Superman's head jerked up, and his eyes widened.

Wonder Woman could practically feel the slow anger begin to build in the clear depths of his eyes.

Superman liked his privacy invaded no less than did Wonder Woman did herself. They were like Batman and all of them similar in that way. But it was also extremely unlike him to lose his grasp on his temper so easily. He really WAS pushed to his limits.

And Wonder Woman didn't like what she saw at all.

"Tell me," she repeated, less forcefully his time, but no less determinedly.

For several long seconds, they faced each other, and for a moment Diana thought that she had pushed too far. Then she saw the anger begin to fade from Superman's eyes. She watched, a tight rein on her own emotions, as the man she loved relaxed his body and released a long, shuddering breath.

She relaxed her own stance in response. For a long moment, silence reigned.

Wonder Woman simply waited

She would wait until Superman was ready. She would wait until the world ended if need be.

"Why do you care, Diana?" Superman asked wearily at last, the sudden words falling like lead weights through the pungent air.

It was that question, and the way he'd said it, that threw Wonder Woman more than anything had thus far. Dare she tell him the truth? Was he ready to hear it?

Rallying quickly, she chose to state the obvious, hiding her true feelings once more.

"You're the most powerful being on this planet. The League needs you. I need you. The entire…."

"Yes, yes, I know," Superman interrupted, mouth thinning almost bitterly. "The entire world needs me. Tell me something new."

Wonder Woman stared at him. "You're in worse shape than even I'd suspected," she finally said.

When Superman unexpectedly said nothing to this, Wonder Woman swallowed back the next words she had readied, and considered. She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated, realizing she would need to change tacks to get the truth.

"All of those reasons are true," she admitted. "You know we need you, we depend on you. And we …"

"It's not like I'm going to run away from my responsibilities, you know! Nor am I weak!" Superman sounded almost disgusted.

"No, you're not," Wonder Woman said evenly. "I don't think you know how strong you really are." Superman looked up at her.

"But it's obvious that this is not a physical reaction. This is taking you apart at the seams, Kal. And I cannot let that happen. I will not."

Superman was already shaking his head. "There's nothing you can do, Diana, so don't even bother trying."

Wonder Woman smiled – a wide smile. "You have got to be the most stubborn man I've ever had the misfortune to deal with, Kal."

Superman allowed the corners of his lips to lift in a sardonic expression, "I learned from you and Bruce, Diana."

She stopped smiling.

Not that Superman noticed the change in her expression he had turned to look over the edge of the roof at the skyline of Metropolis. "I've got to go. There're still some…"

"We're not finished," Wonder Woman said, blocking Superman's path as he stepped to the side.

Superman stopped and looked at her intently.

"I think we are," he said. He sidestepped her again and placed one foot on top of the ledge, preparing to soar up in to the sky.

"What are you so afraid of?" Diana asked suddenly, and she had the satisfaction of seeing the Man of Steel stiffen and stop in his tracks. "Do you think that I would judge you harshly if you told me the truth?" She paused meaningfully. "I thought you knew me better than that."

Superman gazed out at the city, shoulders set, jaw tightening.

Wonder Woman squared her shoulders. "I believed we've been through enough together to establish a greater trust than this."

"It's not about trust!" Superman said, turning back.

"No?"

"I do trust you, Diana. More than just about anyone else in the world, right now. But this isn't about that."

"I think it is."

Superman let out a breath of exasperation.

Wonder Woman continued, "If you trust me as you say, you'll let me share your pain." She could see that she'd struck a nerve.

Superman stood, half poised on the edge, taut and quivering as a tensed bowstring.

"Tell me what is going on with you."

Superman's gaze still did not relent. Diana felt a surge of unfamiliar frustration well up. Only Kal … "By Athena, Kal, talk to me!"

Superman simply shook his head again. He gazed out at the city again, head tilted, as if listening. "Look. We're going to have to continue this discussion another time. I've still got work to do."

"NO." Wonder Woman leaped forward, swerved in mid-air to block Superman's attempt to leap into the air.

"People need me …"

"We need to talk about this NOW."

"Diana …"

"Kal." Diana drew a deep breath. "You asked me why I cared. It's not just about your state of health, or our need for you or because the League needs you. I care … because …" She hesitated. Why was this so hard to say? "Because I'm your friend….but more than that…because, because…I love you."

Superman's blue gaze bored into Wonder Woman, the astonishment literally coming off him in palpable waves.

Wonder Woman nearly smiled at the reaction.

She forced himself to continue. "And I am … concerned. Concerned that something is causing you a … a lot of distress."

She paused. "Something is obviously hurting you, Kal, hurting you on more than just a physical level. And I … I want to help."

They locked gazes, staring at each other for a long, heart-pounding moment.

"Give in, Kal," Wonder Woman willed silently. "Accept what I'm offering. I only want to help you."

Superman swallowed convulsively, and refused to meet her eyes. For several heartbeats he held completely still, except for a fine tremor along his jaw.

Wonder Woman let the silence lengthen. She didn't back away.