Complicated (DCEU)

Sitting in her office at the museum, Diana gazed at the item in her hand, gently rubbing her thumb back and forth over it. She read it again, the sound of his warm, baritone voice filling her head as if he were sitting right here with her in Paris instead of him being in Gotham.

"I found the original. Maybe someday you'll tell me your story."

She didn't know how he'd managed to do it, but he had given Steve back to her. She felt tears attempting to build behind her eyes, but just as quickly banished them. She had cried for Steve for far too long. She had come to understand that in the last few months.

She had secluded herself from the world, refusing to allow anyone in for the last hundred years. She knew that she needed to work on opening herself up to others again. She had begun the arduous process when she had gotten off that airplane to help two heroes defeat a monster.

She set aside the card from Bruce, smiling to herself at the extreme actions he had taken in order to return the picture to her. He had taken extraordinary measures to ensure her secret remained just that. For that alone, she'd be eternally grateful.

She pulled up her email account on her computer, prepared to send him an email of appreciation and to finally share her story after all these years in solitude. She opened her last correspondence with Bruce, remembering how well that conversation had gone.

They'd been talking endlessly through text, phone, emails, and impromptu visits ever since they had lost Superman. She had spent nights in his cave helping him in their search, sleeping in his guest room. She was beginning to learn this man who had been a handsome enigma at first, discovering his quirks…what pushed his buttons and what caused him to shut down.

Their last conversation had been about their search for others like her and pushing them to join their team. He had been adamant about finding as many as possible for the war that he was certain was coming. While she agreed with the necessity, his intensity could be a bit…irritating at times. Hence, their most recent argument.

Diana sighed as she sat back in her chair, folding her arms against her chest as her gaze fell on the black case that Bruce had sent the picture in. He deserved more than an impersonal email after what he had done. He had gone to great lengths for her, touching her heart in a way no one else had since Steve.

Picking up her cell phone, she sent him a text message. "Thank you for returning the photo. It was very kind of you."

A response quickly followed, taking her by surprise. She had expected him to be sleeping or tied up with business of some kind otherwise she would've called him. "It was my pleasure."

"How are you?"

"Tired. Gotham has been keeping me busy."

She knew that he must be tired. He rarely confessed anything like it for fear of appearing weak or incapable. The fact that he had admitted it to her gave her cause for worry. "Need help?"

"Maybe next time."

"Care for a break?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"You still want to know my story?"

"Yes."

"Next time you're in Paris, I'll share it with you."

"I can be there tomorrow evening."

She smiled to herself. "Come to my apartment. I'll make you dinner."

"You can cook?"

"I guess we'll see."

"See you at seven."

"Be safe."

Diana drew a shuddering breath as she set her cell phone aside, her eyes falling on the black and white photo that had been returned to her. She hadn't shared her story with anyone and now she was going to share it with the man that she had been growing closer to over the last several months.

XXX

Bruce straightened his tie as he stood outside of Diana's apartment door, a bouquet of flowers in his other hand. He felt a flutter of excitement course through him, doing his best to contain it. It was just dinner and conversation like they'd already had several times before at his home—nothing more.

Then why did he feel like this was leading to something far more?

Raising his fist, he knocked, tamping down on his apprehension. It was just Diana…but it was Diana.

The door opened to reveal the Amazon princess to him, a warm smile on her face. She was wearing a white dress that hugged her curves and white heels. "Bruce, you're right on time," she greeted him. "Come in."

"These are for you," he said, handing her the bouquet.

"Thank you…they're beautiful," she replied, taking them from him. "Make yourself comfortable. Dinner is almost ready."

"Is there anything I can do help?" he asked as his hands slid into his pants' pockets, wandering around her expansive apartment and admiring the antiques that adorned it.

"Can you cook?"

"Not exactly," he confessed.

"That's what I thought," she said with a lilting laugh. "I'm almost ready. Just setting it on the table."

"Whatever it is it smells delicious," he commented.

"I hope you like boeuf bourguignon," she replied as she set the dish on the table.

"It's one of my favorites," he admitted as he made his way to her. "Did you know that?"

She gave him a small smirk before heading back to the kitchen. "I somehow knew that."

"No, you didn't," he said with a laugh. "Did Alfred tell you?"

"You're not the only detective in the world, Dark Knight," she teased as she returned with a basket of warm croissants and a bottle of wine.

"Not going to tell me?"

"Shall we?" she said instead with a mischievous smile.

Bruce pulled her chair out for her, pushing it back in before taking his own. "This looks amazing, Diana."

"I hope you enjoy it," she replied. "This is your first time visiting me in my apartment. I wanted to show you the same hospitality that you and Alfred have always shown me."

"You went above and beyond," he told her as she poured the wine.

"Have you had any success in finding Arthur Curry?"

"No," he revealed with a disheartened sigh, feeling completely at ease with her. Talking about business was always far easier for him. "There have been stories…rumors here and there, but nothing that really pinpoints his location. I'm going to have to leave and track him down."

Diana frowned as she placed food on his plate for him. "How long will that take?"

"I have no idea," he admitted. "It could take a week, maybe two."

"Can you afford to be gone from Gotham for that long?"

"I have to," he told her. "This is far too important to ignore. Gotham is going to have to get along without me."

"Do you want me to step in for you?"

"No," he quickly responded with a frown. "I appreciate the offer, but Gotham is a whole other animal compared to other cities. It has a psychopathy all its own. Gotham's criminals are a special kind of insane."

"You're really selling me on coming to Gotham more often," she lightly teased before taking a bite of dinner.

Bruce chuckled softly, pausing to taste his meal. "Diana, this is amazing," he replied. "You could really give Alfred a run for his money."

"Well, I've had a hundred years to perfect my culinary skills."

His expression grew solemn…thoughtful as he considered his next words. "Gotham is an acquired taste," he attempted to explain. "There are good people that live there…the salt of the earth. It's the criminal element that tarnishes it and makes life miserable for the innocent. I know it's not the bright, shining gem like Metropolis, but it's my home and I'd give my life for it."

Diana reached beside her, placing her hand on top of his. "I understand, Bruce," she replied. "I would give everything I had to return to Themyscira just one more time."

"You can't return to your home?"

"Sadly, no," she revealed, anguish filling her brown eyes and tugging at his heart. "When I left to help save Man's World, I left forever, knowing I'd never be able to return or see my mother again."

"I'm so sorry," he murmured.

She forced a smile to her face, one that didn't reach her chestnut brown eyes. "That's a different conversation, one that I'll tell you about later when I tell you my story. Right now, we enjoy dinner and good conversation."

Bruce could see how exceedingly difficult this was for her as she attempted to tuck away her sorrow. The fact that she was willing to share something so personal and close to her heart with him touched him deeply. He felt extremely privileged to be sitting here at her table, eating a meal that she prepared especially for him only to share a painful story with him that was her life.

"How is Alfred?" she asked, inquiring about a man that she had come to appreciate and adore. Her visits to Gotham were never complete without a visit with Alfred.

Bruce smiled fondly. "He's as contrary as ever," he told her. "He sends his love."

"He's a gem, Bruce," she replied. "I don't think you pay that man enough."

"Oh, he's well paid," he assured her. "He wants for nothing…well, except for me to find a good woman to settle down and have a family with."

Their eyes met in that instant, something passing between them that was left unspoken as Diana glanced down at her plate. "He worried about you," she informed him. "He wants you to be safe and happy."

"I'm not sure that's in the cards for me," he replied. "Too broken and too stubborn for anyone but Alfred to put up with me."

"I wouldn't say that," she told him. "There's far more to you than you give yourself credit for."

"You must see something that I don't," he quipped with a smirk.

"Don't, Bruce," she gently said. "Don't make yourself out to be a villain, unworthy of love. I know better."

Bruce stared at her in wonder, amazed once again by her. "Maybe," he granted her. "I haven't chased you away yet so that's saying something…although I'm sure I've tried."

"It's a good thing I'm far too stubborn to walk away," she answered him, taking their empty dishes to the sink. "Maybe Bruce Wayne has finally met his match."

"Here, let me help you," he offered as he stood to his feet.

"I'm going to leave the dishes," she said as she returned to grab their glasses and the bottle of wine. "Let's get comfortable on the couch. I'm afraid this is a long story."

"Good thing I'm a night owl," he teased as he made his way to the couch.

Diana kicked off her heels before settling on the couch. She poured herself and Bruce some more wine. "It all began on Themyscira when a man washed up on our shores," she began, pausing to take a drink.

Bruce sat fully turned towards her, his elbow on the back of the couch as he propped his head up with his fist. She was absolutely mesmerizing as she spoke, her thick accent lulling him into a sense of warm tranquility as she talked about Themyscira, Steve Trevor, and the death of her aunt.

Every single range emotion flickered over her face as she spoke, reflecting in her warm brown eyes and invading her voice—curiosity, wonderment, rage, unspeakable anguish, happiness…love. It was all right there for him to feel along with her as she painted a picture that took him back a hundred years into the past.

Anger swelled up inside of him with the injustices that she had face and battled, jealousy coursing hot and heavy through his veins as she spoke about her love for a man who had been dead for a century. What kind of love that must have been for her to cherish a man who had been gone for so long? How could he even begin to compete with that?

He felt her excitement over seeing her first baby, her first experience eating ice cream. He couldn't contain his laughter with the exuberance with which she told him about how much she loved ice cream, becoming a secret addiction that she hasn't been able to escape even after all this time.

His heart warmed with her first snowfall, seeing the world in a whole new light that he'd never expected…seeing everything through Diana's innocent eyes. It was amazing and fascinating and endearing all at once, drawing him to her and revealing the depths of his love for this woman that had been steadily growing since their first meeting.

He knew that he had feelings for her, a powerful attraction to the beautiful Amazon. No red-blooded male couldn't be completely affected by her in some fashion. She fierce and strong, shining a light brighter than the sun, and casting her warmth on everyone in her presence.

He watched as she could no longer contain her tears as she spoke of Steve's death, finding herself unable to return home and lost in a world that she was foreign to her. His heart ached deeply for her and what she'd been through, his desire take away her pain growing with every hour that passed by.

Without a second thought, Bruce reached for her, pulling her to him and holding her close. "It's all right," he softly murmured into her hair. "You don't have to talk about it anymore."

She sniffed as she struggled to gather her emotions, returning his embrace. After several moments, she finally retreated, wiping her eyes. "Thank you, Bruce," she replied. "I haven't told anyone any of this. It actually felt good to share it with you."

He reached over to erase a tear that had escaped. "I'm always here for you, Diana," he reassured her. "You can talk to me about anything."

She smiled at him, feeling better than she had in a long time. "Thank you again for returning the photo to me."

"You don't have to thank me, Diana," he gently said, affected by the raw emotion swimming in her eyes. "I only righted a wrong. I didn't—"

Her warm lips were suddenly touching his with a tentativeness that endeared herself to him even more and an underlying passion long locked away that sent a jolt of desire straight through him. His hands moved of their own volition as desire superseded logic, moving to cradle her face as their kiss took them to a newfound intimacy. It had been lingering there just beneath the surface, desire intensifying as feelings grew stronger…deeper.

"Diana…" he murmured her name as he finally broke the kiss, doing his best to rein in his need for this woman.

She didn't give him a chance to say anymore, her mouth finding his and effectively silencing him. She shifted to straddle his lap, her dress slipping up her thighs as her tongue met his in a sensual dual. His hands caressed the soft skin of her thighs, wanting to touch more of her. He knew he needed to stop this, but he didn't want to. He'd wanted this for so long now.

She left his mouth to place nipping kisses along his jaw that had him groaning with pleasure. "Diana…we can't," he tried to tell her, his mind spinning and self-control rapidly disappearing. "You're too emotional right now."

Diana leaned back, her hands coming to rest on either side of his face. "I'm fine, Bruce," she reassured him, her lips soft and sensual against his. "I know what I want, and I want you. I have for some time now. I haven't felt this way since Steve."

He crushed his lips to hers with her confession, kissing her with all the pent-up desire that he'd been harboring for months now. His hands slid up her back, finding the zipper to her dress. He slowly lowered it, giving her a chance to stop him if she wanted to. Thankfully, she didn't.

She pulled back, allowing her dress to fall from her body to pool around her waist. He marveled at the beauty that was the Amazon goddess before him, his fingers lightly caressing her soft skin. Her eyes fluttered closed as his hands found her breasts, squeezing and teasing her.

She gasped as she began to grind her hips against him, a low moan escaping as he bucked his hips against hers. "Bruce…" she murmured his name, deciding that he was entirely overdressed.

Diana quickly removed his tie before unbuttoning his dress shirt. She began to kiss along his throat, moving down to his chest that was riddled with battle scars. She lightly traced a thin scar over his shoulder with the tip of her tongue, placing kisses along his collarbone to his ear.

"I want to feel you inside of me," she breathed, her hot mouth latching onto his earlobe. "Make love with me."

She deftly removed his belt before unfastening his dress pants, her hand slipping inside to caress him. He growled with the feel of her hand on him, his hunger for her becoming more demanding by the second. He lifted his hips, allowing her to free him from the confines of his pants.

She was driving him crazy as she repeatedly stroked him, his mouth roughly finding hers as his hand settled on the back of her neck. He pulled her hand from his member, needing to be with her in every way…to feel every inch of her pressed against him.

She guided him between her thighs, slowly taking every long, hard inch of him inside of her. Her head fell back with a cry with the feel of him fully seated within her. She began to move her hips, needing to find that sweet release with him that she'd been craving.

Bruce gasped as she moved, the feeling of being buried deep inside of her better than any dream that he'd ever had about her. His hands found her hips, holding her with a bruising grip as he struggled to not completely come undone right there. He didn't think he was going to last long at this rate.

His hand slipped to the back of her neck once more, pulling her down for a toe-curling kiss as his hand found her breast. He kissed her with a passion that had been building between them for months, steadily growing stronger and deeper, both finding much-needed solace in each other.

Broken hearts connected as their bodies became one in every way, the timeless intimate dance of lovers drawing them closer and binding them together. His hands moved to her hips once more, holding her down as he lifted his hips, driving himself deeper inside of her.

Diana came with a cry of release, collapsing against him as he emptied himself within her. He gently brushed her damp hair from her face, kissing her temple as they held each other close. She lifted her head from his shoulder, turning to kiss him deeply.

He sweetly returned her kiss, his tongue sliding slowly against hers as the fire between them began to burn hotter again. Holding her…making love with her…had been amazing in every way. He was falling in love with her, finding that he needed her in his life with him.

He knew that this complicated things, but for the first time in his life, he found he didn't care.