Chapter 4: Doctor My Eyes

After "This Little Piggy," Batman tries to decide between following his heart and listening to his mind. In this chapter, he'll explore Reason #1 for not getting involved with Diana – the fact that they're teammates.

Disclaimer: Still don't own Justice League or Wondy or Bats. Most unfortunate.

Thanks to all of you who reviewed, including Mystic Weaver, ButterflyV, and T - I appreciate it!

"Doctor my eyes have seen the years and a slow parade of tears without crying, now I want to understand, I have done all that I could, to see the evil and the good without hiding, you must help me if you can"

-Jackson Browne

"It took courage to open your heart, Bruce," Diana whispered gently, stroking his hair before scooting closer on his lap, leaning her head against his chest, comforted to hear the soft thump, thump of his heart. "Are you disappointed?" she asked teasingly.

He didn't answer, just tilted her face up to meet his kiss and just before their lips met, she murmured, "I love you," and her blue eyes blazed with the sentiment and the satisfaction at finally having him to herself.

His eyes, in turn, darkened with the heat and passion of the moment, deepening to a dusky cobalt blue at her words, at the satisfaction that reared in him at finally hearing those three words fall from her lips. And he soaked them up like water in the desert, drinking in her spirit and the emotions he could both taste and feel emanating from her. It was as if a floodtide of feelings had been released from each of them as she had uttered those fateful words, and he knew they were nothing less than the truth. Diana didn't have it in her to lie or deceive, she always said what she meant, regardless of whether or not it was the right thing to say, or perhaps a little naive or gauche.

He, on the other hand, was used to a life of deception, of living life as a double edged sword, always prepared for the final stroke that would end his secret identity of Batman and compromise the mission and the safety of Gotham. The constant worry had deepened his paranoia and edginess, and he sometimes wondered if he still had it in him to trust, to rely on the truthfulness of others. But with Diana, there was no question. The woman had never been able to lie, even to save her own skin, and she was a warrior first. Even when her mother had banished her, Diana had admitted to her Queen that it had been the right step to exile her own daughter, regardless of how painful it had been and depressed it had made Diana.

It took a strong woman to admit that even though she'd done the right thing, it had been through the wrong course of actions, a feat which deserved punishment, whether or not it was truly correct in the sense of the word.

It had also taken a strong woman to pursue him and an equally stubborn one to wear him down to the point where had currently stood, pleased that the burden of caring for her was off of his shoulders and now a shared responsibility between the two of them. It was no longer her pushing and him resisting, but her loving and him returning those feelings. Even if, perhaps, he wasn't ready to say it aloud at the present point.

But he was here, in her room, holding her heart in his hands, and he knew that he couldn't go back, couldn't return to simply being friends as if nothing had happened between them, tonight and otherwise. He also knew that what had really held him back had been a combination of fear, cowardice, and stupidity, and he was past that now, past the insecurities of becoming involved with a teammate, a former goddess, and an exiled Princess of the Amazons.

He had told Diana earlier that a relationship between teammates could never work out and, at that time, he had at least somewhat believed it, a part of him also knowing that it wasn't an impossible feat to accomplish, particularly with two such stubborn and obstinate people such as him and Diana.

He rubbed one hand up the softness of her leg, marveling at the length. Without another thought, he stripped off the glove, again smoothing his palm up her outer thigh and the sheer silkiness of her skin alongside the heat encased in the selfsame golden skin, an irresistible lure that he couldn't help enjoying, welcoming like a sailor finally answering the siren's call. He removed his lips from hers, burying them in her neck and simultaneously tasting and feeling the beat that pounded there, just underneath her softness. A wet strand of hair dislodged from behind her ear, caressing his cheek as he sat there, breathing in her scent and feeling the beat of the pulse that pulsated just below his lips.

Her hand came up, running through the tangled, slightly sweaty strands of his hair, reveling in the fact that he was here, that he had finally taken that definite, decisive step and come to her, opened his heart even just a little to let her in. She was determined that he wouldn't regret it, that he would come, in time, to see that this had been ordained by the gods, their coming together, and he was her reward for all she, and he, had suffered and overcome along their journey to this point.

Not that he wasn't a challenge, but still, she preferred to think of Batman as a boon granted to her, a favor received by the gods. And now, feeling the steely strength underneath her thighs, the muscled chest that pressed up against hers, even through the Kevlar, she wondered what had taken him so long, what had happened to the three reasons that he had spoken of earlier tonight. And as if she had called him to answer, he did, drawing back slightly from her embrace and reaching out to run his thumb down her cheek and length of jaw before quietly stating, "About the reasons that I gave earlier tonight…"

'Yes?" she questioned softly, not wanting to break the spell of the moment, the peace and serenity that lay around them like a blanket, but wanting answers as to what had changed his mind, what had made him refute those reasons and instead walk into her room, into her arms.

"You gave me courage," he murmured, "and Circe made me realize that no plan is foolproof, that nothing is perfect planned, regardless of what information might have been derived."

"You're our General, Bruce, our leader, and we'll always follow you into battle. But, as you say, sometimes things do not go as we intended them to," she said softly, running her fingers through his hair and enjoying the feel and the texture. She pondered for a moment about making a joke to lighten the moment, but decided that it was neither the time nor the place. This was a serious start to what she hoped what a serious relationship between herself and Bruce and she didn't want him to back away or lose his courage because of a moment of silliness or levity. So she kept mum, just gently tousling his hair and allowing him to collect his thoughts.

"I know that, Diana. Somewhere, inside me, I know that. And I know that things can go wrong in ways that we never expected them to." He raised his eyes for a moment, looking deep into the azure depths of her eyes, and seeing both an understanding and a gentle compassion that unnerved him just as it gave him the strength to continue with his line of thought.

"Like with Shayera?" she murmured, hands stilling as she thought back to that desperate and despair filled time when the Thanagarians had invaded and they'd learned that one of their one was a traitor, had been spying on them for years while they'd grown to trust and befriend her. It had been a hard and unexpected lesson, but one they'd all taken to heart, even if just a little.

"Yes," he said brusquely, moving quickly past that subject, not wanting her to remember his little suicide attempt with the Watchtower, fearful that he'd get an earful, or perhaps a fistful, if she recalled that. But, luckily, she seemed to be lost in her thoughts of Shayera's betrayal, not veering off to think about his own deadly plan.

"Any one of our missions could turn deadly, at any time. And it…" he hesitated for a moment, then finally spat out the rest of his sentence, "scares me to think about you being hurt in battle, that I might have to bear witness to that."

"I can understand that," she murmured thoughtfully. "I too despair of having to see you hurt or injured, even killed in battle. But Bruce," she added, putting her hands to his cheeks and sharing her warmth and love with him as she gazed into his eyes, "our not being together won't stop the pain or the injuries.

"Perhaps," she continued, leaning forward to place a small kiss on his lips, rejoicing as they clung for a moment, "our being together, this…connection between us, would serve us well in battle."

He looked thoughtful for a few moments, then whispered, "Perhaps." His voice hardening, he quickly added, "I know that I can trust you, that you would never choose to deceive me as Shayera did to John. You are both honorable and trustworthy."

"A high compliment from the likes of the Batman," she murmured softly with a glowing smile, her words serving to lighten the moment, something she couldn't help doing unless he wanted her to weep, to have one of the mighty Amazons break down in his arms as the compliment he had just bestowed upon her. And she knew indeed that it was high praise from this man, this paranoid man who chose to live in the darkness to serve his people and his city. Her eyes watered slightly, but she kept her smile firmly in place, wondering if he'd continue.

"Our being teammates is what brought us together," he said, pulling her closer to his heart and warmth. "We have often partnered on missions and, regardless of our feelings for one another, we have been warriors and detectives first and emotionally involved second. I see that now."

And he could see that her eyes glittered with unshed tears as she continued to smile softly at him and it moved him, deep within, to see his brave warrior so emotionally wrought as he spilled his heart and his thoughts at her feet. So, he leaned over and as her eyes fluttered shut, he gently kissed the lids, thanking Diana's gods and whomever else that he'd finally opened his eyes to the treasure in front of him.

Shall I continue? Also, if you want me to, I'm going to need a little help – like songs titles! I have a few in mind and I still have to check over my music collection again, but I'm starting to run dry with this fic. I'd like to keep the running theme of eyes and seeing, so help me out! Any suggestions for me? Anything you'd like to see in the story as well? It's pretty much open!