TITLE: Stay

AUTHOR: LOTSlover

CHARACTERS: Batman / Wonder Woman

RATING: M

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

DISCLAIMER: I love Justice League, but especially Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I do not own the characters and, if I did, things would be much different for them.

SUMMARY: Set during the end of Justice League, Bruce and Diana make plans for the future, but do they share the same plans? Wonderbat Event 2021 #CelebrateTheSnyderCut

Stay

"Big, round table…six chairs…right there," Bruce envisioned, holding his hand out where he pictured it all taking place.

"But room for more," Diana added as she came to stand next to him, looking at him with wonder shining in her eyes.

They had done it. Together, they'd managed to pull powerful people from all over to make a team. They had made a difference and saved the world in the process. It had felt amazing being a part of something so special and unique again. Now, they had plans to expand and make a difference wherever needed.

"But room for more," Bruce agreed with a slight nod, giving Diana a soft smile before looking back over the expansive room. A grim expression suddenly masked his face. "God help us."

The future was beginning to look brighter than it had in a long time and he knew that Diana was a big part of that reason…at least to him. At the same time, he couldn't help the gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach telling him that this was just the beginning of something much bigger than anything they'd ever seen before.

Shaking off the feeling of dread, Bruce could feel Alfred's stare boring into him from behind as if trying to will him into doing or saying something. The nosy butler needed to mind his own business instead of worrying about his lack of a love life or any social life for that matter.

"I think I'm going to take this opportunity to assess the kitchen," Alfred decided, giving Bruce a pointed look before turning to walk out of the room with his hands in his pockets. "I'm sure it's a shameful shamble in dire need of immediate repair."

Bruce turned back towards Diana, searching for the words he'd been wanting to say to her. What he wanted to ask of her was enormous. He wrestled with whether he had the right to even ask her. At the same time, he knew he wanted it more than anything.

Diana gave him a small smile as she moved to stand beside him. She gazed out over the expansive room, her eyes dancing with excitement. She inhaled deeply, the musty smell of the historic manor invading her senses. It was a scent that she had long grown accustomed to in her field of work.

"I'm anxious about getting renovations started," she told him. "It's a beautiful mansion, Bruce. I'm surprised that you didn't start the restoration process sooner."

Bruce walked over to a nearby wall, reaching his hand out. He lightly ran his fingers over the worn wallpaper, curling in places and covered with a thick layer of dust. It caused a pang of sorrow to well inside of him seeing how dilapidated his family home had become. His parents would roll over in their graves if they knew how he had let it go.

"It's been…difficult," he quietly confessed, his gaze growing distant as he became lost in the pain of the past. "Too many memories. Too big for a single man."

Diana made her way towards him, laying a hand on his forearm. "Bruce, if this is too difficult for you…"

"No, it's time," he quickly interrupted her, turning to give her a forced smile. "It's time to drag this old manor out of the past and into the present…to give it a purpose for the future. Besides, I'm happy that it can be used for a grander goal than hosting galas and garden tea parties."

The corner of Diana's lips quirked, noticing the teasing tone with his last statement. "I don't know, Bruce," she playfully replied as she wandered to the middle of the ballroom floor. "I think it might be fun to have a gala here."

Bruce watched as she teasingly turned around in a circle as if she were dancing with an imaginary partner. He made his way to her, a smile tugging at his lips with her coquettishness. He didn't think he could bear for her to return to Paris, but was it asking too much to request that she stay?

"I'll call the contractor tomorrow and have him get started on the renovations as soon as possible," he replied. "I'm afraid I'm going to be relying on your expertise when it comes to decorating and restoring the manor. Once it's restored, maybe we can have a ball or two here."

She smiled warmly at him before aimlessly strolling around the room. "I'd be more than happy to help you," she agreed. "We can decide on the style you want and then we can go from there as far as decorating it."

"I'd like that," he agreed as he walked around with her.

She went to one of the full-length windows, opening the curtains to allow some sunlight in. A thick cloud of dust escaped the material, sending particles flying into the air as well as cobwebs. Diana sneezed, waving the dust from her face with a chuckle.

"Okay, that was probably not a good idea," she decided with a laugh, using her hand to dissipate the cloud of dust that surrounded her.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I guess I should've had a cleaning crew come through here before we started exploring it."

"Nonsense," she told him, brushing the dust off her dress. "After all these years in Man's World, you'd think I would've been expecting it."

Bruce laughed along with her, studying her as he searched for the words that he wanted to say. "Diana, I was wondering…" he began, only to abruptly stop and start again. He paused to rub the back of his neck, giving himself a moment to gather his thoughts once more. "You see I was thinking…I don't know what you were planning, but…what I'm trying to say…"

"Bloody hell!" Alfred's voice carried from the hallway. "Master Bruce wants to know if you would stay here in Gotham!"

Bruce stared at Diana, feeling exposed and vulnerable at that moment…feelings he detested more than anything in this world. Diana gave him an endearing smile as he closed the distance between them. He came to a stop before her, reaching out to pull a cobweb from her hair.

"I know…it's asking a lot," he told her, finding it difficult to get out what he wanted to say. "It's probably too much to expect. I mean you already have your life and your work in Paris that I'm sure you're anxious to return to. Now, I'm asking you to uproot everything and move to Gotham. You know what…just forget I even—"

Her forefinger came to rest against his lips. "Ask me," she interrupted him, a tender expression gracing her face as she gazed deeply into his chestnut brown eyes.

Bruce exhaled softly, his breath and his thoughts deserting him with the feel of her finger against his mouth. Her proximity wasn't helping any either. "Stay," he requested, allowing her a glimpse into his damaged soul and hoping that he didn't scare her off.

"I'd love to," she replied with a curl of her lips.

"Really?" he said as his eyes momentarily widened, stunned by her response. "You would?"

"Yes," she confirmed with a nod. "I've been feeling that I need a change. I've been in Paris for long enough and I think Gotham might be a good fit. Besides, we have a lot of work to do, Mister Wayne. We can hardly do that if I'm clear across the ocean in another country."

"I can help you get set up in an apartment if you like," he offered. "I own a lot of real estate."

"She can stay in the guest room at the lake house until then," Alfred added from the hallway.

Bruce looked over his shoulder, scowling at the Englishman with a pointed glare. "I was just about to suggest that."

Alfred merely gave him a cheeky grin before walking away to allow them some privacy.

"I don't want to intrude or be an inconvenience," she replied. "I know how much your privacy means to you."

"No, it's no inconvenience," he quickly reassured her. "I'd love to have you, Diana…I mean we'd love to have you."

"Smooth, Master Bruce," Alfred interjected.

"Don't you have something you could be doing?" Bruce demanded to know.

Diana bit back a chuckle, dipping her head to hide her amusement. She never thought that she'd see the debonair Bruce Wayne so flustered talking to a woman. They'd shared witty repartee at the gala where he had accused her of stealing his hard drive, showing a rather sharp tongue and quick comebacks…that was until she rendered him speechless.

"Why don't we eat lunch and discuss things?" she suggested, slipping her arm through his and walking to where Alfred waited for them in the foyer.

"I have a lovely lunch awaiting us at the lake house," Alfred confirmed, leading the way to the front door. "We can hammer out all the details there."

XXX

Bruce awoke from a dream that had been quite pleasant for once. He knew the reason why too. He sat up in bed, something telling him that he needed to go outside. Throwing the covers off of him, he climbed out of bed and wandered out to the back patio.

That was where he was greeted by a green alien.

He knew that he should be shocked by what he saw floating in the air before him, but nothing surprised him much at this point. He'd seen far too much…endured too much to have something like this unsettle him. Five years ago, it would've been a completely different story.

"Can I help you?" he asked him.

"I'm sure you know Darkseid is not finished with Earth," the strange visitor revealed, his arms folded against his chest. "The anti-life equation is here somewhere. We have to find it before he does. There's a war coming and I'm here to help."

"I'm sorry," Bruce said, shaking his head. "Who are you again?"

"I've gone by many names and taken many forms," he replied, "and like you, I've realized I have a stake in this world and it's time I started fighting for it."

"Well…well, we can definitely use the help so…glad you're here," Bruce told him.

"You know I never thought I'd see the defenders of Earth united and fighting as one," he said with a sense of awe in his voice. "It wouldn't have happened without you, Bruce. Your mother and father would be proud."

Bruce glanced down with the mention of his parents, finally looking up to meet the alien's steady gaze. "I hope so."

"Well, I'll be in touch," he informed him as he turned to leave. "Oh, and some have called me the Martian Manhunter."

Bruce watched as the Martian Manhunter lifted into the sky, muttering under his breath, "I guess I'll see you around."

Turning to head back inside the house, he returned to his bed just as Diana came around the corner with two cups of coffee. She smiled at him as she crawled into bed with him, handing him a cup. "Who were you talking to?"

"A new ally," he replied, pausing to take a sip of his coffee. "I think we're going to need more chairs."

She took a drink of her coffee before setting it aside on the bedside table. Turning, she settled against the pillows to hear more of what he'd just learned. "Who is it?"

"He calls himself Martian Manhunter," he revealed, his cup coming to rest on his bedside table as well. "Never thought I'd meet a real Martian, but then again, I never thought I'd meet an Amazon warrior or an Atlantean king."

Diana chuckled softly as she reached out to gently stroke the stubble that had appeared along his jaw. "And now?" she ventured.

"I never would've imagined that I'd capture the attention of the most beautiful woman in the world," he replied, his love for her reflecting in his eyes. "I had no idea that life could be this amazing until I met you."

She tilted her head and captured his lips in a passionate kiss that he quickly responded to. He shifted his body to lay on top of her, kissing her until they were both breathing hard. He pulled back enough to look into her eyes, his hands beginning to roam over the curves that he was just becoming familiar with.

"I'm glad you stayed," he murmured, his lips grazing hers.

"Me too," she agreed, grinning up at him. "The guest room was nice, but this is much better."

Bruce laughed a deep, rolling sound that she felt in her chest. "That didn't last long," he reminded her.

"Four nights?" she guessed.

"More like two and a half," he replied, his mouth beginning a thorough exploration of her throat and collarbone.

"Let's stay here a while longer," she murmured with a contented sigh.

"We have a meeting with the contractor at the manor in an hour."

"I think we can be a little late," she readily decided, her hand slipping around to the back of his neck and pulling him into a heated kiss that readily made up his mind for him. Of course, the fact that she was pulling his t-shirt off didn't leave him much room to argue.

"And to think, you look so innocent," he lightly teased, an amused twitch at the corner of his mouth.

She lifted her long legs to wrap around his waist, effectively trapping him against her body. They lost themselves in each other once more, clothing being thrown to the floor and quickly forgotten in the wake of the intensifying passion that was growing hotter between the two lovers.

He finally slid inside of her, gasping with the feelings and sensations that attempted to overwhelm him. Being with her was better than anything he'd ever known before. He hadn't dared to hope that asking her to stay would have led him to this, but he was more than happy that it did.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this! As soon as I finish Family Crisis, I'm going to do a DCEU fic that follows the ZSJL movie. :)