Chapter 9: Events

No survivors. There was not a soul of the Resistance's northern troupes. Diana was horrified by the way the men had been mauled and killed.

"Welcome to the world of war, Princess," Bruce said. Diana was standing at the edge of the battlefield while Bruce was in the mist of it. Diana had tears in her eyes.

"How does this not disturb you?" Diana asked.

"It does a little," Bruce admitted. "But I'm so use to seeing dead bodies so it doesn't bother me as much as it use to." He continued to walk towards the other side of the field.

"What are you looking for?" Diana asked.

"A flag or something that can tell us which one of Luthor's nobles attacked them," Bruce answered. "Each one has their own distinct family chest. And it looks like they were sent by..." Bruce flipped one of the armored men over. On his chest was his coat of arms, a diamond with a ermine fur as a background, as a sign of royalty, and a fancy L in the middle. "Lena Luthor. Lex's sister." Diana was right next to him now.

"So what now?" Diana asked. Bruce turned to face her.

"We report back to Clark, but first..." Bruce started but then stopped. "We're being watched." He whispered. "Walk back to the horses SLOWLY." They did and were almost there when... "Ah!" Bruce had been shot in the shoulder. Several others were fired but they missed. They startled the horses and the horse Diana "borrowed" broke free from the tree it was tied to. Bruce's horse was calmer in comparison but still was trying to break free. Diana untied his horse and helped Bruce up before going up herself.

They rode off slowly to the place they had camped at the night before. Diana stopped the horse, got off, tied the horse to the tree, and then helped Bruce off the horse. She lead him to the place where the campfire had been with his good arm. He pulled it out of her grasp.

"Diana, I'm wounded not invalid," Bruce told her. "I can walk." Diana wasn't listening and retook his good arm and pulled him quickly to a log.

"Sit," she ordered. Bruce obeyed. "This'll hurt." She snapped the arrow and pulled out the piece in his shoulder. Bruce winced but didn't respond as Diana removed his armor. When Diana started to remove his mail, he stopped her. "Bruce I need to see the wound in order to clean it. Don't be so difficult."

"I'm not," Bruce said. "And I can do it myself." She gave him the 'really' look.

"Your right shoulder was wounded and you're right handed," Diana stated. "You'll only be able to do it half way at LEAST. And it won't be as well done. And if it's not done properly it'll get infected. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be." Bruce groaned and let her remove the mail. When she had she saw that his chest was covered in scars. "Bruce..."

"Don't. Just clean the wound, " Bruce said. Diana took a wash cloth and started cleaning the wound. She didn't say a word until she was done and had wrapped it.

"How..." Diana began.

"You don't live like me without getting some scars," Bruce answered. "I only wear the heavy knight's armor when I'm traveling. I have a lighter one at home since I need more mobility to travel all over the capital and it's at night. When I'm traveling I need more protection." He moved his bad shoulder and winced. "The arrow must have been from a long bow and likely slipped inbetween the plates." Diana was still looking at his chest.

"Still, you have so many," Diana said. "All from Gotham?"

" Actually no," Bruce told her. "The majority are but some are from training, here, war."

"I don't believe I've ever met a man like you, Bruce, " Diana said.

"I could say the same about you," Bruce responded. "And I've met a LOT of women over the years." She smiled.

"So what is about me that's so different?" Diana asked. "Surely you've met SOMEONE. What about Lois?" Bruce shook his head.

"No, though there are similar qualities," Bruce said. "Smart, persistent, stubborn, very stubborn. But you're different. Softer, kinder, and beautiful." Neither said a word after that. They just starred into each other's eyes, lost in thought. Then Bruce snapped back to reality. "And she's with Clark and..."

"Wait, she and Clark are an item?" Diana said.

"Surprised?" Bruce responded. Diana nodded. "I was too at first. But they're a great team and they practically run the Resistance."

"So why are they involved in this?" Diana asked.

"Lois's father was one of the Resistance's head generals," Bruce explained. "When he died several years ago, she was taken in by Clark's parents. When they both were old enough, they joined the Resistance and now lead it." They had run out of conversation so Diana decided to check Bruce's wound. The wound was not as bad as it had been but it was still nasty.

"So what were you going to tell me before we were interrupted?" Diana asked.

" That before we go back I need to pick something up from Clark's parents' place," Bruce told her. "He's been meaning to get it but hasn't had time and he's been needing all hands on deck with the other heads of the Resistance. And he doesn't know which ones of the few members that we can still contact he trust so he's having me get it."

"So what are we getting? " Diana asked.

"Proof of his birthright, " Bruce told her. "The sword of the house of El."

"Was the last king of Metropolis from that line?" Diana asked. Bruce nodded.

"King Jor-el," Bruce said. "And Clark is his only child. Kal-el. The true king of Metropolis."