DISCLAIMERS/NOTES
1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.
2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago, when, here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air. So Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy, and the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, "The Savage Time". All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.
3. There are aspects of these stories that, in hindsight, I would change. However, I have kept them as I originally wrote them for history's sake. Not laziness.
PART 3
Diana entered the lounge, and smiled at what she saw. "Hi, J'onn," she said, holding out her arms.
J'onn returned the smile. "Hello, Diana. How are you?"
Diana gave him a hug, and shrugged. "Oh, you know, I'm fine."
"Where's Bruce?" the Martian asked.
Diana's smile dropped. "I don't care where he is."
J'onn blinked. "Something wrong?"
"No," Diana said simply. She turned to Superman. "Speaking of which, Clark… my husband wants to go over security procedures with you."
Superman frowned. "Typical. I'll have a word with him. This isn't about work today. This is just about us enjoying each other's company."
"Tell HIM that," Diana grumbled.
"Anyway," J'onn said. "I don't know how long I can stay for. I don't like to leave Mars unprotected for too long."
Superman went upto him. "J'onn, there are dozens of heroes on Mars. I'm sure it won't miss you for a couple of days. I'd really like you to stay."
"Yeah, come on J'onn," Flash said. "Hang out with us. Pull up a pew, open a bev. Chill."
J'onn smirked. "Well, I would rather 'chill' than 'burn'."
"There ya go," said Flash. He tossed over a packet of Oreos at the Martian, who caught it effortlessly. "Let loose, my friend!"
As J'onn munched away at the cookies, Diana sat down next to Hawkwoman. The Thanagarian looked at her. "Are you OK?"
Diana looked at her out of the corner of her eye. "No, I'm fine, really. Sorry." She turned to face her. "How's the apartment?"
As the two women began talking, Flash got to his feet. "Oboy… what is it with women and decorating? Can't they talk about interesting stuff?" He went over to Superman and J'onn.
"So what made you go with the sky blue paintwork?" J'onn asked.
"There's actually an interesting story to that," said Superman, smiling. "You see…"
Flash backed away. "Oh for…" He went to the door. "Maybe I can find Batman… can't believe he's the best company at the moment…"
He stopped in mid-stride, as Batman entered the room. "Hey, Bats," he said.
Batman raised an eyebrow. "Hello, Flash."
"Can you believe this?" the Scarlet Speedster said. "Everyone's talking about decorating."
"Tell me about it," Batman said. "I still have a flowery sofa in the cave."
Flash looked at him.
Batman frowned. "Forget I said that."
Flash tried to hold back a laugh. "So how are you guys? Everything OK?"
Batman was silent, then sighed. "Yes. Everything is… OK. How's Shayera?"
"She's great," said Flash. "We're going on vacation soon."
"Anywhere nice?" Batman asked flatly.
"We were thinking of Venice, or Spain." Flash frowned. "Or maybe…"
"She won't let you go to a nudist beach," Batman said.
Flash was silent. He stared at the Dark Knight. "I know," he eventually said.
Batman smirked, then looked over at Diana. He watched her, talking enthusiastically with Shayera.
Flash followed his gaze. "They're great, aren't they?" he asked.
Batman smiled slightly. "Yes… yes they are."
"Say," Flash said, "You ever think you'll get bored?"
"What do you mean?" asked Batman.
"Well… you and Diana are immortal," Flash said. "As in, living forever. Don't you think, you know… eventually you'll get bored? I mean… some people say living forever would be a nightmare. I mean… what would you do? Could you really face going on and on… never ending. I mean… then what? How would you fill the time? What would you do? Don't you ever think that?"
"No," Batman said simply.
Flash frowned.
"I'm with the woman I love," Batman said. "Why would I want that to end?"
With that, he walked away, leaving Flash alone.
/
Batman stared out the window, at the icy mountains outside. It was so peaceful… so quiet.
Clark certainly knew how to get away from it all.
He heard footsteps behind him. "Yes, Clark?"
Superman sighed. "You think I'm going to ask how you knew it was me? Well, not anymore. There's some things even Superman will never know."
Batman kept his back to him. "Congratulations on the Fortress. You've done a fine job."
"Thanks," the Man of Steel said. "I'm giving a tour later on…"
"I thought you would," Batman said, turning around to face him. "I know the layout already. I've memorised the blueprints."
Superman frowned. "How did you get blueprints? I didn't even MAKE any."
Batman remained unfazed. "I have my ways."
Superman shook his head. "Anyway… Diana tells me you want to talk shop."
"If, by that, you mean security procedures," said Batman, "you're right. We should discuss how the Fortress' new systems will integrate with the Batcave and Watchtower…"
"Bruce," Superman said, putting up his hand. "I was going to say… forget it. We're not talking business this weekend. This is about us, hanging out together. Like when we went camping."
"We went camping twice," Batman said. "Over seventy years ago."
"Yeah, that was unforgettable," the Kryptonian said. "You loved showing off your camping skills to Diana, didn't you?"
Batman remained silent.
"And you call me a Boy Scout…"
"She seemed to appreciate my efforts," said Batman.
"I know," Superman said. "We ALL heard."
Batman went red.
"Anyway, I just wanted to see if you wanted a drink," Superman eventually said.
Batman sighed. "Lemonade. Please." Superman went to turn away, but stopped at the sound of Batman's voice. "I'm surprised to find you alone."
Superman looked at him.
"Where is she?" the Dark Knight asked.
Superman sighed. "She's… away on business. She should be back by tonight."
"The others don't know about her, do they?" Batman asked.
"No," Superman said. "Only you and Diana know."
"Is it serious?"
Superman looked away. "I don't know… we're just… seeing what happens at the moment. I don't know how she feels about the situation… she may not want a serious relationship…"
"Do you?" asked Batman.
Superman held the back of his neck. "I don't know…"
"Clark," Batman said. "Take it from me. You won't regret it."
They stood in silence, then Superman smiled. "Thanks, Bruce. I'll keep it in mind."
There was silence again.
"Clark?" Batman said.
"Yes?"
"My lemonade…?"
Superman nodded. "Oh right… I'll be right back." With that, he turned around and went to the drinks cabinet.
Batman smiled, then went to the couch Diana and Hawkwoman were at…
/
The clouds hovered in the sky, white and full. They added to the serenity of the afternoon sky. Below, the icy mountains shined like crystal, reflecting the sun.
The cloud began to break, and an object emerged from it. Shining bright green, the object, a bubble, glided out of the cloud, through the air, towards the ice below.
The Emerald Knight looked from inside his protective bubble, and saw the complex beyond.
He sighed. It had been ten years since he had last been here. Not only at the North Pole, but on the Earth at all.
Ten years. For the first seven, everything was as it was. He continued his mission as he had for the past forty… but now… things had changed.
It was ever since the Battle of Oa. The armies of Darkseid had marched on the planet, seeking the secrets of the Guardians. There were rumoured to be notes… details of how they gathered the power to create the one ring. They had stormed what was left of the Great Hall, in search of knowledge. But the Knight, and the former Green Lanterns who continued to protect the universe with their own powers, had fought them, with assistance of Earth's heroes. They had succeeded, but in the process, the Knight had absorbed the residual energy from the former Lanterns… and in the process, absorbed their traits they had. Without the order of the power rings, the energy was unfocused… full of emotions. And those emotions had carried over to the Knight.
The Knight. He was no longer just that. He was now…
John Stewart.
Again.
And he hated it.
He sighed. He looked at the complex on the horizon… he did not want to go.
And at the same time… wanted to more than anything.
He had destroyed the Fortress ten years ago. In the process of defeating the White Martians, he had destroyed most of it. At the time, he felt nothing of it. He just did what he had to do. But now… with his emotions back… he felt guilty. Sorrow for destroying his friend's home…
But that was not why he hesitated to go back.
It was because she was there.
The woman he had loved.
And now… loved again.
But he had lost her. Again. She had found someone else.
Again.
Life had a funny way of punching you in the face.
The Knight looked at the Fortress. He knew what he was going to do. He even wondered why he was delaying it.
Slowly, he glided downwards, towards the ice…
TO BE CONTINUED
