IV

Conditions Of Existence

:::

April 19th, 2016: Bernie's Rooftop Deck

(Present day)

"Get down!" Clark roared as he yanked her toward the floor, and glass exploded around them.

Crash.

Collision.

Impact.

They hit the floor like two dead weights and for a moment Diana lay there completely immobile. Gods above, How hard did one have to hit their head before the brain got fractured beyond repair? she didn't know, but something told her that it couldn't be much. The right side of her face was on fire, no doubt from the impact of colliding with such a blunt force and when Diana opened her eyes she found herself looking at the cracked lense of her glasses, coiled up and twisted awkwardly on the diner floor. Something, no, someone was sprawled out on top of her; the weight almost crushing but at the same time diligent.

She groaned in discomfort.

Diana's brain had already worked out who it was, even if her awareness was fleeting. Her hand palmed weakly across the floor reaching for the broken specs and adjusting them back onto her face.

The force of the disturbance had winded her, leaving her shocked and plastered against the carpel.

She felt herself being lifted into strong arms, and welcomed inevitably into a vortex of blue. Clark Kent gazed back at her, his eyes smoldering with concern. His mouth was moving but she couldn't decipher the words.

"Diana." Clark admonished fiercely, pushing the lose strands of ebony from her dainty face. "Hey, Diana."

Diana frowned, irritated that she couldn't will her instincts to awaken, and in a vain attempt to better understand what Clark was trying to tell her. She parted her lips, but not a sound came out. Honestly, Diana thought she would've swooned if it hadn't been for Clark's hold on her.

"Diana . . ." Clark encouraged, gently. "You're in shock. Look at me, focus."

Focus, that sounded like a good idea. She looked up from beneath bewildered lashes, no doubt having have adopted the role of the perfect victim. Clark brought up a hand to her face and tilted her chin, as if to inspect her for injuries.

She froze against Clark's touch, wondering how he could dare accuse her of displaying such a sign of female weakness, she may be a woman, but she sure as hell wasn't a damsel. Men of this age hadn't changed one bit, they were still as shallow and as bigoted as ever. She covered his hand with the intention of prying his fingers away from her flushed face, but his touch only served to drag her in. Her hand trembled against his, and his words echoed in her mind. You're in shock.

Could it be?

Diana had to admit, the disturbance had caught her of guard a bit but that didn't mean she was a coward, if anything it was quite the contrary. She forced herself to calm to at least a vast amount, her brain racing a mile a minute. Weighing out her options, this couldn't be a coincidence, it was to convenient. Almost as though it had been planned.

Luthor, this had to be Luthor's doing. Of course, this was just like him, and she wouldn't put it past the bastard to do something completely barbaric as to put her in such a tenacious predicament.

There was a commotion festering outside, something that went beyond just the shouting civilians. Something beyond anything simply just being inhumane. Diana only needed to hear that perverted drawl once to put the pieces together, it hadn't been an explosion that had disrupted their dinner. It had been a creature, a humanoid robot that had been let off it's leash by an owner that seemed to be set on making her prove her allegiance to him, and it was gunning straight for Clark.

Metallo, also known as John Corben was a Class Three MetaHuman Diana had met shortly after her rebirth to this world. He was a radioactive cyborg intelligence who depended on Green Kryptonite as his energy source, his file had informed Diana that he had been one of the many abominations created for the sole purpose of eliminating Superman and had a terrible temper to match that foul breath of his. Metallo was a creature of chaos and most certainly the diabolical type.

Diana bit back a curse, and wondered if Clark could see the inferno building behind her eyes. She tried her best to look stunned and frightened, but in truth she was livid.

Metallo wouldn't recognize her in this persona, he'd been unfortunate enough to meet the Diana behind the suit. The uncuffed and feral girl, the same Diana that had broken him in two in a test of strength, speed and agility - orchestrated by Luthor of course.

Diana could barely breath.

It was a blind rage, a rose untamed. And suddenly, all Diana knew was how to be helpless in a situation that was crucial for her benefit.

"Where is Superman?" Metallo's voice bellowed throughout the streets, followed by the sound of crunching metal. "Show yourself, Kryptonian!"

Clark tensed at the voice (and the reminder) damn it, he cursed to himself. Metallo was here, he could hear him from where he sat cradling Diana, wrecking havoc on the city. If Clark didn't know any better it seemed as though he was heading straight for the heart of Metropolis just West of Akhiezer Memorial Bridge. Clark thought he had dealt with him. Hell he'd personally seen to it that Metallo had been delivered straight to MetaHuman Affairs some years ago. The bastard must've found someway to escape, and he was out for blood.

Clark's eyes were enigmatic when he looked back to her and Diana almost grimaced, trying to imagine herself doing what he did so effortlessly. Diana knew what he was going to do, he was about to do his big disappearing act. He was about to become Him . . . Superman.

Clark's gaze darted around the hectic mass of stampeding people, searching for a way out where he wouldn't draw attention to himself. He spotted Lois, she was wide eyed and baffled amongst the crowd.

"Lois!" Clark yelled, over the wails of screaming people. Lois spun wildly at her name, dark eyes drinking Clark in. He hauled Diana up into his stealthy arms and carried her over to Lois, shoving through the crowd to reach her. "I need you to get Di- Agent Prince out of here."

Lois's face soured, her face the perfect picture of what Diana was feeling inside. She'd kill Luthor for this, and then she'd come for him. "That's great Smallville," Lois chastised, haughtily. "Stick me in the middle with a goddamn apple in my mouth."

"Lois," Clark admonished, firmly. "You need to get yourself and Agent Prince medical attention, I'm going to stay here and see if there's anyone else that needs help."

"Jeez, Smallville who do you think you are, Superman?" Lois hissed, sarcastically.

"Lois!" Clark snapped, impatiently.

"Oh, alright." Lois huffed, Diana recognized the jealousy in her voice like it was a learned language, this Lois woman really thought she was something special. Clark set Diana down, then settled opposite of her, his eyes suddenly a light blue. Diana grappled to stay on her feet, she was embarrassed and more than a little peeved. Clark had practically peeled her off the floor, and was treating her like this Lois Lane woman she was standing next to. Fragile, and made of fine china. The damsel in distress role was Lois' to play, and like watching a train wreck Diana was in no position to do anything about it or else she would risk everything.

Three years of prep and plans down the drain, up in flames. Which ever one was appropriate, really.

Clark watched her, hands twitching at his sides, like he was dying to use them to calm her down, to hold hers. "Are you hurt?" Clark asked her, tenderly.

Only my pride, Diana thought to herself. She wondered why he would ask her such a thing, especially when he'd know regardless of whether he had her answer or not. Perhaps, it was a tactic he used to keep up appearances, to adopt the role of the innocent bystander.

Diana let out a hesitant breath.

"No, on the contrary I'm quite peeved." Diana answered honestly, finally finding her voice.

Clark raised his eyebrows and turned up his lips at the same time, looking infuriatingly attractive. He seemed impressed.

Diana bit down on her lip, and her throat nearly closed in on itself. Clark waited for her to go on, but she was already retracting, giving a small shake of her head, smiling softly. "I take it this isn't an isolated incident around here."

"Not by a long shot," Clark said lightly, His voice could be heard above the screams.

Diana regarded him, intensely. "I guess I shouldn't really be surprised, city of Superman and all,"

Clark offered up a small smile, and was about to open his mouth to answer, but Lois cleared her throat, clearly not liking what she saw happening between the two. "Look, don't mean to cut in but were in the middle of a war zone if you haven't noticed. I suggest we get the hell out of here before we all pop our clogs."

Diana almost rolled her eyes, this reporter woman was really starting to give her a headache. She didn't get a chance to dignify Lois with a response because Clark was already pushing her and Lois into the mass of scrambling bodies with a firm and final - "Go!".

The crowd carried them outside, and despite it being midsummer, there was a breeze too quick for Diana and Lois to follow, only Diana knew exactly what it was, what it meant.

He, was here.

Lois practically swooned and Diana blanched at the stars in her eyes. And here she thought that Lois Lane was over The Man Of Tomorrow, Perhaps, not. She watched as The Man Of Steel set a punch to the tin man, he sailed across the streets, hitting a lamppost before coming to a temporary halt.

Diana could only gape, her fingers twitching at her sides, her chest tight in the chaos that was upper state Metropolis in an uproar. She was torn, under threat of being unraveled by the mere sight of the Big Blue Boy scout brawling with Metallo. Clark Kent was tearing her to pieces, and for the first time in the dank nothingness that had been her life thus far, she was absolutely powerless.

She grabbed onto the brunette's arm at her side, feeling her stiffen beneath her touch. "Are we to just sit here and watch as a brawl happens before our eyes?"

Lois blinked, "He's Superman." she said, bitterly. "There's nothing we can do, take it from someone who knows."

Diana sniffed, almost turning up her nose.

Abhorrent.

"Surely, honor should be easy to access in a situation like this?" Diana asked, stonily. Lois flushed a bright red, she glared at Diana, probably replaying her words in her head to calculate the weight of her accusation. Lois scrambled to find the words, but Diana was no longer paying attention to her. She and the rest of the crowd were looking at the mess that had become of a brawl that was completely uncalled for. A man who had just made himself known to the crowd - a man who'd protected his fancy and stumbled into something harsher instead.

Diana peered on, neck reddening at the mere sight of the situation.

Metallo would kill him.

From what she had read, Kryptonite was a Kryptonians greatest weakness and Clark did not stand a chance. If Superman was going to be vanquished it would be by her hands, after all that was her decree and she'd be damned if she let Luthor walk when he held the key to her past, to everything.

Diana swallowed, weighing her options.

"Gods help me." she hissed, a splash of decency urging her to take action. She began to move into the crush of people, neglecting her stilettos as she went.

"Agent Prince, dammit!" She heard Lois call, "Agent Prince!"

But that was not why she was here. This was something that she needed to do, maybe she'd just unraveled something that had only just begun.

:::

The woman who had gave Clark Kent a chance was planted safely on the ground, and he'd needed some sort of story to take the mantle. For some reason, seeing Diana so stunned had frightened him. She had just looked so . . . lost, like there was the ghost of something playing behind her eyes, something from before. It had been the same look he'd seen in Lois's eyes the first time he had saved her life.

But Lois Lane and Diana Prince were two different women.

Where Lois's eyes had showed only fear and gratitude, Diana's had burned with a fire that had managed to quicken Clark's pulse, and it had been that strength that he had witnessed within her that had inspired Clark to do what he knew she would've done, regardless of his yearning to stay by her side.

Diana had everything that Lois was only on the cusp of – power, regal beauty, effortless charm. He was fucking ruined for every other girl.

Nearing the Akhiezer Memorial Bridge, Clark's vision picked out the details of Metallo's wrath. A four door sedan had viciously hit a slower moving delivery truck. Various parcels littered the roadway and now the sedan was hanging precariously over the edge of the bridge.

Concrete had been uprooted from it's core, left like roots picked from the Earth. Superman dove out of the sky, underneath the bridge and stopped a moment there hovering.

The car was pitching slightly. If the people inside had any injuries, it would be best to not move them if it was at all possible. For now the car seemed stable. He floated up a few feet and focused his eyes bringing forth his X-ray vision.

He spotted Metallo, hulking and terrifying amongst the mass of screaming civilians. They fought to get away from him, and it only added to the cyborg's excitement. Clark wasn't stupid, he knew what Metallo was capable of and the bastard carried his most greatest weakness.

But he was not the type of man to abandon all hope, Martha and Jonathan Kent had taught him better than that. They had taught him to fight, to believe in something better for the world and for himself.

It was the kind of belief and love that had propelled his birth parents to evacuate him from Krypton to begin with.

Clark's thoughts flew back to one Diana Prince, he wondered if she was watching this. Without question this would be being broadcasted live on Channel 52, and would be plastered on the cover of The Daily Planet tomorrow morning, alongside many other newspapers.

Superman pivoted in the air like an Olympic diver, thrusting his head downward and extending his arms.

He completed his diving motion and propelled himself downward, slashing through the air at breakneck speed before ploughing into Metallo. The impact called up a devastating shock wave that shook the whole of Metropolis, the glass of shop windows and wall street buildings alike shattering to dust.

Superman followed up his actions with a right hook. He barreled up to Metallo in a blur of red and blue, his fist cracking across his jaw.

"Didn't you get the memo the last time I handed your ass to you?" Clark hissed, fiercely. The effects of the Kryptonite was instantaneous but he would not dare let that deter him, Metallo needed to be put down, perhaps even for good.

"Superman!" that familiar voice beckoned, and he grew angry instantly.

Clark clenched his teeth, his assault on Metallo becoming more punishing. "Don't worry ugly," Clark seethed, teeth grinding together in a way his mother would've scolded him for. "I'm putting you back where you belong."

"You should be nicer to me, Superman." Metallo growled, crazed laughter bubbling out of his throat. "We both know you're not up for this."

Superman grunted, the nausea clawing it's way up his throat as he threw himself at Metallo. He struck out his hands, clasping them around Metallo's throat before carrying them both into the sky; he needed to get Metallo as far away from Metropolis as possible.

"Hey, boy scout." Metallo warned. "Think twice."

Clark raised his fist to strike him again but Metallo thwarted his attempt, he brought up a foot and kicked out, knocking Clark away. Superman keeled over from a kick to the ribs, that was gonna hurt in the morning, Clark thought to himself. The Kryptonite was slowly tearing him apart and it wouldn't be long before he blacked out completely. He weighed his options, the way he saw it there was only one choice and all signs pointed to things ending badly for him.

Clark felt his chest constrict, one thought and one thought alone beckoning in his mind. Would he ever see her again?

Clark looked up just in time to see Metallo hurtling towards him . . . decision made.

With what little strength Clark had left, he roared slamming himself into Metallo with terrifying strength.

"Omfph," Metallo gasped, completely winded as Clark sent them both soaring through the air. They met with three buildings before slamming down to earth into the woodlands, about two hundred kilometers east of Metropolis, hacking down trees as they went. They landed heavily, flailing into two different direction.

Clark groaned, pushing himself up onto his elbows, dark hair matted from sweat falling over one bleary eye. A gust of wind told him that Metallo was already up and kicking. The green hue of Metallo shone out to Clark like a beacon. He stumbled back onto his back as Metallo surfaced with a glinting emerald roll from his core.

"Sleep tight, Superman." a voice said, distantly.

The woods closed in on Clark now, the circle of remaining trees felt extremely small - far from where his life was. Clark ached for the sound of nearby citizens, of the soft laughter of Diana Prince but heard nothing except for Metallo's laughter.

The woods was a deep place, Clark thought as Metallo closed in.

The age old riddle held a new twist: If a man died in the woods, and no one was around to hear him scream... did he even make a sound?

:::

Diana crinkled her nose as she landed on the dark soils of the woods. Having long since abandoned her glasses, the sleek black doe she so usually sported in the presence of Clark Kent was gone, now replaced by the raven tresses of her hair hanging silkily around her shoulders. She glanced up at the sky. Dusk was fast approaching, and the scattered trees that were littered across the site was a tell tale sign of what had happened there tonight. Diana shut her eyes and tried to remember her training, she honed her senses. She could hear them, they weren't far, probably a couple meters away at best.

Her ears picked apart the hollow sounds of the earth breathing, crickets stridulating, until . . .

"Sleep tight, Superman."

Diana's eyes snapped open, and she sprang into action, there in one second, gone the next.

She was met with the sight of Metallo and an unconscious Superman, he was teetering on the edge of death. Barely grasping onto the long line that was life. "You might want to put that thing down." Diana commanded, scuffling to a halt against the soils, shoving her heels into the earth to anchor her stop. An angry flush spread over the back of Diana's neck.

Metallo whipped around in hushed anger, recognizing the voice instantly. He let out an incredulous laugh, took in the proud form in front of him. "You."

Diana let out an even breath. "Me."

The Kryptonite fueled bot rose to his feet, a fluid kind of grace possessing his actions. "Twist," Metallo whistled, harshly. "The infamous Winter Soldier. It's been a minute since I've been graced with your presence."

Diana's eyes darkened. "Somehow, I don't see how that's a bad thing."

"Ouch." he said by way of explanation, a smarmy grin upon his lips. Diana scowled at him, remaining stationed to her spot, her hands poised at her sides.

"Enough," She forced her expression to be cold, her voice distant, her eyes vacant. She took an easy step forward, stepped on a twig with her heel. "I'm negotiating."

"You have nothing left to negotiate with," Metallo spat, stepping away from Clark's crumpled form. The rage etched on the soldier's dainty features was almost amusing, but Metallo was smart enough to stifle the chuckle rising in his throat. Knew from personal experience what kind of monster she could be.

"That's where you're wrong," she said, firmly. "See I hold the lease to your freedom, and unless you want me to finish what I started the first time. I recommend you get as far away from this city as possible."

Metallo parted his lips to protest, but she silenced him.

"Unless of course you would like to try and best me, once again. Although, that has never turned out very well for you." Diana stated, matter of factly. "There's an ample supply of your life source at the headquarter's of MetaHuman Affairs and of course we already know that I have premium access to that."

Metallo tensed. His luminous eyes grew wide, and the half-step he took toward her was impulsive when he implored, "You're bluffing,"

"It's your call." Diana challenged, knowing exactly what she was doing. It had come to be an automatic response to most questions. It happened so often, in fact, that she thought of it as impulsively as a twitch or a cough. Diana could only watch him, her fingers twitching at her sides, her chest tight in the darkness. She felt her blood boil even more if that were possible.

"He gets your blood going, doesn't he." Metallo stated, obnoxiously. Turning the tables, trying to psycho analyse her, to test her. "I wonder how long it will be until Luthor orders you to spread those endless legs for him."

Diana clenched her fists, her bones constricting into skin. She scoffed at the thought of Luthor having that power over her. Rosy lips curled up as she seethed out, "Go."

Apparently Metallo decided she was serious because he took a step away from Clark. "You know sweetness, that's what I like about you." he said, breaking the tense silence, realizing that her eyes look more deadly than they'd ever been. "You're the worst of us, because he doesn't even know where you stand."

With that he was airborne, soaring into the sky before taking off in a boom that ricocheted across the ascending stars.

Diana sighed, still tasting the words on her tongue. The phrase was cocky, sure. But it was an illusion of grandeur - the only way to make it to the top. To make them fear you. You'd make people believe that you had the answer to every question.

And they'd never ever doubt you for a second.

A sharp intake of breath had Diana stiffening. The sound of leaves crunching compelled her to turn.

Clark was starting to rouse, she had to leave, quickly, before he realized that she had been there. There was no doubt that he had imprinted her heartbeat into his mind and if he got even an incline that she had been present it risked the chance of blowing everything.

She took a half-step backward before leaping into the sky.

And then she was gone.

:::

"You're the worst of us, because he doesn't even know where you stand."

Clark stirred, only half-conscious in the humid breeze. His phone sounded from somewhere in his suit region, Clark wondered if it was his JLA communicator or just his work cell, maybe it was both. He felt sodden, his body heavy. For a suspended moment Clark wondered what had happen, but like a curse from Rao himself it all came rushing back.

He had taken Diana to see the sights, Lois had interrupted them. Metallo had attacked, and he had left Diana to wither the storm of her trauma alone. Clark shut his eyes in guilt, the memories tainting his mind like a plague.

The cell continued to sound, compelling Clark to hoist himself into a sitting position. He grimaced and pulled the phone forth, frowning when Lois's name lit up on the screen. Clark swallowed, snapping open the device. Lois's badgering voice screamed down the line almost instantly and Clark winced pulling the phone away from his ear slightly.

"Smallville, Jesus Christ where have you been?" Lois chattered, animatedly.

Clark almost rolled his eyes, "Lois . . ." He began, but Lois reacted like a blood hound that was hungry for the meat. She continued, impatiently. "God, I was beginning to think you were dead, where are you?"

"I'm fine, I'm just getting checked out by the paramedics." Clark lied, beginning to feel his strength return. He took in his surroundings, Metallo was no where to be seen. It all seemed to easy. Where did he go?, Clark mused to himself. He could've sworn blind that - someone else had - Clark sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair so hard that he thought he might yank it out.

Lois's persistent chiding broke into his train of thought. "Smallville, are you still there?"

"Hmm," Clark hummed, distractedly and his mind suddenly conjured up the image of one striking brunette. Diana. Clark worried for a moment, thought of Diana stranded with a one seriously zealous Lois Lane. He pondered over the potential fact that Diana was mad at him, he did kind of go Picnic On Hanging Rock on her. Something inside of Clark twisted, spreading through him until his palm began to sweat against the phone. The thought didn't sit well with Clark. Some how the idea of Diana being angry with him seemed in that moment like it would be the worst thing in the world.

He suddenly found the need to hear her voice. "Lois," Clark breathed. "Let me speak to her."

Their conversation fell to silence, and for a moment Clark feared the worst, he pursed his lips. "Lois."

"Smallville, I . . ." Lois trailed off, before clearing her throat. "Don't know where she is."

Clark tensed, features clouding over with concern."What do you mean you don't know?"

Lois huffed, down the line. "I kind of lost her."

Clark froze, "What?"

Lois sighed exasperatedly. "She just took of after you left all dark and pissed . . ." she explained, vaguely. "I wouldn't worry myself though, Smallville. Agent Prince seems like the single white female type."

"That's not the point, Lois."

"Smallville, relax. I'm sure she's perfectly fine." Lois said. "Why are you so worried about this?"

Clark thought fast, "Because Perry will have my ass if I close doors with DOMA. This is not just another scoop for an exposé, Lois. This is my job on the line."

"Oh please, you two seemed pretty chummy if you ask me." Lois pried, Clark could picture her nose twitching now. To staff at The Planet, Clark Kent's personal life to the office vultures was like uncovering comedy gold. They lapped it up like Gulfer's to the cheese, amazed that the reserved, country neek had a life outside of The Planet's four walls.

Clark shook his head, unwilling to argue his point.

He snapped the cell shut, there was no doubt in his mind he'd have to listen to Lois's incessant rant the following day but that paled in comparison to the problems he faced at the minute. Clark already knew where she had ran to, he had listened for her heartbeat the moment Lois had gotten cryptic with him.

From what Clark could tell Diana was back at her hotel room and the racing of her heart told him that she was tense.

He had the urge to go to her. Clark wasn't sure how she would react to such an abrupt visit, an inappropriate visit. But he knew that he wouldn't give up without a fight, a phone call just didn't seem appropriate, it wasn't personal enough.

But Clark knew it was much more than that.

After all, there's a reason why we are often caught playing with fire, although we know how it burns.

:::

Diana had taken solitude back at her hotel room shortly after her little face-off with Metallo in the Appalachians, and had whipped out her cell automatically, she'd stuck it on the dresser and waited for that darn text that always followed after an encounter with Kent. Sure enough it had come a second later, Well played, deary. It had read, only to be met with the force of Diana's hand stuffing it lividly back into her pocket.

She had taken a careful breath, fought for control. Then let it go, despite her annoyance, Diana had still ached for the consistency of waking up to that text message that told her that she was one step closer to epiphany. So here she sat before her dresser, her hands in her lap, her eyes trained on the gorgeous ruby ring that she had worked around her finger once, twice, three times, before sliding it off and tucking it into her jewelry box.

Diana caught her reflection in the vanity in front of her and frowned.

Metallo's words came back to her harsh and laced with a taunt, usually Diana would have been able to put it in a box. Gone about her day without giving it a second thought. Thrown it back to the farthest recesses of her mind, but now it stuck with her.

The stench of it drenched her, and she could only think of one reason why.

This doesn't change a thing, Diana told herself, adamantly. She repeated the motto until she believed it and, for a moment all was going to be okay. Until the knocking started, killing the comfortable quietness with a desperation. The knocking came again so loud that it sounded like thunder and Diana almost lost her breath when the heavy tap knocked her from her reverie, dark curls bouncing as she turned away from the vanity at the front of the room to glance back at the door.

She stiffened, unappreciative of such an untimely disturbance. Her eyes narrowed, immediately on alert. She pressed her lips together wracking her brain for who it could be, if it was Luthor she would skin him alive.

Diana straightened, she tied her hair into a loose bun hanging at the nape of her neck as she reached for the secondary specs she usually kept in case of an emergency. She poised herself to get up, when a voice resonated.

His voice.

"Diana, are you in there?"

Diana's eyes widened, her heart halting before running a sprint in her chest. Clark. How was that possible, surely it should have taken days for him to recover. Unless, he had hauled himself here diminished of his full strength.

She squared her shoulders then got up, and opened the door an inch to reveal a rumpled Clark Kent. His shirt partially untucked, wild black hair, clear blue eyes. With his kind grin, and loosened tie. Diana swallowed and pushed the door open to it's full extension, forcing herself to not look as helpless as she felt.

The door opened to reveal a leggy brunette clad in a bathrobe. Clark stared down at her, effortless grace sparking forth the irregular beating of his heart, a sweet sight of delicate femininity.

Diana was so beautiful, even when she was pissed like this.

Clark cleared his throat and tried not to stare. The thin fabric of the bathrobe she sported left little to the imagination and Clark felt his cheeks threaten to flush.

Diana held his gaze under the dewy glow of the hotel lobby. She let out a crisp, exasperated sigh, her arms folding across her chest. "You disappeared," Diana said, daring herself to raise her voice.

"Ditto." Clark responded and his eyes grew in earnest. "I wanted to apologize."

Diana let out a sharp breath, taking a moment to collect herself. "Good."

"Hold on, Diana. I said I wanted to." Clark challenged, with an ounce of bravery. "I won't apologize for saving you."

Diana almost huffed, but pushed herself to become the controlled ice queen that Luthor had trained her to be. "I don't need protecting. I am not the girl you save. You should know that about me."

His lips lifted for a moment. "Somehow I gathered that," he paused, "But that doesn't mean that I won't do it anyway."

For a moment, for one lingering second Diana was flabbergasted. She looked at him, her eyes almost softening as she calmed herself down, as she swallowed down red-hot anger. She blinked and blinked again, her mouth finally finding the words. "Careful; sounds like Superman's rubbing off on you."

Clark smiled, lightly. "Superman is the symbol of hope . . . and you, finally got to see him. "

"That I did."

As Diana said this, he felt a rush of excitement – of normality. He regarded her for a moment. "You know," Clark laughed. "Most women would say thank you and be done with it."

Diana quirked a brow, "I'm not most women . . ." She trailed off, lashes batting, cheeks glowing pink, just daring him to finish her sentence. She looked like a doll. And it was then that he realized how easily porcelain broke - how easily everything broke in his hands.

"I figured." Clark admonished and Diana wondered how he could be so sure of himself. She regarded him, eyes narrowed. A strange look crossed over Clark's face then, "You're hurt." he murmured, gingerly touching the bruised patch on her cheek.

Diana tensed, reaching up to grasp at his hand. The bruise would no doubt be gone in the next hour. "I'm fine."

"Yeah?" Clark leaned forward, grabbing hold of her chin. The man was incredible, she knew what he was trying to do. Mind games, Luthor's voice prompted ricocheting throughout her thoughts. But the more that Clark pinned her with his gaze, the more the thoughts of one bald headed wanker faded away.

"Clark."

"Diana." He was not a second offbeat. Diana narrowed her eyes, and his fingers danced down the line of her jaw. "I suppose we've reached some kind of impasse."

Diana nodded, then shook her head, desperate to regain focus. "Don't." She tried. Her voice softened when his lips fell a breadth away from hers, she realized how close they were now. Diana closed her eyes as they shared a breath, unable to look at the seemingly unrepentant warmth on his face.

Clark's forehead met lightly with hers and she let out a small whimper as his breath fanned out against her lips. "What?"

Diana panted, shaking her head. "One should never mix business with pleasure."

Clark lingered for a moment to long, he offered her a half-hearted smile before pulling away. His gaze trapped hers intensely, and Diana shook her head and sighed softly as he took a step away from her, watching a dimple form in his cheek as he dropped his hand.

"Goodnight Diana Prince," Clark said, in a voice so low she might've imagined it.

Diana stared at his mouth, holding her breath before glancing back up at him. "Goodnight Clark."

She watched him back out of the doorway before he turned and walked away. He looked at her one more time before heading down the hall without a word. Diana closed her door, and sank back against it, tilting her head back. She recalled Metallo's words from earlier. Listening to Clark descend into the elevator.

For Diana Prince, it was all or nothing.

And it would only be a matter of time before she achieved the former.

Authors Note: AU - Derived from The Captain America story line. Woo hoo chapter 4! Sorry for the long wait guys, I guess it was life getting in the way and a little bit of writers block, but I managed to finally pull through. Just to clear a few things up a certain review stood out to me asking what the ruby talisman symbolized. I can confirm that it is not an engagement ring, LOL. But it is a talisman that belonged to Diana's mother. Obviously, having lacunar amnesia Diana cannot recall where she got the ring, she just knows that it is something that has always been with her. As this chapter stands, it's getting harder to deny the attraction between Clark and Diana. I hope you guys like the sensitivity I'm trying to bring out in their relationship and Diana's inner confusion of the world.

Thoughts? ...

Special Thanks: Thank you to all the kind and thoughtful reviews. They were all really exciting, and I hope you continue to let me know what you think! I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. I edited it about ten times before I finally posted, so I hope you guys enjoy! Next up will be Chapter 5: Virtue Fell.