TITLE: New Year's Kiss

AUTHOR: LOTSlover

CHARACTERS: Batman / Wonder Woman

RATING: T

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

DISCLAIMER: I love Justice League, but especially Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I do not own the characters and, if I did, things would be much different for them.

SUMMARY: Bruce and Diana share a kiss at a party on New Year's Eve.

New Year's Kiss

Wonder Woman landed the Javelin in the Javelin Bay of the Watchtower, turning the engines off and releasing her seatbelt. "We're finally home," she told them with a smile. "Great work, everyone. Go enjoy the party."

Fire, Ice, Vigilante, and Kyle Raynor quickly exited the Javelin, anxious to make it to the party before it struck midnight. Flash's annual New Year's Eve party was always the biggest bash of the entire year and this year's party would prove to be no different. This year Flash had even gotten a real DJ to handle all the music instead of the scarlet speedster doing it himself which always turned out to be a disaster in the making.

Diana smiled to herself as she exited the Javelin, weary from their extended away mission. She was thankful they'd been able to get everything taken care of as quickly as they had. They had expected to be gone until tomorrow but had made it back in time for at least part of Flash's party.

Exiting the Javelin Bay, she made a beeline towards her quarters, anxious to get a long shower. She contemplated going straight to bed afterward, tired from the mission that had taken her away for the last two weeks. At the same time, she wouldn't mind going to Flash's party for just a little while.

She hadn't seen a certain Gotham vigilante for over two weeks and was feeling rather excited about the prospect of seeing him. She really missed him these last two weeks, heightening her desire to have something more with him that went beyond the bounds of just teammates and close friends.

Unfortunately, the chances of actually seeing the Dark Knight tonight at Flash's party was pretty much nonexistent. Batman rarely if ever attended any of Flash's parties. Besides, he was probably busy in Gotham anyway, taking care of some criminal who was wreaking havoc on his beloved city that he'd sworn to protect.

Entering her quarters, Diana quickly stripped off her boots and uniform, heading straight to her shower. Turning the handle, she stepped in under the water that sluiced over her, tilting her head back and savoring the feel of the hot water.

Her muscles ached, her mind and body fatigued from the prolonged away mission. She was thankful to finally be back home again. She was going to stop by Flash's party before getting an iced mocha and then she was going to sleep for the next three days at least.

Exiting the shower, Diana dried off before slipping into a white chiton and sandals. She ran a brush through her thick raven mane before leaving to see if she could find a certain dark, foreboding teammate that was never far from her thoughts or her heart. She didn't want to get her hopes up, but it was more than difficult after being away for so long.

She could hear the party long before she reached the commissary, the entire floating satellite practically throbbing in time to the heavy beat of the music. Maybe it would be better if Bruce wasn't here. If he was, he definitely wouldn't appreciate how loud the music was or how it pulsated through the whole Watchtower.

Approaching the comm, the doors slid open, music immediately assaulting her. She entered to find the entire commissary decorated with balloons and streamers, some Leaguers wearing party hats and others wearing glasses that had the new year on them.

It was a strange custom to her that she was still trying to get used to despite being a part of Man's World for the last four years. On Themyscira, they never really kept track of the new year or birthdays, time seemingly nonexistent on the magical island protected by the gods.

"Wondy!" Flash yelled as he suddenly appeared right in front of her, throwing his arms around her. "You made it! I'm so happy that you're back!"

"We just got back a little while ago," she replied. "Looks like you have a great turnout tonight."

"Yah, Supes and Bats didn't make it, though," Flash told her with a frown.

"I'm sure Kal is with Lois tonight," she reminded him, "and Batman probably has too much going on in Gotham right now."

"I guess so," he said with a shrug. "Go get some punch. It's thirty minutes before midnight. You don't want to miss the big countdown. Oh, and save me a dance."

"I'll see," she replied. "I'm really tired from the away mission. I was thinking of turning in soon."

"You have to stay, Wondy," Flash pleaded with her.

"I'll try," she promised him.

"Hey, Diana!" Black Canary greeted her. "You made it back in time for the party."

She turned to find Black Canary and Green Arrow approaching, each with a drink in their hands and an arm around each other's waist. "We actually just got back," she said. "It looks like quite a party."

"You got here just in time for the best part," Green Arrow told her, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

"The best part?" Diana asked, confused.

"Yes, the New Year's kiss," Arrow said, tightening his hold on Black Canary. "It's the highlight of the whole night."

Black Canary rolled her eyes as she shook her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "Don't listen to him, Diana," she told her.

"Oh, come on, pretty bird," Arrow prodded her, his nose nuzzling her ear. "We can continue our New Year's kiss in my quarters afterwards."

"If you're lucky," Dinah told him.

"I'm always lucky," Ollie retorted with a wicked grin.

"Have fun," Diana said before making her way to the iced mocha machine.

Diana struggled to keep her disappointment at bay, knowing that Bruce wasn't coming to the party tonight. Even though she always enjoyed spending time with all her teammates at Flash's parties, she didn't quite feel like staying at the party this year especially with Bruce's absence. It was affecting her more than it usually did.

Taking her glass, she began to work her way through the crowded room, forcing a smile to her face that she really wasn't feeling at that moment. She paused to talk to some friends here and there as she tried to surreptiously escape from the commissary, but it was becoming a tedious task as everyone welcomed her home.

By the time she had finally reached the doors again, her iced mocha was long gone, her heart heavy with longing for the one person she wanted to see most, but who wasn't here. With a sigh of reluctant acceptance, she slipped out of the commissary and into the empty halls of the Watchtower, her loneliness intensifying.

She wandered through the corridors, her heart and mind restless despite the fatigue that encompassed her. Instead of making her way to her quarters to get some sleep, she found herself entering the arboretum. The dim lighting of the quiet sanctuary created a blanket of tranquility that she greatly needed.

She came to a stop before the large viewing window that afforded her a breathtaking view of the Earth, her attention on beautiful plant. She folded her arms against her chest, her thoughts focused on a certain handsome man who was no doubt swinging from the rooftops of Gotham at that very moment.

These two weeks away from him had only served to further cement her feelings for him in her mind and in her heart. It wasn't just some fleeting attraction or a silly crush that meant nothing. These feelings for him had been steadily growing since meeting him, becoming a very real part of her.

"Welcome home, princess."

That welcoming greeting…the title that he alone called her…cut through her thoughts, his deep baritone voice instantly lifting her spirits and banishing her loneliness. "I thought you'd be busy in Gotham tonight," she softly replied, keeping her back to him.

She could see his reflection in the viewing window, noticing once more how appealing he looked in his uniform. His Kevlar uniform only hinted at the muscular body beneath, the strength and intense drive that teemed inside of him. It was something that she was more than eager to explore for herself.

"I decided to take a break tonight," he confessed as he closed the distance between them.

"Really?" she asked, her breath catching in her throat as she finally turned around to find him standing right there behind her.

He pulled his cowl and gauntlets off, tucking them into his utility belt before responding. "I heard that you had just returned a little while ago."

"The mission was a success," she replied, finding it more than difficult to focus her thoughts with his close proximity. "We were able to return a little earlier than expected."

"I'm glad," he softly confessed. "It was too quiet around here with you gone."

The corner of Diana's lips quirked with his comment, a nervous flutter suddenly occupying her stomach. "Are you saying I talk too much, Bruce?"

He chuckled softly with her question as he took a step closer, invading her personal space. "Not exactly," he cryptically replied, his piercing gaze falling to her lips. "I guess I really missed you."

Diana was stunned by his unexpected confession, her heart beginning to thump a little harder in her chest. "I missed you too."

The sound of Flash counting down from ten abruptly came over the intercom system of the Watchtower as they stared into one another's eyes. "I was worried I wasn't going to be able to do this," Bruce told her.

"Seven…six…five…four…"

"Do what?" she whispered, afraid to test her voice.

"three…two…one…"

"This," Bruce murmured, pressing his lips to hers as his arms slipped around her and drew her to him.

Diana tilted her head as she responded to his kiss, her lips moving against his as she pulled him closer. Sounds of fireworks and cheering filtered through the intercom system as their lips moved against one anothers, neither in any hurry to end the intimate moment as they savored the feeling of holding one another.

She moaned softly as his tongue stroked hers in a slow, sensual slide that left her wanting so much more as she fisted his hair in her hand. She was almost afraid of opening her eyes and finding this was nothing more than a wonderful dream, worried that he would just disappear. She had wanted this for so very long and now he was finally here with her.

Retreating, Bruce brushed his lips against hers once more, his breath warm against her face. "Happy New Year, princess."

"Happy New Year, Bruce," she softly replied with a grin.

"Care to continue you this in my quarters?" he asked, his nose nuzzling hers as he buried his fingers in her hair.

"I'd love to," she responded as her lips claimed his once more.

Touching his commlink, Bruce requested a transport to his quarters from J'onn who happily complied. The couple began to kiss again, disappearing from sight as the words to Auld Lang Syne filled the air.

Well, this is the end of the Wonderbat Holiday Event 2018. I hope you all enjoyed it! Thank you so much for reading. :)