Chapter 2
"Diana, I can explain" Clark said hurriedly.
"That remains to be seen, Clark. But you'll definitely be able to do a better job of talking than she will" with that Diana leapt over to the sofa and was about to unleash her warrior cry when Clark flew in between her and the still-sleeping woman, grabbing onto the metal bracelet that lay on Diana's wrist and pinning her hand above her head.
"It's nothing like that, Di. You know I'd never do anything to hurt you" Clark's earnest tone went someway to calming Diana's rage. "I found her on the way back from work. She was cold, hurt and needed a place to sleep. I didn't know where else to take her so I took her back here. She's been asleep the whole time." Diana relaxed the muscles in her arm and Clark took this as the cue to release her wrist. She had to admit, saving someone's life was a far more Superman thing to do than to sleep with someone behind her back. She had to take a few breaths to calm her warrior rage but after that she returned to normal.
"I'm sorry" Diana said, sheepishly. She didn't like it when she got jealous over a man but a thousand years spent being told that all men were pigs who were intent on using women as objects made her more cynical than most. She knew that Clark wasn't like the men that Hippolyta had described to her, but even so she found it difficult to trust him entirely. They had only been dating for a few weeks and had only begun showing any physical affection a week ago. Diana remembered the first time quite vividly. They had just finished their dinner date at a Chinese restaurant and Clark had offered to walk her home. They both knew that she was quite safe walking through the Metropolis streets at any time of night or day but neither mentioned this. Instead, Diana graciously accepted and Clark walked with her the ten blocks back to her apartment. They talked and laughed the whole time, about Bruce mainly, but really it was nothing in particular. When they arrived outside the building in which Diana was living they stopped for a moment on the front porch. Clark had simply looked at her, smiled and given her a light peck on her forehead. "Goodnight, Diana" he had whispered before flying off into the sky. At the time she had thought it was so odd, having his lips on her skin, but the more she thought about that moment the more magical it became. Their earlier kiss on the balcony was only the third time that they had kissed each other on the lips. In that moment Diana found herself picturing a whole future with Clark, then she remembered the girl on the sofa.
Clark had left the princess now, quite content that she wouldn't try to kill anybody, and was kneeling beside the strange woman. A pang of jealousy shot through Diana's body as she saw him pull the sheet further up over her shoulders, his face lined with friendliness and concern. Up until this moment Diana had always assumed that Clark's charming smile was only something that he executed for show. Now, however, he was looking at this young woman, who was neither awake nor responsive, with quite the same charming smile on his face. She realised that he never smiled in order to impress anyone; he was simply genuinely content to have been able to have made a difference in their life. The princess of Themyscira had never seen a man more powerful, nor more humble, in her entire life. Diana took this moment to really look at the young girl who was now strewn across her boyfriend's couch. She was tall, about 5ft 9 (a couple of inches shorter than me Diana thought to herself) and although her form was frail Diana noticed that she really was quite beautiful. She had long auburn hair (that needs a brush, Diana thought) and a fair complexion that was stained only by a fading blue bruise that lay on the left side of her face. Diana of course felt immense sorrow for the girl. The Themyscirans knew, better than most, the trauma that an abuse victim could go through and Diana had always been trained to feel the pain of one of her sisters as her own. With all of those empathetic and considerate thoughts running through her head there was still only one that kept screaming out to her: why couldn't you have just saved an ugly one, Clark?
"I'll have to stay here with her tonight, Diana. I don't want her waking up in a strange apartment and thinking that she's not somewhere safe. Do you mind if we do spaghetti tomorrow?" The truth was that Diana didn't mind at all. Clark's limitless compassion was an aspect of his personality that she wanted to emulate, not debilitate.
"Not at all Clark, but it's late and cold…" Diana replied,
"It's fine, Diana, you can go home; I'll be alright by myself."
"No, that's not what I was going to say at all! I wanted to say that it's late and cold and you must be hungry. I'll go and grab us some takeaway and we can take turns getting some rest. I'll get enough food for the three of us: if she wakes up she looks like she could use a bite or two". Diana smiled.
Clark didn't know what he'd done to deserve such an amazing woman in his life. He looked up at Diana, who was smiling at him with the most beautiful smile in the world. She was still wearing her Amazon armour, which did little to conceal her strong but feminine form. Her long legs emerged from beneath her golden skirt and her glowing lasso sat comfortably on her hip. She was a force to be reckoned with; Clark knew that all too well. Her beauty must just have been another asset given to her by Zeus but Clark could see that the determination behind her eyes was as real as anything he ever felt. Diana's smile slowly turned into a puzzled look as she wondered why Clark had been staring at her for so long.
"Have I ever told you…" Clark began, rising to his feet and moving toward Diana with his eyes fixed softly on hers, "that you are the most beautiful woman who has ever and who will ever walk this Earth". Diana was taken aback. Clark had never told her that and it made her feel wonderful, but even so she knew that she never wanted his primary attraction for her to be based on her appearance.
"Clark, I…" Diana was interrupted when she felt Clark gently put one hand on her right hip, purposefully brushing the lasso, and with the other pulled her own hand up so it was outstretched to the left. He turned his head and looked at the vintage record player in the corner of his room. A slow tune began to play quietly through the speakers as the needle seemed to drop by magic. Diana was amazed.
"Exactly how many super powers do you have?!" she asked with incredulity. Clark simply gave a cheeky smile and, under the influence of the lasso, slowly muttered "Nine. But it's ten if you count always being able to tell when to take a meringue out of the oven". Diana chuckled even though she didn't know what a meringue was. She sensed it wasn't the right time but made a mental note to ask him about it later. Slowly they started to dance to the song that had begun to play. It was slow and soothing, but with a meaningful rhythm and beat. After the musical introduction, a voice began to sing:
She's six foot tall and built like a broad.
She's got deep blue eyes and is self-assured.
She know's what I'm thinking before I speak my mind;
Yeah, the woman I love is one of a kind.
"Clark…" Diana began. Then she looked sheepishly to the floor before looking up at him again. "I like this song" she said shyly. Clark just smiled and slowly continued moving them backwards and forwards in time with the music. He had to keep looking at his feet every now and then, making sure he didn't step on Diana's. The singing continued:
But that's not why I love her,
And it's not why I think
She's the most wonderful girl a man could ever meet.
She's got long dark hair and a perfect complexion
And she's not quick to give her affection.
Clark stopped the music at that point. Diana looked disappointed.
"What's the matter?" she asked him, "did I do something wrong?"
"Something wrong? Not at all, Diana!" Clark said back to her. "You were excellent". Then he pointed over his right shoulder. "I've just got a feeling that a certain young lady is watching us".
