A/N: I wrote this fanfic back in April on a different site (I'm pretty sure it was one of the first wonderbat ZSJL fanfictions), but I'm just getting around to posting it on here. I only have one more story to upload to this site, then everything else I publish will be stories I've been working on in real-time. Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Justice League or DC Comics characters and/or material. Trust me, if I did, Wonderbat would've been a thing much sooner.

A True Love

Bruce abruptly woke up in his large bed, his heart feeling as if it was about to beat right out of his chest. Bruce wiped the sweat off of his forehead, wondering where this dream came from this time.

It was like the other 'premonition' he experienced in the Batcave while researching potential members of the Justice League. It was an apocalyptic world, where the land was turned into a wasteland and Gotham was in ruins. He was on a highway, hiding from Parademons that seemed to be searching for him. He wasn't alone, however. Barry, Victor, Mera, and someone who looked like an assassin was with him. He also could not forget the Joker there as well.

Bruce knew that it would take an apocalypse in order to make him and Joker take the same side, as there would be no way that Joker would ever do something that would actually help the world. Bruce shudders as he remembers the last part of his dream, where he saw Superman facing him with glowing red eyes, seemingly ready to strike Batman dead where he stood. That was when he finally was awakened from his dream.

While Bruce did not want to admit it out loud, there was another factor that was nagging at him about his dream. Where was Diana? He knew that with how close they had become through teaming up and creating the league that they were good friends. However, in this post-apocalyptic world, she was nowhere to be seen. Had he done something to drive her away, like he had with all his other friends and family? Or worse, was she somehow killed in the fight to try and save Earth?

Bruce squeezes his eyes shut to get that last thought out of his head. He cannot fully explain why, but the thought of Diana dying chills him to the bone. He knows that he will do whatever is necessary to keep her alive at all costs, even if that means sacrificing himself in the end.

Diana is someone that Bruce knows can take on the pressure of leading such a prestigious team of heroes and continue on the League for years to come. He was just a normal human with at most ten years left before he either dies on the field or will be forced to hang up the cowl for good. Bruce knows that if it comes down to either Diana or him, he has to be the one to sacrifice himself for the future of the world's safety.

Bruce knows that the world's safety is not the only reason for his obsession in protecting Diana. He knows that she can definitely handle herself in almost any situation, but for some reason he goes out of his way to make sure that no harm comes to her.

Bruce thinks back to the final battle against Steppenwolf and how he risked his life to take over the Parademons' main defense cannon in order to protect Diana's back while she advanced to the main stronghold. His heart still beats faster when he remembers the look she gave him, a look that is almost a secret gesture between the two of them.

Hearing a loud sonic boom coming outside of his window, Bruce silently groans as he rolls out of bed.

"Clark's back already? What does he want now, more of Alfred's tea?" Bruce grumbles under his breath. Superman had visited the Lake House a few times since the team had defeated Steppenwolf. He brought Lois a few times, but mostly Clark would engage in conversation with Bruce.

Bruce will never admit it, but he really enjoys having Clark's company. He has been a great person to talk about current issues with the world, and while Superman does not compare to Bruce's intellect level, his investigative reporter mindset gives Bruce an outlet to talk about some topics both of them are interested in.

While Bruce still feels slightly guilty about being involved in Clark's death, the burden has definitely been lifted off of his shoulders seeing Superman back to his old self. He knows that Lois was destroyed at Clark's death, and Bruce would silently check in on her to make sure she was always taken care of without her noticing, such as paying for her rent and groceries for the time she took off from the Planet. He even continued to pay her full salary even though she was not working.

Bruce feels content that Lois is finally back in the arms of her fiancé. However, he has a slight hole in his heart at seeing Clark and Lois so happy. It reminds Bruce of what he once had a long time ago with Selina, however that was in a different lifetime that Bruce will happily put behind him after all the heartbreak she caused him.

Going out onto his porch to see what Clark wants, Bruce was shocked to see a green alien float down upon his deck.

Walking up to the alien, Bruce saw that he seemed to be expecting something from him. He was slightly taller than Bruce, and his eyes actually glowed a dark red color. He was dressed in some type of uniform, with a red X going across his torso.

"Can I help you?" Bruce asks skeptically, yet calm.

"I'm sure you know Darkseid is not finished with Earth," the green alien said as more of a statement rather than a question. "The Anti-Life Equation is here somewhere. We have to find it before he does. There is a war coming, and I'm here to help."

Bruce slightly shakes his head, willing his drowsiness to go away so he could actually focus on the being in front of him. "I'm sorry, who are you again?"

"I've gone by many names, and have taken many forms" the green alien began. "And like you, I realized that I have a stake in this world, and it's time I started fighting for it."

"Oh," Bruce answered while slightly nodding his head, thinking about how that did not answer his original question in the slightest bit. "Well, we could definitely use the help. So, glad you're here," Bruce replied.

The alien takes a brief glance at Bruce before responding. "You know, I never thought I'd see the defenders of Earth united and fighting as one. It wouldn't have happened without you, Bruce. Your mother and father would be proud," the alien replied.

Bruce is taken aback by his comments. He cannot help but hope that his mother and father would be proud of what he was able to accomplish not only in Gotham, but also for the world in their namesake. He was also hoping that a certain teammate respected what he was able to do.

Bruce looked at the floor of his deck for a few moments in silence before looking back up to the alien. "I hope so," Bruce responds with a slight nod, not trusting his voice to say anymore for the fear of it breaking.

The two sit in silence for a few moments, heavy emotions flowing through both of them. While Bruce was still trying to recover from the feeling of sorrow in his heart he always feels when his parents are mentioned, he also was fighting with some unusual emotions regarding a certain female teammate he has.

"I can sense that your mind is running rampant, Bruce. And I can tell that it is not just from your parents," the alien replied.

"Are you able to see my thoughts?" Bruce asked, slightly concerned that this unknown being was able to see what he was thinking.

"To confirm your suspicions: yes, Bruce, I am a telepath," the green alien began. "However, I am not able to see very far into your thoughts. From my limited time on Earth, you are one of the first beings that I have encountered whose mind I cannot fully read. It is due to the strength of both your mind and will that you are able to block me out without even realizing it."

"I sense there is a 'but' coming somewhere?" Bruce said sarcastically.

"However," the green alien started, "it does not require a telepath to see you currently struggling with certain emotions. I saw you fighting together, Bruce. I know that you are currently conflicted in your thoughts about your feelings for Diana," the alien calmly stated as if everyone in the world knew about Bruce's inner struggle.

"I would say 'I don't know what you're talking about', but since you can partially read my mind I guess there is no point to that," Bruce joked.

"You have a heavy burden being put onto you, Bruce. As much as you tell yourself that you are not, everyone sees you as the leader of this team," the alien commented. "They look up to you, believing that you can lead them to victory no matter the odds. That is an extreme amount of pressure being put onto someone even with your caliber of skills, Bruce. You do not have to carry this weight on your own."

"What do you mean by that?" Bruce asked, curious as to what this being thought of the League.

"I'm saying that there are others who care for you deeply that want to help you, Bruce. They do not want to see you struggle, and they are willing to dedicate themselves to helping you make sure the League will become a beacon of hope for the world," the green alien stated.

Bruce looked down to the ground, contemplating as to who the alien could be referring to. "I know Alfred will always be there for me. He always has been, and always will be. I've dragged him into this dark life I've created, and he has stuck by me this whole time. For that, I'm forever grateful to him," Bruce replied, not making eye contact with the alien.

"I agree with you that Alfred is a valuable friend to have. However, he is not the only one I am referring to," the alien cryptically replied.

Bruce abruptly looked up, straight at the green alien. He was at a loss for who else the alien could be referring to. His life has always left him alone, past relationships between friends, adopted sons, and even a woman were destroyed due to his life as Batman.

He could not imagine who would want to continue in this life with him besides Alfred. The only other person that has ever been as devoted as Bruce to a cause was...

Suddenly, it clicked with Bruce.

"Diana," Bruce said, his expression portraying disbelief.

"That is correct. Diana is a strong and capable woman. She may not express it verbally, but she wants the best for the world and for you. She can be of great assistance in developing the League," the alien said. "You are not the only one with conflicted thoughts, Bruce. I have attempted to read the thoughts of every member in the League. She is experiencing the same problem as you: trying to figure out what part you have in her life."

Bruce once again looked down to the ground, his emotions in a tailspin at the moment. "I wish that were true. However, we both know that can't be possible. Trevor is still who she loves," Bruce said, the anguish fully apparent in his voice.

"While you are correct that the pilot was her first love, that does not necessarily mean that he was her true love. You can also vouch for this as well. Can you confidently say that Selina is the love of your life?"

Bruce looked back up to the alien, knowing that he could not say that Selina was his true love. While Selina would always have a place in his heart, he knew that he could never fully love her. There were too many issues between the two of them: her not giving up her thieving ways even after they married and her wanting him to retire from being Batman. Their differences are what led to the divorce and the removal from each other's lives almost ten years ago.

Bruce wondered however: if Diana did truly care for him and they engaged in a relationship, how would he know that it would not turn into the same heartbreak that he experienced with Selina?

Bruce knew, however, that this was a question that should not even be asked. Diana accepts him for who he is, both as Batman and Bruce Wayne. She understands the drive he has for his mission in saving Gotham, as she has one of her own in spreading the Amazonian ideals to the modern world. Bruce knew that a life with Diana would be something out of a fairy tale, but the question was if she actually did want a life with him.

Seeing that Bruce was lost in thought, the alien decided that he had left Bruce with enough to think with. "Talk to her, Bruce. You need each other far more than you both can imagine. Your parents would not want you to fight this battle alone. " the green alien said, snapping Bruce out of his thoughts.

Bruce did not verbally respond, instead just briefly nodding while he took in what the green alien was saying.

"Well, I'll be in touch," the green alien said with a small smile. He turned away to prepare to leave when he remembered one more thing. "Oh, and some have called me the Martian Manhunter."

The Martian Manhunter nodded at Bruce, and he watched as the green Martian took to the sky to return where he came from.

"I guess I'll see you around," Bruce replies to the retreating form of the Martian Manhunter. He turns back into his Lake House, shaking his head as he thought about all that occured in the past ten minutes.

While there was much to take in regarding this Martian Manhunter's visit, one thing stood apart from everything Bruce had learned today. He could analyze and develop plans for what the martian said, however there was one thing he had to do as soon as possible.

He needed to talk to Diana.

X X X

Alfred opened the front door of the Lake House, not surprised to see Diana standing on the other side of it. Bruce had told him that Diana was coming over for dinner, and he requested for Alfred to prepare a formal Grecian-style dinner.

"Good Evening, Ma'am. It's always wonderful to have your presence in the house," Alfred said.

"Thank you, Alfred. It is always good to see you, as well," Diana says with a bright smile. Alfred takes her coat from her and walks off to go put it in the closet.

Diana looks around the entrance to the Lake House, noticing the modern art that adorns the walls. While it is not as royal as Wayne Manor was in its prime, it still has a certain elegance to it that reflects the house's owner. She was admiring a certain piece of artwork when a voice broke her out from behind her.

"Glad you could make it, Princess," a deep baritone voice called from behind her.

Turning around to look at the entrance hallway, Diana's breath unconsciously hitched in her throat as her eyes gazed upon one of the most handsome man she had ever seen in the century that she had been hidden in Man's World.

Bruce was leaning on the wall at the beginning of the hall in a black button down shirt with matching dress pants that only hinted at the muscular body underneath that could make some gods jealous. His slightly-graying dark brown hair was done in a style that made it seem more natural instead of artificial. His dark brown eyes were gazing at her with that alluring smirk that always made the butterflies in her stomach flutter.

Bruce had to lean against the wall when he first arrived to greet Diana as he was worried that his legs would give out on him due to the goddess before him. Diana was dressed in semi-casual clothes, which for her consisted of a flowing steel-blue colored sleeveless V-neck sundress with a tie going around her waist that only added to the dress's allure. The dress only came to about mid-thigh, leaving her long, toned legs out in the open for Bruce to silently gawk at. The V-neck and the waist tie only accented her gorgeous feminine frame, and it took all of Bruce's willpower to keep himself from falling at her feet in worship.

"Princess?" Diana asked with a confused expression, yet a slight smirk on her lips portrayed her amusement.

"Yeah, well, um, you're the Princess of the Amazons, so I thought that would be a good moniker for you," Bruce replied sheepishly, being caught off guard with Diana's question. Truth be told he had no idea why he called her 'Princess'. In reality, she just exudes such royal attributes that one would be hard pressed to not call her a royal name.

Diana slightly chuckled at how she was able to make the great Batman stutter in his wording. It was a sort of game between the two of them, trying to see if one could outdo the other.

She never felt a connection like this with another man in her entire life. Even in the short amount of time she had with Steve, they never developed the type of chemistry that she has with Bruce since what seemed like the time he first confronted her in the museum. The feelings she experienced with Bruce barely feel similar to what she felt with Steve. She feels a much stronger relation to Bruce, as if he is somehow connected to her very soul. It is a strange yet peaceful and inviting feeling to Diana, and she is desperate to explore what it means.

"'Princess, huh? You know, I actually kinda like it," Diana joked to Bruce, watching as the tension from the awkward situation left his shoulders.

"Well, Princess, I'm glad to see you," Bruce replied with a smile.

"As am I, Bruce," Diana replied. "You told me that there was something that you wanted to talk about?"

"Yeah, there is something important that I have been wanting to talk with you about for this past week, but I haven't been able to until today," Bruce said, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to explain his reasoning for inviting her over without completely ruining everything. "We can talk about it after dinner, though."

"Bruce, if it's so important then why don't we just talk right now?" Diana asked, confused about what he wanted to talk about.

'She wastes no time', Bruce thought in his head. "Yeah, sure. Let's go sit out in the entertainment room," Bruce replied as steadily as possible, trying his best to not seem unbalanced at this change in his plans.

He led Diana through the Lake House, trying to think on how he would approach the subject of why he invited her over. He kept thinking back to the Martian's words on how there is no one better to allow in his life than Diana. Looking to his right and seeing the battle-hardened Amazon that still has an innocence to her, he knew that he could not agree with the Martian's words more. She could so easily fit into his world and vise-versa, giving him the life that he had thought he would never see due to his mission to protect Gotham.

Arriving in the entertainment room, Bruce motioned to the large grey couch that sat in the middle of the room. Bruce and Diana both sat directly in the middle of the coach. If Bruce was to shift his left leg barely two inches to the left, his leg would be brushing up against Diana's bare knees.

Neither Bruce nor Diana were willing to talk at the current moment. Diana was too busy wondering what Bruce wanted to talk to her about, while Bruce was contemplating the best way to approach the situation.

Diana decided to break the silence. "Bruce, what did you want to tell me?" Diana asks.

Bruce looks up into the mahogany-colored eyes that seem to be looking straight into his soul. Sitting this close to her, it is impossible for him to not be enthralled by her beauty.

Suddenly, Bruce feels a hand slip into his and lightly grip it. He briefly looks down to their joined hands before he returns his gaze back to her eyes.

"You can tell me anything, Bruce. There's nothing that you can say that will make me think anything less of you. I know who you are on the inside, and that is someone that I know can truly do no evil," Diana said, her words full of truth and a hidden emotion that Bruce could not yet identify.

Sighing, Bruce looked back down at their joined hands for a fleeting moment, thinking about how close they have become since Clark's death at the hands of Doomsday. They both worked closely together during that time, planning ways in order to develop a team that could take on the threat they both knew was coming.

Bruce remembers those small instances where the lines between teammates and something else became slightly blurred. He thinks back to the time when they were researching Aquaman, when they both reached for the Batcomputer's mouse at the same time. He can still remember the spark that flew through him when their hands touched, as if it was giving him a new life.

Looking back into Diana's eyes that were desperate for Bruce to tell her what was on his mind, Bruce finally decided to just speak from his heart.

"Diana, these past few months have been an eye opening experience for me. I always believed that I could do everything on my own, protecting Gotham and the world from the horror that I experienced as a kid. After Clark's death, I realized that I couldn't do this alone, not anymore. It's when I realized that I had to start accepting help from others, such as you," Bruce said with complete sincerity.

"I was in a dark place before I first met you. I truly believed that there was nothing but evil in this world. After the three of us teamed up for the first time to battle Doomsday, I realized that I didn't have to do this alone. There were people out there that wanted the same thing as me: to keep the world safe," Bruce continued.

"In these past few months, you have brought so much light into my life by just being yourself. I used to live in a dark world alone by myself, but you opened me up to accepting your help. And during the time we've been working together, something else was developing which never made it to the forefront of my mind until recently," Bruce started.

Diana was staring at Bruce in silence. Almost everything that he said, about he lost all hope on a world which she believed was inherently evil, how she was the light in the dark world that he lived in, and how something else was developing between them could be mirrored to herself.

Ever since her exile from Man's World almost a century ago, she had lost hope that the world would ever be saved. Once she met Bruce, however, she saw that there were still men that were good, who were willing to fight in order to save the world from destruction. Seeing Bruce's faith in the world restored her own faith. Bruce became her anchor on the world without her even realizing it.

Diana also was experiencing something with Bruce that she had never felt for a man in a long time. She was afraid to call it love, as the last time she loved someone they were killed in front of her eyes. But she knew that this was a much stronger feeling than what she experienced with Steve. Throughout the past few months that they have been working together to develop the League, Diana was not unaware of the sparks that flew between them, the sudden tension that would occur during certain moments, or the fluttering in her stomach when he looked at her and said her name.

Seeing that Diana was not going to comment, Bruce decided to go all in. "There have been fleeting moments in these past few months, moments that made me question my emotions regarding you. I pride myself on being strong willed, however whenever you and I are in the same room together, I have absolutely no control over myself. I'm drawn to you like a moth to a flame. It is something that I've never experienced with anyone else."

"After an... interesting discussion with a new ally, he pointed me in the right direction to an answer for my confused emotions. I've lost so many people in this life that I'm afraid to let anyone else in. Ever since the death of Dick," Bruce began before swallowing back the emotions that always resurfaced when he thought about the death of Robin, "I have shut people out from my life, never forming attachments with anyone. I thought that I would grow old and die alone, never caring for anyone besides Alfred again. That was before you came into my life, Diana."

"You became an unforeseen and intricate part in my thoroughly planned-out life, someone that I rely on and look forward to seeing. In the short amount of time that I've known you, you have introduced me to emotions I thought were long gone: faith, hope, pride, joy, happiness, and even... love," Bruce said, nervously waiting to see Diana's reaction.

Diana for her part could not believe what Bruce said. His words unlocked something inside of her that she knew was there, however she never had a way to fully understand it. Bruce's proclamation of love was the key to something that she never thought would be possible again: her being in love with a man.

Bruce watched as Diana stared at him with a shocked expression, her eyes large with her mouth slightly hanging open. He started to get nervous about her silence, believing that he stepped over some invisible line that he was not supposed to cross between the two of them.

"I'm sorry, Diana. I just wanted to tell you what has been on my mind and in my heart these past few weeks. I don't expect you to return my feelings at all, as I would rather have you friendship than lose what we ha-," Bruce began to say before his mouth was attacked by Diana's. She kissed him with such passion and a ferocity that it knocked Bruce onto his back on the coach. Diana wasted no time in following him down, their lips never disconnecting as they continued to kiss.

Bruce was shocked at first, his mind trying to wrap around the fact that Diana was here actually kissing him. It did not take him long, however, to return the kiss in full.

After a few moments, Diana pulled back in order to look at Bruce in his eyes. She could see the joy clearly visible there, along with a hint of confusion. Her breathing labored from the intense kiss, she cupped Bruce's cheek with her left hand, enjoying the feel of the slight stubble on his face.

"I've been so scared of losing someone that I could potentially love that I isolated myself from the world for over a century. I thought I knew what it was like to love before, but these past few months have taught me that love is something that I have no experience with. I never have had these emotions I feel only towards you, Bruce. I didn't understand what they were for the longest time, but your words of admiration finally helped me understand that... I love you too," Diana said, a smile on her face.

Bruce just stared up at Diana, shocked at what Diana said. Finally, once it all registered through his analytical brain, a large smile broke out across Bruce's face.

He quickly lifted his head back up to reengage the passionate kiss that was stopped moments ago. The kiss quickly became heated, clothes quickly being torn off and thrown across the room. Bruce lost track of time as they began to show in the most intimate way possible how much they truly love each other.

X X X

Alfred set out two plates in the dining room, placing them side by side to make sure that Bruce would be as close to Diana as possible, hoping that one of them would acknowledge the attractions between the two of them.

"Please," Alfred sarcastically muttered to himself. "There is a better chance that an alien could land on our front doorstep right now than Bruce actually admitting that he likes the girl."

After putting some finishing touches on their plates, Alfred called out to the house to alert the master and his guest that dinner was served. After sitting in the dining room for five minutes with no reply, Alfred got slightly curious.

"Don't tell me he brought her down to that blasted cave," Alfred said to himself.

Quickly searching the house, Alfred noticed that the overhead lights were left on in the entertainment room. As he entered the entertainment room to turn off the light, he noticed a trail of clothes leading to the coach. Using the skills he learned from his time back with the British Secret Service, he silently moved towards the coach without making a sound and quietly peaked over to see what awaited him.

Alfred saw Diana lying on top of Bruce, both completely asleep. Her brunette hair was sprawled over Bruce's chest. Fortunately for Alfred, they decided to cover themselves with a blanket to keep as much modesty as possible after finally acting on their feelings in the entertainment room. Alfred saw the smile on both of their faces, elated that they have found happiness with each other.

"About bloody time," Alfred silently muttered. He walked out of the entertainment room and turned off the light as he left, leaving the two lovers in peace.

The End