Diana walked toward the giant glass doors that led to the Balcony and picked up a champagne glass as she passed a waiter, When in Rome she mused as she sipped the drink. She smacked her lips and looked at the glass with appreciation Mr. Wayne here knows his drinks, and certainly does know his ways around a good party she thought as she looked at the seemingly endless amount of bottles and glass around the room. She saw Wayne accept a drink from a waiter who walked outside to offer him a drink. She saw Bruce merrily accept and raise the glass to his lips, yet when the waiter turned and walked away; Bruce turned to face Gotham and tossed the drink to the side. Diana peered at her own drink with interest, she doubted it was laced with anything, but she couldn't help wonder why Bruce would accept the drink in the first place if he was just going to toss it. That's Gotham Men for you she said with a smirk. She was just about to walk up to the door when a woman politely nudged by her, and stiffly walked out to the Balcony.
Diana gazed at the woman and realized that she was Harvey Dent's girlfriend, Rachel Dawes. Diana looked at her body language as she walked up to Bruce, and it looked like she was angry or frustrated. She tilted her head and wondered what Bruce did to garner a reaction out of his only childhood friend. Rachel gave an appreciative "no" to the waiter as he offered her a drink before exiting the balcony. The waiter opened the door and left it open as he walked back into the penthouse. Diana sat down at a nearby table to wait for Bruce to be left alone, and she realized that the door left opened provided her extraordinary sense of hearing the opportunity to pick up on their conversation. Diana turned pink as she realized that she was eavesdropping, but she was undoubtedly curious to see the Bruce Wayne that Rachel Dawes knew. Diana closed her eyes and blocked all the party music, the chatter, and focused on the two voices outside of the room.
"...Harvey may not know you well enough to understand when you're making fun of him, but I do" said a female voice, she realized as Rachel.
"No, no no no." Bruce's voice answered, "Rachel I meant every word." She heard Bruce let out a sigh, "it's good to see you Rachel, it's been what? 5 months since you and I have gotten together for dinner?" Bruce asked coolly.
"I AM seeing someone Bruce" Rachel replied dryly. "And you're always so busy, and I have a job to do."
"You know that day you once told m-" Bruce responded earnestly.
"-Bruce..." Rachel breathed out, "Please, you can't b-"
"It's happening Rachel" Bruce said softly, "That part of my life is almost over, and you said we'd be together."
"Bruce don't make me your only hope for a normal life" Rachel replied delicately.
Bruce exhaled deeply, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're an amazing man Bruce...what you've done...you truly love this city" Rachel replied warmly, "But you don't love me Bruce...not the way you think you do."
Bruce laughed hoarsely, "And you would know?"
Rachel breathed through her nose, "I've known you my whole life."
"You can throw a great party Wayne, I'll give you that." said a third voice.
Diana' s eyes shot open, she looked up and saw Harvey Dent with her back facing her. He was looking at Bruce and Rachel. Diana's gaze turned to Bruce and Rachel; they were very close to each other during the conversation, intimately close.
Harvey continued, "The press wants a picture of the D.A.'s with Superman" Harvey pointed to Rachel, "Mind If I borrow Rachel?"
Bruce smiled at Dent "By all means Harvey, this is your night" Bruce turned to Rachel and smiled as she walked away.
Diana caught the look on Bruce's face as watched them walk away, it was a focused, stoic look...the way his lips and jaw locked into place seemed very familiar for some reason.
She watched Bruce turn to Gotham and look out into the city. Diana figured this was her moment; she got up, smoothed any creases in her dress, and walked to the door. She passed Rachel and Harvey on her way in, Harvey smiled at her and bowed.
"Your Highness, it's a great pleasure to finally meet you, thank you for your support" Harvey said as he offered her his hand.
"Yes, thank you so much for your support to Harvey and all of Gotham's heroes" Rachel smiled as she too offered her hand.
Diana shook hands with both of them and smiled, "Please, you must call me Diana, 'Your Highness' is too much."
Harvey smiled and nodded his head, "Of course Diana, we merely want to remain respectful and honor a valued member to our world"
"I've only had a year to do it, but it looks like I've finally taught Harvey some manners" Rachel playfully teased.
Harvey looked at Rachel, concealing a grin, "It HAS been a long year, I honestly don't know how I've done it."
Rachel playfully smacked Harvey on the shoulder, "Quiet you." She turned to Diana, and gestured around the room "So how do you like the party?"
Diana looked around enthusiastically; "I'm having a wonderful time" she looked at the pair, and smiled "Although not as good as a time as the Dent's are having".
A blank look came upon Rachel's face as she coughed and fixed her dress, Harvey's eyes twinkled. Harvey looked at Rachel cheerily, "We're not married Diana." Harvey grinned at Rachel, "Not yet anyway".
Rachel turned pink, "Um yes...right" she breathed out.
Harvey laughed and kissed Rachel's hand, he then looked at Diana, "I'm sorry Diana, but we need to go finish the photo's with Mr. Superman over there" Harvey pointed across the room.
"I don't want your League thinking I'm in anyway ungrateful for the work you've done, or for your support" he explained.
Diana shook her head, "No no no, Harvey, I'm sorry. I might have put you in an awkward spot there" she mused as she nodded to Rachel, "And I'll be taking pictures of with your D.A.'s myself later on as well".
Harvey nodded, "It's been a pleasure"
Rachel bowed her head to Diana as well, "Thank you again Diana"
Diana watched them walk away; she looked at Rachel turn her head and look over her shoulder. Diana followed her line of sight and her eyes arrived at the man leaning over the balcony outside of the party, Bruce Wayne. Interesting she thought, I wonder what is going on between them.
Diana turned to a waiter; she removed two glasses of Champagne, and walked out to the Balcony.
She walked upon Bruce's back; he was still gazing into the City. She saw his shoulders rise and fall, and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Natasha, I'm sorry, I can't go on another yacht cruise." Bruce said without turning his back.
Diana raised her eyebrows at this and smirked, Natasha, who in the world is Natasha?
Diana cleared her throat, "Excuse me?"
Bruce whirled around quickly, surprise evident on his face. Diana saw his face go through Surprise, confusion, and then finally calm, charming smile...all in a matter of seconds.
"Oh" Bruce smiled, "I'm sorry Princess, the sound of your heels reminded me of someone else's"
Diana looked down at her feet, she was wearing short heels. She didn't like the towering design that most women preferred. "Some other woman is wearing short blocky heels?" Diana smirked.
Bruce grinned, "Not as beautiful as you do, but yes, a friend of mine is a ballerina and prefers the same type of footwear."
Diana looked at Bruce intrigued, he had a very good ear to differentiate between shoes, he called her beautiful right off the bat and he called her Princess. Not Your Highness. Your Majesty, Princess Diana" just princess...only a handful of people on Earth called her that.
"You spend a lot of time with woman in heels?" Diana asked, her eyebrows piqued curiously
Bruce's grin widened, "No, no, no, I spend a lot of time with women who refuse to wear anything else." Bruce nodded to her heels and then the drinks in her hands, "Obviously I should spend more time with the woman who knows how to enjoy herself."
Diana sipped her drink and offered the drink in her hand to him; Bruce looked at it quizzically, but accepted with a raised eyebrow.
Diana smirked again, "I thought it be a nice change of pace if Bruce Wayne was offered a drink."
Bruce laughed, "You thought right." Bruce raised the drink to clink hers, "What shall we drink to?"
Wind caught Diana's hair and it blurred in front of her, she tossed it back in a single graceful motion and smiled warmly at Bruce, "To the generosity of a man, who allows a small group of unique individuals, to freely enter his party and home."
Bruce beamed at her and shook his head, "No, we cannot drink to something so insignificant. It wasn't generosity; it was a privilege and an honor." Bruce raised his glass and looked out into the night, "How about we drink to the courage and valor of these unique individuals, who stoically venture into the night, knowing they might not return." Bruce then looked back at Diana, gazing into her eyes, "And especially to the indescribable beauty and grace of such individuals"
Diana blushed and took a mental step back, she heard all the stories of the charming Bruce Wayne and his womanizing ways, but it was entirely different thing to experience firsthand.
Diana quickly inclined her head in appreciation, "Mr. Wayne, you're quite the flatter, but believe me; I truly wish to offer thanks on behalf of our League, for your generosity."
Bruce closed his eyes and shook his head, "No no Princess, you cannot call me Mr. Wayne nor thank me for an act of so called 'generosity', I was simply doing the duty that behooves any man, should he be in the presence of such distinguished heroes." Bruce reached down and gently raised Diana's hand to his lips, "and a woman as beautiful and courageous as you, certainly holds the power to address anyone she wishes by their first name."
Diana closed her eyes and politely smiled at Bruce's actions, but inside she was in turmoil. Is this the Bruce Wayne I've heard so much about? How can this man be the idiotic playboy in the papers; he's so charming, and polite, and smart, and handsome, and, and...
Diana slightly shook her head, she reminded herself of Steve and that this was Bruce Wayne, of course he was charming, he's been womanizing for years.
"Mr. Way- Bruce," she corrected, "You embarrass me with your words, yet they are very kind, so I thank you"
Bruce lowered her hand and raised his drink, with a magnetic smile, "Well then" he clinked his drink to hers, "...to Embarrassment", and sipped his drink without taking his eyes of Diana.
Diana laughed warmly and grinned smugly at Bruce, "Check, Check, and Check"
Bruce lowered the drink from his lips and looked at her quizzically. Diana tapped Bruce's chest with a finger, "You Bruce, you truly are the Bruce Wayne I've heard so much about" she said marvelously.
Bruce grinned, "So you've looked into me?"
Diana lightly shrugged and pretended to blush, "I've only heard what they've said"
Bruce's grin widened and his eyes gleamed, "Really? And do 'they' say?"
Diana looked into Bruce's eyes, unfazed and responded with equal light-hearted candor, "That you're a billionaire with an equally gargantuan appetite, that you're a womanizer, that..." Diana threw her hair back again, and smiled, "...you are charming, and brilliant, and a seducer, and that you take pride in your particular set of" Diana sipped her drink and raised her eyebrow smugly, "skills."
Bruce nodded at every accusation she listed, his smile widening at each new remark, "You embarrass me Princess, do you truly believe any of that?"
Diana smiled wolfishly, and raised her drink, "We're drinking to embarrassment aren't we?"
Bruce let out a bark of laughter, and he turned his gaze from her, into the Gotham Nightlife, "You want to know something about me Princess?"
Diana looked at him curiously, "Why don't we start with 'Princess'"
Bruce snorted, and gave her an opaque glance, "I'm the Prince of Gotham, and perhaps I wanted to meet a Princess." Bruce inwardly scolded himself, Or you idiot Bruce, you've been calling Diana 'Princess" as Batman for so long that you've slipped into a bad habit as Bruce Wayne.
Diana bowed her head in acknowledgement, "Of Course Prince Bruce"
Bruce nodded to the party inside, "You see all the women in there? The women that accompanied me from the helicopter, the supermodel wives, the actresses..." Bruce drawled off and looked at Diana expectantly.
Diana shrugged and nodded her head, "Yes I see them, what about them?"
Bruce looked into the party, his eyebrows set forward, eyes focused, and jaw locked...that familiar look again.
"I don't seduce, nor control Women, Diana" Bruce drawled slowly, his gaze focused on the festivities inside, "Women are people, and people lie to themselves to be happy".
Bruce turned to Diana with his piercing stare, his dark brown eyes turning into a void of black. "Do you know how to truly control someone?"
Diana stared back at Bruce, unsettled by the new and unexpected attitude in front of her. He called her by her first name, and looked so focused and sharp, and his jaw made her brain go haywire, something is familiar about it. Diana shook her head slowly and quietly replied, "No, I do not know"
Bruce's gaze never wavered, "You give them what they want...what they truly want." Bruce nodded his head in the direction of the party, "You give them what no one else can give them...and you give it to them unconditionally" Bruce turned his gaze to the party, and laid his back against the railing. "You see those three women talking?" Bruce asked as he pointed to three gorgeous women talking amongst the crowd.
Diana looked at Bruce and nodded, "They were the three women you came into the party with" Diana smiled, "If my memory serves".
Bruce continued to stare into the party; he nodded and sipped the champagne, "You're memory serves you well. Those three women are beautiful; elegant...men would kill for a night with them." Bruce turned to Diana, "Would you agree?"
Diana raised an eyebrow, but nodded, "yes...they are very beautiful women"
Bruce smiled, "So what are beautiful women doing with a man like me? I'm a billionaire...do they accompany me because of my money? My looks? My intellect?"
Diana shrugged, "It is not unusual for a man of power such as yourself to surround himself with beautiful women, Bruce"
Bruce shook his head and quietly stated, "They're with me because of what I represent to them...they're beautiful, they know it...but they want the world to know it, they want people to look at them and say 'wow...she's from another world'".
Bruce leaned his head to whisper in her ear, "You give them something that they cannot get from anyone else...and they will keep coming back to you, over...and over again."
Diana closed her eyes and shuddered as a shiver went down her spine, the inner turmoil in her mind was raging. She didnt know whether this was the same playboy billionaire, or if a man who simply had an unconventional view on the world around him, who wielded his power with such grace and allure that...
Diana exhaled a ragged breath, she opened her eyes and was surprised that Bruce wasn't pressed up against her, or staring into her eyes. She expected him to be up close and ready to kiss her after his intimate whisper, but he took a small step away from her, and looked out into the city. I expected something different from Bruce, I'm disappointed I didn't se-
Diana quickly shook her head and composed herself, she was NOT going down this road. Bruce Wayne is the infamous playboy, just because he's not acting like the flamboyant, obnoxious character in the papers, didn't mean that the cool, calm, handsome, and dashing man in front of her still wasn't playing his game...he obviously switched tactics. He's just doing what he does best Diana, woo women into thinking the most special in the world she affirmed herself.
Diana moved over to the railing and leaned over, her gaze pointed leisurely over the city nightlife, "I thought you said you didn't' control women Bruce?"
Bruce closed his eyes and breathed deeply, "Like I said...people lie to themselves to be happy"
Diana raised her eyebrows and sipped her champagne, "And you're one of those people?"
Bruce pointed to the party, "All the men in there think that their money will buy them happiness, but they know that those kinds of women will never be able to fulfill them...they'll tire of a women and move on to the next one. The women in there believe that the men with the money can give them fame and fortune, when they know that all the fame and fortune in the world will never be enough, they're insatiable." Bruce looked at the drink in his hands with careful tenderness, gulped down the rest of his drink, and turned it upside down so the last drops fell on the floor. He looked at Diana and pointed to his empty glass, "We're insatiable".
Bruce turned from her and gazed into the city, "And I lie to myself thinking that all the women that I pursue, pursue Bruce...not Bruce Wayne."
Diana did not know how to feel about this, half of her believed that Bruce was still trying his advances on her, yet the other half reasoned that Bruce wasn't trying to get into bed with her...he was telling her the truth, about him.
Diana walked over to him and she looked into his eyes, "There's a difference?"
Bruce turned his head and stared back into her, "Bruce Wayne is the Prince of Gotham City...the most eligible bachelor and the man every woman tries to impress...regardless of his character and his attitude."
Diana pressed ahead and whispered, "And Bruce?"
Bruce's eyes began to waver, and he looked away, "Bruce is a kid who lives in his Dad's shadow, who grew up in Gotham City. Nothing more, nothing less."
Diana placed her drink on the floor, quietly walked over, and touched his forearm, "I heard about your parents...I truly am sorry." she said softly.
Bruce tensed up, and let out a short breath, "Yeah...It's ok. It was a long time ago" he said quietly.
"They sounded like great people" she remarked
Bruce nodded quietly, and looked into the Gotham Skyline wistfully, "They're were...the apple falls far from the tree I guess".
"I'm sure your Father is proud of you" Diana reassured.
Bruce snorted, "You didn't know my father."
Diana nodded to her hand on his shoulder, "But I know his son...how he aches to help the world...how there is a golden heart behind all the drinking and dancing"
Bruce turned to her, "You don't know me".
Diana never hesitated, "No, but I don't think you're the man I thought you out to be...and I think there's more to Bruce than what I've seen and what I've heard".
Bruce placed his hand over her hand that was lying on his arm, "Maybe I'm still seducing you...maybe I've just switched tactics" he said quietly.
A tingling sensation went through Diana's hand when Bruce laid his on top, but she didn't object to it. She looked into his eyes, "Maybe you are...but I don't think you are"
Bruce stepped up to her and caressed her cheek, his face dangerously close to hers, "You don't know that...of what I could do..."
Diana breathed slowly, her hand was still on his arm, closing in on his chest by the small space between them. "I'll take my chances..." she breathed out.
Bruce closed the space between them and his hand remove a strand of hair from her face, "Diana..." he hoarsely whispered. Diana's legs began to weaken as she stared back into Bruce, "Bruce, wh-" she weakly began.
Diana's eye's smothered as Bruce leaned in and kissed her, she didn't react at first, stunned by the situation. But she gradually slid into the kiss, her body slowly dissolving into tune with his. Bruce's hands' wrapped around her waist as her hands pressed against his chest, both of them locked in a slow yet mesmerizing exchange.
A ringing beep emitted out of Bruce's jacket, breaking their embrace. Diana broke first at the sound, her breathing quick and ragged. She slowly stepped back from Bruce, taking stock of what happened. She looked down at the floor with closed eyes, breathing slowly and regaining her composure. She shook her head and looked at Bruce, his face regained it's focused demeanor and he quickly reached into his pocket. He withdrew a small cell-phone and his eyes hardened when he looked at it's screen. Bruce's eyes darted back to Diana's and he calmly put the phone away, his breathing perfectly controlled.
Diana looked up at him and shook her head, "I'm sorry Bruce, I have a boyfriend Bruce, I shouldn't have let it come to that."
"I'm sorry Diana. I have to go" Bruce bluntly stated as he walked toward the doors and looked back exasperated, "Alfred is being held ransomed by a group of drunks who are intent on driving home tonight" he explained.
Diana looked at Bruce incredulously, "Wait Bruce? What? Where are you going?" He is not just suddenly going to walk up and leave after that?!
Bruce looked at her and let out a heavy sigh, "Understand...I'm needed"
Diana stared at Bruce in shock...that lying little weasel, I FELL for his act, oh Diana, you are such an idio-
"Diana" Bruce spoke up, his voice interrupting her mental rant, "Diana I really am sorry...I promise I'll come back"
Diana turned her head, "Don't bother Bruce, I guess I was wrong about you, you really are just a lying, grimy, litt-"
Bruce stopped her and raised her hand to his lips, "Diana...please...you're boyfriend...whoever he is...he's proven me right"
Diana stopped at this and looked at Bruce confused, "What on earth are you talking about? Hera, I swe-"
"We want what we can't have" Bruce stated simply, "And I could never have you ." Bruce kissed her hand gently and stared at her, "Bruce Wayne...billionaire, businessman, prince of Gotham...the man who has everything...but not someone like you."
Diana closed her eyes and blushed, "Bruce please, don't be ridiculous"
Bruce didn't respond and she opened her eyes, he was gone.
Diana rubbed her head, oh Hera what have I done.
Diana walked back into the party, and was promplty assaulted by Shayera.
Shayera looked at her with wide eyes, "DID I REALLY JUST SEE THAT?"
Diana groaned, Great, the one person on the League that won't let something like this go...knows.
Shayera's eyes gleamed, "OH MY...you were" Shayera looked around in quickly, she lowered her voice, "You were KISSING Bruce Wayne!" she hissed.
Diana raised her hands in exasperation, "It wasn't what it look liked" she replied lamely.
Shayera grinned, "Oh of course not...I mean, seeing Mr. Playboy kissing with Wonder Woman is obviously something that doesn't happen everyday!"
"What doesn't happen every day?" said three voices behind them.
Diana quickly whirled around as saw the puzzled expressions of John, Superman, Flash, and J'onn.
"Uh...well..." Diana began.
"This Champange!" Shayera exclaimed,
Diana turned an eyebrow to Shayera, who subetly nudged her.
"Oh yeah" Diana said with equal jubilation, "This Champagne is so awesome...it's not something we can expiereince every day"
Flash's eyes gleamed, "You betcha, today is a special day, I got TWO of the girls' numbers. I mean this place is GREAT!"
Superman snorted, "yeah I just got off photo duty with the press"
J'onn ate an oreo, "It is an enjoyable fundraiser"
John eyed J'onn's curiously, "That's your 30th oreo man I don't know where you...ah forget it"
Superman looked at Diana, "So how did thanking Mr. Wayne for a free party invite go?"
Shayera choked on her champagne, and looked at Diana incredulously, "Yes Diana" she sputtered, "you did a good job of conveying our thanksto Mr. Wayne right?"
Diana smiled weakly and began, "Oh yeah... it went well, he was very adam-"
A loud gunshot cut her off, the third time this night. She looked around the crowd for the source, and saw the shocked terror on the guest's face as an individual began to cut through the crowd. She raised her head to see the individual, but all she could see was a floating green head amongst the sea of guests...then dread began to fill her up as she could see chalk-white makeup and a purple suit through the crevices of the crowd. Her fears were realized as the crowd went quiet, and a light, sadistic voice filled up the room.
"Good evening ladies and gentleman...we are tonight's Entertainment! I only have one question...where is HARVEY DENT!?"
Superman's knuckle's popped behind her, "It's him...from the video" he state.
Before they could respond, static filled all their ears, and they bent over in annoyance to remove the annoying device.
Before they could remove it, a loud, deep, and rugged voice filled their ear, "Stop what you're doing, do not engage him...the Gotham Police Comissioner is missing, along with the Head Justice of Gotham Judiciary...we could be walking into a trap."
Diana froze into place, and whispered, "Batman, where are you?"
Batman gravely replied, "Observing his victims...he's implanted bombs into their intestines".
