A/N This takes place in The Justice League: Animated Series universe. If you've never heard Lex's voice from the animated series, seriously, stop right now and google a clip of it. Because it is the freakin' sexiest voice known to humankind. And hearing it in your head will add to this story. So go listen right now. I mean it.

This is an actively updated longfic. A new chapter posts once a week.

Chapter 1

"Diana." His deep voice, rich as a cello, caused Wonder Woman to turn towards him.

"Lex," she said, raising an eyebrow. They were at a charity ball for medical technology research hosted in Gotham but with invitees from across the region. Wayne Enterprises, S.T.A.R. Labs, and LexCorp were the three heaviest hitters in attendance, much to Bruce's displeasure, but it wasn't his party so there wasn't much that he could do about it.

Diana had attended at Bruce's suggestion (not invitation; she had noted the distinction with a sigh) to lend some star power to the event since her identity as Wonder Woman wasn't a secret like those of certain superheroes she could name.

Clark was here, but as a reporter for The Daily Planet. He didn't even have Lois at his side; charity events weren't a big enough beat for the Pulitzer Prize winner to cover. Although Diana was sure that Lois would have been here as Clark's date if she wasn't tied up on a story. Because they were a couple. Who attended events together.

"May I have a dance?" Lex asked her.

"Why?" Diana asked him curiously. It was an open secret that the Justice League was out to thwart any and all of Lex's more sinister schemes, of which he had many, even though he had as of yet managed to evade responsibility for them enough to keep living a merry public life as the billionaire CEO of LexCorp.

"A beautiful woman should never be standing alone at a party," Lex said to her smoothly. "And," he added with a sly smile, "Bruce is watching."

"Oh!" Diana said, a small smile blooming on her face as she considered the merits of Lex's proposal. "Yes," she said with a gracious smile, not breaking eye contact with him for one second to scan the room for Bruce. "I'd love to dance."

Lex put his hand out and took hers, walking her to the dance floor where he began expertly leading her in the inevitable waltz that always made its way into the classical set list at these types of stuffy social events that were so much a part of his world. And of Bruce's world, too, Diana realized.

She and Lex didn't talk at first and Diana was content to enjoy the rhythm and movement of the dance as Lex twirled her around the room, her long skirt flowing in time to the music. Lex truly was an excellent dancer, Diana realized. Honestly the best partner she'd had all night.

When she moved her gaze from over his shoulder to his face, she was slightly startled to see him looking down at her with a small smile on his lips.

"What?" she asked him, flushing slightly.

"It's nice to see you enjoying yourself," Lex said, and there was an honesty to it that surprised her.

"Well, these parties are always dull," Diana said politely, feeling a little flustered.

"They'd be a lot less dull for you if Bruce would keep you company," Lex pointed out bluntly. Diana felt herself blushing even more and turned her gaze to back over Lex's shoulder as she answered.

"Well, he's busy…" she said lamely, knowing how awfully pathetic it sounded even to her own ears. Because the truth was, Bruce hadn't spoken to her all night. Or asked her to dance. He didn't invite her to come with him, she knew that, but she'd thought that they could at least socialize a little bit throughout the evening.

She'd hoped that he'd been hinting at doing exactly that when he'd suggested that she come. Actually, more than hoped - she'd assumed. And now she felt stupid, and hurt, and tired, and frustrated like she did so many days with Bruce. He knew there was a spark between them. They'd both gone so far as to acknowledge it to each other.

But… Bruce just… wouldn't… go further with it. Except he didn't back off, either, and Diana was left feeling hopelessly attached to him and stuck on a never ending roller coaster of emotions. She'd never been on a roller coaster, actually, but Clark had used the phrase once and explained them to her and she thought it fit her situation perfectly. She'd gotten her hopes up once again, thought Bruce was offering more, and instead she found herself plummeting back to disappointment and rejection.

"He's not busy," Lex said to her authoritatively. "He's a moron." That statement caused Diana's eyes to jump to Lex's again, and she was shocked to see kindness in them. Funny, she had formed an opinion of Lex since working against him with the Justice League that had ruled out his possession of a kind heart. Yet here he was, not only dancing with her when Bruce wasn't, but concerned that Bruce was ignoring her.

Diana bit her lip and looked down, feeling the sadness wash over her again. "Why do you care?" she asked Lex softly, not meanly at all but genuinely curious.

"Why do I care that Bruce is a moron? I don't," Lex said in his presumptuously arrogant tone that he was so fond of projecting. "But I do care that he's hurting a beautiful soul. It's a crime to mar something so pure. Even a man like me knows that." Diana looked up in wonder and met Lex's eyes again even though she had to blink away the tears that were forming.

All she saw in his face was sincerity and genuine concern and the feelings that flooded her spirit of being cared for, and noticed, and worth an effort felt like the most refreshing rainfall after a long drought.

"Thank you," Diana told Lex softly, holding him a little tighter as they continued to dance. They moved for a while more without speaking, and then Diana said, "There's nothing that I can do about it, though. I care too much. I try to pull away, but he's in so much pain that I can't help coming closer again, and then I feel things for him that he feels, too, but won't return…and then here I am, again," she ended with a slightly bitter laugh. "Standing alone at a party."

"You're not alone now," Lex pointed out with a suave smile.

"No," Diana said, a warmer smile stretching across her face. "I'm not. Thank you for that, Lex."

"It is my absolute pleasure," Lex said to her, meeting her eyes and meaning it. Diana smiled more and leaned into him a little bit as they continued to whirl around the ballroom. Lex's hand on her back became more of an intimate touch than that of an impersonal dance partner. Not in a sexual way, though, Diana noticed. But … almost like a friend. A romantic friend?

But one who wasn't trying to take advantage of her and that in and of itself was a huge relief. Bruce could be so exhausting. He never asked for her help and concern. He never asked for anything. But he was like a magnet of dark energy, pulling her in to try to combat his never-ending gloominess just because he wouldn't ask. And Diana was so, so tired.

Which made Lex's attentions even more of a pleasant change. It had been so long since she'd been cared for. Leaving Themyscira had broken her heart and while she was grateful for the new family that she was building with the Justice League… she was still often lonely and overwhelmed. And she spent so much of her energy fighting the world's battles.

Not that she didn't have an abundance of physical energy, but her emotional strength was feeling more and more limited lately. The closer she got to Bruce, the further from him she felt and every day was beginning to feel sad. Being held by Lex, and dancing in his arms, and knowing that he was paying attention to her emotions - it was all such a good feeling. Diana closed her eyes and let Lex spin them around the room as she enjoyed the moment.

"Bruce is looking mighty jealous right now," Lex whispered in her ear. Diana giggled. "If you dance with me enough tonight, he might finally ask you out on a date," Lex said.

Oddly, that thought was much less appealing to Diana than it had been at the beginning of the night. Was all she deserved in life a man who would only ask her out when he got jealous? When someone else stole his toy? Didn't she deserve to be asked out because someone wanted to be with her, without being forced or manipulated into it? Diana frowned.

"I'd dance with you all night with or without Bruce here," she said to Lex, and to her astonishment Lex looked genuinely startled by her statement.

"Would you?" he said to her slowly. Diana nodded. The smallest spark of light flared to life in Lex's normally dark and calculating eyes and he gave Diana a brief but tender smile.

"Well," he said, regaining his Lex Luthor composure. "I can make that happen." Diana actually burst into a full smile which Lex returned, although somewhat in a daze like a man who might be dreaming but knows that he doesn't want to wake up.

When the waltz ended and the spinning couples paused to clap for the orchestra, Bruce appeared at Diana's elbow. Lex's arm was still around her waist and she was leaning into him a little bit as they waited for the next dance to start.

"Diana," Bruce said to her in his gravelly tone. "Lex," he added with more of a scowl.

"Bruce," Lex said magnanimously. "How good to see you here," Lex smirked. "It's always such a pleasure to come to… Gotham." A giggle escaped from Diana's lips, surprising all three of them.

Bruce shot her a hurt look while Lex looked… curious. But not at all displeased. Diana didn't know what had come over her. The Justice League hated Lex, she knew that. He was evil. A megalomaniac.

But… he was kind of funny, too. The way he teased Bruce and got in his digs in such a dignified voice of dry sarcasm. Diana had never really noticed his wit before. Or, maybe she'd noticed but been disgusted by it rather than appreciative. Or amused.

Had Bruce ever made her laugh? Diana suddenly wondered. Rarely, if ever. It was a novel and altogether enjoyable feeling to have the man on her arm make her smile. As well as to have a man on her arm in the first place.

"Would you like to dance, Diana?" Bruce asked her, though, even though he was quizzically raising an eyebrow at her as if to say, What the hell?

"Oh, no, thank you, Bruce," Diana said kindly. "I'm dancing with Lex tonight." The look on Bruce's face was pure priceless shock. It was a shame that Clark wasn't behind them snapping pictures because she knew that Wally would have loved to frame that shot.

Lex, of course, couldn't help but smirk at Bruce, but as the music started up again and he led Diana into the next dance, the look in his eyes just for her was awed gratitude. And pleasure. And tenderness. And Diana realized that she hadn't broken eye contact with him for a long minute and she didn't even care because there was so much to see in the way that he was looking at her and it all made her feel special. And good. And happy.

She laid her head down on Lex's shoulder as they continued to dance and this time Lex's touch was more like a caress, and Diana loved it. She would think about the pesky details like the fact that this was Lex Luthor she was dancing with when the music ended. But for now, she let herself get lost in the feeling of being held in his arms as thoughts of Bruce faded out.

A/N More chapters to come! This will be a longer fic. Make sure to click "Follow" if you want to receive updates when new chapters are posted. Thanks for reading!