Wall and Piece
Banksy
Washington
True to his word the waiter returned quickly with Clark and Diana's order. He set the coffees down in front of them and asked if they wanted anything else. They didn't. As he was leaving, Diana started to pick up her cup but then looked at Clark and set it back down.
"What?" He asked, noticing the look she was giving him.
"I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to tell him to card me,' Diana replied.
Clark tried not to smile, he really did, but he didn't succeed.
"Yeah, sorry about that,' he offered still trying not to smile too much.
"You will be,' Diana replied. "One day, Mr. Kent."
Diana wasn't sure why but he seemed to infuriate her more than anyone she had ever met. It wasn't just that seemingly smug smile on his handsome face, she told herself, although that certainly didn't help.
"Stop smiling."
"Yes ma'am. You don't like me too much, do you?" He asked.
"No,' she admitted.
"Fair enough."
Diana was a little surprised by how quickly she had answered his question. It wasn't like her to hold a grudge, but with him she was having trouble not holding a grudge. Part of it, if she were being honest with herself and she always tried to be, was that all her very young life Diana tended to be the best at everything. She was always the strongest, the fastest and the best warrior among the Amazons and even after she came to the outside world this had mostly held true. This was to a certain extent because of her lineage but also because she put the time and effort into being the best.
The trouble was in almost every encounter with him she kind of felt like he'd gotten the better of her. As if to make it worse he hadn't used some brilliant strategy or tactics but the exact opposite, silly stupid embarrassing tricks to accomplish it. Even worse, she'd fallen for them. It felt as if he were constantly challenging her yet he wasn't challenging her at the same time and even worse, he was winning.
Clark could see Diana was suspicious of him. He couldn't exactly blame her so he tried to defuse the situation.
"Nice dress,' he offered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Diana asked immediately, remembering his remark about her armor.
Okay, not the best compliment, he thought.
"I just meant you look lovely tonight, 'he clarified.
"Oh." Diana replied, not expecting that. "Well, um, thank you."
"Your welcome."
Maybe he's not so bad, Diana thought, but then stopped herself. No, this is exactly what happens every time, he somehow gets me to lower my defenses and then springs one of those stupid tricks on me. Not going to fall for it this time, Mr. Kent, she thought. Crossing her arms in front of her, Diana kept her focus on him.
"You said you wanted to talk?"
"Yes,' Clark replied. "But ladies first."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Diana asked.
"It means I'm trying to be polite,' Clark replied, getting a little frustrated with her. "Jeez, you're not making this easy."
"Now you know how it feels. Since you supposedly came here to say something, say it,' Diana countered.
Clark rolled his eyes and bit his tongue to stop a smartass reply. She really doesn't make it simple to be a gentleman, does she, he thought? He was beginning to rethink this whole idea but he was here so he pressed ahead.
"Okay, I think we were both duped,' he started.
"Both of us? When? How do you mean?" Diana replied, uncrossing her arms.
"Shayera."
"What about her?"
"I think it was all a set up,' Clark continued. "I don't think her story is exactly what she claims it is."
"A set up? By who and why?" Diana asked.
"The why is rather obvious to find out who I am and where I live,' Clark replied. "The who is a bit trickier. I think it's your teammate Batman."
"Batman?"
"Yes,' Clark said with a nod. "I don't have all the facts yet, but there are just too many coincidences that point to him."
"Such as?" Diana asked skeptically.
"The first is she has a cell phone from Wayne Enterprises which is located in Gotham. Everyone knows that's his home turf. She turned it on as soon as she got to my place,' Clark informed her.
"That does necessarily mean we were duped,' Diana countered. In the back of her mind she was thinking Wayne Enterprises was Bruce's company and it was rather suspicious Shayera had a phone from them. While Diana didn't know the extent of Bruce's holdings, she doubted cell phones were part of his portfolio.
"No,' Clark admitted. "But there are other things. The two people that originally found her and made me aware of her situation were given a lead that accidentally led them to discovering her. An accidental lead that just happened to send them straight to the secret location she was being held? What are the chances of that really? Plus one of them has a past association with Batman. There's also the fact that while it's rather difficult for her, Shayera can remove her wings. If she really didn't want to get caught she could have taken them off and blended in. Then there is she asked a lot of questions about me and who I am at the first opportunity."
Diana sat back and pondered this for a moment. She certainly wouldn't put it past Batman to do it. In fact it sounded exactly like something he'd do.
"That would explain why she picked going with you over me,' Diana mused. "That was something I didn't understand at the time and really made no sense at all. Going with you is only logical if it was a set up."
"What the hell is that supposed to mine?" Clark asked, getting a bit defensive.
"I would think it's pretty obvious," Diana replied. She saw she'd struck a nerve and as silly as it might seem, it pleased her.
"I don't think it is, why don't you explain it to me?"
"I'm a woman,' Diana replied as if that was sufficient.
"I've notice. I think everyone for a three block radius has noticed, but that's not an explanation,' Clark countered.
"As a woman she would naturally trust another woman more than a man,' Diana explained. "Everyone knows that."
"A little culturally biased, don't you think?"
"No, why would it be?" Diana asked.
"How about the fact you grew up on an island of all women,' Clark offered. "From what I've read in the papers you Amazons aren't exactly keen on men in general. You don't think that might skew your view a bit?"
"There are very good reasons Amazons don't trust men,' Diana stated, looking him right in the eye. He had the feeling she wasn't talking about other Amazons or other men, but her and him.
"I still think I'm just as trustworthy as you are,' Clark countered.
"You would."
He could see this would quickly degenerate into an argument, but that wasn't why he came.
"We're kind of getting off track,' he said. "I was hoping we could talk civilly about Shayera and whether she is working for Batman or not. You're his teammate, has he said anything about it?"
"No, but that doesn't mean anything,' Diana admitted. "He's not the most sharing person when it comes to his plans."
"So it's possible?"
"Yes." Diana conceded.
"Damn, I was hoping I was wrong,' Clark said with a sigh. He slumped back in his chair and looked down at his coffee cup.
"Why?" Diana asked.
"Cause as you know only too well, I've been trying to avoid this sort of situation,' Clark replied. "Now I have to do something about it."
"You'd better not be thinking of harming Shayera,' Diana forcefully said.
"No, of course not,' Clark replied in shock. "I know you don't like me but what kind of guy do you think I am? Look, Princess, I'm just trying to live my life and people keep pushing their way into it. I've avoided attention as much as possible, but first a man named Lynch and your boyfriend's boss, Amanda Waller along with a military general named Lane hounded me, then you and now your friend Batman. I just want to be left alone. Is that so much to ask?"
"No, I suppose not,' Diana admitted. "If you're referring to Steve Trevor, he's not my boyfriend by the way."
Why she added that last part she didn't know, but Diana decided to press forward.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I could ask you the same question,' Clark countered.
"What do you mean?"
"Like I said, we were both duped,' he explained. "I don't know about you, but I don't like the idea of someone using our desire to help against us in some plan."
Diana hadn't considered it that way.
"I don't like it either,' she said.
"So what are we going to do about it?" Clark asked.
Diana considered their options for a moment.
"Can you keep Shayera from making contact with Batman for a few days?" She asked. "I mean without her knowing, not physically restraining her or threatening her."
"I told you I wouldn't do something like that and I meant it,' Clark said, his voice as serious as Diana had ever heard it before. "But yes, I think I can do that."
"Good, than I will speak with Batman."
"Do you think that will do any good?"
"No, not if we are alone,' Diana replied. "I plan on speaking to him about this in front of all our teammates. I believe he's kept them all in the dark about this too and I imagine they will be very interested in hearing about it."
"Sounds like a plan,' Clark replied. "Thank you for your help with this."
"Your welcome."
He smiled again and this time she didn't mind it quite so much. They each took a sip of their coffee.
"So you listened to me and I appreciate it,' Clark said. "In the past you said you wanted to talk so the least I can do is return the favor. What did you want to talk about?"
Diana's first thought was about him perhaps considering joining the Justice League but from his past responses and this new revelation she highly doubted he'd even consider it. Her second thought was a bit more personal and pertained to their previous interactions.
"Why every time I've confronted you have you resorted to those stupid tricks and running?"
His smile got a little bigger.
"They're only stupid if they don't work,' he offered.
Diana wasn't smiling.
"Let's just agree they were stupid, please,' she replied. "Why"
"Cause I didn't want to fight you,' he admitted. "Where's the upside of fighting you for me?"
"What do you mean?" Diana asked.
"Say when we were in Vegas if I hadn't run but instead fought you. I've been trying to avoid drawing attention but that was guaranteed to draw all sorts. Plus I'm an unknown so how would it look if the first time the world sees me I'm beating the shit out of Wonder Woman? I'd be labeled a monster, plus my parents taught me to never hit a woman."
Diana wasn't sure what to say to that. She was surprised by his response and a bit angry too.
"Ex-Excuse me?" She finally managed to get out. "What do you mean beating me?"
"What part of that aren't you understanding?" Clark asked.
"You-You actually think you-you could beat me?" Diana sputtered to say, not believing what she was hearing.
"Yeah."
This was actually worse than his stupid tricks; he was directly challenging her at a fight no less.
"You must be delusional,' Diana replied. "You would not and I mean definitely not beat me in a battle!"
"I think I would,' Clark stated, taking another sip of his coffee.
"I don't believe the arrogance of you!" She gasped. "Let me set you straight Mr. Kent, the one getting the 'shit' as you so colorfully said, beat out of them is you! I've trained all my life to be a warrior so you wouldn't stand a chance!"
They were both young and like most young people backing down wasn't always their first instinct. If you've ever been in a bar and a fight broke out it usually is two young people. Bars that are say 30 and over this isn't much of a problem. Maybe it's too much testosterone and too much estrogen flowing, mixed with lots of adrenaline which people between say 15 and 25 have in abundance, but rational minds don't always carrying the day. Diana and Clark were no different than anyone else in this respect. They were both leaning forward across the table towards each other.
"I'm sure you're good, but there's a reason they have weight classes in boxing,' Clark stated. "Bigger guys hit harder than little guys."
Diana stood up.
"As you pointed out earlier I'm not a guy."
Clark stood up across from her.
"Same difference."
Each started to take a step around the table towards the other, but then the waiter suddenly appeared.
"Is-Is-Is there-there a-a-a problem?" He asked nervously. "Was it the coffee? We'll give you another one on the house I swear! Anything you want, on the house!"
Diana and Clark looked at him and saw how nervous he was. They could also feel the tension all around them from the other customers. Suddenly they lost some of the aggression that was flowing so freely a moment before.
"No, no, everything is fine,' Diana said as calmly as she could. "We were just having a small disagreement."
"Right, sorry if we made anyone uncomfortable,' Clark added.
As if to show him things were fine, both sat back down. The waiter gave them both a weary smile and then moved away. They were silent for a moment.
"There's also that reason,' Clark finally said. "Others might get hurt."
"Yes.' Diana nodded in agreement.
There was another long silence between them.
Clark decided to try and lighten the mood.
"There's also the fact my mother would roll over in her grave if her son was seen on national TV hitting a woman. She'd probably come back and haunt me for it."
Diana smiled as a thought occurred to her.
"My mother wouldn't have any problem with me hitting a man."
"She sounds nice,' Clark sarcastically replied. "Now I see where you get it from."
"EXCUSE ME?!"
"Sorry." Clark quickly said. "Just attempting a little joke to lighten the mood."
"It was a poor attempt,' Diana replied.
"Again, sorry."
"Apology accepted." Diana said and then leaned forward and smiled. "Just so you know, you'd have lost in a fight I promise you that."
Clark leaned back and smiled himself.
"Uh-huh,' he casually said. "You know when you lean forward like that I can see right down the top of your dress, don't you?"
Diana started to look, but then stopped as she remembering a similar trick he'd pulled on her in a previous encounter.
"Another of your stupid tricks, Mr. Kent?" She confidently said. "I'm not falling for it this time."
"Okay,' he said smiling a bit more. "It's not a trick though, I can see right down your dress. If you're fine with that, I'm more than fine with it."
Out of the corner of Diana's eye she could see a few other people were looking at her and smiling. She glanced down and realized it wasn't a stupid trick, they all could see down the top of her dress. What could almost be described as a squeal of embarrassment came from her lips as she sat back rather quickly. This was followed by Clark laughing.
"Oh shut up!" Diana grumbled in embarrassment.
This only made him laugh harder.