Disclaimer: Justice League Unlimited is owned by DC/Warner Bros.
NOTE: I decided to nix "Sisterhood" for a while with all the new developments on the show. This is a bonus story I added on to "Days of Thunder." It's a prologue to a future story I'm thinking about naming "Brutality." For those of you who requested more Batman/ Wonder Woman, I hope this keeps you sustained until I start the new story.
"Days of Thunder" Epilogue and Prologue to "Brutality"
"I Remember"
"What are you watching?" Supergirl says as she approaches Green Lantern in one of the living rooms. Steel, Green Arrow, Hawk, Dove, and Elongated Man are seated at one of the tables playing cards.
"They call her Cleopatra," he replies, sounding very tired but very focused on the big screen, "Leader of a new band of amazons living off the coast of Madagascar. Miracle Island."
"What's she talking about?" Supergirl says
"Just the usual anti-male gibberish," he replies, "We didn't know about their existence until a week after Shay—Hawkgirl came back… anyway, they've taken over much of the island."
"Why didn't we know about them before? I mean, Wonder Woman is an amazon; why didn't she say something?" Supergirl asks, "I've never even heard of Miracle Island."
"We've all been dealing with so much. Every day, every hour there's a crisis. And ever since we found out that there are more portals out there, and that the United States government may be against us, problems have just been popping up everywhere," he says
"Yeah," she replies, "but this Cleopatra thing seems minor, anyway. So what if a bunch of fake amazons wanna run an island, we've got bigger fish to fry."
"We always do," he replies, looking passed her as Shayera enters the room and sits on the other side, only acknowledging Lantern with a glance as she comes through the door. Supergirl turns and notices just as she notices the sorrow in Lantern's face when she turns back to him. "Are you alright?" she says
"I'll be," he replies and then leaves. Shayera watches him go with no show of emotion then turns back to looking at the screen. Supergirl approaches her.
"You can see he's hurting," she says, "You don't have to be so…"
"It's over," Shayera says, "It's over."
"First of all, don't cut me off when I'm talking. All I was trying to…" Shayera gets up and leaves Kara in mid-sentence. Shayera stops right before walking through the door, "I didn't come back for conflict. Mind your own business and let things be. Please."
Supergirl is stunned by the subtle loudness in Shayera's voice as the others turn and watch her leave, "Then why the hell DID you come back?" Kara yells as the door closes behind Shayera. Steel restrains Supergirl as she angrily starts after Shayera.
"Kara no," he says, "After everything that happened with you and Wonder Woman in Greece (see "Days of Thunder") you don't need to get into any more fights with teammates. It's not worth it."
Supergirl decides reluctantly to let it go and join the guys for a few games of poker. Dove turns to her, "You know, gambling is an immoral practice."
"Geez," Green Arrow says, "does this kid ever shut up?"
"It might be strategy," Steel says, "He's won eight hands in a row."
Meanwhile in the training room…
"OOOF!" moans Wonder Woman as Batman's heel strikes her stomach
"I'm sure it didn't hurt nearly as much as you're making it out to," he says flipping out of the way of her punches
"Why don't you try again," she says smiling, "I'm really getting soft there. I guess I have Supergirl to thank for it."
She grabs him by his cape, but he twists and the two fall down with him on top and Diana on her back.
"Uhh!" she cries out as her head bumps the floor and her arms fling upward, then rest above her head, "It appears you have me at a disadvantage, Mr. Wayne. What are you going to do now?"
Batman rises and pulls Diana up, much to her dislike. "I didn't know you were an actress," he says
"You had me," she says
"No, I did not," he says, "You asked for this session and you turned it into a game. This room is for professionalism and as a founding member, you should…"
"Bruce, I LIKE YOU!" she says, "I've developed feelings for you! Must you be so thickheaded and anal! And how dare you try to chew me out, as many stuns as you've… oh, what is the use? I wanted to have fun with you, but when that mask in on, you are one of the most…"
"Don't say it," he cuts her off and leaves before she can finish the sentence
"Maybe I should have been serious so I could've knocked some sense into him," she thinks. Ever since their battles with Thor and Ares in Greece, Diana has assumed an attitude of forcefulness when it comes to her feelings for Batman. She figures that he'll find a way to get out of any situation she puts him in, so why not be direct; her feelings for him haven't gone away.
Since the "Days of Thunder," things have taken strange turns. Flash just got back from a leave of absence; Shayera Hol/ Hawkgirl rejoined the league, which has had both a joyous and sorrowing effect on Green Lantern, and a not so joyous effect on his new girlfriend, Vixen or on Diana. Things between Diana and Supergirl haven't improved either, despite Superman's attempts to get the two to discuss their differences, as Supergirl put it, "There's nothing to discuss." The United States government seems to be responsible for several chaotic situations that the League has had to deal with, ranging from Doomsday to a homegrown superhero team, The Ultimen. One of the Ultimen, Longshadow, has joined the League, even though his lifespan is shortened. He certainly has caught Wonder Woman's eye. Even Superman is realizing that the League can't be everywhere at once. Many of them have been helping with the tsunami relief efforts and many of them are still learning the ropes.
Back at the Watchtower…
Diana is nearly finished packing her bags as Batman enters her room. "Going somewhere?" he says already knowing the answer to his question
"There's a portal in Gotham City," she replies, "I need to get away for a while; so I decided to go and investigate."
"Gotham is MY city," he asks, "You are the most well known amazon in the world. I will deal with that myself. You could only cause trouble."
"I knew you would say that. I'm going there simply to investigate," she replies, "I'm taking my invisible jet. I will be assessing the situation, but I won't be going alone."
"Very good," he says with a grin, "I'm going with you."
"No," she says tensing up and becoming a bit angry, "I don't want you to."
"Then I'll go on my own," he replies. Diana looks at him with an expression that has defeat and helplessness written all over it. "Please Bruce," she says, "I'm not going alone. I'm taking Longshadow. He's been interested in going on patrols with me, so I am going to take him with me so he can get some hours in."
"No," Batman says, "You will not under mind me by taking"
"Who's under-minding you?" she gets a bit angry, "Or is it that someone who actually cares about me, is willing to spend time with me, wants me. Is that it, Bruce? Or is it Batman now? You pull me in and you push me out; you are hurting me and you don't even know how much. You"
"You are overreacting as usual," he replies, "Gotham is a different type of city, and Longshadow isn't ready yet. He's needs training and guidance."
"And who better than me?" she says, pleading her case, "I brought him to the League. He's my understudy; and he's a good student and a quick learner."
"How 'good' is he?" Batman says as he pulls Diana close and gazes into her sky blue eyes, "Next time you want to get my attention, do it a different way."
"Does this mean you've finally come around," she says leaning up to kiss him
"No," as he pulls away, "It means no more games. Next time you under-mind my authority in Gotham, despite you being a founding member, I will PERSONALLY reprimand you."
Diana smiles and blushes wondering how Batman could say that with a straight face. "Are you ready to leave?" she asks, giving in to the wishes of the world's greatest detective
"Do you have to ask?" he replies. As Diana leaves her room and Batman follows, he smiles as well.
It's a human signWhen things go wrong,
When the scent of her lingers
And temptation's strong,
Elton John "Sacrifice"
He remembers her words only an hour before he left.
"John, I don't want to be with you anymore! We were never together anyway!"
He remembers her flaming hair and her angry scowl. He remembers her voice going from its indifference airy tone to the tone and anger of when she wore the mask.
"You have someone in your life now, so why don't you be with her! If I was that important to you, then you wouldn't have moved on. But you did! And so did I. I am happy you moved on!"
He remembers that she's a bad liar. He remembers back when she told him she loved him and the kiss they shared right before she left him last time. He remembers reminding her of that.
"John, you have that model, Vixen. I didn't come back for this! I came back to try to help! I don't want to go down that road again."
He remembers the tears in her eyes and the sob that came after. He remembers asking her if she still loves him.
"Does it matter, John? Please John, please John, please John. It's over. You can't trust me; you can't love me. Love her and move on."
He remembers her wings blocking him from her, hiding her tears. He remembers wondering if she stills loves him or if she ever did at all…
"John, I said I don't want to. John… back away from me, I don't want to touch you. I just want to be alone. Go to your Vixen."
He remembers going to his room early. He remembers Vixen coming to arouse him. He remembers not being in the mood.
"Bruce," Diana says as she nudges him from his sleep in the co-pilot's chair of her invisible jet. "We're here."
She'd never seen the Batman fall asleep, especially on a mission. And she realized that most people fall asleep when they're either very tired or very comfortable. And Batman doesn't get tired. As the jet sat parked on a rooftop, she sees her chance to end all of this frustration with him and his flip-flopping ways. They're the only ones on the jet. Diana gives Batman a kiss on the lips. "I'm not letting you off this jet until you admit your feelings."
"Now is not the time" he was cut off as she yanks him up with one hand
"C'mon," she says, "Test me, Batman. In order to leave this jet, you are either going to admit your feelings for me or you are going to have to best me. And you can't."
"Yes I can," he replies, "We have a mission to complete and you"
Then he stops. His eyes meet hers and they move down her body as she weakens her grip and lets him down. Every ounce of her is breathing sexuality and aggression and he is taking notice. She looks at him as he measures her up. "I know you can best me, Bruce. You already have my heart."
There's a silence before he finally gives in. He kisses her deeply and painfully as her tears begin to flow. The anger carries them both into the back where they push and struggle with each other as they hug and kiss. Batman pins Diana against the wall and stares at her. "I want to see your weakness. I want you to surrender."
"I want to see your weakness," She pushes herself off the wall and pins him against it, "I've been letting you yank me around long enough. This time, I want to win. You want to see my weakness, Bruce. Take it from me."
"Is that a challenge?" he asks, pulling his mask off
The energies inside of both could barely be contained. Both were so used to being aggressive and in control at the meetings and in combat, but secretly, both wanted to be submissive, especially Diana. But neither would get the chance as an explosion shakes the jet. Batman and Wonder Woman rush out to see what's going on. What they find is a burning building and several men dressed in trench coats running away screaming. A strawberry blonde haired man dressed in black leather is kneeling by his motorcycle with his face in his hands crying. "I'll take care of the thugs, you see about him," Batman says
"I'm on it," Diana replies as she approaches the motorcyclist, "Sir, are you alright?"
"You have to stop him!" the man screams as his voice shifts from normal to demonically deep, "He's going to kill them all! You have to do something! If he gets out again, he'll kill more than the Hulk! You have to stop him!"
Diana's eyes widen as the man grabs her by the shoulders and shakes her. "Hulk? Sir, who are you talking about? We'll protect you from him, just tell me"
"You don't understand," he says, his eyeballs are flaming and his hands feel white hot on Diana's skin "You have to kill me now before he… he…"
Batman's fist slams into the man's jaw knocking him out cold. "We'll take him to the Watchtower. And his bike."
"What about the other men?" Diana asks still shaken up, "Did you catch them?"
"One," Batman replies, "Two Face's scum. There's a gang war brewing between he and The Penguin. I see even I have been neglecting my duties here in Gotham, for the 'greater good.' The punk said that someone on a motorcycle wearing black leather with a flaming skull and flaming fists attacked them with a spiked chain. Sounds like our blonde friend here got sucked through a portal."
At an unknown location… Amanda Waller watches the satellite footage of Batman and Wonder Woman as they load the biker and the bike onto the invisible jet. "This is a very despicable turn of events. Now they have the Ghost Rider in their custody."
"The portals are the problem," Maxwell Lord says, "He came through one of those. Maybe we should let the league solve that"
"Don't you dare make such a ridiculous suggestion, Lord," Waller says, "The Justice League is a bit too strong, and we learned from the Thanagarian invasion how easily we can be taken if we aren't prepared. Too many things have gone wrong and too many lives are at risk."
"We need to cripple them before they cripple us," The General says, "Starting with that big metal hammer they've got in outer space. If it were up to me, I'd nuke that thing to kingdom come."
"But it's not up to you," Waller replies sternly, "We have a few more tricks up our sleeves for the Justice League, our new Ultimen will be active in days. The process to create another Doomsday is underway, and we have a spy in their home, though he may not know it yet. For now, meet Superboy."
Meanwhile, back at the Watchtower. Longshadow and Wonder Woman are in his quarters talking. They are both seated on his bed as he talks about his life that never was. She listens with sorrow. "However long you're here, I promise you, we will make the most of it," she says
"I've talked so much about me," he says, "But none of that really happened. Wonder Woman, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," she says
"What is it like to be so powerful and yet, so in control?" he asks
"No one's ever asked me that before," Diana says giving away a slight blush
"You are so beautiful," Longshadow says, "Your eyes… I fear looking into them and once I do, I'm afraid to look away. You carry yourself with such authority but with such… I don't know."
"Thank you," she says sincerely, "I mean that. Thank you, Longshadow, I don't hear that often."
"I don't have a lot of time," he says as he kisses her on the cheek. She pulls back a bit but allows him to finish the kiss. "I'm sorry," he says in a sad tone, "I really shouldn't have done that; I hope I didn't offend you."
Diana has a look of shock on her face. Not angry shock, but surprised shock. She feels the urge to smile even though she knows she shouldn't.
"Wonder Woman," a voice over her earpiece says, "Our 'bogie' is up and running."
"Yes Batman," she says with a bit of resentment. She knows the code means that the motorcyclist, who's name according to his driver's license is Johnny Blaze, is awake in the observation room.
"It's him, isn't it?" Longshadow says, "It's Batman."
Diana stands up as does Longshadow. She looks at him with sadness and sympathy, then she hugs him tightly and presses her body against his. He feels the warmth of her body, the softness of her chest, the firmness of her belly as well as the strong grip of her arms. "We'll talk about this later. But for now, we're going to act like it didn't happen," she says reassuringly, "I have to leave. Batman is waiting."
"So am I," Longshadow says
Meanwhile in Hades…
"I want this done right," Ares says as Hades stands behind him, "I want you to kill her. There can be no mistakes. If you want to be paid, you will kill Wonder Woman."
"That's what I do," Lobo says, "Witch had da nerve to put her hands on me when all's I wanted ta do was join up with da Justice dweebs. Kill Wonder Woman, piece a'cake."
"I don't think you get it, Lobo," Ares says, "I don't just want you to kill her. I want her hunted. I want her defeated. I want her humiliated. I want her to suffer before she dies. And I want you to say my name before you finish her. I want that to be her last memory."
"Yer askin' for a lot," Lobo says smiling, "But for what yer payin' me, you gotta deal, with no extra charges. This'll be real fun."
To be continued in an upcoming story