A light tread accompanied by a waft of roast beef signaled Alfred's arrival in the cave.
"I just had lunch," Bruce remarked, not bothering to look up from the specimen he's examining.
"If you call the measly half sandwich lunch," the butler sniffed. "This is dinner by the way."
"I'm fine Alfred, just leave it there."
There was a pregnant pause before Alfred mused idly, "I remember my first heartbreak. It felt like the end of the world in the most dramatic sense."
The statement hung in the cavernous cave as Bruce slowly drew from the microscope, his mouth in a thin line.
At his ward's full attention, he continued, "With your line of work, perhaps you would know best if the feeling is comparable."
He narrowed his eyes. "What's this about Alfred?"
"Since your return, you're not eating, you don't go out except for patrol, you're burying yourself in work – even more than the usual, which I didn't think was possible. I believe these are telltale signs."
The Dark Knight gave an undignified snort. Alfred had never meddled in the romantic department before. Not a single comment was dispensed even when Bruce knew he disapproved of Selina and didn't care for Talia. Apparently it's a different ballgame when he favors someone.
"I'm perfectly fine," he replied with an impatient note, "Just catching up on work."
"Catching up," the Englishman chortled, "To what? Until when? You can't catch up to something that never ends."
Bruce glared at him. "This always comes first, Alfred. You know that."
"The mission." He shook his head. "However noble, it can be an unwitting excuse."
"An excuse?" Bruce started in a low voice that has made grown men – including the super powered variety - quake. "This is Gotham. What could possibly be more important than this?"
"None, of course," Alfred replied unfazed, "You defend the defenseless, you bring justice and hope to those who have none. You have changed the city in both capacities as Bruce Wayne and Batman. Knowing how much you toil, the countless times you risk your life, I don't think there's anyone who's prouder of you than I am."
"But know also this," he continued gravely, "The man behind the mission is important too. If you keep on this path, you'll wake up one day to find there is nothing left except the mission."
Bruce looked at his confidante, father figure, and loyal friend, and felt gratitude tinged with biting frustration. It's as if he's once again an adolescent debating an unwanted truth.
"If I live to see Gotham rid of crime and senseless deaths, then it's more than enough for me."
"But we both know it's not." Alfred sighed. "There is a lovely woman who you've known for years and who - by some miracle - adores you. And I believe you return the same sentiment."
"It's not that simple," he grunted.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want... If this ends badly, if I go into this and I lose her..." Bruce trailed off - a rare occurrence for a man so precise with words.
"No one says it comes without risk. Unfortunately you are no stranger to pain and loss. If it ends that way, you will not succumb to darkness despite what you fear. And more importantly, pain is only a possibility among many others that can be joyous. It's not always gloom and doom, Master Bruce."
Alfred watched in silence, knowing that conflicting emotions and thoughts are battling inside his over-analytical, stubborn brain.
Finally he added with more than a hint of exasperation. "And she's Wonder Woman, for heaven's sake. She'll most likely outlive you."
Bruce snorted again. "She will." His lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "If you want to know, it did feel like the end of the world. I had a small, bitter taste and it felt like the ground is spinning out of control."
"Love makes fools of us all." He slid an ivory envelope on the table. "The question is, will you be brave enough to face it?"
Bruce read the card from the envelope. "There's one thing I need to do first."
Steve Trevor flicked on the switch and began removing his boots.
"Trevor."
Bruce watched calmly as the man jumped, reached for a gun, and trained it at his direction.
He stepped from the shadows. "Don't bother. I'm a friend of Diana's."
A few seconds went by before Steve lowered the weapon. "Pointy ears. You must be the Batman. She has mentioned you," he said wryly at the ominous figure.
"You've been stealing Kasnian tech."
Silence stretched over the statement.
Then he chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. "You want me to what? Confess?"
"Do you know what they're using it for?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"What are they using it for?" he asked, voice hardening.
"Governments steal from each other all the time, in case you don't know. Kasnia stole some from us, we steal it back."
"I don't care. Just tell me where it goes."
"To the big black box in Langley. But you know that."
Batman smirked. "And you don't know anything."
"So leave," he said annoyed, "If you want to ask something, course it through Diana."
Bruce ignored him. "Have you heard of Cadmus?"
Steve stiffened. "They decommissioned that a long time ago. You guys helped."
"Waller closed it down. But there's new players reviving the initiative. Project Nova - I believe it's called."
"You're asking the wrong guy, buddy."
"But your handler Luis Harding might have information."
Steve glared at him. "You clearly know more than I do. Why are you here?"
"If you're really Diana's –," he said the next word acerbically," – friend, you owe it to her. Cadmus was meant to keep metas in check. In the wrong hands it was disastrous. Nova could be heading the same way."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"To do what you will with the intel."
"You want me to go against my boss?"
"Up to you."
"You really are something," Steve remarked, shaking his head. "Does Diana know you're here?"
"No."
Steve gave a bitter laugh. "Is this your way of sizing up competition?"
Bruce's eyes narrowed.
"She didn't say much, but something changed when I flew her home."
A sense of relief washed over Bruce. Maybe there's still hope. Suddenly the urge to punch the guy diminished drastically.
"If you care so much, do something about Nova," Bruce finally said.
Steve stayed silent a few seconds before answering curtly, "I'll look into it."
Bruce started to turn away when he spoke. "I've heard rumors about you in Gotham. And from what I'm seeing, it confirms that I don't like you."
He stopped at his tracks, somewhat impressed Trevor had the audacity to say it to his face. "I don't care what you think."
"She's the best person I know. She doesn't belong in your world of darkness and vengeance. If you do anything to hurt her, I'll find –"
Bruce crossed the room and had Steve's collar in clutches in seconds. "You don't threaten me."
Steve stumbled back a few feet. When he regained balance, the window was open and the Batman gone.
People milled around the special MET exhibit, glasses of champagne on hand. They marveled at Hercules and the flock of Stymphalian birds sculpted in paper, the bust of Medusa done in purple fiberglass, the Cubist mural of the Argonauts, and other installations inspired by Greek mythology.
In the middle of one of the enclaves stood the mighty Atlas with a massive orb on his shoulders. The room was dark with a lone beam illuminating the kneeled figure, while the globe on his back emitted pinpricks of light, diffusing the room with an eerie glow.
Diana circled the metal sculpture, her eyes tracing the details and the lines of light. Finally she stood stationary, examining the anguished countenance of Atlas.
"Carrying the heavens for all eternity is too much of a punishment isn't it?" a rich baritone noted behind her.
Her heat skipped at the voice she had been longing to hear.
It has been publicized that Wonder Woman would be a guest of honor for the exhibit's inauguration, and even though they haven't talked since Kasnia, Diana had a feeling he would show up.
Trying to stand still she replied, "I've actually met him."
"Oh? And how was he?" Amusement was evident in his voice.
"He said Sisyphus had it worse."
"Damned to push a boulder."
She nodded. "Only to see it roll down every time it reaches the top."
"The hopeless pursuit," he replied, stepping forward. "I can't imagine anything more maddening."
Diana was unbalanced for a moment when he came into view. Within the darkened surroundings, her brain was conditioned to see the cape and cowl instead of the handsome man in tux. With a relaxed stance and easygoing smile, he was the epitome of the dashing Bruce Wayne. Thankfully there's no trace of the obnoxious drooling dolt.
Still his eyes glinted in the dark, the simmering desire in them evident.
She nervously turned her sights back to the sculpture. "A tormented man with the burden of something so great – doesn't that remind you of someone?"
Bruce smiled. "I'm but a playboy Princess, I'm not sure who you speak of. Although I have experienced the torment caused by women."
The princess rolled her eyes. "Teased by such beautiful creatures? Can't narrow down the choices?"
"Oh, I've long narrowed it down to one. But she torments me so."
Diana looked at him. "I torment you?" She asked in disbelief, not bothering to be thought of as presumptuous.
The lofty tone of the playboy slid to one that's more pressing. "When a woman you just expressed your feelings for leaves on a jet with another man, it tends to cause distress."
She murmured sharply, "I told you, Audrey insisted I go with him. What was I supposed to do? Ignore Steve and the private plane parked on her lawn?"
"You're supposed to tell her you already have a ride home."
"She was playing matchmaker and wouldn't take no for an answer. I already told you this," she hissed.
"Then why didn't you call me afterwards?"
Diana glared at him annoyed. "Why didn't you?"
"Because I thought you were with Trevor."
"And if I am, that's fine with you?"
"If I didn't make it clear enough in Kasnia, no."
"But you didn't call. You didn't show up in the Watchtower. I thought – ," She looked away. "I need to know if you really want this."
Bruce studied her face. "That's why I'm here. I want you Diana."
A clicking sound startled them both as they turned to see a sheepish spectator holding up a phone. Their exchange was beginning to attract unwanted attention.
There was a beat before Diana forced a tinkling laughter. "You flatter me, Mr. Wayne," she said, a few notches louder than their earlier conversation. "But I believe you say this to all the girls you meet."
"Only the rare ones who have stolen my heart," he answered smoothly.
She glared at his infuriating grin. "I don't think I can steal something that's not there."
Bruce knocked his head back. "You wound Princess."
"Don't worry, I won't torment you any further," she replied unmoved, "If you'll excuse me."
Diana walked off to a different part of the exhibit and ducked into an even darker room – a film-showing of constellations accompanied by string symphony.
A minute later Bruce entered the theater, his eyes quickly finding the lone figure at the farthest corner.
"That was convincing," he greeted.
"I can't slap you every time you make a scene, can I? Even though I'd love to."
Bruce's lips twisted into a devilish grin. "You would love to slap me?"
The meaning behind his words was actually lost on her, but from how he spoke them, she felt heat creep up her face.
"And luring me into a theater too. If I don't know any better, I think you're trying to seduce me Princess."
"Well someone has to make the move," she muttered.
Bruce chuckled softly. Her insides fluttered at the deep rumbling sound. She loves it when he laughs and he does it so rarely.
"I'm sorry it took me so long Princess," he said tenderly. "I had some things to figure out."
The light from the screen played shadows across his face, and in the cloak of darkness Diana was seeing him as Bruce and Batman all at once – the stern soldier, the brooding teammate, the charming bachelor. "What did you learn?" she asked, her voice suddenly sounding so distant.
"That I've been creating reasons to not love you." His dark eyes bore into hers. "And I've been failing since day one."
Her chest felt tight, the building pressure in her heart overwhelming. "That took you 6 years to figure out?" she teased though her voice cracked.
"I guess I'm not that smart."
Diana laughed and before she knew it, Bruce dipped down and captured her lips. Hot anticipation coursed through her body as he drew close. His mouth was rendering her useless that all she can do is feel and not much else.
His lips moved to plant feathery kisses along her jaw and neck, while his hands stroked her sides, his fingers reaching bare skin. The light from the film danced around them while the rise and fall of the operatic strings vibrated through their bodies. Diana closed her eyes, drunk in the sensation.
"Bruce," she half moaned in between kisses, "I think we have to -"
"Move to somewhere private?" he asked in a low voice.
Both grinned stupidly at the phrase.
Bruce was typing up a log when the news item appeared on screen.
Kasnian government thwarts plans of military coup d'etat.
For better or worse, their assignment had bore consequences. He closed the notification and continued updating. It was a busy night. A mugging, an attempted robbery, a shipment of weapons at the docks – times like these, the city seems to be churning out more trouble than he can keep up with.
There's a soft slide from the upper level where a silhouette appeared in the doorway. Diana walked down the steps wearing nothing more than his oversized pajama shirt.
He swallowed. She had been in the cave numerous times of course, but never in so little clothing. Actually scratch that, there are after all very few outfits that can rival her uniform's scarcity in fabric. But right now with her hair mussed and the hem riding up every time she takes a step – this has a far more scandalous effect.
"Hey," she greeted warmly.
Bruce gazed at the seductress in front of him and took a few seconds to find his voice. "I didn't know you're here."
"You should amp up your security," she teased.
"I should fire Alfred."
She laughed. "I told him not to tell you. It's supposed to be a surprise but I fell asleep."
They've only seen each other privately a handful of times despite being together for weeks. They try to work around their schedules, except as superheroes schedules are easily thrown out the window in the face of the next calamity or super villain. It only makes moments like these more precious.
"It's later than your usual, anything wrong?"
She tucked a loose strand of unruly hair over her ear and Bruce found himself unable to not touch her. He leaned forward and ran his hand over hers. "It's just one of those nights. You should've called. I'd come up sooner."
"I didn't want to distract you."
"Too late," he replied, tugging her arm until she was standing between his legs.
She leaned down for a kiss, her soft raven locks falling on him. A tantalizing scent of citrus and something earthy greeted his senses. She hitched a knee on the chair while he circled an arm around her waist to close the gap between them. She cupped his cheek and kissed him deeply. He ran a hand against her bare thigh before settling on her curved bottom. She shifted at the contact and the soft brush against his groin nearly made him jump.
She grinned against his lips, before pulling away. "Sorry can't help it. But I meant what I said about not being a distraction."
She stepped back and swivelled his chair to face the monitor again.
He groaned in frustration. "I don't think it works that way."
"Then wrap it up quick. I need to be in the Watchtower in 3 hours."
"Can't someone to cover for you?"
"I can't. It's Steve's first visit."
Bruce scowled. That's another result of their Kasnia visit. His confrontation prompted Trevor to form a liaison branch for more transparent communications between the government and the League. If done right it will build trust and eliminate unwarranted suspicions from both parties. The downside is she'll be seeing Trevor more often. Not that he's worried.
Standing behind his chair, Diana threw her arms around his chest and gave him a soft peck. "See you later, lover," she whispered.
And just as quickly she drew back and headed up stairs.
His eyes trailed her every step, every move, wondering if she's torturing him on purpose. She probably is.
The phantom seductress disappeared from the doorway, and he had to pinch himself if that whole scene indeed happened. Bruce turned back to the monitor and tried to gather his wits. He lasted a full 45 seconds before standing up to sprint upstairs. The world can take care of itself for a few more hours.
