Thanks for the reviews and sorry for the delay.
As usual, special thanks to Hellacre for the editing.
Chapter 16 – I want to tell you…
Day 19
Planet Fred – Fortress of Solely Two – 7 A.M.
Diana looked at the watch Clark gave her on the night table he'd made for her. It was natural for her to slip it on her wrist first thing in the morning now. It was a way to touch him. If they were on Earth, she could already see the ads of the famous Swiss watch brand saying "GMT, Wonder Woman's choice…" etc. Good thing they were elsewhere.
The first morning glow could be seen through the open window. The Amazon was always the first to rise, so she could say her morning prayers at dawn.
Diana met personally many of her people's gods, spent time around them, fought them, helped them and acted as their champion on occasion. She had limited respect for them. They seemed powerful and wise, yes, but in truth, they behaved like little children much too often for her to have an elevated opinion of them. All except Athena and Aphrodite. They were something else. Both the goddesses of wisdom and love were exactly that: Athena was Wisdom, which made her realize that more often than not, gods decisions and acts are dangerous to human beings, so she stayed as far as she could from them, acting only through deputies and messengers, of whom Diana was her most trustworthy. Aphrodite was Love, in its more pure and raw form, emotionally and physically. She understood perfectly the passions she instilled could unleash the delights of Elysium, but also the wrath of Tartarus, but she also knew for fact that a life without love isn't a life worth living. The goddess saw in Diana a huge capacity for giving and receiving love, and that made her the favorite of the goddess. Of all the gods, these two were the ones the Princess truly respected, but her prayers to them were only a way to let them know she was at their service whenever they needed her, nothing more.
Diana didn't really pray to any of those gods looking for answers: what she really felt was that there should be something else, something more; so she prayed in the hope that one day she might know what that was and to show gratitude to the whole Universe for the life bestowed upon her, which let her experience the wonders of existence. These were her thoughts as she was getting out of bed.
Before going out to wash and pray, her morning rituals began by taking a mischievous peek at Clark from behind the curtain they both had weaved from straw to separate the beds and maintain some privacy. His torso was usually uncovered, and she enjoyed greatly roaming it with her eyes. The Kryptonian rolled to lie on his back, facing up, and Diana could clearly see the sizeable tent formed by the sheets in his middle area. Her cheeks begun to burn and she pulled the curtain back in place.
Breathing agitatedly, she moved fast outside the "Fortress."
"Speaking of 'wonders of existence'. Great Gaia, Kal!" she said in a low voice to herself. Involuntarily her memory went back to their first day on Planet Fred, when she had to lower his fever washing his naked body with a sponge and cold water. Even in the direst of moments, she had memorized every square inch of his anatomy.
"That does it! Today I won't be able to close my eyes without having those visions in front of me! Sweet Aphrodite, why do you test me like this?" The morning was cool, but she was sweaty. She realized she won't be able to concentrate in her prayers for the moment and decided to go to the pond hoping the cold water would help calm her down.
At 25 Diana was in no way a virgin. She'd first experienced sex with Steve Trevor during a period when, due to a dispute with Zeus, the King of the Gods, he had stripped her of her superpowers. Always seeing the positive side of things and following Aphrodite's advice, she seized being a mere mortal as the perfect opportunity to finally say yes to the captain's insistent requests. Until then, she had refused her then boyfriend, not because she wasn't curious about physical intercourse, but because she was afraid to cause him certain damage.
It all went well: Steve was experienced, caring and generous as a lover, and she, although her feelings towards him were somewhat confusing, found the experience highly enjoyable. But then her punishment time was over and Athena, with her father's permission, restored her superhuman gifts. Having had the most beautiful woman in the world in his arms periodically for nearly three months, there was no way Steve would be willing to renounce her, because he had fallen badly for the Amazon. In spite of Diana's warnings, he wanted her in his bed, to which she reluctantly agreed. Sometimes lust gets the best of us, and the Captain's stubbornness backfired on him. The strength level difference resulted in a very painful experience, two broken ribs and a three and a half weeks recovery period for "Little Zipper", as he called his manhood. After that, Diana was adamant in keeping the relationship strictly platonic, which finally ended the romantic affair between them.
And then there was Clark.
From the moment they first met she felt an undeniable attraction towards this Kryptonian, so god-like but with none of their flaws. Although he was taken at the time, she could see he wasn't indifferent to her, but his strong sense of loyalty prevented him to be nothing more than a friend to the Amazon. Still, their hands sometimes spoke for them: they had that kind of friendship in which physical contact, like hugging, holding each other's hand, touching their faces, removing a lock of hair from the other's forehead or even a slap on the shoulder to show disapproval weren't unusual. Their sparring sessions were something else. Not only because of their similar levels of strength, which made the Justice League Satellite tremble, but also because the sexual tension was palpable.
But there was more: they could talk until they lost track of time, they understood each other with just a look. They completed one another's sentences. Hal and Barry used to exchange an amused look whenever that happened, saying (with a hint of envy):
"GAR! (Get-A-Room)"
"Yeah, man, definitely GAR!"
Everybody wondered why they weren't lovers already.
"And so do I!" Diana said out loud, already into the water. She forced herself to remember what happened with Steve. She won't do anything that could cause Clark some injury, so bedding him was out of question. The cold water wasn't working. She will have to take matters in her own hands. Literally.
Closing her eyes, she caressed her breasts. Her left hand descended until it reached her groin, which she began rubbing with her fingers, softly at first but then increasingly faster, as faster as her breathing was getting with every stroke. Diana clenched her teeth, behind her closed eyelids images of Clark kept popping before her.
"Kal…oh,Kal…," she whispered. As the Princess was nearing her release, she had to bite her lower lip to avoid shouting his name. Her body contracted repeatedly for a few seconds, as she exhaled violently.
With her whole body still shaking, Diana opened her eyes. To her surprise, she discovered she was floating several feet over the surface of the pond.
Letting herself drop back into the water, she said: "Some morning prayers…!"
The pink-orange light of dawn fell over her body through the trees as she finished bathing. An overwhelming feeling of sadness invaded her. She wanted this to be WITH him, not ABOUT him.
"Why can't I lose my powers as well?" She scowled at the red sun. "If you were your cousin, Apollo, I'd had a few selected words to tell you!"
As she approached their lair, she saw Clark already in his work-out clothes.
"Morning, Sensei" he said, taking a bow.
"Not funny." She spat dryly, getting inside the building to change into her training attire.
"Wha…? But I…! Diana?" Clark looked at her in confusion.
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Planet Fred – Fortress of Solely Two – 7:15 A.M.
Clark opened his eyes looking up to the ceiling of their refuge. When he lowered his gaze saw his morning wood pointing at the zenith.
"Damn! I hope Di didn't see you, you indiscreet nuisance!" Images of the last dream danced confusedly in his memory. He couldn't recall what it was about, but it was with the Amazon, for sure. He sat in the bed, pulling his feet out, trying to calm his physical enthusiasm thinking ugly thoughts. Images of the day at the pond, when he took a shot at Argos with the Plaser and the Princess put herself between the purple beast and the blast, completely naked… "Not helping! Goddamn eidetic memory!"
During his teenage years this stiff awakening was an almost daily manifestation. His powers were still developing and his relationship with Lana Lang was just starting. They were both seventeen and eager to experience these physical sensations the other's contact provoked, at first timidly, advancing a little more each time, until one evening, at a romantic picnic by the creek, they finally went all the way. Clark's strength already was above that of the strongest man so Lana ended a little bruised and shaken, but they had a sweet and enjoyable first time. With practice, Clark learned to control his movements to avoid hurting Lana, but his gifts continue growing until the possibility of losing control and seriously harm his sweetheart became real. Trusting his first love completely, Clark told her about his gifts and the reason why they couldn't continue having sex. Lana knew her boyfriend was special, only she didn't know how much. Still, she was skeptical about what Clark was telling her, and even accused him of seeing someone else. By way of an answer, he took her in his arms and jumped as far as two crop fields away. Speechless, the red haired girl looked at him in astonishment. The Boy of Steel thought that look was of terror and disgust, but then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. "I'm not letting you go. Even though we can't do it the traditional way" said Lana, lowering her eyes "We could pleasure each other with our hands and…mouths." Her freckled cheeks became two red apples. They loved each other so much that found no trouble in reaching a compromise in order to be together. As time passed and they grew older, though, this practice was no longer enough. Plus their vision of the future and career choices began to split them apart. By the time they both left Smallville to go to college they were only friends. Friends who deeply cared for each other, but friends nonetheless.
When Clark moved to Metropolis looking for a job, having finished college, he began his exploits as the caped defender of the oppressed and innocent. But his social life could be described as monastic, with no physical contact with women whatsoever.
Among the people he had to confront, there was this Lex Luthor, a rich, sick bastard with more than genius level intellect, who took advantage of everyone and everything that could help him rise to power. In one of their clashes, Lex attacked him with a red sun ray emitter. After beating Luthor, again, Clark took possession of the weapon and examined the device carefully, realizing that being powerless temporarily could work in his benefit, and hoping it would serve him reactivate his dormant sexual life. Yes, it might have sounded petty and selfish from his part, but, as much as powerful as he was, he also had needs like everyone else. One couldn't do a good job without eating or sleeping properly, and human contact was as necessary as satisfying those urges. Turning the apparatus into a wide angle projector, with attenuated output, Clark installed it in his room, out of sight. That meant he could only do "the nasty" in there, no spontaneity like having a "quicky" on the elevator and such, but it was a serious improvement. "Superman", as the citizens of Metropolis began to call him, showed a more relaxed and calmed temper from then on. Clark found it comical that his worst enemy had provided him with such a helping solution.
Sitting in his bed at the "Fortress", the Kryptonian looked around to make sure Diana wasn't anywhere near. His first impulse was to seek relief on his own, but the subsequent mess dissuaded him. Not inside the house, at least.
Dressed with a tee, Bermuda shorts and tennis shoes, he went outside. His friend was still up and Clark decided, since he couldn't risk Diana coming back and find him busy doing monkey stuff, he would exercise it down. He tried doing Tai-chi forms. Taking a deep breath, he began moving slowly and focusing on breathing.
"Focus on 'Chi'. Send air to Tan-tien". By the second 'Embrace the Tiger and Return to Mountain' his "problem" was back to its normal state. Not a minute too soon, because he saw Diana returning from the pond.
"Morning, Sensei" he said, taking a bow.
"Not funny." She spat dryly, getting inside the building to change into her training attire.
"Wha…? But I…! Diana?" Clark looked at her in confusion.
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When she came out in full gear, her face looked a little upset still, but more sad than angry.
"Ready?" she asked with a neutral voice. The Kryptonian turned to face Diana.
"Di, what's the matter? Are you okay?" He took a worried look at her. "You seem to be having a rough morning."
"It's nothing. (sigh) I woke up realizing I have a few too many unresolved issues." The Amazon lowered her eyes.
"Something back home? Is there anything I can do to help? If it is about our forced staying here, let me assure you, we will get out of this accursed planet." Clark tried his best to exude confidence. "I'm here if you want to talk. I'm always here for you, you know." He took her chin making her look at his face.
"Yes. You are here..." The Princess said pensively, touching his cheek. Changing the tone of her voice she added, "Thanks, Kal, but I have to deal with it. We'll talk about it, I promise." And she caressed the Kryptonian's face. Trying to sound more cheerful, she said, "Come on, we have a great work out to do today, apprentice." And she began running.
Clark grabbed his spear and shield and followed her swiftly.
"You know, Kal? Your face and hands are almost completely healed."
"Yeah, thank goodness. In a day or two I'll be able to shave. I must look like a hobo," he said. Clark didn't want her to see him like this.
"Not at all! In fact, I'd like it and maybe you could keep it? It suits you. It makes you look so rugged. You seem right out of the pages of some classic Greek epic tale."
"Ha, ha, ha! Don't make me laugh! I need to take a breath!" A hint of a blush crossed his face.
"Listen, here's an idea: the main character is called 'Kalos Os Theós'. The hero is trying to get home after being marooned on a desert island by an angry witch, with no ship to cross the great black seas. We can call the tale 'Kaliana,'" said the Princess, rather enthusiastically, even though she omitted to say that the name she chose meant 'Beautiful, as a god'.
"Wow! Did you come with this just now, 'Homera'?" he teased.
"I was just pitching the idea to our resident writer, Mr. Clark Kent, reporter extraordinaire," Diana counterattacked. "Come to think of it, it sounds a lot like 'Robinson Crusoe'. But if you call me 'Friday', you're a dead man." The Amazon gave him her best menacing glare. "By the way, Kal, may I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"I thought you might write a journal of our staying here, why didn't you?" she asked.
"To tell you the truth," he responded, "at first I was certain that we won't be here for too long, so I saw no need. Then I thought of it, but I got so engaged in all the daily labors, that I just simply forgot, and, at the end of the day, was too tired to push a pen. This being a regular mortal is tiresome, let me tell you."
"I see," the Amazon responded. Clark noticed a little disappointment in her voice, and he really wanted an excuse to start writing again, so he quickly added.
"But this conversation may be the kick-start I needed to write…wait for it… 'Kaliana's Journal'! No, not the story of Kalos, but ours: Kal and Diana, 'Kal-iana'. See?" he said with a big grin.
"Sounds awful. It seems those celebrity couples combined names like 'Brangelina' or 'Beniffer'. And your name comes first because…?" she teased.
"Hey! You came with the name, I just took advantage of it. I can make you the hero, if you like. Besides, I will be writing the journal, so I can title it as I please. You must admit that 'Diakal', 'Diaclark' or, even worst, 'Dianal' sound terrible," Clark said.
Diana let out a crystalline laugh. "Oh, Gods, no, please! I leave the naming to you." And she added, "And there's nothing 'regular' about you, you know?"
"Excuse me…?" the Kryptonian asked.
"You said you are now a 'regular mortal'. You may have lost your gifts momentarily, but you are still an extraordinary being. And one more thing: the beard stays," she decreed.
"O-kay, boss…In fact, I was a little worried I would have to use Pa's razor (Clark always took with him Jonathan Kent's razor and Marta's engagement ring on all his journeys, on and off world, to have them always with him), it's been almost a decade since I last used one. You know, my heat vision…," he answered, doing a gesture with his hand all over the beard.
Diana's lips stretched in a pleased smile. After they talked, her mood improved greatly. "Kal always finds a way to cheer me up." The Princess let him run silently for a while to pace his breathing. Another twenty minutes later she looked at her watch.
"Okay, we're stopping now. How do you feel?" She put her middle and forefinger on his carotid artery while checking the watch to control his heart rate.
"I'm fine. A little agitated. We went further this time, didn't we?" Clark answered.
"Good observation. Today you completed a total of eight miles in less than forty minutes. We started 10 days ago with three and a half, I'd say your progress is great. Your heart rate is just a little above normal, which is excellent. The average Amazon runs a total of 25 km a day, that's about fifteen and a half miles. Since your physical levels of strength and resistance are similar to those of any of my sisters, I think you shouldn't have any problem reaching that mark, or even surpassing it. Now, drop and give me fifty!" Diana ordered.
"Yes, sir, Drill Sergeant, sir!" When Clark got to the ground, putting his arms in a pushing position, he thought "Piece of cake. Pffff.!" Suddenly he felt the weight of the Amazon Princess sitting on his back. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"Giving you a bit of a challenge. One…come on, you've heard me: one…" Diana's voice sounded amused.
"Daaamn!" said the Kryptonian with clenched teeth, pushing up. "You're heavier than you look, big girl!"
"All muscles, baby! And I'm tall, not 'big'." She slapped his butt. "Two…" The Princess was really enjoying herself.
"Knock it off!" The Man of Steel made a lot of complaining noises, but he completed the fifty push-ups. Feeling the warmth of her lower body in contact with his, made him distract from the effort. Abs, biceps and every muscular group got its share of workout. Meanwhile, the Amazon was doing her sword practice. Clark was watching her move almost hypnotized by the incredible grace of her 'dance'.
"I'm certain you must be a hell of a dancer, Di."
Without losing focus, she said, "I manage my way on the dance floor. On the Island my sisters and I used to dance for festivals and celebrations. And mostly for pleasure, to tell you the truth. I did some research, when I came to Man's World and, comparing notes and archive files with those of my homeland, I found out that the more skilled the warrior, the best dancer he or she was, or vice-versa. For instance, did you know that Bruce Lee won several dancing competitions? Muhammad Ali was also a terrific dancer."
"I could have told you that just by seeing the man on a ring. His feet had wings," said Clark.
"True. I've seen videos. Bruce is also a very skilled dancer."
"When did you ever have the chance to see him dance?" he asked in astonishment.
"At the benefit galas he used to sponsor at Wayne Manor, of course. How come you've never been in one?" she asked back.
"Bruce's civilian activities are the times I'm the most busy, watching over Gotham as well as my other duties. I know his associates can take care of it perfectly, but he himself asked me to watch over them too, and only intervene when they are over their heads. To this day, I've never had to. Those guys are amazingly capable, but, as much as Bruce trusts in their training, he'll never forgive himself if Jason's tragedy happens ever again. This journey to Almerac and being this much time away from home, had him worried sick," Clark answered.
"I understand. Anyway, the thing with dancing is that it has a lot to do with coordination and rhythm, and the ability to adapt to different paces. You just gave me an idea: I'm incorporating dancing to our little training sessions." Diana's face brighten up. "How clumsy are you moves, Kal?"
"Actually," the Kryptonian said, "I'm not half bad. Ma made a point to make her son someone who could move to the music without stepping over every girl's feet. It embarrassed me terribly, but, thanks to her, I no longer have two left feet. But…how you think we're doing it without music?"
"Hmmm. I can sing a tune or two. You said I do it pretty fine," she tentatively said.
"You sing wonderfully, Di. I'm inclined to go along with it just to hear your beautiful voice. Okay. You're on. My suggestion is to do it at night, during or instead of our guitar and singing sessions, then we'll have one more enjoyable activity to do after dinner," he proposed.
"Alright!" She clapped her hands. "We'll make Terpsichore proud! You won't believe it, but I missed a lot my dancing!" Her joy was evident.
"It will be a great honor and a pleasure for me to play the guitar for you to dance," Clark said. "So, deal?"
"Deal!"
After they agreed on doing it, Diana considered it time for the actual combat lessons. She threw him his spear. "Now, prepare yourself." Her magical sword was too much for Clark's 'bo', so she put it aside, grabbing the other bar of estranium. The Amazon assumed the attacking position. "Now, as I told you: 1,2,3,4!" Each count was a strike which the Kryptonian must block. "Good. Now, attack: up, down, left, right!" The bars clashed with loud, clanking noises. Diana was pleasantly surprised that she only had to give the instructions once, Clark's eidetic memory remembered them for ever. "I'm going random now, without warning, and…"
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
"Again!" Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! "Excellent!"
She thought she'd catch him off guard. She dropped to the ground in a full split, leg sweeping Clark to the ground with her 'bo'. The Man of Tomorrow fell with a sonorous 'thump!'
"Oomph! You're not playing nice!" he complained.
"Expect anything, especially the unexpected, Kal. Real life combat has no rules but to be the victor," she warned. Turning her back to him, Diana move two steps away.
"Oh, yeah?" Clark thought to himself. Springing to his feet, his intention was trying to sucker-punch her from behind. At his actual level of strength he wouldn't cause much damage to her.
The Amazon quickly turned, catching his bar with both hands. She fell to her back, dragging him down and then throwing him over with her legs. Without letting go, she rolled over her head and ended sitting on his chest, pushing the bar on his throat.
"Ah, ah,ah! Naughty, naughty boy! Did you really think you can catch a daughter of Themyscira by surprise?" she said.
"It was worth a try. Besides," Clark took a purposefully impudent look at her cleavage, "the view from here is rewarding enough."
"What…?" Diana's face turned red and with her crossed arms she tried to cover her bosom. With his own arms free, the Kryptonian suddenly sat up, pushing her off his chest. The Amazon hit the ground with her butt in a rather ungracious manner. She gave him a huffy look, swatting away the hand he extended to help her up.
"That was…! You cheating…! KAL!" her face was red, still.
"Sorry, Princess. I had to improvise. 'No rules in real life combat', remember?" he said with a grin on his face.
"You'll pay for this. Oh, yes, you will," she promised. "And don't call me 'Princess'!"
"Uh-oh! A pissed Amazon…I guess I'm in trouble," he joked.
With her coldest smirk, she said, "You have no idea, funny boy"
They switched to unarmed combat. Contrary to her promise, Diana went somewhat easy on him. She took her vengeance when it came to helping Clark to extend the reach of his legs, to make his kicks higher and more powerful. The Kryptonian stood with his back against a tree and she pushed up one leg at a time to stretch the joints.
"Ow-ow-ow, uncle! Uncle! Stop!" he snarled.
"What? Not so funny now, are we?" The Princes gloated "Do not bend the knee. Good. When I'm done with you, you'll be able to do 'grande jeté'!"
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Planet Fred – 2 miles to the Fortress of Solely Two - 10:40 A.M.
Coming back from training to their quarters, Clark began to talk.
"Wow! Today's session was intense! I'm sore all over. It looks like you had some steam to let out, didn't you?"
"Hmmm. In a way, yes. I'm sorry if I went too hard on you." Diana was looking at her own feet as she walked.
"Not at all. I had…no: I HAVE some issues of my own as well. It has to do with the lost of my powers." And having you in this place, all by ourselves, and not being able to do or say anything because of it, he thought.
"Yes, that's the main of my concerns as well." And she added, "Kal…I…we have to talk about it."
"I think we do, too. Only not just yet. I have to figure out how I really feel about it myself," said the Kryptonian.
Diana passed her arm over his shoulders and he rounded her small waist with his. They walked like this in silence the rest of their way back. They were both wishfully looking at their shadow's subtle double edge.