Roommates

Chapter 3

Diana woke up at dawn despite her exhaustion. She stretched looking out her window at the sunrise. Its funny how waking up to see the sunrise and sunset seemed to be built into her instincts. She looked at the sun as it rose. She sighed as she thought about everything that happened in the last two days. It felt more like months, than two days. Let's see, she thought, I argued with my mom, ran away from home, exhausted myself, and found a new roommate. She straightened up at the thought.

Her new roommate was a guy. She never lived with anybody but the Amazons. She never even had to one before Bruce. And now she was sharing an apartment with one. She rushed out her room and into the living room. She looked around frantically, seeing only what she saw last night. A beautiful apartment that was completely unfamiliar.

Diana marveled at the room. It seemed to change over night. It looked more open and free in the morning sun. She moved hesitantly through the room, touching the furniture and gazing out the window to a city totally new to her. She lifted her hand to the sunlight. Her body absorbed some of it. She watched as the sunlight danced through the veins in hand. She never got bored by the sight.

"So you're not human. That much is for sure."

Diana turned to see Bruce in the kitchen. He held a steady gaze on her. Bruce knew Diana woke up since his shadows started acting with more vigor. He pulled them back him before she came out her room. He was surprised she didn't notice him. But what surprised him most was when she absorbed the sun light. He could see it working through her veins like golden threads. He also saw how her shadow grew as if all the sunlight's energy entered. Like it was being feed.

Diana pulled her hand away from the sunlight. She hoped he didn't anything suspicious. But as she looked into his eyes, she highly doubted it. She put her body in a defensive position.

"How much on that did you see?" she asked him. He rested his arms on the counter, leaning forward.

"From the time you left your room up to now. So basically everything." Bruce leaned back, causally. Diana stiffened at the statement. Diana saw in the corner of her eye a flicker. She didn't turn head-on but she was sure it was her imagination. She couldn't have possibly seen a shadow.

"You seem very clam for a human." Bruce shrugged at her.

"I'm not like the average human. I pride myself in not being surprised by the unexpected."Diana raised an eyebrow at this.

"Impressive. I'm wouldn't have even expected that. But then again I don't know you." Diana said, feeling comfortable enough to approach him. Bruce's gaze then switched to scrutinizing as she can closer to him. Diana caught his gaze. Bruce kept his face composed but was secretly amazed by Diana. In broad daylight he could see her clearly. He could see how her hair was an auburn color at the tips, how her pale complexion really was, and her eyes…her eyes were darker than he thought was possible. It was like an abyss that held a limitless intensity to it. An intensity that Bruce wasn't use to.

He cleared his throat, trying to find something to say. Diana's gaze didn't help anything. He looked at away from her for a moment to collect himself. Diana just gazed on patiently. She was confused on why Bruce seemed so uncomfortable at the moment. Maybe she should ask him. But before she could, he started to speak.

"Well since we're roommates now," he raised his head meeting her gaze with a renewed intensity. Diana had to try not to squirm under it. "We obviously need some ground rules." Diana nodded although she wasn't excited about the idea. She knew that he wasn't exactly…accepting of the idea. But she would be quiet for now.

"First rule, I don't like it when people are in or try to interfere with my business. What's my business is mine and what's your is yours, unless it is need to know. Got it?" Diana nodded with a smile. She liked this rule.

"Second," he continued, "you have a year to get a place of your own or get out." Diana's shoulders sagged a bit at hearing this. Only a year to find a place to live?

"I understand." She told him. "I don't mean to intrude into your life this way." She said kindly, not truly meaning what she said. She just wished he could help her beyond a place to stay. Bruce heard the sincerity in Diana's voice and felt sort of sorry for her. Then he remembered what her touched did to him and was brought back to a solid resolve. This is for her own good.

"Trust me that was not my plan." She told him. He raised his eyebrow at her.

"Really? And what was this plan of yours?" He asked. She just turned away.

"My business, remember?" She said quietly, covering up the fact that she didn't exactly have one. But like he said, she didn't need to tell him everything. Just need to know.

"Third rule," he said, interrupting her thoughts, "no crazy and random people in my loft. I prefer to keep a low profile around the city. Other than that, you're free to do what you want."

Not like I know any, Diana thought. But she couldn't worry about parties and random people right now. She needed a plan. She needed to figure everything out. Like how is gonna find a place to live in a year? What's she gonna do for a living? What's she gonna do if her mom find out where she is?

A million questions buzzed in Diana's head. Bruce looked at her wondering what she was thinking. His mind couldn't help but be frustrated by the shadows that continued to pulse towards this girl. They wanted her so strongly…it scared Bruce how much they wanted her. He looked away and moved to the living room. He turned on the TV, watching the news. He didn't watch as Diana left the room.

Diana walked into her room. She pulled out her only bag from the closet. She pulled out what she had. An extra pair clothes, some food, a map, a book on societies around the world, and her favorite necklace from her mom was all she had. She looked at the necklace as it sparkled in the sunlight. She remembered debating whether to bring it or not and eventually forgot to take it out. The necklace was a simple thing really. It had a thin pink gold chain with a golden owl pendent. All of it was real gold which equaled good money equaling a good start in the city. But as Diana gazed at, she didn't know why but she knew she couldn't sell it.

Sure relationship with her mom wasn't the best but this necklace was one of her most prized possessions. Not just some decoration for Solstice. Diana clutched the necklace tightly and cursed. She should've got another necklace. She shook her head as she moved to the living room, trying to put on the necklace. Bruce turned to see her enter.

"Diana," he called. She looked up at him. He gestured to the seat near him, trying to ignore the ripples of temptation going through him. He knew that it would be happening a lot while she stayed here. She was beautiful, in a lack of a better word. And with those eyes…she was practically irresistible. But he would resist her. He already had her for a year. He didn't anything but that.

Diana moved to the seat, momentarily stopping what she was doing. Bruce ran his fingers through his dark hair. Diana took the time to actually look at her roommate. And she couldn't help but be impressed with what she saw.

Bruce was handsomely gorgeous. It was as if he created the tall, dark, and handsome qualifications women always wanted. Bruce had deep black hair that spiked at the end. He had tanned skin that was perfect for him. He was muscular but not too much to look like he took steroids. Just enough to know that he was strong. Very strong. His face was angular and smooth. And his eyes…they were like midnight onyx. Liquid pools of shadows that you could, and would want to, drown in. She just wished she could gaze into them and drown. But unfortunately the moment was ruined before it could really start. Bruce looked at her, patiently.

"I think there are some things I need to know about you." He told her. Diana stiffened at this. She only hoped he didn't question her about this morning with the sunlight.

"What…do you want to know?" she asked hesitantly. Bruce leaned forward.

"What, exactly, are you doing here? You don't seem like you're really ready for a big city like New York, yet you come here. Why is that?" he asked. It was a reasonable question, she guessed. It's not everyday a total stranger becomes your roommate because of a bet. She tried to answer as honestly as she could.

"I'm just looking for a new start. I need a change of scenery, really." She said. It was the true. Bruce narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. Diana looked away from him.

"Who are you running from?" he asked her. All the air in her lungs left. She boldly looked at him.

"What makes you think I'm running from someone?" she asked him, wondering what he said. His gaze didn't waver.

"You come out of nowhere with only one bag, probably filled with clothes and food, and betting against someone you don't know for a place to stay, looking exhausted." He told her, "I'm not stupid. A girl like you would only do that if you were running from something." Diana's jaw tightened, her body tightening up, like a spring ready to loose. Bruce saw this and sat back in a relaxed and venerable position.

"You say this as if you know me well enough to judge." She said scathingly.

"I'm not trying to turn you in Diana. I just need to know if there's any danger in me letting you stay here." He said. Diana didn't relax at this. She cleared her throat to speak.

"Well, it's my business to why I'm here. But I there is no danger in me staying here." She lied, hoping it was convincing enough for him to believe her. He would be in extreme danger with her here, if she was found. Knowing her mom and aunt, they wouldn't give him time to explain. They would kill him on the spot, which she would feel nothing but guilt for causing. But at the moment he was safe. And she wasn't guilty. Diana continued to try putting on her necklace. Bruce saw her struggling and got up. He held his hand out for the necklace. She paused, looking at his hand. She, eventually, handed the necklace over to him. He closed it in his palm. Bruce walked around behind her. She stood up, lifting her hair off her neck. Bruce lifted the necklace, touching her throat, and connected the clasp together. But as his hands touched her skin and something went through them.

Diana turned her head and immediately noticed how closer they were to each other. They were an inch apart in space. A sudden haze came over them. Something smooth and soft, like a caress, seemed to touch Solene. It traveled up to her hand. She touched it softly. It felt slightly familiar to her.

Bruce's temptation rose at the close space. He felt the same way he did when she grabbed his arm that time before. He felt an invisible pull towards her. His thoughts of temptation took over as their skin connected. Her lips parted, making Bruce lean closer. Diana looked into his eyes. The midnight onyx was fascinating to her. If you looked hard enough you could swear you could see shadows.

Shadow eyes…Diana leaned back from him at the sight. Bruce snapped out as well, immediately pulling a least three feet between them, retracting the shadows that slipped out of him. Diana left the living room, wordlessly, retreating to her room.

Bruce took deep breaths trying to clear his head of the haze that entered it at her touch. His shadows pulsed under his skin. They were strangely calm at the moment. Like Diana's touch could calm them down. Bruce blew out the air he was holding in. This was going to be a long year.

*****

Hippolyta made haste on her way to Athena's temple. The sooner she got there, the sooner she may be to finding Diana. She has been bewildered by her only child's behavior for the last year. She grew concerned with the look of knowledge growing in Diana's eyes for a while but she never thought it would cause her to do this.

Athena sat in her temple waiting for Hippolyta to arrive. Athena was well aware of Diana running away. She wasn't scared about her safety. After all, she knew the girl's fate better than anybody. She only felt sorry for Hippolyta, whose didn't have the slightest clue about her daughter's destiny. It was a mystery to her just like the shadows in her daughter's eyes. Hippolyta approached Athena urgently.

"I know what happened, Hippolyta." Athena told her. "You don't need to explain to me the situation." This was no relief to Hippolyta.

"Do you know where to find her? She could be in grave danger." Hippolyta said. Athena relaxed in her throne. This was going to be the hard part for the Themiscyra queen.

"I could," Athena admitted, "But that doesn't mean I will." Hippolyta gazed at the goddess in shock.

"You have to tell me. I need to know." Athena knew this wasn't going to be easy for the queen of her island but this needed to happen.

"Seth, could you please excuse us for a moment?" Seth nodded, taking his leave. Sorcha rose from her seat. She approached Hippolyta with her steady grace. "You are telling me that that you have absolutely no idea why your daughter left."

"She's just being defiant. I admit I don't understand her sometimes."

"A mother should always be aware of her child's desires." Athena told her casually. Hippolyta grew angry at Athena for insulting her mothering skills. But she controlled it. The last thing she needed was an angry goddess.

"Athena, you must tell me where she is. She is completely naïve about Man's world. She won't know how to survive in it." Hippolyta told her with urgency. Athena wasn't affected.

"She ran away to be in a place she is welcomed. A place where she can be happy."

"She was happy-"

"Stop being blind, Hippolyta. We both know was miserable with your court." Hippolyta was taken aback by the statement from Athena.

"It doesn't matter. She is just a child." Hippolyta said desperately to Athena.

"And child must grow some day. You can't control the world."

"I can bring her home! I am sorry Athena, but she is my daughter. It is my duty to make sure she is safe." She finished. Athena narrowed her eyes at the stubborn queen. She stepped closer until the two were less than an inch apart.

"Don't try to interfere with fate, Hippolyta. It's not a pretty sight." Athena said coldly. Hippolyta didn't care for the goddess's word. Her daughter was out there and she would find her, whether the gods liked it or not.

"Where is she?" Athena retreated to her throne. Athena addressed her like the Goddess of Wisdom she was.

"Diana is safe. She will be safe. I will not tell either of you where she is. Her location is to stay with me." Hippolyta wasn't stunned at the decision. She was merely disappointed. "Get out."

Hippolyta, wordlessly, retreated back to palace.

Athena sighed. She looked through one of her looking glasses. She could see Diana sitting on a bed in a loft. Athena thought it was amusing how, of all places, Diana found herself in crazy New York.

I think it's time to visit my little shadow, Athena thought, leaving to prepare for the visit.