3. Contemplation
"Diana, you were hit with Luthor's gun. You have lost your powers"
Diana was sitting in her room, with her knees drawn to her chest and her arms held around them. It had been over 10 hours since her world had come crashing down. She had been given the news that she her powers were gone.
Everyone had been to her room to try to raise her spirits. Superman had even said that they were working on a cure and soon she would get her powers back. However, Diana knew that he was lying both to himself and to her.
Suddenly her room door opened. She didn't even need to look to know who was it. Only one person would enter her room without knocking.
Batman came and sat next to her on the bed.
"You came soon enough. Finally decided to visit the cripple" said Diana without looking at him.
"You needed time to think" answered Batman, disregarding her second comment.
"Hah….time to think, that's one way to put it" retorted Diana sarcastically. "You sure play a wicked game. On one hand you tell me that I myself and on the other hand you simplify it and act as if nothing has happened."
"I did what needed to be done."
"Needed to be done……so what are you doing here now?" questioned Diana.
"I am still doing what needs to be done" answered Batman. "The reason I gave you the news was because, the sooner you realized the situation, the sooner you would be able to move on…..And Diana you haven't lost yourself. Your powers were only a small part of who you are" he concluded and placed a gloved hand on her forearm.
Diana pulled her hand back and got up from the bed, "A small part of how I am….a small part….how easy for you to say. You won't understand…You…You…..." she faltered, tears starting to flow down her smooth face. She turned away from Batman, not wanting to show him her tears.
Batman got up and came to her side. He placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him.
"I won't understand, because I don't have any powers. That's what you want to say, isn't it?" questioned Batman, lifting Diana's chin and wiping her tears.
Diana didn't answer, but fell onto Batman, clutching his costume and started to cry loudly into his chest. Batman merely held her in his embrace, allowing her to pour her sorrow out.
After a long time, her cries slowed down and stopped. Lifting her head she wiped her face clean and looked up at Batman.
"Sorry" she said softly.
"Don't be" he answered, caressing her hair.
Diana laid her head on his shoulder, holding onto him tightly for support.
There was a knock on her room door. Diana lifted her head, "Who is it?" she said hoarsely.
"Diana its Flash. Open up, I have got food for you." came the answer.
"I'm not hungry Flash. Thank you for your concern." answered Diana.
"Come on, you haven't had anything to eat since you got up. It's your favorite, fruit salad and extra-large milkshake." insisted Flash.
"Flash…." started Diana.
"LEAVE" Batman barked, interrupting her.
Flash was taken aback by Batman's command.
"Ok, as you wish." With that Flash left.
"You know, he is right. You haven't eaten anything since we got back." said Batman.
"I know. But not just yet. I want to stay like this for sometime" replied Diana, laying her head back on Batman's shoulder.
"For long as you want" answered Batman, kissing her on her forehead.
"Bruce, what am I going to do?"
Meanwhile, in the Watchtower kitchen
The rest of the league noticed Flash return with the food tray in his hand.
"What happened?" questioned Superman.
"She said didn't wasn't hungry." replied Flash.
"You could have left it in her room" scolded Green Lantern.
"Hey, don't dump on me. I tried, but Batman scared me away" countered Flash.
"Batman….Batman was in her room. Hasn't he done enough already" scowled Hawkgirl.
"Shayera" said Superman, trying to calm Hawkgirl.
At the same time, in Diana's room
"I want to go away" said Diana, placing her hand on Batman's chest.
"Go away?" questioned Batman, holding her soft, small hand with his large, gloved one.
"Yes, get away from the watchtower…….atleast for some time. I need time to think, away from here."
"OK…….we'll go the manor. You can stay there."
Diana lifted her head "No…..somewhere neutral"
Batman was silent for a few seconds, "I have an apartment in the city. You can stay there. It's neutral and close enough for us to see each other."
Diana smiled a small smile and kissed Batman lightly on the lips.
Back, in the kitchen
"You know come to think of it Diana's did sound a little rough. You know like she had been crying." said Flash reminiscing.
"WHAT….Why did Bat-brain do now? He didn't even give her time to recover." yelled Hawkgirl, standing up and moving towards the door. "That's it, I am going to her room and sticking my mace up his…"
She stopped as Diana appeared in the doorway. Batman was standing behind her.
"Diana. Good to see you" chirped Flash, trying to diffuse the tension. Hawkgirl merely scowled at Batman, who stood as unemotional and unaffected as ever.
Both of them entered the kitchen. Diana came and stood near the other leaguers, while Batman lingered in the shadows.
"How are you feeling Diana?" questioned J'onn.
"Better J'onn" answered Diana, smiling at him.
"Diana, sit down. Have something to eat." offered Superman.
"Thank you Kal" she said declining. "I have an announcement to make. Shayera, please sit down" she said, holding out a hand to Hawkgirl. "You too Flash"
Once Hawkgirl and Flash were seated, Diana began "I have decided to leave the league…"
"WHAT?" yelled Hawkgirl, standing up, her chair falling over. "What did you say to her?" she said to Batman accusingly.
"Shayera please, let me finish" responded Diana calmly.
Hawkgirl sat down again, but kept glaring at Batman.
"I am leaving the league temporarily. Think of it as taking a break. Time to collect myself and plan my future, both as Diana and as Wonder Woman."
"You can do that here….." began Hawkgirl.
"NO……No….please don't try to change my mind." Said Diana firmly.
"Very well Diana. But where will you go? You can't go to Themiscyra" said Flash. For that he received a kick under the table from Superman.
"You can stay in Metropolis. Lois will be glad to have you stay with us" offered Superman.
"Thanks for the offer Kal. But I want a neutral place, away from the league" responded Diana.
"So where are you going to go?" questioned Hawkgirl
"Batman has offered to provide me an apartment in Gotham."
"WHAT?"