A/N: Thank you for all the people that answered my question - 60 seemed to be the general consensus. I honestly CANNOT stress enough how wonderful it is that people like my story – and your reviews are the only thing keeping me going at the moment: things have gotten really hectically bad at home, but that's not your problem lol, just enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Seven – Emotional…Buffer

Not wasting any time, and not wanting to leave the Princess, Batman asked J'onn to call a founder's meeting in order to discuss the situation with the others. Diana couldn't help it – she flinched. "Is that what I am now?" she whispered as the Martian left. "A situation? A mission?" Missions were things she solved, things she dealt with and…

"Diana." She looked up to meet the blank white eyes of his cowl, feeling utterly lost. She was the one who saved people, she was the one who fought the bad guys, who did things, not the victim – it was a role she had no idea how to play. Everything was different now. Looking at the man in front of her, she began to wonder…was this how everyone else saw Batman? He was so…alien. A man, but one whose face could be utterly blank of all humanity. Capable of anything – any miracle or atrocity. It was no wonder every criminal in the world was more afraid of him than anyone else. Diana knew he would never kill, but that was because she knew him – or did she? Could anyone ever truly know a man such as this? Fear that she knew was all hers, and still inexplicable, welled up.

Then Bruce pushed his cowl back, and instantly, everything was better. He wasn't terrifying…he was Bruce. Just…her own personal shield. Without thinking, she put her arms around his shoulders. He didn't miss a beat, one arm circling her waist and the other settling on her hair, drawing her closer. She didn't ask any of the pointless questions running through her mind, and he didn't offer any words of cold comfort. They only held each other, both dry-eyed and heart-heavy.

"Bruce," she said after a while, "how do I…"

"How do you what?" he asked, his voice rumbling pleasantly against her chest.

"Let someone else save me?" she whispered embarrassedly.

He drew back, smirking softly and brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It's not so hard. I let you save me once, remember?"

It had the desired effect; Diana mock-gasped and slapped his shoulder playfully. Bruce tried not to stumble backward, and just grinned at the renewal of her good humour. "'Let me' huh?"

He let go of her slowly, but didn't pull the cowl back up. She blinked at him for a second, as if really wondering if he trusted her this much, if he knew what he was offering her. He wouldn't be Batman until she was ready for him to be. Without words, he was telling her that until this was over…he'd be there. For as long as she needed him. It was the first time in her life Diana had wanted to weep in gratitude. She didn't, and instead only ran her fingers through his hair until she came to the back of his neck, letting her fingers caress the skin there for a moment. His mouth opened as she leaned closer, their breaths intermingling. Oh God if she kissed him now…

She didn't. Only hooked her fingers in his mask and pulled it back over his face. "Thank you," she said.

He blinked, snapping out of the trance that her eyes had somehow locked him into. He'd have to look into that. See if it was a new ability that had developed along with the empathy. Had to be. "Anytime, Princess."

"The others will be waiting."

"Then we should go."

Side by side, they left the infirmary, walking only slightly closer to each other than they ordinarily would have done, but it was the only sign that things were not as they normally were. Both their strides were confident, measured. Unhurried and assured. Totally in control of everything around them. Of course, Batman was always in control of everything around him, but Diana felt much less so. The dull ache behind her eyes had increased slightly when they left the Medical Bay, but with Bruce by her side it was easy enough to ignore the odd pangs of feeling when they did pass someone. The tiny niggling feeling in the pit of her stomach wouldn't go away though, and she could not help believing J'onn's words. If – when – Bruce left, it would be worse than bad.

She swallowed, strengthening her resolve. It didn't matter if he was prepared to be with her twenty four seven – she wouldn't let him be. Gotham was too important to him to force him to choose. She would make sure that there was nothing wrong with her – visibly at least. It might not hold for long, but it would hold for long enough for Bruce to return to Gotham. She would not see him give up what was most vital to him for her.

They got to the double doors, she keyed in the entry code and stepped through the doors, Bruce after her, and sat down at her usual seat. Five faces looked expectantly at her, the most concerned of all being Superman. Flash still seemed angry at what she'd said, and honestly, she couldn't blame him.

"I have explained in basic terms what is happening to you, Diana," J'onn said. "And how it effects your behaviour."

"Speaking of," she began, "Flash, I'm really sorry about what I said, you didn't deserve-"

"It's ok," he said grudgingly. "I understand. I was pretty angry at myself."

"It wasn't something you needed me to say though."

He smiled. "Di, don't worry about it. Water under the bridge."

"I'm still not sure I understand all this," Clark began. "J'onn, you said that empathy is a more primitive form of telepathy. Does that mean that at one point Martians had it?"

"Long ago in our evolutionary history, yes," J'onn answered. "But it is not an ability that can be truly governed without many months or years of intensive training. Hence why, I assume, telepathy became the main method of other-sense."

"Other-sense?"

"How we sense things from other beings. Telepathy is far easier to control and more precise."

Superman nodded thoughtfully. "And why is Batman unaffected?"

"I assume it is simply because Batman maintains a more rigid control of his emotions than most people are capable of."

They all looked at Batman's impassive face. "Keep staring and I'll start charging," he growled after a while.

They all looked away, and Clark frowned, looking at Diana again. "Can you feel anything now?"

She shrugged. "Not really. I know you're all worried about me, but I don't feel…as I did earlier."

"Which was how?" GL asked.

She looked down, not wanting to tell her friends that they caused her pain. "Which was…uncomfortable. Having the emotions of all my friends running through me is…intense, to say the least."

"It's not just your friends, Princess," Batman's voice said firmly.

She drew in a sharp breath and cast a sideways glare at him. Did you have to tell them that, Bruce? Everyone else's gaze focused on her, and the vague uneasiness she'd felt since entering the room spiked a little. "Very well…I am feeling emotion from whomever I'm around. And the range it has seems to be increasing. Apart from when Batman is around me, for some reason."

"So wait a sec, you can't tell what Bats is feeling, and around him you can't feel anything from anyone else either?" He blinked at the Dark Knight. "So you really are an emotional black hole!"

Batman treated him to a Batglare. Flash backtracked. Quickly. "Buffer, I mean! Emotional…buffer."

"I agree," J'onn said. "It would appear that you do provide some kind of psychic barrier, Batman."

He nodded. "Obviously whatever is happening to Diana has something to do with the old woman in the cave – I've asked my contacts in the occult to investigate."

Hearing this, Diana looked at him sharply, remembering what he'd told her about it not being magic. And now he was looking into a field where he admitted he was out of his depth. She remembered talking to Zatanna after her sojourn as a pig, how she'd marvelled at how far Bruce had been prepared to go for her. Here he was doing it again, she realised with a surge of warmth.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Anything else?" Batman asked, ignoring her. "I need to contact Nightwing and ask him to watch Gotham for a few days."

"That's not necessary," Diana said. "I'm not that bad."

"If me leaving is going to cause you unnecessary pain-"

"It's not what I'd call pain, exactly," she replied, outright lying now, and praying to Athena that what was doing was the right thing. She made sure to keep her words the speech of Wonder Woman to Batman, knowing that if she appealed to Bruce he'd never buy it. "And we can't afford to let this affect the bigger picture. Gotham is your city; Nightwing knows it well, but not as well as you. I won't have the people of Gotham suffer because of me."

The lenses in his cowl narrowed to white slits, and Diana knew she was being assessed for the signs of deception. Deliberately, Diana made sure she kept her body language open and her expression neutral. It seemed to work, since Batman nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. But if something goes wrong up here-"

"Then we'll call you," she said firmly. "But only if it becomes necessary."

"Agreed," Superman said. Everyone else concurred, and soon enough the meeting broke up. Flash and GL went to get some much-deserved rest, with Superman and J'onn going home to the human women that waited for them on the world below (A/N: J'onn did marry a human woman at some point right? I'm not just making that up?). Shayera left soon after her fiancé, saying something about getting a soda from the cafeteria, and bemoaning the lack of caffeine that her pregnancy had induced. She left a silence that to Bruce seemed awkward, but Diana only smiled warmly at him, still buoyed up by the fact that – at least temporarily – he was willing to put Gotham on hold for her. Not that she was planning on letting him.

"I appreciate the rescue," she said softly, referring to him coming to the Watchtower earlier.

The corner of his mouth pulled up, letting her know that the picture of Paris was flashing through his mind too. He looked up at her. "I'm surprised you need it. From what I've heard, it isn't really your sort of affair."

She grinned. "I could get used to it." Especially if you're the one rescuing me, she added silently.

His smile faded, the seriousness coming back. "Diana-"

Before he could complete the sentence, his comm. went off, along with Barbara's voice not long after. "Oracle to Batman."

"Go ahead."

"Jason Blood contacted me," she said. "He said to tell you that he has some information and will meet you in the usual place."

Batman frowned. "Why can't he come up to the Watchtower?"

"Didn't say," she replied breezily. "Is it a problem?"

He glanced toward Diana again, who gazed back with perfect composure. "No. I'll be there. Batman out."

Once his hand was down from his ear, Diana focused on him. "Are you leaving?" she asked, forcing as much levity into her tone as she could.

He nodded. "Jason Blood has something."

She stood, her back straight and standing tall. "Alright. You'll call if he's found something?"

He nodded again. "Of course."

"Well I'm going to take a shower," she said, giving him a smile before her face fell into a frown. Hera, she was only across the room from him and already it was worse – Shayera was standing just outside the room, concerned about her and with the urge to talk. She didn't know how she knew that, only that Hawkgirl's worrying was making her worry too. Batman's footsteps followed her out, and they took one last glance at each other before he strode away down the hallway toward the transporters.

The further he went, the more emotions hit Diana. Shayera was saying something, and Diana saw her mouth moving, but was unable to focus on the words. J'onn had said it would get worse, but surely she hadn't been with Bruce long enough for it to get this bad-

She knew the exact second Bruce left the Watchtower, since suddenly she could feel the emotions of every single person on board.

Why in Hades had they expanded the League – why hadn't seven been enough? Sixty was ridiculous. Tired, curious, hungry, angry, happy, sad, excited, puzzled, guilty, in love, heartbroken – aroused from someone – every single shade in a myriad of emotions hit her. Any question of whether or not the bad outweighed the good evaporated from her mind. Two impulses warred in her mind: the first to call Bruce back here and run into his arms without ever leaving them, the second to curl up in a corner and die. Diana pushed away from Shayera, babbling about getting a shower. She flew through the hallways, thankfully only knocking into Kal, since anyone else would probably have had a Wonder Woman-shaped hole in them. She didn't hear him shout after her, but she did feel his anxiety for her as effectively as a knife to her heart. By the time she entered her room, she literally fell through the door. Now not having the strength to walk, she crawled through a pain-filled haze to the bed, grabbing a pillow and drawing her knees up to her chest.

Someone passed by the now-closed door, fighting the urge to cry. Diana tore the pillow she held in her hands in two with a choked sob, feathers scattering everywhere. In twenty seconds, her hand went up to her communicator a dozen times, and a dozen times, it came down again. She took a deep breath. "I am Princess and champion of the Amazons," she whispered waveringly. "I will control this. I do not need a man to-" She ran a hand through her hair, ripping the tiara from her head and flinging it across the room. It hit the wall with a crunch of metal and lodged there, quivering slightly. She did not need a man, she needed-

"Bruce."

---

She hadn't fooled him. He didn't know why she even thought she could. Of course feeling the emotions of others would hurt – such a simple fact he could have worked out for himself, even without Diana telling him. Hadn't she said it herself? "Bruce, this hurts."

He suppressed the urge to groan and run his hand over his face. He knew that trying to argue with the princess would be worse than useless, but why had he listened? She needed him. He frowned, trying not to feel a certain perverse pleasure in that. First time for everything. He didn't want her to need him. He wanted her to stand straight and tall and utterly without fear. It was painful watching her fly away to each mission and know that she might not be coming back – at least not to him. He hadn't realised how accustomed he'd become to her constant strength – how in turn, it gave him courage. Seeing her afraid was unbearable.

There was the softest of noises from the doorway of the abandoned warehouse he and Jason Blood were meeting in, and Batman detached himself from the shadows. "Well?" he bit out.

"I did some digging based on what you gave me," the half-demon-half-man answered. "Opinion between occultists and magic users was divided in some places-"

"Most common answer."

"Skatha. Goddess of the Underworld, believed to be of Welsh origin. Her MO was to turn a person's greatest strength against them, and was bound to one form and confined to an unknown prison because she did it to some Greek hero or other."

"And the gem found there?"

"Apparently some kind of warning. Am I right in thinking that it was golden, and glowing?"

"Yes."

The other man nodded in understanding. "In the ancient world it was a commonly known and accepted warning sign."

Feeling like he really could have done with knowing that sooner, Batman pointed his grapplegun at a beam and fired. "Thanks," he said quickly before reeling it in and lifting smoothly up from the ground. He needed to get back to the Cave, see Alfred and tell him he wouldn't be living in the manor for…however long it was going to be before this was resolved, as well as organise some kind of alibi for Wayne…he was pretty sure he had a villa on some Caribbean island he hadn't used before. Or maybe just a Caribbean island.

Heading back to where he'd left the Batmobile the night before, Bruce passed the time by listing the things that needed taking care of while he was in orbit. He needed to contact Dick, ask him to look after Gotham…make sure Gordon knew that he needed to triple the security on Arkham…tell Fox he wouldn't be at any board meetings…

Arriving at the Cave, it was to find Alfred already waiting, an espresso balanced on a silver tray. "Coffee, Master Wayne?"

He picked it up and drank, pushing his cowl back at the same time. "Thanks."

"I take it you won't be staying long, sir?"

"No. Someone in the League is in trouble."

Alfred nodded. "If I might enquire, is it Her Royal Highness or Mr Kent, sir?"

Diana or Clark. The only two people outside of the Batclan he'd put ahead of Gotham at any time. Not bothering to be surprised by the Englishman's omniscience, Bruce answered. "Diana."

"Ah." He gestured to his side, where a leather-bound suitcase waited. "I took the liberty of packing a few items for you, sir. An alibi has been arranged, and Mr Fox has been briefed that you will be…unavailable for a few weeks. I imagine you will want to contact Master Dick as well. He's upstairs."

He did stop then, wondering how much of a pay rise he should give his surrogate father. "Thank you, Alfred," he said finally, putting a hand on his shoulder before replacing his mask and sitting at the screen bank, composing an email to Commissioner Gordon. Five minutes later, that was done and he was taking the stairs back up to the manor two at a time.

Dick was in the kitchen as he entered, slurping at a milkshake. As he'd told Bruce many, many times, no one was too old to stop enjoying one of Alfred's milkshakes. "What's up, Bruce?"

"I need you to-"

"Watchtower to Batman!" Zatanna's voice in his ear was desperate.

"Batman here."

"You need to come up here right now!" she said frantically. "Wonder Woman is-"

"Teleport me in thirty seconds," he ordered. "Dick, there's a situation. I need you in Gotham till I get back."

His son nodded. "Sure."

As quickly as he'd raced up the stairs, Bruce raced back down them again, grabbed what Alfred had packed him and disappeared in a burst of white light. "Where is she?"

Zatanna blinked. "Her room, but I don't think-"

When, approximately three seconds later, he arrived outside Diana's room, angry wasn't quite the word to describe how he felt when finding Superman, the Flash and GL all grouped around the door, each looking more worried than the last. "What the hell are you doing?"

Superman blinked, then frowned in anger. "We have as much right to be worried about Diana as you do-"

"Exactly," he ground out. "You're worried. She's an empath."

All three of them widened their eyes. "Oh Lord," Clark muttered. "That is so stupid-"

"You standing here is not helping either, Kent!"

"We're going, we're going!"

Lantern paused, six foot two of marine managing to look nervous. "Uh, Shayera's already in there."

Without bothering to give them more than a glance of disgust, Batman punched the passcode into the door panel, walking through dreading what he might find.

Diana and Shayera were both on their knees facing each other, both breathing hard. Shayera had her green eyes trained on Diana, even though she was wincing in pain – Diana's hands were tightly gripping her upper arms, and Bruce was surprised she hadn't crushed the bones yet. Diana's face wasn't visible, as her head was down, her breathing ragged with sobs. Shayera looked up at his entrance, her expression desperate. "A little help?" she mouthed.

He nodded and took two steps forward, noticed Diana's fingers relinquish their grip a bit, though they didn't let go. He knelt, addressing Hawkgirl. "Why did you come in here?" he demanded in a low voice. "If you know it's going to hurt her-"

"N-no." They both looked at Diana to see her lift her head up slowly, as if even that were a struggle. "Hurts, but I…needed a friend…" He looked at her face, seeing it creased in discomfort. She knew what she was saying, though, and he understood. However much everyone else's emotions might hurt, Diana's emotions needed the comfort of having a friend nearby. Moving gently, he prised her fingers from Shayera's arms. The redhead sighed in relief, rubbing at the fingerprint bruises on her biceps. "Go. Use through the comms if you need to contact us."

She nodded and moved away, leaving Bruce and Diana alone. "May have…exaggerated…when I said it wasn't…pain," she gasped.

"I thought you never lied," he told her softly.

There was the ghost of a smile. "Can't blame a girl…for trying…"

He pulled her into his arms without thinking, felt her shuddering shoulders relax as her head rested on his shoulder. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better. Still hurts…but at least I can think straight…"

"Tired?"

She nodded, and he pulled her up and sat her down on the edge of the bed before pulling boots off. She watched him do one silently, her eyes slightly narrowed and head tilted in question. He shrugged and directed his gaze downward, back to what he was doing. Bad idea, since he was mere inches away from endless, creamy, smooth legs that just went on forever. Safe behind his cowl, he let his eyes travel slowly upward, his gaze luxuriating in running heatedly over silky skin. Diana shifted slightly above him, letting out a tiny noise of distress. Cursing himself, he relinquished his grasp on her foot. You can ogle her later, the Bat hissed. After she's done losing her sanity.

"Sleep, Princess."

She lay down, but took his hand. "Stay with me?"

He nodded, then positioned himself alongside her, feeling slightly awkward as to where to put his hands. Apparently not feeling the same uncertainty, Diana moved onto her side, curling into his body with her head between his neck and shoulder. Damn it, Diana, do you have to smell so good?

"Bruce…"

He decided right then and there he never wanted to hear his name ever again unless it was Diana who said it, in that sleepy, breathy voice. Bruce suppressed a sigh and wrapped an arm around her waist. He waited until her breathing evened out and he was sure she was asleep before reaching up to his communicator. "Batman to Hawkgirl," he whispered.

"How is she?" Shayera's worried voice asked.

"Sleeping," he answered. "But that's not why I called you. My information points to the cause of this being a goddess of the Underworld called Skatha. She was confined to one form and locked in the cave we found because she cursed a Greek hero."

"A Greek hero, huh? So you want me to fly to-"

"Yes. Take the Javelin, see if Hippolyta knows anything – under no circumstances let her come back with you. The last thing Diana needs right now is her mother's concern," he said, shifting slightly to look into her face. Though she was asleep, her eyes were roving ceaselessly under her lids, her mouth twitching and uttering soft sounds of unhappiness. He imagined it was how he looked every night.

"Understood. What if Hippolyta doesn't know anything?"

"Then demand an audience with the gods if you have to. Do whatever it takes, I don't care," he snarled.

"I'll leave now. Don't worry, Batman. I'll find something."

"Shayera."

"Yes?"

Eyes still fixed on the princess in his arms, Bruce swallowed. "Hurry."

---

A/N: Wow this is longer than I thought it was going to be. Sorry for repeating myself at the beginning there, but I wasn't sure if it was clear before. Anyway, hope you liked this – I have an awful feeling that Batman was completely out of character. Review and let me know! Oh, btw, I'm back to uni v soon, and it's final year, so updates will become considerably slower but I'll never abandon this, I promise.