Reasons

Reason one: dating within the team always leads to disaster.

Because I can't have my heart broken…not again and especially not by you.

Reason two: you're a princess from a society of immortal warriors and I'm a rich kid with issues…lots of issues.

Because you're a beautiful goddess and I'm just a mere mortal man who lives in the dark.

Reason three: if my enemies knew I had someone special, they wouldn't rest until they'd gotten to me through her.

Because I fear what I will become of me if Joker or any of my rogues ever get their hands on you.

I begin to give her my reasons just like I'd rehearsed the last couple of weeks, silently hoping that it didn't sound too recited. Diana just stares at me for a long moment before crushing the head of a gargoyle to prove a point…which she has if she were facing our regular list of bad guys.

Unfortunately, Gotham is home to the most sadistic, most criminally insane personalities the world has to offer. Meta strength isn't going to protect her against Scarecrow's fear toxin or Poison Ivy's pheromones and it definitely won't keep her safe against Joker's psychotic devices meant to break your mind like his is.

Before I can give the rest of my reasons for not getting involved, the security alarm is triggered and we're off and running only to find Circe. Definitely not Intergang, but still very dangerous to deal with in her own right. She proves that as I slowly pick myself up off the ground to find Diana had been turned into a pig.

My heart is in my boots seeing her like this, knowing how furious not to mention mortified she would be if she knew what Circe has done to her. I slowly kneel down before her, careful not to scare her off. I cautiously hold out my hand to her, hoping that there is a part of her still in there that remembers me.

She warily approaches me, her little pink snout wiggling up and down as she sniffs at me, taking a couple of trusting steps closer. I move my gauntleted hand to scratch behind her ears which she surprisingly enjoys. I can't help the fleeting thought that fills my mind, wondering how much of this response is animal instinct and how much is actually the Amazon princess inside the chubby little piglet.

Diana seems to sense that she can trust me as she abruptly climbs up into my lap, her head coming to rest against my chest as if seeking my comfort. Her little, curly tail wiggles as I place my hand on her back. I swallow hard as I hold her close to me, wondering if she can even understand me.

"Don't worry, princess. I won't let anything happen to you," I gently tell her. "I'll do whatever it takes to get you back."

Her little curled tail begins to move back and forth again as I cradle her against my chest and get to my feet. She snuggles deeper into my embrace, her head coming to rest in the crook of my neck and I feel my heart warming against my will. It's unbelievably endearing, holding her…protecting her like this.

Reason four: I can't let anyone get too close to me or Batman will cease to exist.

You've already punched too many holes in my walls. I can't afford any more or my walls will crumble.

Despite the fact that she's been turned into a little pig, my feelings for her only seem to be growing stronger. She's always been so strong and in complete control, the heart of the trinity and the glue of the Justice League. Whenever there is a shadow of doubt or a wavering in my faith, I always look to her and she gives me hope and confidence.

Right now, though, she is so small and vulnerable and scared, so unlike my beautiful princess and it nearly breaks my heart.

I've always felt this inexplicable need to protect her and keep her safe no matter the situation. I have a deep-seated need to always watch her back despite being the most powerful woman in the whole world, ignoring the fact that she doesn't need a mortal man keeping watch over her. Now, she does need me more than ever and I won't let her down.

I just wish I could've pushed her out of the way before being hit by Circe's spell, done something to keep this from happening to her. I've always been willing to give my all for everyone else, but I loathe the idea of someone giving of themselves for me. I never want her to sacrifice herself in order to save me.

Reason five: If I let you in, I'll become dependent on you.

I know if I let you in you'll become my drug…my addiction…and I'll never want to be cured.

"Well, I've given it my best shots," Zatanna said with a frown. "I guess my powers run a distance second to those of a goddess."

I crouch down beside her, trying my best to hide my anger and disappointment. I had hoped that Zatanna would have been able to reverse this damned spell and give me Diana back. I begin to rub her back in an effort to comfort her, scratching behind her ears again just as I discovered that she loves.

"We could call in one of the other League magicians," Zatanna suggested. "Doctor Fate maybe?"

"No," I adamantly state a little harsher than I had meant to. I look back down at Diana, struggling to lock away the surge of emotions that assault me. "I mean…let's keep this between us."

"Why?" Zatanna asked, confused. "If there's any chance to help Diana, shouldn't we tell everyone in the Ju…wait…wait. You and her? Are you two…?"

I refuse to make eye contact with her, doing my best to school my features. I can't allow my feelings for Diana to find its way to my face. "No, just good friends," I reply.

"No," Zatanna says, her voice gentle. "You and I are…just good friends. There's something more between you and Diana."

"Well…maybe there was," I confess, releasing a sigh as I finally give voice to what had been brewing in my heart for some time now.

Reason six: I can never appear weak or show vulnerability. I have to stay strong and in complete control at all times.

I get weak in the knees when I'm around you. You make me want to lose control. The sound of your voice and your laughter…your smile is nearly my undoing every damn time.

My heart is in my throat, my anger searing through my veins as we search for Diana. She's nowhere to be found. Every moment that ticks by without finding her causing my desperation to skyrocket. Horrible thoughts of what could be happening to her run rampant through my mind and causing my worry to intensify.

I snap at Zatanna, immediately feeling guilty about it, but I do nothing to rectify it. I'm too furious with Circe and too afraid for Diana to think about anything else. I try to clear my mind, knowing that I need to focus if I'm ever going to find her.

She is somewhere out there all alone, defenseless and probably scared. fear claws at my throat and makes my chest tight. If something happened to her, I'd never forgive myself. I have to find her and get Circe to reverse the spell before it's too late. I can't imagine going through this life without her being a part of it.

Reason seven: If I get involved with someone, it could jeopardize my mission.

I fear the kind of monster that I would become if I ever lost you. What depths would I sink to…what would become of my mission?

I don't even have to think twice about Circe's offer. I'll do whatever it takes to save her. Sacrificing my pride is a small price to pay in order to get her safely back where she belongs. I wish it could be with me, but I can't allow it. She's already far too close…closer than anyone else has ever been able to get.

The song "Am I Blue" reverberates throughout the amphitheater as I begin to sing, the words of the song taking on a whole new meaning as I think of Diana, wondering where she is at and if she's okay. I hope she knows that I'm doing what I need to do in order to save her.

She's not alone, never will be as long as there is breath in my lungs. Even if we can't be together like we both would like to be, I'll always be there as her as a teammate and a friend. It will have to be enough because that's all I can give her. It's too dangerous otherwise and I care about her too much.

I've always worried about my rogues coming after her if anyone found out about us. I'd never considered the fact that Diana has a long list of enemies of her own who could possibly come after me. It's not something that I fear, and it doesn't add to my list of reasons not to get involved with her, but it does strengthen my resolve to keep her safe should any of them come after her.

Reason eight: Love is one thing that I can't allow in my life.

I'm already falling in love with you and I can't stop it no matter how hard I try.

Walking side by side down the corridor of the Watchtower, my cowled gaze glancing at the beautiful Amazon princess beside me. Relief washes through me all over again knowing that she's safe with us once again. My pride was a very small price to pay in order to get her back.

"And truthfully, it's all pretty much just a blur to me," Diana says. "Did I miss anything?"

"Not really," I evenly reply, looking away from her. I can't let her know what I did for her. She might realize that I have feelings for her and I can't allow that to happen. "The important thing is you're safe."

"Yah…of course, that's not the only important thing," she says with a warm smile.

I glance at her out of the corner of my eye as she begins to hum the tune to "Am I Blue?". I stop dead in my tracks as my heart begins to beat a little harder. I can feel the corner of my mouth quirking in stunned amusement. I can't help wondering how she found out, but I suspect a certain female magician had a hand in it.

Then again, maybe she already knows how I feel regardless of my reasons.