Notes and disclaimer in first chapter

Chapter 2

The lights were dimmed very low in Zatanna's room. Diana and Zatanna were seated on cushions on opposite sides of a low table upon which the crystal ball resided.

"Are you ready?" Zatanna asked with her hands poised on either side of the globe.

"Yes, but I still do not understand why you will not just tell me what happened."

Zatanna smirked. "You wouldn't believe me otherwise."

Diana looked skeptically at Zatanna and then focused on the clear sphere as Zatanna began to chant. A fog expanded and swirled inside the ball until there was a clear picture of Zatanna and Batman in her dressing room. Diana opened her mouth to comment, but Zatanna instantly hushed her and said, "Just watch and listen."

Diana paid close attention to the scene as it unfolded: Batman's care of her as a pig; Zatanna's idea to get more help; his instant and abrupt refusal; her intuitive leap about their relationship; and his reluctant admittance.

Zatanna could hear Diana's breathing become harsher as the events played out. When the picture faded from the globe and turned back into fog, Diana let out a cry.

"Maybe there was?!? MAYBE!!" She shot up from the cushion and began pacing around the room. "Not two hours before that worshipper of Ate was listing reasons we could never be together." Diana's arms were waving wildly as she ranted. "I knew the reasons were stupid at the time, but I had no clue…" She stopped suddenly with her hands clenched into fists at her side and her face turning a bright red. "I'm going to send that man straight to Tartarus."

Before she reached the door, Zatanna blocked her way. "Diana wait. Stop!" The Amazon paused in front of the magician. "I understand how you feel after that, but there is one more thing you need to see before you attack Batman. Just one more scene. If you still want to punish him after that, I won't get in your way."

Diana closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. After holding it in for a few seconds, she exhaled, allowing the scarlet tint to drain out of her face. Zatanna led her back to the cushion and helped Diana to sit while she regained her control. Zatanna waited until Diana opened her eyes and gave a nod before beginning the chant again.

As before, a fog swirled within the sphere eventually revealing Batman and Zatanna looking up at Circe floating above them. This time, Diana sat and watched, keeping very quiet.

Until he sang.

Zatanna heard the catch in Diana's breathing at the first notes that came out of the Batman's mouth. She looked up to see the look of utter shock that came over Diana's face. The soft eyes, the jaw agape. Zatanna almost thought the other woman had stopped breathing, but saw the rise and fall of her shoulders.

At the song's end, the fog overtook the scene and swirled into nothingness. Zatanna watched as Diana tried to comprehend what she had just witnessed.

Finally, she spoke almost in a whisper.

"He sang…"

"Yes," Zatanna responded.

"He…He sang in public…"

"Yes."

"To save me."

"Yes."

"In public."

"Yes…Well, as public as it could be on Mykonos."

Diana closed her eyes and swallowed. "He was willing to damage his image. All for me." Her eyes shot open and her voice became stronger. "He does have strong feelings for me. But why does he refuse to try?" She looked to Zatanna for answers. "Why does he push me away?"

Zatanna shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe you should talk to Nightwing or Oracle. They might be able to shed some light on your situation."

Diana began to nod her head in agreement, but then her eyes lit up and a smile overtook her face. "No. I know exactly who to talk to. I just pray to Athena that he is willing to help me understand."