A/N: Another chapter, a bit more Justice League in this fic, thought
I'd add some more characters for lack of better things to write. Hope
it gets less or . . . more confusing
XOOOO1: thanks
brainfear: more posted, just because you asked so nicely [seriously. I only post when I'm reviewed]
terry2004: yep, a continuation, and all because I had reviews. and emails. thanks you guys!
ccabello: okay another chapter, a bit more on the Huh? side of wierdy, but at least it's a chapter.
Upon entering the lair of Al Ghul, the entire Justice League had an uneasy feeling. Flash sped up to do recon as J'onn scanned for any unusual activity. Flash came back white as a sheet.
"Status" Superman asked, looking at the twenty-something speedster worredly.
"I think I know why Bats didn't show up to the Watchtower meeting"
Taking them inside, it was evident to a layman that Batman had been there, traces of smoke, batarangs, weapons scattered helplessly and many a broken, slumped unconscious man with either bullet holes or martial arts slashes embedded in their flesh. It was carnage, hardly any were dead.
"Not another mess to clean" Superman whispered, grimmly walking towards the central area of the complex. Walking to the right, Wonder Woman felt her skin prickle as she walked past Superman and held herself ready for anything except this.
There Batman stood, in all his darkened glory shadowing eerily over a defeated Al Ghul who was slumped unconscious under what looked to be Satan himself.
"Leave" the word was coarse and garbled in his throat, but unmistakably a very tired, dangerous Batman.
"We thought you hadn't . ."
"I knew."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"This was my fight"
"I was beginning to think our fights were the same"
"You're wrong"
"Batman! Were's the nuke!" Superman shouted, flying into the room.
"Destroyed."
Diana fingered her lasso, but thought better of tempting fate, as Batman gripped Ra's Al Ghul and carried the smaller man towards an exit.
"What happened here?" Superman questioned, barring Batman from the doorway.
"Out of my way, Clark"
"Not until I get a play by play"
"Fine" Batman reached into his belt and produced a green, shining stone, kryptonite. Weakened and in pain, Superman fell to the ground as Wonder Woman flew the short distance to the blue and red caped crusader.
"Batman!" she called, desperate to get through to her lover.
"NO!" the dark knight cringed, the mere sound of her voice torturing him visibly as he trudged with Ra's Al Ghul out the exit and to the Batwing as a soft beeping began to light itself on Diana's ears as she picked up a piece of paper that had fluttered from a fold in Batman's cape. He wouldn't. . . Hera!
"Flash! Get everyone out!!" Wonder Woman screamed in her commlink, picking the recovering form of Superman up and out of the building.
"Two days after the greatest explosion in Kazakstani history, everyone, including the Justice League is trying to pick up the pieces. No trace has been found of Ra's Al Ghul or the nuclear missle, but as the Justice League helps with clean up, one question is still on everyone's mind: Where is Batman, and what part did he play in this catastrophe? This is Snapper Carr hoping that all ends well".
"Dammit!" Superman shouted, punching a dent into the Watchtower's wall. Wonder Woman sat on the counter in the kitchen as J'onn meditated a meter off the floor beside Superman.
"I can't condone Batman's actions!" Superman snapped, trying hard to control his anger at the past few days events.
Opening his mouth, J'onn answered,
"He doesn't want us to"
"How"
"His actions are erratic, he has isolated himself completely, left familiar villians to his younger companions and he doesn't have the mental fortitude to barr me from his psyche"
"Is that where you are now?" Wonder Woman looked up at the seven foot Martian, who grimmly nodded with a shiver.
"I will be having nightmares for a decade"
"What's he thinking?"
"I cannot say"
"Why not?"
"His normal composure is in shambles, it is as if chaos had raped Batman's mind. He is obsessed over a series of dreams. . . augh!" J'onn spasmed, violently thrusting his eyes open as he stood and leaned against the wall for support.
"J'onn!" Superman shouted, reaching for the Martian, but J'onn signaled the Kryptonian away. Several moments of agonizing silence followed before J'onn looked at Princess Diana of the Amazons with enough sorrow to fill a flooded river.
'What do you see?' she asked, knowing full well he would hear her mind's thoughts.
'He fears losing you'
"He knew the risks" she said aloud, Superman watching the telepathic and verbal exchange curiously, slowly pulling the pieces together.
'He dreams of corpses, you as one of them'
"Hera"
"Will someone clue me in already"
"Batman is acting out of fear of loosing Diana"
". . . that's all noble , but. . . "
"We're lovers, Clark"
Letting the shock drain into the massive Kryptonian, Superman sat down,
"Suddenly this whole thing makes a lot more sense"
"He's Batman. He didn't want you to know"
"When? When did you.. two..."
"We've been. . . we weren't together until. . until Batman nearly killed the Joker."
"Three months?! You've been dating him for three months?"
"I moved into Wayne Manor five months ago, Clark"
"Five months!? I have GOT to get a better handle on things!"
"Don't overreact"
"Five months, Diana! Five! Of course Batman would be jumpy, heck he'd even be erratic, now it all makes sense! I learned a long time ago that a passionate Batman is the most dangerous man on this planet or the next. He's in love with you!"
"Yes." J'onn spoke, again in his meditative position. Diana stood silent, her arms folded against her chest.
"No wonder he's been coming on more missions. Batman's obsessive. . . Diana how could you do this?"
"I know what he's like"
"I beg to differ. Anyone who truely knows Batman knows he absolutely must keep his distance"
"I know!"
"Then what possessed you to . . . to . . . darnit!"
"I knew the risks and so did he, I share his bed, Clark, I would think I've gone deeper into his mind than you"
"I would hope so"
"So what do we do now?"
"You seem to be good at negotiating with him, Diana. You think of something"
"He's shut me out"
"I had no idea he'd use kryptonite on me"
"He has contingency plans for all of us. Even me"
"Yeah. Noticed. What I'm worried about is that he only uses them when he's run out of options. He'd be like a wounded animal in a cage!"
"For Batman, it is better to stay away from someone he loves than risk harming them. It is his creed" J'onn said, eyes firmly shut.
"Hera."
"What?"
"Morpheus"
"Who?"
"The god of dreams. He wrote it on the piece of paper that fell from his cape. I didn't know what he meant by it, but if what J'onn says... Morpheus must be corrupting his mind"
"Or warning me"
"Batman!"
"Batman!"
"He is here"
"Thanks for the update, J'onn" Superman said sarchastically.
"You're welcome"
"Diana, may I speak with you alone, please?" Batman growled, motioning the other people out of the room before Superman noticed the blood soaking his uniform under his ribs.
"What did y..."
"I can't do this Diana."
"Do what?"
"Us. I . . I can't"
"Why? We were happy"
"I know. You knew the risks, you knew I'd hurt you but you continued anyways"
"I need a better reason than just because."
"I can't give you one"
"Is it the dreams?"
". . . Yes."
"J'onn told us. He said you were sending out waves the size of cities. You've lost control, let me help"
"NO!" Batman flinced into the corner, sending a shockwave of his garbled emotions to the one woman who knew him too well.
"Why!?"
"I won't be responsible for your death!!" Batman shouted, sending his great black cape around himself as he tried to hide the heaving of his lungs and bloody uniform.
"I refuse! I love you too much to . . to continue with something that will tear you apart!"
"You're willing to tear yourself apart instead!?"
"Yes"
"Do you not think I can make my own decision?"
"You don't realise the gravity of the situation"
"And you do?"
Batman set his grim eyes on Diana, pleading with her to understand. She stared back relentless.
"I promised a friend nothing could stop me from leaving. Must I tell my lover that my promises are worthless?"
Batman gave off his most demonic, fear-embedding stare to Diana, she didn't relent.
"I didn't promise. . ."
"I did. So back off, Batman."
"Your funeral"
Sneering, Batman started backing towards the door, Diana began to walk towards him, but something caught her eye and when she turned, he was gone. "
Well THAT you don't see every day" the Flash said, his eyes wide as his untouched frappucino dangled in his very surprised hand.
Sighing annoyedly, Wonder Woman folded her arms to her chest and leaned against the side of the kitchen counter. Great. Just. . . great.
"Uhmmm. . . Princess? I think you'll need this more than me" Flash said, handing the double mocha whipping creamed frapp to the Princess before speeding to the opposite counter.
"I'm . . I'm going to leave now."
"Flash!"
Cringing, Flash turned around,
"Yeah?"
"I'd appreciate it if you would forget everything you just heard"
"Trust me, hearing Batman try and be romantic is the LAST thing I want on my mind. It never happened."
"Thank you"
"Trust me, no probs." Flash went to walk out, but Diana looked at the frapp and back to where the red speedster was slowly backing out of the room.
". . . You can stay. . if you want. I think Green Lantern hid some ice cream in the back of the freezer"
". . . Really? You mean you're not going to pulverise me?"
"No, but there's a caped crusader I'd like to hurt very much"'
"Well in that case, let's break out the spoons!"
"Why would we want to break the spoons?"
"It means take them out of the drawer. . ." Flash said as he got out two big spoons and Diana tried to smile, walking over to the freezer to grab a tub of double fudge chocolate brownie ice cream from behind a container of frozen rutabaga.
"Ah, the old rutabaga trick. . . can't believe I fell for that" Flash said, to a general confused look from the Princess.
"Hey, just trying to lighten up the situation."
Diana shrugged, turning to take the seat Flash had sped around to grab for her and feeling him hand a spoon to her as he opened the ice cream all in less than four seconds.
"So, how long have you and the Bat been cozy?"
Diana blinked threateningly at him,
"I mean, it couldn't be less than a couple of months, right? I mean, not to pry or anything but your kissing in the hallway when Nightwing was in surgery is kinda hard to miss."
". . . Five months"
"Whew. . . . . . The object is to EAT the ice cream instead of staring at it. It doesn't bite"
"Right." Diana said, digging her spoon in and taking a bite, closing her eyes, sighing and leaning back in her chair.
"Gotta love the good stuff"
"Amen to that" after eating half of the ice cream in silence, Flash sat there fidgeting with his spoon,
"So . . . uh. . . wanna talk about it?"
"What?"
"You and Bats, what's going on?"
". . . speak one word of this and Batman will not be the only one wanting to cause you pain"
"Geez, what's a guy gotta do to help around here, beg? Tape my mouth shut? 'Cause both of those I can do"
"Thank you, Flash"
"No probs. . . but I think we'll need more ice cream"
"Agreed"
"Do I know ice cream, or do I know ICE CREAM" Flash said, waving his hands in the air. Feeling slightly ill from the 7 quarts of ice cream her and the Flash consumed at her appartment on Earth, Diana didn't know if the ill feeling was from the ice cream or from taking relationship advice from the Flash. A bit of both, most likely.
"What do I do?"
"Be honest. I mean, c'mon, it's not like Bats'll go bats and hurt you or anything"
Staring at him, Diana rolled her eyes,
"What? He won't! Trust me on this one"
"Flash, I think the only thing I'll trust you for is ice cream flavours"
"Ouch. harshness!"
"Sorry, I'm just. . . I'm uneasy"
"Try talking about it"
"What do you think this is?"
"To him"
"This is Batman"
"Trust me, I know"
"He's not the easiest to keep in one place for very long"
"Neither am I, but there's always somewhere I go where someone can find me"
". . . I don't think you've ever said something that smart before"
"Really? Cool! . . . What did I say?"
"You are hopeless, aren't you"
"Hey, at least I can run fast and I know ice cream flavours"
Diana smiled, suppressing a light chuckle. Flash grinned.
"Hey, I made you smile, that's a plus"
"Thanks."
"So're you going to take my advice?"
"Against all better judgement?"
"Uhhh, yeah"
"Yes, I think I will"
"Go away"
"No" Diana said, walking into a particularly dark, narrow passage in the Batcave.
"I'm not going to hurt you" she said, walking towards the sinking image of her lover.
"You can't promise that"
"I need you"
"No you don't"
"Bru..."
"Diana, we went through this"
"YOU did, I didn't have the chance"
"Leave"
"What happened to Ra's Al Ghul?"
"STOP!"
"I can be as stubborn as you"
"I don't want you anymore"
"That's a lie"
"Why do you say that"
"Because you don't believe it"
"Do I have to?"
"Yes"
"I'm tired, Diana."
"How long have you not slept?"
"Two weeks"
"Bruce"
"Batman! I'm only Batman to you! Only EVER Batman to you!"
"You're a human being!"
"I shouldn't be!"
"You're not immortal!"
"Maybe if I was, I wouldn't dream of your death every time I close my eyes! . . . You're a plague! Another tormentor! Why won't they stop! WHY CAN'T HE LEAVE ME ALONE!?!?" Batman spat, flooding the cave with reverberations upon echoes until the voice of Bruce Wayne came back very very small.
"Why can't you help me?" the whisper reached her in the hands of a small boy begging fomr his mommy and daddy to return. But they never will. They never will.
Wonder Woman took the three steps to stand above Batman, leaning down to carefully touch his forehead. He shivered.
"I can try"
"I'll hurt you"
Diana leaned in and kissed him, grabbing his shoulders as he reciprocated before grunting quietly in her mouth. Drawing her hand along his torso, she stopped wideeyed at the thick layer of crusted blood stuck like glue to his uniform and skin.
"It's not fatal"
"What did you do?" she panted, her voice hushed.
"The pain helps me remember"
"Let me fix it"
"No"
"Batman, let me heal you"
"I'm sorry, Diana." his voice came thin, stretched in a vale of torture as it barely carried enough strength to caress the dank cave walls. Bats fluttered and screeched past the sonically reverberate caves as Batman tumbled forward into Diana's waiting arms. His body had finally given up and it was that moment Diana knew was the only she would have to save him. She only needed one.
XOOOO1: thanks
brainfear: more posted, just because you asked so nicely [seriously. I only post when I'm reviewed]
terry2004: yep, a continuation, and all because I had reviews. and emails. thanks you guys!
ccabello: okay another chapter, a bit more on the Huh? side of wierdy, but at least it's a chapter.
Upon entering the lair of Al Ghul, the entire Justice League had an uneasy feeling. Flash sped up to do recon as J'onn scanned for any unusual activity. Flash came back white as a sheet.
"Status" Superman asked, looking at the twenty-something speedster worredly.
"I think I know why Bats didn't show up to the Watchtower meeting"
Taking them inside, it was evident to a layman that Batman had been there, traces of smoke, batarangs, weapons scattered helplessly and many a broken, slumped unconscious man with either bullet holes or martial arts slashes embedded in their flesh. It was carnage, hardly any were dead.
"Not another mess to clean" Superman whispered, grimmly walking towards the central area of the complex. Walking to the right, Wonder Woman felt her skin prickle as she walked past Superman and held herself ready for anything except this.
There Batman stood, in all his darkened glory shadowing eerily over a defeated Al Ghul who was slumped unconscious under what looked to be Satan himself.
"Leave" the word was coarse and garbled in his throat, but unmistakably a very tired, dangerous Batman.
"We thought you hadn't . ."
"I knew."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"This was my fight"
"I was beginning to think our fights were the same"
"You're wrong"
"Batman! Were's the nuke!" Superman shouted, flying into the room.
"Destroyed."
Diana fingered her lasso, but thought better of tempting fate, as Batman gripped Ra's Al Ghul and carried the smaller man towards an exit.
"What happened here?" Superman questioned, barring Batman from the doorway.
"Out of my way, Clark"
"Not until I get a play by play"
"Fine" Batman reached into his belt and produced a green, shining stone, kryptonite. Weakened and in pain, Superman fell to the ground as Wonder Woman flew the short distance to the blue and red caped crusader.
"Batman!" she called, desperate to get through to her lover.
"NO!" the dark knight cringed, the mere sound of her voice torturing him visibly as he trudged with Ra's Al Ghul out the exit and to the Batwing as a soft beeping began to light itself on Diana's ears as she picked up a piece of paper that had fluttered from a fold in Batman's cape. He wouldn't. . . Hera!
"Flash! Get everyone out!!" Wonder Woman screamed in her commlink, picking the recovering form of Superman up and out of the building.
"Two days after the greatest explosion in Kazakstani history, everyone, including the Justice League is trying to pick up the pieces. No trace has been found of Ra's Al Ghul or the nuclear missle, but as the Justice League helps with clean up, one question is still on everyone's mind: Where is Batman, and what part did he play in this catastrophe? This is Snapper Carr hoping that all ends well".
"Dammit!" Superman shouted, punching a dent into the Watchtower's wall. Wonder Woman sat on the counter in the kitchen as J'onn meditated a meter off the floor beside Superman.
"I can't condone Batman's actions!" Superman snapped, trying hard to control his anger at the past few days events.
Opening his mouth, J'onn answered,
"He doesn't want us to"
"How"
"His actions are erratic, he has isolated himself completely, left familiar villians to his younger companions and he doesn't have the mental fortitude to barr me from his psyche"
"Is that where you are now?" Wonder Woman looked up at the seven foot Martian, who grimmly nodded with a shiver.
"I will be having nightmares for a decade"
"What's he thinking?"
"I cannot say"
"Why not?"
"His normal composure is in shambles, it is as if chaos had raped Batman's mind. He is obsessed over a series of dreams. . . augh!" J'onn spasmed, violently thrusting his eyes open as he stood and leaned against the wall for support.
"J'onn!" Superman shouted, reaching for the Martian, but J'onn signaled the Kryptonian away. Several moments of agonizing silence followed before J'onn looked at Princess Diana of the Amazons with enough sorrow to fill a flooded river.
'What do you see?' she asked, knowing full well he would hear her mind's thoughts.
'He fears losing you'
"He knew the risks" she said aloud, Superman watching the telepathic and verbal exchange curiously, slowly pulling the pieces together.
'He dreams of corpses, you as one of them'
"Hera"
"Will someone clue me in already"
"Batman is acting out of fear of loosing Diana"
". . . that's all noble , but. . . "
"We're lovers, Clark"
Letting the shock drain into the massive Kryptonian, Superman sat down,
"Suddenly this whole thing makes a lot more sense"
"He's Batman. He didn't want you to know"
"When? When did you.. two..."
"We've been. . . we weren't together until. . until Batman nearly killed the Joker."
"Three months?! You've been dating him for three months?"
"I moved into Wayne Manor five months ago, Clark"
"Five months!? I have GOT to get a better handle on things!"
"Don't overreact"
"Five months, Diana! Five! Of course Batman would be jumpy, heck he'd even be erratic, now it all makes sense! I learned a long time ago that a passionate Batman is the most dangerous man on this planet or the next. He's in love with you!"
"Yes." J'onn spoke, again in his meditative position. Diana stood silent, her arms folded against her chest.
"No wonder he's been coming on more missions. Batman's obsessive. . . Diana how could you do this?"
"I know what he's like"
"I beg to differ. Anyone who truely knows Batman knows he absolutely must keep his distance"
"I know!"
"Then what possessed you to . . . to . . . darnit!"
"I knew the risks and so did he, I share his bed, Clark, I would think I've gone deeper into his mind than you"
"I would hope so"
"So what do we do now?"
"You seem to be good at negotiating with him, Diana. You think of something"
"He's shut me out"
"I had no idea he'd use kryptonite on me"
"He has contingency plans for all of us. Even me"
"Yeah. Noticed. What I'm worried about is that he only uses them when he's run out of options. He'd be like a wounded animal in a cage!"
"For Batman, it is better to stay away from someone he loves than risk harming them. It is his creed" J'onn said, eyes firmly shut.
"Hera."
"What?"
"Morpheus"
"Who?"
"The god of dreams. He wrote it on the piece of paper that fell from his cape. I didn't know what he meant by it, but if what J'onn says... Morpheus must be corrupting his mind"
"Or warning me"
"Batman!"
"Batman!"
"He is here"
"Thanks for the update, J'onn" Superman said sarchastically.
"You're welcome"
"Diana, may I speak with you alone, please?" Batman growled, motioning the other people out of the room before Superman noticed the blood soaking his uniform under his ribs.
"What did y..."
"I can't do this Diana."
"Do what?"
"Us. I . . I can't"
"Why? We were happy"
"I know. You knew the risks, you knew I'd hurt you but you continued anyways"
"I need a better reason than just because."
"I can't give you one"
"Is it the dreams?"
". . . Yes."
"J'onn told us. He said you were sending out waves the size of cities. You've lost control, let me help"
"NO!" Batman flinced into the corner, sending a shockwave of his garbled emotions to the one woman who knew him too well.
"Why!?"
"I won't be responsible for your death!!" Batman shouted, sending his great black cape around himself as he tried to hide the heaving of his lungs and bloody uniform.
"I refuse! I love you too much to . . to continue with something that will tear you apart!"
"You're willing to tear yourself apart instead!?"
"Yes"
"Do you not think I can make my own decision?"
"You don't realise the gravity of the situation"
"And you do?"
Batman set his grim eyes on Diana, pleading with her to understand. She stared back relentless.
"I promised a friend nothing could stop me from leaving. Must I tell my lover that my promises are worthless?"
Batman gave off his most demonic, fear-embedding stare to Diana, she didn't relent.
"I didn't promise. . ."
"I did. So back off, Batman."
"Your funeral"
Sneering, Batman started backing towards the door, Diana began to walk towards him, but something caught her eye and when she turned, he was gone. "
Well THAT you don't see every day" the Flash said, his eyes wide as his untouched frappucino dangled in his very surprised hand.
Sighing annoyedly, Wonder Woman folded her arms to her chest and leaned against the side of the kitchen counter. Great. Just. . . great.
"Uhmmm. . . Princess? I think you'll need this more than me" Flash said, handing the double mocha whipping creamed frapp to the Princess before speeding to the opposite counter.
"I'm . . I'm going to leave now."
"Flash!"
Cringing, Flash turned around,
"Yeah?"
"I'd appreciate it if you would forget everything you just heard"
"Trust me, hearing Batman try and be romantic is the LAST thing I want on my mind. It never happened."
"Thank you"
"Trust me, no probs." Flash went to walk out, but Diana looked at the frapp and back to where the red speedster was slowly backing out of the room.
". . . You can stay. . if you want. I think Green Lantern hid some ice cream in the back of the freezer"
". . . Really? You mean you're not going to pulverise me?"
"No, but there's a caped crusader I'd like to hurt very much"'
"Well in that case, let's break out the spoons!"
"Why would we want to break the spoons?"
"It means take them out of the drawer. . ." Flash said as he got out two big spoons and Diana tried to smile, walking over to the freezer to grab a tub of double fudge chocolate brownie ice cream from behind a container of frozen rutabaga.
"Ah, the old rutabaga trick. . . can't believe I fell for that" Flash said, to a general confused look from the Princess.
"Hey, just trying to lighten up the situation."
Diana shrugged, turning to take the seat Flash had sped around to grab for her and feeling him hand a spoon to her as he opened the ice cream all in less than four seconds.
"So, how long have you and the Bat been cozy?"
Diana blinked threateningly at him,
"I mean, it couldn't be less than a couple of months, right? I mean, not to pry or anything but your kissing in the hallway when Nightwing was in surgery is kinda hard to miss."
". . . Five months"
"Whew. . . . . . The object is to EAT the ice cream instead of staring at it. It doesn't bite"
"Right." Diana said, digging her spoon in and taking a bite, closing her eyes, sighing and leaning back in her chair.
"Gotta love the good stuff"
"Amen to that" after eating half of the ice cream in silence, Flash sat there fidgeting with his spoon,
"So . . . uh. . . wanna talk about it?"
"What?"
"You and Bats, what's going on?"
". . . speak one word of this and Batman will not be the only one wanting to cause you pain"
"Geez, what's a guy gotta do to help around here, beg? Tape my mouth shut? 'Cause both of those I can do"
"Thank you, Flash"
"No probs. . . but I think we'll need more ice cream"
"Agreed"
"Do I know ice cream, or do I know ICE CREAM" Flash said, waving his hands in the air. Feeling slightly ill from the 7 quarts of ice cream her and the Flash consumed at her appartment on Earth, Diana didn't know if the ill feeling was from the ice cream or from taking relationship advice from the Flash. A bit of both, most likely.
"What do I do?"
"Be honest. I mean, c'mon, it's not like Bats'll go bats and hurt you or anything"
Staring at him, Diana rolled her eyes,
"What? He won't! Trust me on this one"
"Flash, I think the only thing I'll trust you for is ice cream flavours"
"Ouch. harshness!"
"Sorry, I'm just. . . I'm uneasy"
"Try talking about it"
"What do you think this is?"
"To him"
"This is Batman"
"Trust me, I know"
"He's not the easiest to keep in one place for very long"
"Neither am I, but there's always somewhere I go where someone can find me"
". . . I don't think you've ever said something that smart before"
"Really? Cool! . . . What did I say?"
"You are hopeless, aren't you"
"Hey, at least I can run fast and I know ice cream flavours"
Diana smiled, suppressing a light chuckle. Flash grinned.
"Hey, I made you smile, that's a plus"
"Thanks."
"So're you going to take my advice?"
"Against all better judgement?"
"Uhhh, yeah"
"Yes, I think I will"
"Go away"
"No" Diana said, walking into a particularly dark, narrow passage in the Batcave.
"I'm not going to hurt you" she said, walking towards the sinking image of her lover.
"You can't promise that"
"I need you"
"No you don't"
"Bru..."
"Diana, we went through this"
"YOU did, I didn't have the chance"
"Leave"
"What happened to Ra's Al Ghul?"
"STOP!"
"I can be as stubborn as you"
"I don't want you anymore"
"That's a lie"
"Why do you say that"
"Because you don't believe it"
"Do I have to?"
"Yes"
"I'm tired, Diana."
"How long have you not slept?"
"Two weeks"
"Bruce"
"Batman! I'm only Batman to you! Only EVER Batman to you!"
"You're a human being!"
"I shouldn't be!"
"You're not immortal!"
"Maybe if I was, I wouldn't dream of your death every time I close my eyes! . . . You're a plague! Another tormentor! Why won't they stop! WHY CAN'T HE LEAVE ME ALONE!?!?" Batman spat, flooding the cave with reverberations upon echoes until the voice of Bruce Wayne came back very very small.
"Why can't you help me?" the whisper reached her in the hands of a small boy begging fomr his mommy and daddy to return. But they never will. They never will.
Wonder Woman took the three steps to stand above Batman, leaning down to carefully touch his forehead. He shivered.
"I can try"
"I'll hurt you"
Diana leaned in and kissed him, grabbing his shoulders as he reciprocated before grunting quietly in her mouth. Drawing her hand along his torso, she stopped wideeyed at the thick layer of crusted blood stuck like glue to his uniform and skin.
"It's not fatal"
"What did you do?" she panted, her voice hushed.
"The pain helps me remember"
"Let me fix it"
"No"
"Batman, let me heal you"
"I'm sorry, Diana." his voice came thin, stretched in a vale of torture as it barely carried enough strength to caress the dank cave walls. Bats fluttered and screeched past the sonically reverberate caves as Batman tumbled forward into Diana's waiting arms. His body had finally given up and it was that moment Diana knew was the only she would have to save him. She only needed one.