AN: Thank you for all the reviews. This goes back in time a year to explain more of why Clark is so hesitant with dating Diana and some depth to the relationships between the characters. Feel free to let me know what you think. After this we pick back up in the desert with Clark, Diana and Steve.
Wayne Manor: 1 Year Ago
Diana nervously tapped down the sidewalk in her heels trying to follow Bruce's directions tediously. He wanted all the Leaguers to use his secret sewer side entrance so they didn't draw attention to the manor. She eventually reached the solid metal door and put her hand against its cool surface. The door slid open as it recognized her finger prints and she traveled down a spiraling tunnel until she saw the wooden paneled entrance to Wayne Manor. There was a security system set up, and Diana uncomfortably fidgeted with the buttons until a bleep noise cleared her and let her in.
Diana jumped as the door swung open and Bruce stood on the other side, cocky smile plastered on his face.
He laughed, "Hey. Didn't mean to scare you."
"I hate that entrance. I can never remember what button to press; the tunnel is creepy and gross. The entrance to the tunnel is literally in a sewer." She was trying to keep an angry face, but the smile on Bruce's was infectious.
"Happy to see you too Diana." Both of them started walking towards the main floor of the house.
"It's oddly quiet." Diana observed.
"The party starts at 9."
"You told me 6."
"Yes, I am aware I told you 6," Bruce looked back at her with a devilish smile, "We've been dating a long time and I never see you, wanted some time before the New Year's celebrations kick in."
"A long time—do people consider a month 'a long time'?" Diana's voice dripped with concern.
"It just feels a lot longer, especially for me—with being the party boy and all."
"Every woman dreams of hearing those words." Diana cooed sarcastically.
Diana pushed ahead of Bruce up the final set of stairs to the main floors, as she made it up, her eyes were assuaged by the greatest display of wealth she had see in her whole life.
The chandeliers sparkled with fine crystals that gave the room a gentle golden glow. New Year's décor was elegantly draped along the walls. Food platters were set up at various places around the home and filled the room with a tantalizing aroma. Pool tables, ping pong tables, and various card playing tables littered the main floor of Bruce's house. Expensive champagne bottles were spread like simple party décor.
Alfred appeared from behind a wall and corrected his posture once he realized the Princess was there.
He reached out and gently kissed Diana's hand, "You look ravishing as always dear, happy to see you here early."
"And I am always happy to see you my old friend. Bruce here bought me this dress actually." Diana spun in her loose long sleeved white dress and watched the frills float around her.
"Master Wayne, of the vast multitude of women you've brought here over the years,—"
Bruce sharply cut in, "Alfred…"
"Oh hush," Alfred playfully reprimanded, "I was just going to say this one should be a keeper. Diana, you are the definition of timeless beauty."
Diana's eyebrows crinkled at the thought of all the women Bruce has been with through the years, but she smiled at the complement nonetheless. Her doubts in the relationship started to surface again, but tonight they started a new year. It only seemed fair she choke her doubts down again and enjoy the moment.
"Alfred, you are too kind to me, and this spoiled brat for that matter. I'm assuming you put together all the décor and party elements."
"It was my pleasure, I have a tendency to be banal while planning things, it is preferable that others stay uninvolved." Alfred winked and shifted away back into the kitchen, "I'll leave you two be. Let me know if there is something I can get for you sir."
Diana laughed at Alfred's dramatic exit and turned to face Bruce. "So, Master Wayne what did you have planned?"
"I was just thinking you could get the first go around on the food and watch some TV with me." Bruce nonchalantly popped a grape in his mouth from a nearby table.
Diana's smile drooped for a second, for a millionaire, Bruce was not one for flashy shows of affection, or really any show of affection. Diana was a simple girl, but she couldn't help but feel disappointed. She'd built up seeing him too much, it had been about a week since she'd had time to sit down and actually talk to him…her boyfriend.
"Do you not like the idea?" He asked as he was already making his way to the couch to watch the news.
Diana muttered sheepishly, "No, it's just different from what I thought you'd plan for us."
Bruce crinkled his brow, "It's simple, I thought you liked simple."
"I do—" Diana was about to continue her sentence to attempt to explain her displeasure in just watching TV, but she lacked the words. It was a phenomenon even she didn't understand well. She loved doing simple things; she never wanted extravagance, but she wanted to do something with meaning. A calming walk, watching a meaningful movie, playing a game he liked as a child. But watching the news was something they could do any day, something they even did up on the watchtower. Was she being unreasonable in expecting more from a date? Was it even a date?
"You do, but—" Bruce tried to prompt her sentence.
"No that's it, I do. I like simple." Her mind muddled with questions as she tossed her shoes off to the side and padded over to the couch with him.
She curled up against him, with her head resting on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and took in her flowerly scent while flipping through channels and having conversations with Diana. She'd been on man's world for a year now, but he still found her messing up English phrases, and she hadn't lost her innocent, fresh way of looking at the world.
It was endearing and reminded him of why she of all women was worth that extra mile. Her logical way of seeing the world mirrored his and made her one of his closest friends besides Clark. Thirty minutes into watching TV, he watched her slowly fall asleep against him. She looked like an angel, her soft skin against his ripped and scarred skin felt heavenly. Her silky hair flowed against his skin delicately.
Regardless, he couldn't help but be frustrated, after a week of build-up he had bored his date to sleep. He would have planned something more extravagant but he thought she liked simple; in moments like this he feared he did not know her well at all. He knew she must be tired of all the work she'd been doing at the League and did not want to wake her, but his frustration grew as he saw the clock reach 8:50, the others would be there in no time. He started to question if hiding their relationship from everyone besides Alfred was the right choice. It practically condemned his relationship with Diana to failure; they had to hide all shows of affection around every other person.
As he gently shifted her to get up off of the couch, she slowly re-positioned and then fluttered her eyes open.
"Oh gods, did I fall asleep on you?"
"Yes."
She frowned and looked at him with pleading eyes, "I'm so sorry, I know this was supposed to be our time, what time is it now?"
"8:55" He felt bad being short with her; he had a quick temper and he knew he needed to work on that.
"Bruce, I'm sorry." She rose and kissed him. "I feel terrible. You should have woken me!"
Bruce brooded over the fact that the kiss felt meaningless, and gave a half-hearted reply. "I'm sure you're tired Di, we can just set up another day."
He gave her a meek smile as she embraced him. Diana's stomach stirred as she could still taste the frustration brewing in the air.
"Do we need to do anything before they come?" Diana questioned earnestly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Alfred shuffled out of the kitchen and interjected, "Mr. Kent is at the door."
"Letting people in is probably an important step." He drew himself away from her and straightened the couch and his shirt to ensure no one would suspect that he spent that time with Diana.
As he walked to open the door he turned and demanded, "If he asks, you came here five minutes ago."
Clark walked up the staircase to Diana. He was wearing a white t-shirt a little too small for him and a pair of blue jeans. The shirt accentuated Clark's rippling muscles and his sharp blue eyes.
"Clark!" Diana exclaimed and ran to him. She hadn't seen him in a week due to his off world mission.
He hugged her tightly and lifted her slightly off the ground, "Hey pipsqueak."
Bruce laughed, in comparison to Clark, the six foot Amazonian warrior did look small.
"So are you Clark, Kal or Superman today? Just so I don't use the wrong name." She arched an eyebrow at him, still slightly peeved that she had been one of the last people he told his secret to last month.
"I eventually told the leaguers that are attending today, so feel free to call me whatever you want." He scrunched up his face and tapped her nose, "Princess."
She sighed and crossed her arms playfully. "Bruce remind me again why Clark wouldn't spar with me a few weeks ago."
Bruce rolled his eyes at their constant need to compete, "He said he was scared."
"I thought so," Diana delivered a cheesy smile and then sincerely hugged both Bruce and Clark in a big bear hug.
"Um—" Bruce shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm so happy to be spending New Years with my two closest friends. I feel incredibly lucky tonight."
Bruce broke the hug and smoothed a wrinkle in his shirt. "Let's drink to that!"
In the matter of an hour, Wayne manor was filled with members of the Justice League.
Hal and Ollie rushed to the pool table and were engrossed in a round. Cyborg was playing a round of foozball with Wally while Bruce watched intently. Aquaman was chatting with Alfred while sampling the many delicacies laid out for the guests. Even J'onn was intrigued by a game of Poker he was playing with Clark. Though the League had grown to include many other members, the small group who started it all felt increasingly like a family.
Diana was distractedly looking at Bruce from the card playing table. She felt like anytime people showed up he made an effort to avoid her. He hadn't said a word to her since their small exchange with Clark.
Clark sensed something was wrong, and he kept shifting his eyes off of his cards to look at Diana. She was staring at Bruce sullenly, and absentmindedly fidgeting with her billowy white dress.
"Diana, are you sure you don't want to play a round?" Clark asked her for what felt like the millionth time.
"Yes, I am enjoying watching you play as it is."
"You haven't been watching the game Diana." He looked at his cards, avoiding her glare.
Diana snarled, "It appears neither have you. You have been looking at me more than the cards."
"Youch. Point taken. Do what makes you happy."
J'onn looked up from his cards and addressed Diana, "I think perhaps a better question is, is there anything we could do to make you happier Diana? It is New Year's and everyone seems to be in good spirits."
Diana sighed, "No, I am enjoying watching the game. I'm tired and irritable. I apologize."
Hal walked by Diana with a drink in his hand. "I brought this over for you. Figure being hot as hell must make you thirsty."
Diana graciously took the drink from his hand, "Hal, when will you stop with those terrible pick up lines?"
"When you let me take you out. Just one date. I know I mess around with you a lot, but I've always been serious about getting to know you better. Even if it goes nowhere, you know it'll be fun." Hal's confidence oozed from his words and he leaned against the table waiting for a reply.
Diana stuttered; it was hard to deny an offer so straightforward and nonchalant. There was almost no reason to say no, Hal was just asking to get to know her better with no strings attached. Of course there was that the fact that she was dating Bruce, but he couldn't know that.
"I—umm" Diana's blue eyes avoided eye contact with Hal and searched the room before landing on Bruce and then switching to J'onn who was pretending to be entranced by the cards. J'onn was still bewildered by the way of people and avoided getting involved.
"A 'no' would've done it Diana." Hal cooly laughed and gave her a good-natured pat on the shoulder. "No biggie. Eh blue, play pool with me next. I'm getting my ass handed to me. Also, Diana, do you mind if I just take the drink back, I doubt you'd like it anyway."
"Sure." As Diana uncomfortably handed the drink back to Hal, she noticed he was swaying and was practically black-out drunk.
Hal swallowed the drink in one gulp and stumbled back over to the table with Ollie.
Clark chuckled at seeing Diana so flustered, though he was sure men asked her out all the time. He put his hand over hers to get her attention. "I bet he won't even remember asking you in the morning. Di, you mind helping me decide what to do with my cards?"
Diana's stomach turned at feeling her hand on his. She thought back to when she saw him come up the stairs to her, what he smelled like when she hugged him, his warm blue eyes, how simple yet dashing he looked today. Her insides grew warm at the worried, caring look he was giving her right now. She couldn't help but feel like that is what a relationship should feel like. She loved having Bruce in her life, he was undoubtedly one of her best friends, but she feared they would never have that spark. She felt dirty as she commanded her heart to quit the acrobatics it was sent into when she looked into Clark's eyes. For the second time tonight, she swallowed her doubts and forced her thoughts onwards.
She peeked at Clark's cards, smiling at his resilient effort to include her in their game. "You should—"
"NO!" Clark exclaimed, "Don't let J'onn hear us! Just whisper it, I don't bite."
"You two are ridiculous." J'onn sighed.
Diana moved to whisper in Clark's ear.
Hal screamed from his game of pool across the room, "Clark did you ever stop to think how useless playing poker with someone who can read your mind is?"
The roomed boomed with laughter at the comment as people continued their games and celebrations. Diana awkwardly stepped away from Clark as she felt Bruce's eyes on her.
Ollie remarked, "He's not in it for the game, look at the female company." Ollie whistled and Diana consequently colored and stomped away towards a food platter.
Angry that their comments made Diana leave, Clark laid his cards down flat with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "Hal you ever think about how useless playing pool with a master marksman is?"
Ollie laughed and took another perfect shot, "Cheers to that."
The room went back to its loud conglomeration of talking and various competitions.
"She's upset?" J'onn asked Clark.
Clark shrugged, "You read minds don't you?"
"I try to do so with permission or when it is a necessity. I wouldn't use it to cheat in a card game or peek into Diana's personal thoughts."
Clark turned to find her but saw she was gone when he quickly scanned the room, "In a second I'll go find her and make sure she is okay."
Alfred gently grabbed Wonder Woman by the arm and pulled her into the kitchen, "I figured you'd want a break from all of that. I imagine they hit on you enough when they are sober."
"Thank you Alfred. I appreciate it; it's difficult being the only woman on the League. I went from an island of only women to having mostly male friends. It's been a —confusing transition to say the least."
"Do not take Master Wayne's aloof behavior to heart dear, he only wants to protect you from the backlash you'd face."
"It's not what I imagined a relationship to be like at all. Not that I have had much to go off of."
"Dating him comes with a lot of complications. You've been patient with him and I think that is all he can really ask from you."
"I feel silly when I think about my doubts. He is one of my best friends, I love talking to him; I love spending time with him. He respects me, he supports me. That should be enough."
"The title of hero comes with a heavy burden; it tends to put stresses on all aspects of life, especially the dating aspect."
Diana sighed and looked out to the men playing their games, normally she would feel to urge to jump right in with them and let her competitive side shine. Today she just wanted to nap away the terrors of yesterday. Her second year on Man's world was wrapping up and after the disasters she'd faced, she felt like it didn't deserve such a grandiose celebration.
Alfred saw her distraught look and gently whispered, "You've been under a lot of pressure dear, I'm sure Bruce and the others would not take it to offense if you took a stroll through the gardens and cleared your head."
Diana smiled at Alfred and inhaled, "I think I will."
Diana walked barefoot into the gardens and felt the grass beneath her feet in the warm Gotham night. The moon shone down beautifully and the water in the pond reflected the beauty of the heavens. For a second, Diana could pretend she was back on Themyscira with her sisters, exploring their beautiful flower beds before retiring to bed.
As she settled on a bench, she left her mind drift from Bruce to Clark. When other people flirted with her Clark just shook his head in disapproval. He never seemed to want to touch her for too long, or glance at her for long periods. He never hit on her, the furthest he'd go would be calling her beautiful, and even then it sounded like a formality.
He cared about her, he'd told her that on many occasions, but she felt his words were minced and he was holding back. She figured with his powers, holding back was something that was second nature to him.
She jumped when she turned to see Clark standing in an arch that led into the garden.
He stood leaned against the arch with his arms crossed, "Mind if I annoy you for a few seconds?" His muscles were tense and he was trying his best to look nonchalant; did not want to come off as forceful.
"You don't annoy me. What is it?"
Clark sat down next to her, but did not avoid eye contact in his typical manner. "Making sure you're okay. I know it must be annoying when they are hitting on you and making slights at you."
She wanted to tell Clark she just needed help with her relationship with Bruce, but she knew that would break the trust she built with Bruce. "It's just been a tough few years. I just want to go fly off sometimes."
"Hmm—let's go then!" Clark stood up and offered his hand.
"No, it was just a silly wish, Bruce worked hard to put this party together and get us all here."
"And you worked hard all year saving lives. We'll be back before New Years! I'll deal with Bruce for you if he gets mad."
Diana still looked hesitant.
"Come on, I've been in your place a hundred times before. Feeling like the outsider, everything just gets loud and overwhelming, talking about it just hurts your brain."
"Fly? Dressed like this? You are insane."
"I know. But I know for a fact you are too." He smiled with a boyish charm; Diana still just stared at the hand he had extended towards her.
"Come one," Clark urged, "I hate seeing you miserable like this. I have a cool place I've been thinking about showing you."
Miserable, Diana thought, do I really look miserable?
Diana reluctantly took his hand and watched Clark's smile devilishly light up.
"Hold on to me, because we are going to be moving fast." Clark's tone raised a challenge.
"What, you think I won't be able to keep up?" Diana was looking him right in the eyes, their bodies close but not touching.
Clark was undeniably attracted to her, and he hated when she did things like this. The challenge built a sizzle in the air and Clark just wanted to reach out and kiss her. Instead he shook his head and launched into the sky.
"I don't think you can keep up." He launched away from the house and heard her laughing behind him as she followed in pursuit. He made her laugh, and somewhere inside that bolstered Clark's mood.
As they zoomed through the skies laughing and flying, Clark forgot it was even a race and was just carving intricate patterns in the skies with Diana. As Clark got closer to the site, he started slowing down. Diana was oblivious to his change of speed and slammed right into Clark. Both of them spiraled toward the Earth and hit with a resounding boom. As they slammed, Clark grabbed Diana and held her on top of him so his back collided with the Earth and kept Diana's dress practically dirt free.
As they stopped moving Diana tumbled off of Clark. His face was a sooty brown with blades of grass stuck in his hair. His jeans and shirt were stained brown and he uselessly tried to dust himself off.
Diana was giggling as she struggled to keep a straight face, "Did I hurt you?"
He chuffed, "No, of course not. I'm invincible." He flexed his muscles and smiled, revealing he had dirt in between his teeth.
"Thank you for your quick thinking, it would have been a shame if my dress got dirtied. It was a gift from Bruce." Diana accidentally let that last part slip out, but it seemed to draw no suspicion from Clark.
"But, your shirt is soiled now. Also," Diana continued, "you have dirt here." She pointed at the spot in her mouth, and Clark awkwardly spit and blew air trying to clear it.
Clark wiped spit off of his face, "I bet that looked attractive."
It's hard to make anything you do look unattractive, Diana thought.
As Diana blushed at the thought she asked, "What did you want to show me? Is this the spot?"
Just as she asked the question, she looked up to see herself surrounded in a field of wild flowers with beautiful caverns and waterfalls sparkling in the moonlight.
Clark led her to the top of one of the caverns and from the ledge, they looked over the raw, unfiltered beauty of the spot.
"It looks like home. It's so beautiful. " Diana cooed as her heart did somersaults in her chest.
"I figured you'd think that." Clark absentmindedly pulled a flower from nearby and smoothed the petals. "Even though I've seen some of the most beautiful places on the planet, everything tends to be boring and lonely without someone to share it with."
"I feel like I'm 18 again, tromping through the forests with my horse past my curfew." Diana had stars in her eyes as she let her mind travel to warm memories at home.
"So, do you want to tell me what was going on at the party?" Clark gently interjected.
"It was just being the only woman at times is stressful. I can't help but feel different at times. The flirting tends to be off putting."
"All annoying for sure, but that's not really what's wrong is it? I mean you deal with those arguably well-meaning assholes all the time."
Diana was quiet and just dangled her legs over the side of the cavern.
"Ah—so you don't want to tell me. I see how it is." Clark let go of his flower and watched it flutter down at the whim of the winds.
He didn't want to push the topic more. "Just know if you ever want to rant, I'm going to be here for you." He placed his hand on her leg. Her skin felt soft and smooth under his hands. He felt sparks and a genuine connection as he sheepishly looked in her eyes and at her shy smile. He wondered if she felt it as well.
"Why do you keep your distance from me when others are around?" Diana moved so his hand so it was no longer on her leg.
"That's a random question; I haven't noticed if I do." Clark lied and shifted realizing his hand placement was out of line.
"You are worried they'd start making rumors aren't you? Perhaps you are embarrassed by being associated with me like that? You never flirt like the others, perhaps you don't find me attractive or fun to be around?"
"Diana, those are all wrong assumptions. I know people don't treat me like one, but I am just a man. I doubt there is a man on this planet who finds you unattractive."
"I don't need the lasso to know you are lying about how you distance yourself from me."
Clark knew she was dating Bruce. He had seen it coming for months. Today, when he triggered the security, he looked past the walls to see Bruce and Diana in a close embrace. His heart dropped into his stomach, and he knew he had made the right decision the months prior by creating some space. Bruce deserved happiness. Diana deserved happiness. Clark wanted to keep it quiet that he knew; Bruce would see his knowledge of the relationship as a threat.
Diana looked so young and vulnerable. Though she'd lived among men for a while now, she still had her innocence and purity. Clark never thought she'd noticed the distance he created; he never thought his actions mattered to her. Why would they when she had Bruce?
After his short time dating Lois, he was convinced he was going to be alone for the rest of life. His messy relationship with Lois practically destroyed their bond and years of friendship. It had been six months and he was still trying to get things back to normal with her.
Clark shrugged, "The next time you think I'm being distant, just punch me or something."
Diana frowned; it wasn't a real answer. He said her assumptions were all incorrect, so what was the real reason for it?
"We should head back." Diana looked at her watch, 11:50pm.
"Yeah. I kind of don't want to though." Clark stretched and laid back in the tall grasses.
Diana laid back in the grasses as well and stared up at the sky besides Clark, fighting her urge to just curl up on his chest and have his fingers run through her hair. "Thank you for showing me this. I feel very special to see one of THE superman's favorite spots. And I'm sorry about smacking into you earlier, and then accusing you of ignoring me."
Clark turned on his side to playfully wink at her, "Not a problem. Bruce has nice taste. That dress looks beautiful on you. Shall we leave?" Clark hoped she didn't recognize the compliment as it slipped out of his mouth, but he knew she did.
Diana stated, "You look dirty, won't that cause a lot of questions?"
"Well I mean the other option is walking in naked."
"Or just changing into something that looks similar."
Crickets chirped in the background as Clark laughed at himself for not thinking of that simple idea, "That's an option as well, not as good as my 'walk in naked one' but I'll consider it."
He appeared back in a matter of seconds with fresh clothes and they flew off back to Bruce's house.
The flight was full of laughter and a small playful game of tag. That sense of electricity was back between them, and tension was building up as Clark yanked and pulled Diana to get ahead of her and she pushed and rubbed past him trying to get the upper hand.
As they touched down Diana laughed, "It's not too late to walk in naked since your plan is so feasible and sensible."
"I'm sure you'd like to see that." Clark teased.
Diana blushed and looked away, "You are no better than them inside."
He laughed as he walked up to clear a spot of dirt off of Diana's cheek.
"Oh, I am so much better." He whispered the sentence delicately as if it were a curse. It was a bold line, and he felt himself losing the tight control he always had on his emotions.
Diana paused and looked at Clark's eyes, his windswept hair, and rugged good looks, "I fear that you may be right about that."
Clark couldn't control himself. He felt one hand sliding behind Diana's neck, and the other around her waist. Diana didn't stop him. She would be lying if she said she hadn't imagined this exact moment a million times in her head before brushing it off.
Clark went in for a kiss when Bruce bust out from inside the house, "Come on in it's almost mid—"
Bruce stopped short in his sentence as he saw Clark seconds away from kissing his girlfriend. His best friend.
"Clark? What the hell." Bruce boiled with anger. He was willing to change his life for Diana. He'd felt things for her he didn't know he could feel. He wasn't perfect, but he didn't think he was so terrible to her that she'd go behind his back for this.
"How long has this been going on?" Bruce spit his words out angrily.
Clark stepped away from Diana and put his hands up, "I was being an idiot; it wasn't her fault. This is the first time in months I even talked to her alone Bruce, I swear. Don't be mad at her."
Diana stood dumbfounded. Everything happened so fast, was Clark about to kiss her? Was Bruce about to break up with her? She tried to croak some explanation but she seemed to lose her voice. She looked into Bruce's eyes and saw a look of pain she knew would haunt her for years to come.
"Diana, we're done. There was no point to it anyway, I'm an idiot for thinking you'd work for me." Bruce stood in the arch with his hands curled into angry fists.
Tears started to form in Diana's eyes and Clark felt panicked. He'd faced monsters from other planets, but standing between his two best friends in this moment, he felt a sense of fear more real than anything he'd felt before.
He spoke firmly, "Bruce, you are really angry right now. Be careful with what you say. You're—you're hurting her."
"Please, tell me more about how to treat my girlfriend Clark. You know what, finish making out with her, I'm sure that would cheer her up." Bruce spun on his heels and stormed out of the gardens.
Diana was standing like a statue as tears stubbornly dripped from her eyes.
"Di, I'm so sorry. That's why I kept the distance. I'm an idiot. I'll go talk to him, I'll fix this okay?" He moved to wipe her tears, but she pushed his hand away.
"This is my fault; you couldn't have known I was dating him. I should've been wiser. I hurt him. I hurt him Clark. Did you see how he was looking at me?"
Clark had seen the look and it felt like a dagger in his heart. He'd broken Bruce's trust. He knew they were dating, god dammit he knew, but he went to kiss Diana anyway. He struggled with his words, but he knew telling Diana would make her feel worse.
"He's not thinking straight right now. I'll go talk to him in a second and straighten this all out."
"He doesn't work like that. He made up his mind the second he saw us. And now we have to deal with all the questions about where we were the moment New Year's happened." Diana was crying for the first time in years. She felt like a traitor, disgusting, weak.
She sat on the same bench her and Clark were chatting on earlier, and spent her New Years sullenly crying into her hands as Clark sat next to her, tense and drowning in guilt.
"Bruce, we need to talk." Clark came up to Bruce as Alfred made a warm cup of hot cocoa for Diana at Clark's request. All the Leaguers had left leaving the house eerily quiet.
Bruce ignored Clark's plea and walked into the Bat Cave. "I have work to do right now."
Clark followed Bruce, "It wasn't her fault. Don't take this out on her."
"Did you know? Did you know we were dating?" Bruce raised an eyebrow at Clark, and his frown told Clark that Bruce already knew the answer.
"No." he lied, avoiding eye contact.
"That's a lie." Bruce continued, "Don't waste my time if you are going to just lie to me."
There was a long pause and then, "I did." The guilt ridden words hung in the air.
"I was willing to give up all the Bruce Wayne antics with her. I was going at her pace. I think as things went on I realized we wouldn't work. The break up was inevitable. You just sped things along. The fact that she was willing to kiss you shows she felt the same, she didn't feel for me romantically."
"She loves you. I know her well enough to tell you that. And you love her, I know you well enough to tell you that."
Bruce didn't deny his claim, "Love isn't all that goes into making a relationship work. You should know that from Lois."
Clark smarted at the Lois comment and changed topics, "I didn't even kiss her Bruce; it was just a dumb thought. She's torn up over this. Just talk to her."
"What am I supposed to tell her? That I forgive her but I still want the relationship to end? That I selfishly brought her into this knowing it was going to have a nasty end? That I dragged her into this knowing full and well she was crazy about you?"
"If that's how you feel, be honest."
Bruce whistled, "Honesty right, so important. I'm sure you told her you knew I was dating her and still went for the kiss regardless. Right?"
"This isn't about me and her."
"Oh, but it is, it always has been. Did you see the way her eyes lit up when you showed up for the party today? Do you notice all the times she slyly changes scheduling so you are on the same missions with her?"
There was no response from Clark.
Bruce sat down in his chair and started typing away on his computer while speaking, "Tell her you knew about us dating, she deserves to know that. Once you have her trust back, stop wasting it. She's going to keep coming back to you as you push her away until one day she just packs up and leaves. I see that now. "
"As you've hinted at many times, two of the most powerful people dating would be disastrous. It would get out eventually. She'd have another target on her back. The media would ridicule her, tease her, and belittle her. I'm surprised you went for it knowing how much it could hurt her in the long run. Your relationship put her in danger."
Bruce stopped typing and swiveled his chair sharply, rising to look Clark in the face, "You are just shutting yourself into a hole on the basis of one really bad relationship and refuse to grow the hell up. I may be rude for how I treated her out there. I may have been selfish for wanting to try things—you feed me this shit about caring about her, you lead her on, tease her with how much you like her, and then run away. It may be in my nature to be an asshole, but what you are doing, boy scout, is ruthless."
Clark was left speechless, "Just talk to your damn girlfriend man. It's New Year's for god's sake."
"I will." Bruce cooled down and backed away from Clark realizing his words about Lois had crossed a line.
Bruce knew what happened with Lois scared Clark senseless. She'd dated Superman, and when Lex used her against him, she almost died. Clark distanced himself from her and it drove Lois insane. Things got so bad they weren't talking at all. And of course, Superman had to spend the rest of the day as Clark, pretending everything was peachy. When he finally told her they were the same person, everything crashed and burned into some of the most painful months of Clark's life. Bruce watched Clark struggle through that year, and he knew he was unfairly shoving Clark's failed relationship back in his face.
Clark ripped Bruce's door off the wall and threw it across the room as he left.
"Thanks for the advice and kind words." He muttered.
