answers to reviewers questions or statements:
BrotherofaStudio: Maybe, but if the cost is too high he may be forced to.
Joe Lawyer: Darkseid is pretty apathetic about a lot of beings moving against him. Plus, he may know a thing or two about the stones that Peter has yet to uncover.
Djberneman: It's just the three for now, but he's unaware that the cube from Asgard is one of the Stones and it'll be some time before any of the others appear and their location. Like after Peter and Diana's relationship becomes more... well a helluva lot more than it is now.
superpierce: Yeah, Peter's gonna really put these stones through their paces.
Assassin Sylar: Uhh, wha? What do you mean slow progress?
Mashot Tito: She's from the Constantine City of Demons movie. We'll see here.
spiderspawn 616: We'll see who the other girl is soon. And she's connected to Diana...
Batros940: He could've, but than he'd run the risk of Constantine telling them what he has in his possession. Peter and Constantine both knew that Peter was the one in control of the situation, he had both stones and he was the stronger of the two and he had given both men an ultimatum that he knew they couldn't refuse. Constantine isn't all that close to the League, he knew Zatanna is a member and the two have history, so he used that. Plus he knew that she wouldn't be able to ignore a Demon Lord and a New God throwing down in a populated city and would call for the League to put a stop to it. But calling the League in was really a last sort of resort for Constantine.
ZOMBERREYPRO: What?
Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel or DC characters seen, mentioned or used.
The week following Peter's fight with Nergal was... annoying, for the lack of a better term.
After the last of the Demons were rounded up and sent back to whatever Hell-ish domain they originated from, Peter was confined to the League's Watchtower where for three days straight he was 'interrogated' by Batman. He used the word 'interrogated' lightly as all the man did was glare, growl, make idle threats Peter knew he had no intention of carrying out or following through and make the New God want to rip his head off for wasting his time. At one point Peter did feel a telepath, likely the Martian, attempt to read his mind but Peter's own mental barriers, and the ones implanted by Psylocke, held him back. So far it seemed that the League had no idea as to why or how Peter was in Los Angeles or what drove him to initiate a fight with a demon lord, meaning Constantine has kept his mouth shut.
Looks like little Trish and Astra get to stay in the mortal world after all.
Diana had attempted to uncover the truth by speaking to Peter 'in private' but short of using her Lasso of Truth, her attempts were met with similar results... for now that is. Peter knew it wouldn't be long until she may decide to use the lasso on him, which meant he needed to perfect his story. The Lasso compels you to tell the truth he was told... the trick would be how to tell it in a way that doesn't give away what he's done but also answers the League's questions.
Carol's hunt for the renegade Intergang cells meanwhile had slowed to a crawl, after she wiped out the cell in Budapest, the rest had finally realized they were being wiped out and had since gone underground. Peter wasn't bothered, he knew that carol wouldn't be able to get all of the cells before they caught wind of what was happening, it just meant that their stay on Earth would be prolonged a little while longer until Peter could get Psylocke here...
"I do not see why you need Psylocke my lord, I'm perfectly capable of locating the cells myself!" Carol said as she hovered back and forth before Peter, dressed only in a pair of black pants made of something called 'spandex' that did a great job of showing off her body's lower half.
Her torso remained bare, though her breasts were currently covered by her arms folded across them, her fingers tapping her arm while her golden blonde hair was done up in a messy bun. If there was one upside to being 'confined' to the tower, it was that he got to see Carol in such a relaxed state after so many years. True it also doubled as a sick sort of torture, seeing her so vulnerable before him, tempting him, but he's endured worse.
"You, Faora and Betsy all have your own strengths Carol" Peter said as he tinkered with the mask of his suit, slowly repairing the damage done to it's circuitry "You and Faora handle widescale conflicts while Psylocke handles the more... delicate operations"
"I can be delicate!" Carol scowled as she turned towards Peter and watched as he finished the repairs for his mask "I used to serve the honor guard of the Kree Imperium. When we weren't protecting the Supreme Intelligence, we were carrying out the wills of the Accusers!"
"Yes... so you like to remind everyone" Peter said with an eye roll as he put the mask down next to the other parts of his suit that he's managed to repair and turned his attention to the chest piece.
Carol blushed at this and went back to her hover pacing, something that Peter found rather distracting given she seemed to be purposely putting her breasts on display for him whenever her chest was facing him.
'Your married... your married... your married... your married' Peter thought as he did his best to keep his eyes and attention on the torso piece of his suit.
"When will Psylocke arrive?" Carol grumbled.
"When she's done helping put down a slave revolt on one of the orbital stations over Apokolips" Peter answered with a sigh.
"Why not just destroy the station and build a new one?" Carol asked with a frown.
"Because Grayven wants as many battle stations in tact for his eventual coup to keep any incoming warships off planet" Peter answered.
"Do you know when he intends such a thing?" Carol asked with a concerned look on her face.
"The common theory is after the Membrance Festival" Peter said as he began to take the chest piece apart and examine the internal components "Personally I'd try it during the festival but that's just me"
"Do you have any idea which of your brothers will support him?" Carol asked as she hovered towards Peter and silently landed in front of him.
"Probably Fidilen" Peter said with a thoughtful look on his face "And likely Zunn. Bald'Dia if he's bored though since he's gonna take part in the upcoming tournament with Kalibak, it's unlikely. Then there's Kunla who thinks she'll be his wife or something"
"He's bold, attempting a coup with only two, maybe three brothers and one of your sisters. And the Furies he has under his control aren't all that powerful. Deadly yes, but their skills will matter little to the likes of En Sabah Nur, Grail, Kalibak and you" Carol noted.
"The look on his face will make this entire headache so with it" Peter snickered before he paused and glanced at the doors to his quarters with narrowed eyes "Hmm, we have company"
"Who?" Carol glanced at the doors with a look of disinterest.
"Diana..." Peer said as he stood up from his workspace and made his way to the door.
"I wonder who's bed she's been in since we've arrived here" Carol muttered as she sat down where Peter was and took his mask into her hands and examined it.
"Knock it off" Peter growled at the Fury as he opened the door and was greeted to the sight of Diana, dressed in the armor he designed for her "Hello Diana..."
"Peter..." Diana said as she took in her husband's appearance.
He was clad in that odd body suit he wore underneath his armored suit and looked a little pale. According to Batman he hasn't left his room once since being confined to the tower, but he otherwise seemed fine physically speaking. The state of his room however was another matter entirely. Ignoring the topless Warbird, who was glaring at the Amazon, the floor was cluttered with bits of his armor, torn wires and circuits, broken and shattered furniture and literal towers of dirty plates.
Thank Gaia for the Watchtower's air scrubbers, else the room may have smelled as foul as Fidilen's.
"Can I help you?" Peer asked the Amazon.
"I came to see how you were doing" Diana said as she tore her gaze away from Carol and stared into the eyes of her husband "I'm told you haven't left your room once since you've been assigned it"
"No point" Peter said with a shrug "Nothing here really interests me and I've been busy with repairing my suit"
"So I see" Diana said as her gaze flickered to Carol and her lack of attire "And Warbird's in your rooms topless because...?"
"She was venting" Peter answered with another shrug.
"Topless?" Diana asked dryly with a raised brow as she folded her arms across her chest "Excuse me if I find that hard to believe"
"What's wrong with her venting topless miss woman that does those weird stretches naked every other morning" Peter said with a pointed gaze.
"That's yoga and it's different" Diana said in a defensive tone.
She wouldn't be doing her yoga naked if Peter bothered to make her clothes that didn't make her look like some harlot in heat straight out of a brothel.
"I'm sure" Peter said with a eye roll as he leaned against the door frame "Now that you've seen I'm fine with your own eyes, what else do you need? Did the Parademons eat someone?"
"No, far as I know, my mother wishes to meet you... officially" Diana said.
"She knows where to find me" Peter said as he turned to head back into his room "Now if you need me dear, I have a suit to finish repairing and another hour and a half of Carol going on and on about how it's unfair that I'm assigning Psylocke to track down the rest of Intergang when she was 'The greatest Honor Guard Hala had ever seen'"
"I was!" Carol snapped with annoyance.
"I'm sure... when everyone else was dead maybe" Peter said with a snort before he felt Diana's hand on his arm, causing him to stop and look at her with confusion "What?"
"There's a gala being held at the Themysciran Embassy tonight. My mother, sisters and several close friends will also be in attendance" Diana revealed as she let go of Peter "I've asked Batman if he could ask one of his wards, Nightwing, to see if he can spare a suit for you to wear. Your roughly the same size, if a little taller"
"What makes you think I want to go?" Peter asked with a frown "Why not take the Kryptonian? You've been staying at his parents home, taking him to some party shouldn't be that hard for you"
It was something that Peter largely kept silent on since their arrival on Earth. He knew it was a possibility that she'll be staying with her old love and close friends rather than with him. It wasn't too bad, as it allowed him some amount of freedoms without having to deal with her looking over his shoulder all the time like running some minor tests on the Soul Stone with what equipment he could covertly transfer to Earth from Apokolips without setting off any alarms.
Thank you Asgardian Cube.
The only real downside was that... well she was with the Kryptonian and not Peter. According to the Parademons that Peter had watching her nothing has happened yet, but their intelligence was only obtainable when their able to get close to the house and peek through a window without alerting the resident teenage Kryptonian.
"He's not my husband, you are, thus you will be in attendance with me" Diana bit out with a look of mild annoyance "Believe me, I'd rather you not be there, but my mother insists on meeting you and having an actual conversation with you"
"And what about me?" Carol huffed from her seat as she tossed Peter's mask back on to his work bench "Where's my invitation?"
"Do you want to attend?" Carol asked with a raised brow.
"W-Well no, but-" Carol began before Diana cut her off.
"Than you have the answer to your question Warbird. Make sure the Parademons are put to sleep at a reasonable hour and don't wait up. Peter and I shall return late"
Than without another word, Diana turned and left, leaving an amused Peter and a seething Carol.
"Hmm, power move" Peter said as he peeked outside of his room and watched Diana walk away, his gaze admittedly falling to her rear, much to Carol's visible annoyance.
If this was a preview of Diana tonight, he actually might enjoy this little gala of her's...
And who knows, maybe he'll find a potential Fury to recruit to replace the one he lost to Filiden a few years ago...
...
Galas at the Themyscrian Embassy in New York were a sight to behold.
Many people who have attended it in the past often claimed that it may have been the closest thing to a party on Olympus, with the five star spread created by a actual Minitour, the eye catching Amazons that were in attendance as either guards, servers or provided entertainment for the party goers and of course, the hundreds of years fermented wine supposedly blessed by the God of wine himself, Dionysus. What was even more appealing about the Galas when they were held was that they were not restricted solely to the Political, Social or Economic Elite of the world, as in the past Diana had invited a number of youth group organizations to attend such as The Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts, local grade school sports teams, even families and close friends of those currently employed at the Themyscrian Embassy.
"This is where you sued to work when you weren't running around picking fights with Gods and monsters?" Peter said as he stood before the Themyscrian Embassy and looked up at the Ancient Mediterranean influenced building with an unreadable expression.
He as dressed in what humans called a 'Tuxedo' and it was without a doubt the most uncomfortable suit Peter's ever worn. Ignoring the fact it had no armor or weapons in it, the 'high quality' material it was made of irritated Peter's skin. How people could walk around in these sorts of things when their surrounded by enemies was beyond the New God's understanding.
"Yes, when I was the Ambassador for my people" Diana said with a nod, dressed in a breath taking scarlet red dress that wrapped around one shoulder but left the other bare, and possessed a long slit that exposed her leg and a good portion of her thigh.
Her hair was done up a little but left largely unaltered by any sort of jewels, knots or whatever the hell it was that Peter saw some of the women at this party stuck in their own hair. Her feet were covered by a pair of black heels that almost fooled Peter into thinking they were carved from obsidian.
"Who else is in attendance at this thing?" Peter asked as he allowed Diana to lead him up the stairs towards the Embassy's front entrance where a line was already formed "Aside from your family apparently"
"Just a few friends from the Justice League" Diana answered as she nodded towards the Amazonian guard at the door as she and Peter passed by without any trouble.
"She's not gonna check to make sure we're who we say we are?" Peter asked with some surprise as he glanced back at the guard they passed.
"They know it's me" Diana answered with a small grin.
"How?" Peter asked.
"There isn't another woman quite like me in the world Peter" the former Princess answered with a sly grin "And, there's measures in place to keep shapeshifters out of here... unless they've been invited"
Peter hummed at this before the two entered a large ball room of sorts, filled to the brim with people dressed similarly to Peter and Diana, though in his opinion, mush less eye catching attire.
"What's this thing even being held for?" Peter grumbled as he followed Diana, watching as she greeted people she's likely never met before as if they were old friends.
They tried to introduce themselves to Peter, but one look from him shut them up real quick.
"A charity that I sponsored when I still operated on Earth has made great milestones in their mission to help-" Diana began before Peter cut her off with a loud yawn that drew a frown on her face.
"Oh I'm sorry, were you saying something that was supposed to be inspiring?" Peter asked dryly.
"You could pretend to care" Diana glared at Peter in annoyance.
"Get me a couple of drinks and maybe I'll pretend to" Peter grumbled before a passing server with a try full of wine glasses passed him by.
He made to grab one when he noticed two women approaching him and Diana, both bearing striking similarities to Diana herself though one seemed older while the other younger. It only took a second for the names and relation to click in Peter's mind;
Hippolyta, Diana's mother and Queen of the Amazons, and Donna Troy, Diana's younger sister and the apparent Second Wonder Woman.
"Mother, Donna!" Diana said with happiness as she drew both women into a warm embrace that they happily returned.
Peter stood away, watching them with a look that was... well he wasn't sure what he was feeling watching the little family reunion. He supposed a small part of him was envious of Diana's warm relationship with her sister and mother where's Peter's own with either was... complicated, to say the least.
"It's only been a year yet it feels like an age my daughter" Hippolyta said in a loving tone as she cupped her eldest child's face "Not a day went by where I didn't think of you and wished you were home again"
"Nor I mother..." Diana closed her eyes and simply just existed in the presence of her mother...
"Glad I took the time and effort to try and make your time on Apokolips bearable" Peter said in a sarcastic tone, ruining the feeling Diana had.
A similar look of displeasure appeared on Hippolyta's face as she turned and regarded Peter coolly "Good evening Peter..."
Peter responded with a slight nod before his gaze drifted towards Donna and he greeted her with a similar gesture "Happy to be here"
"Hmm, I can tell" Hippolyta said in a blank tone as she released her daughter's face and turned towards the New God "Tell me, how has my child fared on your world?"
"Better than most" Peter answered.
"In what ways?" Hippolyta asked, her eyes narrowing "You'll understand my concern for my child's well being-"
"Where's Cassie?" Diana interrupted as she made a show of looking around for the blonde teenager.
"She's grounded" Donna said with a sheepish grin "She uh, got into a bit of trouble the other day"
"Doing what?" Diana asked with a amused expression.
"Weeell she may have taken the Invisible Jet without permission" Donna said with a helpless shrug "But it was for a good cause"
"The cause she took it for is not the issue I have Donna... it's what she did in it afterwards that enrages me" Hippolyta said with a huff as she folded her arms across her chest.
"What'd she do?" Diana asked with curiosity.
"I found her providing oral pleasure to the pointy eared one's proteges" Hippolyta said with a growl of annoyance "The one called Tim I believe"
"Oh..." Diana said with wide eyes while Peter did his best to cover his snicker with a cough.
"Something you find amusing, Peter?" Hippolyta asked with an edge on her voice.
"Yeah, I do" Peter answered with a shrug.
The moment that Peter first saw Hippolyta when he first came to Earth over a year ago he knew that he wasn't going to like her. She had the same sort of attitude that many of the Gods of New Genesis had, this weird superiority complex. She also struck Peter as someone who felt that she was a victim of the universe and so it owed her and her people something.
'Oh their owed something alright... scorched earth' Peter thought with grim amusement as Hippolyta stared down Peter, or tried to at any rate.
"So, Peter... how are you liking Earth?" Donna said, hoping to ease the tension between them.
"It's not a complete rat hole but it's not better than a shit hole" Peter answered bluntly, causing Diana to pinch the ridge of her nose while Hippolyta's eyes narrowed.
"Not enough death, pain, and misery for you?" she asked.
"Honestly... not enough fire" Peter scoffed as he eyed Hippolyta up and down "Lovely dress. Fitting"
"I'm glad you approve" the Amazon Queen responded.
Diana and donna both shared a look that seemed to convey their thoughts to one another-
Please get me away from this.
"What sort of duties does Diana have on Apokolips, if you don't mind sharing?" Hippolyta asked as she folded her arms across her chest "I imagine she's kept rather busy"
"She's a Fury, an elite group of my father's greatest and most powerful warriors, you tell me" Peter snarked.
"Yes I have many duties that keep me busy mother" Diana interrupted the new God.
"Oh, like what?" Donna asked.
"Well..." Diana said as she tired to think of the more... harmless, duties she had to perform under Darkseid "I guard the ruler of Apokolips and several of his chosen children and higher ranking members of his court"
"You wouldn't believe the amount of assassinations are attempted on some" Peter added, causing Diana to scowl at him before she gave her mother and sister a comforting smile.
"He's joking. Their haven't been any attempts on any charges I'm assigned..." Diana said.
"I pity the assassin that tries to take you on Di" Donna's laugh was a bit forced while Hippolyta kept staring coldly at Peter.
"I've been to a number of fantastic worlds within Darkseid's kingdom that remained unmarred by war and rich and exciting histories" Diana revealed, causing Donna to begin questioning her on some of the worlds she's seen.
The meeting was so far going... well it was going.
Peter reduced his comments and responses to Hippolyta and Donna's questioning to two or three worded answers or let Diana answer them. Diana knew that this would be an unpleasant experience, but her mother and sister were adamant about meeting her husband, actually meeting him instead of a brief two minute glance before he was gone again. Hera's mercy, the questions were largely centered around Diana's duties and some of the things she's seen and experienced while on Apokolips, much of which Diana had only given broad, vague answers to.
If her mother or Donna knew some of the atrocities that Diana has bared witnessed to, what almost happened to her at the hands of Zunn and Twidle, or even the odd dreams she's been having about the strange being, they'd likely mount some sort of attack on Apokolips to free her, be damned the consequences.
Eventually Hippolyta was pulled away by one of her advisors, leaving Diana and Peter with Donna who herself was drawn into a dance with Dick Grayson, who apparently wasn't supposed to be here based on the surprise look on Donna's face. But her sister seemed pleased by the man's arrival and so Diana allowed it... though she did keep an eye on the two out of the corner of her eye. While Richard was no Bruce, he had a history that left Diana ill at ease for her sibling.
"Huh, interesting name... Nightwing" Peter said as he and Diana watched Donna and said man dancing to a slow tune of some sort.
"How so?" Diana asked as she took a sip of her glass of wine.
"Nightwing is the name of a old hero from Krypton" Peter revealed with a shrug as he helped himself to his third glass of wine in the past half hour "Faora used to tell me some of the stories surrounding him"
"Really?" Diana said with actual surprise in her voice.
The thought of Faora sitting down and telling something so simple and innocent as a story was... bizarre, to the Amazon. All the former Kryptonian captain seemed to care about was conflict, to kill.
"Apparently Nightwing, or more specifically his partner, Flamebird is what drove Faora to join Krypton's military forces" Peter revealed as he downed the last of his wine in one gulp before signaling a passing server for another.
"Was this after she became a Fury?" Diana questioned.
"Before" Peter shook his head "When she was still imprisoned and being studied. I tended to be the one running the tests, so during a slow night, when it was just the two of us, she'd start talking about them. Mostly to pass the time and keep herself sane I think"
"Did she know that you were listening?" Diana inquired as Peter took another glass but paused in taking a sip to glance at her with a unknown look in his eyes.
"I'm always listening"
The rest of the evening went by rather slow in Peter's opinion, aside from being dragged around to meet a few Amazons that Peter couldn't be bother to remember the names of, and some woman by the name of Etta Candy, the New God was ready to go back to his room on the Watchtower and sleep. Or annoy whoever was up there at the time, that was also a option. Thankfully Diana seemed to be somewhat aware of this and was just beginning to stear them towards the door when a woman, a red headed Amazon, stepped in front of them, dressed in a simple green dress.
"Diana..." the Amazon said with a small nod of respected towards the former Princess before her gaze drifted towards Peter.
"Artemis" Diana nodded to the Amazon with a friendly smile "This is-"
"The bastard of Darkseid that our Gods traded you to like a cheap pair of boots" Artemis stated bluntly.
"Such a charmer" Peter said dryly while Diana sighed at the red headed Amazon's... usual lack of social tact.
"Artemis, I ask that you please be polite to my husband" Diana said in a tired tone.
"Husband, is that what you call your jailer, or what he forces you to call him?" Artemis said as she eyed Peter up and down with a look of mild disgust on her face.
"By the Source you need to meet Grail" Peter said with a grin, though Diana noticed that Peter's eyes lacked the usual... non hostile look they normally held.
"I've met her" Artemis said with a glare "She's no better than a rabid beast"
"Wait till you meet her lover" Peter said before he glanced at Diana "Is this the sort of welcome I can expect when I visit your home?"
"Men are forbidden from ever stepping foot on Themyscira" Artemis said with a hint of warning in her voice "Those that do forfeit their lives"
"Well than it's a good thing I'm not a man, I'm a God" Peter said as he glanced at the red headed Amazon with narrowed eyes "You'd do well to remember that little Amazon"
"Peter..." Diana put her arm on the New God's arm and shot a look at Artemis that told her to keep quiet.
"I haven't done anything" Peter said as he spread a brief glance at Diana before he shrugged off Diana's grip on him and stepped away from the two "I'm getting another drink"
"Fine" Diana huffed as Peter headed for the refreshments table, leaving the two Amazons alone for the time being.
"Gods I hope the sex makes up for his attitude" Artemis said with a shake of her head.
Diana refused to grace that comment with a response as she took a sip of her own wine while Clark and Bruce approached her.
...
'Whelp I know who I'm having killed before I leave this planet' Peter thought as he navigated his way to the refreshments table for his... honestly he's lost count of how many glasses he's had tonight.
The wine was good, if a bit light, though he's drank more than enough to compensate for that fact.
'Maybe I should ask Diana if she can spare a barrel or two for me to have for the duration of my time here' Peter thought as he reached the table and began to search for a drink before something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
It was a woman in a simple black dress, but it was her hair that caught Peter's attention, red, dark red. And it was shaved on the left side of the woman's head, giving her a sort of punk look. She was beautiful, despite the oddity of her hair style. In actuality, Peter liked it, it made her stand out more among the common rabble that he's forced to mingle with tonight.
She seemed to notice his gaze on her out of the corner of her eye and turned to meet his. A faint blush appeared on her face as she took in Peter's features as the New God slowly approached her until he was less than a foot away. She wasn't very tall, only just reaching Peter's chin thanks to the heels she had on, nor was she as... 'gifted' in some areas like Diana or Carol were, but her athletic build was appealing in it's own right, it reminded Peter of Faora and Betsy's bodies...
"Hello..." the red headed woman said as she took a sip of her drink to calm her nerves.
"Good evening..." Peter said with a small bow to the unknown woman "My name is Peter, and you are if you don't mind me asking?"
"Vanessa..." she said after a few moments and held her hand out for him to take "Vanessa Kapatelis"
"Pleasure to meet you..." Peter took her hand and instead of shaking it, planted a kiss on the back of her palm "Truly"
"Oh..." Vanessa said with delighted surprise.
"How did you come to be at this little... event" Peter asked as he slowly straightened himself, though he remained holding Vanessa's hand, something that she didn't not seem incline to have stopping any time soon.
"When Diana first came to 'Man's World', she stayed with me and my mother for a year or so" Vanessa said with a look of distaste "My mother was over the moon with her. They'd spend hours talking and ignoring everyone else"
"You included?" Peter guessed.
"Yes... and because of that, their pretty much best friends or whatever. My mother gets invites to pretty much every Gala the Amazons throw because of it, and I happen to be her plus one for each event... not even really invited" Vanessa said with a scowl before she adverted her gaze from Peter's face to their still conjoined hands and cleared her throat as she quickly slid her's out from his grasp "S-Sorry about that"
"It's fine" Peter said with a small grin, already liking the company of this woman "If it's anything, I should be apologizing. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable-"
"You didn't" Vanessa said a little too quickly before she winced "Sorry, I'm... I don't have a lot of experience with... people. Not for a while at any rate. I'm kind of a- well I tend to lose myself in my work"
"I understand" Peter said with a chuckle as he nodded towards the crowd "I'm not a fan of large gatherings myself. Prefer my lab to these sorts of things"
"No kidding?" Vanessa said as she eyed Peter up and down, noting the rather impressive image he cut "You look a little like the kind of guy that'd thrive in this sort of environment"
"And I hate it" Peter said with a sigh "Because people use that fact to drag me to these sorts of things"
"Who dragged you here, girlfriend?" Vanessa said as she took a brief glance at the man's hands to see that a ring was absent... perhaps tonight won't be so shitty after all, if she plays her cards right.
"Wife" Peter said with a frown as he nodded to where Diana was, speaking to the Kryptonian and who he assumed was Batman without his getup on "She wanted me to meet her mother and sister. Both of whom, I could care less for and wouldn't be against never seeing again"
Vanessa frowned at the word 'wife' before she followed Peter's gaze and saw who he was looking at. Unless one of the two men speaking to Diana only had a man like appearance, than that would mean-
"Your married to Diana?" Vanessa said with surprise as she glanced back at the New God.
"It is not as great as it sounds" Peter shook his head "Wasn't even my choice. Her father and my father made an agreement some time ago and my father decided to cash it in"
"So your father is... than you would be... because her father is..." Vanessa trailed off as she connected the dots.
She knew Diana was a daughter of Zeus, bitch never shut up about it when she found out after only a few months of living with her and her mother and it being made public a few years later when she began to date 'Superman'. Than over a year ago, Diana vanished after Darkseid appeared in Washington and had some sort of confrontation with the Justice League. When the League was later questioned about the ruler of Apokolips's appearance, and the disappearance of Wonder Woman, the only statement they put out was that the malevolent tyrant would no longer trouble Earth anymore and that Diana was on a important mission.
'Guess I know what the mission was... getting railed out by Darkseid junior here' Vanessa thought as eye Peter up and down 'How 'terrible' it must be for her'
Though from the sound of it, Diana wasn't a very good wife. It seemed that were was something that great and all powerful, all beautiful Diana wasn't so perfect at.
"Yep, your gracing this humble New God of Apokolips with your presence" Peter said with a deep bow towards the red head.
"I'm gracing your presence? Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Vanessa asked with bewilderment.
To hear a God imply that he was the one that was feeling honored instead of her was... well it was a nice boost to her vanity, she'll admit.
"In most cases yes, but not yours... you certain you don't have a bit of divinity in your heritage?" Peter said with a small grin, his eyes alight with amusement and something else, something darker that caused an odd feeling to begin manifesting in Vanessa that she hasn't felt in a while...
"w-Well... well I-I uh... well..." Vanessa tried to find a proper response, which in turn caused Peter's grin to widen slightly.
"It's okay, I'm just teasing my dear" Peter said as he glanced around the room and saw a number of couples were on the dance floor. Peter himself wasn't much for dancing, mainly because he's never seen a reason for it in the first place, but...
"Would you like to honor me with a dance Vanessa?"
Vanessa blinked at the offered hand and the request as Peter half turned his body towards the dance floor. She looked at the New god than where the others were and found herself nodding, a small smile appearing on her face as she reached out to take his offered hand-
"Vanessa, what are you doing?"
And just like that, the mood was soured and Vanessa's joy was killed at the sound of her mother's voice. Peter frowned at someone standing behind the red head, approaching the two. Vanessa didn't need eyes in the back of her head to know that it was her mother, Julia Kapatelis, coming to ruin her evening... again.
"Vanessa!" Julia said again as she reached the two and took her daughter's hand away from Peter's and forced the younger woman to look at her "I asked what your doing?"
"I was talking mother" Vanessa replied with a scowl of annoyance as she tire her hand out of her mother's grip.
"What you two were doing looked a lot more than talking" Julia said with a disproving look on her face "He's married Vanessa, to Diana"
"Are you saying I can't dance with one of your friend's husband when he's being polite and offering?" Vanessa said with a glare "Just because we were gonna dance doesn't mean I was gonna sleep with him mother"
"That's not what I-" Julia began before she was cut off by her daughter.
"Oh, so what's the reason than?" Vanessa asked as she leaned back a little and folded her arms under her chest "Is it because I'm not good enough?"
"N-no, I'm just saying-" Julia began before she noticed that Peter was still there, watching them with an unreadable expression on his face "Can you please give me and my child some privacy?"
"If you want privacy ma'am, this is the wrong place to do it" Peter said as he gestured to the small crowd that was watching the scene.
Julia glanced at the other patrons of the party with annoyance and made to grab Vanessa's hand when the younger woman backed away with a snarl.
"Don't touch me" she said.
"Vanessa-" Julia started with a exhale as she made to grab her child again so they could go somewhere more private to discuss things before Diana suddenly appeared with a concerned look on her face.
"Julia, Vanessa, what's wrong?" the former Princess asked as her gaze flickered between the two women for a moment before darting towards her silent husband.
Before Julia could say anything, Vanessa beat her to the punch with a glare aimed at the Amazon.
"Mother here is worried that having a dance with your husband here will end up with me sleeping with him"
"What?" Diana said with surprise while Peter discreetly reached for a glass of wine on the table and began to sip it's contents, humming in approval as he settled back and watched the scene play out.
"Vanessa that is not-" Julia began before she was cut off.
"Than what is it? am I not allowed to have fun a party that I was never invited to in the first place?!" Vanessa jabbed a finger at the older woman "That I'm not allowed to talk to people and have fun without you assuming that I'm trying to fuck them?"
"Vanessa!" Julia gasped in horror at the crude language her child used while Diana stepped forward in attempt to mediate between the two women.
"Vanessa, your mother isn't accusing you of anything. She's simply worried that you might end up-" Diana began before the red head rounded on her with a snarl that took her back.
"YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP! THIS ISN'T YOUR FAMILY! YOU HAVE YOUR'S, LEAVE ME TO MINE!" she reached out and shoved the other woman away, though she only made Diana take a single, small step back, despite how hard she pushed.
"Vanessa..." Diana said with a saddened look on her face "I'm not trying to-"
"And that's the fucking bitch of it all!" Vanessa proclaimed, her eyes beginning to water "You don't have to even try to take my mother away when yours tossed you out!"
A few people in the crowd gasped at this while Peter was working on his fourth glass of wine, this party was really starting to take off in his opinion.
'Wonder how long this has been building... years easily' Peter thought as he watched Vanessa verbally tear into his wife, tears streaming down her face as years of pent up frustration, jealously and a host of other emotions boiled over and out the woman's mouth 'No matter what she did, no matter hard hard she tried, she was always looked over for someone her mother thought was better'
Peter knew the feeling all too well.
...
An hour later, Peter and Diana, the former feeling a pleasant buzz, made their way back up to the Watchtower. Diana had been... in a down mood, since Vanessa reamed her out and left the party, leaving her distraught mother behind. The Gala ended not long after, the fight having more or less ruined the mood for everyone present. Peter thought it was a pity, if anything the somber, tense and awkward air made the party all the more interesting.
'Carol's gonna be really pissed she missed out on this thing' Peter thought with a silent chuckle as he settled on the edge of his bed and reached up and tore the annoying tie wrapped around his neck and tossed it away, followed quickly by the damn jacket and unbutton most of the infernal things down to his waist and allowed himself to properly breath.
"Well... all things considered I think that went reasonably well" Peter said after a few minutes of silence "You have some interesting friends"
"Peter..." Diana said with a tired sigh as she reached down to remove her heels and tossed them to the side as she rubbed her now sore feet.
"What?" the New God glanced at his wife as she stood up from the bed and made her way to the bathroom to undress and take a shower.
"Just shut the fuck up" she bit out in a icy tone.
"The hell did I say?" Peter asked with a frown.
"Plenty" Diana snapped as she rounded on Peter with tear stricken eyes "What did you say to Vanessa to make her so angry like that? to make her say such hurtful things to me and her mother?"
"I didn't say a damn thing" Peter answered with a shrug "All I did was ask her for a dance"
"Why?" Diana asked with narrowed eyes.
"Because it looked like she wanted to and it seemed no one wanted to ask her so I decided to" Peter said with growing annoyance at Diana's line of questioning, as if he was the one to cause all this "Is that a problem?"
Diana glared at Peter for a moment before she took a deep breath and turned away "No... it isn't"
"Sure seems that way" Peter stated as he watched his wife head for the bathroom before she slammed the door closed "Fucking dramatic..."
"What was that?" Diana said as she suddenly opened the door and stepped out, her hands balled into fists as she glared at Peter "I couldn't hear you muttering under your breath while my back was turned. Wanna say it a little louder for me?"
"I said... fucking dramatic" Peter said in a slow, mocking tone as he stood up "You want me to write it down for you too?"
"Fuck you!" Diana snarled.
"I wish you fucking would" Peter snapped "Be nice to get some actual comfort from my wife when she's not drugged out of her fucking mind or hitting me whenever I show a fucking ounce of affection to her"
"I'm surprised that isn't your preferred tactic for seducing women" Diana hissed as she made to head for the door before she felt Peter grab her arm and stop her.
Very slowly, Diana turned and looked back at Peter with a glare to freeze Hell Fire cold.
"Let. Go" she warned.
"NO!" Peter said as he suddenly turned and tossed a surprised Diana to the bed "We are having this long fucking overdue conversation right now. You don't get to run to your fucking Kryptonian-"
Peter was cut off by Diana suddenly slamming into Peter, knocking him back against the wall before she pinned him there with her arm pressed against his throat, a murderous glare etched on her face.
"Don't you ever touch me again or I'll rip that arm off" Diana snarled at the New God.
Peter growled at the woman, his eyes briefly flickering red before he suddenly jabbed his fist into Diana's throat, causing her to stumble back in surprise as her hand went to her throat before Peter reached out and seized a handful of her hair and pulled her towards him and slammed her into the wall next to where he was, cracking it's surface. Diana attempted to move, and regain her breath, before Peter suddenly pinned her to the wall with one hand while the other pulled back and the nails on his fingers lengthened and enlarged until they resembled some sort of claws.
Before Peter or Diana could do anything, a hand reached out and stopped Peter's arm before it could move. Both Peter and Diana's gazes turned to see that the one to grab Peter's arm was none other than Carol...
"Let her go Peter..." Carol said, her eyes cold and focused entirely on Peter "Just let her go"
Peter snarled at the Fury for a moment before he took a deep breath through his nose and loudly exhaled before he slowly removed his hand from Diana's chest and the claws on his hand began to shrink. Carol kept her grip on the New God before she gently released it and stepped back, allowing Peter to back away as well.
"Are you okay?" Carol's eyes darted towards Diana and scanned her appearance for anything serious that might need attending to.
"I'm fine..." Diana rasped, her eyes cold and full of rage as she glared at Peter.
Peter opened his mouth to respond before Carol stepped between him and Diana and gave him a look. The New God's mouth snapped shut and he turned with a huff and headed for the room's door. A mental command was sent out and his fully repaired suit began to fly up from where it was stored and began to attach itself to Peter as he stepped out into the hall and left.
"Thank you" Diana said in a quiet voice as she reached up to rub her sore throat.
Carol said nothing as her gaze flickered back and forth between the Amazon and the door before she sighed and silently made her way out of the room, leaving the former Princess alone...
...
And done.
Next chapter, Hunting...
