Disclaimer: DC Comics and WB Entertainment own everything. No profit is being made from this story. This is strictly for my own amusement.
Author's Notes: In this next chapter, Diana and Bruce grow closer, Selina's head is turned around, Diana leaves Gotham unexpectedly, and later, Bruce seems a bit lost. Please read and review. Thanks for reading everyone.
~o~o~
Chapter 8: Love Me Again
Outside City Hall, minutes later:
Clark managed to catch up with Bruce before he entered his limo. "Bruce, wait, we need to talk."
He took a deep breath to calm down and turned to him. "I thought you were my friend, Clark. Don't tell me you didn't know about this. I sensed it back there." Clark was still. "It's true, isn't it?"
"Bruce, it wasn't my secret to tell." He paused. "It was Diana's." His eyes widened. "It's true. I overheard her telling Gordon that she didn't want anyone else to know, especially you."
He shook his head. "I can't believe this, but … why? I don't understand. She must have known how it would make me feel."
He watched him closely. "Maybe she doesn't know."
Bruce understood what he was saying. "Get in," he said.
Clark went around the other side and got inside the limo. Once Alfred had pulled away from the curb, Bruce looked out the window. "How do you do it?"
Clark was confused at first then it dawned on him. "Oh, do you mean worrying about Lois, what she's up to, if she's alright, and if, God forbid, if she were taken from me at any moment? Yeah, it makes me crazy sometimes."
"Well, with Diana, it is a little different. There are ways to harm Diana, and I'm not talking about injuring her, I'm talking about her heart, her feelings, her wants and needs." He paused, thinking about her. "She's invaluable to me; I realize that now."
"Then you need to tell how you feel. She can't guess it. She needs to hear it."
He grinned, resigned to his feelings. "You're right. I will tell her."
"Good idea." He grinned at him.
Bruce then turned back to the window. "I just hope I get that chance."
~o~o~
On the outskirts of the city, not far from the Falcone estate:
Diana sensed that they had traveled for at least an hour. They stopped the car, got out and dragged her inside an abandoned warehouse. She didn't know where they were. She did notice the way did look familiar.
Once inside she realized that it may be difficult for the police to sneak up on them. There was only one door that she could see, with only a few windows on either side and no back door. But maybe there was another door somewhere. The front door was guarded by two armed men.
After climbing two flights of stairs they entered a room full of even more men.
"What the hell happened? What the hell is she doing here?" The leader of this motley crew snapped at the three men. His name was Alberto, a bully and a murderer, waited for an explanation.
Still handcuffed with a look on her features that said, 'I'm not afraid,' Diana slowly watched the crowd of men all around her. All of their faces had a look that made her skin crawl, but she held her head high and smirked at them.
There were at least ten men in the room, including the three men who had brought her there. All of them were heavily armed and ready to shoot anything that moved.
Detective Anderson scratched the back of his neck. "I thought it was Holly. The other one was taken by Batman, so I assumed …" He didn't finish. Alberto was glaring at him.
"Dammit, man!" Alberto nearly screamed. "She's probably wired for sound. Did you do that at least?"
"Well … Ummm …" The other one mumbled.
"Strip her, strip her now!" Alberto yelled.
"Don't even think about it," Diana said and gave them a warning look.
"Are you wearing a wire?" Detective Anderson tentatively asked.
"I TOLD YOU TO STRIP HER!" Alberto screamed. He was surrounded by idiots.
"But …." Bobby didn't know where to start. "Don't move Wonder Woman." He reached for the zipper on her hoody.
Diana stood very still. Once the zipper was fully unzipped and opened, Bobby breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't see a wire, boss."
Everyone else relaxed, except for Alberto. "I don't like this." He watched her closely. "She's too smart to get caught. This is a trick. I can feel it."
"We have to take her back or at least leave her some place far away," Bobby suggested.
"Well, if she were wearing a blindfold before you brought her here, then yeah, but now it's too late for that. " Alberto gave them a look meaning they screwed up big time.
'Now what do we do?" Bobby asked, getting worried. Even if they could harm her, the police would find them for sure.
"There's only thing we can do." He said as he stared at her face. "Silence her for good."
"We can't silence her. She's invincible, isn't she?" Bobby asked, as he glanced at her face. She didn't look scared just determined to keep herself alive.
Diana was getting tired of this. "It won't be long now. I suggest that you all put down your weapons and remain in that corner, like good little boys."
Alberto wasn't doing any such thing. He raised his gun.
Diana snapped into action. Spinning for a few seconds, she was in her costume. The automatic weapons were fired, but she easily blocked those. The three men rushed to stop her but she pushed them away. "Look, I don't want to hurt anyone!"
The bullets were coming at her in rapid succession. She leaped and dived evading the firing, raised her arms and blocked even more. A few of the men ran out of bullets. She quickly ran and grabbed the guns and disabled those in seconds. The men were stunned and held up their hands not realizing that their guns were now gone. She was just too fast for them.
Alberto was at a loss. He rushed to a closet door, opened it and pulled out a huge machine gun and fired. Diana leaped again and landed on his head, sending him flying across the room. She picked up the gun and broke it in half.
"ENOUGH!" Diana screamed. Sirens could be heard in the distance. "Don't move; I'm warning you!"
She could hear shots fired from below. Another minute later, a Swat team came into room guns at the ready.
The stunned and lethargic Falcone men gave up, dropped their weapons and raised their arms over their heads.
Superman and Batman walked in seconds later. Diana smiled, hands on hips.
"Perfect timing!"
~o~o~
A little while later, at Wayne manor:
Diana was still on a tremendous high. She couldn't stop talking about it. Bruce listened to her go on and on about it. They were in his suite of rooms. After their failed trip to New York, Bruce had asked her to move in there with him. She was hesitant at first, but he talked her into it.
"I tell you, Bruce, while I was in that room surrounded by all of those men, it was invigorating and exciting, and not in the way you may think, but my heart was racing and I just knew that at some point, I would have to prove to them that I could kick their asses all over that room. It felt great."
Bruce grinned at her glowing face. She was amazing, wonderful, and exciting. He was getting excited just the look on her face. She then twirled out of her outfit and stood there in her bra and underwear.
Bruce loosened his tie and watched her take off her remaining clothes. She walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She stood at the shower door and felt him watching her. Smiling, she turned to him, "Care to join me?"
Giggling she stepped inside and walked in and placed her head under the spray. She closed her eyes and let the water wash over her. It felt so good as if she were washing away the looks on those mens' faces. She wasn't afraid, but a very small percentage of her was afraid. If they had tried to harm her in that way, but before she could complete that thought, Bruce was behind her, stroking her hair. She sighed and turned to him, eyes closed and then he kissed her deeply. Her arms went around his neck to pull him closer.
Bruce wanted her so badly, that he turned and he pushed her up against the shower wall, her hair was pulled aside and his lips worked their magic on her throat and her ear.
"Oh. Bruce, I need you so much … I can't …." She hesitated.
He pulled away and stroked her hair out of her eyes. He held his breath. "You can't what?"
She became serious as she stared at him. "I can't imagine my life … without you." There it was.
"Oh, Diana," he whispered as he stroked her cheek. "I feel the same way about you." He paused for a moment. "I love you, Diana. I don't know when it happened, but today when you disappeared, I knew you were Ok, but there was a part of me that was devastated. I realized that I had to tell you how I felt."
She was quite surprised, but after that speech, two things stood out. "You love me and you were worried," Diana whispered, clearly enchanted by his words.
"Yes, I was. I know it was crazy."
"No, it wasn't crazy," she whispered. She pulled him closer and kissed him deeply. He moaned and kissed her back. After he released her mouth so she could speak. "I love you too."
Bruce closed his eyes and went about showing her just how much he wanted her and needed her. No sooner had he thought that then Diana switched positions on him. He was the one up against the wall.
Bruce closed his eyes for a bit Diana was kissing him all over his body. Her mouth was so incredibly hot, even with the warm water flowing around them. Bruce raised her up and Diana put her hands around his shoulders as he pushed her back against the wall. Diana gasped when his thickness filled her, the pleasure indescribable.
Swept along in his passion, she could feel herself coming, as she moaned against his throat, and it felt as if she might actually swoon. "You like that, do you? I do too," he whispered and then he gasped against her neck as his climax shuddered through his body, trembling as the warm rush of his semen filled her.
He tried to leave her body, but she stopped him, pulled him closer and kissed him. Bruce was only too happy to answer and he did.
A little while later, in bed, Bruce was on cloud nine, if there was such a place. He never thought he would feel this way about anyone. Diana was different. She knew him and he knew her. He had no idea where this would take them, but did it have to lead anywhere? Being together like this was like a dream come true for him. His life up until this time was filled with easy women, wild parties, and with no direction at all.
But with Diana, his life had shifted. He felt strong, centered, and loved. It was exhilarating and wonderful. He pulled her close and kissed her temple.
"This is nice. So, what happens next?" She innocently asked. She was asking about the case, but he was thinking about their life together.
He frowned. "What do you want to happen?"
"Well, for one, conviction and incarceration for all of those men who kidnapped me and tried to kill me."
He was relieved. "Oh, yeah, of course, convictions, definitely." He cleared his throat.
Diana also frowned. She leaned up on her elbow to see his face. "What's wrong? I feel something."
He smoothed her hair away from her forehead. "I was thinking about us."
"Oh, what about us?"
"It was just a silly thought." He pulled her close again.
She sighed and kissed his chest. A part of her wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but she wasn't ready for any kind of long-term relationship. She did love him, no question, but both of their lives were dangerous and unpredictable. If he were hurt or if by some crazy twist of fate, if she were harmed, it would ravage her and she was sure he would feel exactly the same.
Diana then realized that she was in entirely too deep. She didn't know what to do. "Bruce, we should check in with the Commissioner."
He frowned. "Alright," he said and watched as she got out of bed and started to get dressed. He did the same.
Bruce had said something wrong. She's pulling away from me. I know it. Once they were dressed and ready to go, he pulled her arm. "Diana, we should talk about it."
"We will." He looked worried. "Everything will be fine. You'll see."
She turned from him and left him staring after her with a thoroughly confused look on his face.
~o~o~
Meanwhile, at the safe house:
Selina and Holly were watching the evening news and their case was the lead story. Every state and local agency had the story.
"Wow, this is crazy," Holly said and switched channels.
"Yeah, but I was thinking. You may not need to testify now."
Holly frowned. "Really; but why would you think that?"
"Well, Daddy Falcone has confessed. He simply did not have a choice."
"But what about my brothers; the trial is still on isn't it?" Holly asked, hoping that she didn't have to testify.
"I'm not sure about that, but they may plea bargain. It could happen."
"It should; the case is pretty much open and shut."
They continued to watch the news channels, then the doorbell rang. No one ever came to the door. It was too early for the food delivery.
"Go upstairs, Holly," Selina firmly instructed.
"But …"
"Go, go now!" Selina was firm again.
Holly went upstairs. Selina peeked outside the window and it was patrolman. She breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn't see a patrol car outside and thought that was odd. Then she asked a few questions before opening the door to a stranger. "What do you want?"
"I have instructions from the Commissioner."
"I don't know what you're talking about. You should leave or I will call him."
"You should call him," the officer said.
"Alright, I will." She picked up the phone and managed to get through to the Commissioner pretty quickly. Gordon then confirmed it. His assistant should have called her earlier today. He apologized. The officer's name was Sam Bradley. He'll be staying with them until everything is cleared up. The trial may not happen, but extra precaution wouldn't hurt, especially in light of what happened with the kidnapping.
She hung up and went back to the door. "Hold up your badge so I can see it."
He showed her his name plate and then his badge. Selina was convinced he was the real thing. She turned off the security system and opened the door. He walked in and Selina backed up. He was immense, standing at least six feet in height. He grinned at her for a second, or did she imagine it. She closed the door and locked it.
She looked him up and down. "You look familiar."
He grinned. "You may know my Father, Slam Bradley? He's a private investigator and he has worked for Bruce Wayne from time to time."
Shocked to discover their connection, she replied, "Yes, I've heard of your Father."
Without saying another word, he proceeded to inspect the property. "Is there a basement?"
"No, no basement," she managed to answer. She watched him walk through the entire first floor, checking all the closets, the kitchen, the back door, the deck, the backyard and then he headed upstairs.
"Wait, my sister may not be decent."
"Of course, I'll follow you," Sam said and smiled at her.
Selina shook her head. That smile was disgusting. She hated it. Inwardly swooning, she walked up the stairs, but then she grinned. At least he was a gentleman.
Sam watched her from behind and a nice behind it was. He quickly removed those thoughts and followed her. Selina knocked on Holly's door. She answered it.
"Selina, what's going on and …" She stopped speaking and then she looked Sam up and down. Holly was definitely not shy. "And who are you?"
"Holly, this is Officer Sam Bradley. He's here to protect us, but I have no idea how long he'll be here."
"Oh, I see, well, I definitely feel protected. How tall are you anyway?"
"Holly, for goodness sakes." She turned to Sam. "You can check the rest of the house. Just knock when you're done." She then went inside Holly's room and shut the door.
"Holy, moley, he's a looker. Did you see his eyes? They were green!"
Selina rolled her eyes. "Yes, I noticed his eyes."
Holly watched her closely. "Did you notice anything else?" Holly snickered at her sister's shocked expression.
"Don't worry, he's yours. You get first dibs since you saw him first."
Selina inwardly smiled. "So, I spoke to the Commissioner and I was right. There may not be a trial after all."
Holly was so relieved. "That's wonderful news." She watched the door and thought about Sam Bradley. "Is Officer Bradley the surprise you mentioned yesterday?" Selina was still. "Well?"
Before she could answer her, there was a knock at the door. "I'll see you downstairs, and … Ummm … make that in an hour Ok?" She couldn't help but smile.
"I get it, an hour or two?"
"An hour is fine." Selina turned and opened the door.
"Everything is fine, Ms. Kyle, or may I call you Selina?" Sam asked and waited for an answer.
Holly's mouth dropped open.
"Selina is fine, and may I call you Sam?"
"Yes you may."
Selina turned to close the door but not without giving her sister a wink.
The door closed.
After waiting a bit, Holly opened the door and listened to them, but they were talking about the case. Then she walked out into the hall, but then she had an idea. She slowly walked into Selina's room and closed the door. She checked the dresser drawers, the closet, but she couldn't find it. She tapped her chin, then checked under the bed and there was a box. She opened it and there it was.
The Catwoman suit was there. Holly wanted to try it on so badly. It would suit her perfectly. She heard footsteps coming back upstairs.
"Holly, where are you?"
"I'm in here!" She replied and put the suit back under the bed.
Selina opened the door. "What are you doing in here?"
"I was looking for … Ummm … some makeup. I thought since well, maybe we could go out on the town, and I wanted to see how I would look. I never wore makeup before."
Selina narrowed her eyes, but then she felt bad. "We can do that soon I hope. Come downstairs, Officer Bradley has a few questions for you."
Holly smirked again then she followed her. "Officer Bradley? I thought you two were on a first-name basis."
"Actually, we are, but you aren't. Do you get it?" Selina gave her a look.
Holly held up her hands. "Ok, I got it alright."
"Good," she said and headed down the stairs.
~o~o~
Later that morning:
Lois and Clark were at the office finishing up their headline story about the arrests of over ten men connected to the Falcone family, three of whom had kidnapped Diana Prince thinking that she was Holly Falcone.
Lois was on the phone with Perry. "Yes, Chief, we have the story and it's on its way to you now. Yes, we have the superhero story too."
"Well, I'm definitely impressed. Will you be coming home this weekend?" Perry asked.
Clark heard every word. He nodded his head 'yes.' Lois was in complete agreement.
"Yes, we'll be back this weekend."
"Excellent, well, Ummm," Perry paused. He wanted to say how much he had missed them, but they knew him.
"We missed you too, Chief," Lois said and Clark smiled at her look.
"Bye, Lois," Perry said.
"Bye, Chief," Lois said, then hung up.
There was knocking on their door. It was Aron. "You have a visitor. It's Bruce Wayne."
Lois and Clark were shocked. They went out to greet him. Everyone stared at him. "I should have called first but I need your help."
"Of course, Mr. Wayne, come right in," Clark said and escorted him into the office.
Once the door had closed, Clark and Lois didn't know what to say to him.
"It's alright, it's not about that, but about me and my … lady friend."
"Oh," Clark said and asked him a question. "Are you two Ok, I mean, I thought after what you told me," he tentatively asked.
Lois frowned. "I'm in the dark here."
"What he meant was that Diana and I are … in love, and well …" Bruce began.
"Oh," Lois said.
Feeling agitated, he walked for a minute. "Diana has pulled away from me. We declared our love, but …"
"She feels a bit overwhelmed by it," Lois finished for him.
He nodded in agreement. "I think you may be right," Bruce said. "It's frustrating for both of us. These feelings are fairly new to me and to her, and …"
"Just give her time, Bruce," Clark said. "That's all she needs."
"But what if she leaves and goes back to Washington, and what about Trevor? He's there waiting for her. I know he is, plus he's filled her head with all kinds of lies about me."
"I don't think she believes anything he says, Bruce," Lois said believing it.
His cellphone rang. It was her. "Diana, where are you?"
"I'm at the airport," she replied.
Bruce was still. Clark's eyes widened.
"But why; where are you going?"
"I have to resign and I can't do it by phone or email. I have to go to D.C., but I'll be back, Bruce. You do believe me, don't you?"
"I just wish I could say goodbye properly, you know?"
"My flight leaves in an hour, and I'll be boarding soon, so we'll have to say our goodbyes now." There was a pause. "I'm sorry, Bruce."
Bruce was still.
"I love you, Bruce." Diana meant every word.
He closed his eyes for a moment. "I love you too."
"Goodbye."
"Bye, Diana." He hung up.
Bruce stared at the phone. "She's gone. I can't believe it."
"She'll be back, Bruce," Clark said.
"Of course, she will." Lois was sure of it.
He put his phone back in his pocket. "I honestly thought she was the one." He walked out not shutting the door behind him.
"Oh dear," Lois said. "Clark, please you have to talk to him. He may do something stupid."
"Of course, I'll see you later." He kissed her goodbye and went after his friend.
~o~o~
A few hours later in Washington:
After landing at the airport, Diana immediately headed straight to her base of operations, the Department of Metahuman Affairs, located in the Department of Justice in downtown Washington. Steve greeted her stiffly as she walked into her office.
She then logged on to her computer. There were no emergencies that she could see. Her most recent emails, sent while she was on board her flight, were from Steve concerning the Agency calling off the investigation into Bruce's activities in Gotham, and about her new project which would take her to Boston, her former home.
Steve walked in and shut the door. "So, you're back."
"Yes, I'm only in town to clear up a few things, then I'm returning to Gotham … for good." She looked up from her computer with those last words.
"That's not smart, Diana."
"Please, no more rumors about Bruce; I'm done hearing them."
"No rumors, Diana." He watched her closely. "That didn't take long."
"What are you talking about?" She asked, not looking at him. She was reading a few Agency reports that she had pulled from her inbox on her desk.
"You broke up with him, just like me." Steve sensed that was the case.
"Steve, I can't do this right now. I have a job to do."
"You didn't answer me. He wants to marry you, same as me, but not you, not Diana Prince. It would go against everything you were brought up to think about men and what to do with them." Steve smirked at her.
"Get out, get out NOW!" She stood up and pointed to the door. They were drawing a lot of co-workers.
"I'm going," he said, walked out and shut the door.
Diana was fuming inside. She crossed her arms and walked over to the window. Her vision blurred. "Oh, Bruce," she whispered and tried hard not to cry.
~o~o~
Meanwhile, back in Gotham:
Clark managed to see the limo, but instead of heading to the house, it pulled into a cave not far from the mansion. "What is this place?"
He peered through the layers of rock and grime and saw a sanctuary deep within the ground and it was a hiding place for him. A cave full of instruments, gadgets, motorbikes, computers, and all manner of things. Clark was fascinated. He waited for a bit, then the limo came out and Bruce was no longer within.
Clark walked inside the cave and Bruce was already in the suit. "Plans tonight?"
He turned from the computer. "Yeah, I have to keep busy. Hey, how did you find this place?"
"I followed you. Sorry."
"No problem. Well, take a look around."
Clark did as he said and the amount of work that must have gone into this place was incredible. "Where does that go?" He pointed to an open elevator.
"The mansion," Bruce replied and turned back to the computer. "You can join me if you want. It may get busy and I could use your help around here."
"Bruce, I should tell you this. Lois and I are returning to Metropolis on Saturday."
"I see, well, our team appears to be dissolving; so much for that." He shook his head. "It was just as I thought. Everyone will be thinking why aren't they together? What happened to break them up?"
Clark frowned at his defeatist attitude. "I'll be back if you need me for anything."
"Of course you will."
Clark tried to be upbeat. "Have you heard from her?" Clark asked.
"No, and I don't expect her to call. She's a busy lady."
Clark was extremely concerned about him. "Bruce …?"
"There's an emergency. It's not far." He hopped onto his bike. "Are you coming?"
"Lead the way."
TBC!
~o~o~
Song Inspiration: I'll Be Waiting, Adele.
A/N: *gives Bruce a hug* Love is a challenge no doubt about that. I wanted to take a moment to thank Lloyd RPGFan on FFN for his insights, Batman comics' history, and suggestions. I do appreciate it. Diana kicking ass was a blast! Always enjoy Selina and Holly and throwing Sam into the mix was a hoot! Ok, please tell me what you think. Thanks for reading everyone. Reviews and kudos are love!
