Discovery

Chapter 7

Diana was fascinated with the winter in New York. Everything about it, as most of New York does, fascinates her. Diana barely noticed the drop in temperature. She wondered about the leaves falling for a little bit only to be distracted a little later. So when it came, Diana was completely off guard.

"Bruce!" she yelled. Bruce appeared behind her with an alarmed look on his face. Diana was standing in front of the door that led to the balcony. She was pointing to the snowflakes that were falling down.

"What is that?" she asked, turning to his with her sapphire eyes. Bruce suppressed the urge to stare into them. He shook his head at her.

"It's called snow, Diana." He said, "Are you familiar with anything?" Diana shrugged, sheepishly.

"We never really had snow where I'm from. The temperature only dropped." She explained. Bruce pinched his nose as he walked away. This was going to be a long winter, he thought. Filled with curiosity, Diana went out to the balcony. Her footsteps created a crunching sound. She looked down. Her footprints were visible. She touched the ground. It was cold and slightly wet. Snow, she thought. She collected some in her hand. It numbed them slightly, but she didn't care. She was curious about this snow. She made a mental note to go back to the library and find some books on snow.

One good thing was the view. The snow blanketed everything, making it a dazzling wonder. The view of the balcony was amazing. She sat out there almost every day with a blanket, hot chocolate, and a thick jacket, for as long as she could just to watch the busy city below. Sometimes she even made tiny snowmen from the snow out there. She truly loved that.

However, not even the incredible view could make her stop hating the cold.

"Do you plan on freezing yourself again?" Bruce asked from inside. She half-turned to him.

"Maybe." Diana told him. Ever since winter started, Bruce seemed to grow a little farther from Diana since the snow started falling. He went out every day to go get coffee, for him, and tea, for her. He would always come back with the newspaper. He would read it with a disappointed and tired look. She never asked why, although the question burned in her mind. The silences between them grew more frequent between them, disheartening Diana. When he was around, she felt as if he saw right though her, like she barely existed.

"Come on," he said. He held out his hand. Diana looked down at it curiously. She took it, hesitantly. This was the first time he's touched her in weeks. She felt his hand tighten around hers as he pulled her up from the ground. A rush that she got everything Bruce did touch her, spread through her. She wished for moment that he would pull her closer to him. But he didn't. He never did. She looked down at his arm. The shadows on his arms moved to the edge of his wrist but didn't touch her. For a moment, she wished they would've.

"Thank you," she told him, in a quiet voice. Bruce nodded, leading her inside. He closed the door, letting go of Diana's hand. A wave of sadness crashed over her as he did. She pushed it back as she moved to the couch. She picked up the book she was reading earlier of the ground. She began to read again when Bruce started to talk to her.

"I don't understand why you insist on going out there every day." Bruce told her. He was standing in front of the door. She looked at his back trying to resist asking why he was talking to her suddenly.

"I never really experienced a real winter, so…" She trailed off. She couldn't help the sudden confusion she felt. Why was he talking her? He barely said a word to her in a month.

"It's not all it's cracked up to be." Bruce said. Bruce turned to her with his usual blank expression.

"I wouldn't know." Diana wasn't sure why, but she felt slightly angry. Who did he think he was? All of a sudden he could just act like they were was okay? Diana stood and walked out the door. Bruce was silent as she walked out.

The air was cold when Diana stepped out the building. She pulled her jacket tighter around her as she walked to the library. To her relief, the lights were still on inside. Diana walked in and walked to the front desk. Alexandria looked up startled at the loud entrance. In front of her was Diana, looking angry and edgy.

"Diana," she greeted. She stepped around the desk. "Are you okay?" Diana wasn't sure why she came but as she sat down at one of the wooden tables, she forgot to care.

"No, I'm not." Diana said. She turned to Alexandria with tear-filled eyes. Alexandria nodded. She walked over to Diana and sat on the opposite side of the table, in front of Diana. Alexandria took a deep breath before speaking.

"Well," she said, "If you want, we can talk about it." Diana smiled a little.

"I would like that."

"…And that's when left and came here." Diana concluded. Alexandria looked at her in surprise. Diana waited for her to say something. Finally, Alexandria spoke.

"Wow," she said, "That explains… a lot." Diana chuckled at her. And that's not even all the facts, Diana thought darkly.

"Well, Diana," Alexandria said, "I think that although you and your mom didn't have the best relationship, you miss her. You may not want to go back with living her but it was still a comfort having her around for the guidance she gave you. It's natural when you move to a new place, especially when you go there to avoid someone you love. Ironically, the more you resent them, the more you're going to miss them."

"That doesn't even make sense!" Diana interrupted. Alexandria shrugged.

"Blame human nature." She said. Unfortunately, Diana couldn't exactly do that but it was a good enough excuse for now.

"As for Bruce…" Alexandria started nervously. She bit her lip as she looked up at Diana. Diana tensed. "You probably right about his past. Something must have hurt him and if it's like you described it than it must have been pretty big. I would tread lightly with him. He's, obviously, a gentleman and cares about you but I wouldn't…" Diana didn't hear anything else Alexandria said after that. Bruce cares about her? How could she know that? How could she so cruelly assume that? Diana thought through her memories with Bruce. They were no more than a rollercoaster with an inevitable anti-climatic and disappointed ending. But the parts she remembered most where the parts where Bruce was closest to her. Every moment he stared at her with a little sliver of emotion, she felt she could see a corner of who he is, who he was. Who he could be.

Diana sighed. Alexandria patted her hand. Diana looked up startled, remembering Alexandria was in front of her. Alexandria looked at her with pity but Diana wasn't offended. She felt too disappointed to care.

"I know it must be hard to deal with," Alexandria said, "but as time goes on, who knows what will happen. The heart wants what that heart wants; even that which is worst for it."

The statement caught Diana's attention. What could she mean by that? Diana looked outside. The sun was just staring to set. It was time for her to go. Diana stood and Alexandria stood with her. Diana gave her a hug. Alexandria was shocked at first but hugged her back earnestly. Diana pulled back with a smile.

"Thanks, Alexandria." She said, gratefully.

"Anytime Diana," she told her, "And don't forget your books are due next Monday."

"Like I can forget."

As Diana left, she couldn't say she felt better. She only felt more confused about her situation. What was she going to do? It's felt like she and Bruce were at a standstill and one tiny push could break them. Her and Bruce…they were so fragile together. Diana sighed as she walked towards the loft. She saw a man with a mask run past her. In his hand was what looked like a pearl necklace. She turned and watched as her did. She looked to see a blonde woman pointing frantically to her neck and the man running. Quickly understanding the situation, Diana took off after him.

She ran slower than she would normally, trying to avoid abnormal attention. She dodged people, slowing her down more than she wanted to be. But as long as he was in her sight, she could find him. She chased him for another ten blocks before he turned into an alley. She followed him into it. Diana looked around for him, when she heard whimpering. She walked quietly farther into the alley. She ducked behind a trashcan as she saw it.

The thief was cowering in front of a giant shadow. No, she thought, that's not a shadow. It was a man. Or it looked like an outline of a man. It was covered in black shadows. It reached out to the thief, lifting it off the ground. The thief trembled in its hands.

"Look at me," the shadow man commanded. The thief looked at it, unable to look away. Diana froze at the display of power. The thief's eyes were suddenly vacant, shadows slowly filling them. The shadows danced around the body as a wave ran through them. It was a sinister sight. The shadow man breathed in with a look of recognition. The shadow smiled grimly at the thief. "A lowly thief and murderer. How lovely." The shadow man said. His voice was a stormy whisper that traveled silently through the air. Diana's heart was trembling in her chest. She breathed in and out quietly, trying not to give away the cold fear that seeped into her blood system. It flowed through her, almost controlling her.

Then the thief screamed. Diana instinctively covered her ears. But it was too late. The scream was embedded in her mind. It was a terrible tortured thing. She cowered away from it, trying to forget it only to remember it more vividly. She looked around. At the mouth of the alley, people walked passed unaware. Diana's heart clinched in fear. How could they not have heard that? She looked back at the shadow man and thief.

And she would never forget the sight.

The shadow man's hands plunged into the thief's chest. The thief screamed once more. The shadow man's face held a look of concentration. She didn't understand why until she saw him ripping out a shadow out of the thief's chest. The shadow itself was an ugly and hideous creature made of sinister onyx. It snarled and howled against the separation, thrashing at the shadow man. It didn't matter. The shadow man ripped it away from the thief. The thief fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.

The shadow growled at the shadow man. It circled him like a predator would its prey. Although, the man looked as far away from prey as anyone could get. Or so Diana thought until the shadow gave her an ugly smile before crawling into the man's chest. Diana watched horrified at the scene as the shadow man's knees buckled and he fell to the ground with a strangled cry. It wasn't the same frightening voice that he had earlier. Instead, it was human. Familiar. The shadows seemed to retract into his skin as he the man laid on the ground in obvious pain. Diana couldn't look away as the shadows started to peel away from him. She leaned forward, eager to know why he seemed so familiar. Without warning, the shadow man looked up. Diana gasped as she saw his eyes, no longer hidden by the shadows. Before she could take a step, the man leaped up from the ground and sprinted off.

Diana got up from her hiding spot and rushed after him. The shadow man climbed up to the roof. Diana followed. The man's pace didn't slow as he raced towards the edge. Diana tried to speed up but he was surprisingly faster than her. Just as the edge of the roof was under his feet, he leaped to the next one. Diana stopped surprised. Her shoulders slumped as he sped out of sight, knowing there was no use in following him. He was too far away now for her to catch up to him.

Diana walked back mechanically back to the alley. She checked the pulse of the thief. There wasn't one. She sighed as she stepped away from him, grabbing the pearl necklace that was on the ground near him. She mused silently on the small gold hawk pendant on it.

She walked through the New York crowd looking through the faces, looking for the woman who lost her necklace. She finally saw her through the window of a fancy restaurant. Without breaking her stride, she entered the restaurant. The mat idée looked up at her. His eyes glazed over as he saw her. She stopped looking at him bemused. He shook his head, snapping out of whatever trance he was in.

"May I, um…" he cleared his throat, "help you miss?" Diana gave him a small smile.

"A woman inside lost her necklace earlier," she told him, showing the pearl necklace. "I was hoping I could return it." The mat idée nodded.

"Of course, madam." He said, allowing her to past him into the dining area. Diana mumbled "thank you" and walked inside looking for the woman. She spotted her sitting near the middle of the room. She looked slightly troubled. Diana walked towards her, holding the necklace tightly in her grasp. As she got closer she heard the man across from the woman saying soothing words but it didn't cheer her up. The woman looked up to Diana with icy blue eyes. Diana bit her lip before holding out her hand with the necklace. The woman gasped with a smile on her face.

"I can't believe you found it. Thank you!" She exclaimed in an accent Diana was unfamiliar with. She jumped up and hugged Diana. Diana tensed before hugging her back. She looked to the man who was chuckling at his date's excitement. Diana couldn't help but feel uncomfortable under the man's gaze. There was something about him. Before she could figure it out, the woman pulled back with a blush. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be so rash but I thought I would never see this again…to go through so much trouble to return it…thank you. Thank you so much!" Diana gave the woman a small smile.

"You're welcome. And it was no trouble at all." Diana replied. The woman sat back down. The man immediately took her hand. Diana watched curiously with a strange twist in her stomach. She looked away when the woman spoke once again.

"Oh, but I must repay you. Please, join us for dinner." The woman said. Diana tensed. She didn't want to be rude but there was too much on her mind for her to eat dinner with a stranger. She shook her head.

"No, thanks. It's late and I need to head home." She said, starting to walk away.

"What is your name?" the woman called after her. Diana turned back to her. She took a breath before speaking.

"Diana." She said. The woman smiled.

"My name is Audrey." She introduced. She reached into her purse and scribbled something down on a small piece of paper. She stood, walking towards Diana. She held out the paper to Diana. Diana took it with a raised eyebrow. She opened it and saw a series of numbers. "Call me tomorrow."

"Why?" Diana asked, unsure. Audrey smiled at her.

"I meant what I said about repaying you." She said before going back to her date. Diana was speechless but pocketed the phone number before leaving. She walked all the way to the loft. The trip back was all a blur, nothing really registering to Diana as she climbed the steps to the loft. As she entered, she leaned on the kitchen counter, letting out a shaky breath. She let the fear she felt earlier rise in her and she let her it take over. She sat on the couch, trying to calm down but unable to find the will to.

Because what she saw today was the most terrifying things she ever saw. She never witnessed such torture before in her entire life. She broke out into a cold sweat. Diana tried to block it out but it was no use. There was no way to stop it, now that she was alone. Somehow her body got tired enough to make her go to sleep but she knew that she would have nightmares. And she knew they would all end with the same intense eyes that only one person.

She knew those blue black eyes anywhere.

Bruce wasn't there the next morning. Or that afternoon. Diana waited, walking through the empty loft. There was a slightly eerie feel to the place without him there. Like it was incomplete without him there. Diana didn't change out from her clothes from last night, thinking there was no real use. Without realizing it, she was waiting for him.

It was at four o' clock when she remembered the piece if paper that the woman, Audrey, had given her yesterday. She picked up the phone, debating if she should call. Audrey seemed like a nice enough girl, but she was still a stranger. Could she really trust her? Diana looked at the door for a moment, hoping Bruce would come walking through.

But he didn't. And she was getting bored.

Before she could think twice, Diana dialed the number and waited as it rang. Aubrey picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?" a feminine voice answered. Diana cleared her throat.

"Hello is this Audrey?" she asked.

"You wish to speak with Mistress Audrey?" said the voice.

"Yes…" Diana said with uncertainty. Mistress Aubrey?

"May I ask who this is?"

"Diana. We met yesterday when I returned her necklace-"

"Diana, darling," exclaimed Aubrey. Diana smiled as she heard her voice. "I was afraid you wouldn't call."

"Well, I had nothing to do today so, I thought 'why not?'" Diana replied. Audrey laughed over the phone.

"Well, you won't be bored for long." Audrey said, "Where do you live?"

"Wayne Towers. Why?" she told her.

"I'm picking you up." Aubrey said. "Meet me in the lobby in an hour. See you then." Before Diana could speak, the line went dead. Diana stared at the phone confused. She rolled her eyes before walking to her room to get ready.

An hour later, Diana was walking down to the lobby. Aubrey stood in the center of it in a blue dress with long sleeves that stopped right above her knees and stilettos to match, along with a big fur coat. A couple of men in suits stood discreetly behind her. Diana raised an eyebrow at them as she approached them. Aubrey gave her a smile before opening her arms to her.

"Diana!" she said, giving her a hug. Diana hugged her back briefly. "It is so good to see you again." Audrey pulled back, hooking her arm around hers. She led her out the building. Diana followed, feeling more confused as the men followed them. "Come on, let go." Then a stretch limo pulled up. Audrey climbed in the back. Diana sat beside her and the two men climbed in behind them sitting opposite of them.

"Where exactly are we going?" Diana asked. Audrey smirked at her.

"Shopping." She said. The car drove off, away from Wayne Towers. The inside of the limo was huge. The seats were more like couches and the carpet was nice and plush. Diana looked around the unfamiliar setting. This was the first time she's ever been in a car. She usually walked. But, she had to admit, it was nice to rest her feet for once. The car slowed to a stop. Diana looked out the window and saw a small boutique she passed many times. She never went inside.

Audrey was out of the car the moment it stopped. Diana followed her reluctantly. She turned around and, of course, the suited men were following. She said nothing as she turned back around. She spotted Audrey in front of a rack of clothes. When Diana was in front of her, Audrey held up a couple of shirts in front of her.

"Which one do you like better? Green or blue?" she asked. Diana looked them. She pointed at the dark blue.

"That one's nice." Diana said. Audrey inspected it. Then she wrinkled her nose.

"Oh, no, darling." She turned to Diana, looking her up and down. "But maybe it looks better on you." Diana looked hesitantly at the swoop neck dark blue top with sequin near the neckline. She saw Audrey roll her eyes. "Come on, Diana. Do as you Americans do and live a little."

"I'm not from here." She said. Audrey raised an eyes brow at her. "I'm from Greece." Diana explained. Audrey's eyes lit up in recognition.

"That explains the accent." She said. She looked Diana up and down. "And the beauty."

"Excuse me?" Diana asked, confused. Audrey laughed lightly.

"Diana, you're stunning. If I didn't know any better I would say my guards were here for you, not me."

"Speaking of guards, why are they following us?" Diana said, looking behind her at the men who were positioned around the store.

"Every princess needs guards. A princess of Kasnia is no different." She said softly. Diana turned her. Audrey was looking through various racks, picking out different items, piling them in her arms. Diana moved closer to her, lowering her voice.

"You're a princess?" Diana asked hesitantly.

"But of course," Audrey replied. "I thought you were aware of that." Diana shook her head. Audrey smirked.

"You really are unaware of politics." She said. Diana shrugged sheepishly.

"I guess…"

"Finally!" Audrey exclaimed. "A person who is willing to hang out with me despite my title." Diana watched as Audrey moved through the store.

"I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be willing." Diana reassured. "What about the man you were eating with yesterday?" Audrey sighed. Her smile left her face, forming into a frown instead. Her shoulders slumped. Diana knew instantly she asked the wrong question.

"He came with the title." She explained. She turned to Diana, lowering her voice. "He is my fiancé."

"Congratulations," Audrey shook her head.

"No, it's not. It's an arranged marriage. He's much older than me and so dreary. I never wanted to marry him but, it's for my country. And I can't deny the council or my father." Diana eyes softened in pity.

"I'm sorry." Audrey shrugged.

"It is what it is." She said. "But my duty as a housewife doesn't start until after the bridal shower tomorrow. This is my late night as a free woman in New York. So tonight we dance!"She looked at Diana. She smirked. "We need to get you some new clothes." Diana looked down at her outfit; blue jeans with a plain white sweater and denim jacket.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" she asked. Audrey laughed once more.

"You're beautiful Diana." She said, "But your style is a little…bland." Diana was taken aback by the insult.

"Bland?" Diana asked, her eyes narrowing. Audrey didn't notice.

"Yes. You need to add some color. Some spice to it." Audrey said, turning back to the rack. Audrey's smile was back in place as she pulled out a short sleeveless scarlet dress. She held it in front of Diana. She nodded in approval. "And I think I just found it."

"Who knew you could get away with scarlet so well?" Audrey said. They were in the limo once again after two hours of shopping. Audrey was wearing a similar dress she had on earlier in white. Diana was wearing the floor-length scarlet dress Audrey picked out at the first boutique, surprised at how good it looked on her. Diana looked out the window at the climax of the sunset, nodding at Audrey's question absently. Audrey sighed behind her. Diana looked at her. She was watching the sunset too. "It's so beautiful."

"Yes, it is." Diana agreed. "So where are we going next?"

"Princess," A guard called. Both Diana and Audrey turned to the row of guards. "It's time to report home." Audrey nodded.

"Of course." She moved her had to a series of buttons that rested on the armrest. "Excuse us, boys. Girl talk." Audrey pressed down on a button and a soundproof shield rose up from floor to roof. Diana was taken aback by the sudden movement. She turned to Audrey, who was smirking. "I've been ditching royal guards since I was knee high to daddy's throne. Try to keep up." Just as the words left her mouth, the car slowed in front of a red light, an empty taxi riding up beside them.

Audrey shot out the car. Diana scrambled out the limo behind her. Audrey opened the empty taxi, throwing money to the driver as she passed.

"Keep the change." She said as they exit the taxi, not breaking their stride. They finally entered another empty taxi resting on the street curb. Audrey told the driver an address in a hurried voice. Diana looked back to the limo. The guards were looking at them with frustrated faces. Diana couldn't help but laugh. The pure excitement from the escape was refreshing. She waved at them as the taxi driver sped off. Audrey laughed at the gesture and did the same.

"I've never done anything like that in my life." Diana said.

"It's very exciting. You should try it more often." Audrey suggested mischievously. Diana smirked at her.

"Maybe, I will." She said. Audrey laughed light-heartedly. She then sighed.

"If only escaping this marriage was that easy to escape." Diana sobered at the statement. Audrey did too. For a moment they said nothing. Audrey gazed out the window at the city around them. She broke the silence first.

"Tell me, Diana," she said turning to her, curiosity in her eyes. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Diana let out a bitter chuckle.

"I wish," she admitted. "Other than my roommate I have no real relationship with men."

"Roommate?" Audrey said with a raised eyebrow. It said she knew exactly where Diana was going. Diana looked away, debating what to say. For some reason, she felt comfortable confiding in Audrey. So she didn't stop herself as she explained. "Yes. He's very closed off but a gentleman none the less. He's…very handsome." She said, a blush coming to her cheeks, knowing how much of an understatement it was. Audrey giggled.

"Ah the dark, mysterious stranger type." Audrey said. Diana stared at her in amazement at how dead on she was.

"How did you know?" Diana asked. Audrey waved her hand dismissively before smirking at her.

"The way you explained him," she explained. "The longing in it. You want him but you're not sure of her wants you. You know he can be charming and sweet. He says things most people wouldn't tell you and he's always looking out for you; that somehow he cares about you. But he's so closed off; you know he'll never let you in. So you wait for him." Diana's shoulders slumped, leaning forward, at the explanation. Audrey hit it right on the dot.

"Is it obvious?" Audrey laughed once more. Diana scowled at her. She gave Diana a sympathetic look.

"I only speak from experience." She told Diana. Diana's scowled lessened. Audrey sighed before taking Diana's hands. There was a wise gleam in her eyes that Diana hadn't seen before. "If you want my advice, then don't wait around for him to come to you. If you have a question, then ask it. If you have something to say, then say it. Then, if the time is right, tell him how you feel. And if nothing changes then leave. There would be no use in staying. You'll only get hurt." Diana nodded.

Audrey turned towards the front, her classic smirk coming back.

"In the mean time," Audrey said, trying to lighten the mood, "let's find a replacement." Diana gave her a confused look. Audrey pointed outside the window. Diana looked and saw a club with bass blasting every time someone opened the door. Diana caught on to what Audrey meant. She smirked once more. "Shall we?" Audrey asked.

"We shall." Diana answered. And with that both women exited the car.

Diana entered the loft, tired from her night out with Audrey. The sky was starting to lighten to a deep purple. The sun would be rising soon. She took of the high heels Audrey insisted she wear. She wouldn't have let Audrey force her into them if she knew how uncomfortable they would be. Diana thought back to what had happened.

At the club, Diana watched as Audrey danced with multiple guys. Diana tried to do the same but found it uncomfortable. She went to the bar instead. A guy tried to get her drunk, only to find out how tolerate to alcohol Amazons really are. Audrey tried to teach Diana how to flirt, but the lesson got cut short when the paparazzi showed. They quickly left and Audrey suggested they go to the Empire State Building. Diana could remember the view clearly, even now.

The view was gorgeous. She remembered being amazed at sleepy New York as it stretched out under her. She wanted to fly up and go to the highest point of the building and see it. But she held back, knowing Audrey was admiring it not too far away. She looked at Audrey. She was very pretty with her blond hair, petite and curvy figure, and icy blue eyes. But there was a sadness that was there, that Diana couldn't understand. Audrey sighed, saying how they should call it a night. As the cab stopped in front of the hotel Audrey was staying at, she invited Diana to her bridal shower later that day. Diana agreed before the cab took her home as well.

Diana sighed in relieve as her bare feet touched the cold floor. She walked into the living room, carrying her shoes in her hand as she sat on the couch. She sighed as she picked up a book she had yet to finish. A small tingle hit the back of her neck. She was being watched. Diana spared a quick glance out the window towards the rising sun. As she did, she noticed a figure, resting in the corner of the room.

"Late night, don't you think?" the figure said from its spot in the corner. Diana froze at the sight. She fought to keep her calm, as the nightmares from the day before assaulted her once again. Bruce walked out from the shadowy corner to stand in front of her. The sun's early rays filled the room with light but somehow they seemed to bend around Bruce, never touching him. She never noticed that before. She kept her fear at bay for the most part as she approached him. He looked her up and down. "Nice dress." He complimented.

Diana blushed but didn't try to hide it. There were more important things to worry about then her embarrassing reaction. She met his gaze, knowing the fear that her eyes held could be seen.
"Where have you been?" she asked. Bruce's eyes darkened.

"Out." He replied. He started to walk past her to his room. Diana heart beat furiously under her chest. She wasn't going to let walk away from like that. She couldn't pretend to be ignorant anymore. She saw him. She saw the horror that he did. She was sure she wouldn't like the answer but she had to know. She needed to know.

"Bruce." She called, turning around.

Bruce looked at her. His face was blank but his eyes were hard. She stood up, setting her book aside. Bruce tensed, as he always did, when she came near him. Diana bit her lips before moving her hand to his arm. She could feel the shadows moving under her hand. Bruce was frozen as she moved her hand up his arm. Diana moved her hand up his arm, over his shoulder, and stopped over his heart. She didn't understand why she doing this but she couldn't stop. Bruce's heart raced under her touch. Diana closed her eyes.

Shadows covered her hand. Bruce didn't pull them back. It was too late for that. Diana opened her eyes, looking at the soft shadows that whispered dark temptations to her in her mind. She looked up at Bruce, looking right in his eyes. She gave him a knowing look. Bruce held back a sigh at the determination he saw in her eyes; eyes that held the shadows that danced with excitement at the contact. And he knew exactly what she was going to ask. Diana spoke, proving him right.

"What are you?"