So excited about this chapter! I love how it turned out. Hope you all enjoy too! :)
Chapter 13
Wayne Manor; September 29th, 06:37 EST
He ran his fingers through her silky hair, wrapping the raven strands around them and gripping it tightly as his mouth descended on hers. He kissed her greedily…hungrily, unable to get enough of her in that moment. The more he tasted her, the more he wanted her.
Diana moaned as she returned his kiss with equal passion, her tongue and lips demanding and receiving even more of him. His hands roamed over her with a possessiveness that seemed to set her on fire, her fingers grasping his hair and holding him where she wanted him.
Bruce was completely lost to her as he pinned her to the wall, his hands gripping and squeezing her thighs before lifting them to wrap around his waist. He laced his fingers with hers, pinning their joined hands above her head against the wall as he ground his hips against hers.
"Diana…" he moaned her name as he left her lips to blaze a hot, wet trail along her jaw and neck.
He had never wanted someone as badly as he wanted her and now it was finally happening. After two and half years of wanting and denying both of them, they were finally surrendering to the passion that had been lit inside of them almost from the very beginning.
His breathing was ragged, almost frantic with the feverish desire that was pounding through his veins. "I love you," he murmured over and over again between nipping kisses along her throat. "I've loved you…for so long."
"Bruce…I love you," she gasped his name, grinding her hips against him. "Please…I need you…I want to feel you inside of me…"
Releasing his hold on her hands, he carried her to his bed, laying her down beneath him. He began removing his clothes, more than a little desperate to consummate what had been building and growing between them for far too long.
Pausing to pull his shirt over his head, he looked down at Diana to find her staring lifelessly up at him. "Diana?" he panted her name in near panic, his hands moving to cradle her face. "Diana!"
Pulling his hands back, he looked down to find them covered in blood…her blood. "No!" he screamed as he began looking for injuries.
Bright red blood bloomed over the front of her shirt, causing panic to race through him. He quickly ripped her shirt open, horrified at the gaping wounds in her chest and abdomen. No one could ever survive such severe injuries, not even with her enhanced healing abilities.
He grabbed his t-shirt and pressed it to her wounds in a futile effort to stem the flow of blood, but it did no good. "Bruce?" she whispered, her voice hoarse…weak. "I love you…never forget…I love you more than anything in this world."
"No! Diana…stay with me…please," he begged her, tears streaming down his face. "Don't leave me…don't ever leave me…please…I love you, Princess. I'm so sorry I never told you before now."
"I'll be waiting for you…in Elysium…" she whispered as she caressed his cheek with bloody fingers, a sad smile on her face as she stared up at him.
"No!" Bruce screamed, lunging up out of his bed.
His chest was heaving, his body trembling uncontrollably as he frantically looked around his bedroom for her. Sweat trickled down his chest and back as he struggled to catch his breath. He rubbed his face with his hands to find it wet, licking his dry lips to find them salty with tears that he had no idea that he'd shed.
He gulped in deep breaths in an attempt to regain some semblance of control over his trembling body, reminding himself that it was only a nightmare. Unfortunately, it had been all too real and he knew that it was inevitable if he didn't find a way to avert it.
He leaned forward, holding his pounding head in his hands. His heart continued to hammer wildly in his chest, indecision fogging his mind and making it difficult to think straight. Not changing the course of events between them would lead to her death, but letting her into his life would put her in serious danger as well. Neither outcome was acceptable, but he was going to have to make a decision and soon.
He couldn't continue to live like this, never knowing when the moment was going to come when her life would be lost to him forever. He couldn't stop the shudder that rolled through him with the thought. He couldn't lose her. He needed her in his life like he needed his next breath. Anything short of that was unacceptable.
Bruce flopped back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to clear his weary mind. He hadn't slept well at all since coming back from the future, his sleep restless and his dreams fraught with visions of Diana's death. He had no idea how it was going to happen, only that it was coming and soon.
Nausea churned in the pit of his stomach, forcing him to roll over onto his side before he wretched. He stared at the other side of the bed, drinking in the loneliness that the empty space beside him created deep within him. She could be here with him right now if he didn't have so many issues, if he wasn't who he was.
He reached out to touch the soft sheets, finding them cool to the touch. He ran the tips of his fingers over the expensive material, imagining her here with him. His hand came to rest on the pillow that would be hers. He pulled it to towards him, clutching it in his arms as he buried his face in it.
A strangled sob caught in his throat as his anguish finally overwhelmed him. Memories of the kiss they'd shared last night taunted him with what he so desperately wanted, but didn't believe he could ever have with her. It was tearing him up inside, always wanting but never having…seeing but never able to touch. He had a feeling he wasn't going to be able to fight it much longer, but he'd never give up fighting to save her and keep her safe.
Clutching the pillow firmly in his arms, he soon began to fall into another restless sleep, one that involved his princess. Only this time, he swore he'd save her.
Watchtower; September 29th, 15:01 EST
Batman swept into the founders' conference room with a dark scowl on his face. He'd gotten little sleep last night, nightmares about Diana continuing to haunt him and invade his sleep. He had to find a resolution to all of this and soon before he lost his mind.
"So, now that Batman is here, we'll get the meeting started," Superman announced, glancing at the Dark Knight before looking back at his notes.
Batman ignored everyone's glances as he took his seat beside the Amazon princess, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, especially her. Last night had been a living hell that he had no desire to relive ever again. Being here in this room with her…sitting right beside her…it only made his emotions that much rawer and more difficult to control.
A migraine had settled behind his eyes, making it next to impossible to concentrate on anything for any period of time. He could sense Diana peering at him out of the corner of her eye, trying not to be obvious with her concern for him.
He released a weary sigh, feeling horrible about allowing himself to get carried away with that kiss last night. He was going to have to do some damage control now, put up some boundaries with her so that it didn't happen again. He couldn't afford it right now and neither could she.
He knew that he should tell her about what he'd learned from the future so she would be safe, but he also knew it wouldn't work. It wouldn't deter her in the least from throwing herself into deadly situations or keep her from risking her life to save another. She was too stubborn and sacrificial for her own good.
He gritted his teeth as anger coursed through his veins, his fingers firmly gripping the armrests of his chair. Why did she have to leave the safety of her island in the first place? Why couldn't she have just stayed on Themyscira with her sisters and mother where she belonged?
His heart plummeted into his boots with the thought. Then he never would've met her or fallen so hard for her…never would've known there was a woman of such perfection and light and beauty out there in the world that could steal his heavily guarded heart. He'd never have met his own personal beacon of hope.
"What do you think, Batman?"
Superman calling his name forced him back to the reality of where he was at and what he was doing. "I can't do any upgrades on the long-distance sensors until Diana and I track down this thief."
"Understood," Superman agreed with a nod. "Are there any updates about this mysterious thief that we need to be appraised of?"
Diana opened her mouth to speak only for Batman to speak for her. "No, not at this time," Batman icily stated. "We'll let you know if anything of significance develops."
Diana turned a heated glare at the Dark Knight which he completely ignored, his focus solely on Superman. She could tell that something had clearly set him off, but she could only guess at what it was. She hoped that it wasn't the kiss that they had shared last night.
It would be just like him to completely shut down after any intimacy or a perceived threat to his mission. She wasn't going to push him about it right now, giving him some time to work through it. She also needed some time to think.
She had tried to bury her attraction to him after their run-in with Circe and it had only grown over time, forcing her to face it now. She knew that she loved him, but she wasn't certain that pursing it was the right decision. Bruce could be difficult to handle on a good day. She didn't know if she could handle him pushing her away again if they did become involved.
"…and I'll make sure Batman and Diana's schedules are cleared for the next couple of weeks to give you two more time to find this thief," Superman concluded. "Do you think you'll need more time than that?"
"No, that should be sufficient," Batman responded with a clipped tone.
"If there's nothing else…" Clark said, Batman up and out of his seat before he could finish his sentence.
Diana quickly followed him, wanting to at least make sure he was all right. Something was obviously very wrong. "Batman," she called as she hurried down the hall after him.
Batman barely slowed his pace, giving her an almost imperceptible glance over his shoulder. His heart began to beat a little harder as she caught up to him. A quiver of fear trembled through him as she fell in step beside him. His nightmare from last night and all its accompanying emotions threatened to overwhelm him—the fierce desire, the passionate rush of finally acknowledged longing, the sheer terror…the utter sense of despair and anguish that had crushed his heart as he had held her lifeless body in his arms.
He couldn't go through that. The nightmare had been devastating enough without having to experience the reality. He wouldn't survive it…not with her. Not Diana.
"Are you all right?" she asked, her concern growing with every step she took. It was quite obvious that he was grappling with something profound and distressing.
"I'm fine," he stated, his jaw clenched as he stormed through the Watchtower like a swirling cyclone.
Diana's fingers wrapped around his forearm like a steel band, forcing him to a stop. "Something is obviously very wrong," she said in a low voice, knowing he wouldn't appreciate having his business broadcasted all over the Watchtower. "What happened after I left this morning?"
"Nothing," he snapped, refusing to make eye contact with her.
"If something is wrong, I want to help," she gently told him, allowing the worry that she felt inside to permeate her eyes.
Finally meeting her concerned gaze, he felt another fissure erupt in his walls, spreading and expanding like a spider web. His chest constricted as he squelched the desire he felt to wrap his arms around her and hold her close to him. "It's just something that I need to deal with myself."
Diana studied him for a long moment, her mind racing to find some way to help him, but she needed to know what was wrong first. "Does this have anything to do with what you learned in the future?"
Bruce looked away from her, the very air being sucked from his lungs with the memory her words resurrected. He swallowed hard, but the lump that filled his throat refused to budge. "Nothing happened that you need to know about," he lied.
"I know something happened," she stubbornly replied, refusing to back down. "You have not been yourself since you returned from the future. I know you had a conversation with your older self that didn't go well, something that has affected you deeply."
His entire body grew rigid with anger, realizing she had to have talked to John. His head snapped back to glare darkly at her. "That is none of your business, Princess," he furiously ground out.
"I only want to help you, Bruce," she softly said, hoping to ease his anger. "I can't bear to see you hurting so much. Why can't you just let me in?"
He drew a deep breath to calm himself, releasing it slowly through his nose. "I appreciate that, Diana, but it's something that I must deal with alone. Please…just let me handle it myself."
Her hands found her hips as she considered his plea. It wasn't often he said please. "Fine…for now," she relented with a sigh. "What are we going to do about our thief?"
"Meet me at the cave at seven," he told her, relaxing minutely. "We need to plan out your secret identity."
"Secret identity?"
"We're going to Cambridge, England," he revealed as John Stewart walked by at that moment.
Green Lantern could feel the fiery heat of the infamous Batglare being directed his way. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle in warning. Bruce knew that he had talked to Diana and he was a dead man for all intents and purposes. His days were most certainly numbered.
He gently tugged at the collar of his uniform, deciding it had gotten much hotter in the Watchtower. Maybe it would be a good idea for him to lay low for a few days, maybe a month or more until Bruce had cooled down some. That would be the wisest thing to do. He'd always heard that Jamaica was nice this time of year.
John straightened his shoulders with a definite frown. He had nothing to be afraid of. He hadn't done anything wrong. He had only had breakfast with a good friend, discussing a mission that they had both taken part in. It wasn't like he had told her something inappropriate. He didn't even know what the two Bruce's had discussed in the first place. As far as he was concerned, he had done absolutely nothing wrong and if Bruce didn't like it then that was his problem.
Feeling a little more at ease with things, John was completely stunned when he turned a corner to find Batman standing directly in his path. His arms were folded against his chest and a sneer on his lips. He gulped. Bruce growled. He was a dead man.
How in the name of Oa did Bruce get ahead of him so fast?
"Batman," John managed to utter the moniker even though it wasn't quite as deep as he had anticipated. He cleared his throat before continuing, finding his voice again. "What can I do for you?"
"Follow me…now," he deeply growled as he turned on his heel and disappeared into an empty conference room.
John steeled himself as he followed him inside, wondering if this morning was the last time he was going to see Mari in a very long time. At least she'd made it a morning that he could treasure in his memories for quite some time while he recuperated in the infirmary for the next six maybe seven months.
"What did you say to Diana?" Batman rasped something dark and dangerous and completely pissed.
"What do you mean?" John asked, folding his arms against his chest, trying his best to appear as fearless as possible.
"I know you and Diana talked about our mission to the future," he gruffly stated. "I want to know every single word that was said from the very beginning and leave nothing out."
John knew he wasn't getting out of this situation short of an alien attack so he might as well start talking and hopefully save himself some pain in the end. "Diana has been worried about you ever since we returned from that mission," he began, leaning against the edge of the conference table as he spoke. "She wanted to know what happened after she disappeared in hopes of figuring out why you've been missing from the League for the last two months now."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her about Warhawk, meeting future Bruce and the new Batman," he replied. "I told her that you and your older self had a private conversation, but that I didn't know what it was about. If she wanted to know anything more, she was going to have to talk to you about it."
"Then what happened?"
John's lips thinned into a grim line, their conversation about Shayera rising to the surface of his mind. "We talked about me and Shayera," he reluctantly informed him, his tone somber and filled with remorse. "She told me to leave my heart open to the possibility of reconciling with Shayera…to not be so against it because of what we discovered in the future."
Bruce sensed his friend's heartache, knowing how much John loved Shayera even now even after everything they'd been through. "She's right you know," he responded, a measure of his anger gone from his voice.
John snorted in response, a weak smile forming on his face. "She usually is," he agreed. "Diana can be very persuasive whether you like it or not."
It was Bruce's turn to grunt his agreement. "You're telling me," he said, folding his arms against his chest.
"Bruce, you really should talk to her," John encouraged him, relaxing some. "She cares deeply for you and I already know how you feel about her. You need to let her in. You two could really have something pretty incredible together."
Bruce looked away from his friend, the muscles of his jaw tensing and relaxing. "It's not that easy and you know it, John," he murmured, memories of the nightmare seared indelibly into his mind. "You don't understand."
"No, it isn't easy," John decided. "Love is hard…it's messy and full of risks and hurts. It doesn't come with any guarantees of a happily-ever-after. I know that better than anyone, Bruce, but the time spent with the woman you love makes it so worth it."
Bruce stared at him in stunned disbelief. "You can say that even after everything that you went through with Shayera?"
A small smile curled the corners of the Marine's lips. "Even knowing what I know now, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I wouldn't trade any of the time I shared with Shayera despite the pain her leaving caused me."
Batman couldn't help thinking about his own situation with Diana that he'd been grappling with for so long now. Deep down, he knew that John was right about all of it, but he just couldn't wrap his mind around it. The fears and "what-ifs" still clung to him like a straightjacket that he couldn't begin to escape no matter how hard he tried.
"I need to return to Gotham," Batman abruptly announced, straightening up and squaring his shoulders. He didn't have time for this.
"Bruce, just don't wait too long to do something about it," John encouraged him. "Even with all her gifts, I doubt even Diana has enough patience to wait around for you forever. One day you're going to turn around and she's going to be gone."
John left Batman standing there all alone, Bruce trying to regain the breath that his words had just stolen away. There was no way that John could've known about what he had learned from his elder self. It had been discussed in private and he hadn't told anyone about it. Not even Alfred knew about what he'd learned.
His knees felt weak, forcing him to sit down in a nearby chair. He couldn't stop thinking about that kiss they'd shared in the cave last night. The rush of passion and desire that it had created in him warred with the horror of the nightmare of losing her. It caused a wave of nausea to rise in his throat.
He was in a no-win situation with no way out.
London, England; September 29th, 18:30 EST
He entered through the front door of his home, pushing it closed without a second look. He dropped his bags in the foyer as his eye caught the pile of mail lying on the foyer table awaiting his arrival home. He took his time flipping through the countless envelopes—bills, invitations, requests for donations. Nothing of great importance, nothing personal.
He didn't know why he had thought there would be anything there of a special nature. It wasn't like he had very many close friends, no one that really cared if he existed. He'd made sure of that over the years, practically sequestering himself away in his home ever since that dreadful night.
With a sigh, he tossed the mail down, knowing it would eventually show up in his office to officially review. Turning his attention back to his bags, he picked them up before making his way to the steps that would lead him upstairs to his room. He was anxious to get unpacked, showered, and changed so he could sort through all of the treasures he'd obtained during his time in the States.
Entering his bedroom, he found it just as spotless and neat as he had left it. Walking to his bed, his thoughts turned to Hannah as he began to unpack. He couldn't help wondering if she was all right. He hated leaving her like he had, but it had been more than necessary. He couldn't form any emotional attachments to anyone and he had felt one beginning to form with her in the short time they had spent together.
As hard as it had been, it had been critical if he was going to continue his mission. He couldn't allow any distractions to get in his way. Besides, he had learned long ago that emotional attachments only brought about pain in the end…more pain that he would never recover from.
He began removing his clothes and toiletries from his bags, doing his best to push thoughts of Hannah to the back of his mind where all of the other women he'd had flings with were sent to linger and attempt to gnaw at his subconscious. He'd learned long ago how to steel himself against such unwanted emotions, how to bury them so deep no one could possibly reach them…not even him. This time, however, he had a feeling it was going to take a little longer.
Walking into his bathroom, he began to put his toiletries away, his attention caught by the man looking back at him in the mirror. He paused to gaze at the image staring back at him. He couldn't help but notice the fatigue that had settled into the fine lines at the corner of his eyes. This lifestyle that he led was beginning to wear on him, but he couldn't give it up.
He had so much more work to do. He couldn't let them down. He had sworn on that day so long ago that he would never forget them, would never give up trying to make it up to them that he was alive and they were gone forever.
He missed them so much it was almost suffocating sometimes. He could hardly catch his breath whenever they managed to intrude on his thoughts without warning. He knew he needed to spend time on his meditation exercises and training. He'd let it slip while he'd been in America. It was time to get his head back on straight so he could continue to give them everything they deserved.
"Do not let the tendrils of the past creep into your present or it will wrap around your future and strangle you," Aadarsh told him.
Releasing a deep breath, he forced himself to leave the bathroom, knowing he needed to put his most recent prizes in place. A smile caused his lips to curl as he made his way downstairs. Ava was going to love his newest gifts that he had brought her. He couldn't wait to show her.
As he made his way through the manor, he couldn't ignore the divine smells coming from the kitchen. His stomach rumbled in response, reminding him that he had barely eaten all day. He found he didn't have much of an appetite when he was working, but now that he was home he could indulge in a good meal.
Entering the kitchen, he smiled to himself at the sight that greeted him. "I had a feeling I'd find you in here," he announced his presence.
She turned around with a disapproving frown, but the affectionate glint in her green eyes was unmistakable. "Well, look what the cat dragged in," she responded. "It's about time ye decided to come home."
He smiled affectionately as he made his way to the counter, sitting down in a barstool. "You knew I was going to be a couple of days later than I had planned."
"What was her name this time?"
"What makes you think it was a woman?" he asked with a scowl as he reached for the plate of scones sitting on the counter waiting for him. His shoulders slumped slightly as she gave him a withering glare. "Her name was Hannah."
"Ye up and left her in the middle of the night too…didn't ye?" she demanded to know as she loaded a plate full of food, placing it before him. "Did you leave her trolleyed too?"
"No, I didn't get her drunk," he told her, offended by her insinuation. "I would never do that to a woman. I may have my issues and my fair share of sins, but I have always treated women with great respect."
"Ye still left her without a word in the middle of the night to wake all alone in the morning," she muttered with a disapproving frown.
"Annaliesa," he muttered with a groan. "Can we please talk about something else?"
"What ye want to talk about then?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Did ye get what ye was looking for?"
He released a sigh as he stared at his plate of food. He knew Annaliesa didn't agree with what he had chosen to do with his life, but at least he hadn't managed to drive her away over the years. She was all that he had left and both of them knew it. It's what probably kept her here with him.
"I did," he finally replied, taking his fork and digging in.
"Have ye taken them to her yet?" Annaliesa inquired, her tone softening as she sat down at the counter across from him.
He shook his head no as he slowly chewed his food, a sense of warmth drifting over him. Her cooking always did that to him, creating a sense of comfort and peace that had been missing for so very long. No matter where his missions took him, she always drew him back home.
"I will," he told her before taking another bite, refusing to make eye contact with her. He could feel her disapproval and worry from here.
A weathered hand silently slipped into his line of sight, moving to cover his resting on the counter beside his plate. Her fingers curled around his, squeezing it gently. "I wish ye would consider stopping this madness. Ye are going to get caught one of these times and ye ain't getting out of it."
He considered her words for a long moment, knowing deep down that she was right, but he couldn't stop. He would do whatever it took to continue what he knew had to do for her. For Ava, he would do absolutely anything.
"You know I can't, Annaliesa," he told her. "I have to do this for her…for them."
"I know, love," she replied, patting his hand before pulling it back. "Finish up so ye can go see her."
He continued to eat in silence as Annaliesa bustled about the kitchen, humming a tune as his thoughts drifted to his next mission. His sights were now set on the Leo Vanover estate and the upcoming auction. There were so many items that were going to be on display, various relics and priceless jewels that he would love to get his hands on.
Finishing up, he grabbed his black bag, making his way over to Annaliesa and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks…for everything," he murmured before turning and leaving.
Annaliesa smiled as she watched him leave, releasing a worried breath as she turned her attention back to the dishes. "Laddie's going to get himself into a boat load of barney," she sadly muttered to herself.
He made his way down the hall to what used to be the ballroom back in the day when his parents were still alive and held grand parties here. He swore at times he could still here the music and laughter that had filled the halls of the ancient manor when he was a young boy. He missed those days so much.
Opening the double doors to the ballroom, he was immediately met with the nauseating smell of antiseptic, the perpetual beeping of monitors. He swallowed back the emotions that had lodged in his throat at the sight that greeted him.
He slowly made his way through the enormous room, the heels of his shoes softly clicking against the marble floor and echoing all around him. His gaze fell on the form in the hospital bed. She looked so frail, so broken. He didn't know why he thought things would've changed over the days since he'd been gone.
He came to stand beside her bed, reaching out to gently touch her cheek. Despite being twins, there was absolutely nothing similar about them now. "I'm home, Ava," he told her, knowing that he would never get a response from her. She hadn't responded to him in twenty-five years.
He gently brushed a honeyed lock of hair from her forehead, wishing that she would look at him just once, but all she did was stare. He didn't know if she ever heard him when he spoke to her or if she understood, but he would never give up trying.
He set his bag down on the edge of her bed, pulling out the sapphire necklace that had stolen from the wealthy Gotham socialite. He held it up for his sister to see. "Look what I brought you, Ava," he said.
The sapphire necklace dangled from his fingertips for a moment before holding up his other prize. He pulled out the necklace he'd stolen from Chicago, the large sapphire sparkling in the artificial light of the ballroom. It was the largest sapphire that he had been able to steal up to now, by far the most expensive.
He sat down beside her bed for several moments, holding her hand and telling her all about his travels to the United States. He left out meeting Hannah and the passionate nights they had shared. He found he missed her greatly.
Shoving those emotions aside, he finally released her hand. "I'll be back to check on you later," he told her, leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.
Leaving the makeshift hospital ward, he made his way to his private office, closing the door behind him. Taking his bag of treasures, he approached the portrait of his family that sat above the fireplace. He gazed up at the picture of his parents with him and his twin sister Ava. It had been taken a few months before that fateful night that changed everything forever, changing two eleven year old children's lives completely upside down.
He pulled out the large diamond he'd stolen in New York City, setting it out among some of the other things that he'd stolen over the years before pulling out the Egyptian armbands. He ran his fingers over the metal and jewels, holding it up for his mother to see.
"See what I acquired for you, mother?" he said. "I know how much you loved Egyptian artifacts."
He stared up at the portrait for several moments before going over to the bar to pour himself a drink, knowing he'd never hear the sound of his mother's voice again…never hear his father's boisterous laughter. He settled into a chair before the fireplace as he savored his drink, his gaze locked on his family…forever torn apart by a drunk behind the wheel of his car.
A/N: So more has come out about our elusive thief. Still more to come though for both our thief and our favorite couple so stay tuned friends! Bruce creates a secret identity for Diana in the next chapter.
Also, forgive me for the lack of response to reviews. I think you might be happy to know I've been working on a Suspicious Minds update instead of responding to reviews. Keep them coming! They keep me writing. :)