Only you, Diana

Legal Mumbo Jumbo: The usual, I bet you're tired of reading the same thing over and over again, so I'm not going to bother…

1

The trouble with happiness is not because it is always out of reach, it is not because it is addictive, leaving a man craving for more once he drank from its golden cup. It is not because of the fear that came with it, fear of losing everything in your life once you found your happiness

Perhaps the trouble with happiness could be all those factors combined. However, one can safely state that happiness is made dangerous because it seeks prey. It attaches itself to anyone, like a leech, and sucks away at your soul, without one knowing it. It will deceive you draw draws you away while it's working and once you've found out, it will already be too late

Happiness, Bruce Wayne thought to himself, is dangerous. From his parents, to Jason, to just about every aspects of his shadowy life, happiness had always found its way through to puncture a whole through it

Life was, in everyway, confusing. How do you know when you are truly "happy"? Once anyone even began to think that he knows, the world would come crashing down on them. A victim, Bruce knew, of their own carelessness

In the end, the only answer he could find was to give up his search for happiness. It was too much to hope for. It's better to expect and accept the letter of truth then to be a fool and sought for something that will never be there

With those thoughts transfixed in his mind, he thought that he could hide from it. He tried his best to avoid it. But he soon realized that there is something that you can never be safe from

–—

She can't explain it.

Every time she turns her head and lays eyes on him, whether unintentionally or intentionally, she always thought that he had somehow "changed"

Not change as in physically, in fact, in the years that she had knew him; he had neither grown nor shrunk. His features was the same as it has always been, handsome and proud, many would have fallen for him when they first lay eyes on him, but she hadn't. She thought Bruce Wayne was disappointing and Batman as brooding, nothing attractive

But now, when she turn and face him, she no longer see him as a disappointment or an insane freak who has nothing better to do, but a creature who is torn, confused and one who had suffered greatly. A warrior with a mission, to rid the world of crime, a hero who is willing to present himself to death if it means ridding the human race of their sin. A remarkable being, an enigma, a psychologist's nightmare, and before Diana knew it, she found herself caught up with her feeling for the Cape Crusader. At first, she tried her best to deny it, the idea was farfetched: she could not imagine falling in love any man, so how is it that she now found herself being involved in a woman's greatest weakness? How could she be so careless as to allow Cupid targeted her? Could she not have avoided the arrows? She had always thought that dodging the deadly weapon would be an easy task; she thought she had done it before for many years but as it turned out, the arrows were small and swift and it wasn't as if she had fooled Cupid many years before, it was that Cupid had neglected her and now she was being punished for thinking that she had outsmarted a god

First impression never last

As time moves slowly onward, it left behind a feeling in her soul, first as a mockery, but now, as a present. Time had given her acceptance. She began to accept her feelings and realized that there were up sides to everything, even something as dangerous as love. She no longer worry about her tradition and culture back home, she knew what her mother's opinion would be if she admitted the truth to her, or how her custom would prevent her from loving Bruce, she no longer fear for the pain that her heart will go through, she supposed that in life, happiness will always have a price

Even now, as she sits across from him in the cafeteria, she could not help but stare, she was tempted to speak to him, but something held back. Instead, Batman had the first word, "Diana?"

"Hmmm?" she responded

"You've been staring at me for a while now. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Diana blushed slightly. Her food suddenly became very interesting. "Sorry"

Many times she had wondered if Batman would ever return her feelings. She would always doubt it. After all, Batman was, well, Batman, he was cold and hard. However, once, not long ago, she remembered Batman knocking down the walls that blocked him from the rest of the world, even if it was for a little while. That gave her hope, perhaps he did felt something for her, something more than just friends. Since then, the veil which draped across the Caped Crusader was often lifted and she was invited in. He cared. But she pondered to herself, on long nights when she was in her room by herself, how much did he care?

She looked up and saw Batman smiling at her. She felt her heart melt. He reached across and pats her hands, "No need for apologies, Princess"

"Please, call me Diana"

"Alright, Diana" he stated with a sigh. He returned his attention to the food before him. Several seconds later, he looked up at Diana and opened his mouth to speak but quickly shuts them. However, the look that Diana had gave him made him reconsidered; he started his speech slowly "Have you ever wished that something had never turned out like they did?"

Diana beamed, he was knocking down his wall again, he was lifting his veil and slowly letting the sunlight in. It was time like these, when Bruce sit down and talk to her, share with her his philosophy, those were the time that she knew that Bruce was no longer Batman or Bruce Wayne, he was just being himself

"Well, for starter, I kinda wonder how things would turn out if I was never banished from my homeland"

"But then, you won't be part of the Justice League like you are today" argued Batman

"You are right. I won't be able to know you better or be able to enjoy our lunch together today" Diana agreed before turning her eyes down, "However…"

"However, many positive things could have happened to you if you were still in Themyscira. You would've never been exposed to our world, where suffering is aboard. Maybe, you would have felt more belonged. Maybe, you would have never felt what it would be like to be in danger, to be afraid, to feel sadness" the last bit he had mumbled, in a volume so small and delicate that Diana had to strain to catch, "Maybe, you could have been happier"

Diana had to admit, those words were true in a lot of way. Then, for the first time, Diana seemed to realize it. "Bruce, are you scared that I might have made the wrong decision in joining the League?"

Batman never replied. Typical, thought Diana to herself. Batman always had an ability to twist every reality so that he would think, no, believe, that it was his fault

"Bruce…maybe sometime I felt that my life would be much easier if I remained on the Island. But, the truth is that if I would continue to waltz and float through life like a songbird then it won't be worth anything. Don't get me wrong, I respected my decision, and I got way more out of it then I have lost"

"Like?" demanded Batman

"I made friends. I found out what it would be like to be normal, not just some stuck-up princess from a woman-only realm. I tasted cotton candy. I frolicked in snow. I would have never been able to experience all those in my homeland. And you know what the best part it?"

"What?"

"You"

For a moment, time seem to have froze on the spot. Bruce could hear the slight humming of his heart threatening to escape from the confinement of his chest. And now, it was Diana who had "changed". No longer was she the vicious and proud Amazonian princess, instead, she was kind, gentle, amazing, and above all, beautiful. Had he actually fallen in love with the goddess before him? Impossible? Or just deflected from the truth, or maybe he had taken the dive. Would she accept it? Would he himself accept it?

"Bruce?"

"Yea?"

"I hope I didn't scare you or anything," Diana admitted. But somehow, she wasn't feeling embarrassed, she felt glad, she felt light all of a sudden, like she had rid herself of something of great burdens. Now, the question was, would Bruce be willing to allow Diana in his life? It would be hard for him, most definitely

She felt something warm on top of her delicate hands and she looked up to find Batman, his eyes turned away, but his heart was facing the right way

"Ahem"

Both Diana and Bruce looked up at the same time to find Flash standing before them

"Is this like a bad time?" he inquired

Bruce cleared his throat, "No" he replied, but his tone was unsure. Disappointed he was, surprisingly, he was hoping that something would happen before Flash had arrived. Maybe happiness would return to him. Happiness, the one thing that he was truly afraid of, but yet, he craves for it. It was like drug: marijuana, cocaine, raves; human fear it, one moment they would be sane, but once the drug enters their system, they go crazy. They would be possessed and most of them wouldn't realize what harm it would do to them until it was too late. Yet, how addictive and wonderful it was

"Alright then, I'll just leave this with you and I'll be off," he thrust an envelope into Diana's hand, "I'll be off now, just carry on, whatever you were doing. Keep in mind, I only interrupted you because that letter had urgent written all over it. You can check yourself, I wasn't lying. Well, folks, I guess I'll be off. Right about now, just carry on what you were doing. Seemed really important…"

"FLASH!"

"Alright, I'll go, I'll go! Gees…bossy" and in less then a blink of an eye, he was gone

Diana sighed heavily, "Isn't it funny how every time we seem to be making some form of progress, something would come along and interrupt us?"

Bruce brushed the question aside, "Your letter, what does it say?"

That was it. That was as close as she would get to Bruce Wayne, at least until next week, if she gets lucky. Until then, it would be the Batman treatment for her. She turned her letter and looked at it, true to Flash's word, there was the word urgent written on it. She tore open the letter and quickly scanned through it

Batman read her expression as best as she could "So?" he asked, "What does it say?"

Diana placed her letter on the table, "It's my mom"

"What happened?"

Diana shrugged, "Nothing, she just wanted me to come back to the Island, for a visit. Although I can't seem to understand why this letter was so urgent"

"I guess you'll be going then"

"Of course I'm going, I haven't seen my own mother for years! Perhaps J'onn will have Supergirl cover for me or…"

"How long will you be gone?" questioned Bruce

Diana shrugged, "Don't know, but hopefully I won't be staying for long. Something might turn up while I'm gone"

A lie, Batman knew. She wanted to stay for as long as she can. She hasn't seen her mom, her friends, her home for years. Now with the growing members of the League, Diana could come and go as often as she wish and there would be good chance Earth would be the way she had left it. Would she leave once she suspects that the League won't require her service?

Batman opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed them. He wanted to come. But, after all, it was her business. Whatever reason that had caused her mom to call her back to her homeland must be urgent enough for the queen to overlook her expulsion. He had no right to meddle

"What is it?" Diana asked

"Have fun" replied Batman, "Don't stay too long. Something will be amiss in all our lives if you're away"

"Sweet," she stood up with her letter in her hand, and before she left she bent down and planted a kiss on Bruce's cheek, "I'll remember that"

2

The downside of sleeping in the watchtower is not having the sunlight greet you in the morning. Instead, the annoying clamor of the alarm bell wakes you up. Diana would've preferred having to wake up to Apollo's chariot then a metal contraption ringing in her ears. Today, unlike any others, was the same. The alarm, the annoying ringing alarm. She snuggled deep within the warmth of her bed and blanket, not wanting to wake. She turned her body around and nearly jumped in shock. There was Batman, fully dressed in cape and cowl, lying across her, staring straight up at the ceiling

She scrambled up quickly "What are you doing here?" she demanded, but she did not wait for an answer, "Did we get drunk last night?"

Bruce answered but never turning his body, "I don't recall any alcohol last night, we weren't even in the same room"

"Then what are you doing here?" she repeated

"I was waiting for you. You sure are a sound sleeper"

"You were waiting for me?"

"Wanted to say good bye to you before you left. I didn't know how early you actually get up in the morning, so I came as early as I could"

Diana smiled, she was please to see him lying across from her now. She grabbed her clothes and hopped into her washroom where she showered and changed

As Bruce is seated on Diana's bed at this moment, he felt like screaming it out, scream out those words that could set him free. He heard the shower turned on and the image of a naked and wet Diana suddenly pop into his brain. Perhaps if he says it now, under his breath in a very, very low volume, she wouldn't hear him. But would he still have the same feeling of freedom? Or would it make it worse, would it drive him insane to the point where he had to confess it before her? Perhaps he was already consumed…in madness, in love, who knows? How does one feel when they are in love? How does one feel when they are happy? Sad? Mad? Guilty? Those were human emotions, they belong in a group of complicated and unsolved problem in the human philosophy. Many do not understand and would never understand it. Many had felt it. Many had toyed with it. Many had given up on it. Bruce knew he had given up on happiness, or at least tried, but it looks as if it had tracked him down, once again

Diana emerged from the washroom, her hairs dripping wet. She walked over to Batman and sat down beside him. Bruce looked away, all the years of playboy experience had left him

"You know," Diana began, "I was thinking, while I was in the shower. It'd be fun if you can come with me to the island. Why don't you come along?"

"What?" He turned around quickly to face Diana, "You mean it?"

"Sure," Diana replied, "I could use some company and it won't hurt for my own mother to get to know at least one of my fellow colleagues"

Batman had learned to be wary in life, to expect the unexpected, but this had knocked him off his wind for a few moments. But in the end, he knew his decision, "sounds lovely"

–—

They were near Themyscira. They have to be near. They've been in Diana's jet for quite awhile now but Batman had no attention on time. His thoughts were on the conversation that he and Flash had just recently as they were preparing to leave in the hangar

"So, how long will you and Diana be gone for?" Flash had asked him

"Don't really know," Bruce admitted

Flash noticed how Batman was staring at Diana, who was standing at a distance, with an expression so hard for Flash to put into words. This wasn't very Batman-like, he was way out of character. Flash understandably nodded, "She's a super lady, Bats"

Instead of giving him the Bat-stare which he would usually act, he smiled and sighed, "Sure is, isn't she?"

"So, I guess this is like a getaway for you two, huh?"

"Sorta"

"Sorta? Have you sorted this out between you guys?"

Batman shook his head, "We haven't exactly talked about it…yet"

Flash groaned, he ran his hand through his hair in frustration, "You know, Bats, I'm surprised that for someone like you, you haven't done anything about it"

"Why?" Batman growled in return

"Diana is a super lady Bats. But if you're not careful, someone else might take her before you do"

"Someone else?"

"Yea, you know. Someone with a sweet tongue and a great body. Someone who can dance the waltz and recite poems in French and English. Someone who can take her in his arm and make her forget what day or night was…"

"Flash?" interrupted Batman promptly

"Yea?"

"Are you gay?" inquired Batman in a stoic tone

"I'll shut up," Flash replied with a groan, "But don't wait too long. This world wasn't meant for the procrastinator."

–—

As much as Bruce hate to admit it, a lot of what Flash had said was true. And why shouldn't it be true? Diana was an amazing lady. She wouldn't have any trouble finding love. If he idled just a little, he would have been too late

"Why are you so quiet?" Diana's soft voice pierced through his thoughts like a needle, sharp and effective

Batman's face flushed under his cowl, "Well, it's just that Flash and I was talking and I uh…."

At that moment, when he turned to look at Diana, he saw a flash of the sunlight reflecting off her face. He realized something very tragic that caused his heart to mourn. He had to forget about it, no matter how difficult or long it would take, he had to

"You uh…?" came Diana's voice

"I was just thinking how amazing you look this morning," he quickly lied. He was lying about his intended speech, but his thought was frank and he could not think of anyone more beautiful at the moment

"Thank you," replied Diana, but she couldn't hide her disappointment. She really thought he was going to admit it, but she was wrong. She was wrong about a lot of things though. Sometime, Bruce could be really stupid, stupid to the point of idiotic. She was open to him right now, at this moment. What was he waiting for? Then the doubt came to her, what if he really didn't feel for her? If he did, won't he have already come clean to her?

"We're here," she announced

Batman climbed out of the jet slowly, drinking in the sunlight that was beating down on him. Diana came up to him and took him by the arm, "I'll show you where to go," he told him, "My mother spent most of her time in the temple, she's a very religious person," as they made their way through the island, Diana kept talking. The deeper they went, the more Amazon they encountered. Bruce received dirty look, curious glance and furtive whisperings, although whether it was for him or Diana, he did not know. It was not custom for the Amazons to have visitors from the outside world, especially when it was a male mortal like Bruce Wayne

The temple was of great structure. It was designed and built very carefully, Batman could tell. But then again, the Greek were great architect. The temple was as wide as the ocean and as tall as the heaven. Within the temple, every figure, every item was as sacred as the Gods and Goddesses. Diana led him deep into the temple, where they came across more Amazons. The Amazons were a proud and strong race of women and to Bruce, they don't look very welcoming. He began to wonder how Diana's mother would react to him. Would she be hostile toward his arrival? Most likely she would. Already, he realized what a bad idea this was

"Diana!"

Batman looked up. He assumed that this was Queen Hippolyta. Considering she was queen of the Amazon, she was dressed nowhere near royalty. A white dress was the only garment she had on. It seemed simple, but yet, when worn by the Queen, it seem to grow in splendor and jewels unseen by the eyes could be placed on as a symbol of her beauty. The God must love her very much for they have given her such beauty and grace

"Mother!" Diana greeted. She tugged firmly on Bruce's hand to beckon him forward

"It's very good to see you, my dear daughter" there was truth in her voice, but Bruce detected something else that wasn't meant to be there. A hint of hesitation, perhaps? She was glad that Diana was present in her sight at the moment but there was something else, something he couldn't set his fingers on

"It has been a long time" Diana admitted "I missed you but what have caused you to…"

"You've brought company, I see" commented her mother in a sour tone

"Oh yes, this is…" Diana paused, "This is…Br…Ba…" another pause. What was Diana supposed to introduce her friend as? Bruce Wayne or Batman? Still, the growing silence between herself and her mom was leaving her uneasy and her mom angrier

"I'm Bruce Wayne," Batman stated, "Or Batman"

The Queen looks as if someone had fed her sour milk, "Oh yes, the very famous Batman"

"Mother" Diana interrupted, sensing danger. Her mom, like all Amazons are very dangerous when they needed to be. She knew her mom well enough to know that she did not favor men, especially humans "Why have you called me back?"

Hippolyta turned back and faced Diana, she took Diana's hand into her and look deeply into her eyes, "Diana, I know I've was a little too hasty when I sent you away. But please remember, Diana, I still love you very much"

"Yes"

"Dear daughter," continued the Queen, "I have a favor to ask of you"

"Name it"

"Diana, I need you to exchange vows to someone"

Diana stared back at her mom flabbergasted. Did she hear her say it correctly? Why would her mother ask her to get married despite her culture and their laws? Her mom must be pulling something on her. She felt Bruce's hand tugging to be free of her grasp. She looked down and saw Batman gazing intently at the ground, a grim frown tugging down at his lip

"It is the will of Gods. I was visited by the Pantheon not long ago. Diana, to save our race, you must get marry"

"Why me? Mother, I don't understand"

"You are still too young to understand the situation, dear daughter. Now what do you say? Will you?"

Diana eyed her mother, "Do I get to choose my own groom to be?" A rhetorical question, knowing her mom, she have already chosen one out for her

Her mother laughed, "I can't let you pick anyone, Diane dear, our culture has some strict laws on marriage. To save you the trouble of searching, I've taken the liberty of finding and choosing one for you. Diana, I'm begging you, faith rest on your shoulder"

Diana turned around and looked at Batman. She couldn't see his expression, but even without the cowl, she was sure she couldn't read it either way. He had years of practice as Batman to hide it

"I need time," she told her mom

Her mother sighed, "Very well, but I would still like you to meet your fiancé"

Diana looked on as a male approached her. She felt the world stop. He was like a God. He had straight blond hair and blue eyes, but how blue they were! Strong arms took her hand and greeted her, "Hello Diana. I have heard so much about you"

Diana was dumbstruck, she could not talk, her throat was dry. She heard a clamor behind her and when she turned around she saw Bruce hurried out of the room, away from Diana. She wanted to call back to him but was interrupted by her "fiancé"

"

Oh the tribulation of a princess