THE QUEEN´S DAUGHTER
CHAPTER X: THE QUEEN´S SPEECH.
Sophie slumped on the ample bed of the hotel bedroom after what was a really long walk. Being an Amazon, she wasn't tired. But a bit of rest was actually nice. The princess's eyes scanned the bright surroundings, gliding over the crystal lamps and the silky blue curtains. The place was, all in all, lush and tasteful. Her thoughts wandered around her mother and the new information she had so bravely acquired. The Amazon concluded there were only two options to explain the turn of the events: or her mother was in love with Superman and all her alleged feelings towards Bruce were a strategy to get his attention, or Mr. Kent was a big fat liar. That is saying, he really had an affair with Diana and actually dumped her to marry Lois. She didn't know the man, but it didn't seem impossible. After all, he wouldn't admit a behavior like that in front of his wife. This is such a mess, and I brought it all on myself for being a reckless little… idiot. She sighed.
Once the youngster had had enough digging in the situation, she decided some reading would do no harm. It will actually help her distract and relax. After a few hours of sleep, she would be ready to leave. Maybe she wouldn´t be ready to face her mother´s rage, but she was going to head back. Sophie extracted The hunger games from her bag and the other books slid out too on tow with it. She stared at the cover and the author's name. But something else caught her attention before she had gotten through the first page.
Diana's notebook was in her hands before she realized what she was doing. Of course, the first thing the girl did after she left the island was opening it in the middle to check on its content, but it was nothing more than a draft of the book the Queen had started writing about her days in Man's world and the knowledge she had gained. And as Sophia was curious about the subject and wanted more information on her mother's activities –the woman´s secretiveness around it actually irked the young girl-, she opened it on the first page this time, to start the journey through the writer´s mind. She was beyond dumbstruck by what she found. The first page started with Diana's curly handwriting scribbling July, 17th. What a night!
Quite a different kind of trip.
So the first part of it is a diary! It is a fucking diary! By Hera! Will my list of mistakes just become endless? And with the very first line she slapped her head again.
Isn't it a curious coincidence that the very same night after what happened between me and Clark I went to a charity ball and tripped with Bruce?
Clark, of course. All that conversation and she didn't get to ask the man's name. She only knew the surname was Kent. She had to slap her forehead another couple of times. So he was her mother's kind and noble friend. Not the man who broke her heart. And that could only mean one thing. The man she was still in love with, the one who deceived her so badly, was Bruce. She couldn't yell at herself, but she truly wanted to reprehend herself for not picking up on the fact before. And then, the sudden realization lashed through her mind. Bruce Wayne was her father. Shit! It doesn´t make sense at all! She looked down and kept reading.
Diana had the plan of approaching Bruce the next time she met him, but luck wasn´t really on her side. After hearing of his break up with Selina Kyle, she had all her hopes up expecting he would be alone that night. She thought they seemed to be star-crossed. Many years later, she would indeed remember that thought.
She heard the woman´s name was Thalia Al Gul. She was gorgeous. She definitely didn´t lack of wits and her arm curled around his like a snake. Diana disliked her immediately. The knot in her stomach told her it was pure unadulterated jealousy. She mentally complained of the fact Clark wasn´t there as a Daily Planet correspondent, as he usually did to support her on her role of Diana Prince, the Wonder Woman´s Foundation CEO. And watching them walk in and take a seat, she felt ashamed of the silk backless red dress she bought for the occasion. Something so sophisticated and beautiful before suddenly turned completely stupid.
Diana was aware of Bruce´s identity, and she was sure he knew hers. He was the world´s greatest detective after all. And she knew all that playboy façade was just a cover, but she couldn't help it to get under her skin whenever she saw him with someone else. Even though she knew the real man. The man that should be hers.
The princess sighed. And a few moments later, she sneered. It was obvious the new girlfriend didn´t dance, but she was certain her man would. His fame couldn´t afford it if he didn´t. She just had to stand close enough, she would be asked. And so she did.
It took longer than the Amazon expected.
She was already through her third shaken, non-stirred martini, when his hand extended to her.
"Care to dance, Miss?"
Diana put her glass down and offered her most charming smile. "I would be delighted." When her hand landed delicately over his, she was already lost. His other hand encountered the naked small of her back and pulled her closer. She shivered at his touch, her mind flashing with thoughts of what he could do to her with those hands. The woman breathed in relief when he swirled her around and onto the dance floor, because otherwise her lips would have ended against his. She could tell his smile was completely false when he asked it.
"So where is Mr. Kent? He´s not accompanying you tonight?"
She frowned. "He never is. He is just a friend."
He twirled her around and pulled her back towards him. "It doesn´t seem so…"
"How would you know?" She asked, looking into his eyes.
"I am more informed than people usually like to think." He said with a seriousness that didn´t completely match her gentlemanly manners.
The smirk that bloomed on her lips was full of delight anyway. "Have you been targeting me?"
"I might." He whispered to her ear. Diana felt her body shiver and her stomach go ticklish. But she forced herself to reply. She casted a side glance towards Thalia.
"What about your girlfriend?" She whispered too.
"Thalia is a friend…" It was stupid trying to deny the obvious.
"Yes." She sighed with sudden sadness. "Men like you use to have a lot of friends…"
He sighed too and didn´t say a word. As Bruce Wayne, he couldn´t deny that statement. But his fingers gently drawing circles on her lower back said more than a thousand words.
When the song ended and changed to one way more romantic, he excused himself promptly and walked away. She watched him go still feeling the goose bumps.
.-.-.-.-.-
Diana smiled warmly and gave Lois a tight hug. "Hello, Lois. It has been such a long time! How are you? Is Clark around?"
The redhead stared at her, flabbergasted. "Hello..."
But by the time she replied, Diana already left her and ran to Superman. He hugged her back.
"How are you?" She beamed. The joy of meeting her old acquaintances again was momentarily overcoming her worry.
"I'm very good, how are you, pumpkin?" He grinned.
She burst out laughing. "You will never forget that, right? I´m fine. Being a Queen is quite absorbing, but I'm great. What about you?"
"Queen? What happened to your mother?"
Diana's face suddenly filled with a shadow that engulfed all her joy and she pulled away from him, looking down. "Can we... go one step at a time, please?"
He nodded. "What brings you here, then?"
"My daughter..." She whispered, terribly dreading the long explanation that would certainly follow the statement.
"Yes. Regarding that subject..." He stopped and raised a hand to his ear. "Come in, J'onn." His expression changed. "I'm on my way."
Diana looked at him, curious. "Can you hold on for a little, Di? There's a volcano erupting in Hawaii..." He sighed with worried gravity.
"Want some help?" She nodded in understanding. "For the sake of the good old times?"
"John is already there. You just stay here." No one noticed the daggers Lois was shooting with her eyes. "I'll be right back." He kissed his wife briefly and took off. Diana smiled and turned to her, oblivious to why the reporter seemed so concerned and awkward.
"Are you okay, darling?" The Queen asked sweetly. She could be as charming as she was impulsive when she was mad.
Lois cursed her luck. She was trapped. "Yes... I'm perfect." She didn't put any questions; she had promised Clark he would be the one to face her.
"So... how's your child?"
"I have two." The reporter smiled. At least, she liked the topic and she mentally thanked the Amazon for picking it up. It was safe ground.
"That's... great. I hope he took it better the second time when you told him. He was a real moron the first time, but you surprised him. You should have seen his despair. That man loves you a lot. Do you know that?" The Queen giggled.
She looked at her in surprise. And not only because her giddiness was completely incomprehensible. "How did you know about that?"
"Come on... You really think he put that night up for you by himself?" Diana tittered again and raised an eyebrow. For her, it was just harmless small talk.
"I don't know. I guess I did."
"Well, he did remember that you like daisies and that you love Italian food. I helped picking up the movie -you nearly ended up watching Gladiator, if it had been up to him-, I gave some advices about the restaurant too. And of course, I advised diamonds and rubies instead of diamonds and emeralds for the ring." She finished, grabbing the reporter´s hand and showing her the ring to emphasize.
Lois jaw dropped down. "Did you really remember that day we went to the mall and I said I didn't like the first dress you picked because it was green?"
Diana shrugged. "Yes, your comment turned out to be very helpful, and not only because the scarlet backless dress was really gorgeous. I still have it. And you still remember too."
"Yes... I do." The redhead replied, astounded. Diana had actually done a lot to keep her and Clark together. She wanted to, but she couldn´t hate the woman.
The Queen smiled, unaware of Lois troubled thoughts.
"I'm very happy things turned this great for you two. I always thought you are a perfect match. After all, it's nice to know not all men are… jerks."
The reporter looked at her, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"You got pregnant, you got a marriage proposal. You got lucky, I didn't." The comment was enough to turn Lois´s feelings upside down and enrage her. Did Diana just say she was actually trying to steal my man? But the Queen didn't notice. "You know what happened the day I found out I was pregnant?" She changed her mind and stopped. "I don´t need to remember. I didn't even get to tell him." Diana paused and blinked. She didn't want her voice to falter or her tears to fall. "Sometimes I wonder if he's happy... if he still thinks of me... Shameful thoughts for an Amazon, right?" Her tone implied the sigh she didn´t gave.
Now, the reporter was confused and she tilted her head. "Wait. Who are we talking about?"
"Sophia's father, Bruce." The raven haired woman replied matter-of-factly.
Lois gasped in shock. Now it does make sense. "She is Bruce Wayne's daughter?"
Diana looked at her, dumbfounded. "Of course. Who else could it be?"
"But, Diana, then why in this world does she...?"
The conversation was interrupted by the piercing sound of pottery crashing to the floor and bursting to pieces. Both women looked up.
They met with an open-mouthed Alex staring at them. Prim was in his arms, holding half a cheese sandwich in her hand, her eyes fixed on the other half, which was resting over the shattered plate.
"Alex, my food is on the floor, why you drop my food to the floor?" The little one complained, frowning to her brother in disapproval.
Ignoring the situation with a roll of her eyes –she could scold him later-, Lois introduced the guest. "Alex, Prim, this is Diana. She is..."
"You're her mother. You're Sophie's mom." He mumbled in disbelief. The resemblance was indeed astounding.
"Yes. Where is she?" Diana asked eagerly, hope flashing in her eyes.
He was suddenly speechless. Prim looked at the raven haired woman and back to her sibling. "She look like your silly girlfriend."
That was enough for the Amazon's heart to sink. She pulled out her sword and aimed it at him.
"What have you done with my daughter?"
Extending her arms, Lois stepped between the Queen and her own child.
"Don't you dare threaten my son, Diana!"
"I would never hurt her!" Alex defended himself firmly, taking a step forward.
With a sigh, Diana replaced her blade and closed her eyes. "You must be very brave to face an Amazon Queen like that."
"You might be a Queen, and I'm not. But there are still things about this world that I know and you don't." Lois hissed in disgust, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm deeply sorry, that was very inappropriate. I didn't intent to hurt your kid. I think I'm just losing my mind out of worry... She´s still too young to be all by herself…" She shook her head slowly and rested it on her hands.
That softened the woman's heart considerably, but she didn't show it. She turned to her son instead.
"Where did you meet her? I think it´s time for me to know where have you been and what have you been up to. Spill."
Alex was staring at Diana in bewilderment and he didn't reply right away. She was definitely as beautiful and intriguing as her daughter. When he finally spoke, he didn't think of the consequences. "Gotham."
"What? What where you doing there?" He realized his mistake when he heard his mother's infuriated tone. "You know you have it forbidden to go to Gotham!"
He groaned and placed his sister down. "This is so unfair!"
Diana understood the prohibition; Bruce never liked having metas in his city and Clark's child was certainly one. She didn't like the fact Sophie had been there either. Not a little bit.
"We have been over this a thousand times, Alex!"
The boy sulked. "I know. But the videogame store is so much better there! I just wanted to buy a copy of Battlefield 3! What harm can that do?" He scowled. "And Ryan was there too. I had to get it first...!"
The scene deeply reminded Diana of her quarrels with her own daughter. She gently placed a hand on Lois shoulder. "Sometimes, we forget they are just teenagers. Don't push him too hard. He's a youngster..."
Alex looked at her with gratitude, but the mother wasn´t pleased or convinced still. "It's true. But you are not any teenager, Alex. You have to keep that in mind." Lois breathed to calm down. "With great power comes great responsibility."
"Don't quote Spiderman on me, mum. I hate that movie."
"I'm just asking for a bit more of responsibility on your side."
He looked down. "Fine..."
"Please tell me where´s Sophie gone." Diana pleaded once the argument was over, she couldn´t hold the question any longer.
Lois looked at her and opened her mouth to say something, but she held herself. She didn't know if she should tell Diana about Zora or not. And she didn't get the chance.
"She said she would be staying at the Plaza. It´s not far away from here."
The Queen breathed deeply in relief and asked politely. "Thank Hera! Would you show me the way?"
Lois picked Prim in her arms to keep her from toying with the broken dish and hurting her hands. A deep empathy made her unable to deny the Amazon her son's help to find the princess.
"I will. Just let me clean this up." He replied, running his hand through his hair. That will hold her mother from lecturing him over breaking the pottery too.
"That´s very kind of you." Diana nodded and sat down. Then, the little redhead watched her attentively.
"You Sophie mommy?"
"Yes. I am." She smiled.
"You no teach her play dollies. Bad mommy." The girl said gravely, placing her hands on her hips as her mother usually did.
"What?" The Queen´s eyes widened in astonishment.
"Alex say Sophie can't play."
For the first time during the long, hard day, Lois felt genuinely amused and burst out laughing. "She's a big girl, Prim. She doesn't play dollies."
The kid sighed. "Me want sister to play dollies."
The reporter was still trying to find a way to tell her youngest child she wasn´t having any more babies. All of her excuses didn´t seem good enough for a kid, the I´m too old one included.
Alex put away the broom and slightly bowed to Diana. "We can go now, Your Highness."
The Amazon smiled and stood. "You can call me Diana." She then turned to Lois. "Good bye, Lois. Thank you! I hope I'll see you all again before we leave. Please tell Clark I´m very sorry I couldn't stay." She kissed the girl's head. "It was nice to meet you, Primrose."
The girl looked up, cuddling against her mother´s chest. "You play dollies?"
They all chortled. The mother hugged her lovingly. "I will play with you." She looked up again. "Good bye, Diana. I will tell him. Please don't be late, Alex."
He rolled his eyes. "I won't, mom. I'm not a kid. Grandma made a cake. It's on the kitchen."
"That's great! I was wondering where is she gone." Lois put her daughter back down and the she speeded away.
Alex put on the jacket he had brought with him. "To pick up grandpa."
Diana grinned. "Oh, I will have to come back then! I do remember Martha's wonderful cooking..."
.-.-.-.-.-
"Did you meet her?" The youngster asked as they walked off the house and he closed the door.
"Yes, of course! I spent Christmas with them once... It was really nice. Your father and I used to be really close friends..." She answered, staring into the darkening sky.
"He told me." Alex nodded. "All of Superman and Wonder Woman's adventures... Well, most of them."
Diana laughed. "I don't know if we can call them... adventures. It was our responsibility. It was during monitor duty at the watchtower that we got to speak a lot. Oh, I used to have fun here..." She sniggered.
His eyes opened wide and he nodded. "I know..."
"What?" Diana looked at him in surprise.
"I mean... why did you go back to your island?" He retorted, sliding his hands into his pockets. Talking to her was way less unnerving than he thought it would be. She didn´t have a temper all the time.
Her expression shaded and she looked away, running her hand up and down her arm. "I had to attend to my... royal obligations. I never thought I would come back one day..."
"So you never thought of bringing Sophie here?" Alex questioned, signaling the corner where they had to turn.
"No, of course not. By no means."
"Why not?"
The last thing Diana wanted was to start digging on her past relationship with the princess's father, so she came up with another question that would save her the answer and her real reasons. "Speaking of Soph... why did your sister say she's your girlfriend?"
The sudden heat told him his face had flushed. "Because that little girl has a mind of her own... She made it up when she saw us. Of course we didn´t do anything… that would have been gross."
"I'm sorry for overreacting... I'm just worried no end about her. I hope I didn´t scare you."
He nodded. "Yes, I know you two are really close." Then, he smirked. "And I´m not… squeamish."
Diana looked at him with curiosity. "What did she tell you about me?"
"Well... we´re here." He pointed instead of replying.
The Queen examined the building's entrance. It was thirty storages tall, the door was all glass and gold, the inside glowed and it was crowded with colorful flowers. At least, she's in a very nice place...
They walked in. The ample lobby was full of mirrors that paid the trick of making it bigger and brighter. People rushed in and out happily. A crystal lamp hung from the ceiling and the shinning caught the Amazon´s attention. They approached the reception to ask for the princess.
"Hello." Alex said, and continued before the woman looked up. "We´re looking for a girl, she´s my age. She should have come here a little over two hours ago. Her name is Sophia. Have you seen her? She has black hair..."
"She's my daughter..." Diana chimed in. And when the blond receptionist looked up at her the resemblance shot her memory immediately.
"Oh, yes. I remember her, madam. She asked for a room, but we´re fully booked. She left. I'm sorry, I can´t help you."
"What?" Diana shrieked, out of air. "She's not here?"
"No, I'm sorry. Maybe she went to one of the closest hotels." The blond looked at Diana sympathetically. The Queen groaned and sat down in a brown leather sofa. She looked up to her friend's son.
"Where is she then? Where is my baby gone?" Her voice was full of despair.
"Well..." He mumbled. "I know someone else she is acquainted with... maybe he can help."
"Who?" Diana asked, sheer expectation glistening in her gaze. "Tell me, whoever it is."
"Batman." He answered, proud of himself.
Diana's heart sunk to her very feet. She gulped and her eyes widened in shock.
"You have to be kidding me."
.-.-.-.-.-
When Bruce got back to Wayne Manor, he immediately walked in for a cold shower. Destiny seemed to be playing hideous tricks on him. He let the water run over his body for a long while, waiting for it to wash away his feelings. He had been doing so for the last fifteen years and it had already proved to be useless. He was still trying to figure out what did she do to break all of his defenses and turn his world upside down. No one else could ever put him over the edge like that. He finally turned off the water and went back to his room.
"I have to keep my mind on my work." He said aloud to himself, as if he could put such a command over his own thoughts. "Gotham is what's important."
And he truly believed it.
Bruce Wayne had to attend a charity ball that night. It wasn't his favorite thing to do... but it had to be done nonetheless. Since he was going without a date, he had to pretend to be on a pick up plan. He took out his best black Armani suit and stepped onto it. For once, he imposed himself the obligation of enjoying the night. He heard a knock on the door.
"Come in, Alfred."
"How did things go, Master Bruce?" The butler asked, walking in with the clean light blue shirt.
"How did you...?" Batman sighed, resigned and grabbed the clothing he was offered. "I didn't get any useful information."
"Did you get to do any talk at all?" He inquired.
"Sometimes, Alfred, I wonder who's really the detective here..." He chuckled despite himself. He really appreciated everything his surrogate father did and was still doing on his behalf despite his age. He refused the generous pension Bruce offered to grant him a peaceful retirement several times. The billionaire would have insisted if it wasn´t because the old man was still perfectly healthy, and because he understood Alfred needed to keep himself busy with that job as much as he needed to have him around.
The statement made the Englishman smile. "That´s because you tend to underestimate me, Sir. I must say this is your lucky day. Someone is here to see you."
"But who would..." His heart skipped a beat when he realized it, he didn´t need further information. Throwing him to the wolves –her presence- was more than his soul could bear. "Tell her I'm not here."
Alfred coughed. "With due respect, I refuse. You´re not known for being a coward."
"And coward I´m not." Bruce said defiantly, putting on the shirt. "It still doesn´t mean I´ll be pleased to see her."
.-.-.-.-.-
A/N: Comments?
Gabriel TDO: They were together only once, that was the night he caught them. His guess that she was still seeing SM came from the text message, as he tells Sophie :) Thanks for the comment!