Title: Look Inside My Wild Mind
Chapter Completed: February 11, 2004
"You know, for a guy who grapples into danger on a daily bases, you look scared to death right now," Bruce chuckled darkly - his night voice sneaking into the playboy façade.
Dick let out a deep breath, running his hand through his hair, "You know this is far more dangerous." He gave a nervous smile as he spoke of his wedding, which was set to take place in a handful of hours.
"It is," a serious tone took over. He was slipping into his leader role again. A warning tone continued, "Are you sure you can trust Chloe?"
The groom turned around sharply, glaring.
"I know she's a wonderful girl, but she is a reporter. And you have a lot of secrets.we all do. Can you trust her with all that?"
"Like you trusted Selena?" Dick bit back. This was part of the reason he left Gotham in the first place, to get out from under the cap of the great Batman.
"Selena," Bruce was now speaking in a harsh whisper, "is different."
"So's Chloe!" he jumped in, standing up to the form that he used to fear, but always respected.
"Boys! Can we stop the shop talk for one day?" Barbara Gordon cautiously approached the pair, sneaking around the chapel doors.
They both moved quickly to view the one that had interrupted them, the recognition coming just as quickly.
"Babs!" Dick jumped down from the front platform to meet her.
"Dicky," she allowed him to embrace her in greeting.
"I'm glad you came.good timing," his whispered into her ear.
"Are you two ever going to stop trying to kill each other?" she asked, giving both a pointed glare.
Bruce just shook his head and held out his arms to greet the girl. He should know better by now then to try and control the pair. They were never under his control, and only barely guided by him. "It's nice to see you away from the computer Barbara," he gave her a stiff embrace.
"I couldn't miss watching Dicky lose his freedom," she laughed at the man as he pulled at the tie around his neck, "and if he loves her, that's enough for me to trust her." She turned her gaze to the millionaire-vigilante then.
A deep sigh resided through him, but he could only nod at them. It was just something he had to accept - that his horde had grown up and didn't need him to protect them anymore. At the risk of using a cliché, they had left the cave.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Take a deep breath." Lois coached, pulling at the pearled zipper, ".now let it out." At the command the metal teeth eased up to the top of the satin dress.
"thanks," Chloe almost panted, "This damn thing fit almost perfect last time I tried it on."
"Nerves," Lois replied as if she held authority on the subject.
The bride sighed, giving a lopsided grin. Catching her other friend in the mirror, and the dazed look in her eyes. "Let's talk about something else." she turned to face Anna, "how about you and Lex?" There was a happy twinkle in her eyes - intoxicated by the big day.
Anna smiled with satisfaction, "Ah, you don't want to hear about me on your day."
Lois snorted in agreement to the statement, but Chloe's reaction was far different.
"Nonsense, I want to hear all about it, and besides hearing about you will take my mind off all this." She waved her hands around, indicating the dress, the room, the whole wedding.
A smile and little laugh came from Anna. Maybe talking about her and Lex here would give the relationship some sort of luck by association. She knew the thought was silly. "We're doing well," was all she would divulge in the mixed company.
In fact, Lois seemed uncomfortable with the situation, not that she wasn't interested in getting pieces of information; she just didn't like the look on Anna's face. A smug of superiority, as if she was the only one capable of landing a millionaire.
"Well?" Chloe raised an eyebrow, coaxing for more than she was given.
The smile slipped from Anna's face suddenly, "I think it's just better to take is slow right now." Just as suddenly she rose from her seat, "No putting the cart before the horse."
The bride gave a small, sympathetic smile. She understood why the pair would be hesitant. The past had a sick way of repeating itself, especially where these two were concerned.
"And with that," Anna clapped her hands together and smiled at her friend, "I'll let you finish getting ready." She excused herself, "There's something I still need to check, "I'll see you at the big moment. Good luck."
"Thanks," despite herself Chloe became teary eyed and emotional, "Damn it," she cursed herself through a smile, carefully wiping under her made-up eyes.
"Okay," Anna gave another wave to both women and quick kiss on Chloe's cheek, before disappearing through the doors, a sigh of relief settling over her. It was hard to watch your friend move on in their life when you've stalemated, no matter how happy you are for them. It's not a matter of being jealous it's.different.
"Where you drifting off to?" A pair of apt fingers trailed along her neck.
She closed her eyes to fall into the feeling, "Not too far, don't worry."
"Good," a pair of soft lips replaced the fingers: Light kisses and a careful nibble along the tender flesh.
"HmmLex," a soft moan of appreciation left her lips as she writhed her body against his.
He gave a soft chuckle, "Nice to know you still recognise me."
"Real funny," the lawyer turned to face the millionaire, pushing him back teasingly.
"Aww," he leaned in and kissed her lips. Unable, now that she was finally back in his reach, to stop touching her.
She pushed him back again, her laughing now, "I think we need to take a moment here."
The look on his face was like to a spoiled child and Anna found it enduring. She reached up t caress the side of his face as a thought appeared in her mind. "Is everything set?" her eyes twinkled.
Lex raised his wrist to check the time on the on his watch, "You're plan should be in motion."
She smiled wickedly at him, lowering his watch wrapped wrist, "It's not a plan, it's a test."
"Riiight," he leaned in to kiss her again, this time his tongue beckoning her to him.
It wasn't as if Anna resisted, or needed the encouragement. She let herself fall completely into the kiss. Letting the lithe muscle manipulate her mouth. His hands about to do the same to her body.
The pair moved blindly, searching for a space that's a little more secluded than the foyer to continue their liaison.
Fumbling, they slipped into a cloakroom. The millionaire now feeling comfortable enough to let his hands travel over her frame, raising the silk dress up her pale thigh.
Anna smiled as his lips moved back to her neck, "Leave it up to you to defile a church."
Lex smiled against her flesh, "It must be my demonic nature," he licked at the shell of her ear, gaining a moan, "and something tells me you like it."
Any reply she had was cut off by an electronic beep sounding off. The alarm from his wristwatch went off.
Enthusiastically, she pulled his wrist back up to view it, "Phase one begins." She smiled like an excited child.
He smiled back at her, remembering vaguely how she once said she would keep him a good man. And how now she had developed a devious plot of her own. "You're wicked," he whispered into her ear, hot breath spilling over her flesh.
"No.just.curious," she panted, unable to speak in full sentences now that he was taking over her senses.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Meanwhile in Metropolis, Lucas had been kept quite busy. On order by his brother and the new lady, the younger Luthor had made contact with some old acquaintances from Edge City, and encouraged them to visit the modern city. The promise of an easy bank job sweetened the deal. The thing that he didn't understand was why Lex and Anna would bother when it was known that Superman would put an end to it.
The millionaire simply smiled and said he was counting on that.
