IIII

I asked Lois to marry me. Was that honestly the best he could come up with? Clark groaned and lay down on the bed staring at the ceiling.

What had he expected her reaction to be? To start crying and begging him to reconsider? He was a fool, did he honestly think a few rolls in the hay and suddenly she'd want more? Want a relationship with him?

He was in way over his head and if he'd doubted her feelings for him, he'd been assured. He hadn't lied about proposing to Lois he'd just left out the part were Lois had, though very sweetly, turned him down.

She didn't think she was ready for such a huge step especially with her career in the rise.

Regardless of Lois's answer Diana had seemed so indifferent; it had almost felt like they were discussing the weather. Cloudy with the chance of rain? Not a life changing moment!

Initially he'd been sceptical about their agreement, but he couldn't deny how attractive Diana was, plus it probably didn't do his restraint much that he was constantly wound up with sexual frustration. He'd been so sure he'd be able to make her love him they way he did her.

But Diana had shot down his hopes not once but several times. It was obvious she wasn't ready to let go of Bruce. Didn't she realise that Bruce would never give up Batman to pursue a real relationship?

Sighing to himself, Clark rose from the bed and grabbed a robe. He wouldn't catch a wink with his thoughts so muddled, he could at least catch up on his work.

/

"That insufferable, I-don't-have-to-consider-other-people's-feelings, man!"

Diana turned hearing the obvious anger in Shayera's voice. Hawkgirl was known for being very outspoken and right now she was clutching her hammer in a death grip looking just about ready to start swinging it.

"What's happened?" Diana asked.

"Ask batman!" Shayera snapped before storming down the hallway.

Normally Diana would have found Shayera's demeanour offending, but Shayera wouldn't be so curt with her for no reason so that meant Bruce had done something. Knowing Bruce he'd done it with the whole attitude that he was benefiting the league regardless how said team felt.

Well, she was closer to Bruce than most so it made sense she get the whole story from him. Resolute, Diana made her way in search of Batman and wasn't the least bit surprised to find him at the control room.

"Batman, do you have a moment?" Diana asked stepping inside.

Bruce heaved an exasperated sigh his irritation evident. "Well, you're already here so I guess you'd already assumed I'd have time," he said dryly glancing at her over his shoulder.

Another reason why she and Bruce hadn't worked. His abrupt often insulting demeanour when at work had angered Diana more times than she'd cared to count, but before she could reply a husky voice beat her to it.

"That's why you're single Handsome. That's no way to make a woman feel welcomed."

Confused Diana turned to the voice. Stretched out lazily on a chair, though obviously uncomfortable with her hands cuffed behind her back was none other than Catwoman.

"Catwoman here, nice to meet you in the flesh Wondy," she said with a grin, "Though I'd prefer it to have been under different circumstances for example without my hands cuffed behind my back." The last bit was added with a dirty look at Bruce.

Not sure what to say, Diana gave a nod of acknowledgement before turning back to Bruce. "I had no idea Gotham Prison had moved house," she said, her displeasure obvious.

No wonder Shayera had looked angry, what was Bruce thinking bringing a known thief to the Watch Tower? For a detective sometimes Bruce failed to notice the obvious or if he did he ignored it.

"It hasn't, I thought it best she stay here for a while," Bruce replied coolly.

Angry that he didn't even think her important enough to face her when speaking to her Diana snapped, "Best for who, Batman? You...or the league?" she demanded

"And people think Gotham has drama, wait until Harley hears this," Catwoman said with a smirk, "Days Of Our Heroes...hmmm I think it's catchy. What you think Bats?"

"I think you should grace me with your silence," Bruce snapped before turning to Diana, "And I think you're over reacting Diana. Catwoman will be my problem not yours or the league."

"Oh, I just love when you talk dirty, Handsome," Catwoman said in a flirtatious voice, Diana noted how Bruce seemed unfazed.

"She will be if her staying here causes tension among the members," Diana gritted out.

"The tension between us has nothing to do with her being here," Bruce said and there was no guessing which 'us' he was referring too.

"Yes, it's your attitude and this is purely in the concern of the whole team," Diana stated folding her arms lest she do something she might later, much later, regret.

"Fine, we'll have a meeting, happy?"

"Hardly," Diana retorted evenly.

Bruce ground his teeth before heading out the door.

"What am I suppose to do with her?" Diana asked gesturing at Catwoman.

"She has a name by the by," Catwoman quipped. "Why am I talking about myself in the third person? This is what hanging with bipolar heroes does to you..."

Catwoman groaned slumping into her chair.

"Nothing, like I said she's my concern," Bruce said harshly.

She could hit him, make it hurt too, but if she did people might get the wrong idea. It would come off as she'd seen Catwoman got jealous then in a blind rage beat Batman to a pulp and that's the last thing Diana needed in her life.

"Fine, but she steps out of line it's on you," Diana stated.

"Fine," Bruce said turning to go.

"Hey Bats could you get me something meaty preferably smothered in BBQ sauce," Catwoman spoke up swivelling in her chair to face him, "I think Gingy's place is still open,"

Diana's brow rose at that, Batman hardly did any favours especially if he was on duty. That was like asking him to stay away from Gotham.

"I think the cafeteria food here is fine," he said in a flat voice.

"What do you think I am? Meta?" Catwoman gave Bruce an incredulous look, "No offense, but alien food does not bode well with my digestion," she added making a face. "Gingy's will do."

Diana felt insulted and glanced at Bruce to gorge his reaction but he didn't seem fazed. There was what could have been a slight twitch on his lips, but it happened too fast. If her Bruce analysis wasn't wrong he'd actually found Catwoman's statement amusing then again Bruce was a closet Meta-hater.

"I don't care about your digestion, in fact maybe I'll get lucky and you will be unable to digest this so-called alien food and die," Bruce said.

Diana thought that mean but Catwoman seemed to differ because she laughed, "You'd miss me too much," she purred, "Face it life without me is like Gotham without crime...you wouldn't know how to live in it."

The slight twitch happened again and this time Diana was certain it had looked almost like a smile.

"Diana, just don't mind her," Bruce said though coolly, "And Catwoman...just try not to steal anything until I get back."

"With my hands cuffed?" Catwoman asked. "I'll be the first to admit that I'm good but not that good."

Bruce grunted then left, leaving Diana with Catwoman. An awkward silence fell between them and Diana wanted to leave.

Why had Bruce kept making her think it was their views in life and his work as Batman why they couldn't work? He should have told her about Catwoman, he'd owed her that much. It was obvious there was something between them even to Diana's 'inexperienced' eyes.

"So you're the Amazon princess..." Catwoman began rising easily even with her hands cuffed behind her back.

It must be a trait to master if you're constantly trying to flee arrest while still handcuffed.

"And you're the jewel thief," Diana replied just as coolly.

Catwoman smiled at that, "Among other things," she said with conspiratory wink. "Can you do me a favour?"

"What?" Diana asked suspicious.

"Rip off these handcuffs. You look like a very beefy kinda gal if you know what I mean and capable," Catwoman said with a grin.

Beefy? Diana's brows furrowed in confusion, the term may have eluded her a bit but any comparison to meat was probably not a nice one. Did that mean she looked like an ox?

"I don't appreciate being called beefy whatever that means," Diana began, "And why would I help you?"

"Don't know beefy huh? Well I meant you were well a bit fuller in body mass," Catwoman said with a smile that was supposed to soften the insult. It didn't. "Won't you help because these things are cutting into my wrists?"

Catwoman thought she was fat.

Diana growled under her breath, she preferred the term lean and slightly muscular if you must. Catwoman could afford to look like a waif what with having to make quick getaways every now and again, but if Diana fought crime looking like Catwoman she'd be dead within minutes.

"No," she replied.

"Or because I'm a woman?" Catwoman tried again with a pleading look on her face.

Diana hesitated, but she figured that in order to eat she'd use her hands so Bruce would remove them eventually. She shrugged and ripped through them with ease.

"Thank you Wondy, I owe you. Remind me to steal you something next time I'm on the prowl," Catwoman said rubbing at her wrists that did look chaffed.

"No problem and you don't have to steal me anything," Diana insisted.

"Well, it's your loss," Catwoman said and slid back onto her chair. "So what's a girl like you doing hanging with a girl like me?"

The old Diana would have curtly corrected Catwoman, stating that they might be suspended in space but they were still standing not hanging upside down. But Diana now knew better she was grateful she'd taken the time to pick up useful terms.

Why was she here, talking to a thief granted a female one? Diana pondered on this for a while. Her life must be really lonely if she used her spare time chatting up woman of suspect character.

It was probably too late to join a convent anyways.

"Would you rather I leave?" Diana asked turning to demonstrate she could easily leave.

Catwoman saved her from having to walk around the watchtower wondering what to do with herself by speaking up. "No don't go, we could just sit and have a chat," Diana gave her a look," Okay I could chat and you could just sit."

With Kal off duty she didn't have a worthy sparring partner and now that their 'thing' had ended she found she had a lot of spare time on her hands. Killing time with Catwoman probably wouldn't hurt.

Diana took a seat. "You don't look upset being held here," she began though she'd intended to remain silent.

Catwoman grinned, leaning forward. "Well between you and I a sister was late on her rent. So I figured I could chill here until I can plan my next big heist," she said with a wink. "Just don't tell Bats, he'd be upset if he thought I actually enjoyed this."

Diana found Catwoman to be strange. She wasn't like most women she'd been around, there was something almost playful in her approach yet deadly like a kitten.

Well that figures.

"Batman and I don't often see eye to eye so you have nothing to worry about," Diana said.

"I bet if it was Super-Sexy-man you'd be singing a different tune," Catwoman said and wagged an eyebrow at her.

"What, how? Why would you even think such a thing?" Diana demanded jumping to her feet, "Kal and I are just friends, and we didn't have a physical relationship nor did we have to end it because the other got engaged!"

She had blurted out everything before she realised her mistake, Catwoman gave her a peculiar look with her hands raised in defence.

"No kidding, now I know without a doubt the tabloids speculation about you two is completely wrong," she said with sarcasm. "Don't fret I have a talent of keeping my mouth shut."

Diana groaned sinking back into a chair. She'd just told a complete stranger with a criminal record her biggest secret! Hello, blackmail.

But in all fairness the thing with Kal was all she thought about and she'd needed to get it out her system.

Perhaps to someone she could trust not a notorious manipulative thief who was short on rent. Would Catwoman actually blackmail her for money? With Catwoman's obvious expensive taste she'd run the Embassy into bankruptcy within the year, if not sooner.

"Look Princess you aint the only girl suffering with unrequited love," Catwoman said with a softer voice.

Diana wondered if Catwoman was talking about herself and Bruce, but good upbringing forced her not to ask.

"Just live by my 7 word rule and nothing can bring you down," Catwoman added with a smile.

"What's the rule?" Diana asked.

"Always go after what you want!" Catwoman said beaming.

"I'm sure that's six words," Diana said.

"So?" the other woman rolled her eyes. "Seven is my lucky number I had to improvise plus I counted the exclamation mark in my word count."

Diana could have pointed out that an exclamation mark was not a word but decided to just leave it, besides Catwoman had given her some good advice.

Who'd have thought a thief would help her? It was simple, always go after what you want.

The only part that wasn't so simple was what to do when what you wanted didn't want you?