Disclaimer: I do not own the DC Comic characters, locations, or anything of that nature.
Claimer: I own the plot and OC characters in this story.
Here you go, Oksofia. I hope it was worth the wait.
A many thanks to Geeky BMWW for her help in the chapters and to Lady Isis for her assistance with this chapter. It only sounds as good as I think it does because of these two.
Chapter Five
Nightingale
There were spinning and endless swirls around his head — since the end of the morning his vision had been full of them. The headaches and sore stomach were brutal, and made standing, let alone walking, a painful task. The night sky spun and nearly merged with the ground; blending colors and distorted sounds of chatter. He wanted these effects to be gone and over with, but admittedly he was getting used to them. The stroll was made to appear as unaffected as his strength and remaining will could muster. The crowds noticed him until seeing his obvious state, and then disregarded him as he passed.
When his vision finally cleared to a degree of interpretation, he searched the surroundings for anything existing that could draw a sense of familiarity. The background city, the trees, the people — where was he? In a park?
All he could remember or care to remember was that he needed to see someone tonight. To tell her something very important. He had been waiting for some time to do so and it was eating at him to do nothing else until the deed was done.
At the edge of the crowd he wanted to be away from stood one who could be recognize or at least her backside. From the look of things she too was looking for someone. He reached for her with his numbed limb and placed his golden covered hand on the woman's shoulder.
Her green eyes were focused in temper at the unexpected gesture, but they softened with the sight of him. "Flash?!"
She stared at him in confusion. His back and head were slouched downward, his expression sick and tired. The hint of drool from the corner of his mouth came with an awful stench.
"Nine and a half," he slurred. "Told ya."
Shayera's eyes lit up in outrage in reaction to Flash's stupidity, and she grabbed him before he collapsed. He was nearly powerless in her supporting arms — something the cameras did not miss. Angered still by the ones she had just escaped from, the winged woman hauled the man away from the mainstream crowds.
"Nine times?!" She wanted to hit him. "You went on that thing nine times?"
"Ten actually," he burped. "Couldn't make the tenth trip the entire way."
"Wal- Flash," she said, a reactionary strain in her voice. Flash dragged against the ground, unable to contribute to the foot movement. Crowd numbers decreased enough for her liking, and tired of carrying the boy around, Shayera propped him up against a nearby tree.
Her right hand fell on her hip. "What were you thinking?"
"Well, I told you I'd beat it." Flash rubbed his stomach to coax the angered matter that remained in it. "Ooh...I'm going to feel that in the morning."
"Look at you, you're a mess!"
"Well you're...." he paused to think. "The three of you both can talk to me when you stop spinning around in circles, 'kay?"
Another second was all it took for the smell of the food cart beside them to assault Flash's sense of smell and desire to fill a basically empty stomach. Without fail he reached over with lighting speed and consumed a hot dog. Followed by another and another. The volume of consumption gained him a disappointed glare from the woman standing before him.
"What? Heroes eat free here."
"'Free' being used lightly for a fund raiser, Flash!" She snatched the food in his hands and walked away. The hot dog's aroma held far less appeal for her than it had for Flash, and it was tossed away with a look of disgust. It was too big a reminder of those rat-things back home.
He caught up in a heartbeat with another five 'dogs' that were consumed with haste. "So while I was out...uh, pleasing the crowd, where did you sneak off to?"
"I wasn't sneaking," she said with a hiss. "While you were pleasing the crowd, I went for some air and bumped into someone."
Her pace slowed. "Have you seen Diana?"
"Not since this morning, why?"
"She was right behind me when we...never mind." Shayera's eyes glanced back, thinking; the story wasn't important enough to explain.
An entirely new gathered crowd ahead stopped the woman cold.
Flash followed with a halt, paying no mind to what Shayera was looking at. "Here's what gets me. This party — I know its suppose to be all dandy for the rich and all, but why call it a ball? Its more like a festival to me. Like the ones around town when I was a kid, only this is a lot bigger. The Metropolis Fair makes more sense if you ask me."
"The rich, Flash, aren't here for the rides and hot dogs like you. They're here to enjoy something a little more settled."
"No kidding. I'd like to see those guys try negotiate a business deal while spinning around at hundred miles an hour saying; 'Buy! No, sell! I can't hear you!' Not something that makes you feel charitable or interested in investing on something with your hurling your guts out."
Shayera smiled before she pulled Wally forward and pointed; "I think that's more along the lines of making them feel more charitable towards the city."
With a goofy expression he looked over and saw the distant collective gathering of the rich and mighty. Suits and gowns galore who hung around the area obviously created and decorated for their sole benefit. A large tent in the background with food and created comfort zones for conducting business. All which were centered around a dance floor and stand where fine music was played. And of course — food!
"Well, what are we waiting for?" he asked with a grin.
"Flash, the last thing those people need you making a fool of yourself while eating up all their food."
"C'mon, Shay, those guys could use a laugh." He began to walk and stuck his thumb out at a sign. "And besides, look! No press allowed!"
Wally continued forward and goaded her on about tagging along or face the media for the rest of the evening. As tempting as it was to return to the fairground for Superman and the others' sake, the chance of a decent break from them was too much to ignore. Plus, she couldn't help but notice at another edge of the camera free zone the media attacking a certain someone in a mob, as he was pulled forward by a delighted young woman.
The unavoidable further complemented Bruce's hidden aggravation while he maintained a modest expression. There was no interest to go down the road his painted image usually made him take. The young blond hair woman allowed to whisk him away from the media hounds held a tight grip knowing time would be no doubt short with him. Everyone with a camera and a slim pair of legs in the city would be chasing tonight. She worked relentlessly to keep everyone else from being allowed to mingle with Bruce Wayne. The accomplishment of doing so kept a strong smile on the woman's face as she spoke to her catch of things that sounded nothing more than the rabbles of the conceded to the man's ears. The Batman masked in a tree somewhere in the park while waiting for Ethan Delmont to strike was the primary choice for tonight's appearance and for not taking it ate at his agitation.
As expected the woman took Bruce to the most intimate location she had available to the public eye, the dance floor. The sight of it was met with anguish on his part and an inward curse at himself for poor planning with this woman. Not the most cleverest or most effective means of escape from the media ever devised. A gas pellet and a disappearing act would be the method of choice to evade them had he been in the cowl, but that was a little too extreme for the situation.
Just about.
The young lady's choice to take him there held no intent in the man's mind. See a few people and conduct actual business with other dignitaries and get some real work with his company done. Anything would be better than to entertain the bothersome role that would lead him to such a place as the dance floor this evening.
Bruce was certain of it.
Her feet came to a halt and with a spin of the heel began an entirely new nightmare for the billionaire. The music was lively and annoyed him — and the woman wanted a dance with gusto. Gusto he simply could not provide.
While it was a long shot of her being in the general area, Bruce's eyes glanced all around him without discretion. He was tempted to just call out her name — or take the more logical approach of breaking radio silence on the com-links. His motions of dance suffered for the lack of attention he put into it; slow and were obviously put forth without much effort placed behind them.
"You having a good time?" she asked girlishly.
"Immensely," he grumbled.
Whether the woman failed to pick up on his tone of voice or simply chose to ignore it, she continued to dance endlessly. With every spin or move that caused her to face away from him, Bruce's expressions would relax from the facade of pleasantries. It was too tiring at the moment to play the role entirely. It proved to be a costly mistake for him with other women who lingered around like vultures for a chance to get at him.
To see an openly moody playboy while dancing with a beautiful woman was an open invitation for every other gold-digger to cash in on. The young woman spun around once more and before her return, a tap was made to Bruce's shoulder. A single look was all it took for him to be stanched up by another regarded beauty and begin a dance of her own.
"Bruce Wayne," she began with excitement. "It's been forever!"
He was certain he'd never met this woman before, but this card had been played several times in the past. Strange women would claim a previous acquaintance in the hope that he couldn't remember all of the women he'd supposedly been with. After all, why would a playboy airhead care enough to remember one girl from the next?
"Yes, it has," Bruce cleared his throat, going for the confused and nervous look. "Uh..."
"Carol," she smiled.
"Carol," he made to play the moment off smoothly, "right."
"So how you been?"
The woman's voice was irritating.
He gave a toothy grin and gave minimum effort to the dance.
"Excuse me," the blond snapped in with a mixed expression of feigned politeness and pure outrage.
"Oh, you're excused," Carol said simperingly, immediately returning her attention to the billionaire.
The blond's jaw dropped, and shock could be seen clearly on her face. "I believe that Bruce and I were dancing."
She beamed a glare at her.
"Now we're dancing," she smiled smugly, "so get lost."
"Bruce?" the blond pleaded.
It would be simple to have one woman in one arm and another in the other, but not tonight. A confused look was hitched on his face at the woman that hid his utter contempt for the stupidity of the situation. What so many other men would give almost anything for, Bruce loathed with a passion.
And then, like a rain-cloud appearing on an already foul day, another woman appeared.
She had beauty and everything else. Her approach was greeted by hostility from both of the women Bruce was not-dancing with. Normally the men crowded around her for a dance, but apparently not tonight. Ordinarily she'd cut her losses and move on, but...
This was Bruce Wayne!
"Excuse me, ladies," the blond cut in, "but we were having a moment. So butt out!" She moved closer than was appropriate for a stranger, stroking at Bruce's jaw to somehow coax him into a decision.
The move was cheap and maddened the other two women. Such a recognized tension Bruce wisely found himself backing away from. Women... ready to fight one another for attention. How droll and bothersome. He had neither the time nor the patience for it.
"You can have a turn with him when I am well and done with him." The blond pushed herself before the other two. "That won't be tonight I can assure you," she purred, the words spoken suggestively.
"You don't got all night, sister!" The brunette threw both hands on her hips. "He didn't even look like he was having a good time with your dancing. How you think you're going to show him a good time the rest of the night?"
Bruce rolled his eyes.
The blond readied for attack with her bare hands and teeth.
"Why you little-"
Enough! Bruce shouted to himself.
"Ladies, ladies," he soothed, shaking his head.
"Bruce, you were having a better time with me than you were with them right?"
"Bruce," the second said.
"Bruce," the third said.
He eyed the surroundings for any reasonable escape route. Wasn't there supposed to be an attack sometime tonight? Everyone around looked at the scene as they assumed he was enjoying every moment of it. No one was going to end an entertainment of the Gotham Playboy in action. Bruce was on his own. No Alfred, no crisis, and definitely no Superman to bail him out of such a bad situation. The three women were ready to begin their brawl just as Bruce caught glimpse of a way to get him out of the current entanglement.
He smiled and turned his attention to them. "Would any of you ladies care for a drink?"
Each of the women broke off their attention directing them solely at him.
"A drink?"
A coy smile played to his supposed intent beamed on his face that they ate up without fail.
"I'd love a drink," the brunette said with enthusiasm.
"I'd like one too," the third said hastily.
"What kinda drink?" the blond's eyes lit up.
A chance to work on a drunk billionaire? How could any of them lose?
Bruce inched closer. "That'll be the surprise."
A surprise indeed was intended of an escape out of this and maybe with luck Bruce could flee the scene without being noticed. The refreshment table was a rather long walk if he timed it well enough.
He grinned. "You...you ladies wait right here and...uh, talk. I'll be getting those drinks."
The pace away from his triple troubles began slow but quickly gave way to a kick in steps.
"Bruce," the blond made to follow.
"No way, honey!" The second grabbed her arm. "No more alone time for you until he gets back."
The blond looked back at the departing Bruce, knowing her night with him was over.
With any luck they would buy into it long enough for him to slip away. The moments at the refreshment table would be long and dry. Maybe they'd get bored and leave him alone. That thought was tossed out of Bruce's head as instantly as it appeared there. Perhaps a spill of a drink on the pants, that always worked for a quick escape. The departure of Bruce Wayne wouldn't take long to see, but that was not a concern.
A fraction was accomplished with the company's interests since arriving — and not a speck of progress made in locating Diana. With more time there could be something done worth the trip in coming; remaining was out of the question. Any longer would only deepen the frustration and annoyance. Reason of the mind demanded the immediate end of the searching game before something else reached for him. She was here somewhere. The only interest that willed him to attend the event at all. Yet prolonging the useless task of locating her with the state of mind he was in had to be cut short.
His eyes furled and twitched with agitation at pouring the drinks. All of this was not what he needed. A waking terror could strike at any moment with an intensity Bruce dared not think about. Topping the many reasons why today turned out awful — he wanted to be rid of the mindless crowds.
The glasses in his hand almost shattered when the phone in Bruce's jacket rang.
"Bruce Wayne," he answered firmly.
"Mr. Wayne?" was asked with a hint of hesitation.
Bruce knew that voice anywhere. The murmuring and talks of Hawkgirl and the Flash warned him of their being in the area. He eyeballed around and boxed his shoulders closer with the phone as close as skin.
"Miss Hawk," he stated. "Sign the contract with Ethan?"
The code was understood on her end. "Not yet. So far he's been pretty hard to reach."
"Then why are you calling me?!" he fired through the phone.
"Whoa! Keep your tights on there, batboy! I'm just-"
"Is that Bruce on the line?"
Bruce rolled his eyes.
"Flash!" Shayera spat at the man at her side. "Yes. Now be quiet."
"Hey, let me say hello," a whoosh followed with a quick shout from Shayera with the phone removed in an instant from her fingers. "It'll just take a sec."
A grumble and a tightened fist came forward.
"Mr. Wayne, is that really you?" Flash asked with enthusiasm.
Bruce looked around and gave notice to the people around him. He smiled at them then returned his attention to the phone.
"Mr. Flash. How nice to speak to you. Always a pleasure to meet a hero."
"Yeah well, you know. You don't meet a superhero everyday and all."
"Uh-huh," he harshly replied.
"Anyway, now that we have been properly introduced maybe we could hang out," he hinted.
Bruce grind his teeth. "With me? What would a hero and someone like me do while hanging out?"
A pack of laughter escaped through the ear piece from Flash's end.
"I think I can think of something. Like your three friends you left behind are missing Bruce Wayne."
Bruce nearly crushed his phone with bare hands. "You listen and listen good you. I don't want you not thirty feet near me. Remember what I made clear on the Watchtower?"
"Yeah...but you said that was for if we didn't know you and-"
"Quiet!" he shouted. "You have a job to do here, and I suggest you get your mind out of wherever it may be hiding and get to it or so help me, Wally, I'll grind your running feet into paste!"
"But I-"
"Just do it!" Bruce shouted, ending the call. Both hands were thrust onto the table for support. He wondered how much more the day could possibly throw at him — and how much more of it he could stand.
"The 'savior of Metropolis' they call him," called another female sly voice. "And he has business problems too."
Terrific.
"A billionaire philanthropist and the most sought-after playboy, miserable in the company of the swooning women crowd," said the female.
Bruce looked up to see an all too familiar woman with a glass of champagne in hand and smug looked on her face.
"Miss Graves," he shook her hand.
Mercy eyeballed the phone held with Bruce's tight fist. "In a shouting match with an investor at a party like this?"
Bruce gazed at the phone than tucked it away in his jacket pocket. "One whose nonsense threatens the terms of my deal."
"Doesn't look too good for PR. The guy must be a bad investment for business."
Bruce gave a curious glare.
"Only when I don't need his help with something." He played with his corporate skills.
Mercy looked unamused. "I see." She drank and eyed the company waiting for Bruce Wayne's return along with the entertaining presence of the Flash.
"Heroes not your type of company?"
"I'm not someone those type mingle with. Bad PR and all," Bruce retorted with a smirk.
"With everything the League has under their belt already — what's the worst you could do?"
"What of your business troubles Ms. Graves? I hear LexCorp is on its last knees — almost ready to file for bankruptcy."
The insult was maddening, but Mercy shook it off like sand. "A result of its founder's actions and the state the invasion left it in." Mercy swirled the liquid in her glass, choosing her next words carefully. "But if these stories about how Lex saved Superman and the world from Darkseid continues, my company will be seeing the last of its financial problems."
"Right..." Bruce would see that was killed off quickly.
"If nothing else I have a few ideas of my own. But what of you and your interests in my city, Mr. Wayne? The Daily Planet is up for grabs and Mr. White seems only too willing to talk to you." Mercy fed him a smirk, underlying contempt that Bruce saw easily. Both knew what his position as owner of the Planet spelled for her company. His silence only fed Mercy's overall concerns.
"No date and avoiding swooning women? Taste in company must have changed."
An insult Bruce grinned at with no effect to his falsely created pride of a playboy.
"If-" Bruce pointed before the clamor of the crowds caught both their attention.
His brow furled curiously while deciphering between the muttering of the distant crowds. Very few made voices speak in awe like that. They filed around like defensive lining, rendering it impossible to see what all the commotion was for. His breath fell short of small intakes with the possibility. They moved around with the spectacle of interest pushing through them. Another few seconds before a woman emerged from the compacted crowd. They cried for the attention of Wonder Woman.
His gaze locked on her.
"Oh, the walking eye-candy goddess." Mercy folded her arms across her chest. Just the sight of that woman made Mercy's blood boil. Like Superman, Wonder Woman held no liking for the businesswoman. Of course Bruce Wayne, she noticed, couldn't pull his eyes away. He had barely moved.
He handed Mercy his drink and began forward, without paying her any mind at all. The audacity would have sent an angry response through the woman at such a gesture of disrespect. She watched the moth draw closer to the flame with disregard to any who called for him. Her eyes darted back and forth between Bruce Wayne and the famous Wonder Woman — an idea brewing that brought a sinister smile to her face.
A change in company taste, she thought to herself. She sat the glasses down with the solution to the problem of Bruce Wayne being in her city and dismissed herself having everything sought from the party.
To the others Bruce looked to be in a trace. His mouth opened slightly, with his eyes fixated forward on the person of interest. It was an expression easy to identify — but for it to be seen plain as day on the face of Bruce Wayne? He walked past them without concern.
"Bruce!" Flash waved him down. The three ladies stood cozily near the crimson hero coaxing him with their flirts. "Hey, Bruce Wayne, come join the fun!"
Flash's words fell on deaf ears as Bruce passed, uninterested. Wally's face turned confused as did the girls. Shayera, who stood not far from Flash and his new friends, slapped herself in the forehead at Wally's blindness. From what she saw of Bruce, he wasn't going to pay mind to anything but a bat-situation.
They wasted no time to crowd around Diana again. Diana understood why she was smothered with questions, all from different standing-people. Some would come to just stand in awe of her presence, while others came for less desirable reasons. Whatever their motives for flocking to her during events she made herself public, Diana forced herself to put up with these infatuation everyone seem to have with her.
She smiled at them while she continued to press forward. She spoke with few words or a shake of the hand, Diana didn't want them getting too comfortable around her. A search for one person in particular was impossible with them around unless drastic action was made. To search above all their heads was an option, but an embarrassment to the princess's pride. The earpiece maybe, but there was no desire in her for him to know she was looking for him. That she wanted to locate him badly enough to call over the phone for him.
The thoughts and the little scheming ideas for the night and the overall ridiculousness already put forth kept a decent smirk on the Amazon's face while passing through the crowds. Tonight there was an ego-crushing moment waiting at every turn. She moved to the closest thinning of the crowd and stepped out if to only enjoy a moment of moving about. To Diana's dismay, her public appearance was greeted by a build-up of awing chatter and of a new crowd forming around her. It would a breeze to make a hole through them to escape.
"Wonder Woman," a rather large man with an odd beard spoke as he approached her. "Why, dear lady, I don't think we have been properly introduced." He took her hand near his face and kissed it.
She pulled it back. "No, we haven't, Mister...?"
"Ah, Fredrick B. Copper is my name," he began.
By the look of him, Diana would wager Mr. Copper was not currently in his right state of mind. His breath was laced with this evening's choice of drink. He babbled from one thing to the next, slurring and not always producing audible sentences.
"Well...I was in the Caribbean with my business associates and these...and then we...and they were...I was..."
"Yes, very enlightening, Mr. Copper." His poor speech was driving Diana mad. If not for the status she stood in at the ball, she'd lift the man off his feet and demand he take some elocution classes. The day was hardly ending as she'd planned it to.
There was a pause in his step as he finally realized the stupid expression that was still on his face. A simple clearing of his throat and a glance to brush off those near who couldn't take their shocked eyes off him worked. He wasn't paying attention to them - someone of far more interest concerned his mind; she was yet again caught in the grasp of the crowds and couldn't reasonably find her way out of it. She hadn't taken notice of him yet, being occupied by a large man whose height forced the princess's sight slightly downward. A pleasant smirk and an adjustment to his tie before Bruce resumed his march towards Wonder Woman.
"...and you know that I'm one of the lucky few to have..." Copper continued on rambling.
Diana nodded as if one word was getting through. She couldn't help but notice several around her continuously writing everything down. So much for it being a no-press zone, she noted. Surrounded by a great amounts chatter and bickering, Diana thought nothing of it when they began to rise in volume again.
Not until a high-pitched voice of a female cried out, "Brucie, over here! Bruce Wayne!" did Diana take notice with a gasp.
She looked up and Bruce Wayne walking to her just a few feet away. The frozen, shocked look fixed itself on her face. The only thing Diana could take notice of was the the thrill of joy tingling up her spine. Her eyes locked with his, and both refused to turn away from the other. He stopped dead in front of her and for that moment did nothing but stare back at her with a charming expression.
When Bruce reached out his hand for hers, Diana's already speeding heart went up a notch; her expression gave way to utmost happiness as their hands connected. He guided her away from the present crowd, never minding Mr. Copper who was still speaking onward about things.
"...and that was the end of a long day," Copper turned to the now-absent space Wonder Woman occupied. "Wonder Woman?" He looked around confused. "Where'd she go?"
No one around dared to speak to either of them as they were as equally curious as was Bruce concerning what was happening between them. He continued forward with her a little more until surrounded by space and several others who were dancing. Only then did he turn and face her again, their hands automatically taking the other. Their steps synchronized and picked up speed with the tone of music playing. Their only concern was look at the other with silent thanks for the moment.
Diana spoke. "Glad you could make, Mr. Wayne. People here were starting to think you weren't coming."
"Really? Everyone thought that?"
"Present company excluded," she worded softly.
"Couldn't imagine why anyone would," he grinned. "I hate to disappoint."
Both stared at each other happily as they continued to move with the music. They were unaware that the dancefloor was slowly clearing.
Shayera crossed her arms and waited with a disappointed scowl for Wally. He moved towards her at a backwards movement to give just enough of an elongated wave goodbye to his female friends. He was all smiles once he caught up to her, still staring back at the girls. They were pretty, Shayera admitted, but as rich as they were displayed a complete lack of class.
"Finished?" she darkly asked.
"Yeah, those babes are something else," he said distractedly.
"Oh yeah, really something," she smirked mockingly. "Nice to be like them, so easily distracted by anything that shines."
"Ha ha. At least I got their numbers." He proudly presented the little strips of paper.
Shayera held back her contempt as long as she could with a withering look to the man. She grabbed the papers and in anger destroyed them.
"Hey, whatcha do that for?!"
"For the same reason I'm doing this," Shayera stated boldly and slapped the back of Wally's head.
"Ow!" Wally looked away rubbing his head.
Shayera put her hands on her hips. "Aren't you seeing Fire at the moment?"
"Well yeah, but-"
"E'chant'a!" She looked up and waved her arms up in defeat. "And I thought Bruce Wayne was supposed to be acting like the mindless playboy." She turned and walk away.
"Geez. Sorry," Flash retorted with a brushing off of his shoulder.
He followed behind the woman, she was acting more like a big sister than ever towards him. At least hanging with John, he would just be disappointed and let him do his thing. Not going around tearing up his earned numbers. What was wrong with having a few on the back burner?
Shayera regarded Wally of better quality and refused to see him behave in such a manner and took pleasure in him trying to piece together the strips of paper again. What he was doing to Fire was a cruel reminder of what John was doing to her, bringing Vixen to the event tonight.
"You see that?" a man Shayera was passing asked. "That's Wonder Woman."
She stopped, curious enough to see how things were going. At a distant glance she saw them alone in a dance.
"Who's that she's dancing with?" another asked.
Shayera scoffed. Like they haven't seen that before, the news she remembers had picked at it the first time for weeks.
"Look at their faces! See that? Look at Bruce Wayne's expression!" a woman said excitingly.
Shayera arched an eyebrow at the comment. She moved in closer, pushing through the crowd at will. Her eyes watched their movements of spins, twists, and twirls. A sight her eyes refused to look away from. And their faces, as plain as day she saw it there...
"Thanks Shay, now I'll never get these things back together," Flash surrendered and tossed the useless paper in the air.
He tilted his head confusingly seeing Shayera looking so girlishly fascinated at something.
"Shay? Are you even listening?"
"In a minute, Flash," she waved him off.
"What are you looking at?" he marched to her. "I mean it must be something really wild seeing how we are the biggest thing happening here tonight."
Shayera scuffed at his remark with rolling eyes.
He brought his fingers up and began the count. "There's Supes, the big guy himself. There's you and there's me, the Flash of course. J'onn, GL...and-"
Shayera grabbed at Wally's jaw and turned his head in the right direction.
"We're not the biggest thing that is happening here tonight, Flash," Shayera proudly stated.
His expression was of question but when Shayera released him, Wally's jaw dropped down.
"Is that?" he pointed staring.
"Mm-hmm," she replied with a nod.
"Whoa," Flash stood up straight. "Didn't know the man in black could dance."
"Flash!" Shayera's eyes opened widely at the less than obvious.
"What?"
Their dance continued without recollection of how long they been at it or of how vacant the dance floor had become. Neither had broken their sights of the other for fear that the moment was but a moment. Energies in them were like fire with every step taken. They smiled back at each other constantly.
Diana's heart sped at speeds she never imagined before. It was light and singing in a way never before experience nor believed existed. Every moment of this lovely light hearted feeling she enjoyed and could see with an easy eye of her partner's enjoyment.
Dance was a practiced art for him, made solely for the upkeep of imagery of a playboy. Various few times had Bruce enjoyed in its usage. With each step taken and hand movement given, Bruce easily believed he was enjoying himself. To see her so lively and happy to the point that he himself was happy for making it possible for her. It was cherished making her feel that way.
The lively music reached its peaking point to where Bruce gave Diana another twirl and she rolled back on his arm to him. The music fell on a dramatic note and with a sudden triumphant end just as Diana returned into his arms.
"No..." the world stopped so suddenly for Wally he could hear a pin drop.
Diana hadn't even noticed her breathing when her eyes looked down and back up again. Her chest like Bruce's rose and fell with each deeply made breath. With no more music there was no more dance and neither of the two knew what to do next. The absence of decision led them to simply stare at the other for the longest of time. Her face was so close to that of Bruce's there was no trouble seeing every fine detail of his facial features. Dabbles of sweat on each of their brow as they peered intensely at the other.
Applause was heard around but was mere background noise to their little world.
"I didn't..." Bruce was breathless. "...know you could dance like that."
"I..." Diana was as equally breathless. "I've been practicing."
Neither knew what to do still. They remained motionless not wanting the moment to end.
In amazement of what she was seeing, Shayera's jaw had dropped. Prior knowledge of the feeling Diana had for Bruce did nothing to prepare the winged woman's eyes for this sight.
"That's our Bruce right?"
"Uh-huh," Shayera answered distractingly.
"That's our Di, right?" Wally pointed at them.
"Uh-huh."
"Bruce and Di?"
"Uh-huh."
Flash turned to Shayera for an explanation but her expression signaled she was just as shocked as he was. He exchanged glances between his three friends realizing that Bruce and Diana had still yet to move since the music ceased. They didn't know what to do, and who could blame them? Diana was a rookie at mostly everything and Bruce....Bruce was a 'punch someone person' to really be caught in this type of deal he was now facing. With one more look at them Flash's mouth turned upward.
"Excuse me a sec," Flash said as he speed off in super speed.
"Flash!" Shayera shouted being caught in the wake of wind brought on by his quick departure.
Shayera looked at the couple paused in time and grinned at what she saw from them. It was something so unexpected and so random a thing to happen, how amazingly it made her feel to see them like that. Her attention was soon diverted however to the music stage in the back where Flash was now standing. Worry quickly took its place on her face as she saw the man whispering something in the conductor's ear. Wally seemed to know what he was doing as the conductor of the music band nodded continuously with understanding. Flash grinned and gave a thumps up to Shayera from the distance of one she returned with a confused mindset.
Before Shayera knew it, Wally was back at her side. "Miss anything?"
He looked at them having yet to move from their stance.
"Flash...?" Shayera cautiously asked placing her hands on her hips. "What did you do?"
"Oh, nothing," he said placing his index finger in the air and with a wave of it the sound of music began.
The soft steadiness of the violent, the majestic sound of the cellos. The music was slow and smooth, peaceful and relaxing. Shayera absorbed the music in full and turned back to see the interested couple. They didn't do anything for a bit, but once the music played enough to work its magic, Bruce and Diana were once again in motion. This time they moved softer and slower paced; a waltz tone of both their feet.
"Flash..." Shayera said mischievously.
"What?" Flash stood proudly. "Never underestimate the Fastest Man Alive."
Shayera placed a gentle hand on his shoulder as the two watched their friends enjoying themselves.
The course was slow and Bruce had no trouble moving with it. His practices could easily make himself a master of it. There was a question as to where or when Diana had learned such skill, but as the first time they dance together he disregarded it. The music relaxed him allowing the joy of the moment to be his only concern.
Diana moved gracefully, forgetting all boundaries that kept her from this feeling she was feeling. An unknown sense of lightness or dizziness or whatever overtook her in ways she could not describe. Happiness never before experienced making sense of the world and completing it.
He felt against her left hand, smooth and without any signs of their former scaring. "How are your hands doing?"
"Fine," she deeply spoke. "How's your side feeling?"
There was a pain over the healing area, nothing that couldn't be handle.
He smiled, "Better."
Diana figured it a lie but her lips curled upward. Neither her or Bruce wanted anything said or done to spoil what seemed to be a forever long wait to feel. They held each other close, allowing their hearts to carry freely in what mattered most to them.
A distance away further in the park Superman shook hands with various people. His smile beamed at everyone. A look of caring for everyone the crowds ate like sugar candy from the Man of Steel. If all he had to do was show his face in order to help his city and get it back in gear, Clark didn't have a problem with that. After all, J'onn stood right next to him for company
"Thank you, Superman," the mayor shook his hand. "For everything you and the League has done for us here in Metropolis."
"Always happy to help out when we can, Mr. Mayor." Superman heartily shook the man's hand.
They seemed endless, but of course Clark was willing to give them the time a day to speak with him. Lois was among the top ten he'd give a word to and was never far to ask several questions. Her first inquiries addressed the rebuilding efforts of the city and of various other things concerning the League. It didn't take long for the reporter's questions to hint to the more friendlier notions retaining to their more personal relationship. Hints of which no one around them could pick up on to Superman's relief. The crowd buzzed around with newer and more exciting information to sink their teeth on. Nearly half of them were darting in a disordered form to see the event for themselves.
"What in heaven's name is going on?!" the mayor asked.
Lois caught a whiff of the news from a local standing next to her. "What?! Are you serious?!"
"Lois?" The Man of Steel questioned.
"Hot stuff," Lois tucked away her note pad and made ready for a dash. "Sorry, Superman. Story of the century happening and I got to get a piece of it." The woman took off.
Superman shook his head and smiled. "J'onn?"
The Martian's eyes glowed brightly and before receding had left a smirk on his face. "Everything is fine."
"So what's got them in an uproar?"
J'onn tuned in to their emotional high, the utter joy was heartwarming. "Two of our friends are... having the time of their lives."
Superman watched the crowds go where they were going to. J'onn's notion of happiness for his other friends was confusing. He wrestled with the crowds better than anyone of his friends and enjoyed it only for so long; how could his friends being surrounded having the time of their lives? Curiosity drove his legs in motion behind the crowd, guessing to himself as to what was such a major event to everyone.
"J'onn?" He saw his friend hadn't moved an inch.
J'onn's eyes glowed.
"Something wrong?"
"Mmm...." J'onn dabbed at his forehead. "I'll be along in a minute."
"Are you sure?"
"Go," J'onn pointed with a smile. "See for yourself what I have sensed from our friends."
Clark looked back at the crowd and than at J'onn once again. The Martian sent him a telepathic farewell thought and assurance of his condition was fine. When Superman turned away and the Martian was certain he was alone, J'onn let out a painful groan. His mind could sense it, somewhere around the park something powerful and reeking of darkness was among them. Not a person, not of this world, something far different than anything encountered.
Its presence was disturbing.
Shayera stared without being able to pull herself away. It was just too fantastic of a sight to look away from. She saw neither of them holding back for the expense of the moment. They practically beamed the word off of themselves.
She sighed love struck at the idea.
Wally was far less enchanted by them simply going about staring at one another. The shock of what was happening wore off and part from the warped out feelings brought on by the impossible pairing, he was ready for the finisher.
"Com'on Bruce," Flash said like an impatient child as he peered his head in closer. "what are you waiting for? Kiss the girl already!"
The spell Shayera allowed to take hold of her shattered. She glared at Wally. "Flash!"
"What?" He arched his shoulders up. "If all he's going to do is stare at Di all night long he's going to ruin the mood. Not to mention creep her out."
She rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you don't get it."
Time pasted lazily by as Diana closed her eyes and rested her forehead against Bruce's. His eyes soon followed in shutting, drinking in the pleasure of being close to someone he cared for.
"You know I ruined my high school prom night for staring at someone dreamy eyed too long," Flashed pointed out and walked away. "Course if she was my date for the night it might have been different. Not to mention a save for me from a punch in the face."
Shayera grumbled, but looked away with an inability to bear a disgruntled expression for him. Wally will always be Wally. And what the winged woman saw next obscured everything he could possibly say. Her face drop with amazement.
"Uhh....Flash."
"What?" he asked idly.
"Look at this," she beamed with delight.
Flash came next to her confused by the expression that made her look....
"You okay?" He waved his hand in front of the woman's face. "Shayera? Hello?"
Shayera retaliated, grabbing the man bringing Wally closer then forced him to look in the right direction.
He pointed. "Are they?"
"Mm-hmm." Shayera watched them move like water to the place where so few could follow. And if anyone dared to she would make sure personally they'd fall down hard.
Bruce felt weightless as though to have slipped from the grasps of the world. Everything disappeared with nothing but the moon, the stars, and Diana for company. The whisperings of those around him were gone and even the music dimmed from clear hearing. His head lifted and with the need to see her again, had opened his eyes. A pair of dreamy blue eyes stared back at him, the woman glowed under heaven's light. The dance had evolved into nothing more than an embrace and movement to and fro.
She could hear the wind and under it the faint call of music play; though dancing to it hardly mattered. Diana kept her excitement of what was happening as the energy steadily declined. A smirk was held as her eyes batted with the prolonging moment. She was close enough to him to rest the side of her head on his shoulder and sigh contently in doing so. She felt the stroking of her hair by his hand, slowly and softly.
Under the gaze of the starry moonlight their dance as quickly as it seem to have began was coming to an end. In their comfort both were at peace. It was uncertain, perhaps something her mind imagined; a whisper made to Diana's ears her mind lost in transit.
"Bruce?" she questioned to confirm if what she heard was what she heard.
There was no reply.
He merely held on tightly to her. An action she sighed to once again. Time was lost in bliss.
Life was perfect.
She found herself not long after, growing cold. The feeling of his touch lacking in anything felt from what it did just one moment ago. Bruce's hands on her back turned shaky before taking a stern grip as if holding on for dear life. Both eyes shot open and Diana came up to meet his lost and twitching eyes. He looked of one shocked in horror, barely breathing. The same look Diana seen on him before.
"Bruce?" she asked worryingly. Grasping his shoulders to give short shakes to snap him out of it. "Bruce?!"
He could feel the ground below him and only than did Bruce's eyes move about. Panic not his own was overtaking him and the sense of dread bursting up from his gut. Breath was lost to his steady command as he looked at Diana. It was an agony pain for him touching her face with his fingers. The feeling was warm but bitter as he retracted his fingers for analysis.
Blood... her blood.
The marvelous sight of Diana with him moments ago was replaced. Blood poured from the Amazon's head, soaking her beautiful face, dress torn and tattered from what it once was. The memory of the woman's death returned and with determinative force in staying. His hands shook to the crawling feeling of his spin.
"Bruce?" Diana asked him again. Fear encased the man's eyes. All she could do was watch as he backed away cradling his forehead with one hand.
Shayera pushed herself ahead of everyone and stopped short in front of the audience. She looked at Diana who appeared to know no more than she did by the looks of her. She turned her focus on Bruce who looked lost in the world.
Both blue eyes were forced shut in an attempt to drive the images away. When he hear Diana crying for him, Bruce opened his eyes to see not only Diana's blood soaked body but the rest of the people around him in the same condition. They were all in pain, dying, in need of his help. Their cries for help as he watched overlapped each other. He wanted to help them but didn't know what to do. Frozen in fear of what was happening.
He could only watch.
And as Bruce watched, he gazed upon a black figure moving like slow moving water through the crowds. A black shadowy figure with horns and two red beaming eyes staring at him. Fear was the response to seeing such a thing as Bruce slammed his eyes shut wanting it to go away. The thing's laugh echoed at him along with the laughs of haunting young voices sneering at him. The world was spinning around in a flash to where he couldn't stand.
"Bruce!" Diana motioned towards him.
Too late as Bruce fell onto a refreshment table, taking it down with him. The people gasped and awed as the billionaire sat upright still with one hand to his forehead. Diana darted for him but stopped with Shayera several paces away. The haunting laughter ceased. Bruce's eyes blinked open and looked at a world back to normal again -a world looking solely at him.
He eyeballed Diana and seeing, though safe, the frightened look she had at him forced his sights aimlessly away.
He cleared his throat.
"I guess," he breathed through his mouth. "I guess the famous Wonder Woman is too much for even me." His playboy smile returned.
The people bought it and laughed politely as Bruce stood up. An adjustment of his bow tie once more before walking next to Diana.
He picked up her hand. "It was a lovely dance, Miss Wonder Woman. I hope we can do it again sometime."
Diana looked at the hand and then at Bruce, wordlessly begging for an explanation. He could not give her one nor could he remain. Fear overwhelmed him. The Princess nor Shayera managed a word out as Superman and J'onn arrived on the scene. Though J'onn had a grasp on what had happened, Clark was as clueless to the situation as any other was. They just stared and continued to do so as Bruce Wayne walked away from them.
The flight away from the crowds became a shamelessly fast pacing run; his breathing was out of control. Running seemed to help levitate some of the stress, but Bruce wanted to get as far away from all of them, especially Diana.
It was a must to be away from her.
"Alfred," he spoke through his cell phone. "Bring the car around fast."
A second pause. "Of course, sir. Right away. An early hour sir, is there something wrong?"
"Now!" Bruce demanded and hung up.
He ran as fast as he could, but stopped with a gasp being out matched by flight. Diana descended slowly down like an angel from heaven with her eyes filled with worry.
"Bruce, what's wrong?!"
Bruce grunted and touched his forehead again. "Not now Diana." He brushed the woman off and walked passed her. His steps were halted from moving further away by a strong grab at his arm and a tug around to face an angry looking Amazon.
"No Bruce," she warned. "Something is happening to you. You're going to tell me what's wrong right now."
His pose relaxed and straightened at which Diana released him. Bruce's stare was cooler, hardly an image of the man she was just dancing with. Only with the sound of the tires to his car behind him did Bruce look away from her.
He made for the car and Diana moved right in front of him.
"Why wont you let any of us help you?"
Bruce grabbed her arms, an action that shocked the woman. He looked her dead in the eye.
"Diana, do yourself a favor and keep as far away from me as you can." He released her and moved away.
"What?" Her voice was speechless. "Bruce..."
The butler opened the door for him. Both looked at her at the call of the man's name. She continued closer towards him.
"Diana," he raised his hand that stopped her.
His eyes were full of regret, sorrowful even to what he was doing. Diana watched this and looked at him for some kind of clearing.
"Just please," he turned away. "for your own sake, listen and stay away."
The door closed and Diana was greeted with an equally sorrowful look before the older man returned to the car and drove off. She stood there confused and lost to the turn of events. She watched the car go and when it was gone, her eyes closed and head lowered to the hurtful ending of a wonderful evening.
Bruce leaned against the seat ahead of him ashamed of himself for what he had to do. He punched again and again before covering his eyes to hide himself from the world.