Ivycreed6:Chapter 7 yay! Thanks everyone for reading! Special thank you as always to The-Lady_Isis for checking my grammar...it's no fun but thanks for doing it.
Author: Ivy Creed6
Title: Between the Lines
Beta: The-Lady-Isis
This particular chapter takes place during Comfort and Joy. Those darn writers dropped the ball and robbed us of a cool Batman Wonder Woman moment when they didn't put them in this holiday episode.
So I'm going to put my own spin on it. The only problem is the time mess up. This is actually the second Christmas since the league formed, but in actuality the first one Diana will celebrate. Yay for Christmas!
Chappie 7: Christmas is a time when you get homesick
"Everybody's gone already?" The question was really more of a statement. It was obvious to the both of them that everyone had left to enjoy their holidays. Green Lantern and Shayera left straight from the mission and the rest stopped of for a second before heading down to the surface.
Bruce had monitor duty…but it wasn't a problem; he'd requested to take Superman's shift.
Bruce turned from the computer looking over at the Amazon who had just entered. She was wearing a long sleeved purple shirt and jeans. It was odd seeing her in something that covered so much. Not because Diana used her body in that way but because she just never got cold. It was puzzling, but true.
"Yes. Don't you have some where to be too, Princess?" he asked, not really sure what her exact schedule was going to be. Everything had been so busy the past couple weeks nobody really got a word in edgewise around the disasters and the crime. Funny, however Superheroes had a rough time at work during the holiday season. Just one of the weird things the life of a hero had in common with that of everyday.
"No, why would I?"
"Because it's Christmas."
"And you aren't going anywhere…"
Touché…she really had him on that point. "For somebody out to experience Man's World you sure aren't participating in a crucial tradition. Didn't you do anything last year?"
Diana shrugged. "No, last year we were off planet until December 25th by the time we arrived everyone jumped at the chance to leave. That was also the mission Hawkgirl broke her wing, J'onn stayed back to help her and I took monitor duty. I don't even know what it's supposed to be celebrating," she explained matter-of- factly.
Bruce found it odd for once that she wasn't curious about something. It was very unlike her. "Well to many it has religious connotations," he explained. Diana watched him for a second. None of the religion behind the story of Christmas really would mean anything to her.
"What about others?"
"Generosity is a big thing I suppose."
"The present thing right? That's what Flash was talking about then….so people just give each other presents? How is that any different than birthdays?" Diana asked as if this whole thing was dumb.
"I suppose others use it as time to be with family. Brings humanity closer together." He said trying his best to explain something that had no significance to her…and to him it held too much. Bruce had never been one to enjoy Christmas since... It had been his favorite holiday as a child. His parents always made a big deal of it as well. When they died it died with them. The only person he really held some ties to it for was Alfred.
Diana arched an eyebrow leaning against a console. "Oh…So why aren't you out there getting ready for tomorrow?"
"I have other things more important to do."
"Oh…Well I should go…let you do your work."
Bruce didn't turn as she left but he was confused. Diana actually sounded disappointed after he explained this whole Christmas thing to her or rather when he said he didn't celebrate it. Maybe it was because she couldn't spend time with her family during the one season people clung tight to them. She probably missed her home. She hadn't seen it for over a year.
He pushed away from such things when he lost his family, but Diana was different. She would embrace a holiday that brought people closer together even after she lost her family.
It actually made him feel…guilty.
And for once the World's Greatest Detective was stumped about what to do next.
'Diana.'
Diana nearly jumped; she wasn't expecting any communication from the com-link anytime soon. Everyone was gone off doing some sort celebrating. From what she gathered from Bruce and other source it was a time he was rather envious of. People spent time with their family, those they cherished. She shouldn't resent people wanting to be with their loved ones but it was as if everyone forgot about her.
This was why she was depressed. At home on Themysicra you'd practically have to fight to find time alone. It was a very social environment and even after all this time she wasn't accustomed to being completely alone.
Diana raised her hand to her ear. "Batman? What's wrong?"
"I need you to meet me in the monitor womb."
"Of course. I'll be right there." Diana rose about a foot off the ground, flying was faster than walking. She wasn't in uniform of course; she thought that with the couple days of vacation she'd take a break from her armor. Oh well she was in her work out clothes, which consisted of a white racer back tank and navy sweat pants, it would have to do.
When she arrived at the Monitor Womb Diana wasn't sure what to expect, but nothing she could've thought up came close.
Diana arched an eyebrow at Bruce who was sitting, but that wasn't as surprising as what was at his feet. "Is that…a picnic basket?"
Batman didn't even bother to look down. "Yes, Alfred heard about you never having a proper Christmas and he wanted you to have it."
"It's a lovely basket but-" she began, laughter creeping into her voice.
"Inside the basket," he clarified; she could hear that he was holding back amusement. Oh well she'd have to try harder if she wanted him to crack a smile. After all there were video cameras here and he had an image to uphold. He couldn't allow other members of the League to know he had a sense of humor.
"That's very kind of him…considering we have yet to meet," Diana said taking up the basket from its spot on the floor.
"He likes Christmas."
She peeked inside the basket. It smelled heavenly. If it tasted as good she would definitely be getting to know this Alfred better. "Well…thank you for giving it to me…"
"It wasn't a problem."
Diana looked in the basket again and the back to Batman who was once again focusing on the screen. "You know…" she began, and if he'd turned Bruce would've seen that sly look she got every once in awhile. "There is a lot more in here than I could eat myself. Want to join me in the kitchen for a while?"
Bruce turned and looked at her silently. She wasn't sure exactly what was going through his head but there were several options. One, none of this was his idea and he was surprised to be asked, two …which she figured was more likely, he knew how much was in there, had asked for it to be made, and was going to eat with her but wanted her to think it was her idea, because he was embarrassed. Yes, that sounded like him. The truth was he got flustered a lot more than he'd like people to think. At least around her he seemed to.
"I doubt the end of the world is going to happen in the next couple of minutes."
There was a beat when neither one of them said anything, then he got up and followed her out.
Bruce had to admit Alfred had outdone himself. He'd never seen Diana look so happy when she was eating. "Okay, you can't stop it anymore I am meeting him and he's going to make more of this for me whether you like it or not."
Bruce smiled, she'd been praising his butler/ surrogate father's cooking for the past hour and she probably wasn't going to stop…they hadn't even gotten to dessert yet.
"What is in this?" Diana asked reaching into the basket and pulling out a thermos.
"I believe its hot cocoa."
Diana had a questioning look on her face.
"Don't tell me that you've been here almost two years and haven't had any." Bruce was stunned. There was so much she hadn't even gotten around to trying yet. First Christmas and now this?
"No I won't tell you that, but you'll have to infer…is it as good as iced mocha?"
"Better," he stated, unscrewing the top and pouring some into a mug for her.
She raised it to her lips warily, her expression saying "it better be as good as you say." He hid a smile behind his own mug as he took a sip. The expression of shock on her face almost made him laugh out loud.
"It is good!" She exclaimed, her amazement was adorable.
The room silence until she finished off the first mug and poured herself a second.
"I think it was a mistake for Flash and I to introduce you to all this chocolate and candy. You won't be able to fit into your armor soon."
Diana laughed in spite of the fact the joke was making fun of her. "You know, I think this season is affecting you. You've made twice as many jokes in this past hour than I've heard you make in the whole time I've known you."
"I only recall two, Princess."
"Exactly," she answered, the grin very apparent even after she took another gulp of chocolate.
He rolled his eyes, something completely invisible to her from behind the mask. "You know…Alfred isn't the only one who got you a present."
"I know, Flash left me something, I saw it."
"No I meant…" He saw the smirk coming back again to her face again. For somebody who seemed so naïve and unable to comprehend Man's world, she had definitely picked up on its humor very quickly. "Just wait here."
Diana watched him leave and smiled to herself. This night reminded her a lot of the night after they defeated Savage again. He was just so different from usual, a lot more fun. It was like she understood him even more now. She wasn't seeing the playboy Billionaire that the public saw, she'd done research on it, he was definitely not acting that way, and he wasn't the Batman who could make all others tremble with just a glare. He was well…Bruce, the man who didn't reach the surface often.
When he returned he was holding a large rectangular package wrapped in brown paper.
"What is that?"
"Open it," he said, setting it on the table.
Diana ran her fingers over the object; it was wide, but rather thin. She reached out and untied the knot in the string, then ripped off the paper. It was a painting, a beautiful one at that. The image was of a moonlight night, the light reflecting off the ocean beneath the sky. In the forefront was a beautiful girl on the back of a winged horse, soaring over the dark waves. The distant land in the background was green and in the trees there was a building supported by columns.
It reminded her so much of home. Diana smiled sadly as she gently traced a finger across the canvas. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
It had been just what she wanted, not that she thought of it, but it was almost like a window to the island and home she loved and missed so much. Looking at it made her feel a little less lost. She pushed up from her chair and wrapped Bruce in a hug. "Thank you so much!" She felt him stiffen in surprise and then, tentatively return the hug.
"Well I better get back to monitor duty…" he said when she pulled away. He turned to leave, but paused in the doorway, "Merry Christmas."
"You too," Diana smiled happily; this night had been almost perfect. Just over two hours ago she'd felt forgotten and alone, and now she couldn't feel further from it. Leave it to the man who most thought to be a cold and distant loner to teach her about Christmas spirit.
So I hope it's good, I hope you all liked it. The painting is actually of one in the show. In the episode called The Balance, when Hermes is visiting her in her room this painting is on the wall. Please Review!
