July 26. Prince Residence - Santorini. 06: 27.
Diana cursed to herself as Bruce pulled into the driveway of her mother's house. She hadn't intended on staying the night at Bruce's villa, but the two had spent hours talking well into the night, and when Diana had woken up beside Bruce, still dressed in the clothes from last night, she knew there would be some explaining to be had. It wouldn't matter that she was a grown adult and that she and Bruce had done nothing to warrant such feelings. Hippolyta would still make her feel like a teenager caught out past their curfew, and after finally getting in each others' good graces, that was the last thing she wanted.
Bruce laughed as he turned off the car's engine. "You know you're an adult," he commented, handing Diana the phone that had been charging on the way over, having completely died, forgotten about in the pocket of Diana's jacket the previous night.
"You clearly do not know my mother well enough," Diana said with a scoff.
"Fair enough." Bruce watched as Diana unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door, glancing down at the phone in her hand. Hippolyta would be waking soon.
"Thank you for the ride," Diana said, leaning back in the car to kiss Bruce goodbye.
Bruce nodded, releasing a sad sigh when Diana's lips were pulled from his. "Call me later?"
Diana nodded. She closed the vehicle's door and rushed to the back of the house, clenching her sandals tightly in her hand, knowing they would make more noise if she wore them. She opened the back door to her mother's house and stepped inside, swiftly closing the door, letting out a sigh of relief when she heard nothing but silence.
Carefully she walked through the house, knowing all she had to do was rush past the kitchen into the main stairwell, before dashing into her room before her mother walked out of her bedroom door. She walked through the kitchen, admiring the way the first rays of sunlight began to shine through the windows, casting colorful images on the appliances.
Diana had nearly crossed the room when the lights turned on and she froze. "I told you she was okay," Antiope said. Diana turned to see her mother and aunt sitting on the bench by the breakfast nook, each with a cup of coffee in their hands, dressed in a robe. They had been waiting for Diana. "Although I do give her some credit for almost making it to the stairs. That's the furthest she's gotten," Antiope said with a chuckle, referencing the many times she and Hippolyta had caught Diana trying to sneak back in during high school.
"Antiope," Diana said, addressing her aunt with a nod. "Mother. How did you know?"
Hippolyta chuckled as she stood. "You forget who your mother is," she stated, "I knew Bruce's car was here before you two even pulled up." She pointed to the security system on the wall and Diana let out a defeated sigh. "Now, will you tell Bruce he can come in," Hippolyta said. "I will be back down shortly."
Diana took a seat in one of the stools beside the breakfast bar and sighed as she pulled out her cell phone. She quickly sent a text to Bruce before she placed the phone on the counter.
"A little warning would've been nice," Diana said, reaching into a bowl of fruit and pulling out an apple, before taking a hefty bite from the piece of fruit.
Antiope laughed once more. "And miss this? I would never." She pulled the robe off her body revealing she was dressed in her uniform, complete with a side arm and two knives sheathed in the duty belt on her waist.
The knock on the door forced both women to look toward the other room. Diana quickly hopped off the stool and rushed to the door, bringing Bruce into the kitchen a few moments later. "And don't mind the uniform," Diana said, finishing a conversation she had started when she had opened the front door, "she likes to do this to everyone new."
Antiope smirked as she sheathed another knife into a hidden compartment in her boot. "Just a little reminder of what'll happen should he hurt you."
Bruce chuckled nervously. "Believe me," he began, "I'm not going to."
"Good," Antiope said as she pulled her blonde hair into a flawless ponytail.
The three stood in silence, Antiope watching Bruce steal glances of Diana, a smile on her face when she realized just how much the man loved her niece. He was good for her.
Hippolyta walked into the room, dressed in a long white chiton. There was a gold belt over her waist that matched both the gold earrings and necklace she wore. "Antiope, have you seen-" Hippolyta stopped when she saw her sister holding her favorite dagger in the sheath she always wore. Hippolyta might've had dozens of employees ready to lay their lives down to protect her, but that did not mean she didn't know how to use a blade herself. "Thank you, Sister," Hippolyta said, grabbing the weapon. She lifted her chiton slightly and strapped the sheath on her calf, before she let the dress fall, concealing the weapon all together.
Bruce had been threatened by many of his dates' families, but never had he actually felt the threat of bodily harm was real until this moment. He glanced over at Diana who leaned against the counter, her face in her hand, embarrassed.
"Mother," Diana warned, "this is unnecessary."
Hippolyta only smirked. "I know," she stated. She turned to Bruce, fixed her chiton once more, and offered him a hand. When Bruce placed his hand in hers, Hippolyta gave him a smile. "I want to apologize for my behavior. My daughter is fond of you, Bruce, so I want to know more about you."
Bruce nodded. Diana stood behind him groaning, unable to believe Hippolyta and Antiope were pulling the same thing they had done for her first relationship back in school.
Hippolyta released Bruce's hand and fixed her hair. "Join us for dinner," she said, stating it rather than asking. It prompted a small nod from Bruce, who only glanced at Diana, still riddled with embarrassment. "Perfect. I'm afraid I have a meeting to get to. Come Sister, we've got a busy day ahead of us."
Hippolyta took a step toward the edge of the room, turning to glance at her daughter with another smirk before she left. Antiope followed her sister out, giving both Diana and Bruce a wink as she left the room, forcing Diana to blush and Bruce to laugh, trying to revel in this new side of Diana.
August 10. Downtown Gotham. 14:32.
Late summer in Gotham was just like anywhere else, filled with children trying to get in the most of their last days of summer vacation, while parents stressed about getting school supplies ready for the upcoming year. The weather began to cool and the days became darker, as the dark clouds that were sewn in the sky for most of the year began to return. For Diana, this was not necessarily a bad thing. She loved the rain, loved the snow, and didn't mind the weather in Gotham.
The last two weeks had passed in a whirl for both Diana and Bruce. After having spent an extra few days in Greece, where the two were able to spend more time together talking about everything, getting to know each other from the start. Bruce also got to know Diana's family without the stress of a secret relationship, and they all learned things about him that even Diana had not known.
Hippolyta, who had been open to learning about Bruce after learning how much her daughter cared for him, had grown to admire the man, learning he was not everything the media made him out to be; she would never admit this to Diana though, as she wanted Bruce to feel like she was still wary of him. She had given Diana her blessing for their relationship, letting her daughter know she was willing to listen to her concerns and work on their own relationship. So far the communication between the two had been much better in the last two weeks than it had been her whole life, and Diana was more than happy to continue the new found relationship she had with her mother.
Antiope, who had been a fan of Bruce since her visit to Gotham months ago, was happy to know her niece was finally giving love a chance. She had seen Diana after Steve's death. She had been the one Diana had cried to when she had left Artemis, becoming that shoulder to cry on once more when Hippolyta had hired the woman who was a sore subject for her niece. Antiope had been the one to congratulate Diana when she had accepted a job in Gotham, wanting her niece to know she was proud of her, even if that meant living countries away for more than a semester at a time. With Bruce, Diana had found a home, and now that the two were realizing that, Antiope was elated.
As for Diana and Bruce, they had gotten back together, wanting to try their relationship out without the pressure of a baby or other outside forces. They knew there was something between the two of them, something that would always pull them back to each other; it was why Bruce had been unable to make a drunken move on Selina, and why Diana had pushed Artemis away so easily. Two people they had both been in love with prior, but they knew there was no future with, because they were in love with each other. Diana and Bruce both knew what they wanted, but they had agreed to take things slow, at least much slower than the last time. A decision Diana was now starting to wish she hadn't made.
Diana was grateful that they had worked through everything, voicing their thoughts about their relationship, what they wanted to change going forward. So far everything was great. They had quickly gotten into a comfortable rhythm, exchanging quick glances at each other from across the boardroom during meetings, stealing kisses in her office when he would stop by on his way to see Victor. It all seemed to fall back into place, all except for one thing, and as much as it pained her to admit it, she missed sex with Bruce.
It had been her idea to hold off on having sex for a few days, at least until they were no longer under the watchful eye of her mother; she may have been a grown adult but having your mother catch you while being intimate is the last thing Diana wanted to happen. Bruce had agreed, wanting her to feel comfortable in both herself and in their relationship before becoming that vulnerable again. If only he knew it was just as difficult for her as it had been for him. But he loved her, and he was willing to do anything for her.
Diana let out a heavy sigh as she ran past the cafe Rylie worked at, her hand gripping the leash tighter as Ace continued to run. She waved at the young mother who stood behind the counter, hoping Rylie saw her before she disappeared from view. When Diana had returned for her first day back to work, it had been chaotic, filled with people telling her how happy they were she was back, and wishing her a quick recovery. She had been all too happy when time for lunch came and she was able to sneak off to the cafe, catching up with her favorite waitress, who was more than thrilled to see her back.
Rylie told Diana of Jacob's new job, showing her pictures of the baby. She was one of the few who knew of the miscarriage, and although Rylie had smiled behind sad eyes, Diana knew she was still happy to see her back in Gotham. And after the chaos that had filled her morning, Diana was glad she had stopped by. Talking with Rylie calmed her down, as did the free iced mocha she had received. Word of Diana's hospital visit had spread among her co-workers, but Bruce had made sure no one knew the specifics. All anyone knew was Diana had needed a well deserved break, time to recuperate after putting so much time and work into the company, which they all backed one hundred percent.
Diana had proven she had been right for the job ten times over. There wasn't a doubt among any of Wayne Enterprises' employees, including her own team members who had remained skeptical of her position weeks into her appointment as Head of Security. But all that was behind her, which made both she and Bruce glad. This meant people were less likely to assume she had gotten the job because of her relationship with the boss when they eventually decided to go public.
Ace shifted and jerked to the right, nearly pulling the leash out of Diana's hand for what seemed like the tenth time today. Bruce had told Diana that while she was away, he had tried to busy his mind, taking Ace out for longer walks, running with the dog until Bruce's legs had gone as numb as he felt emotionally. When they got back to Gotham, the runs had continued, only Diana had agreed to take some of the days, giving Bruce a chance to give his legs a rest and catch up on the work he had postponed while away.
At first Diana hadn't minded. After all, she needed to get back in shape, having spent a majority of the time at her mother's house unable to gain the motivation to keep herself moving. The first run with Ace had proved difficult, as she was focused more on keeping her grip tight on his leash so as to not let him run away, excitement overpowering his senses. But the more they went out together, the more they fell into their own groove, tackling each day with a new found confidence. Today, however, was not one of those days.
Damian Kyrios was expected to return to Gotham tomorrow morning. He and Bruce had a meeting scheduled that would see them both sign the last of their contracts and NDAs, finalizing the partnership between the two companies. Bruce had been on edge for the past few days, wondering if he should cancel the deal all together given his newly acquired information about the man. He wanted to let Diana know he didn't want to work with a man who conducted business as terribly as Damian did, backstabbing and blackmailing those who trusted him with their money and livelihood, but they had already begun the process and to stop now would put dozens of his good employees out of work. Diana knew he couldn't do that, so she tried to be as supportive of his decision as she could, yet some part of her wished he had listened to her months ago and had never taken that call from Damian.
Bruce had gone into the office early that morning, wanting to get a meeting in with Lucius and his lawyers before speaking with Damian, and Diana, although just as stressed to know her father was going to be in the same city with her, trying to screw her boyfriend out of his company, knew there was nothing more she could do. So she had decided to take Ace for a run, knowing the pup had sensed the ever growing tension between the two last night and this morning. She knew it wasn't fair to let her anger of Damian out on Bruce, after all, she had shamed her mother for doing the same thing, but she couldn't seem to help it. Something about the whole situation, her birth, the break ins of their security system, and Damian's sudden arrival, was too much of a coincidence to ignore.
Ace let out a loud bark as he continued to run, approaching the curb where cars were zooming by, giving no indication he was going to stop. "Ace," Diana warned as she wrapped the leash around her hand and gave it a slight tug. "Slow it down." Ace listened and began to slow down, before he turned right and continued down the sidewalk toward the massive buildings that created Gotham's skyline. "Good boy," Diana praised, taking a deep breath as they both slowed, walking side by side.
The two of them continued to walk, stopping by a water fountain when Ace began to paw at the ground. "Okay, okay," Diana said with a chuckle, turning the fountain on, before using her other hand to cup the water for Ace to drink. When he was finished he looked up at her, happily panting, watching as she took a sip of water, before she led the two of them to a bench. "Sit," she commanded in Greek, knowing Bruce had been using the same commands she had taught him when he had first adopted the dog.
Ace took a seat in the grass, letting his head roll to the side, watching Diana as she took a seat on the bench and reached over to retighten her shoe. She let out a chuckle when she saw Ace's tongue hanging out the side of his mouth as he continued to pant, trying to recover from the long run. "You're too much," she told him, ruffling her hand in the fur that covered his head, before she stretched her legs out, trying to stretch the sore muscles. She rolled up the sleeves to the sweater she wore and pulled her ponytail free, letting her hair fall to her back as she leaned her head back to bask in the sun for a few moments.
At her feet, Ace began to get restless, wanting to continue his run. He began to whine as he saw children a few yards away playing, watching the ball they threw intently, wanting nothing more than to join in. Without warning he jolted up and tried to run, but stopped when Diana, who had not released her hold on his leash, shot up as well. "No," she scolded. He knew better.
She carefully stepped on his leash, making sure she had it firmly placed between her foot and the ground, before she gathered her hair into her hands and tied it up in another ponytail, knowing it was time to head back. Once again Ace stood, his tail wagging insistently, his eyes now following a pair of squirrels as they climbed down the side of a tree. "Sit," Diana commanded once more. Ace obeyed and sat, huffing as he watched the two small animals run after each other.
"He knows Greek?" a familiar voice asked, startling both Diana and Ace. Diana turned to the voice, her eyebrows furrowing when she saw Damian standing beside the bench, a smirk on his neatly trimmed face. "What a smart animal."
Diana only nodded as she gripped Ace's leash firmly in her hand, weaving the fabric in between her fingers, before she stood, watching as the dog followed her actions. "Damian," she said with a small nod as she tried to avoid his gaze. "I thought you weren't coming into Gotham until morning."
Damian shrugged, brushed a leaf off his neatly tailored suit, and sighed. "I had some other business to attend to," he stated vaguely. He watched as Diana nodded once more, her attention focused more on the dog beside her feet than him. "I heard you were in Greece visiting your mother" he said, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me, how is Hippolyta doing?"
Diana glanced up at the man, watching as he began to stroke his goatee, a smirk on his face. She looked like him. The dark hair, the pointed jawline, the hard crease in her brow; it was obvious now. "My mother is doing well," Diana answered, her nose flaring as she began to get angry. She wanted to let his perfectly sculpted face taste her fist, but she knew she had to be professional.
"How's her business doing?" he asked smugly.
Diana shook her head. She gently tugged the leash, letting Ace know it was time to leave. "Her business is none of your concern," she stated, turning her back on the man to let him know the conversation was over, or so she thought.
Damian let out a small chuckle. "Come now, is that any way to speak to your father?"
He watched as Diana froze in her place, her shoulders tensing when she processed that last word. She turned to face him, her eyebrows furrowing, her nostrils flaring. He knew. Damian knew she was his daughter. "How long have you known?" Diana asked, tugging on Ace's leash, silently telling him to settle down, as he had grown antsy standing still after the promise of continuing their run.
Damian chuckled once more and walked around Diana. "I knew Hippolyta was pregnant, even if she was too much of a coward to tell me."
"Don't you dare speak of my mother that way," Diana said as she took a step toward Damian, daring him to continue. She shoved her finger in his face, suddenly courageous now that Caesar was nowhere in sight. "You have no right to speak of my mother, not after what you've done."
"What I've done? Please tell me, what lies has Hippolyta told you?" Damian swatted Diana's finger away from his face, crossed his arms over his chest, and continued to smirk.
"She told me of how you stole from her, how you tried to ruin her company from the start, all for your own selfish reasonings." Damian laughed which only angered Diana. "If you knew I was your daughter, why did you not once try to see me?" She watched as Damian rolled his eyes. "Don't you dare call my mother a coward, when you were too much of a coward to acknowledge you had a daughter."
"You underestimate me, child. I'm not as heartless as you think. I did have feelings for your mother, but I couldn't allow myself to be tied down. I had plans, and I needed to know you'd be of use to me before I said anything. I've had a plan for you all along."
Diana shook her head. Whatever plan Damian had for her she wanted no part of. She didn't need him. She didn't want him. "You're a monster," was all Diana whispered as she turned her back once more. She took a step away from Damian, stopping when he placed his hand on her arm and held her back, glaring down at the dog at her feet when he let out a small growl.
"I am going to destroy Wayne Enterprises," he confessed.
Diana raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Damian only smirked once more, crooking an eyebrow as he continued. "Bruce Wayne is an arrogant man, trying to con millions into thinking he is a noble man. But I've seen many like him, and his want to do good, only shows his weakness. I'm going to destroy Bruce Wayne, and everything he's worked for, unless-" He looked down at Diana with a wicked smile. "Unless you leave and come to work for me."
"What?"
"You've proven yourself, time and time again," Damian said, pulling his phone from his suit jacket. He showed her his screen where he had multiple articles from the Metropolis incident displayed. "With you as part of my company, we can be so much more."
Diana took a step back. This whole business deal with Bruce was an act, a way to distract Bruce and everyone else from what he truly wanted. Her.
"You're delusional if you believe I would leave Bruce to work with you."
Damian watched Diana's face, trying to find the secret she was hiding. Eventually people slipped, letting out the truths they had been trying to hide. Diana was no different. He noticed the way she said she wouldn't leave Bruce, instead of his company. It was all he needed. "Oh my child," Damian began, watching as Diana tried her hardest not to cringe at his words, "you misunderstand. I am not giving you the option. You will come work with me, or I will destroy Bruce Wayne and this city."
Diana opened her mouth to speak, however Ace, finally having had enough of only watching the squirrels running around, pulled himself from Diana's grip. Diana, who had been so focused on the conversation, let her grip on the leash loosen without realizing it. She heard Ace bark as he ran to chase the two squirrels, calling his name as she watched in horror.
Ace chased the two squirrels, stopping momentarily when they split, one running up a tree and the other continuing to run, before he continued to chase the smaller squirrel between a group of people. He ran, barking enthusiastically as the squirrel ran for its life, unsure of the giant dog's intentions. With a small hop, he jumped off the curb and into the street.
Ace followed and Diana only heard the screeching of tires on pavement as a car tried to swerve out of the way, unable to move quick enough to avoid hitting Ace. The deafening thud that followed seemed to make time stand still. Diana sprinted toward the street, her heart racing. She jumped into the street, her eyes tearing up when she saw Ace on the ground, blood on the pavement beside the dog. His breathing was labored and his eyes were wide; he was terrified and had no idea what had just happened.
The driver of the car flung open the door and jumped out, shaking as she looked down at the dog she had just hit. "Oh my god," she said, running to the front of the car and joining Diana on the ground. "I tried to avoid him. I'm so sorry, I tried."
Diana placed her hand on the girl's arm, barely old enough to drive, and shook her head. "It's not your fault," she said, trying to remain calm for the both of them.
The girl nodded as she wiped the tears from her face. Her father was one of the best veterinarians in the city. She had been around animals all her life. She would never intentionally hurt one. "My dad's a vet," she said in between sniffles, "I can drive you there."
Diana nodded and yanked her sweater up and over her head, draping it over Ace who began to whimper. A crowd began to form, each offering to help in any way they could. One of the other drivers in the street pulled a box from his trunk, emptied the contents in the car, and ran toward Diana. "Here," he said, ripping the tape from the bottom of the box to collapse it.
Diana thanked him and placed the cardboard beside Ace, knowing she was going to need as many hands as possible to get him on their makeshift spineboard. They didn't know what was injured and wanted to move his body as little as possible to avoid further injury. She moved closer to his head, gently placing her hand on his snout, forcing him to look up at her. "You're okay," she whispered to the dog, gently scratching his head, before she nodded to the other three people who had gathered to help.
Two people, a couple she had passed while running, carefully lifted Ace's rear, while another slid the cardboard underneath his body. Ace growled and whimpered in pain, snapping at the people who were trying to help him, stopping only when Diana placed her hand on his snout, closing his mouth. The three continued to move Ace until he was fully on the cardboard, each of them glancing up at Diana when they were done, taking notice of the bite on her arm.
Diana waved them off. She knew getting bit was a risk being near his head, but she wasn't going to let anyone else pay for her mistake. If she had kept her grip, no one would've been in this situation. "Okay, together now," Diana said, counting down from three. The four of them lifted the dog, carefully walking him to the back of the teenager's car, who was on the phone with her father explaining what had just happened.
They carefully placed Ace on the backseat and the teenager jumped into the car, watching as the crowd dispersed enough to give them room to drive off. Diana quickly thanked everyone who had helped and turned toward the car, ready to jump in the backseat with Ace when a hand found itself on her bare arm. She turned to see Damian standing there, his eyebrows still furrowed as if he was disappointed in Diana's actions.
"Your attachments make you weak," he whispered, before he released Diana's hand and stepped back, watching as she took a deep breath, shook her head, and got into the car. She slammed the door shut and continued to glare at him as the driver took off, hoping they made it to her father in time.
Bruce rushed through the door to the vet clinic, his heart racing. When Diana had called and told him about Ace, he had dropped everything and rushed over, sending a quick message to Lucius to let him know what had happened, knowing he needed to be with her more than at work. On paper Ace was his dog, and he loved the rascal, but Diana had a connection with him that was unexplainable. She loved that dog, and if something happened to him, she would never forgive herself. He would do whatever he could to make sure he was there for her this time.
He saw Diana in the corner of the room, nervously pacing back and forth. There was blood on her yoga pants and tank top and her arm was wrapped in gauze. He quickly rushed up to her, pulling her into a hug, pressing her body tightly against his when she began to cry.
"I'm so sorry," she said, apologizing for letting this happen on her watch. "It all happened so fast."
Bruce shook his head, gently running his hand down her back in an attempt to sooth her. "What happened?" he asked. When Diana had called him, all she had said was Ace had been hit by a car.
Diana pulled out of Bruce's embrace and wiped her eyes. "We went for a run downtown, right by the park he likes." Bruce nodded. He knew of that park all too well. "Damian was there and he started talking to me and I got distracted. He pulled right out of my grip and chased a damn squirrel into the street."
Bruce raised an eyebrow. "What was Damian there for?"
Diana contemplated telling Bruce. She wanted to tell him that this business deal was a sham. She wanted to tell him that Damian knew of her all along and had only been waiting until she could provide something for him to claim her. But she knew this was not the time, nor place. "That's not important right now," she said, "but Bruce, this business deal with him is a bad idea."
He wanted her to elaborate. His head tilted as he challenged her words, his eyes meeting hers as he opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by the door to the right opening. Out walked a man, a sheet of paper in his hands. His eyes met Diana's and he walked right over to the pair, obviously having spoken to her before. "Ms. Prince," he addressed, turning to Bruce.
"This is Bruce," Diana said, introducing Bruce to the man he assumed was the vet.
"Eric Soltoff," the vet said, cautiously shaking Bruce's hand. He didn't know if Bruce knew it was his daughter that had hit his dog, but the way Bruce's eyes softened when they saw him, he realized he either didn't know or care.
"How is he?" Bruce asked, forgetting his manners, wanting to get all the information on his dog.
Eric only sighed. "He's got a severe break in his left tibia that's going to require surgery. It's the bone from here to here," he said, pointing to his knee and his ankle. "He doesn't appear to have internal bleeding, which is good. We've cleaned up the external injuries, and have stitched up the laceration behind the right ear." He watched as Bruce nodded, taking everything in. "It's going to be touch and go, and even with the surgery there is no guarantee that-"
Bruce waved him off, not giving it a second thought. "Do the surgery," he said. "Do whatever it takes."
Eric nodded and let out a sigh. "Of course, we'll do everything we can. I'll come for you after the surgery."
Bruce nodded, whispered, "Thank you," and wrapped Diana in his arms, gently kissing her forehead, silently reassuring her it was not her fault.
Without another word the vet walked to the back, leaving the duo to stand in silence, hoping and praying that Ace was strong enough to fight through this.
Three hours. Three hours of waiting, watching as other owners came and left with their animals, wondering if they'd be doing the same. When the vet finally came out, his face exhausted, Bruce and Diana didn't know if they would be able to hear what he had to say. He explained that they had set the bone, needing a few screws to keep everything in place, before they set his leg in a cast. He explained that even though surgery had been a success, the shock and trauma to Ace's already damaged body had been significant, and they were still walking a shaky line. After apologizing countless times for his daughter, all of which Bruce nodded and waved him off, letting him know he didn't blame the teenager, Eric sent them on their way, wanting to keep Ace overnight to have consistent supervision.
Bruce drove to the manor, both the car's occupants silent as they let the mental exhaustion overtake their bodies. When they arrived at the manor, the two exited the car and walked up to the front door, smiling when Alfred opened the door and greeted them. "I have some fresh clothes laid out for you, Ms. Prince," Alfred said, shutting the door behind the two when they had made their way inside, having been told about the accident by Bruce during their wait.
Diana gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Alfred," Diana said, before she bounded up the stairs and down the hall, needing to get out of her dirty clothes as soon as possible.
"Of course," Alfred responded with a nod, watching the young woman disappear down the hall toward Bruce's room, before he turned to the younger man. "Mr. Lucius Fox faxed over a document I believe you'll like to see. It's up in your study." Bruce nodded his head, still trying to wrap his mind around everything that had gone on within the last twenty four hours. Alfred stared at the man he considered a son, his lips pulled into a faint frown. He knew both Diana and Bruce were tired, both exhausted from countless hours at work and this latest event, but they would still push themselves, giving their minds something to focus on until they reached the point of exhaustion.
Bruce thanked Alfred and turned to walk up the stairs. "I will have dinner ready in an hour, Sir," Alfred called.
"Thank you, Alfred," Bruce said over his shoulder, reaching the top of the stairs and turning to the left, going in the opposite way Diana had, toward his study. Lucius knew why he had had to leave so suddenly, which is why he hadn't bothered contacting him on his cell phone. But if he had sent over something, that meant he had found what they were looking for, and there was no time to waste.
The warm shower had been all too relaxing for Diana, and she wanted nothing more than to stay there, letting the hot water coat her body, easing her mind. But as the water grew cold, she knew she needed to get out. She knew Bruce needed her, and more importantly, she knew she needed him. She was not going to let this be like the last time, where a bit of uncertainty about the future made her run from him, scared to think he hadn't been as in love with her as she had been with him. She wanted them to face whatever happened together; she only hoped Ace would make a full recovery for both of their sanity.
As she stepped out of the bathroom, a warm towel wrapped around her body, a fresh bandage around the superficial wound from Ace's teeth, she knew things would be okay. They had to be.
Diana stepped into Bruce's bedroom, stopping when she saw him in the corner of the room, pacing as he spoke on his cell phone. She took a seat on the edge of his bed, watching as his brow furrowed momentarily, before he chuckled into the phone, amused at what the person on the other end had just said. He ran a hand through his hair and turned, stopping momentarily when he saw her in the room.
Diana watched as the corners of his eyes wrinkled as he smiled, his gaze focusing on her face as he continued to nod at what was said through the phone. "That sounds perfect," he said into the phone. There was another few seconds filled with silence on his end, until Bruce said, "Absolutely. I'll see it tomorrow," before he hung up the phone and walked over to the bed, taking a seat beside Diana on the edge of the mattress.
"Who was that?" she asked casually as she braided her wet hair, throwing it over her shoulder, letting it fall in between her bare shoulder blades when she was done.
Bruce tossed the phone onto the bed behind them, leaned over and kissed her shoulder. "Lucius," he said, placing his hand on her thigh as he loosened his tie, pulling it from his neck with a small sigh. "He's trying to find a way out of the deal," he confessed. "I should've listened to you. This was not a good idea."
Diana looked up at Bruce and shook her head, before she moved closer to him and placed her head on his shoulder. "He will fight you," Diana stated. "He will run your company into the ground, ruining the lives of all your employees. Bruce, it's too late for that."
Bruce turned and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I have protections put in place for all of them. Nothing is going to happen to anyone," he said.
Diana let out a sigh. "He will bankrupt you, Bruce," she whispered. "All you have of your family, he will take. He will take everything if you go back on this deal."
Bruce grabbed Diana's hand and laced their fingers together. "Not everything," he confessed.
Diana lifted her head from Bruce's shoulders, turning to let her eyes meet his. "It's me he wants," she confessed. "He wants me to work for him, but you know I can't do that."
Bruce nodded. "I know," he said. He reached over and gently cupped her face in his hand, letting his palm carefully caress her cheek, trying to ease her stress over what her father's plans for him would be. "Do you trust me?" he asked.
"Of course I do."
Bruce nodded once more. "Then that's all I need." He leaned in and kissed her, letting his lips linger on hers, reveling in the sensations her lips pressed against his brought. He pulled away from her, his eyes catching the slight look of disappointment on her face.
Diana stared at the man, her heart pounding in her chest as she focused on his lips. She wanted to kiss him again and again, letting her body get the attention it had craved since the first time he told her he loved her. She had wanted to take things slow this time, but the more she thought about it, the more she had realized it was entirely pointless. She knew this man better than most. She loved him, he loved her. To want to take things slow now was a moot point.
Diana's focus returned to Bruce's face, locking eyes with his, silently telling him that she was ready. She wanted to be with him, all of him. She wanted the good times, the bad times, the moments of anger, and the moments of pleasure. She was done with the secrecy, done with the fear of what that would mean at work. If people knew, then so be it. She wasn't going to live her life in the shadows anymore.
Bruce leaned down to kiss her once more, his hands falling to her hip, and pulled her closer. Diana placed her hands on his chest, unbuttoning his shirt, exposing the white tee hidden underneath. She soon found it hard to even finish the simple task when Bruce's lips left hers and found themselves on her neck, leaving soft kisses over the freshly showered skin. It had been far too long since she had felt his soft lips there, leaving light kisses in a carefully coordinated trail, settling at her collarbone, before beginning the torturous journey back down.
Bruce continued to kiss his way down her neck, listening to the small gasps that escaped her lips each time his lips brushed over her skin. He couldn't help but smirk when he felt her hands slow, lost in the sensations he was providing. It only stroked his ego to know he could still make her forget what she was doing with only a kiss. Finally, wanting to help Diana in her task, wanting to rid one of the layers between them, he reached down and unbuttoned his pants, pulling down the zipper as he kicked off his shoes, crashing his lips into Diana's as he ridded himself of his trousers.
Diana, having finally completed her task, yanked open Bruce's shirt, sliding both the shirt and his jacket up and over his shoulders, letting the clothing join his pants on the floor, before she pulled his undershirt up and over his head, adding it to the pile. She smirked, remembering how good it felt to touch a body like Bruce's. Her hands explored the muscles of his chest as their lips parted, their tongues battling for dominance.
In one swift movement, Bruce reached up and crooked a finger into the top of the towel Diana wore, pulling at the knot once, a smile on his face when it gave way, letting the towel join their ever growing pile on the floor. He pulled his lips from Diana's and looked at her, trying to remember the last time he had seen anything as beautiful as she. The scar on her left hip was faint, but it sent a chill down his spine when he remembered he had almost lost her; he never wanted to know that feeling again.
"You're so damn beautiful," he whispered as he stood, scooping her up into his arms, walking over to the side of the bed, before he placed her gently in the middle of the mattress. He quickly pulled off his socks, leaving him in just his boxers, as he joined her in the bed, his pelvis against hers as he braced his weight on his forearms.
Bruce leaned down and captured her lips with his, letting out a groan when Diana's hands found the muscles in his back, pushing his body even closer to hers. She moaned his name as her fingers grazed the skin on his back, her hips raising to grind into his. She obviously wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He quickly pulled his boxers off, trying to be as seamless as he could given the position he was in, dropping the article of clothing down onto the floor, before he placed his hands on Diana's thighs.
Her legs parted, allowing him to settle in between them, a gasp escaping his lips when he felt just how much heat was radiating from her core. "I love you," he whispered as he slowly pushed himself into her, one hand gripping her thigh, the other moving to tangle in the sheets as her body welcomed his.
"I love you too," Diana whispered between parted lips, arching her back, welcoming him. She watched as Bruce began a steady rhythm, their bodies remembering how well they fit together as if no time had passed.
Bruce leaned down and kissed the space in between her breasts, eliciting another moan from the woman, his body continuing its movements as he placed a trail of kisses up her throat to her lips. Time seemed to stand still, both of them caught up in each other, caught up in the moment, enjoying the intimacy they had craved for weeks. It wasn't long before they lost themselves, fully giving into each other, each moaning the others' name as they reached that peak nearly simultaneously.
The two laid together, panting as they tried to catch their breath. The last two weeks had been a whirlwind to say the least, but as they laid there, their fingers laced together, basking in the afterglow of sex, they knew that it was only the beginning of what was to come.