A/N: Thanks to everyone who's still enjoying this story :) I google translated some Italian. Please forgive me if it's wrong.
Bruce shakes out the umbrella under the awning before closing it and follows Diana into Delfino's. Normally, he wouldn't bother with the cumbersome piece of equipment and just gone with his trench coat. Alfred's pointed look as he handed Bruce the biggest umbrella he could find harkened back to the days when the old man tried to instill good breeding and proper manners in him. The butler's long-suffering sigh earned him a sweet kiss to the cheek from the elegant woman his gentility rescued from the elements. Alfred blushed and Bruce grumbled under his breath. Now Bruce's hands are wet. But, Diana and her silk pants suit are perfectly dry and that's all that matters.
He shakes the moisture off his hands and skims his palm over the small of her back as they make their way to the table. She's eight feet tall in her stilettos, dressed from head to toe in pristine white, and all eyes are on them in the restaurant. A swell of pride fills his chest because he is, indeed, the luckiest man in the room. But at the same time, this is a very public place and Bruce's two worlds are colliding like a supernova before his eyes. Billionaire playboy, entrepreneur, brooding anti-social hermit and masked vigilante all on the precipice of implosion because he fell in love with a goddess he couldn't say no to. A goddess who couldn't step into any place on Earth without drawing attention. This wasn't exactly his plan to out their relationship, nevertheless here they are. He's not quite sure what the fallout will be or if there will be any. It's a concern, but he's also not sure if he cares. Maybe it's easier this way.
"Ah buon giorno, Signore Wayne. Che sopressa!" A thin, older man in a black maître d's tuxedo raises his hands in greeting. "È meraviglioso rivederti."
"Buon giorno, Giancarlo." Bruce shakes the man's hand. "Good to see you again, as well."
"Chi è questa bella donna?" His bushy eyebrows waggle in interest. Like he said, she draws attention no matter where she goes.
He's about to present her when she extends her hand, and amused smirk on her face. "Miss Diana Prince. È un piacere incontrarti."
"How wonderful! Beautiful and she speaks Italian? Where are you from, darling?"
"I'm Greek."
"Ah, like the goddess Aphrodite." Giancarlo bends in supplication to kiss her hand.
"She's a little more Athena, so be careful." Bruce casually tucks a hand into his pocket with his subtle warning.
"Can I show you to your usual table Mr. Wayne?"
"We're actually meeting friends," Bruce declines and gestures to the window. "They're already seated, but thank you."
"Right this way then." Giancarlo escorts them toward Lois and Clark.
"You have a usual table?" It's said through a smile, but he can hear to edge even through the sweetness.
"I've been here a few times. A long time ago." He had actually been hoping Giancarlo had retired but then again, the man did love his job. She hums in response and he wonders how he's going to pay for that little tidbit of information.
Lois and Clark stand when they arrive. Diana leans in to kiss both on the cheek. There's oohing and ahing over their outfits and a sincere apology for being twenty minutes late, though Lois doesn't seem to mind. Clark doesn't bother to hid his smirk and Bruce shrugs, completely unrepentant. So what, the boy scout would have done the same thing if the situation were reversed. Who wouldn't?
"Can I get you anything?" Giancarlo inquires after helping Diana in her seat.
"Yes, a Turkish coffee, sweet, for the lady." Diana leans slightly towards him and slides her hand over his knee in appreciation. She's pleased that he's paid attention to what Alfred makes her for breakfast every morning when she's in Gotham. He brings his hand to the back of her neck out of habit and he fights the feeling of being exposed. Clark can no doubt hear his heart beating in his chest. So, he distracts attention toward them instead. "And a bottle of Krug Clos du Mesnil 2000 for the table."
Giancarlo's eyes alight with hope. "And what are we celebrating today, Signore Wayne?"
"The future Mr. and Mrs. Kent." Bruce gestures toward their friends, dashing any preconceived notion in Giancarlo's head about an engagement announcement for him.
"Ah, tanta felicità!" Giancarlo scurries off to administer his duties and they are finally left blessedly alone.
"Bruce, you didn't have to get such an expensive champagne," Lois says.
"He can afford it," Clark laughs. "He bought out the whole bank that took Ma's house."
"Clark!" Lois shakes her head. "We just wanted to spend some time with the both of you. There's no need to make a fuss."
"But why not celebrate the upcoming wedding? It's very exciting and you two deserve to be happy." Diana's genuine delight erases any concern off Lois's face.
However, it's quickly replaced with her steely eyed reporter gaze. "The maître d seemed to be hoping that we were celebrating your engagement."
Bruce snorts and Diana let's out an airy laugh. She turns her face to his and smiles into his eyes. "We're not ready for that." She holds his gaze for a long moment. Amusement and love, and genuine caring reflect back to him in the shimmer of her dark eyes. God, he loves this woman. Her ability to soothe and excite him with every breath she takes makes his heart swell with affection. And then she's gone, smiling back at their friends and Bruce is amazed at how she so adeptly turns the conversation back to Lois. "So, tell us how the wedding plans are coming?"
Lois is easily persuaded, because of course that's why they were there. "We've finally decided on a date and are going to have the ceremony and reception in Smallville. There's a small church in town and we'd like to do one of those fancy white tents and little crystal lights under the stars."
"How lovely," Diana says.
"I think it makes Ma happy to do it at the farm," Clark adds.
"It's your home." Diana states as if it's perfectly normal that an alien from another world grew up on a farm in Kansas. But then again, she's the 5000-year-old daughter of Zeus and supposedly sculpted from clay so maybe he and Lois were the abnormal ones in the group. "Do you have a large family, Lois?"
"No, just my sister now. Both of my parents are gone." She shrugs. "We were army brats."
Diana's eyebrows furrow. "Army brats?"
"Her father was an army general. It means they moved around the world a lot when they were kids," Bruce explains.
"That must have been very exciting." Lois screws up her face into a frown and Diana shifts course. "But I can see where that would become very tiresome after a while."
"Yeah, as soon as you make friends, you have to move again."
"Are you close with your sister?"
"Sometimes. She's my little sister and she's a Lane, as you can guess, she can be very opinionated. Don't you dare say anything, Clark Kent."
"I wouldn't dare." They laugh collectively as he holds up his hands in defense.
Diana's laughter trails off and she leans slightly into him again. "I would give anything to be able to see my sisters again."
Bruce's fingers find Diana's and give a little squeeze. She returns the gesture with a wan smile. He's offered to find her island but she still refuses, despite how sad the distance makes her. If he could see his mother again, he would move heaven and earth to do so. He would do it for her in a heartbeat if she asked.
The mood shifts when the champagne arrives and glasses are poured. Diana's eyes a bright and cheerful again when she asks, "Who would like to make the toast?"
Bruce freezes in her gaze, glass hoisted mid-air. Her eyebrows raise. She wants him to say it? He shakes his head. "Uh-uh."
"You ordered the champagne, Bruce."
Her eyes hold that look of challenge, and he is trapped in the dichotomy of not being able to say no to her and not being able to walk away from a challenge. How she can narrow her eyes and still have her sharp eyebrows raised is beyond him.
"All right, fine." He lifts his glass higher. "Here's to two people whom it would seem are destined to be together no matter what life, or death, brings them." He arches an eyebrow at Clark who shrugs with his aw-shucks smile. "Let's hope that this one sticks."
Diana stares at him open-mouthed. She blinks. "Bruce, that is a terrible toast."
"What?"
She calls him a stubborn ass under her breath in ancient Greek, before she takes the task over herself. "Here's to two people whose love and devotion to one another transcend the bounds of mortality. We wish you joy, laughter and love for all the days of your lives."
"Hear, hear."
Lois dabs at the corners of her eyes and sets down her glass. "Okay, she's making the toast at the wedding."
"Lo, the best man is supposed to make the toast…" Clark says.
She wags a finger. "I don't care, he's not allowed to talk at the wedding."
Bruce almost chokes on his champagne. "Wait, what?"
"It's actually why we asked you here today," Clark says. "Bruce, I'd be honored if you'd to be my best man."
Bruce's entire face contorts into a mask of confusion, his eyebrows almost hurt with how pinched they've become. "Clark, I tried to kill you."
"Bruce!" Diana's eyes flash with fire.
Bruce can't help the laugh that bubble up. "She only uses my name when she's reprimanding me."
"That is not true…" But she cuts herself off before she says his name again and he nods to let her know he caught her. "I use your name…other times…" Bruce flashes her a smirk and she actually blushes. A nugget of triumph takes root in his chest. He's made the fierce amazon blush. Because she did indeed use his name, multiple times, in the shower like he promised her.
Clark swallows and tugs at his collar. "Can you two not do that? I hear both of your heartbeats and it's a little disturbing."
"Anywho," Lois interrupts, "Diana, I'd like to ask you to be my maid of honor."
"But what about your sister?"
"Like I said, we're not very close. And you and Bruce brought Clark back to me, I think it's only right to have both of you stand up for us."
Diana takes in a sharp breath and her shoulder stills next to his. Bruce rubs his palm over her back. He can see in her eyes she's taken aback by the offer, honored to be even considered for such a responsibility. A wedding is a big deal in every culture. Bruce is a realist and he knows most people jump too quickly into the idea of marriage. He believes in marriage, the deep commitment to another person, because of his parents and their love for each other. Which is why he's never actually taken to step. There was a time…Before. But that was never meant to be. Now, the woman before him makes everything else pale in comparison.
Her eyes swim with humble tears, asking him the question. Can she, should she, accept? He smiles into her eyes and nods.
Her resulting smile beams bright with honor and gratitude. "Yes, yes we'd love to be part of your special day."
"Oh, thank God!" Lois exclaims in relief. "Because I found the most gorgeous dress…"
They're off talking about colors and fabrics, and flowers and favors.
Clark smiles and sips his coffee. "I'm happy for you Bruce."
"Why?"
"You seem happy."
Bruce shrugs. "As I can be…"
"No, you are." Clark nods his head. "There's something different. Less dark and broody."
"Now you sound like Barry." There's an attempt at an eye roll but it morphs into a disgruntled smirk because he can't help it. He likes the kid for all his quirks. And maybe he is less broody…
"It's true."
"She's…" Bruce stops himself, unsure of how to talk about it out loud. He hardly analyzes it in his own head.
"I know," Clark answers for him. "She's good for you."
"Yeah."
"Maybe soon?"
"No."
Clark chuckles, then looks at his fiancé as she talks with Diana. She's animated and glowing with happiness and Clark's eyes get this dreamy glaze. "She's my world."
Bruce watches Diana. On the outside, she is exquisite, exotic perfection. Sleek and polished. But she radiates warmth and compassion when she smiles.
"How did you know?" He's not sure why he asks this, because it's like admitting he doesn't know something, but this is foreign to him. Love.
"Bruce, when you know, you know. It's as simple as that."
Bruce sips his coffee to avoid having to reply. The problem is he does know. He knew the second he laid eyes on her. He loves her, more than he could ever have thought possible. But it is still too soon. The ground is still soft, full of precarious areas they have yet to navigate. Black and hideous truths he has yet to tell her. Things he doesn't want her to know. Things he's afraid might change her perception of him.
Her hand caresses his thigh, drawing him from his dark thoughts, grounding him as if she senses his dangerously meandering thought process. She smiles beautifully at him to let him know she's there. He laces his fingers in hers. The scent of breakfast and her strong Turkish coffee further ground him in the present and the light that guides him.
Some things are better left in the dark until the light shines on them. Then sometimes those once fearsome things aren't so scary anymore. Or so the theory goes.
He is the dark.
She is his light.
She's also his world.
Clark lets out a contented sigh. "We're pretty lucky, I think."
"Yeah." On that, Bruce has to agree.