6. Regret
Diana opened her eyes to find herself in her room in the watchtower. She sighed with relief and closed her eyes. It had been a bad dream. She hadn't lost her powers and left for Gotham with Bruce and then acted like a common ……...
Opening her eyes she walked towards her bathroom and switching the light on, entered inside, closing the door behind her. She looked at herself in the mirror. She had a tired look on her face. As she raised her hand to her pickup her brush, her eyes fell on the bracelet on her arm. It wasn't her normal bracelet but rather like the one Bruce had given to her in her dream. It then hit her. Opening the bathroom door she rushed into her room. Her clothes from the previous night were draped over the chair.
'Great Hera, it wasn't a dream.' She thought, tears starting to flow down her face. The emotions from the night hit her again and she collapsed on the ground, her head on the bed, tears flowing faster from her eyes.
There was a knock on her door. 'Bruce' was the first thought she had. I can't let him see me like this again. Getting up she rushed to the bathroom. As she closed the door, she heard the door slide open. She opened the tap and started washing her tear stained face. She emerged ten minutes later, having washed up and brushed her hair to find not Batman but Hawkgirl sitting on her bed, waiting for her.
"Shayera?" questioned Diana, wondering how did Hawkgirl get in. "How did you get in? Was the door unlocked?"
"No" chuckled Hawkgirl. "I got your password." she answered.
"From?"
"Batman" she stated casually.
"Batman. Batman gave you my password?" she asked, not believing her own ears.
"Yes. What happened Diana?" Shayera asked. Concern clear on her face and in her voice.
"Why?" Diana was worried what Bruce had told the others. "Why did Batman say?" she asked guardedly.
"Nothing. He brought you late last night and called an emergency meeting this morning. He told us that he was revoking your military and flight privileges till further notice. When we protested that how he could do this, he challenged any of us to override his security system if possible and reinstate them. He then requested, more like ordered that we were to refrain from disturbing you in your room. He said that if you wished to talk to any of us you would come out from your room. With that he ended the meeting. But as we were leaving he did something weird."
"What?" asked Diana, taking in everything Shayera had just told her.
"He asked me to stay behind. Once everyone had left he turned towards me and gave me your room password. He then told me to look after you. He said that you were missing Themiscyra and that I could help you, as I was a woman and the closest thing you have to a sister here. He said that the room was off-limits to the male members only and not me. With that he got up and walked out of the room."
Diana thought what Hawkgirl had just revealed to her. Her thoughts were interrupted by Hawkgirl calling her.
"Diana…Diana."
"Huh." Diana looked at Shayera.
"Diana, what happened in Gotham? Not that I don't want to see an emotion from Batman, but today he looked practically freaked out. And, if I never see him like that or any other emotion from him, it will be too soon." said Shayera looking at Diana.
Diana didn't know what to say. She started and stopped a couple of times, trying to get the correct words. Finally she said, "I was missing home."
Shayera slapped her head, "That's it. And here I was imagining the worst. I thought that Batman dogged you completely, driving you crazy."
Diana gave her a small smile, "Nothing like that, in fact after me at the safe-house, he just came twice. Once to check it I had settled in and the second time to get me here."
Shayera turned to pick up the food tray she had brought with her. "Here, you must be hungry. When was the last time you had something to eat?"
Diana thought about the dinner she and Bruce had had together. They had been so happy. Bruce had even fed her at one point. He looked relieved and calm, away from the League and Gotham business. But that seemed a lifetime ago now.
"I had dinner last night." she answered Shayera.
"Last night" she gasped. "Oh what I am saying, of course last night. You haven't eaten anything since you returned to the watchtower. You must be famished now."
Diana indeed felt hungry, in fact she was practically starving. "How long have I been asleep?" she questioned.
"Well almost twenty hours. I was getting worried but Batman forbid me from waking you up. He said you were tired and needed the rest."
Diana said nothing and started eating. Once she finished her and Hawkgirl talked about the league happenings in the last couple of days. Then Shayera left, telling her to rest.
A couple of days had passed. The routine was the same. Hawkgirl would bring her food and spend some time with her. Diana hadn't left her room and none of the other members had come to her room. Not even Batman. 'Must have returned to Gotham' she thought.
Suddenly there was a knock on her door. 'Who is it?' Diana wondered. It couldn't be Shayera; she knew the password and didn't knock. Unlocking the door, she slid it open to find Superman standing in front of her.
He smiled at Diana, "Diana, how are you doing? You haven't come out in the past few days, we were worried."
"Thanks Kal for your concern. I am perfectly fine, just need some time alone" answered Diana. "But should you be here, I thought Batman forbid all the male members from coming to my room."
"He doesn't know I am here" whispered Superman, so that only he and Diana could hear it.
"I know you are there" came a voice from inside Diana's room. Both of them looked inside to find it empty.
"Superman report to the monitor room." Batman's voice boomed over the watchtower intercom.
Superman sighed, his shoulder's dropping. "Sorry Diana, I guess I have to….."
He was interrupted by Batman, "NOW"
Superman silently flew away.
Diana looked at him turn around the corridor, when Batman's voice rang out again. "You too Flash."
As Diana looked the Flash came into view. He had been moving at super-speed making him practically invisible. He smiled at her, "He has all of us scared, even Supes" he said before speeding away.
None of the other male members of the league came to her room after that.
Three days later, Diana decided to finally step out of her room. As she reached the monitor room, she noticed Flash at monitor duty. But that wasn't what drew her attention. What caught her eye and caused her to stop in her tracks was Batman. He was sitting on the couch. He was sleeping and his cape was draped over him. He looked tired with visible fatigue lines around his mouth.
Stepping back she made her way to the kitchen. She found J'onn there, enjoying his Oreos.
"Good morning Wonder Woman. It's nice to see you out of your room. Everyone has been missing you, especially Batman." said J'onn standing up to greet her.
"Thank you J'onn" answered Diana. "How long has he been here?" she asked, referring to Batman.
"He hasn't left since the day he brought you back. He sits there the whole time, checking the monitors continuously. I think he just takes a short break every 12 – 15 hours."
Diana was stunned by J'onn's revelation. She got up and started walking to the monitor bay. Reaching near Batman she sat down next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Batman shrugged and awoke. Looking up he saw Diana. "Sorry, I feel asleep." He said apologetically.
Diana smiled at him and withdrew her hand back. "When did you last sleep?" she asked him.
"Day before yesterday" he said flatly.
"Where and for how long?" she continued, knowing what J'onn had just told her.
Batman was silent for a few moments before he answered, "Here……for about fifty minutes."
Diana had expected that he had been sleeping less, but fifty minutes in two days. He had been monitoring her, waiting for her to come out and she had been resting and enjoying her sleep in the comforts of her room. She left lower than ever.
She managed a small smile, "Go and sleep now. I am fine now."
Shaking his head he answered, "I'll be fine."
"Please" Diana pleaded "for me."
Batman took one more look at her, stood up and walked out towards his room. He could sleep now.
As soon as Batman entered his room, Diana tracked down Shayera, who was happy to see her finally leave the confines of her room.
"Diana" she stood up and hugged Wonder Woman. "So you finally decided to join us."
Diana sat her down and said, "Shayera I need your help."