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I believe I'm going to keep doing one person per chapter, at least for right now.
Duty Calls, Chapter 3, Hold On Loosely, 38 Special
Diana's turn…
After several hours of staring at the monitor screen, I began to grow restless, dissatisfied with my poetry book and only myself for company. It was somewhat unusual for the Watchtower to be so quiet and to find myself totally inactive, totally alone. I preferred the heat of the battle, the trials of combat, pitting myself against the enemy as I had learned through my Amazon sisters. Inactivity led to restlessness, which in turn led to boredom…and thinking.
Usually there would be one of the other members of team within the confines of the Watchtower – Flash making a silly joke, Shayera making a bawdy comment, John stoically and exasperatingly pretending he wasn't amused by the two of them, or J'onn solemnly taking in the entire situation while downing Oreos. Superman was so often busy that his time was limited on the Watchtower, as was Bruce's – one trying to save the world and one trying to save his city. They each held lives and responsibilities that brought them little downtime and relaxation, a fact that I would now have to get used to, being a larger part of Bruce's life now that our relationship had been altered to a deeper one.
Bruce himself was a deep one, a man of great inner strength and intelligence who often kept only his own counsel, a man used to periods of inactivity. He often mocked my lack of patience, but, contrary to popular opinion, patience was not always a virtue. I simply was not always able to stand by, waiting for something to happen when an offensive measure could neutralize an enemy plan. The Amazons were a tribe of warriors and I had thus far found it difficult to turn my back on centuries of teachings.
I knew that most of the team was on the planet of Kallinor, trying to stop a cult leader named Despero from taking over the galaxy. A part of me wished that I was with them, stopping yet another mad-man from a nefarious plot. But I recognized that they could handle the situation and that I was needed here, keeping guard over Earth until my teammates returned.
Unfortunately, the next turn for Monitor duty belonged to the Flash and I wasn't expecting them to be back from the outer rim of the galaxy in time for sentinel duty. For all intents and purposes, it looked like I would be taking on the next segment of Monitor duty as well. But the team would return at some point to relieve me or perhaps Superman would pull a shift as well.
I had been so startled earlier this evening when he had asked me about Bruce, so concerned that he could read my feelings on my face. I had long ago realized that he was simply being the nice, friendly, polite soul that he usually was. He and Batman were often at loggerheads over techniques, battle situations, and team attitudes, but they were essentially the leaders of the group and they were much closer than they often let on. Each of them did not necessarily approve of the other, but they found some middle ground in respecting each other's individual abilities. I was sure that Superman would have admitted that he considered them to be friends, but I wasn't sure if Bruce would answer in the affirmative to that as well.
As much as I did, in some ways, want to tell the truth and to let my friends know about my newfound happiness, I also wasn't ready to share that knowledge yet. Instead, I held it tightly to me, a gift to savor and relish before revealing it to the team.
Suddenly, I was even more restless than I had been moments before. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a battle, ready to fight, but unsure of what the enemy had prepared. I was keyed up, tight, and very nervous. What was next for Bruce and I? Would he make the next step – should I? The feeling of hesitancy was so unusual for me and I was struggling to find ways to overcome it. I would treat this situation like any other – marching boldly into the unknown and perhaps even the forbidden. Relationships with men were expressly prohibited on Themyscira, but I was exiled from my homeland and feeling my way through this new world, and now, this new relationship. For a moment, I wondered if it was too soon – if I needed more time to prepare for this step in Man's World, but I immediately, my boldness reasserted itself, and I realized that I was no longer a citizen of Themyscira and everything it embodied did not have to apply to me. I was free to form a relationship with a man, one I respected and admired. Even my sisters could understand that. And my mother, well, that was a thought for another time.
I had to hold on loosely to what I had grown up with – honoring the Amazonian principles and ideals by using them to forge my way in this world, modernizing and adapting tradition, as it were. I could not remain a part of Themyscira, but Themyscira was still a part of me, to use a contemporary phrase.
And suddenly, I felt more at peace – with myself, with my decision, and with my relationship. The gods had led me to this place and I would praise their forethought and honor them through my actions.
I slumped in the chair for a moment, eyes closed, exhausted with the weight of my thoughts. But suddenly, I could smell the sweet scent of chocolate…and caffeine. I opened my eyes to the silent figure standing to my side, holding a frothy mug in his left hand.
It was as if all my dreams had come true and yet I still couldn't believe the sight in front of me. A tall, dark, cowled figure trying to entice his lady with something beyond price, and for me, that treasure was an iced mocha.
I laughed softly in delight and reached out for the mug, but he stalled my hand before I could grasp the drink and I turned to look at him in confusion.
"Say thank you first," he told me with a teasing lilt in his voice, no doubt expecting me to prettily and courteously respond to his endearing overture. I looked at him for a moment and the teasing Diana side of me leapt to life.
I put my hands on my hips and cocked my head to side before questioning, "And if I don't?"
"Then none for you, Princess," he replied, bringing the cold drink to his lips and sipping, watching me as if gauging what my next move would be.
And suddenly, a move that I had seen on countless women in movies and television programs came to me, and I jutted out my lower lip, pouting and bringing my lashes to half-mast. It was a look I had never attempted before in my life and knew that I never could in all seriousness. The coquettish side to me was a rare occurrence, but then, the gentle side of Batman was an atypical sight as well.
I bit my lower lip and looked up at him, all the while plotting how to remove the mocha from his hands without his notice. Without a moment's hesitation, I felt my lips covered with his, cold and sweet from the drink as he plundered my mouth. I immediately dropped the act and moved in closely, pressing myself up against him, running my hands up the Kevlar shell of his chest to stop at his shoulders. After another moment, he pulled away, the drink still in his hand in pristine condition.
I wasn't sure whether I admired his control or wanted to knock him on the floor just out of principle.
He silently handed over the drink and began to stride back to the transporter. I knew that he had missed minutes of precious sleep in order to bring me my favorite drink and I wanted to tell him that I appreciated the gesture, but somehow, I thought that I already had. My actions during the kiss had certainly let him know that I was thankful for his thoughtfulness and his sacrifice. Utterly ignoring my presence only feet away, he typed in his destination and just before he stepped into the beam and back to Gotham, he looked at me over his right shoulder, slight hesitation in every line of his body.
"Diana…this afternoon…" he said uncertainly before visibly stiffening and pulling the cape around himself like a shield, "Wayne Manor. 3 o'clock. Be there."
With that charming and utterly Batman-like invitation, he disappeared into the transporter, leaving me slightly stunned as elation rushed into my heart. Hera! It was like a…what was the colloquialism that Flash had always used…a date!
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