The Birthday Present
Chapter 12
Sometimes It's Good To Think About Things. Some Things.
Hal lay naked and slumbering on his bed. He hadn't planned on falling asleep. He had just taken a shower, and had sat on the edge of his bed wondering if he really wanted to leave his days of adventurous love behind and truly settle down with Wonder Woman.
He had been going over the pros and cons.
The Pros:
She was, hands down, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And Hal had been all over the universe, so he knew what he was talking about.
His only competition for her was married so he was no longer competition.
Every single man who had ever laid eyes on her wanted a chance with her. This, of course, would make him, "Da Man."
She wanted him.
This thought brought a big smile to his face. That witch was something else! Who would have thought that such an evil being would end up playing match maker?
She was a virgin. Now that was truly an awesome, and exciting thought. It had been several years since he had dated a virgin, and while the ones he had been with were truly attractive, and fun, the ones he had dated didn't tend to stay virgins for very long, and, of course, none of them compared to Diana. He would have lots of fun showing Diana what lovemaking was all about.
She had a really hot costume. Sometimes she got wedgies and didn't notice right away, much to Hal's and many of the other male heroes delight.
She had a golden lasso. He could think of dozens of ways of using her lasso that didn't involve telling the truth.
The Cons:
Diana was stronger than him, a lot stronger than him. If he didn't have his ring fully charged, she could break his back or crush Little Hal. He squirmed at the thought.
He would no longer have his freedom. This meant that when he saw an attractive woman who was obviously interested in him that he would have to walk away. This thought also made him squirm. It hurt almost as bad. What if after he had to walk away some other man showed up and took the woman who had shown interest in him. The thought made him a little bit upset. Just let him try it!
Superman. What if Superman's wife died all of a sudden and he came and took Diana away from him. He could see Superman coming to his house beating him up, and walking away from his house dragging a disturbingly happy Diana by the hair. This thought nearly made him cry. It wasn't fair. Why did he have to be such a bully?! And why did Diana have to be so crazy happy about the whole thing?! He was dragging her by the hair for crying out loud!
Maybe he could just explain to Diana that he couldn't really be pinned down. He could give her all the physical loving she needed whenever she wanted provided she didn't deny him his freedom. Yes. That would probably be best. An honest open relationship based on wild sex, and no commitments. Not some shallow, "Only You" nonsense.
Hal smiled at how well things were shaping up then he was suddenly nervous again. What if she wanted an exclusive relationship? What if she turned out to be petty, jealous, and maybe a little bit violent? What if the compassionate understanding side of her was only a façade?
He shivered as he pictured himself strapped to a chair without his power ring, and Diana screaming at him and throwing dishes at the wall. He wondered where she got her violent streak from.
Perhaps it would be best if he just let her down easy. Tell her that it wouldn't work. Hal didn't mind kinky, but violent and jealous, just weren't his thing.
The knock at the door made him realize he had been sleeping.
Hal leaped up. He couldn't remember who was coming to spend the evening with him. Helena or Beatriz? He was pretty sure it wasn't both. Each was rather kinky, and horny in her own way, but neither seemed to be into threesomes. It was a shame he thought. They didn't know what they were missing.
He flung open the door, and froze. Maxima stood there, lovely as ever, and with a sword in her hand.
Hal's thoughts had ranged from happy inducing to scared to death. At the moment Little Hal was somewhere in between, and the towel was on the bed.
Maxima had a smile on her face. She looked him up and down thoroughly. "It is good to see you again, Hal Jordan. I see that you are once again without your clothes. I was wondering if you would like to spar with me in the combat room. You may come as you are or in your Green Lantern uniform. It does not matter to me."
Hal stared at her for a moment then closed the door quickly and shouted, "I'm coming!"
******Metropolis******
******The Metropolitan******
Ollie sat in the lobby. He'd flown back to Metropolis in his private jet. He was looking at the card that the reporter Lois Lane had given him. He was certain that she would find a mortal hero just as interesting as a seemingly immortal one. And unlike Superman, he could show her a good time both in bed without killing her and take her out on the town.
His mind made up, he made the call.
******Metropolis******
******Clark and Lois's apartment******
Clark lay on his back staring at the ceiling. There was a smile on his face. He felt satisfied. Not sexually, but in general.
Lois was tucked tightly against his left side, one arm draped across his broad muscular torso possessively. She was sound asleep with an exhausted, and happy look on her face.
His wife was happy. She was satisfied. That made him satisfied.
He thought back to the adventure of the day on Themyscira. They had won without any casualties, and now Circe was imprisoned, hopefully for several millennia to come. He remembered J'onn, Bruce's and Zatanna's plan. It had been brilliantly executed. He shuddered at the plans that Circe had concocted for Diana, and her family.
He wondered how anyone could think, and do such cruel things to another living being. He vowed never to let anyone harm Diana. He would die before that happened.
A smile touched his lips as he remembered their many adventures together, both alone and with others of the League. Diana was a friend he would treasure for all time. He blushed a little as he recalled the moments they had earlier near Dooms Doorway, and again behind the throne.
Wrapped in her lasso, she had seemed to be his truth. He had felt that everything else was wrong. He felt embarrassed at his forward behavior, and marveled at her composure and understanding. She had not rejected him with disdain, but reminded him of his commitments. She had shown that she loved him, but at the same time she had shown him, and his loved ones respect, and demanded it as well.
While under the influence of the lasso he had wanted to shout that he had made the biggest mistake of his life when he had walked away like a coward from exploring a chance with Diana. But it was too late now. He had made his choices. He would have to live with them, and respect his best friend and his wife.
Lois's cell phone rang. Clark smiled as Lois turned her naked athletic body away from him, and reached for her phone. She was still half asleep.
He chuckled as she held it upside down for a few seconds in silence before finally answering with a grunt. She suddenly sat up wide awake. Her pert breasts dangling tantalizingly near his face. "Clark! What time is it?"
"Almost seven," he replied.
Lois put her phone back to her ear. "I'm so sorry. I can't make it right now. I may be able to make it either later tonight, or another night this week. I have an important interview right now that I'm going to be late for. Yes. I have your number right here on my phone. I'll call you if things change."
Lois hung up her phone, leaped from the bed, and raced into the bathroom to get ready for the interview with Dr. Williams.
Clark stood up and walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water. He listened with amusement as Lois banged around in the bathroom getting ready.
Finishing his glass of water he went back into the bedroom, and dressed quickly. His six foot six, broad, and thickly muscled frame disappeared beneath his oversized clothes, and his distinctive eyes behind a pair of thick glasses. The rebellious S curl was drowned in his thick bangs that moved down onto his forehead. Flowing effortlessly into his mild mannered disguise, Clark slouched slightly, and changed the tenor of his voice to a slightly higher pitch.
He sat in the living room waiting patiently for Lois. While he waited he carefully scanned the city with his super hearing checking for any crimes, or danger. All seemed quiet. Just as Lois joined him in the living room his JLA communicator went off. It was Steel.
"What is it Steel?" he asked in his normal voice.
"I'm sorry to bother you with this. We have others capable, and willing to handle this but Cyborg Superman just appeared out of nowhere. He's holding a small group of people at at clinic in California hostage, and has threatened to start executing hostages in ten minutes if you don't show up personally," John explained.
"Okay, Steel. I'll go. If J'onn is available I would like him to meet me there," Clark accepted. He looked at Lois apologetically. "Looks like we're going to have to postpone that Dr. Williams interview again."
"You mean, you aren't going to be able to make the interview again. I'm not postponing this time. Go take out Henshaw. I think I can handle a slimy club owner on my own, Clark," Lois said defiantly.
"I know that you know how to take care of yourself, but this is a murder investigation, and I don't want my wife putting herself in danger," Clark insisted.
"I'm going. Not changing my mind," Lois remained steadfast.
Clark looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, "Alright. Be careful. And I'm calling in someone to shadow you."
'You are not!" Lois said indignantly.
Clark pulled her to him, and kissed her shutting her up. "Oh, I am. I'm not taking chances with my wife. I'll see you later."
With that he blurred out the window towards California.
******The More The Merrier******
Dr. Williams gazed down at the bound, and gagged agent Margo. "You know, you really are a lovely woman, and very fit. I want to thank you for answering all of my questions so willingly these past two hours. I was thinking maybe I could mind control you, and keep you here a little longer. I believe you and I would hit it off nicely, but you are a badge. That means trouble. So I'm going to have to get rid of you. Still, I see no reason why we couldn't spend some quality time together first. After all this is a swingers club. Why else would you be here, right?"
Agent Margo's eye's went wide. Her skin crawled at the thought of her captor touching her.
"Yes, I know. I'm excited about it as well, but I'm afraid we're going to have to wait a few more minutes." He was looking at a security monitor on the wall. "I believe an appointment has just arrived. Don't worry. I won't be far, and you'll be asleep." He smiled down at her wickedly as he injected her with a heavy dose of the drug 'Easy'.
Within seconds, agent Jones lay flaccidly on the bed. Her eyes were glazed over. Dr. Williams hit a button that slid a panel on the wall back, and stepped from his hidden room into his office then down the stairs to greet the Daily Planet reporter.