My beloved Clark,
The world is a mess… always has been and always will be. Without order, it would be nothing but chaos… but that's life right? As a princess, since I was a child, I was taught that betrayal and loss can come easily into your life without you knowing. And that is why I spent my whole life preparing for them: I trained both my mind and body to become a leader and a symbol to my people. That was how I lived… preparing myself for the worst.
And then I met you… You showed me the beauty of the world, a beauty I never knew; and it was then that my world expanded. It was thanks to you that both my mind and heart felt lighter. It was thanks to you that I was no longer afraid. The only times I became petrified was the thought of losing you… and now here we are…
Am I losing you?
"Diana!"
Wonder Woman opened her eyes only to be blinded by the bright light that shone down on her. She panicked for a while as she looked around her to see where she was. It was an empty room computers and medical equipment around it. Beside her was a massive window where the magnificent sight of Earth was visible from. It took her a while to finally realize that she was in the Watchtower; and in front of her was a figure she was familiar with. He took off his mask; his usual scowl was gone, only to be replaced with a look of concern.
"Bruce!" she tried to regain her breath from panicking, "what are we doing here? Aren't we fighting Doomsday? What happen-"
Finally, she remembered; she remembered that awful memory that stuck to her mind even in her dream…
"Clark!" she immediately sat up. There was a striking pain on all of her wounds, "Where is he?!"
"He's fine" Bruce gently pushed her back down on the bed.
Diana shrugged his hand away from her shoulder, "How is he? Is he…."
"No he's not dead"
A wave of relief came upon her as she realized that her husband wasn't gone from her. She felt her shoulders loosened.
"I want to see him" she demanded
"Bruce shook his head, "You can't. He's under heavy sedation… his wounds were too much"
"I want to SEE HIM!"
Diana was furious. Apart from the pain that came with her wounds, her nervousness and worry for her husband was getting the better of her. She was growing impatient.
"DIANA!" Bruce shouted, "I know you're worried about him but the best thing for him right now is to be left alone. You are his wife; you of all people should understand this!"
"Exactly Bruce, I am his wife! And it's my responsibility to worry about him!" Diana argued, "And I will not be able to shake this uneasy feeling unless I see him!" she took his hands, "please Bruce!"
Bruce sighed. Diana was finally begging him; she didn't know whether Bruce understood her and her pain. She could feel her hands trembling as she waited for his reply and saw that Bruce noticed them as well when he looked at them and back at her.
"Fine," he nodded, his face still serious, "I'll take you to him"
"Thank you" Diana gently smiled as she let Bruce's hands go
"But before that," Bruce began, "do you remember what happened? Before you passed out?"
"What do you mean?" Diana furrowed her eyebrows at him, "I assumed we've defeated Doomsday and found Lex but what else is there to remember?"
"…"
Bruce stared at her for a while as Diana grew suspicious of his sudden question. There was a moment of silence between them until-
"Never mind" he shook his head, "Come. I'll take you to your husband"
Diana reluctantly took his hands and was slowly guided by Bruce out of the medical room. She wondered what it was that Bruce was trying to tell her but her worry for her husband, added by the striking pain on her head; forced her to push the thought deep in her mind for a while.
Diana's arm was held over Bruce's shoulder as they arrived in the room where Superman was being held. Diana held her breath as she saw her husband, lying unconscious; his body was filled with cuts and bruises and bandaged wounds while his face was almost disheveled. There was a bright light that shone on top of him- sunlight. And it was because of this sunlight that she could his body was slowly healing.
She limped hurriedly towards him and as soon as she arrived by his side, she fell on her knees next to him. She took his strong hand and held onto it tightly with both her hands. Tears began streaming down her cheeks as she saw just how beaten her husband was.
"Kal," she cried silently, "Kal can you hear me?"
There was no answer. All she could hear was his heavy breathing. She kissed his hand, "Kal please wake up… even just one small movement from you is enough. Just tell me you're still with me"
There was no movement. She began crying as she leaned her forehead on his hand, "I don't want to lose you Kal… stay with me"
Suddenly, she felt a hand touched her shoulder. She didn't turn as she already knew whose hand it was.
"He's okay Diana," Bruce told her, "just give him time and he's completely healed… He is Superman after all"
Diana didn't reply but continued to cry.
"I will leave you alone"
And with that, Bruce left the room.
It was the first time Diana had ever been so scared her entire life. At that moment in Metropolis, she thought her husband was gone; her mind went completely blank as she stared at his bloodied face and body. She blamed herself; she didn't know what to do if she ever lost him. Diana realized that she became too dependent on him but she also knew that the reason was that he had become a part of her- a part of her that she can never let go.
She brushed strands of his hair from his face, "Kal," she whispered, "You told me that you would never leave me; that you'll stay by my side forever. I want you to hold up to that promise… especially now. You vowed to protect me and our child; but that vow eventually led you to this… and I'm sorry…" her throat dried up, "I'm sorry for being too reckless"
Diana felt her body weakened; her eyes were blurry and as she continued to brush her husband's hair, her eyes slowly closed.
Diana's eyes strained as she slowly opened them. She could feel a light and gentle touch of hand on her head as it continued to brush her hair. Immediately, she opened her eyes and looked up. The heavy weight on her heart was lifted as she saw his bright and smiling face.
"Kal!"
Clark was sitting up on his bed and was staring at her. She jumped on his arms but after she heard him groaned, she pulled herself away.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, "Are you okay? Are you in pain? Are your injur-"
Clark put his index finger over her lips, "I'm fine, "he smiled, "and it seems you are as well. Everything is okay now"
Diana felt the tears coming back and to hide it from him, she hugged him, "I'm so glad… I thought I lost you"
Clark brushed her hair with his fingers, "I told you didn't I? I will be there for you and for our child"
Diana pulled herself away and passionately kissed him. Clark returned her kiss by putting his arms around her waist and tightly hugging her as they continued to kiss. Soon after, Diana placed the side of her head on his bare chest.
"Kal forgive me," she told him, "if it wasn't for my carelessness, this wouldn't have happened"
"What are you talking about Diana? I made the decision to attack the clone and protect you"
"Yes but if I wasn't being so careless, I would've been able to defeat him immediately"
"Diana we both agreed that none of us can do everything, "Clark lifted her face by the chin so that she was looking into his eyes, "that's why we're not alone; that's why the Justice League exists and that's why I will always be by your side. To help you in everything…. Because I love you"
"That's what I'm afraid of Kal," she took his hand, "that you take my safety as a priority over yours"
"Diana there's no meaning in me living anymore if you're gone… what will I do?"
"Stay" she kissed him, "It doesn't need to happen unless you stay. I love you too much for me to see you suffer"
"Then I will stay," he kissed her hand, "as long you're there with me as well"
When Diana was told to go back to her medical room, she hesitated. She didn't agree until Clark assured her that he would be okay and that she should go back and rest.
During the whole time Diana stayed with him, he had to lie to her. He consistently told her that he didn't feel anymore pain when in actual fact, his whole body felt like it was about to break. Even the strong energy of the sun wasn't enough to immediately heal all of his wounds. Clark had never felt that much pain in his body before… it was an unnatural feeling for him.
Clark was left alone with his thoughts after Diana left. He couldn't remember everything that had transpired during the battle. Everything was all blurry to him; everything happened so fast he couldn't comprehend them. And after he lost consciousness, everything became dark. It then made him think… what was the current situation outside the Justice League?
Soon enough, somebody entered his room; and when Clark recognized him, he was sure that he would get all the answers that was lingering in his mind.
"Bruce" he sat up
"Stay down," Bruce told him, "your body still needs to be healed"
"What happened Bruce?" Clark glared at him, "tell me everything"
Bruce sighed as he remained standing beside Clark's bed. The expression in his face completely changed into a more serious look than before.
"Luthor has been apprehended," Bruce began, "the clones were all destroyed, including the ones in his secret laboratory; Metropolis is still recovering from the attack from Doomsday; Doomsday's body is under close observation as well. We decided we should leave him to you since Kryptonians are your area of expertise"
"What about the rest of the Justice League?"
"They're all recovering as well," Bruce explained, "but as soon as they got their energy back, they have been patrolling Earth and the galaxy: Arthur has come back to Atlantis to fix the problems that had happened there; J'onn and Hal are flying around the galaxy; Barry and the other Leaguers are helping with the reconstruction of Metropolis while Cyborg is in a STAR Labs to check for overlooked missiles"
"What about Arkham Asylum?"
"Batgirl, Robin and Nightwing are looking after it for now" Bruce told him , "Clark a lot has happened during your capture but there is something I must tell you"
"What is it?"
Bruce's voice was deep and serious, "There is a reason why everyone is not as badly injured as you and Diana. And it's because we weren't in a full on fight with the clones or Doomsday like you and Diana was"
"Then how were you able to destroy the clone?" Cark sat upright, "I didn't think I destroyed it when I passed out"
"We didn't" Bruce glared at him, "Diana did… all by herself"
"Diana?"
"In fact, it was also her that finished everything"
"What are you talking about?" Clark furrowed his eyebrows
"When you lost consciousness," Bruce began, "so did Diana"
"What do you mean? She fainted?"
"No" Bruce shook his head, "I mean mentally"
"Mentally?"
"She lost herself Clark," Bruce explained, "when she saw that you lost consciousness, she was sure that you died. Her mind and body was filled with nothing but rage and vengeance that she took it out on the things that she blamed for your presumed death"
"…."
"She went after your clone…" Bruce took a deep breath, "and destroyed it… completely… almost without trace but she didn't stop there… she went to Lex's laboratory and destroyed everything there as well… all of the clones were attacked"
"….the clones…"
"That's not what you should worry about though," Bruce stopped him, "after the clones, she went back to look for Lex and found him in an airship that was hovering over us during the battle" Bruce glared at Clark, "without hesitation, she took down the airship and…Lex… she beat him up…"
"What?!"
"She almost killed him Clark!" Bruce kept his face straight but Clark could hear the disbelief in Bruce's voice, "because she thought you were dead. She blamed him and she wanted revenge"
"I know Diana has a difference in opinion about how we should handle our enemies but I didn't think-"Clark looked up and furrowed his eyebrows as he shook his head, "No… it wasn't Diana… you're mistaken"
"We had to sedate her to stop her from killing Lex, Clark"
Clark took a deep breath. He couldn't believe that Diana would do such a thing. Throughout their relationship, they both have noticed their difference in opinion. Clark told her that killing others won't result to anything better and even though it took a while, he managed to convince her.
"It can't be…"
"Which is why I need to talk to you, Clark"
Clark looked and stared into Bruce's glaring eyes.
"I admit that throughout my years with the League, I have been keeping profiles of all of you" Bruce began, "finding out your weaknesses so that if a time comes when we need to stop each other; we could without hurting the whole world"
"….."
"I have… things… that I can use against each of you- specific weaknesses- except for one… Diana" Bruce continued, "Diana is a very capable woman who can adjust to things and environments immediately; which is why it is harder to find something to stop her with. The sedation we used against her was only for a temporary time"
"Are you asking me for her weaknesses?"
"No. I'm telling you her weakness"
"Then what do you think it is?"
"You"
"Me?"
"You are the only one strong enough to stop her; none of us will be able to compete against Diana unless we have something in our hands"
"But you do know that I can't hurt her Bruce"
"I'm not asking you to because that's not the only reason why you're her weakness"
"What do you mean?"
"I may not know as much as you do about her but I do know this Clark, Diana is happy whenever she's with you. If someone were to take that happiness away from her... she will be capable of doing anything. Especially now that you're the father of her child"
"Child? You knew about this? Did Diana tell you-"
"No she didn't" Bruce shook his head, "I noticed it"
"You noticed it?" Clark raised an eyebrow
"They don't call me a 'detective' for nothing Clark"
"I guess…"
"But besides the point," Bruce began again, "you need to be careful. I know the feeling of burying yourself into your work and responsibilities; which are something Diana had to live by all her life. And I know that the piece of light in that kind of life… is rare to find. And I don't think Diana would allow for it to be lost from her"
Clark's head was down as he took in everything Bruce had told him.
"I know you love Diana" Bruce straightened himself and put a hand on Clark's shoulder, "but you always have to remember that she loves you as well. If you're willing to go lengths for her, then she's the same," he patted him on his shoulder and turned around to leave, "perhaps she's even willing to go further"
Clark kept his head down even as Bruce left the room.
"Get well Clark," Bruce told him, "the world and your family needs its Superman"
I finally managed to post this chapter! YES! I'm almost finished with "In the safety of their hearts" arc and will soon move on to another chapter of our favorite DC couple's married life :) I also want to stay thank you for my loyal readers who continued to follow with this storyline even if it took forever for updates :) I appreciate them very much
I hoped you like this chapter and please please leave a review :) Thank you
Next Up: The mystery about Diana's pregnancy is finally revealed!
Stay tuned! :D