chapter 20
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Batman and Shayera easily found the coordinates that Superman gave them. They loaded J'onn into the Javelin and took off, searching for Superman. Batman spotted their battle first and took over the controls, landing the Javelin on an adjacent building.
On his way out, he pointed to Lex's crumpled body and ordered Shayera," Take that man and J'onn back up to the Watchtower."
"What are you going to do?"
Batman ignored her and released a grappling hook as he ran. He swung onto their rooftop and started running towards tragic scene, unfolding in slow motion. He realized he was too late, no matter who was the victor.
Diana had her sword raised over her head, about to strike Clark with all her power. Clark was already favoring his left side and limping, but had his fist cocked.
He watched Superman pull back his fist. Diana's sword started coming down.
the gun
Tears were streaming down the Man of Steel's face. Diana's face was pure hate.
his mother's cries
Batman's legs couldn't move him there any faster as he watched in horror as Superman's fist connected one final time to her jaw. Diana's arms froze.
gunshot
Her head jerked back at an unnatural angle. Her sword clanged to the ground.
blood
She fell.
Clark saw a shadow move past him and turned blood shot eyes to his friend. Batman never saw the ruddy dampness of tears marring Superman's otherwise chiseled features, focusing only on her still form.
"I'm sorry Bruce. I had to. I had to stop her."
Batman ignored him and walked with slow steps to Diana's body. Her eyes were open, a cold blue vacant stare, her head cocked unnaturally. He crouched next to her, close but not touching. His black cape was pulled around him. Superman remained frozen in his place, a respectful distance to watch and wait for his friend to grieve.
Batman was scrutinizing the still body, looking for clues. This could not be Diana. He would find proof.
An eternity went by before Clark broke the quiet.
"Bruce?"
"Shut up Clark."
"Bruce, please. I loved her too."
Batman was on his feet and before Clark. He started punching and swinging at Superman, who only stood there, waiting.
Bruce, finally spent, stepped back. Clark took a step towards Diana's body, but Bruce interjected.
"No. You don't get to touch her," his voice hoarse.
Clark stifled the sob in his throat and obeyed. He remained frozen in place, the only movement his steady stream of tears.
Bruce walked over to her instead and crouched next to her again.
This time, he pulled off one of his gloves and slowly reached towards her face. His hand hovered for a moment before shakily smoothing away her hair. His fingers lingered on her face, tracing her features. He brushed his fingertips over her eyelids, shutting them.
Clark's eyes dropped to the ground. He felt like an intruder.
Bruce pulled his hand away and remained crouched next to Diana's body, staring at her before pulling off his mask, revealing a face damp with tears. He knelt forward and pressed a tender kiss on her dead lips.
With a sigh, he pulled back and replaced his mask. He stared at her frozen features once more, memorizing every detail. His fingers lingered in her silky locks, but he eventually withdrew them.
Batman knew his failure tonight would haunt him the rest of his days.
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**************
Batman and Shayera easily found the coordinates that Superman gave them. They loaded J'onn into the Javelin and took off, searching for Superman. Batman spotted their battle first and took over the controls, landing the Javelin on an adjacent building.
On his way out, he pointed to Lex's crumpled body and ordered Shayera," Take that man and J'onn back up to the Watchtower."
"What are you going to do?"
Batman ignored her and released a grappling hook as he ran. He swung onto their rooftop and started running towards tragic scene, unfolding in slow motion. He realized he was too late, no matter who was the victor.
Diana had her sword raised over her head, about to strike Clark with all her power. Clark was already favoring his left side and limping, but had his fist cocked.
He watched Superman pull back his fist. Diana's sword started coming down.
the gun
Tears were streaming down the Man of Steel's face. Diana's face was pure hate.
his mother's cries
Batman's legs couldn't move him there any faster as he watched in horror as Superman's fist connected one final time to her jaw. Diana's arms froze.
gunshot
Her head jerked back at an unnatural angle. Her sword clanged to the ground.
blood
She fell.
Clark saw a shadow move past him and turned blood shot eyes to his friend. Batman never saw the ruddy dampness of tears marring Superman's otherwise chiseled features, focusing only on her still form.
"I'm sorry Bruce. I had to. I had to stop her."
Batman ignored him and walked with slow steps to Diana's body. Her eyes were open, a cold blue vacant stare, her head cocked unnaturally. He crouched next to her, close but not touching. His black cape was pulled around him. Superman remained frozen in his place, a respectful distance to watch and wait for his friend to grieve.
Batman was scrutinizing the still body, looking for clues. This could not be Diana. He would find proof.
An eternity went by before Clark broke the quiet.
"Bruce?"
"Shut up Clark."
"Bruce, please. I loved her too."
Batman was on his feet and before Clark. He started punching and swinging at Superman, who only stood there, waiting.
Bruce, finally spent, stepped back. Clark took a step towards Diana's body, but Bruce interjected.
"No. You don't get to touch her," his voice hoarse.
Clark stifled the sob in his throat and obeyed. He remained frozen in place, the only movement his steady stream of tears.
Bruce walked over to her instead and crouched next to her again.
This time, he pulled off one of his gloves and slowly reached towards her face. His hand hovered for a moment before shakily smoothing away her hair. His fingers lingered on her face, tracing her features. He brushed his fingertips over her eyelids, shutting them.
Clark's eyes dropped to the ground. He felt like an intruder.
Bruce pulled his hand away and remained crouched next to Diana's body, staring at her before pulling off his mask, revealing a face damp with tears. He knelt forward and pressed a tender kiss on her dead lips.
With a sigh, he pulled back and replaced his mask. He stared at her frozen features once more, memorizing every detail. His fingers lingered in her silky locks, but he eventually withdrew them.
Batman knew his failure tonight would haunt him the rest of his days.
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