Chapter 15: The Climb
*Batman's home world, 2 years ago*
Bruce stood in his tuxedo, absentmindedly stirring the ginger ale he played off as Champagne. He was holding a goofy smile and had an arm draped over his date, some model from Paris, or Monaco. He couldn't remember, her name was…? Also drawing a blank.
Not that she was bad or anything. Bruce just hated having to uphold the playboy persona. Bruce Wayne at least was useful. He golfed with the mayor today and convinced him to build another public learning and recreation center rather than selling the land out to another chain restaurant.
This wasn't useful though, some charity for a "non-profit" where the CEO's and higher ups still took home exorbitant salaries before the 'profits' were figured. The only thing useful about Bruce Wayne the playboy was that no one would ever assume the himbo in front of them was one of the most feared and respected hero's on the planet. Did he say that right, 'himbo'? Dick had taught him that newer slang term.
He was currently pretending to not understand inflation and insinuate he could personally cover the U.S debt. Drunk arrogance, check. Dumb assumptions, check.
Across the room he saw Clark Kent, covering the news story of the charity benefit. It made sense, they were in Metropolis. Clark always got a kick out of seeing Bruce put on the public act. It was just so absurd.
Bruce kept his goofy look on but let out an almost imperceptible whisper of, "Kill me, please."
He knew Clark could hear him, he watched the big boy scout laugh and give him a reassuring thumbs up.
He internally groaned, coming back to the conversation to hear his date talking about something.
"...I just said to her, if you didn't want to lose your earrings, don't go in the ocean in the Maldives with them. Then! Her sister even says, 'K, people are dying,' like she's so right, definitely bigger things to worry about."
Bruce nodded and agreed as he mentally banged his head, he had to be working, training, patrolling. Anything was better than this.
The night dragged on, conversations here, fake drinks there, and not a call once to save him.
Eventually, he found himself on the rooftop terrace alone. The party was dying down, and most people had already left or gone somewhere else to continue the night harder.
Bruce was leaning on the railing and had undone his bow tie, leaving the two sides dangling around his collar. He heard the footsteps of the man behind him before they spoke.
"Hey Bruce."
"Clark." Bruce said in acknowledgment.
"Some party huh, what happened to your date?"
"I don't know, I think some guy alluded to having weed or something and she went off with him."
Clark hummed in thought, "Ah, that's too bad, she seemed perfect for you."
Bruce turned around to glare at the reporter. With Bruce's look though, Clark couldn't help keeping his straight face and burst out in laughter, "Hahahaha, I'm sorry, I couldn't resist."
Bruce laughed sarcastically, "Haha, how's things with Lois?"
Clark came and leaned against the railing as well, "...We're good, things are good. I thought telling her about me would cause problems…but it's been great."
Bruce nodded, "It shouldn't have been that much of a change, the woman's spent so much time around Clark and Superman, it's a wonder she hadn't figured things out on her own. You've gotten her eyes checked right?"
"Rude Bruce, my disguise works." Clark beamed proudly.
Bruce nodded again, even more sarcastically, "Ohhkay glasses boy, just maybe be wary if she's driving you anywhere."
The man of steel gave a weird look, "It's not like a car crash would hurt me."
"Well yeah, but how many car crashes can you afford financially?"
"You'll find out under the league expenses that month."
Bruce huffed in annoyance, "Oh of course."
Clark chuckled and looked out over the city. He always liked talking to Bruce just one on one out of the suits. Not many people knew of both their identities and Bruce always seemed a little easier to talk to without the Batman mask. Easier to feel like the friends they truly were.
Clark sobered up his demeanor, "Bruce, how are things? You haven't been to many league meetings but I know you've been doing…um, better. Is there anyone serious?"
Gotham's most eligible bachelor gave a long sigh, "Yup, just got married, we got a dog. Got a little nest egg. Maybe I'll retire to Florida in the next few years?"
Bruce looked over at Clark giving him the stink eye, not appreciating the sarcasm dripping from his words. He continued on though, "No Clark, you know there's no one."
"Selina?"
"Hung her out to dry, then brought her in for a string of cat burglaries."
"Talia?"
"Still wants me to murder her father, take over the world."
"So not that much luck I see."
"I mean, who's really out there that I could have my life with. Batman, Bruce Wayne–most women I meet are either supervillains bent on killing me…"
"That can be hot…" Clark interrupted with a smirk.
Bruce scowled, "I'm serious, I trust you Clark, and you know me. Half the women in my life have tried to kill me, the other half think I'm just a drunken idiot with very deep pockets. Even if they are interested in me as a person, no one's signing up for Bruce Wayne and the Batman.
Clark patted Bruce on his shoulder, "What about some of the women in the league?"
Bruce laughed, "That's too weird, we founded the league Clark. All the women except Shayera have been added into the fold after the fact. It's just not equal footing. We're like their bosses, it's too much of a professional relationship."
Clark nodded, he realized Bruce was pretty right in his assessment, "I've heard that kind of professional relationship is a great category on certain online sites." He half-heartedly joked.
Bruce was too surprised at his comment to be mad and even let out a chuckle, "Ha, watch out Boy scout, those sites may corrupt you."
"I'll be sure to be careful… Ah, there's still one I think would have been perfect for you."
Bruce offered a slightly sad smile, "...maybe…."
They didn't say her name but they both knew who.
Clark nudged him with his shoulder though, refusing to let any sadness linger, "What about Tinder? Give that a shot? You could even make a Batman profile."
Now it was Bruce's turn to be shocked, as his head shot to look at Clark he could see the reporter barely holding in his laughter from his own joke, it was too much, even Bruce erupted in laughter at the thought of some Gotham University Sorority girl swiping right on The Batman.
As the silence settled, the air was pierced by a ringing in both their comms.
"JUSTICE LEAGUE ALERT-Level Alpha threat, detected in Star city!"
Clark turned to Bruce, "I'll meet you there."
Bruce nodded, pressing a button on his phone, calling the bat plane and his equipment to him. The masks both back up, the time for conversation between two friends over, almost as quickly as it began.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Diana woke up with a slight groan, the ground was hard and stiff below her. She'd been getting better while traveling but she couldn't deny she still had a bit to go, she would kill for the official healers of New Hippolyta. As she woke up a bit more, she realized something was covering her. Opening her eyes slowly, she found Bruce's cloak, covering her like a blanket.
She decided to close her eyes again for a few more minutes, she didn't realize but she'd started gripping the cloak a little tighter against her. She just wanted to lay with her thoughts, she had never been this confused. Hades and Ares' attacking her people, no responses from the gods, the first real injury she'd ever sustained in her life, and this man, Bruce, who'd thrown her emotions and scattered them in directions she didn't even know they could go.
Now this, she wakes up, covered in a cloak she didn't ask for or order, but he'd done it for her all the same. It was infuriating. A part of her wished he could make it easy to hate him. Diana opened her eyes again, scanning the area for the man on her thoughts. It was early still, barely any light coming from the horizon, and the last orange coals of the campfire still burned at the edges of her vision. Eventually she found him, a silhouette against the coming light, it looked like he was meditating, his shirt off in the warm climate, and sitting so still she could barely make out if he was even breathing or not.
Once again, she found herself admiring the man's body. The god's themselves would approve of that form, though they wouldn't keep the scars he held. She found herself liking them though, he truly was a warrior, with his journey and victories etched across his very skin. He was muscular, but functional. Flexible, but lean.
Somewhere along her observations she started wondering what his bare skin would feel like to the touch, she was thinking of those piercing blue eyes, and that…! Diana quickly rolled over on her other side and shut her eyes tight. Whoa, what in the gods were those thoughts. Diana could feel a heat rising to her cheeks as she shut her eyes tight in protest of her own mind and its machinations.
Eventually, she was able to calm herself and remember what they were here to do. There was a mountain before them. They had to prepare for an audience with the gods.
When Diana finally got up she was surprised to note that the pain in her shoulder had finally lessened to a dull ache rather than the full-on pain she'd endured since the arena.
As she stretched in the warm sun, Bruce greeted her, "Goodmorning, how're you feeling Princess?"
Diana rubbed her shoulder, "Still hurts, but less than before."
Bruce nodded and continued his task of cleaning up the campsite for their departure.
Diana didn't know when she had stopped objecting to Bruce calling her "princess", she wasn't a princess, she was a queen. And Bruce knew it, everyone knew it. Diana knew it wasn't a comment in jest or to mock her, she knew it was something endearing from Bruce, and she didn't know why, but she liked it when Bruce called her that now. She couldn't help but think of how she wanted to strangle him a few weeks ago for even mentioning her name.
These thoughts swam in and out of her head all morning. Up until their horses were trudging up the sides of the mountain.
The mountain wasn't too steep at first, but the rocks and ground were treacherous, crumbling away and making their footing wary. It was a slow ascent at first. They hadn't spoken much this morning, trepidation at the prospect of meeting the gods casting a silence on the group.
Eventually, the paths and rocks became too steep for the horses. Bruce grunted and turned to Pleione, "I know you want to be there for us, but can you stay with the horse? I can get the Queen and myself the rest of the way."
He turned to Diana, "If you agree with it?"
Diana found herself again at a loss of words, this small change, asking her for her input and approval, another sign of respect. Not of a slave, but of an equal. Diana noticed she was staring at the man, hiding a blush as she looked up the mountain face, "That's fine with me, Pleione?"
Pleione didn't look too pleased *sigh*,``Well, someone has to look over the horses."
Bruce nodded and as silence fell again Diana and the man resumed their journey up the mountain on foot. The neighs and huffs of the horses slowly faded into the distance as they moved forward.
They fell into a comfortable silence. They wordlessly helped each other over rocks and other obstacles and steadily made progress, faster than they were on foot.
Bruce was the one to break the silence, "How are you feeling…your wound…?"
Diana rubbed her shoulder where the cut was, "Definitely better."
"Must've been a shock, I know you're pretty tough to hurt, especially for an extended period of time."
The queen nodded, "Everything's been a shock these last few weeks."
As they talked they approached a cliff, it would take a while to find a way around it.
Bruce looked up at a ledge about 60 ft above them, "Well here's a test for how you're doing, can you fly up to that ledge?"
Diana looked up at the ledge in question, it wasn't too far. Without hesitation she called upon her own power and felt herself slowly rising up off the ground. She made it around 20 ft up when a pain flared in her shoulder and she felt herself falter and fall.
Next thing she knew she was back on the ground, unhurt, except for the man beneath her who had cushioned her fall.
"...ow…Diana, could you…uh, get off me."
Diana rubbed her head, looking down she realized she was basically straddling the man underneath her. And once again, she found herself staring.
Bruce stared back, "Princess? Are you ok?"
And once again, Diana blushed at her own reactions. She quickly got up, not meeting his eyes, "Yes, sorry, thank you." Speaking the words out quickly.
Bruce picked himself up and dusted himself off, "Sorry, it wasn't my best catch…at least you're alright."
He reached into his utility belt and pulled out his grapnel gun.
*PWOOOM*
His line shot out with expert accuracy, past the ledge and locking on the wall behind it.
With a few tugs he made sure the line would support the weight and then cleared his throat.
"Ahem," Diana turned to see his hand stretched out towards her, "This is the other option, so grab hold."
Diana hesitantly took his hand. Bruce pulled her to his chest and pressed the button, immediately pulling them off the ground with great speed. Diana held onto him tighter, realizing for the first time that he smelled pretty good, like a smoky campfire and the ocean.
When they reached the top, she was quick to let go and continue their journey. They were close to the summit now. Whatever feelings she had, they could wait.
As they reached the top of mount Olympus the sun was beginning to set, golden reds and yellows blanketed the Earth. Diana couldn't help but admire the view.
Bruce spoke from behind her, "Beautiful."
Diana smiled, "Yes, this world is…I hope he can save it. I shudder to think of what Ares would do."
When she turned back though she noticed that Bruce wasn't looking at the view, his eyes were glued to her.
He was enamored, in the golden light her eyes seemed to shine even more, her dark hair reflecting the soft sun that flowed over the strands.
Diana didn't know if his words were for her, but she smiled and took his hand, "Come…"
The queen led Bruce to the center of the peak, there was a small altar with the symbol of the gods. Diana placed her hand on the symbol and spoke to the heavens, "Olympus, hear us! We have traveled great leagues to be here, we request an audience! Please Zeus, king of the heavens, Hera, queen of the pantheon, please hear us and grant us your ears!"
Bruce interrupted, "Are they known to answer?"
Diana scowled, "People come and try but…the last person they allowed an audience was my mother…over a thousand years ago.
Bruce slowly nodded with a grimace as Diana turned back and continued her words. It seemed like forever but eventually, she stopped. The sun was setting more now. Bruce never had much faith in things like this, but he could feel the desperation building as Diana began whispering in hushed tones, "Please Zeus, Please Hera, Please Hestia…" and so on.
He turned his back to the sunset and watched the coming night. He was about to call it. Cut their losses. As the final rays of sun shone on the mountain though a bright flash emanated from behind Bruce. His vision went white and a tugging sensation in his gut seemed to yank him at the speed of light.
Next he knew, he was stumbling on his feet. Diana next to him, and both of them staring down at ornate marble mosaics on the floor. As they got their footing, Diana slowly looked up and gasped. They were in a great hall, bigger than any in New Hippolyta. Ceilings at least 50 ft high, columns the size of whales, and torches that burned with the light of individual suns.
Seated around the hall, were beings of enormous stature. Some smiled. Some glared, All emanated power.
They had made it, they were in the presence of the Olympians.
Another chapter done. Hope you like it! This story is kept alive by all of you who love and support it. Remember to review if you'd like.
