TOGETHER

DISCLAIMER: I do not own DC Comics, or any of the characters in this story. I am not making money from this, it is just for fun.

SYNOPSIS: This is a fan fiction set in the continuity of the Justice League cartoon. It will mainly focus on Batman and Wonder Woman, but will also include other relationships as well.

CHAPTER TWO

The hanger bay doors opened and the craft slowly moved in. As the massive doors closed, the craft landed on the floor of the bay. Once everything was in place, and the airlock had been secured, the cockpit opened and the occupant stood up out of his transportation.

Batman looked around the Watchtower hanger bay. There was the Javalin-7, right in the same position it had been for the past week. Whoever had last used it, must have been staying at the Watchtower for several days.

Batman leapt out of the Batwing cockpit and landed like a cat on the steel floor. He then activated the jet's shielding, and, once satisfying himself that all was fine, he left the bay.

As he neared the main deck of the Watchtower, Batman heard voices. His teammates were all there already. But something else caught his attention. As he walked more, he made out the sound of music.

"Oh no," he murmured.

Batman reached the entranceway and saw his fellow Justice League colleagues decorating the deck.

They were decorating the Watchtower. His Watchtower. That he had paid for.

Did they not know he did not like the holiday season?

Flash stopped his gyrating to his Christmas CD and looked at the entranceway. "Hey Bats!" he shouted. The others in the room turned to see Batman.

Batman walked into the room, out of the shadowed corridor. "What. are you all doing?"

"What does it look like?" asked a smiling Superman. That comment, and the expression, made Batman want to smash the Kryptonian's face in.

"I. thought you didn't celebrate Christmas," Batman lied. He knew very well that Superman loved celebrating the season with his family. But still, why were the others celebrating with him? J'onn and Hawkgirl were aliens like Superman; John always seemed that celebrating things was beneath him; and Diana.

Wait a minute. Where was Diana?

Batman hated not knowing where Diana was. Whenever she was not present at a Justice League meeting or mission, he always made sure he knew where she was. Call it one of the effects of being in love.

Deciding to not ask where she was, in case his colleagues began suspecting something, Batman let his curiosity go. Instead he turned to walk out of the room, but was stopped by a cry of anger from Hawkgirl.

"Yeeeeeeaaaarrrrrrrrgh" she cried, and she threw her book against a wall. "Stupid thing! Can't the writer just GET ON WITH IT??"

Flash zipped to Hawkgirl's side. "What were you reading?"

"War and Peace. I thought I could get into it, given the title, but I guess reading just isn't my thing."

Flash grinned. "There, there, cookie, maybe we can find out what your thing is, together." He draped an arm over her shoulder. Hawkgirl looked at his arm, then glared at him. That was all the warning Flash needed, and he zipped right back to his previous position, on the other side of the deck, by the ghetto blaster.

"OK, time to crank this thing up, moon-side!" Flash turned the volume up, and the deck was filled with Christmas music.

Batman turned to leave again. "Flash, turn that off."

Flash was dancing at super-speed again. "Oh come on, Bats, get with the jive!"

There was a small whooshing noise, and the music suddenly stopped. Flash stood still to see the "Stop" button speared, with perfect precision, by a batarang.

"Er. anyone up for Twister?"

*****

"There it is, ladies and gentlemen. Keystone City."

Lex Luthor pointed to the outskirts of the city, just over the hill. With him was the entirety of the new Injustice Gang.

The Prankster walked up to Luthor's side. He saw the welcoming banner which greeted people as they entered the city. "'Welcome to Keystone City,'" he recited, "'Home of the Flash'. Bah! I'm twice the character he is!"

"Maybe it's because you tried to blow up the city like, a dozen times. People don't like that," Star Sapphire said, deadpan.

"Careful what you say, Pinky," warned Prankster, "or you'll be on my hit list."

"She's ALREADY on my 'hit' list," Copperhead hissed, flicking his snake- like tongue at Sapphire. Sapphire's face creased with disgust.

"Let's remember why we're here," interrupted Luthor. "Phase one of my plan begins tomorrow. For now, we go into the city, lie low, and then, well, Joker knows the plan from there. don't you?"

Joker stepped from the darkness from under a tree. "You know I do, Lexy my boy! What else would you expect from the Clown Prince of Pranks? No offence, junior." Joker raised a hand in mock apology at the Prankster.

Luthor suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. He doubled over and buckled under his own weight, falling to his knees. "Arrrrrrrrrrrgh." The other criminals looked down on him, but none offered assistance.

He was having another pain attack, a result of the Kryptonite poisoning that was slowly killing him. For over two minutes, Luthor tried to calm his breathing, and regain his composure. His compatriots, meanwhile, had lost interest and were talking amongst themselves.

Once the worst of the attack was over, Luthor slowly stood up and slowed his breathing. "Never mind about me," he growled, "I'm fine."

Joker noticed that Luthor was back up and got a handkerchief out from his pocket. He then ran to Luthor and pretended to look concerned. "Oh, Lexy, are you OK, champ?" he asked, as he mopped Luthor's head.

"Stop that!" screamed Luthor, grabbing the handkerchief and throwing it to the ground. Joker looked hurt.

"Why Lex, I'm only concerned for your safety! After all, if you go. who else am I gonna tell my baldness jokes about? HA!!"

Luthor clenched his teeth. "Come on, you lot," he ordered. "Let's get into that city before I get my armour out of my bag and wipe that smile off your face."

As Luthor and the others began walking towards Keystone, Joker danced on the spot. "Ooh, I do believe he made a funny! There's hope for you yet, Lexy!" He then turned towards a nearby field and called out. "Come on Harl, time to go!"

Harley Quinn looked away from the ivy that was growing up the side of a fence, and weakly said "Coming, Mr. J." She then turned back to the ivy, gave a longing look, then turned and followed the others into Keystone City.

*****

"Wonder Woman."

Diana turned her head from her milkshake and looked at the kitchen doorway, and saw the Batman. She gave a big smile. "Why do you call me that?"

Batman walked into the room. "What do you mean?"

"You're the only person who calls me that," she replied. She motioned for Batman to take a seat at the table, but the man in the mask just stood there. She shook her head and let it go. "Why do you call me Wonder Woman?"

Batman seemed to be a bit embarrassed, but quickly composed himself. "Well." he began, obviously put on the spot. "You're. chest insignia is of a double-'W'."

Diana could swear she saw the Dark Knight blushing under his mask. With a smirk, she said, "A 'WW'?"

"No, a double." he stopped. "Yes."

Diana tried to stop a giggle, but failed. She loved talking to Batman; she loved just being NEAR him. Despite his cold exterior, she found his presence reassuring.

Batman raised an eye at her amusement, and seemed confused. Diana managed to stop laughing, but her big smile stayed. "You know," she said, "you must be quite clever to come up with a name for me, based purely on two letters."

"It. seemed logical," Batman said.

Diana noticed his discomfort, and immediately felt a pang of sorrow. The last thing she wanted to do was make the man she loved feel uncomfortable. "I'm sorry," she said, "I guess I just needed a little fun. I haven't been in the best of moods."

Batman's tone immediately changed from confusion to concern. "What's wrong?"

Diana noticed the change in Batman's tone, and thought for a second that perhaps, he cared about her more than she thought. But she quickly brushed the thought away - this was the Batman; he did not like anyone in particular over anyone else. Why would she be any different? "Oh, nothing really, don't concern yourself," Diana replied, before taking a long slurp from her milkshake.

"Diana." Batman pressed.

Diana sighed. "I just. keep wondering if I've made the right choices. Am I really in the right place?"

There was silence for a few seconds. Finally, Batman said, softly, "The League would be less of a team without you, Diana."

Diana felt better. That was one of the things she loved most about Batman - although he kept his comments short and to the point, when he had to, he could say something to make the atmosphere better. Although not an official part of the team, he was in many ways the glue that kept the League together.

Diana turned to look at him, but Batman was gone.

"Typical," she sighed. She returned to her milkshake and shook her head. Despite the way it could freak the Flash out, Diana hated it when Batman performed his disappearing act. Because it meant he was no longer there. No longer around her. And she found that feeling more empty and painful every time it happened.

TO BE CONTINUED