A/N: Hey everyone! New chapter out (yay!). Don't worry, this one is not 13,000 words again XD. My goal is to try and not exceed a word limit of 7k for each chapter now, and this one is a nice 6k, so much better reading for you guys.
I'm not sure if anyone read the note I made in "Everything is Perfect" where I mentioned that I was thinking about ending this first story when Diana discovers Bruce's identity… but looking back that was a pretty stupid idea lol. I originally planned on dragging out the start of the JL since this story is titled "Outset", but I really want to move the pace a bit so we can see them fight new enemies and explore relationships more, both friendly and romantic ones. So expect it to continue past that moment now.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 8: Gaining a Understanding
Watchtower
The Flash was currently exploring the massive space station that Batman had teleported them all up to, amazed at how something as colossal as the Watchtower could be developed in almost total secret. Wally could not imagine how much constructing the station must have cost Batman, but it did lead the Flash to realize something: Batman must be very rich. The high-tech gadgets that Wally had no idea how to operate, the clean metal floors, and just it being a freaking space station meant that Bats had to have put in a good chunk of cash to make the 'Tower as nice as it was.
Wally quickly passed through one of the many hallways that littered the 'Tower, truthfully unaware of what level he was actually on. He stopped paying attention after the second level since his attention was divided between the clean and futuristic design of the Watchtower and the views of space that Wally would catch. Even with the tremendous and dangerous villains that he has fought over the years, being away from solid ground brought a slight sliver of fear to the Flash. He is used to having two feet on the ground, and Wally never realized how much comfort that brought him until now.
Not finding much that was interesting to the Flash on the current level he was on, Wally decided to head back to the large hub that Batman introduced to the six heroes when he first teleported them up to the 'Tower. One Batman and the Amazon disappeared, the rest of the heroes dispersed to explore the grand space station. Although that was only about thirty minutes ago, Wally had seen a good portion of the Watchtower due to his super speed, and the level of detail and functionality shocked him.
There is an entire living quarters on one of the levels, with ten full bedrooms that were each the size of Wally's current apartment in Keystone City. In addition, there were four large rooms that reminded him of gymnasiums that took up a good portion of the mid section of the Watchtower, of which Wally assumed were designated training rooms. There were also separate workout rooms tied to the training rooms as well with all state-of-the-art equipment. Down the hall from the transporter room that the heroes first arrived in was a complete hospital set-up with medical equipment that the Flash had never even seen before. There were a few lounges and even a small library stacked with many books. The room that surprised Wally the most was a large room positioned above the central hub, one filled with numerous different monitors which all surrounded one of the largest digital screens that Wally had ever seen in his life. It was slightly larger than a home theater screen, but it seemed as if it was a computer monitor. Wally could not figure out its purpose yet.
Making his way to the hub, the Flash stopped in curiosity as he noticed that the enormous room was devoid of any heroes. Wondering where they could have wandered off to, the Flash decided to check doorways that connected from the main hub. One such door caught his eye, as it was a double-wide door that seemed to be almost placed strategically so that it would be on a common route of the Watchtower. Speeding over towards the doors, Wally stopped before the metal entrance and was stunned by what was revealed to him when the doors slid open.
To the speedster's shock, a full-fledged kitchen and dining area was positioned before him. There were a few large tables that seemed to be able to seat about eight people each, but that was not what caught the Flash's eye. The kitchen seemed to be brand-new, with all updated appliances including two stoves, two dishwashers, two double-basin sinks, an industrial sized refrigerator that Wally was dreaming about opening and discovering what delicious content lay within, and also the largest microwave he had ever seen. There were also other kitchen machines as well, such as a toaster and a large coffee maker.
The Flash zoomed over to the refrigerator, opening the massive door before his mouth dropped open in shock. The refrigerator seemed to be stocked with everything that someone could possibly need: meats, vegetables, various drinkable liquids, sauces, and so much more.
"I've died and gone to heaven," the Flash said to himself in amazement.
A voice broke Wally out of his reverie, causing him to jump slightly in shock. "You might want to close your mouth before you start drooling all over the floor."
The Flash turned and saw Green Lantern and Hawkgirl sitting at a table, watching the speedster with amused interest as he explored the kitchen. Green Lantern only had a cup of coffee before him, however Hawkgirl had an entire sandwich and a drink before her.
"I can't believe no one told me there was a fully-stocked kitchen up here!" Flash exclaimed.
Green Lantern scoffed at the young hero. "Yeah, there was probably a reason for that. With how excited you look right now, it'd be a shock if everything in that fridge isn't gone within the next hour."
The Flash crossed his arms and gave a small glare to John. "Hey, I have an extremely fast metabolism. Moving at the speed of light takes a lot out of someone, y'know?"
Hawkgirl leaned over in her chair and bumped Green Lantern with her shoulder. "Lay off the kid, John. He can't help himself," she said with a smirk.
"See! The pretty hawk lady gets it!" Flash said with his arms pointed out in front of him. Green Lantern just rolled his eyes, choosing to not comment and instead take a sip from his cup of coffee.
Hawkgirl gave an amused look to the Flash. "You know I have a mask on, right? What makes you think my face isn't hideously scarred?" she jokingly asked.
Flash gave an innocent shrug of his shoulders, however there was a slight blush on his cheeks. "Listen, I can see that you have red hair, and trust me when I say that all redheads are hot," he answered with a smirk, before doing a dramatic example of pretending to comb his hair back with his hand.
Hawkgirl laughed at Flash's exaggerated motions. "I'm assuming you have red hair too then?" the winged warrior questioned.
Flash gave a grin in response. "What gave it away? My handsome lower face?"
"I can tell you that it was certainly not that," Green Lantern grumbled, who then followed with a sip of his coffee. Hawkgirl laughed at John's comment, which earned a small smirk from the space soldier.
Flash's shoulders dipped slightly, before he turned back towards the refrigerator. "Well, Mama Flash says otherwise," Wally said quietly to himself.
X X X
Watchtower
Diana was currently standing within one of the many hallways within the Watchtower, looking out of a window into the vast depths of space. She did not really know how she got to this specific window, as all she remembered was walking mindlessly around the metal fortress in space as a means of exploring the vast labyrinth.
She had never seen space from this perspective before in her entire life. Although Themyscira has devices which use glass lenses to look into the cosmos, Diana has never actually had this clear of a view into the grandness that is the galaxy.
The stars have been used throughout her people's history as both a wayfinding point and as visual representations of their divine gods. Diana loved to stargaze as a child, looking upon the seemingly infinite sky and the many stars that blended with the darkness, illuminating the dark to show that even at night, light can shine through. Now, the Amazon Princess herself was amongst the stars, the same objects that were worshipped at home. While not being something that she imagined experiencing on her journey to Man's World, it was truly a symbolic moment for her.
The darkness of space reminded Diana of a certain man, one whom she had only met within the past day cycle. While the rest of the heroes wore bright colors—some like the young man in red whose uniform stood out like a target—this man, the Batman as he said he was called, shrouded himself in dark colors, with the only accent being the golden yellow of his utility belt, a similar shade to her Lasso of Truth.
Diana had to admit that the dark mortal intrigued her more than she would like to admit. All of the other heroes seemed ready to band together and work as a team to protect the world against injustices. However, to Diana's shock Batman refused to become an official member. His attitude perplexed the Amazon Princess: he was open with her (albeit very minuscule in words spoken) to her, however he brushed off the rest of the team without another thought. The only interaction Batman seemed to desire was either with her or Superman.
As if hearing her thoughts, Superman walked around the corner of the hallway, slightly surprised to see the Amazon staring out into space motionlessly. He hesitated for a moment, unsure as to whether he should give Diana space or see if she wanted to talk. He cursed Batman's name, wishing that the man realized that he was the only person that the Amazon Princess could truly communicate with verbally. Superman wished he opened himself more to people and see how much good can be done through teamwork.
Superman was about to turn down the hallway when Diana turned and looked at him. She must have noticed his uncertainty, as she unloosen the lasso from its coiled position on her hip and held one end out to him. He looked down at the lasso, hesitating to take the golden cord hanging from her hand. After a moment of indecisiveness, Superman grasped the loose strand, feeling the rope heat up in his hand as the magic activated.
"You can understand what I am saying, correct?" Diana asked.
"Yeah, I can make out every word," Superman replied. He glanced out the window, becoming momentarily lost within the beauty that was space. He turned back to Diana before asking, "Is this the only way that you can communicate with us?"
Diana sighed before answering, "Well, I am able to speak to the Batman since he understands my native tongue. J'onn can only speak to me through my mind, but personally that is an experience I would like to encounter as little as possible. Everyone else, I'm afraid, seems to not understand my speech, unless they hold the Lasso."
Superman shook his head. "I wish Batman were here now. He'd figure out some way to help you communicate with us better," he said.
Diana gave a small frown. "Maybe, but his attitude and demeanor seemed different once we arrived at the Watchtower," she noted. "Who knows if he would have been open to assisting me."
Superman raised an eyebrow, a questioning look forming on his face. "What do you mean?"
Diana looked to the ground for a moment, gathering her thoughts on what she wanted to say before continuing. "Well, when the three of us first worked together to defeat the personified metal contraptions, Batman was very open and knowledgeable to me. While he acted distant and sometimes unresponsive, he answered the few questions about Man's World that I asked in great detail. It has only been a few hours since we have first coordinated, but for some reason, I trust Batman. It's… a strange feeling, having trust in a man. I have been taught my entire life that men are the vile of the world, the ones who will eventually cause its destruction. I have never taken their words to heart, but I still would not ignore the teachings of my fellow sisters. However, meeting Batman, you, the Green Lantern, J'onn, and even the Flash despite his peculiar attitude, the merit behind my heritage's teachings seem fallible."
Diana paused for a moment before continuing. "When Batman and I destroyed the final metal machine, he was injured from the resulting combustion. This… foreign feeling overcame me, one where I felt worry over Batman's condition. It was starting to say the least, and for a brief moment it seemed as if he was surpised by my reaction. Then, his entire attitude changed, and he brushed it off as if nothing was wrong, refusing any help that I offered to him even though I knew he was hurt." Diana's eyebrows furrowed as she thought of the stubborn mortal. "Even I would have been injured being that close to the explosion, but he attempted to pretend he was unhurt. Even now, he promptly leaves us with little knowledge as to when he will return. It is infuriating, to say the least."
Superman chuckled at the Amazon's description of Batman. "Well, that's Batman for you. He's always the first person to throw himself into danger with little self regard for his own saftey."
Diana gave a confused and intrigued look. "Why? What motivates a man such as him to act like that?"
Superman felt the magic of the lasso attempting to probe the answer out of his mind, the true reason as to why Batman sacrifices everything for the common good, the knowledge of the tragedy a young boy faced that no one should ever experience in his life. In a moment of panic, Superman stepped back and threw the lasso out of his hand, refusing to succumb to the magic's whims.
Diana was shocked by Superman's reaction to her question, before realizing that the answer was something he was not comfortable sharing. Gently holding out the end of the lasso to the Man of Steel once again, Superman hesitated before taking the golden cord in his hand once more.
"You did not feel comfortable sharing the answer to that question," Diana acknowledged, more of a statement rather than a question.
Superman grimly nodded. "Truthfully, it's not my secret to tell. Batman had a traumatic life, one that no one should ever have to experience."
Diana remained motionless, letting this new information about her new teammate sink in. Deciding to ask Batman about it later—if she saw the dark mortal again—Diana asked Superman, "Where are you from?"
"Well, I was originally from Krypton, a planet so far from Earth that I haven't been able to locate the system it resided in. When I was only an infant, my biological parents gave me the name Kal-El, and sent me to Earth just as my planet collapsed in on itself."
Diana gave a sympathetic glance towards Superman. "I'm sorry. It must be difficult not knowing who your parents were," the Amazon responded.
Superman sadly smiled. "Well, my planet's destruction could not have been stopped. My people were harvesting the core as a means for fuel, however the damage was too great." He paused for a moment, his small smile growing as he thought about his life on Earth. "Even though I've never met my biological parents in person, the relationships I've formed on Earth are something I'm forever grateful for. I've experienced sadness, anger, and despair just as anyone else has, but through the people I care about I've also been given happiness, gratitude, and even love, both from the love of family and having a significant other." A blush adored Superman's face when he mentioned his relationship with Lois, the fiery reporter that captured his heart always making him off balance even when just thinking about her.
Diana smiled in seeing her new teammate had been embraced by Man's World, even though he was a being from far away. "I am grateful that you were accepted and found love in Man's World, Kal-El. You fight an honorable battle."
Superman chuckled. "Just Kal is fine. And what do you mean by 'Man's World'?" the Man of Steel asked.
Diana gave a small sigh before explaining. "Throughout my entire life, I have been taught of the treacheries that men have brought upon the Earth, how they would fight bloody wars due to the unhonorable desires of wealth and power, punishing those who they have deemed "lesser". Women have often been placed in this category." The Amazon Princess pauses for a moment, considering her next words. "I am not sure how much of the Amazons' history is available within the modern world, however we have faced many great tragedies due to man. Our people were enslaved, tortured and under the whims of greedy men who only sought pleasure for themselves. I thank the goddesses that protect Themyscira that I was not alive for that horrific moment of our history, but it is something that no Amazon will forget. Whenever mentioning the outside world, it was common for it to be referred to as "Man's World". I am one of the only Amazons to have not experienced these tragedies, however they are still my people, and their teachings and words are something that I will hold true."
Superman was stunned by Diana's words, truly not knowing how to respond in hearing the horrific history of the Amazons. "I'm… I'm sorry that happened to your people," Superman replied, struggling to form a reply.
Diana gave a smirk at Superman's response. "To my knowledge, you did not commit such atrocities, Kal. I appreciate your sympathy, however." She turned her gaze to the window, contemplating her thoughts. "Truthfully, when I first arrived in Man's World, I was prepared to face the worst. Then, I met a man who was a warrior of the modern world that fought for justice, and another man gifted with extraordinary abilities who also strives for the same cause."
Diana turned back towards Superman before answering, "My teachings will always come first, and while I still have not been proven that men are not the vicious creatures that my sisters have taught about for centuries, I do trust that my new teammates fight for good."
Superman gave a nod of appreciation, before letting go of the lasso. Diana hooked it on her belt, before giving a wordless nod and walking down the hallway.
Superman watched as the Amazon left, slightly speechless from learning about the Amazons' history. While he was worried about Diana's distrust of men, he could see that she had a pure heart, one who fought for truth and justice, someone with ideals similar to all of those present on the Watchtower.
One thing that certainly surprised the Man of Steel, however, was Diana's interest in Batman. From their conversation, it was clear that she had given much thought about the Dark Knight, and was curious to learn more. Superman was worried about how Bruce might react to his teammate's seemingly innocent curiosity, but at the same time he was excited to see where it would lead. He knew that Bruce needed more people in his life whom he did not have to be so guarded around, and Clark felt that Diana might just be someone who can become a good friend.
He smirked to himself, before turning and looking outside the window. The Justice League seemed to have a strange, yet bright future ahead.
X X X
Four Hours Later
The Watchtower transporter came alive in a brilliant cerulean light, revealing the menacing form of Batman standing upon the platform. Quickly making his way down the stairs of the transport and out the doors, he arrived to find the Watchtower hub surprisingly silent and devoid of any heroes.
Wondering where everyone was, Batman decided to make his way towards the Monitor Womb and check the security footage to locate the members of their new team. He attempted to stifle the painful groan he wanted to release resulting from a few of his fractured ribs, hoping that the quick bandaging that Alfred performed a few hours earlier would be enough to hold him over for the moment.
After taking the quick elevator ride, Batman briskly walked through the Monitor Womb doors before stopping in surprise at seeing the Martian Manhunter standing in the center of the room, observing the numerous digital screens that were monitoring for any extreme threats.
"The technology present within the Watchtower is fascinating," J'onn commented, aware that Batman had entered the room.
"It's one of the most advanced stations ever created," Batman replied. He walked over to one of the computers off to the side and began bringing up the security footage. "Some of the technology on the Watchtower is years ahead of the current standard."
The Martian Manhunter gave an approving nod, before turning to observe the large screen in the Monitor Womb. "I certainly agree. The teleportation system you have developed is extremely similar to the technology used by my own people."
Batman paused in his typing, before giving a questioning glance over his shoulder to the Martian.
Sensing that Batman wanted an explanation, J'onn continued with his focus still on the Monitor Womb's main screen. "While Earth is certainly more advanced than many other inhabited planets, it still falls behind in the technological pursuits that I was used to when Mars was a thriving planet. The teleportation system used by the Watchtower was actually a commonality on my planet, a vital tool used to transport great distances in a short amount of time." J'onn then turned his attention to the masked hero. "I do have to admit though, that the preciseness of your teleportation system is remarkable. One thing we could not control was the precise point that the teleportation system would output. We had it down to a four meter radius in Earth's measurements, but you seem to have the teleportation output as a controlled variable."
Batman gave a brief nod, making J'onn realize that was all the Dark Knight would give in recognition of praise. It was clear to the Martian—even without reading Batman's mind—that the man did not have much care for praise. The level of respect that he had quickly developed for Batman surprised J'onn.
Batman turned back towards the computer system in front of him, continuing his previously-stopped typing as he addressed the Martian Manhunter again. "You seem very knowledgeable about technology and science. What did you do on Mars?"
"I was an engineer that worked on a variety of systems and mechanisms for many purposes. Military, civil, even some domestic technology for household use was a part of my expertise. On Mars, when a profession was chosen, you did not focus on a specific category. Instead, you mastered the entire field," J'onn explained.
While listening to the Martian, Batman meanwhile had pulled up the security cameras of the Watchtower, discovering the locations of the newest members. Superman was making his way to the teleportation room, seemingly heading back to Metropolis. Flash was in the cafeteria, eating a massive plate of food with Hawkgirl looking on humorously as she read a magazine that Batman assumed she grabbed from the library. Green Lantern was wandering the Watchtower's halls, looking approvingly at the structure.
However, the sight that interested Batman the most was seeing Diana inside one of the training rooms, attacking a punching bag with various martial attacks. Just from the security footage, Batman's thoughts about her expertise in combat seen from earlier in the day were confirmed.
"You seem to know your way around a computer then," Batman replied to J'onn's earlier comment.
"Yes," J'onn said. "I have briefly experimented with the Watchtower's systems, and they all seem relatively easy to understand."
"Good," Batman simply noted. Without warning, the Caped Crusader then abruptly left the Monitor Womb, leaving behind a slightly shocked Martian.
Watching as the Monitor Womb doors closed, the Martian Manhunter stared at where Batman had left for a few moments. "Human beings are strange creatures," J'onn commented to himself. Now alone in the room, he was about to continue his exploration of the Watchtower's database, however the computer that Batman was using caught his attention.
Making his way over to the computer, the Martian smirked—a somewhat uncommon sight for the usually impassive Martian—as he saw the security footage Batman was focused on earlier completely centered on the new Amazon.
"Interesting," J'onn said to himself. It appeared that Batman was curious about the Amazon Princess. 'However, how far did this curiosity run?' J'onn wondered.
X X X
Watchtower: Training Room B
Diana repeatedly struck the large red bag in a mirror image of the training exercise she performed with Philippus on Themyscira's training grounds. However, instead of using a plant-fiber cloth bag filled with sand, she was now training using some type of large reinforced bag that hung from a chain. What the bag was made of was currently the last thing on the Amazon Princess's mind, however, as she was just glad that this metal fortress has a room where she could practice her training.
She had continued her exploration of the Watchtower after her short talk with Superman, but nothing truly caught her eye until she discovered the room she was currently in. Most of the gear within the room was unknown to her, and she did not want to risk destroying anything due to her naivety. However, she recognized a training bag no matter the design, and she had been practicing her usual training for the past couple of hours.
While in the middle of a particular explosive set of attacks, Diana heard the doors to the training room slide open. She paused in her movements, standing straight and steadying the bag before turning to address her guest. On seeing Batman standing within the doorway, her eyes widened for a moment before a smile appeared on her face.
Batman, meanwhile, was trying to focus on the main reason he came to the training room, however it was becoming increasingly hard to remember why as he stared at the beautiful Amazon Princess who had turned to look at him. Her breathing was slightly labored, and even after what appeared to be an intense workout, she still looked breathtaking. A small blush adored her upper chest and her face due to her intense training, and it was taking Batman a great deal of his willpower to keep his breathing steady and his outward appearance neutral while looking upon her, especially when she gave him a smile in seeing him at the doorway.
"{Batman,}" Diana greated, slightly breathless but joyful that someone who can speak her native language was here. "{It is good to see you again.}"
"{Princess,}" Batman curtly responded.
Diana must have noticed he seemed stiffer than before, since she immediately asked, "{How are you feeling? You must have been hurt from the explosion earlier today.}"
Batman clenched his jaw, wondering how she could see right through him. {"I'm fine,}" he quickly responded. Wanting to change the subject off of him, Batman said, "{I saw you were in the training room, and I wanted to question you about your ability in combat.}"
Diana's smirk quickly faltered, her concern about the man forgetten as her bright aquamarine-blue eyes formed a faint glare. "{Why? Do I appear lacking to you?}" The warrior princess challenged.
Batman was taken back by her response, but he gave no outward reaction. "{No. You seem extremely skilled; a seasoned warrior with extensive training. I wanted to know more about your techniques,}" he briefly explained.
A dim red hue appeared on Diana's cheeks, embarrassed in misreading Batman's observations, believing that the man was unimpressed about her combat ability. She knew she was a skilled warrior, and she would not allow anyone to insult her Amazon training. However, it seemed that Batman wanted to learn about her culture's combat ability, and she felt content with his request.
"{Of course,}" Diana agreed. She paused for a moment, seemingly contemplating something before standing straight and continuing. "{However, there is something I request from you first.}"
Batman remained silent—mainly due to surprise caused by the Princess's diplomatic stature—and Diana took that as a signal to state her request.
"{I want you to teach me the English language,}" Diana informed.
Batman was taken aback by her request, but he could understand why she desired to learn the English vernacular. "{Fine, but it will take awhile.}"
The Amazon gave a smirk. "{Actually, I believe there is a way to learn the language faster.}" Diana unhooked the Lasso of Truth from her belt, holding the glowing rope up for Batman to see. "{I have been thinking about the lasso's ability to help me speak with others whose language I cannot understand, such as those who speak English. I believe that the lasso can give me the ability to speak that language as well.}"
Batman stayed motionless, thinking about the princess's proposition. The magical properties of the lasso concerned the logic-based Dark Knight, however he knew that the team would benefit greatly if Diana learned to speak English as fast as possible. Therefore, after weighing the odds the decision was simple.
"{What do we do?} Batman questioned.
Diana slowly stepped closer to Batman, presenting the lasso in front of her. When they were only a short distance from each other, the Amazon pointedly held up the lasso for the Dark Knight to take. The latter looked at the magical golden cords for a brief moment, before reaching out and attempting to grasp the lasso.
However, the Princess unexpectedly pulled the lasso out of his reach, causing Batman to pause and look at Diana in confusion. He was slightly surprised to see a small blush form on her face.
"{Actually, for this to work, there must be nothing interrupting the Lasso's connection,}" Diana explained in as bashful of a manner as an Amazon could be.
It only took Batman a moment to realize that she wanted him to take off his gauntlet. He unhooked the armored glove from his right hand, attaching it to his utility belt before grasping the Lasso of Truth.
The feeling created by the magic of the lasso felt different to both parties this time. Instead of just seeking out the truths of words, as Diana had always known the cords blessed by Hestia could do, it seemed as if it was also seeking out hidden emotions as well:
Uncertainty, anxiety, repressed anger, comfort, contentment, joy, curiosity, and something else neither could identify as of yet…
Batman narrowed his eyes at the Amazon. "What is this?" The hero of Gotham growled in English, unsure of the lasso's intention.
"I… I'm not sure," Diana replied back in English due to the lasso's magic, stunned as foreign emotions not of her own flooded through her.
Batman was about to let go of the rope, however a firm yet patient hand was placed on top of his. He looked into the eyes of the Amazon Princess, and in seeing her blue orbs full of trust, open so much that he swore he could see into her soul, Batman relaxed his grip back onto the Lasso of Truth.
With a small smile and a thankful nod by Diana, the Amazon Princess closed her eyes and thought for a brief moment, asking the Lasso of Hestia to be her assistant.
"The Lasso of Hestia allows us to speak to each other in the same language. However, it also allows one to understand the truth from the words of another. I believe that maintaining a one-sided conversations with the deliberate motive of using the words as a tool for instruction gives the lasso cause to use its blessed powers, this time through the truth of idiomatic meaning instead of dialect," Diana stated, strong confidence found in her spoken words.
Batman did not respond immediately to the waiting Amazon, instead thinking over the new knowledge of information he had gained from this small encounter. Despite being seemingly naive to the modern world, it was impossible to dismiss the fact that Diana was extremely intelligent. Just from her word choice and quick assumptions, Batman could tell that there was certainly more to the Princess of the Amazons than what meets the eye, and this mysterious revelation intrigued him. He wanted to learn more about the warrior, mainly who she was and what she believed. As luck would have it, he was presented with the best opportunity to do so.
"Very well," Batman responded. "You mentioned that this lasso is blessed by the goddess Hestia, the Greek Goddess of home and hearth. From my understanding, they're categorized as mythology."
Diana's brows furrowed with the revelation, stunned at Batman's words. "You do not believe in the gods?"
"I don't believe in any divine figure," Batman revealed. "Not after…," he began, before clamping his mouth shut and refusing to reveal any more. Since the lasso's magic was being used to teach Diana the English language, he was able to stop himself from saying what was truly on his mind. However, the lasso's power was not completely gone, and it took great effort in preventing himself from speaking the words that were on the tip of his tongue, the reason why he dresses in armor each night and fights to purify a city many used to call hopeless.
A saddened expression formed on Diana's face, and she unconsciously placed a comforting hand upon the extended forearm of Batman. "I understand that you are not one with many words, Batman. With the little information you've revealed to me, however, it is clear that you have lost something in your life, something that has caused you to reject the idea of divinity. What that loss is, I'm not so sure, but it is clear that it drives your actions."
Batman caught himself from opening his mouth to reply, recognizing that he was steering greatly from his intended course. He went from being the interrogator to the one being interrogated in a matter of seconds. He quietly cursed the Princess's seemingly divine power of communication, her words being spoken with a compassionate tone, like a soft melody that could bring a smile to even the coldest heart like himself.
Batman steeled himself—and his emotions—before getting back on track. "Is there anything else the gods have given you?" Batman questioned, deciding to entertain the Amazon's belief on the existence of the Greek gods of legend.
"Yes, many things," Diana casually explained, as if it had been a gift from a relative. "The six patron goddesses of the Amazons are the ones who blessed me with my abilities: Queen Hera, Lady Athena, Lady Artemis, Lady Hestia, Lady Aphrodite, and Lady Demeter. Also, the armor and weapons I wear were crafted by the gods themselves…"
As Diana continued to talk about the goddesses that watched over her people, Batman analyzed the woman in front of him. Now without the threat of battle, he was able to get a good look at her, and it confirmed that she was indeed the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her blue eyes full of excitement as she spoke about her heritage, her full lips forming into a content smile as she thought about her homeland, her delicate face being framed with the backdrop of her midnight-black hair.
Out of all the members of the newly formed Justice League, it stunned Batman that it was not the many aliens on the team that proved to be an enigma to him, but instead someone from his home world who had been hidden for thousands of years.
The beautiful and intelligent Amazon Princess standing in front of him was an intriguing mystery, however he was not called the World's Greatest Detective for nothing, and Diana was a mystery that Batman fully intended to solve.
A/N: Thank you for reading! This chapter was mainly about establishing the key friendships that will be common throughout my story: (Flash, GL, Hawkgirl), (Superman, Wonder Woman [AS JUST FRIENDS!]), (Batman, Martian Manhunter), and of course (Batman, Wonder Woman [will DEFINITELY be more than friends at some point ;) ]) Next chapter will probably be about a time jump of a week, and we'll get to see some JL training! Will Diana force Bruce to participate in the physical assessment? Find out in the next chapter!