A/N:
STOP!Before you read, know that this chapter is not complete.
Between school and work this chapter has taken me a lot longer to write than expected. I have found that I am much more comfortable writing BM/WW than SM/WW. I have all the BM/WW parts written but very little SM/WW :/ . As I said in the last chapter this one is suppose to have more of them to provide some more insight into the characters, yet I had to add some BM/WW :) . I feel that I should give you something in the meantime, know that the next time I update this, it will all be complete. : ) I feel ok only uploading the beginning of this chapter because I feel like it can be good on its own as well. I hope you enjoy :)
Just to provide some background info here. In my story, as in the JL cartoon, aliens invaded earth and Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Man hunter, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Hawk girl and Flash (Wally West) unite to over come the threat. However I imagine Batman looking like he did in Arkham Origins, Wonder Woman like in the New52 and Superman with the Man of Steel suit. Anyways, they all decide to stay a team but unlike in the cartoon the watchtower isn't built instantly. It took a while because of press meetings, getting governments' approvals, saving people and their own personal lives, it took them a year and nine months to complete it. While it was being built they all became closer with each other as they worked together on various missions. But Batman, being a part time member, is still distant. The watchtower was completed in September, three months before this story. This is all just to show how they are all familiar but still new with each other. This is basically, how it all starts.(Diana in this story is a demigoddess like in New52 as well.) I hope that all makes sense and I hope I didn't confuse anyone, just trying to clear that all up. :)
Now, moving on to the story, it is two weeks before Christmas. (Nearly three years before Bruce and Diana meet up in the last two chapters.) Flash and Wonder Woman return to the watchtower after having stopped Poison Ivy in the Amazon Jungle.
Flash and Wonder Woman step off the teleport pad.
"Ewwwww! I still smell like swampy water." Flash complained. He had fallen in murky waters trying to capture Poison Ivy.
"There are showers here you can use here." Diana reminded him.
"Oh yeah that's right, I keep forgetting. I am liking this tower of watch more and more each day."
" I believe it is Watch. Tower."
" I know. It just sounds more epic that way. Tower of Watch! Hopefully it will catch on." He smiled
Swoosh! The door opens and in walks Superman.
"Hey Wally!"
"Hey Big Blue!" Wally turned to Diana "Well I'm off beautiful see ya 'round."
" Okay, good work out there today Wally."
He winked then left in a swift blur.
"How did it go?"
"Piece of pie. Thanks for asking, why are you smiling?" She tilted her head as she asked.
"It's nothing." She had messed up two popular phases, easy as pie and piece of cake. He would correct her but he liked how it sounded.
"What are you doing here?"
He pointed behind himself with his thumb. "Bruce and I just ran some system checks."
"Everything functional?"
"Oh yeah! I think it was just so Bruce could feel at ease with the new system." Clark rolled his eyes.
" He is an awfully cautious man."
"Yes ma'am he is. Well! I am heading to the cafeteria before I leave for Metropolis. J'onn said that there was some rotisserie chicken."
"I'll join you. I worked up quite an appetite on the mission with Wally."
They sat down at a table with their lunch trays.
"So any news to report?" Clark asked.
"Good news indeed. My mother has agreed on establishing an embassy and possibly setup some sort of trade between countries." She took a bite of her salad.
"Wow! that's great when do you expect to begin?" Although he asked with a mouth full of chicken, it was quite easy to understand him.
"Sometime after the holidays" she emphasized. " apparently everyone is excited for the day of Christmas."
"Yeah! It's two weeks before Christmas aren't you a little excited?" He drank some of his root beer soda.
"No. It's just another day for me. I will be here on monitor duty on the day." She reached over to the large bag of potato chips Clark had gotten from the cafeteria pantry and helped herself to a few.
"What? Oh no! You should come over and celebrate. Get a real understanding of the season."
"I don't want to intrude."
"Pffff! No not at all. It'll be fun!"
" What about Lois?"
"Lois will be in Europe 'till mid January. She is trying to get an interview with Queen."
"The Queen of England?" Diana chugged down her glass of water, not realizing how thirsty she was.
"No Oliver Queen. She is very determined to interview him on her own. She is very suspicious about the guy and believes she has a hot lead."
"He certainly is bold and an arrogance to rival Bruce's but his heart is in the right place. He seems to invest a lot into helping others."
"You met him before?"
"Very brief at a charity event."
"Obviously." He said with a quick smile.
" So how did your date go with Lois last week?" She took another bite of her salad.
"Very good actually. I don't want to jinx anything, it being only our second date but I don't know. I just have a strong feeling about this." As he grinned he appeared far away in his thoughts.
Diana didn't notice his reaction, but she felt genuinely happy for him. Knowing herself at how difficult it can be trying to find a significant other. She was glad a friend similar to her found someone. "That's great Clark! I wish you and Lois the best of luck!" She smiled wide.
"Thanks Di."
They continued to talk casually and when they finished their meals he left. Diana stayed behind to write up the report on her and Wally's mission as well as others she had purposely skipped.
Forty five minutes later she finished all her reports when the door behind her opened.
Walking through with determined strides, his heavy boots practically causing the room to rumble. Batman walked in and sat at one of the huge monitors, mainly used for research. However, he only sat at that one, ever. Silently claiming it as his own. Understandably so, it had the biggest, clearest screen in the room, big leather chair and it was accompanied with its' own steel, sectional, desk.
With him in the room an uncomfortable silence fell around Diana. He was so focused on what he was researching he appeared like gargoyle himself.
Trying to ease some of the awkward tension out the room she asked in her most friendly voice
" What ya got over there?"
"..." His back to her as he continued typing as if she hadn't said anything.
"Wow! Really? Amazing!" She said enthusiastically.
Picking up on her sarcasm he turned his head slightly to the side. " Did you and Flash stop Ivy?"
"I wouldn't be here if we hadn't...sir!" She challenged.
He turned back to the computer.
"Looks like you are working on something important"
"..."
"Do you require assistance?"
In a low baritone voice "I don't need your assistance." He didn't sound angry, but he sure didn't sound nice.
"Well, my help might bring about results quicker." She offered with a smile.
"..." The only sound in the room was of him typing.
"Ok this is ridiculous its been months. Nearly two years now! Yet, the longest conversation we have had was no longer than 5 sentences!"
"Don't over exaggerate it was at least 12." He said matter-of-factly.
She studied him, bewildered "...See! I don't even know if that was an attempt at making a joke or if you are serious!" She threw her hands in the an exasperated gesture.
He turned around in his chair to face her." What do you want Princess? You want us to share a cup of coffee together and discuss our daily routines? We have a job to do with people's lives on the line. I am not here to be your little friend. I KNOW MY PRIOIETIES! DO YOU?" His voiced boomed through out the room.
Her eyes turned deadly, her body tensed and even from where he sat he could the vein in her throat pump harder, signaling her adrenaline was pumping. For the first time in years he felt a shiver of fear shudder through him even if he appeared calm. He wondered if he went too far.
She walked oh so slowly to him. She looked like a tigress ready to pounce, ready to kill. She stood in front of him, his only defense a steel desk standing in between them. She looked down on him still sitting in his chair, the shadows of the watchtower covered her face. Only her fierce, neon blue eyes stared back at him with so much angry fire he could've sworn she had heat vision.
Her hands SLAMMED flat down on the steel desk creating a loud CLANGecho through out the room. She curled her fingers so that her nails cut through the steel with no resistance at all, making the steel appear like foil. The sound however, was EXCURCIATING to Bruce's ears but he tried his best to stay absolutely still. That is all one can do when confronted with an angry tigress, hungry for one's blood. You know it's going to hurt, you know it's going to enjoy tearing you to shreds but what can you do? You can't overpower it, you have already provoked it. You can't out run it, your fate is sealed. All you can do is play dead and hope it has mercy on you and end it quickly.
She slightly leans over the desk, he cautiously backs up still seated in his chair. Her eyes not blinking, still fierce, still neon. She smiles. Her smiles are known for being beautiful and warm but now as she smiles he stops breathing. His heart picked up pace, not fast but not his usual calm either. He feels himself start to perspire. Her smile is so sinister, not even the Joker could produce such fear in a man...silence. Neither one moving, standing stock still as if they are trapped in a picture. The only thing to be heard is the low hum of the watchtower.
"The calm before the storm." Is the only thought he can form as he waits for the tigress to strike.
"Now that I have your attention..." She leans over slowly, inch by inch getting closer and putting more pressure down on the desk. The table groans as it is barely able to hold itself up. "Tell me something Bruce ... how did your day of giving thanks go?"
"Wha...huh?" He couldn't believe his own ears. ONE he didn't even recognize his own voice. He sounded so unsure and small. TWO why would she ask about Thanksgiving?
"Answer the question!" She commanded.
"I didn't celebrate it." He sounded more sure of himself this time but it was still no voice of the Batman.
She eased back, stood up and then left. When her hands released the table it crumbled to the floor, no longer able to take the pressure. He felt the only difference between him and the desk was the desk had to stand on its own legs. He, thankfully, was sitting.
He sighed and took in a deep breath savoring the rush of air in his lungs. "Whew! ok she made her point now shake it off and focus."
He turned back to his computer, his hands shook subtly as he typed.
*SWHOOSH!*
"Shit! She's not finished." He has always been a man of science but right now he felt like praying.
She set down a plate in front of him along with a cup of liquid.
"This isn't exactly proper, I understand but we have the essentials. We have the poultry, the potatoes, the veggies and cranberries."
He studied the meal in front of him. It was all food from the cafeteria. Slice of rotisserie chicken, potato chips, baby carrots and a cup of cranberry juice. "An olive branch? Why?" He looked back up at her.
" I have just served you a meal. Me. An Amazon. DO NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY! "
She pulled over a chair and put her plate her on her lap as she sat to his side facing him. She already ate earlier with Clark so her proportions were smaller than Bruce's. She straightened herself up and spoke.
"Now, understand this you arrogant fool. Yes we have a stressful job. Our job is to protect all of humanity even from itself if need be. We are to defend the innocent, protect liberty and justice I know this! I left paradise, my family, to come here to your world to do all those things. That is why I am here for I believe everyone is entitled to peace and happiness. That is my motivation, THAT is my only priority. I admire your determination, I respect your focus for I understand it, for I know of it myself. However, unlike you, I am not above sitting down with my comrades after a long day of fighting injustice together."
As she spoke he found a new respect for her. She could have pounded him to ground, or crushed him with her words. Instead she established that she could take his hits and not budge but come out victorious as well. "Damn. She's good."
"You may be curious why I want to understand you better when you so obviously push everyone away. It is because if we are to be a team in this battle for peace, how can we trust each other to have each other's back if all I know of you is from tabloids or criminals?
"You can always trust me to do what is necessary to protect humanity and this team." He stated, finally finding his voice.
"Yes, that is not in question. What I am saying here, is that how can I trust a man to have my back in battle when he can't even trust us to run a systems check without himself being present?"
"My being here was to make sure everything ran properly."
"Obviously, but I doubt that was the main reason. Any one of us could have done it and reported back to you."
" And if something went wrong?"
"Then you'd have to trust us to solve it. If we need you, you know we will call. Your only problem is trust."
"Trust has to be earned."
"I believe we have all proven ourselves have we not?"
"You've all made positive impacts in this world , you each have my respect in one form or another. But how can I trust a person if I barely even know them?"
"Damn it! I played right into her hand."
"Exactly." She whispered but smiled, her warmth returning to her beautiful face.
He glared at her and her smile grew into a smug grin.
"So, why a Thanksgiving" He looked down at the food, skeptical, "meal?"
"I haven't had one yet, and you didn't celebrate yours. This is to make up for that as well as help me better understand. If I am to help people, I should learn as much as I can about them. Wouldn't you agree?"
He grunted in agreement. Then he took a swing of his cranberry juice.
"WAIT!"
"WHAT?" He demanded.
"We have to say what we are thankful for!"
"Princess..." She abruptly cut him off "HEY! We are going to enjoy this Thanksgiving meal damn it! Even if it is two weeks before Christmas, we are still going to respect its traditions! Now SHUT. UP. and say what you are thankful for!"
"I can't shut up and say thanks."
"If you want to see me angry.." This time he cut her off. "Yeah, I got it Princess."
She glared but then she looked down and said.
"I am thankful that my mother has raised me to be a patient woman." Bruce smirked and thought "Psssh yeah right. Her? Patient? Well, actually, yeah I guess she is." She continued. " Iam thankful for my family being safe, as well as my friends. I am thankful for the chance I have to help others and I am thankful for the moments of peace that I get." She looked back up and sighed. Then turned to him smiling, waiting for him to speak.
" I am thankful for batteries." He replied flatly. He truly was thankful for batteries, if there were no batteries, a lot of his primary gadgets wouldn't work.
"Bruce." She warned
"What? I didn't judge what you were thankful for."
"You are not even trying." She crossed her arms.
"Don't push it princess that is all you are going to get from me." He said sternly.
She smiled then just shook her head. He picked up his fork and dug in. They sat there silently but it was not uncomfortable, it was soothing. Two determined, fierce warriors sat enjoying each other's company. The meal was not fancy, but it was special, simple, what each one needed. Just the essentials.
They finished their meal and both stood to go their separate ways. They looked at each other with no anger in their eyes but something else. Respect, and admiration. He reached out his hand, she looked down at it and when she looked back up at him her radiant smile pushed away the shadows deep down in him. She took his hand and firmly, but gently shook his hand.
"Thank you for the meal Diana."
"Thank you for your time Bruce."
They held each other's hand a little longer than necessary, looking into each other's eyes then they turned to leave. With his back facing her he stopped suddenly and asked.
"Diana?"
She stopped as well but turned to face him only to see him standing in the shadows with his back to her. She replied, "Yes Bruce?"
"What are your plans for Christmas?"
"I am spending Christmas with Clark and his family. Would you like to join us?" She asked hopeful he would agree, surprised they were making friendly progress this fast.
He on the other hand felt the sting of rejection. The shadows reclaiming his heart again he answered. "No. I was only curious." With that he left.
She stared at the door as it shut behind him.
"Did I say something wrong?" She whispered to herself.
Just then, the doors reopened and in walked Wally refreshed. He stopped mid stride
"WHOA! What happened to the desk?" Wally squeaked.
