Your breath can flash freeze people, or create gale force winds. A 'tap' from you is like being hit by a baseball bat."
"Well to keep him in line after that, I used my X-ray vision to see who he was." Clark continued, deciding to move on from this part of their meeting.
Diana raised an eyebrow, looking at Bruce with an incredulous gaze. "I imagine that didn't sit well with you for long."
"It didn't sit at all." He barked, as though insulted by the very notion that Superman had managed to one-up him in any way. "I stuck a tracking device on his cape, and followed him to his house. After that he couldn't hold my identity over my head anymore than I could hold his."
"Oh god, and then you started dating Lois!" Clark exclaimed, smacking his head as though he were just about ready to fight off a migraine.
Now 'that' caught Diana's attention. She'd heard much of the, by now, infamous Lois Lane, or rather Superman's infatuation with her. Batman was either very brave or very stupid.
"How did you end up becoming friends?" She found herself asking. "One would think you'd be at eachother's throats."
The two men had no answers for the Princess. Infact, they were now muling the question over themselves. Looking at each other a silent question passed between them. "Why are we friends?"
The group of three were interrupted by a door opening and as one, they turned their heads to see Kara floating in, an exuberant smile on her face, followed closely by Alfred, Jonathan and Martha Kent.
"Here you are!" The newest member of the smallville family said, floating down to sit by Diana's side on the couch. "This house is so big you could get lost here."
You have no idea. Bruce thought to himself with a smirk.
"Mr. Wayne, I just want to say again how grateful we are for your hospitality-" Jonathan began to say for the umpteenth time since he'd arrived yesterday night.
"Really Mr. Kent its nothing. Bruce said, ignoring the pointed looks Alfred and Clark delivered. "This house is so empty I'm more than happy to have some company."
If either of Clark's parent's caught the look their son was giving him they hid it well.
"You're too kind Mr. Wayne" Martha said, placing a hand on his shoulder before sitting herself on another couch across from Diana and Kara, her husband soon joining her, sitting between her and Clark. "To tell the truth, when my boy said we would be joining you in your home for thanksgiving I scarcely believed it."
"Oh it came as quite a shock to me too." Bruce chuckled, though he glared at both of the perpetrators responsible, though it was with very little venom.
"You have to admit, you had fun though right?" Diana asked, smirking at him.
Gotham's caped crusader chose to answer that by taking another sip of his drink.
Diana smiled a little wider. "Well, I had fun. Ms. Martha and Mr. Kent, you made a delicious dinner."
"I'll say" Supergirl said, barely holding in a sigh as she remembered the turkey nearly melting in her mouth and the sublime taste of the gravy.
"Oh its because Alfred kept such a well stock of ingredients." Martha said.
"Thank you madam." The Englishman said gracefully from his place by the door.
"And the appliances were incredible." Jonathan said, smiling as he remembered the first time he'd laid eyes on that JB700SNSS deluxe electric stove. Now, Jonathan was a fire man, through and through. Electric stoves were for city dwellers and a Kansas born and raised man like him knew that the only way to cook a proper meal was with good old fashioned fire.
But Sweet lord above that stove was incredible, large, easily capable of fitting the numerous large pots needed to cook the entire meal at the same time.
The Oven had let them cook both the turkey and the garlic buns at the same time. Normally it was such a hassle to cook them both quickly enough so that they could eat everything while it was still hot.
And the knives! The Knives could cut through anything with such ease.
It was with a small shake on his shoulder that Jonathan found himself waking up in the Wayne household, with more than one pair of eyes staring at him in curious worry.
"Honey, are you alright?" Martha asked gently.
"Oh yes, yes." He answered quickly, hoping to alleviate his wife's fears and worries. "Just fine. Err, Mr. Wayne, how much did that stove cost you?"
"Seventy-five thousand dollars."
Jonathan choked on his own spit.
Before the conversation could continue however, the three league members paused, tensing as the familiar presence of their friend J'hon snaked its way through their minds.
'Come to the watchtower.'
It was simple, to the point. J'hon never used his telepathy unless absolutely necessary out of courtesy and neither would he summon all three of them for something trivial.
Bruce smiled, standing up as he finished off the ginger ale he'd been passing off as Alcohol. "Well, it's been fun. I mean that." He actually did. "But...duty calls."
The older couple looked confused for a moment before Clark stood up, removing his glasses and placing them on the table.
They got the hint.
Leaning down, he kissed the two on the top of the head. "Love ya dad, Love ya mom, hope you enjoyed your thanksgiving."
"Bless you sweetie."
"You take care boy."
"Yes sir." Clark answered smiling before pulling away, following Diana and Bruce who'd already started walking towards the room's exit.
"Can I come?"
The three heroes stopped, turning and finding the young Kara standing up from her place on the couch.
"No."
"Yes"
"Can you control yourself?"
The three heroes each shared a glance, well, more a glare in Bruce's case.
"She's not coming." The Billionaire bit out, apparently the reservoir of goodwill had completely evaporated with the Telepath's call.
Pulling Bruce out of earshot from his parents, it wasn't long before the three made something of a miniature huddle as the discussion began.
"Bruce, she'll need to get experience somewhere." Clark put forward. "It may as well be with us where we can keep an eye on her."
"You don't bring a raw rookie into the big leagues for the experience Clark."
"She fought Darkseid one on one and held her own. I say that gives her some points."
"One on one is different from teamwork. She's not ready and I'm not gonna take the risk."
"Would the two of you just shut up." Diana hissed making both male's seal their lips and turn their gaze onto her. "Kara, come here."
Quickly the young blond moved forward, swallowing thickly with apprehension before glaring at Batman.
He glared back.
Guess who won.
Taking her place between Wonder Woman and Superman, the Kryptonian watched Diana as the Amazon placed a hand to her shoulder.
"Alright Kara, I'm just going to ask you a few questions. First, do you promise to follow Orders."
Enthusiastically, with a bit of hope sparking in her eyes, she nodded. "Yea sure."
"Second, if we tell you to leave, no mater what the situation, you will leave?"
Again, another nod.
"And you do know that if you're lying to me the chances of my trusting you in any assignment ever again will be very hard to win back."
Hesitation, then, another slow nod.
The Amazon looked to the caped crusader, a smile on her lips. "Well, I don't see why she can't test herself.
Glaring, the Dark Knight found, that the only thing that was stopping him from continuing the argument, was that firstly, a lone human against three Metas with no gadgets and/or kryptonite ...even the Batman had some limits.
And secondly, there was the fact that they didn't know the full extent of the mission, so outright denying a potential resource the chance to come along before the threat could be measured was quite a stupid move.
"Fine." He ground out, Loathe as he was to loose an argument, he'd lost this one. "She's your responsibility though Kent."
Clark smiled through the scathing tone.
Bruce grimaced. He needed friends he could intimidate.
Hours later, the group of four descended the ramp of the Javelin towards the Watchtower's hangar, finding J'hon waiting on the other side of the airlock doors.
"What's the problem J'hon?: Superman asked, stepping closer.
"I'm afraid there is someone attempting to call us. She keeps repeating the same thing over and over again in her mind and has been doing so determinedly for an hour now. I have not contacted her back. I felt as though I should speak with you before going further.
"Well what was the message?" Kara asked, earning a stern glare from the dark knight, which clearly translated into 'Shut...up...'
She edged away from him just a bit.
J'hon's eyes glowed for a moment, and then, the four found the voice he'd been focusing on their minds.
'Justice League, please hear me. I am Antheia, handmaiden of Queen Hipolata of Themischera. We need your assistance – Justice league, please hear me.-"
