Chapter 2
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Metropolis
In a bright flash, Diana, Batman and Flash appeared on the street in the middle of what could only be described as sheer panic among the city's residents, who were running in every direction, screaming as they attempted to flee the chaos around them and get to safety.
The three heroes turned around to see exactly what people were running from and the scene made Flash do a double take.
"Uh, you guys are seeing this right? He asked, pointing in the direction of dozens of undead soldiers, swords and shields in hand attacking civilians and destroying surrounding property
"I mean talk about déjà vu, right?"
Batman had to admit Flash was right, this was just like their battle on Themyscira and if these undead soldiers were anything like those, they were going to have their hands full with stopping them.
Suddenly two red hot beams of light shot down from the sky turning several soldiers into dust who had cornered a group of civilians, it was Superman who thankfully had already been in Metropolis when the call about the situation came in.
"These soldiers are everywhere" Superman said as he set down in front of the group, all of them turning to watch the melee before them
Diana scanned the rooftops of the surrounding buildings in attempt to locate Ares, he was the key to getting these soldiers to stay down, otherwise they would simply be trapped in a perpetual unending battle against soldiers could literally pick up and put themselves back together after any attack.
Something still wasn't adding up to her though, it wasn't like Ares to attack in such a forward way and so publicly too. She hadn't been exaggerating to Bruce when she said he didn't often attack in such a manner. Kasina was usually how Ares operated, tricking mortals into continuing or escalating their skirmishes until a full-blown war broke out feeding his insatiable need for anger and violence.
Ares was the epitome of subtlety… this was not subtle.
Spotting Ares on the rooftop of the building directly in front of them, Diana quickly jumped into action
"You guys take care of the soldiers, I'll handle Ares"
She didn't give any of them a chance to argue as she lifted off the ground and zoomed toward the building, first cutting a path right down the middle of the army of soldiers who had begun marching towards the group.
Bruce watched Diana fly away, a knot in the pit of his stomach, something wasn't adding up about this whole situation. Why Metropolis? There was nothing here of interest to Ares, no war, no civil conflict for him to feed off of and he certainly hadn't tried to turn the people of the city against each other, it didn't make sense.
Bruce was broken out of his reverie by Superman who'd grabbed a soldier that had been approaching him from behind and threw him at a group of soldiers sending them flying as if they were bowling pins in an alley.
"Are you done day dreaming? We could use the help"
"I wasn't day dreaming"
Bruce growled as he tossed two exploding batarangs at another group of approaching soldiers, satisfied when the explosion blew them several into pieces, they weren't putting themselves back together after that he thought.
"Right, you were just admiring the clouds"
Clark punched a hole through the chest of one soldier then shooting his laser beams through the hole he'd just made at the soldiers behind it
"You talk too much" Bruce spat as he put one soldier in a head lock and kicked at another
Diana landed on the rooftop only to find Ares was no longer in the spot she seen him in a moment ago. She walked the length of roof, pausing next to the building's massive Air-Conditioning unit to look down at her friends as they fought hard against the never-ending swarm of undead.
Diana took a moment to appreciate Bruce's skills from afar, years of hard work and dedication showing as he ducked under the swinging sword of one soldier then rolled away from the strike of another. He truly was an amazing mortal.
Hearing something behind her, Diana spun on heels, arms at the ready for a fight.
"Come out and face me Ares"
Feeling movement behind her Diana swung her arm out, narrowing missing a retreating Ares whose smug look only served to fuel her anger.
Leaping forward she swung her fist but again was met with air as Ares simply side stepped her punch along with the sweeping kick that followed.
Diana was at a loss. Sure, Ares was known to be a coward, someone who would often run instead of staying and fighting but this was strange even for him. Every advance Diana made Ares simply side stepped it, not once attempting to strike at her even though he had the opportunity to, he just moved away from her, a smug smirk on his face.
A smirk she desperately wanted to punch off his face.
"I always knew you to be a coward Ares, but this bad even for you" Diana spat, her hands on her hips in frustration. If she couldn't get to him then she would make him come to her
She got the reaction she wanted as the smirk disappeared from his face and he lunged at her, a move Diana easily side stepped before grabbing his wrist and flipping him to ground, pinning him there with her body.
"You're done Ares, now call off the soldiers" Diana demanded, her right fist raised above her head ready to strike if she were given a reason
Ares face cracked into a wicked grin of the likes Diana had never seen from him before, it sent a chill cascading down her spine and immediately Diana knew something was terribly wrong.
"What's so funny?" she demanded as she yanked on the collar of his armor, pulling his face closer to hers.
Diana couldn't contain her shock when figure beneath her, who looked just like Ares suddenly morphed into Circe
"You are Diana" Circe said, a superbly wicked smile gracing her lips at the sight of the shocked and confused Amazon above her.
Diana's confusion didn't last long, quickly turning to anger she twisted her fist in Circe's collar pulling her face even close to her own, "Where is Ares?"
When Circe didn't say anything, Diana cocked her arm back even further, more than ready to enjoy paying her back for their last encounter when suddenly something hard impacted her right side sending an explosion of pain racing through her chest.
"Ahhh!" she screamed, her grip on Circe's collar loosening as she fell forward from searing agony she was experiencing
"I'm right here my dear" Ares said as he plunged the dagger into the weak spot of Diana's armor, a grand smile gracing his face as he felt the blade easily slip through her armor and pierce her flesh. Revenge was finally his.
Diana looked down, wide eyed at the sight of a dagger's handle protruding from her chest, confusion quickly following as her mind tried to wrap itself around how something had been able to pierce her blessed armor.
She could feel Ares hot breath on her cheek as she slid her eyes from the bleeding wound to his maniacal face, the proud look of victory shining back at through his devilish eyes.
"H…How?"
"You're not the only one who can discover the weakness in other people's armor"
Diana's face scrunched up in pain, her breathing becoming more labored and wheezy as blood began filling her lungs. She looked down at Circe whose smiled echoed Ares, the witch bringing her hands up between the two of them, a bright flash of light emanating from them sending Diana flying backwards through the air.
Diana screamed out again as her back slammed into the metal air conditioner, the force of the impact jostling the dagger in her side sending another wave of pain shooting through her chest and body.
Ares merely laughed at her, enjoying every second of watching the "Gods Champion" suffer and bleed out like a stuck pig.
The irony he thought.
Circe slowly sauntered toward Diana, like Ares her laughter the only sound coming from her. Bending at her hips, Circe looked Diana right in the eye, studying her. She was going to enjoy every second of this.
"Diana!"
The sound of Batman's booming voice echoing through the air startled Circe, sending her ram rod straight, her eyes darting about looking for Dark Knight
"Its time go Circe our job here is done" Ares said looking in the direction he knew Batman would be arriving from.
"Diana!"
Batman's voice was much closer this time, in fact Circe could see him swinging through the air toward their building.
Circe turned to leave but unable to resist one last wound to the Amazon she leaned in close to Diana's ear and whispered, "Don't worry Diana, I'll take good care of him"
When she pulled back, Circe could see hot fire burning in the Amazon's eyes, an expression of pain mingled with pure hatred adorned her face which only served to heighten Circe's enjoyment of the moment.
"Tootles" Circe said as she waved before she and Ares disappeared in a ball of fire.
Bruce had just dispatched two soldiers when the enhanced hearing in his cowl heard the agonizing scream of the woman who had captured his heart, sending his blood running cold.
He'd never heard such a gutteral type scream from Diana before.
"Diana" he muttered to himself as he began to run toward the building her knew to be, removing his grapple from his utility belt he took to the air, the need to get to her overwhelming, silently praying he wasn't too late.
He couldn't lose her too. He woulnd't be able to bear it.
As he swung around the corner of the building, Bruce could've sworn he saw Circe's retreating form, but she was gone by the time he'd landed on the roof, so he couldn't be sure he really had seen her.
His heart was pounding in his ears as he made his way along the roof line not knowing what he would find but knowing that if anyone could take Diana down and keep her down it would be a god like Ares.
Gravel crunched under his boots as he approached the area he knew Diana had last been in, his muscles tight in anticipation of a fight, his head going through possible battle scenarios and his heart cracking under the pressure of what he might find.
As he approached the massive air conditioner his heart sank when he saw the heel of Diana's telltale red boots confirming his worst fear… she was down. Bruce rounded the corner and the first thing that assaulted his senses was the overwhelming smell of iron... the smell of blood.
Almost immediately he was transported back to that alley decades earlier where he watched his parents blood fill the sidewalk, the smell then was as overpowering as it was today, he just prayed today didn't have the same outcome as that night did.
His breath caught in his throat at the sight of her, worse than anything his mind could've conjured up. He always worried about her when she was on a mission, a small consolation easing his worry had always been that her armor, blessed by the gods would protect her but here she was, in a pool of her own blood with a dagger sticking out of her chest.
Bruce fought back the bile that threatened to rise up the back of his throat as he knelt down before her on shaky legs, immense relief flooded through him when he saw the slow rise and fall of her chest which told him she was still alive.
As if sensing his presence her eyes fluttered open, his name on her lips
"Batman"
"Diana, just hold on, we're going to get you back to the Watchtower"
"I… I need to tell you…." Diana stuttered between heavy gasps for air. She could feel her lungs filling with blood making it harder to breathe and speak, making the urgency for her to finally tell him how she felt overwhelming, but the words just wouldn't come out.
"Easy Princess, save your strength" he said, ripping a piece of cape off to stem the steady flow of blood seeping from her wound.
"Ugh!" she screamed, feeling like a thousand nails were being driven into her side, forcing the blood in her lungs up her throat and finally out through her mouth in the form of violent wet coughing.
She could literally taste her life force leaving her body
Bruce winced, the last thing he wanted was to cause her more pain, but there was so much blood… too much blood. She was bleeding out in front of him, he needed to get to her to the infirmary… get her help.
"I'm sorry Princess… Batman to Watchtower, I need you to lock on to mine and Wonder Woman's signals and transport us directly to the founder's infirmary, have J'onn and Dr. Thompkins ready"
"Bruce what's…. oh god, Diana" Clark's breathless shock didn't even register with Bruce as all his focus was on Diana and keeping her alive until the Watchtower could transport them to the infirmary.
He faintly heard Clark filling in Flash, who had raced up the side of the building when he heard Batman's calls for emergency transport.
To Bruce their voices like distance whispers, muffled sounds he could just barely make out over the deafening beats of his pounding heart.
His chest felt like it was going to explode, his heart beating so hard and fast it made him lightheaded. But none of it mattered, all that mattered to him was keeping the woman in front of him alive.
This woman who meant everything to him, even more than his own life…his mission. This woman who might never know the truth because of his stubbornness, fears and his all-consuming desire to put the bat first.
Forcing her eyes open passed the pain, Diana reached up to grab Bruce's shoulder, her once iron like grip was so weak she barely had the strength to close her fist around his cape, even weaker still was her attempt to pull him toward her.
"Cir…. Circe was… he…here. Hel…helped Ares"
Her voice raspy and garbled as blood mixed with air from her lungs rumbled in the back of her throat but Bruce heard her loud and clear, Circe and Ares were working together, he had indeed seen the witch on the roof earlier.
Diana's eyes began to slip shut, elevating Bruce's panic, he feared if she closed her eyes she would never open them again… he feared he'd lose her forever, as he had his parents.
"No, Diana keep your eyes open…." He pleaded, tapping her cheek to get her attention. "Watchtower, where the hell is that transport?!"
Clark winced at the desperation in Bruce's voice, he'd never heard his friend so out of control of his emotions as he was in this very moment. Bruce was always the epitome of control.
Then again, when it came Diana, Bruce was rarely in control of anything. From the day they met the Amazon princess was the only person who could keep the big scary bat off balance without batting an eyelash.
Bruce and Diana were true equals in nearly every sense.
"Hey Supes, I'm here, how bad…. Is it?" Flash asked as he sputtered to a stop, his knees going weak at the sight of one of his best friends sitting in a pool of her own blood, her face pale as a sheet, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Wondy, oh no… what the hell happened?"
Flash's strong use of language caught Clark by surprise as the young super hero, even when upset or the situation dire always used humor or sarcasm to express himself, to hear him curse as he had drove the point home to Clark the situation was that serious.
He'd been about to answer the scarlet speedster when they all disappeared in a flash of white light, quickly reappearing a second later in the infirmary Bruce had created strictly for the founding members as means to protect their true identities.
At time Clark thought he was being overly cautious but now, he was grateful for the added privacy, the last thing he wanted were the junior members gawking at an injured Wonder Woman and more so at an emotional Batman. The rumor mill regarding the two of them was already at hyperspeed, his two best friends didn't need it get even worse… not now.
As the bright light of the transporter faded away, two male nurses stepped forward to take Diana from Bruce to move her to the medical table, but their advancement was quickly halted by a snarling Batman.
Knowing better than to cross the Batman, the two men quickly shrunk back in fear, hands raised in the air to show their compliance.
Once satisfied they'd stepped far enough away, Bruce gently scooped Diana up into his arms, knowing there was no easy or completely pain free way to lift her, he moved as quickly as possible hoping the pain would only last for a moment.
Bruce bit down on the inside of his cheek to the point of drawing blood when Diana's guttural scream pierced the room as he moved her to the bed.
It twisted his insides to see and feel the woman he loved more than anything in the world in so much agony. He wished it was him instead of her.
As he gently laid her on the table, Bruce could see her breathing had become extremely labored, he could hear the blood bubbling up in her lungs with every breath she took… she was drowning in her own blood.
"Batman" J'onn said softly as he laid a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You need to step back and let Dr. Thompkins and I work, we will do our very best for her I promise you"
Bruce didn't move.
"Batman…" Clark as he approached him from behind, his voice soft and weary "You need to step back and let them work"
Bruce looked Leslie in the eye, doing his best to convey even through his cowl's lenses for her to save Diana. To not let her end up like his parents.
Leslie didn't need to see Bruce's eyes to know how badly they were pleading with her in that moment. She reached across Diana's prone form, placing a hand on the Dark Knight's forearm, "I promise you, we will do our best to save her" Leslie gave his forearm a reassuring squeeze to drive her statement home.
After a long moment, Bruce reluctantly backed away allowing J'onn to take his place.
"C'mon, let's get out of their way" Clark said as he laid a hand on Bruce's shoulder to lead him out of the room so J'onn and Leslie could work.
"I'm not leaving her"
"Bru…. Batman, we need…"
Bruce quickly spun on his heel, standing toe to toe with the Man of Steel, his body so rigid it was visibly shaking.
"Don't tell me what I need to do" Bruce snapped, his lenses covered eyes glaring at Clark. "I'm not leaving her"
Clark put his hands up in surrender and backed away, not actually scared of Bruce but more than aware enough to know that pushing him in his current state would be a huge mistake. The last thing they needed was a fist fight in the middle of the infirmary while they tried to save Diana's life.
Bruce was relieved when Clark took the hint and backed off, he was not in the mood to deal with him.
"AHHH!"
Diana's piercing scream cut through the infirmary like nails on a chalk board, the Amazon arching off the bed, her body bowing from the excruciating pain it was experiencing.
"What happened?!" Bruce demanded to know as he rushed to Diana's side, attempting to help J'onn and Leslie hold her still
"I don't know, all I did was try to remove the dagger" Leslie cried as she tried to hold Diana's arm down, the human woman woefully unprepared to handle powerful the Amazon, who even in her weakened state could still crush a small car with her bare hands.
"Superman, we need you to hold her down" J'onn stated as he tried, unsuccessfully to start an IV in the writhing woman's arm so he could give her a sedative
Clark quickly took Leslie's position next the bed, but he hesitated, fearing he would hurt Diana further in his effort to hold her down, the last thing he wanted to do was inflict more pain on his best friend, his sister.
J'onn reading his friends trepidation told him they could deal with any injuries he might cause but they wouldn't be able to help Diana at all if they couldn't get her to settle down.
Understanding, Clark reluctantly put one hand Diana's shoulder while he positioned the other across both her legs before asserting his super strength to pin her to the bed.
It worked, Superman's resistance against her movements had given J'onn the opening he needed to get the I.V. needle in her arm, which he quickly followed it up by pushing a sedative through and after several moments Diana's movements halted all together.
Once unconscious, Leslie once again attempted to remove the dagger but the moment she applied any pressure on the weapon, Diana's body bowed off the bed in pain, a scream of agony breaking through her lips even though she was under sedation, the wave of pain so strong it nearly buckled J'onn's knees.
"We can't treat her wound if we can't remove the dagger" Leslie proclaimed, her stomach churning at the noises the woman before on the bed was making. In all her years as a doctor, she'd never seen anything like was she seeing right at that moment.
"How can we remove it if every time you touch it causes her pain?" Clark asked as he reached out, taking Diana's limp hand in his own, the Man of Steel completely missing the bristling effect the gesture was having on Bruce.
Bruce clenched his jaw at the sight of Clark of holding Diana's hand, the simple gesture sending his jealously skyrocketing. He never liked the special bond Clark had with Diana, sure he always said she was like a sister to him, but Bruce feared deep down it was more than that with him.
Especially when the whole world constantly pushed the two of them together in magazines, newspapers and interviews. The perfect couple they all called them… it pissed him off to no end.
Clark didn't deserve her, not that he deserved Diana either, but the boy scout was the last person Bruce wanted to be with Diana.
Suddenly a thought hit him, kicking himself for not thinking of it sooner, they needed Zatanna. Diana had told him Circe was working with Ares, which meant she had more than likely cast a spell on the dagger and one of the only people in the league who stood any chance of figuring out the spell she cast was another magician.
"Flash, get Zatanna"
The scarlet speedster was totally amiss as to why they needed a magician, in fact everyone in the room was suddenly looking at Bruce crooked.
Bruce gritted his teeth, "Before she lost consciousness Diana told me Circe was with Ares, which means…"
"She most likely cast a spell on the dagger" Clark finished, "Flash…"
"I'm on it" he said before disappearing in a red blur
Looking down at Diana, Bruce could see a fine sheen of sweat had formed on her brow, whatever she was experiencing it was extremely painful. He just hoped that Zatanna could help, as she'd been unable to break the last spell Circe cast on Diana.
Bruce didn't know what he would do if he lost her, and he wasn't ready to find out. He made a silent vow to Diana that would do whatever it took to help her.
He wasn't going to lose her before he had the chance to finally tell her how he felt about her, to show her with his own body how much he loved her and how badly he wanted her in his life in every way.
"Fight it Diana, fight it" he whispered to her, hoping against hope she somehow heard him.
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Hope you're all enjoying the story so far, please be sure to review and let me know what you think!
