Chapter 2
SMALLVILLE
Diana was unable to even take any clothing with her. The bomb experts and CSI department was against her even going upstairs. She had to leave with Superman without any possessions apart from her Wonder Woman uniform which she was wearing beneath her soiled, white gown. Clark, however, seemed to think that it wouldn't be difficult for his mother to get her clothes. They then parted from Wally and J'onn and took to the skies.
Diana found out that they were not immediately flying to Smallville. It was one am in the morning,too late to wake the Kents,especially in light of Pa's bout of unwellness earlier that evening. Clark suggested she stayed at his place overnight,then they go to Smallville first thing in the morning. Diana could not argue with the logic of it.
She had seen Clark's apartment before;it was two bedrooms on a top story and the decor was very simple. They entered via the glass door on the balcony. He showed her immediately to the smaller guest room.
"You want something to eat?"
She shook her head."I'm tired. I wouldn't mind going to bed."
He pointed to the bathroom and linen closet."You can get towels there. There's a spare toothbrush in the cabinet over the sink."
She nodded."Thank you..."She looked down at her soiled gown with a grimace."I'm a bit of a mess."
"One moment."He went into his own room and returned with a crisp white shirt."It's all I can offer but it's brand new."
Diana took it gratefully."That'll do. Well,goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
Clark woke early the next morning. They had planned to fly to the farm before he readied for work. It was just dawn and he swiftly showered and changed into the Superman uniform. He knew Ma always prepared a hearty breakfast so all he had to do was make a pot of coffee.
He poured two cups and carried one to her. He gently knocked on her door and called her name. When there was no response,he used his x-ray vision and saw that she was fast asleep. She was no doubt exhausted. The day before had been rather difficult and draining. But he couldn't afford to let her sleep even if he wanted to. They needed to get to Smallville early.
Clark opened the door and walked over to the bed. He looked down upon the sleeping features of the Amazon Princess. She didn't look like the royal princess with the weight of the world and her people on her shoulders. She looked young and vulnerable. A tendril of black hair had fallen over her cheek. He blew gently from where he stood at the foot of the bed. The tendril fluttered and moved back to her temples. The cool breeze made her stir. Her eyes opened at once and met his.
Clark flushed self-consciously."Er,morning. I called but you didn't wake...so I came in to..."He floundered and blurted out lamely,"I made coffee."
Diana rubbed her eyes,sat up and accepted the cup of coffee. "Thank you,Kal,"she said graciously.
"Did you sleep well?"
She took a long sip."Oh,that's very good. Yes,I did. I was more tired than I thought. You're already dressed. It must be time to get going..."
"It's ten past six."
She threw the covers back and stood up. The shirt was large and reached her mid-thigh. Clark decided a swift retreat was the best option. Her very lack of self consciousness suggested to him that she considered his shirt decidedly decent. She normally wore what was akin to a swimsuit after all. What she didn't realize was that her assets were outlined beneath the cotton shirt and it was difficult not to notice.
He said quickly,"I'll be out on the balcony."
She watched him leave and frowned. Was he regretting his offer?She shrugged and went past the long mirror in the wardrobe. She saw her reflection and let out a cry of dismay. Gods!What must he think of her?She smacked her forehead. She had to remember she was not in Themyscira!
She joined him on the balcony ten minutes later. She was in her Wonder Woman uniform. She looked a bit apologetic.
"Sorry about that."
"What?''
"You know...before in the room...I didn't realize..."
He said with a wry smile,"I don't think any man would ask you to apologize,Diana. And while Ma Kent brought me up to be a gentleman,and I have a reputation for being a Boyscout,I'm far off from sainthood."
She blushed and laughed. That comment seemed to set them both at ease. They took to the skies and flew to Kansas.
They arrived in Smallville at about seven am. The Kents were up and breakfasting. Mr Kent was having oatmeal and Mrs Kent,squeezing fresh oranges,was chastising him because he was talking about going to mend the fences surrounding the farm.
"No,you won't!"
"But,Martha,the weather's promising and I need to repair the fence."
"Jonathan,you'll leave it to Clark. He can do it in minutes."
"The boy's busy with his work..."
"You had a bad spell yesterday. I won't have you wearing yourself down."
Clark knocked on the back door and poked his head around.
"Pa,listen to Ma."
Martha Kent exclaimed,"Clark!What are you doing here?Don't you have to go to work?"
Mr Kent saw the uniform."Anything amiss,son?"
"No,Pa. Morning Ma."He kissed his mother and simultaneously said,"Diana,come in. Ma,Pa, this is my friend ,my parents,Jonathan and Martha."
The Kents looked up to see Wonder Woman appear behind their son. Pa rose and Ma stopped her juicing to stare in amazement. It was their first time meeting the super heroine. They had seen her on magazines,newspapers and the television. They knew their son as Superman worked with her when he was in the League. They never expected to see her in person on their farm.
She was smiling graciously at them. Her very beauty and grace and stature had the Kents stare open mouthed. Clark coughed for them to stop gaping and shake her outstretched hand.
"Forgive me,"said Pa."We've never had royalty in the house before."
"Where are my manners!", began Ma."Sit down,your Highness."
"Please,call me Diana,"she replied and took the chair Mr Kent had pulled out for her with such a dazzling smile that the old man give his son an impressed thumbs up from behind. Ma put her hands on her hips and frowned at her spouse.
Clark tried not to laugh;instead he peered at the basket of muffins his mother had made and picked one up and began to munch."Diana,hasn't had breakfast yet."
"Neither have you from the looks of things. Sit down and I'll make you something,"Ma advised.
"Can't. I've to get to work. Ma,Pa...there's a reason I brought Diana here. She needs somewhere to stay for a couple of weeks somewhere secluded and quiet. Last night her Embassy was bombed."
The Kents looked at Diana in concern. Clark continued,"She can't stay there until the authorities are finished with their investigation and right now the press is on her back..."
"I'm sorry to hear that,dear",said Ma."Of course you can stay. Any friend of our Clark is welcomed and even more so someone in need."
"Thank you. I hope I'm not inconveniencing you,"Diana replied gratefully at her immediate and sincere response.
"Not at all. We have a lovely guest room that very rarely gets used. It'll be wonderful to have it lived in and very nice it'll be to have another gal in the house."
Clark interjected,"Ma,Diana has no clothes than what she's wearing. Can you help her out?"
Ma nodded."I'm sure I can."She shoved the basket of muffins in his arms."Take them. You can carry them for your co-workers."
He turned to his father."Pa,you wait until I come home to mend the fence. I'll come on my lunch break."
Mr Kent looked a bit mulish."I feel fine.''
"Pa,the doctor said you were to rest for a couple of days",he said sternly and bade them goodbye."See you all later."
After he had gone,Mr Kent complained,"Sitting around will make me sick!"
Diana volunteered,"I'll help with the fence."
Mrs Kent chided,"You're a guest. You aren't here to do farm-work."
"I don't want to sit around for two weeks,Mrs Kent. I'll go insane. If there's anything I can do to help,please permit me to do so...I've often helped in rebuilding operations with the League. All Mr Kent has to do is tell me what to do and I'll do it. And Clark won't have to rush home from his work."
Clark was with Lois and Jimmy watching the televised news about the Embassy bombing in the Planet newsroom.
Lois sniffed."Madam Ambassador has vanished. I wonder where she's gone?"
Jimmy said,"My bets is that she's gone to the League or her island."
"I think she may have gone somewhere more,er,receptive and to her taste...I think I ought to call up one Mr Wayne."
Jimmy looked at Lois curiously."What makes you say that?"
"You should have seen them last night. Very cosy,weren't they,Clark?"
Clark shrugged."I saw nothing out of the ordinary. The Ambassadress was being her gracious self."
She dismissed Clark."Oh,don't listen to Smallville. He's got a crush on her. But she's got her eye on a Billionaire."
Jimmy sighed."I know how you feel,Clark. She's a dream. But Lois is right. The likes of us has no chance with a charmer like Wayne on the scene."
Clark moved away from them and went back to his desk. He looked at the clock. It was near eleven. In an hour he'd be flying to Smallville to help Pa...His cell phone rang and he answered it to hear his mother's voice.
"Ma,what's up?Is Pa okay?''
"He's fine,sweetheart. I'm just calling to tell you don't rush home. The fence is mended.''
"Ma,I told him to stay put."
"Clark,Diana did most of the work. And so quickly too. She's very strong, isn't she?You wouldn't think to look at her. But it's all in hand."
"What?"
"You take care,and we'll see you this weekend. I've got to go into town to pick her up some clothes. She's wearing an old overall of yours and it's a bit hilarious. It 's like a large bib on her. But she looks even beautiful in that. Pa reckons she could wear a corn sack and look lovely. Well, take care. Bye."
Clark looked at the phone with an amused air. His mother had found someone to fuss over in his stead. He wondered how Diana would deal with the farm and his parents.
Clark did not have to wonder about Diana because she was settling in very well. Ma Kent was like Hippolyta, in that she was generous and strong willed. Pa was like his son,easy going and humorous. He liked to let Ma think she ruled the roost but in fact he was the rock that the Kent family ultimately leaned upon. Diana instantly liked the pair and it was moving to see the affection between them.
They would not hear initially of Diana lifting a finger but she was determined to earn her keep and ,truth be told,show Clark that she wasn't above doing what she had grown up recognizing as servant's work. She insisted on helping Ma with household tasks as well as helping Pa with some yard work. She found the outside chores easier than the ones inside. But this did not stop her from trying her hand at domestic duties. She also had the odd call out to the League. J'onn kept her involvement to a limit,knowing that the less the press saw her,the better. She, however,still had to do her turn at monitor duty.
When Clark flew in that first weekend,he found her in the kitchen trying to cook dinner. His parents had to go into town to see an ill friend in hospital,and their guest had decided that it would be nice for Ma to come back home and not have to cook. Clark found her amidst bubbling pots and the smell of burning coming from the oven.
He had not bothered changing his uniform. He leaned against the back door and watched her,her cheeks flushed,hair pinned up in a lopsided bun,mits on and apron stained with tomato sauce and custard. She was pulling out a smoking dish and plunking it with a cry of dismay onto a hotplate.
Clark asked, ever so politely,"Are you trying to burn down the Kent farm,ma'am?"
She looked up in surprise to see him."Clark!You're home?Ma said you had to work into the weekend."
"I managed to meet my deadline. And Perry let me off the hook. He knows Pa isn't too well. What was that supposed to be?"
She looked pained."Apple pie."
He looked at the other pans on the stove."And those?"
"Bolognese sauce,and pasta...and custard for the apple pie..."She removed the pasta with a frown."I cooked it for twelve minutes like the packet said."She strained it and it fell into the pot in a thick clump."Why is it stuck together?"
Clark tried not to laugh at her bewildered expression. He said,"Er,that can happen if you don't stir it. I think your pasta sauce is sticking."
The pasta sauce was bubbling fiercely and spitting onto the stove. Diana rushed to it and picked up the wooden spoon to stir it. It was indeed sticking to the bottom of the pan and she sniffed."It must be cooked by now..."She took out a spoon and ventured to him."Will you taste it for me?It tasted a bit bland earlier...so I went into Ma's spice rack."
He took the wooden spoon,albeit tentatively,and took a taste. He spluttered and his cheeks went red and eyes watered. He ran to the sink and guzzled water directly from the tap. Diana cried,"What's wrong?It was just a bit of paprika."She patted his back in alarm.
He glanced at the so called paprika bottle when he was able to speak. He indicated it to her."That was cayenne pepper, Diana."
She gasped. She had picked up the cayenne instead of paprika! "Oh,Kal!I'm sorry...Hera,what a mess!The pasta's a sodden lump, the sauce is inedible and the dessert is blackened."
She fell into a chair. She looked hot,bothered and disgusted with herself.
Clark conceded,"Well,at least the custard seems okay."
She did not look comforted. She sighed,"We can hardly eat custard for dinner. I thought I'd surprise your parents with dinner and instead I just created a disaster."
He agreed wryly,''Oh,they'll be surprised alright."
She looked at the mess strewed about the kitchen and muttered,"Well,I guess I'll get this cleaned up.
He offered,"Let me help..."
"No,it's my mess. I'll do it."
"It'll take me minutes..."
"I did it,and you aren't my servant!",she said impatiently,rising and picking up the saucepan of pasta sauce.
"I never said I was. Give me that!"
"Clark,no!"She tried to put the pan behind her back.
"Diana,stop being a martyr!"He grabbed her and managed to wrench the pan away.
He said with grimace, "Honestly,you've done enough damage for one day!" He turned his back to her and poured the sauce down the sink.
The princess of the Amazons gasped in annoyance and responded by picking an apple from the nearby fruit bowl and knocking him on the back of the head with it. Clark stood still for a moment and turned to look at her with raised brows."You didn't just hit me?"
Before she could open her mouth,two tomatoes came at her in succession. It splattered on her blouse and skirt. Diana exclaimed,"Why you,you...! That was not funny!Look at my clothes!"
There was an unrepentant twinkle in his blue eyes as he retorted,"If you can't stand the heat,get out of the kitchen."
She looked for the nearest thing to her and it turned out to be the apple pie. It came at him hard and fast. His ducked and it splattered on the kitchen window. Clark reached for the hurled it at her and it smacked her,leaving strings of pasta on her head. Clark grinned at her in mischievous satisfaction; but his glee lasted for mere seconds as custard was thrown at his Superman uniform. Diana was giggling now,her inhibitions gone,she dashed around the breakfast bar to duck as he picked up the squeezy bottles of ketchup and mustard from the table. She began to shake her head.
"No,Clark...No!"
But Clark was not about to listen to her pleas. He was about to squirt her with the condiments,when a voice thundered behind him."CLARK KENT!What is the meaning of this?"
He stopped and turned slowly to see Ma at the kitchen door looking at him and Diana in disbelief. He put the bottles down, like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
"Ma!You're...home..!"
Mrs Kent walked in to stare in astonishment at her kitchen and the two culprits."You don't mean to tell me you are having a food fight...in my kitchen!What are you,Clark?Ten years old?"
Diana began remorsefully,"Mrs Kent,I was the one who tried to make dinner and it turned out to be a bit of a disaster. Clark was trying to help me clean up."
"Clean up? Excuse me,Diana,but throwing food and sauces around a kitchen isn't cleaning up!"
Clark said wryly,"Sorry,Ma,I um...got sidetracked...I'll clean it in no time."
"That's not the point,is it, son? What kind of example is this for poor, dear Diana?"
He eyed Diana."Oh, ''poor,dear Diana'' is not the angel she looks."
Mr Kent appeared and whistled."What bomb went off here then?"
"Ask your son,"recommended Ma crossly.
Diana said,"Mr Kent,I started it...I made a mess of dinner and Clark was trying to help me clean up and I got annoyed and threw an apple at his head..."
Pa looked impressed."Sounds like when you get angry,Ma." Clark and Diana's lips twitched.
Mrs Kent put her hands on her hips."Leave it to you to make light of this,Jonathan!"
"Oh,give them a break,Martha. Clark can clean this up in minutes. As for dinner,Clark can fly out and bring back anything we want. What do you fancy,Diana?"
Diana flushed."I...it doesn't matter to me."
Ma looked at her."Look at the state of you. You go on up and change."
She nodded and apologized,"I'm sorry,Mrs Kent,all I wanted was to make dinner."
Mrs Kent smiled kindly,"I know ,dear,the effort was appreciated but next time wait for help. I'll be happy to guide you."
Diana left and Ma looked at her errant son half covered in custard. He wore a sheepish look. She took up a dish cloth and began to wipe globs of custard from his uniform.
"Look at you. Since when does Superman behave like a school boy?"
Mr Kent took his wife's arm."He can clean himself and the kitchen in no time and then go get dinner. Clark,what does Diana like?"
"Thai."
"Then Thai it is. Come on,Martha."Mr Kent drew her out of the kitchen and into the living room. Mrs Kent glared at him as he sank onto the couch and rubbed his hands with a knowing grin."What are you looking so pleased about?"
"I think our son is smitten,"he stated with quiet satisfaction.
Mrs Kent's brow rose."Clark said that they're just friends!"
"Come on,Martha,it's clear as day. Our boy worships the ground that gal walks upon."
Martha sat next to her husband and looked worriedly up at the ceiling as if seeing Diana above. She remarked,"She isn't any ordinary girl,Pa. She's Wonder Woman."
"And our son is Superman."
"She's a royal princess. An ambassador. She's very high profile. Clark maintains a secret identity because he doesn't want all that attention and he understands the risks are too great to reveal his identity. How will it work,Pa?Remember Lana and Lori?"
"I know,Ma. It's complicated. But our son has sacrificed so much for the good of mankind,is it fair that he should remain isolated and alone for the rest of his life?I like Diana..."He added as an afterthought, "I mean,what's not to like?She's drop dead gorgeous and smart as hell. Did you know she can speak over nine languages,Martha?She's brave and strong and generous and knows what it is like to be super human. And Princess or no,the gal isn't above mucking in! She's also got fire in her...that'll keep Clark busy for sure."He chuckled at the thought of his easygoing son with the strong willed super heroine.
"She's a dear but I'm not sure she thinks of Clark beyond friendship,"she said softly.
"You didn't take to me right away,"he reminded her with a smile and covered her hand with his own. Mrs Kent leaned her cheek on his shoulder and mused,"I was a silly fool, wasn't I?"
"You were adorable."He kissed her atop the head. Their son poked his head around the room. He eyed them in amusement. "Just to let you love-birds know I'm going to get the food."
Ma sat upright and regarded him with that motherly awe and pride that she never seemed to overcome."Finished already?"
"Yeah. See you in awhile."
He was gone before she could reply. She sighed and looked at her husband."Well,he isn't a boy anymore. And one thing I learned after Lana was not to interfere."
"Amen,"agreed Pa.
The Kents certainly did not meddle in their son's personal affairs;Ma managed not to ask Clark any prying questions even though it was nagging her to find out how he felt abut Diana,and Pa did not try to throw them together as he was itching to do. So although Clark spent the weekend,it was mainly with Mr Kent on the farm and making brief trips to Metropolis and parts of the world to aid and stop the odd disaster or crime.
Diana was kept out of the fields. It was pointed out to her Mr Kent had several hired hands to help him during the harvest, and even Clark had to take a step back to allow for the workers to earn their wages. Clark usually used his super speed and strength only when it was necessary and when no one was around to see him.
It was late Sunday afternoon. The field hands had gone home and Clark was able to safely help his father stack the bales of hay in the barn. Pa was sent in with stern orders to clean up and rest. When it was growing dark,Ma sent Diana to call her son."He won't come in until he's done pottering around and daydreaming .And he's to go back to Metropolis tonight."
Diana went to the barn. She opened the door and flicked the light switch on. She could see that the bales had been neatly stacked but her friend was no where in sight.
"Clark?"
"Up here."
The voice came from the loft. Diana hovered off the ground and up towards the opening via the ladder. She saw him leaning against the sweet smelling hay with four balls of fluff walking over and around him. The stray tabby that the kittens belonged to was cleaning herself industriously on the sill of the window.
Clark saw her and smiled."Did Ma send you to get me?"
She stepped onto the loft and knelt at once to pick up a kitten. "Yes,dinner is nearly ,Kal,aren't they just adorable?"
He looked at one kitten clutching onto his t-shirt and tickled its chin."Very."
"What were you doing lying in the dark?"
"Thinking."
She sat down on a bale of hay near him with the kitten on her lap and looked out the window. The first stars in the sky could be seen."It's very peaceful up here."
After a minute of silence,he mused,"You must be impatient to get back to the Embassy."
She sighed,"I am worried about what has happened and the welfare of my staff is paramount yet...being here has been such a welcomed respite. Your parents are absolutely wonderful...I think your mother is on a mission to fatten me up and your father has been teaching me about cars. He believes every one should know how to drive and change oil and flat tyres. I didn't tell him I could fly a plane and space craft."
Clark chuckled then asked,"You aren't fed up of here then?"
"You were right about not living under a microscope. It's wonderful not having one's life the subject of speculation to the media. Is it hard for you living a double life?"
"Yes,it can be a bit of a challenge. Most people see me as a bit of geek. Superman is world-renown and everyone idolizes him. In that persona I can effect great change in the world,not only with my powers but the audience I can reach. People respect and listen to Superman yet as Clark I can understand them from the perspective of a normal man. You want to change the world,Diana?You need to understand the hopes and fears of the human race first. The League has taught us a lot but that isn't normal, everyday living. It's things like this."He gestured to the scene around them.
Diana questioned slowly,"Are you suggesting the Embassy wasn't a good idea?"
"Nothing of the sort. You are an Amazon Princess. You have a mission. But you need to go down to the level of the people some times to see things from their perspective."
She said hopefully,"Well,I've been here for a week and I am learning. Surely that's a start?"
Clark said with a grimace,"Well,trying to burn down the house wasn't a good start."
She flung a handful of hay at him. He sat up,the kitten dangling from his chest. He put it down carefully and plucked the strands of hay from his head with a warning,"You know what happened the last time you threw something at me?"
Diana let her kitten down and squealed as a heap of hay fell atop her head. She flung back an armful on him and soon,like two carefree children, they were both laughing and romping in hay. She hovered off the flooring to grab a bale,only to feel him yank her down by the ankles. She fell awkwardly atop him and their combined strengths cracked a large hole in the loft as they fell onto the stacked bales below. They bounced and fell together on loose hay on the ground. Diana landed on his chest and she let out a tiny gasp as she raised her head and looked down at him.
Her raven tresses cascaded over them both and her fragrance assailed his nostrils. He could feel the warmth of her body atop his own. He muttered,"I think I'm in trouble."
Diana glanced up at the hole above."It's not all your fault. I helped break it too. But it does not look too bad. Do you have any extra planks?We could fix it before your folks even suspect..."
He interrupted,"That's not what I mean."
Diana's eyes widened as Clark's hands reached up and cupped her cheeks,and drew her face down to his own. He captured her lips in a blistering kiss. She stared at him stunned as their lips drew apart. She was still sprawled across him. Her heart was thudding in her chest and she blushed scarlet when she heard Mrs Kent's voice calling.
"Clark!Diana!What's keeping you?Dinner is ready!"
They swiftly rose to their feet and stepped back from each other,Clark dusting the hay off his head,Diana trying to smoothen her dress.
Diana turned to see the door to the barn opening and Mrs Kent's head peering in."There you are!Will you two get in!Dinner'll go cold!"
Clark began wryly,"There's been an accident,Ma. I broke the loft!"
Mrs Kent came in to look up and exclaim,"How did that happen?"
"I slipped from the rafters and fell."
"What in the lord's name were you doing on the rafters?"She looked at them both suspiciously;despite their casual demeanour, she sensed something was up.
He ignored her question and asked,"Do we have planks,Ma?I can fix it up in a jiffy..."
"You can do it after dinner. Come on. Pa is waiting. Diana, dear,let's go."Mrs Kent was adamant and took Diana's arm and led her out. Clark trailed behind.
Suffice to say,the Kents noted that their son was quick to scoff his food down and leave the table with the excuse of fixing the loft before he left for Metropolis,and their guest was unusually quiet with a small appetite. When Diana went to wash up the dishes,Pa whispered to Ma,"What's up with those two?You could cut the air with a knife,the tension was so thick between them!"
"I don't know. I think I may have interrupted something earlier on. Maybe I could talk to Diana."
"You promised not to interfere,Martha."
She sighed regretfully."I know."
Clark came in half an hour later to announce that the loft was repaired and that he was ready to go. Diana was sitting with Mrs Kent pretending to be interested in the quilt Ma was working upon and gave Clark a cursory smile and nod acknowledging his intention to depart. She watched from the corner of her eye as he kissed his mother and hugged his father.
After his departure, Diana excused herself and went to her bedroom. She paced the room,going over what had transpired that evening. He had kissed her!Kal...Clark had kissed her!She touched her lips tentatively. She could still feel the imprint of his lips and blushed self consciously. What would have happened if Mrs Kent had not interrupted?
She felt bewildered and yet oddly elated. Great Aphrodite,it was so unlike the kiss she had with Bruce!She sighed. She had not even thought of Bruce that way since...well,if she was honest it must be months!Her mind had been so preoccupied with setting up the Embassy and her mission that romance was the last thing on her mind.
She had been dimly aware that something between her and Superman had changed since Almerac. It was nothing like the on/off flirtation she had with Bruce. It was different. It was bewildering because she had viewed him just as a friend. Not just a friend,her heart whispered. He was a friend who she would follow willingly into battle;someone who she would risk her own life to save;someone who understood her mission and whom she admired and respected more than anyone in the League. When he had resigned from the League,she had felt his absence keenly. And coming to Smallville at his behest was mainly because she trusted him implicitly. She sank upon the bed and sighed. He had gone and there was no chance to discuss what had happened until he returned the next weekend.
Diana spent the next day liaising with her staff to find out that the Embassy would be ready by the following week for occupation and renovation. The investigation had not turned up anything substantial other than the police questioning dozens of witnesses,radical groups and religious organizations. J'onn also informed her that Bruce had only been able to find out that the dead body belonged to a homeless immigrant and the cars were unregistered and or stolen. The media had eased up on the story simply because there were other scandals,natural disasters and crimes nationwide to report.
She tried not to think too much of Clark. If she was unsuccessful in this,no one,neither the Kents nor the Leaguers were able to detect anything in her demeanour. She did not know when he would come back home;she guessed it would be on the weekend; she, however, did not expect him to fly in two days after the kiss.
He came in about five in the afternoon. Mrs Kent was fixing dinner whilst her spouse was fiddling with the engine of the old wagon. Both were pleasantly surprised to see their son.
"Where's Diana,Pa?"
"I think she went for a walk down by the pond. Something wrong,son?"
Clark took to the air."No,not wrong...no..."
Ma shouted,"Will you be staying for dinner?"
But he had gone in a gust of wind. Mrs Kent exchanged rueful looks with her husband.
Clark found Diana sitting on a fallen log beside the pond that was two miles from the house. She was looking pensively at the calm water and her head turned at once before he reached her. Her warrior's instincts had sensed she was not alone and her ears had picked up on the familiar flutter of the cape. She turned to see him alight behind her. Her surprise showed on her face.
"Kal!"
He blurted out without preamble,"We need to talk."
She felt her heart begin to beat faster. She tried to look calm."Yes,I know."
Clark rubbed his chin ruefully,"About what happened..."
"Yes...?"
"I shouldn't have done it."He began to pace."I didn't think. I just reacted instinctively...It was unfair of me after I told you all those things about us being different,then contradicting myself and kissing you. Because I do believe those things and it'd have been better for us both if it had not happened.."
Diana felt the colour drain from her cheeks."So essentially you regret what you did?"
"Yes. It was in poor taste and judgment."
"I see. And you came all this way to say this?"
"I thought it best to clear the air."
She said stiffly,"I am sorry that kissing me was so distasteful to you,Kal. Maybe my being here was a bad idea. I should go." She got to her feet.
"I never said I found it distasteful and I was not implying that you leave!Why would you even think that?"He caught her arm.
Diana looked at him in some ire."You just said you were sorry you kissed me!"
"Yes but it was not because I found it distasteful!God, woman,no man could complain about kissing you!"
Diana looked at him in some impatience and bewilderment.
"You just did!You are making no sense!Kindly let me go so I can go and thank your parents for their hospitality."
He turned her to face him,"Diana,I know I'm making a mess of this but what I am trying to ask is for you to pardon me. You are my friend..and I put you in an awkward position without as much as a thought to your feelings...especially after you and Bruce..."
She regarded him crossly,"What is this obsession you have with me and Bruce?I told you,we are just friends. He's got issues with Catwoman. A blind man can see that!"
"So you are not in love with Bruce?"He let her go looking half expectant,half disbelieving.
"No. I never was in love with him. Honestly, Clark,was all of this nonsense because you thought that?"
"I...well...I...we all thought..."He reddened like an awkward schoolboy.
Diana's annoyance dissipated at once. She tilted her head at him."What if I told you I did not find your kiss in poor taste and judgment?"
He stared at her stunned."W-what?"
She laughed softly."I never thought I'd see the day the great Superman gape like a fish."
He closed his mouth and warned gravely,"This isn't a laughing matter,Diana. Consider what I nearly did to the League...to you...What are you doing..?"He looked nervous as she covered the space between them. Her eyes had softened now. She reached up and cupped his cheeks and drew his head down to her own. This time she kissed him.
She breathed,"Well?I haven't had much practice but I think that was a good effort."
He said huskily,"Diana,I don't know if this is wise. How will this work if we..."
She whispered,her fingers stroking the hair at his nape,"You are too much of a Boyscout at times, Kal...Will you shut up and just kiss me?"
Superman was about to oblige when a portal appeared several yards away behind a thicket. Six female figures attired in armour carrying shields and swords stepped out onto the grass. Clark knew at once that they were not alone. He stiffened and drew her away from him. Diana began confused,"What is it?"
He looked at the figures coming towards them."I believe this is for you."
Diana turned and saw the Amazons approach. She felt her cheeks blush;there was no doubt they had seen her and Clark,their lips inches away from one another's. She recognized the two prominent figures in front. One was General Phillipus,her mother's most trusted adviser. The other was Artemis of Bana-Mighdall. The four behind them were palace guards. She could not miss the scathing look Artemis directed at Superman and the worried one Phillipus gave to her.
All six knelt and bowed to her."Princess."
Diana acknowledged them with a gracious wave of her hand.
"Rise. What are you doing here?How did you find me?"
Artemis gave Superman a wary look and began,"What we have to say is Amazon business."
Diana cut her off with a blunt,"He can hear the blood pumping in your veins,sister,so say what you have to say."
Phillipus said,"The telepath gave us your whereabouts. There has been unrest again between the two tribes."
Diana paled."What?"The two tribes of Amazons had a long history of hostility. There had been two civil wars but a kind of peace had been developed after the tribes united to fight a common enemy in Ares.
Artemis explained,"The goddess Eris had enticed one of the younger,more ambitious of my clan,who wanted my station of Shim'Tar,and got her to eat the apple of Discord. Suffice to say,she attacked your mother's retinue and this in turn led to retaliation by the hotter,more radical heads of the guard. There was an all out declaration of hostilities and a partitioning of the island once more. I have tried to act as mediator but to no avail. Then there was the attack on your is my belief it is the doing of Eris...this is a plot to discredit the Amazon nation and Wonder Woman.
Phillipus added,"Penelope has seen the shadow of the children of Ares,of Strife,and Devastation. And she senses the spilling of more innocent blood...this time being laid at your door...Queen Hippolyta decrees that you return home. We can consult the Fates through the temple of Delphi at the next summer solstice...he gossamer of destiny is delicate but the future is not set and war must be averted."
Diana looked bewildered."But..you cannot mean...that I must leave?"
"It is a preventative measure,Princess,and the Queen said to tell you that if your monarch cannot command,then a mother is hoping she can plead."
Diana looked dismayed."But my staff...they'll be expecting me to..."
Artemis interrupted."Their lives are at stake too. I understand six were injured. You were fortunate no one died. Themyscira needs you now."
The Amazon princess looked at Superman as if for his input. He looked sombre and said,"This is your choice,Diana."
Diana seemed to struggle with her own thoughts. She looked at the six women who were looking at her expectantly.
She said abruptly,"Excuse us."
She took Clark by the arm and whispered,"Kal...I...don't know what to do."
He looked at the anxious look on the faces of the Amazons and asked softly,"Don't you?"
Diana saw the look in blue gaze. It spoke volumes. It also made her heart sink. He knew. He understood. She almost wished he didn't. She let out a tiny sigh after a moment's silence,turned and walked to her sisters. She assented."Very well. But I will follow you after I have spoken to my staff and JLA colleagues."
The looks of relief on their faces was obvious. Phillipus bowed."Themyscira will be pleased to know this,Highness."
They turned and walked back from whence they had emerged. Some words were spoken and the portal appeared. They vanished. Diana turned to look at Superman. She looked almost forlorn."I'm sorry...but...the fate of my nation is determined by what I do next."
His eyes reflected his own disappointment but he nodded."It's okay,Diana. I understand."
"I'll try to come back as soon as I can."
He offered,"The League could come with you and help."
"No,no one must come. Mother fought tooth and nail with the council to let me return. I cannot betray their trust by letting men on the island again. All I can do is continue to try to soften their stance by sharing my experiences and hope they will relent one day. I need to speak to J'onn and my staff. Will you tell your parents I had to leave suddenly?Tell them how grateful I am for their kindness and hospitality. That these last ten days have been some of the best days I've had in the outside world..."She faltered;she could not speak anymore.
Clark reached out and took her into his arms."Call me. Anytime you need me. I'll be there." His words were muffled in her hair.
Diana held onto him for a moment;but she pulled away after some seconds. She kissed his cheek abruptly and turned away. "Goodbye Kal."
She took to the skies and never looked back.