Just on my way home Friday evening, a f*cking car coming from the other direction decided to drive on my lane and give me a fright. Such a fright I ended up rolling upside down in the field next to the road. Neither I nor my car are harmed (well, ugly bumps for the car because it may not be a recent one, but it's a real tank, and I think it will survive everything I put it through and keep me alive anyway) but I swear if I get my hand on those people - I'm a total pacifist but I'd still love to punch their freaking face.

Anyway, on with the story.

Unbeta-ed work, so all mistakes are mine.


Five Dates

7

Diana crossed the gates leading to high-school feeling great. The previous night, Bruce had more or less convinced her mother to let them date, he had confided in her –though she did not expect the hand of a murderer was at play, and yes, she did check over her shoulder twice this morning, but somewhat, he was letting her in. And that felt somewhat…rewarding.

"Diana!"

She saw a little redhead wave at her from the afar and grinned; the boys wouldn't arrive until a solid fifteen minutes, and there was only one reason why Etta would show up willingly at school early.

"Someone is in great mood this morning," Etta noted with a sly grin as she approached her friend. "How did the meeting go?"

Etta was her most fervent supporter in her Bruce-dating campaign, something Diana was genuinely grateful for. As much as she understood the boys' mistrust, having some backup felt nice.

"He's still alive," she replied. "And he got to see my bedroom. Without supervision."

The redhead whistled.

"He must have made some impression. Not even Steve is allowed alone with you in your own house!"

"Antiope is fond of him for some reason," she replied with a shrug. "I'm not going to complain."

"So do you have more details on who is Bruce Wayne underneath that cool, sexy and cocky smirk? The boys are always around and you're never free in the evenings. Give me some girlfriend talk here."

Diana laughed at her nosiness.

"He is a lot more private that he seems," she confessed. "And he has a kind heart. I'm never bored around him."

Etta giggled and patted her shoulder.

"Well, I hope things turn out how it ought to. At least you are lucky with the men in your life."

Diana's smile faltered slightly. Her friend had no luck with Steve yet, and given the sadness in her eyes, she had it bad.

"He's missing out," she said softly. "You're a great girl Et'; if he can't see that, it's his loss."

Etta shrugged and Diana put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

'He's in love with you'.

Bruce's words from their first date returned haunting her. Diana clenched her teeth, refused to believe them. Steve and Etta were perfect for each other, and her best friend was not considering her. She didn't want to think of the consequences on her friendship with Etta and the boys. She had other friends of course, but they were her firsts and she would hate it, if a shift was going to happen just because she chose a boy they didn't approve of.

"Why so gloomy?" Charlie suddenly interrupted their silence by popping behind them. "Did someone's cat died?"

"We don't even own a cat, Charles," Etta said, rolling her eyes. "And shouldn't you know better than to interrupt girl time?"

The Scottish boy raised both hands in defense.

"Aye lassie, just curious." He narrowed his eyes and suddenly spat: "What the devil does he want?"

Both girls followed his gaze. Diana felt her worries melt away and a smile split her face as she saw Bruce approach them. His eyes were focused on her, his smile small but genuine. Once he was close enough, completely ignoring Charlie's bad vibes, she said:

"Hey."

"Hey," he replied, and pulled her into a rather bold and demanding kiss. Diana melted immediately. When they parted, his eyes were twinkling merrily and her cheeks felt warm. "See you later?"

"See you later," she replied, halfway lost in a daze. The dreamy part of her wanted to demand why later when he could stay with her, while the realistic part realized Charlie –and now Sameer and Steve who must have arrived while she was distracted, how long had they been kissing anyway? –were all glowering at him.

Bruce gave them a little wave and promptly turned around, leaving her giddy and longing for a little more. She ignored the boys' dismayed stares and Etta's awed one, and as the bell rang, headed to her first class.

Five Dates

The lightness brought by Bruce's morning kiss was soon replaced by consternation with the surprise test their teacher gave them. Though she knew most of the answers, Diana still had a little trouble concentrating. The taste of him lingered in her mouth and she constantly bit her lower lip, wishing they could continue making out. Two hours later, she headed to the bathroom for a much needed break. And there, she was met by Vicky Vale and her circle of friends. The blonde girl was still angry at her, she knew that, but she hadn't anticipated her cornering her for a little heart-to-heart.

"I hope you are happy," the blonde hissed. Her friends stood in circle around her, as her back was against the wall. "I hope you enjoy him while you think you have him." She took a step closer, trying to be intimidating. Diana had been threatened with a blade on her skin last weekend, Vicky didn't hold a candle. "Because when he's done with you? When he tires of your perfectness and coolness and he's used you to the bone, he'll dump you. He'll dump you, Prince, and he'll return to me."

"Bruce and I are fine," she replied calmly. No need wasting her thoughts on girls like her. "Whatever's going on is none of your business."

"He'll come back to me," Vicky repeated. "Because he knows I will forgive him everything. Even his darkest secrets."

Diana frowned at her. She couldn't mean the murderer, she was quite certain Bruce had never spoken about it to anyone. The other girl seemed to misinterpret her silence, as she kept gloating:

"I know all about what happened with his last real girlfriend, how she was too greedy for him and he kicked her out of town. I will never ask him for money or-"

Diana tuned her out: Bruce had mentioned a past greedy girlfriend who had been directly involved in his last kidnapping. She snorted, amused. Vicky knew nothing but what he had wanted people to know. She felt lighter knowing he really trusted her.

"What are you smirking at, bitch!" the other girl snapped. "You think you can make fun of me?"

Diana blocked the hand that was about to slap her out of instinct. She immediately twirled Vicky's arm in her back and held it upward. The rest of Vicky's friends gasped and took a step back. She knew their type: attack in group a lone girl for intimidation was fine, but the moment she showed some backbone, they'd scatter out of fear of being hurt.

"I'm not making fun of you," Diana replied, squeezing a little harder. "But I will not tolerate your insults."

"Let me go!" Vicky whined, vainly trying to struggle.

"Bruce is mine," she added, a little more harshly that she intended. "Why don't you check with him too, little vindictive girl?"

She released Vicky and pushed her forward. A friend of the girl caught her before she fell. Diana picked her bag and left the room.

Later

"Vicky Vale is a pain the ass; what did you ever see in her?" Diana declared. Bruce eyed her with mild amusement. They both had a free period so he had opted to join his girlfriend on a bench while waiting for the next. Ollie had teased him merciless for turning 'tamed'. Arthur had grumbled something about masculinity loss before following Mera like a puppy.

"What happened?" he asked as he linked their hands together. The same genuine smile appeared on her face at his small gesture. Bruce marveled at how little things made her so happy, and promised himself to do it more often.

"Cornered me in a bathroom. Told me how you heartlessly threw your last real girlfriend out of town."

Bruce sighed, feeling the beginning of a headache coming.

"Selina sold me-"

"I know," she interrupted him gently. "And I don't blame you."

He remained silent for a while. He hadn't thought of Selina in months, mostly because of his growing interest in Diana. Still, her could still picture the hurt on her face during their last conversation and the harsh words he had used to push her away.

"I told her I never wanted to see her again." He said quietly. "I was…cruel to her. In spite of what happened, I knew her background, and I used it in spite against her." He paused and admitted: "I was afraid he'd come after her. He can be oddly…protective of me, at times."

"So we better not breakup soon I supposed?"

"She put my life in danger," Bruce nuanced, not liking the sudden wariness in her tone. Though, in retrospect, he supposed he couldn't blame her. "And I'm not intending to break up anytime soon. Are you?"

Diana smiled, which made him feel a lot better.

"Of course not. We're still on for Saturday night?" he nodded. "Good. Now why don't you shut up and kiss me like a proper boyfriend?"

Bruce couldn't stop grinning.

"Yes ma'am."

Five Dates

The steam of water fell heavily upon her shoulders like a warm cascade. Diana sighed in delight: a hot shower after over an hour training led by Antiope in a mood felt like heaven. She ran her hands over her body, winced every time they brushed a bruise. As the soap did its work, she reviewed her latest sparring session, on how she could take the upper hand faster next time. Antiope had paired her with Artemis and the redhead had not been tender. Still, she did tend to favor her left side and use her raw strength. Since her match against Bruce though, she had done some research and a few new moves had caught her off-guard. Thankfully Diana hadn't been caught off-guard too much, or the redhead would have beaten her properly.

Her thoughts were brought back to Bruce. He had acted oddly opened and affectionate today…was it because of her mother's 'permission'? Diana didn't care much about PDA, though she and Artemis had to keep a low profile for obvious reasons. She wondered then if he would be the same tomorrow…which was already Friday. And Saturday was Oliver's party.

They had discussed the matter a little. Bruce had explained he usually stayed no more than two hours, after which he either returned to the manor, either crashed a room upstairs or hunted for a fling. This time though, she'd be with him so he promised he would stay away from alcohol and refrain from seeking female company. The latter had been a tease, but she had still hit him nonetheless. And he had told her to dress 'casual'. Diana smiled at the thought that he might not want her to be too elegant so she wouldn't catch everyone's attention. The main trouble was, he had hinted she might have to stay over at either Oliver's or at his house, as they would certainly remain till around three or four, depending on the mood. And to do so, Diana needed permission from her mother.

The water started to run less warm. Diana sighed and washed the shampoo away. She would announce her intention of staying over at Bruce's Saturday night tonight. Had her mother been in Europe for whatever reason, she would have asked Antiope. Afterthought, while she didn't think her aunt would refuse her, she wasn't her legal parent and would want her to bring the matter to Hippolyta.

Stepping out of the shower, she took the fluffy red towel and wrapped it around her body. The cool temperature in the room distracted her momentarily –and she realized she had forgotten to close the window of her bedroom. As the boss's daughter, she was allowed her own private adjacent shower, and wasn't keen on stepping out in cool air after drying off her hair. After a quick debate, she wrapped her hair in a second towel –deciding they could wait a few seconds and stepped in her bedroom.

She wasn't alone. Someone was sitting on her bed, and that someone was not supposed to be there.

"Steve?" Diana blurted in shock. "What are –the hell?"

She instinctively tightened her grip on her towel. Steve was fidgeting nervously, trying not to look at her.

"I had to see you." He whispered, and finally settled for staring at the ground. Something wasn't right, she thought. Her mother's security would have never let him in and it took her a few seconds to realize…

"Did you sneak through the gardens?" she asked, stunned.

"The old fence hasn't been repaired," he explained. "Anyone who knows that access can get in. And you never close your blinds till you go to sleep." He suddenly forgot his embarrassment and stared at her straight in the eye. "Diana, you can't keep going out with Bruce Wayne."

She clenched her teeth, a little more than angry now.

"And why not?" she hissed.

Steve stared at her like she had just said something incredibly stupid.

"Why not?" he repeated. "He's a jerk and a moron! Do you know how many girls he flirted with then dumped?"

"I don't think he kept count," she replied dryly. "Steve, you can't tell me you sneaked all the way through my room just to tell me –"

"And the other day at the Fair –the madman who was going after you and that little girl –he's dangerous Diana. You have to stay away from him!"

She crossed her arms and glared at him.

"That is my decision to make," she growled. "Now you listen-"

"I love you."

Silence. Diana gaped, eyes round in shock. Steve flushed and stared back at the floor.

"You're my best friend, you've always been there for me," he went on. "You're smart and kind and beautiful and strong and I think we'd be great together. Everyone can see it. I see it."

She didn't.

"Steve-" she started to protest.

"You gave him a chance and you don't even know him!" He looked desperate. "Why won't you give me a chance? What if I asked for a chance to prove myself to you?"

"Steve-" she tried again.

He must have seen the look in her eyes; the kind that said, I love you, but not that way. His whole face fell, his shoulders slumped. And then, a determined glint appeared in his eyes. He grabbed her shoulders and pressed his mouth upon hers. Diana stiffened, first at the contact, next at the taste.

Has he been drinking?

In her semi-shocked stance, she didn't shove him off. Steve took advantage of her split second distraction to step forward and give her in a one-sided passionate kiss.

"St-" she tried to speak when he parted for air. He ignored her and reached for her face to cup her jaw. "Stop it!"

She shoved him away and punched him. He stumbled backwards into her drawer, causing a major ruckus throughout the house. Artemis busted in her bedroom, batons lifted and ready to hit. When she understood the situation, her face took a hint of rage and she nearly threw herself on him.

"Stop! Please Artemis stop!"

The redhead did; but not before kneeling him in the balls. Steve squeaked and curled into fetal position. Diana caught her towel before it dropped on the floor. A few other girls entered the room, attracted by the noise. Whispered ran around until she spoke up again:

"Escort him out. And tell Io to get the breach in the old fence mended," she ordered. Her voice didn't waver but her fists were tightly clenched in her towel. "Thank you ladies."

Quite anticlimactically, Steve was hoisted up and dragged down the corridor. After ensuring she was alright and not too shaken by the intrusion, the other women returned to their dormitories. Only Artemis waited until everyone was gone to confront her.

"You're not going to call the cops on him?" she growled. Diana avoided her gaze. "You are too soft. If you want to be respected, you need to show who commands here and not allow that little twerp get away with it."

"He won't," she replied softly. "I'll think of something. But I don't think he deserves the cops. Nothing happened."

"Clemency is not necessarily a fault," the redhead nuanced. "But in this case, you are wrong. A lot of bad things could have happened, and you know it."

Artemis finally left and shut the door behind her. Only then, Diana thought of locking the window with shaky hands. She returned to the bathroom, dried her hair and dressed up for the night. When she returned to her room, she double checked for an intruder. There was none of course, but the itching feeling she wasn't alone, that a shadow lurking in the corner of her room could be someone waiting for her didn't left her skin. It wasn't until she was sitting on her bed, at the exact same spot he had, that realization hit her worse.

Steve had just ambushed her in her own bedroom. Steve Trevor had broken onto her property, bypassed security, sneaked into her private sanctuary and-

She reached for her phone and dialed Bruce's number. He picked up on the third ring.

"Yeah?"

"Hey," she said, relieved to hear his voice.

"Hey princess." His light tone made her wish he was there even more. "You okay?"

She thought of responding by the affirmative, thought of lying and just falling into one of their routine talks.

"No I'm not." And before she could stop herself, she told him everything. Bruce let her speak, listening without interrupting for which she was grateful. "I'm so stupid," she ended. "I trusted him! I trusted him and –"

Her voice died in her throat. What would the boys say? What would Etta say? They were first Steve's friends before becoming hers, and she knew they sided with the blonde more often than with her. Napi might understand, but he had always been a little bit apart. Charlie and Sameer though…and Etta! What would Etta think of this?

"I'm coming over," he said sharply.

"No it's…I'll be alright. I just…" she hesitated. "I don't even know why I called. I should let you go back to sleep. It's a school day tomorrow."

"Do you really think I care about school right now?" he echoed in disbelief.

"I'll be fine," she assured him. "I'm surrounded by my mother's employees, nothing will happen to me."

There was a heavy silence.

"He still managed to sneak into your bedroom," Bruce pointed out. Diana felt a shiver run down her spine.

"I hadn't closed the blinds yet and my windows were opened. Without that, he couldn't have-"

"Princess."

She paused, breathed in and out.

"I'll be fine," she repeated softly. "Thank you Bruce."

"Come over Friday night," he bluntly said, no place left for argument. Any other day, she might have protested or snapped that she was not to be micromanaged, but this wasn't any other day. He sounded concerned and she didn't feel comfortably in her own room right now.

"I'll ask my mother," she said instead.

"Tell her Alfred will set up the guestroom," he went on. "Just bring a change of clothes and whatever makeup you girls put on. We'll provide the rest."

Diana couldn't help snort.

"I don't do makeup Bruce," she chided, and paused. "Didn't you have something planned Saturday?"

"I'll postpone it. You're more important."

His spontaneous reply brought a smile to her face.

"Thank you Bruce. Don't postpone your thing yet, I'm not sure mother will allow me to sleep over Friday yet."

"As you wish princess."

He didn't sound happy but willing to comply. They remained silent for a few moments before she spoke again:

"I really should let you go to bed. It's getting late."

"I'm insomniac," he reminded her. "And even if I wanted, it's poker night."

"Poker night?" she repeated, intrigued.

"The guys and a few friends from other cities come over once every few months. We turn it into a poker tournament that lasts late in the night. I didn't invite you this time because they can be a bit…overwhelming."

"Uh-hum," she hummed skeptically.

"And I want to keep you for myself a little longer before the formal introductions."

She had to remember he had no family other than Alfred. His friend would be by default his family. She hadn't even properly met Arthur or Oliver yet.

"Right. And you were about to come here?" she realized.

"It wouldn't be not the first time I've deserted them. When something happens to the kids at the hospital, the nurses tend to call me. When Dick fell and broke his leg, he had a nightmare and asked for me. I had to go to the hospital at two in the morning. They know I wouldn't leave unless it was important and they're spending the night anyway. You sure you don't want me there?"

In his background, a door opened and a male voiced what sounded to be a question. Bruce responded something along the lines of 'get lost' before the door closed and silent returned.

"Even if you did come, you'd have to go through my mother's bodyguards first," Diana went on, but she felt a smile grow on her face.

"I'm known to be very persuasive."

"Oh really?"

"I scored a second date with you in spite of my colorful reputation."

Diana smiled fondly.

"I just gave you the benefit of the doubt." She hesitated before adding: "And I'm glad I did."

There was a momentary silence on the other side.

"Thank you," he spoke softly.

"Sorry for disturbing your game." She added for good measure.

"It's fine. I was losing anyway."

"Would you teach me poker next time?"

"Sure." He hesitated. "Diana, if those friends of yours turn their back on you, I usually keep busy in a small room on the top floor when I'm not in class or with the guys. Peeks of having a hand in the school's finances. It's number 408. Our schedules are about the same tomorrow, so you're welcomed anytime."

She closed her eyes, relieved at the idea of having a place to go in case things didn't go so well.

"Thank you."

"Try to sleep Diana." He hesitated, and asked: "Do you want me to keep the line open till you fall asleep?"

She smiled in spite of herself.

"I'll be –don't worry Bruce, I'll be fine. And I'll see you tomorrow," she replied instead. "Good night."

He didn't answer right away, but he eventually wished her a good night too. When she hung up, Diana thought he wanted to say something else and wondered what it could be.