A two-shot fic I had in mind for a while; the second part should be up in a few days. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Unbeta-ed work, so all mistakes are mine.

High-school AU, no powers, BMWW

One Date

Part 1

It was all Steve's fault.

Diana had known the blonde teenager for five years now, after he had tumbled into their propriety on a bright sunny day and narrowly drowned in her pound. He'd been a scrawny boy back then, easily pursued by bullies. She had been pissed beyond words after the hundredth fallout with her mother and had needed something to hit. Bullies hadn't lingered and she had made her first boyfriend.

Emphasis on friend.

They frequented the same school, the same circles -while Diana, being a people person, had good contacts with over half her peers, Steve preferred remaining tight with his childhood buddies Sameer, Charlie, Napi and his neighbor Etta. It was natural that, being both bright students in studies and sports, good-looking and charismatic, people would assume they were dating.

They were certainly not.

Diana had her share of suitors after her body started turning into a woman's. Teenagers gawked at her as she walked by, boys and girls alike. She'd find letters in her locker –some sweet, some creepy, some downright insulting –fend off advances from the occasional jerks and try to show her perfectly non-interest in her best friend. So yes, they spent a lot of time together, spoke of everything and nothing, went out together occasionally and had sleepovers at his house –not hers, never hers, or Hippolyta would absolutely burst a vessel –a man under her roof! That did not mean she wanted to kiss him or share more than her smiles and platonic touches with him.

She knew Etta had a long-time crush on him and would suit him better. She also knew the unsubtle hints Charlie and Sameer would give at times about their non-existent couple made her, the other girl and Steve uncomfortable.

So when one of the most irritable guys she had ever known asked her out, Diana agreed.

It was, she reflected, a way to put an end to the general assumption that she intended to date her best friend. It would have been easier if said best friend made some effort to show his lack of interest in her, so this was indeed all Steve's fault. Though in retrospect, saying 'yes' to Bruce Wayne might have not been a smart choice.

If asked to describe Bruce Wayne, one would say the following: he was one rich kid, not quite bright but not dumb either, a true troublemaker and insanely gorgeous. He was also one of the worse skirt-chaser the school had ever known. Rumors said he'd dated half the girls of his year and above and slept with nearly as much. Though many guys had tried to break his nose out of revenge for stealing their girlfriend's or other reasons, Bruce was always backed up by his two best friends: Oliver Queen and Arthur Curtis. The former was an equally rich party-goer and the latter a well-known brawler, descending from European royalty.

Students had a love-hate relationship with the trio: while the three could be complete morons –especially Wayne, who had literally been elected 'Ass(hole) of the Year', they were also insanely popular. Guys wanted to be like them, girls wanted to be noticed by them and both sides would kill to get one sacred invitation to Oliver Queen's Saturday Night Fever.

Her agreement to go out with Wayne was truly a convenience; it hadn't stopped the whole school to gossip about it all week. Charlie and Sameer gave her the cold shoulder and Steve protested she definitively did not need to date a playboy to make her point. One date was no engagement, but given the fuss her friends made, she wondered if the endgame was worth it.

"Did I keep you waiting?"

Speak of the devil.

Diana looked up. There stood Bruce, tall and blue eyed and grinning like a mischievous boy. She glanced at his clothes: impeccable, from the fancy trainers to his black jeans and brown jacket. His hair in contrast was a total bird's nest with spikes and curly edges. He seemed in a relatively calm mood, compared to the days she had seen him at school.

"It's fine," she assured him and rose from the bench; they had agreed to meet at a park where he'd pick her up. "I haven't been here for long." His eyes sparkled and her heart skipped a beat. Bruce Wayne was a moron, but even Diana had to admit he could be irritatingly charming when he put his mind into it. Though she hid it better than most of the girls at school, she too harbored a little crush on the guy. "So, where are we headed?"

"I have a few ideas, but in the end the choice is yours. There's the Gotham Fair ongoing, or we can play it cool and walk around the lake."

The Gotham Fair had quite the reputation; even though Gotham itself wasn't the most recommendable city, the locals had done a great job where amusement parks were concerned. Thousands of people came every year to experiment the novelties -most of them, come to think of it, funded by Wayne Enterprises. It was the kind of outing the boys would enjoy. She wasn't quite surprised he offered the Fair, but the other suggestion did catch her attention.

"What lake?"

"It's a private lake on my propriety," he admitted. "It's nice to walk around on days like these."

Given the fondness in his voice, he often went there. Diana gave it some thought; she had always planned to explore Gotham Fair with her friends, but time and opportunity hadn't played in their favor. Steve had offered to go just the two of them once, but she had declined, thinking it was unfair for the others. On the other hand, she was a little tired of the noise. Back in her younger years when her family still lived in Greece, she would play and run on large expanses of sand and cliffs. Perhaps a change of scenery could do her some good. Still…

"Private propriety?" she repeated with a slight suspicion in her tone.

"No funny business," Wayne promised with his usual smirk, a hand solemnly raised in a boy scout's swearing gesture. Diana rolled her eyes.

"Let's go then."

One Date

While she had been skeptical, Diana had to admit the view was spectacular. The lake was large, clean and surrounded by sparse trees forming a barrier of woods. If she stared hard enough through the water, she could see the small fishes at the bottom. They walked in silence for the first part. Wayne didn't try to engage a conversation, didn't try to hold her hand. He kept his eyes set straight ahead, as if lost in deep thoughts. Anyone else she'd call shy, but Bruce Wayne was not shy. She was about to break the silence when he beat her to it:

"Your mom is Hippolyta Prince, right? As in, the CEO of Themiscyra?"

"Yeah." He made a grimace. "Why?"

"I just wanted to check whether I should be on the lookout for angry bodyguards or not."

If Hippolyta had known about her 'dating plans', Diana had no doubt Antiope or Philippus would be currently following them to ensure the safety of her virtue. Since she hadn't breathed a word of her outing with Wayne to her family, they were relatively safe on that regard.

"I'm surprised you're concerned about that," she said. "You've never been exactly worried when angry boyfriends came after you for stealing their girls."

Wayne snorted.

"In spite of what rumors say, I don't steal other's girlfriends. They come to me for some good time." At her dubious look, he rolled his eyes: "Sue me, I like getting laid. And I'm not in a relationship yet. I'll stop the day it happens but until then…" he shrugged. "I won't lie. I'm just a rich kid with a lot of issues and the reputation of an asshole, which I rightfully earned. I'm the guy who will ravish you in the locker room just because I can." He gave her an once-over that wasn't quite innocent. "You're gorgeous. But you're also smart and one of the last people who would consider hanging around me."

He stopped walking, so did she. The heat and intensity of his gaze rooted her on spot. He trailed a finger down her cheek, hung over the corner of her lips, and pushed a strand of her hair away from her face. It was barely a touch, just the brush of his skin on hers. It was enough to catch her breath and make her shiver.

"Tell me Diana, why did you really agree to go out with me?"

In that brief moment, Diana understood why so many girls threw themselves at him. Even without his good looks, his presence was magnetic. She never thought herself capable of feeling a spike of longing for someone she barely knew, but right here and now, with barely a touch of his finger on her face, he managed it. Her heart pounded louder. His face stood itches away from hers. She could feel his breath on her mouth. And the intensity of his eyes-

"I wanted to put a stop on these rumors that Steve and I were together," she admitted. "I thought agreeing to your date would send the message across."

Her answer was obviously not what he expected. As if broken from an unspoken spell, he pulled back. Only then Diana managed to breathe.

"And here I thought you had a row with Trevor and wanted to get back at him."

The charm was definitively broken as Diana suddenly wished she could hit something.

"Steve and I were not, are not and never will date!" she growled between gritted teeth. "For god's sake, I am not in love with him!"

"He is though." Wayne stated bluntly. "He is in love with you. That's why everyone assumes you two are together."

"He is not." She protested. She would notice if he had feelings for her, or he would have told her, right? They didn't hide from each other, didn't keep secrets. "He's my best friend."

"Whatever you say," Wayne dismissed her protest with a shrug. "But I know the look of a heartbroken guy when I see one, and when you said yes the other day, he definitively looked like you had just stabbed him in the guts."

"And you think it's funny?" she retorted hotly.

"It is sort of sad actually, but life isn't fair," he went on coolly. "Some people are born with privileges; others lose everything far too early. Everyone learns it eventually."

Diana hadn't expected him to be the cynical kind, but then remembered he had lost his parents at very young age in a most brutal manner. A little heartbreak must pale in comparison.

"It doesn't mean you can dismiss other people's hurting just because they don't equal yours," she shot, and immediately regretted it. Bruce barely batted an eye though and stared at her, startled.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I was being…Let's talk about something else," he said apologetically, which made her feel even worse. "What's your favorite color?"

The complete shift of subject caught her off-guard and even she had to smile.

"Oh please! If you have to know, it's red. What about you?"

He grinned, the mischievousness back in his eyes.

"Not the best start, but it's still a start. For the color, indigo. What about I tell you something little people know about me, and you do the same?"

"Deal; I'm listening."

He frowned, thinking for a while.

"I'm scared of bats," he eventually said.

Pause. Diana stopped walking, blinked at him, repeated:

"Bats?"

He shrugged.

"Long story, perhaps I'll tell you another day. You?"

Not a pleasant memory, Diana assumed. The walk resumed. She racked her brain for something she was willing to share.

"I'm a decent fighter," she said eventually. Steve knew, so did Napi. Charlie, Etta and Sameer had never seen her engaging anyone. But not many others outside of her family were aware she could take down a black belt.

"I'm not surprised," Bruce replied, much to her annoyance. "Your mother's company is specialized in body-guarding and training stuntmen and women. You would know a few things."

"Not necessarily," Diana retorted a little dryly. "I had to beg my mother for years. My aunt eventually agreed to train me in secret…and I turned out to be good at it," she concluded smugly.

"Swordsmanship or hand-to-hand?"

She couldn't help the smirk from spreading on her face.

"Both."

Her mother had found out too late, far after she got the taste for sparring. After that, she had been paired up with Artemis…Diana shoved the thought away. Thinking of Artemis would do her no good.

"In that case," Bruce interrupted thankfully. "Why don't we spare?"

"What?"

"I'm a decent fighter too," he picked a branch lying on the side road, lifted it, weighed it, and then threw it away. "Obviously it's just for fun-" he picked another one that seemed to meet his expectations. "-and as I don't have the real stuff at hand- there." He took a branch lying at the feet of a trunk. "This will have to do."

"You can't be serious," she said deadpan. The self-assured grin returned. "You are? Why would you have any skills?"

Though the words might have had offended anyone else, he merely shrugged them off.

"Fencing is a family tradition. As for hand to hand…there is a reason why Arthur hasn't won against me yet."

Now that was a boasting if she didn't recognize one. Curtis was a skilled brawler, but she had seen him fight before and knew she'd have the upper hand if they ever went against each other. Diana picked the stick he handed her and evaluated it quickly. Light but thick, long enough to be decent, well-balanced…it would do.

"Fine," she said reluctantly. Bruce exaggeratedly bowed and posed in an outrageous amateurish position.

"En garde!" he shouted with a silly grin. Diana chuckled as they faked-fenced, pretending to hit each other and dodge.

It had been years since she'd mock-played with another than her sisters-in-arms and the game felt relaxing. They crossed, parried, moved around each other in a clumsy dance, laughing and teasing under the guise of false attack. She liked that playful side of him, though felt a little uneasy that it showed right after a display of angst. She wondered what else she could find out about him if she stuck a little longer.

After a while, she realized that while he hadn't managed to touch her once, neither had she. Diana decided to up the game, became more aggressive and forward. Bruce saw through her moves and grinned as he matched her strike for strike.

Diana took a step back after blocking his advance. Thank the gods she had opted for a comfortable pair of jeans today.

"You are full of surprises, Mr. Wayne," she said, considering her next angle of attack.

"Surprise is my second name," he retorted. "Are you taking me more seriously?"

"Just a little," Diana retorted.

The wooden sticks were not made to bear professional sparring, but Diana was good enough to make due. After a few moments, she saw that while Bruce was a very decent adversary, he was nowhere near her level. She put an end to their exchange with a sharp straight hit in the middle of his stick. It neatly broke in half. Bruce stared at what was left of his 'weapon', then back at her. The awe on his face almost made her blush.

"I want a rematch sometime," Bruce declared as he threw his broken stick on the side. "Will it be acceptable for the next date?"

"Next date?" she echoed and pushed a sweaty strand of her hair away from her forehead. "Is this one already over?"

"Course not." He replied. His cheeks were flushed from the exercise and his sparkling eyes doing things to her heartbeat. "But it's a bit of a shame if we have to hold back. If I'd known, I would have brought you straight to the dojo."

Diana peeked up.

"You have a dojo?" she repeated, interested. "You'll definitively have to show me."

Bruce grinned. He was about to speak when her phone rang. Her mother's special tune.

Darn, Diana cursed and rose to check her coat. A quick apologetic glance to Bruce later, she picked up.

"Where are you?" Hippolyta Prince in all her rigid splendor, asked abruptly. She was currently overseas, touring in the European branch of her company. Diana would have gone if not for two important exams coming up soon.

"I'm out with a friend mother," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Did you want-"

"I need you to go to the Gotham hospital now. Your aunt Antiope relapsed, and the doctors say she might not make through the day."

One Date

Antiope had never left her hemophilia hinder her life. Though her family had developed an overly protective streak about her condition, especially since women rarely had this genetic malformation, her aunt had always been stubborn and a born fighter. When Hippolyta had taken over the family business at the death of their parents, investing in the potential of training women for the protection of private companies, Antiope had been the first to join. She hadn't stopped studying the arts of combat until she became the best and her sister's personal bodyguard. Her wife, Menalippe, had kept her from pushing herself too hard, but her dedication had paid off: her name was well-known in some circles and she forced admiration and respect.

Knowing she had injured herself yet again to the point of being hospitalized always brought Diana to hysterics. Antiope had been a second mother to her. Whenever Hippolyta had been held back or forced to leave her to attend her work, her aunt would take over and keep her by her side. She had taught her how to defend herself, how to manipulate the swords. She had convinced her mother of Diana's talent and pushed her hard to be one of the bests –if not the best. While Diana loved and respected the hell out of her mother, she also adored her aunt.

She closed her eyes and whispered a short prayer, begging whoever heard her to protect her life. The doctors had allowed her into her aunt's room, a bag of blood on her left. Antiope was asleep, put under until artificial coma in order for her to recuperate easier…and buy her some time.

Antiope had been training with new recruits again, and had accidentally been cut on the forearm. She hadn't tended it right away and underestimated the blood loss far too much. When she passed out, she had been transported to the nearest hospital in a rush. The bad news came under the lack of blood at disposal, as a recent surgery had required most of the reserve. And now, the doctors were scrambling to find more.

Everything had gone so fast since the phone call at the lake. Bruce had insisted to drive her to the hospital as her hands shook too hard, had stood beside her the entire time she waited and now had temporarily left to get them something to drink.

Diana took her aunt's hand, squeezed it gently. One day, Antiope's stubbornness would be fatal, and the idea scared her to no end.

"Here. It's an iced mocha, right?"

A plastic cup appeared in her vision. Bruce had returned.

"Thanks." She took the glass but didn't drink. "You don't need to stay, you know. If you have other things to do…"

"Do you want me to leave?"

Diana looked away from her aunt and met his gaze; he bore an expression that surprised her: compassion, not pity, and most startling, understanding. She swallowed heavily and looked away. She couldn't stand being alone right now. Menalippe was on her way, but she wouldn't reach the hospital until at least another three hours. She could have called her friends -Steve, Etta, anyone –but for some reason, she didn't think their presence would change anything. Though Bruce had been uncharacteristically quiet, his presence comforted her.

"Don't go," she whispered, and hated how weak she sounded. He picked her left hand, unfurled the tight fist, and wrapped it between his.

"She's pull through," he told her and given the conviction in his tone, she almost believed him. "The doctors managed to reach a donor. They're setting up the room for his arrival."

Diana's eyes widened in shock.

"Why haven't I been told-"

"It just happened," he interrupted gently before her ire could flame. "As I said, I just overheard them talking as I walked by. Someone should come in shortly."

His thumb ran over the back of her hand. She closed her eyes, let his touch sooth her. All of the emotions came crashing down and she felt tired.

"Come here," he incensed and pulled her against his chest. He was warm and solid and smelt like lime. His arms cradled her shoulders as he tucked her head under his chin and ran a calming hand in her back. "It's going to be fine," he repeated. "She'll pull through."

Diana did not know why she let him comfort her like a child but she didn't care. Perhaps it was the look he had given her earlier, but she trusted him not to take advantage in the moment and relaxed in his embrace. She didn't realize she'd fallen asleep till the beeping machines roused her. When she opened her eyes again, Bruce was nowhere to be seen. He had moved her onto the bed, arms crossed under her chin. Given the cramp in her neck, it had been a while. When she glanced at the clock, the needles indicated seven thirty. They had arrived a little after three.

No wonder why he'd left.

The pang of disappointment in her chest surprised her. She brushed it aside and slowly stood back. There was a paper next to her hand.

'Something came up, had to go. Still at the hospital. Call me if you need a ride back. B'

Diana glanced at her aunt, still unconscious. Color had returned to her face and she seemed more at peace. When she touched her hand, her skin felt warmer. Diana couldn't help the smile growing on her face. Bruce was right; she would pull through.

"She's been lucky this time."

"Aunt Menalippe."

The dark-haired woman's lips were tight in a thin line, looking exhausted. Diana rose to greet her and was engulfed in a strong embrace. The older woman was trembling, just as scared.

"Far too close," Menalippe went on quietly. "If only she could level up just a little."

"Antiope would never," Diana said. "But she'll be fine, she received what she needed in time."

"Yeah, out of pure luck," Menalippe retorted. "The doctor said the donor was in the hospital for a visit when he overheard them talking and promptly offered his blood. He saved her life, Di. If he hadn't been there…"

Diana closed her eyes and tightened her hold around her aunt.

"Let's not talk about that. She's safe now, it's all that matters."

The sight of such a tough woman on the edge of breaking destabilized her, but Diana knew she had to keep her mind in the game. It was her turn to be the strong one; she had her breaking moment hours earlier with Bruce. Her cheeks flushed slightly at the memory of his arms around her and his calming words. She would have never thought him capable of empathy given his usual behavior, but it seemed that there were many more layers to him.

"You should head home now," Menalippe said once they parted. She had regained some control over her emotions. "You've been here long enough, and Antiope is healing. You should rest. Your mother will be there early tomorrow. I would drive you back, but I came in a taxi from the airport…"

"It's fine," Diana assured her. "I have a friend who will give me a ride. He should still be around."

"The Wayne boy?" Menalippe inquired. When Diana showed her surprise, the woman added: "He was there when I arrived. I asked him to leave, as his services were no longer needed."

Diana scolded.

"He brought me here and stayed with me for hours. Dismissing him was not polite."

"I didn't like the way he looked at you." Her aunt replied dryly. "Don't think I am not aware of his reputation. The young recruits here mentioned him when I trained them last time."

"He's not so bad," she protested. "A bit…volatile, but I've known worse."

Menalippe stared at her.

"You like him."

"He's not so bad," Diana repeated, but couldn't meet her aunt's eyes.

"You are still too young for a relationship." Menalippe declared with a hint of finality. "No matter what Antiope may say, neither I nor your mother approve of you dating –especially that boy."

"It's a good thing I am old enough to make my own choices." Bruce's reputation might play in her aunt's judgment, but then Menalippe hadn't seen what she had this afternoon. "I'm not going to jump in bed with him," she added dryly; though he would undoubtedly welcome her. Many girls he'd dated had only wanted some fun between the sheets and she could definitively see the appeal of his large, strong hands wandering over…Embarrassment replaced the anger and she chased the naughty thoughts away. Now was not the time. "I don't know him that well." She concluded awkwardly.

"I see." Menalippe was unmoved.

"Can't we speak of something else now?"

"What else do we have to speak of?"

Diana groaned inwardly. She suspected this was a cheap ploy to push her to return home faster, and it was working. She picked up her jacket and folded it underneath her arm.

"Fine, I'll go. I'll call a taxi or something."

Her aunt nodded firmly.

"Do that. And thank you, for coming."

Diana smiled tiredly and left the room. She reached the corridor and took her phone. Bruce did write he was staying…she might as well try. She dialed his number and let ring. Once. Twice. Three times. Four-

"Hello?"

The wave of relief she felt brought another urge to cry. She didn't know if he had left yet, but hearing his voice sounded…comforting.

"Hey, it's me," she said, feeling a bit awkward. "Does your offer still stand?"

"My offer? Oh, the ride back? Yes, yes of course. I'll be- HEY!"

A loud commotion was heard as a series of giggles and muffled laughs replaced the young man's voice.

"Hello, who is this?" a girl asked. For a brief moment, Diana felt a surge of anger rise within. He had left her to join more entertaining company? She was about to hang up in anger when a young boy's voice shouted in the background:

"Bruce has a girl on the phone!"

More chatter came to converge behind.

"Is it your girlfriend?" a second boy asked.

"Bruce has a girlfriend!" the first boy went on loudly.

"Barbara! Jason! Tim! Give me that back!" Bruce shouted. Sounds of wrestling happened, like a fierce battle for the phone was occurring. Bruce seemed to eventually win as his voice became a lot more prominent. "I swear this is the last time you're stealing my phone. Stuff it now!"

Diana bit back a smile.

"Stuff it?" the second boy –Tim- repeated.

"I think he wants to say 'fuck off' but can't because it'd be rude," a third boy said, and she could hear the smirk in his tone.

"If I'm troubling you-" she started.

"No, not at all – I'm at the children's ward."

The children's ward?

"I know where it is," she said. "I could join you there."

"Sure. I'll warn Leslie you're on your way. See you in a min–JASON I SWEA-"

The conversation was fully interrupted this time.