A/N: Again, many thanks to DaisyJane for the beta. As I told her, opening a beta from her is like Christmas morning without the mess. :)
There is a small gift for a few of my reviewers who wished for more interaction with a specific person encountered in Bruce's dreams. Please keep reviewing!
I'm hoping to elicit emotion on this one, please let me know if it worked.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
SOULMATE
Diana felt warm soft lips on her neck. Eyes closed, she sighed softly as gentle kisses blazed a trail from her ear to her collarbone. She sensed that the sun was high in the sky and she could feel its warmth on her skin. She had no idea where she was, but at that moment she didn't care. With Bruce she felt warm and safe and loved.
Her eyes opened when the kisses stopped and she felt a sudden movement behind her. Sitting up, she looked around and took in her surroundings. She noted immediately that she was outdoors, again on the lawn of Wayne Manor, approximately thirty yards from the cliffs that overlooked the ocean. Not far from the cliff was a large black walnut tree. Bruce was racing toward the tree.
She watched as he stopped short of the trunk of the tree and looked up into the branches overhead. Only her enhanced hearing allowed her to pick up what he said.
"Come down here, please." His tone was calm and soft, yet serious and authoritative.
Seconds after this command was given, Diana gasped as small sneaker-clad feet emerged from below the thick branches and floated down to the ground next to Bruce. The raven-haired toddler smiled up at Bruce and reached up to grab his hand. Diana stared wide-eyed as they turned and began to walk toward her.
"Look, Mommy!" said the little girl as she ran up and jumped into Diana's lap. She opened her small fist to reveal the large walnut she held in her palm.
Diana stared at the child's hand for a moment before she looked up at Bruce and weakly replied, "Uh, look at that." This kind of interaction was exactly what she had wanted the last time the raven-haired, blue-eyed child had appeared. As much as she had craved it, in the moment it was more than a little unsettling. Diana felt frozen in place, unsure of what to say to the small person currently making herself at home in her lap.
The girl settled back and inspected her prize, her black curls spilling over Diana's shoulder.
"Dream?" Diana whispered hoarsely to Bruce over the girl's head, which rested just below her chin.
"Apparently," Bruce replied as he fully absorbed the sight of Diana holding their child.
"Yours or mine?" asked Diana.
"I'm thinking it's yours this time, especially since she can –"
"-fly?" Diana finished. "So that is what I saw. But why does flying make it my dream?"
Finally pulling his gaze off of the little girl, he looked at Diana and raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I would never want her to end up doing what we do. And flying at this age is beyond terrifying."
Diana wasn't convinced. "Why does her flying still make it my dream? You gave her a Greek name that means 'defender of mankind'. I wouldn't want her doing what we do either, but if the Gods wish it to be –"
"Princess," Bruce said as he sat down on the blanket beside them. "Would it be ok if we discussed the wishes of your Gods another time? Umph!" He grunted as the toddler flung herself from her mother's lap to her father's.
"Mommy?"
Bruce and Diana turned their attention back to the little girl, who was still sitting and inspecting the black walnut in her hand.
"Yes, my little Sun and Stars?" replied Diana, relaxing a bit as she realized that Bruce appeared quite at ease with this little wonder.
A tiny hand reached out toward her. A tiny index finger and tiny thumb came together to easily crush the shell, exposing the nut inside. "Hungry?"
Their eyes opened from the shared dream at precisely the same moment. They were both lying in Bruce's large bed. Diana's back was pressed tightly against his chest, his right arm draped across her waist. It tightened around her as they both awakened. They laid there for a long time, basking in the rare moment of quiet tranquility and contemplating the future that lie ahead of them. They didn't speak. They didn't need to.
Eventually, Diana rolled onto her back and Bruce raised himself to rest on his elbow. Their eyes locked and the questions in hers sought out answers in his.
"I'm in your bed."
"You are."
"How did I get here?"
"I carried you."
"Why am I here?"
"I needed you to be."
At his words, the raw, physical need to be as close to him as possible surged through her. She reached up to thread her fingers through the mass of thick black hair and pulled his lips to hers. His hands, his lips, his tongue – were like fire and lightning put together – everywhere his skin touched hers. His teeth bit down gently on her lower lip to draw her mouth open so he could plunge his tongue inside. The feeling of searing heat and electricity was overwhelming and she wanted nothing more at that moment than to be consumed by it.
When his lips pulled away from hers, he blazed a path of scorching kisses along her throat to her collarbone. Diana arched her back toward him and buried both fists in his hair. She forcefully pulled him closer, silently granting him access to every part of her and allowing him to take all that he wanted. And he wanted nothing more than to take what she offered – and consume every bit if it.
It would be so easy to temporarily lose himself in her and forget all that blocked their way. But when she bent her legs to grip his hips firmly between her thighs, he finally pulled away and collapsed onto her, breathing heavily into the pillow above her right shoulder. After a moment, he raised himself from her and rolled over onto his back. He bent his arm above him, covering his eyes with the back of his arm.
"Bruce?" she questioned.
"Princess, I'm going to need your help with this." His arm remained resting over his eyes as he continued. "I need for you to not be so willing. It makes it very difficult to hold back my biological urges."
Diana rolled onto her side to face him. "I can't do that, Bruce. I am willing and I really don't want to control my biological urges." She smiled mischievously and ran her hand across his chest for emphasis.
Bruce groaned loudly and sat up. He looked at her pointedly, his eyes still clouded with lust. "Ok, Princess. Then help me with something else."
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
An hour later, they found themselves in the training room. Alfred had taken the liberty of providing a drawer full of Rogiani fitness wear for Diana's use. She quickly chose a pair of basic black jogging shorts and blue racerback tank top. Her Wonder Woman uniform was left on a table in the cave, as Diana intended on making a trip to the Watchtower to begin the process of integrating into the League active-duty rotation schedule. Her temporary living arrangements had not yet been discussed. However, long-term she had decided it would be appropriate to purchase an apartment in New York, as Donna had expressed an interest in attending art school.
Now, both dressed in their workout clothes, they prepared to test Bruce's new 'limits'. Bruce had brought in several long, iron wrenches from his collection of tools used for repairs to the Batmobile.
He picked up the largest one first. "Might as well go for broke," he said. Bruce held the large tool out in front of him, holding an end in each hand. He applied a little pressure and easily bent the wrench into a horseshoe. He turned to Diana, smirking a little. He handed to her and she easily bent it back into its original shape. "We wouldn't want you not to be able to fix your car," she said with a laugh.
Bruce quirked a brow at her and shook his head. "Ok, Princess. Time to power-up." He crouched slightly, indicating that it was time to spar.
Diana gave him a surprised look before she assumed the same position. So far, Bruce had taken this aspect of their connection in stride. He actually seemed to be trying to hold back some enthusiasm. She came to the conclusion that Batman was probably ok with this because it would help his mission.
Wonder Woman and Batman sparred often, but always did so 'powered down'. For Diana that meant relying on fighting skill and technique, rather than superhuman strength and speed. For Batman, powered down meant that he didn't have access to the utility belt and all of custom made weapons in his arsenal.
Today 'poweredup' meant backing up technique with enhanced strength. It took bit of coaxing, and a few hits, for Bruce to get Diana to stop holding back and pulling her punches. Once she finally let go, they went full-out. Adrenaline rushed through her as she had never had a sparring experience quite like this before. She grew up fight with skill and strength on Themyscira but she still had needed to hold back a bit. Sparring with Kal tested her strength but not her skill set. But Bruce knew so many different techniques, many of that he had taught her to increase her skill set, that coupled with the enhanced strength made him an incredible challenge.
Fortunately, the walls of the cave were solid granite or concrete, so the only significant damage inflicted was to the equipment and not to the cave itself.
For several hours they traded blows. It quickly became clear that Bruce and Diana were almost evenly matched in strength. Diana still had the edge on speed – Bruce had not acquired this enhanced ability. Bruce still had the edge on skill and technique, having mastered more fighting styles than Diana.
If they thought that the physical exertion would diminish any of the unsatisfied urges they had experienced earlier, they were wrong. The new dynamic in their sparring had their blood singing with pent up passion. With each hit, takedown, and each time someone was pinned against the floor or against the wall, the tension continued to build. Eventually Diana reached her limit and pinned Bruce to the floor, straddling his waist and pressing his wrists to the floor above his head. Their eyes fixed on each other, Diana started to lean down to kiss him. Bruce didn't resist, in fact he started to lift his head to meet her half way.
"Ah-hmm."
They both froze as they quickly realized they were not alone, and looked in the direction of the voice. Zatanna stood there watching them, grinning ear to ear. Diana jumped off of Bruce, her face again glowing attractively as her cheeks reddened.
Bruce jumped to his feet as well, sending an indignant look in Zatanna's direction as he grabbed a bottle of water. He drank in large gulps as he mentally squashed his arousal. "Zana, can't you just use the teleporter so I know when you're coming?"
"Ahh, what would be the fun in that?" Zatanna chuckled. "Besides you know I trust magic and my own powers over some hybrid of alien technology you strung together on two hours of sleep." She gave him a cheeky smile at which he glared causing Diana to chuckle.
"I know what you mean, sister. I trust armor and weapons forged by Hephaestus over high tech weaponry any day," Diana added.
Bruce shook his head and rolled his eyes before getting back to business. Batman was never far from the surface. "You have something?" he asked.
"Maybe. The best I think I'm going to come up with at least."
Bruce felt Diana's questioning eyes on him and turned to explain. "I asked Zatanna to check with her mystical connections to find out what's happened to us." He turned back to Zatanna and asked, "Exactly where did this information come from?"
Zatanna's eyes darted away from his briefly before she answered. "Well…it came from Morgaine Le Fey."
Bruce stared hard at her, clearly disturbed by her response. "Why her?" he asked.
Raising her chin in defiance, she responded, "Well, you wanted answers, right? I thought the fastest way to get them was to find the oldest mage I could. She's been practicing magic for a over a thousand years, Bruce. So, I found Jason Blood and we went to see Morgaine."
"That was a serious risk, Zana. Why would she help you at all? What did it cost?" Bruce continued to stare hard at her.
"Since your adventure as eight year-olds, it seems that she has found taking care of a geriatric son is much harder than taking care of a psychotic pre-adolescent son. She is still pissed at you for that by the way and it was good I didn't mention I was helping you. She wants me to help her find a way to restore Mordred's youth."
"Why would we want to do that?" Bruce growled.
Zatanna huffed, becoming impatient with the third-degree. "Look, at least this way we're more likely to know when she figures out how to do it and we can be prepared. Besides, if I'm helping her I don't have to help her as quickly as I did you."
"How do you know anything she said was true?" Diana asked, cutting off Bruce's inquisition.
"Nobody knows better than Jason when Morgaine is lying. He didn't think she was and well, she gave me a reasonable explanation. Some of it good, some of it not so much. A lot of it speculation, at best. Mind if I sit? This might take awhile." Without waiting for a response, she said "riahc" and sat down in the wing back chair that suddenly appeared. Making herself comfortable, she continued, "As I was saying, her explanation involved a concept that is as old as mankind itself. Nearly every civilization – yours too, Diana – has tried to explain why humans seem to be drawn into this search for love, to find that one person that they think they are meant for. To find the one person that makes them whole. It's been called many things - twin souls, twin flames, soulmates…"
Diana nodded. "I know the story, but much so-called Greek mythology is exaggerated by the storytellers or is based on the exaggerations of the Gods themselves. I've never had the occasion to ask how much of this particular one is true. The way it's told, humans originally had four arms, four legs, and a single head made of two faces. Zeus was supposed to have feared the power of this human form – something I find difficult to believe or believe that he'd ever admit to. Anyway, he split them all in half and condemned them to spend their lives searching for the other half to become whole again. But, Zatanna, that really doesn't sound much like this."
"Hear me out. So, each civilization has provided their own explanation but the notion is still considered to be myth. Morgaine assured me of the actual existence of soulmates, but the fact is that we rarely find them. We either never find the person at all or we do find them and don't realize it or it doesn't last because most humans can't deal with the emotions that come with it. So, even if they do find it, it usually ends in disaster because they can't handle the emotional intensity involved."
Bruce, who had been listening silently to this exchange with a look of clear skepticism, finally spoke. "Supposing that any of this is actually relevant, Diana is immortal. She has been her entire life. How could we possibly be soulmates?"
"Diana, when you were born, your body was sculpted from clay by your mother and your soul was taken by your Goddesses and joined with the clay form?" When Diana nodded, Zatanna continued, "So, if we believe that all souls come from one place – I think for you Diana, it's called the Cavern of Souls – then the idea is that you two were this to each other, before either of you took human form. Both of you were simply twin souls, separated when you were born as humans, and if we believe some of the consistent aspects of soulmate theories, you two have been attempting to find each other ever since."
"But that doesn't explain this – acquisition – of strength and enhanced healing that I've acquired," said Bruce.
"I know. Here's where it gets interesting and becomes mostly speculation. Morgaine didn't recall anything like this ever happening before. Diana, although you were born an immortal, you were created from a soul like any other human. It was only through the gifts of your Goddesses that you were given immortality and your powers. Being meta-human, superhuman – whatever you want to call it – your souls rejoining might mean you could acquire some of those gifts as well."
"Like with Donna, though in that case they took a piece of my soul away from me and joined it to hers. Probably why it was so painful and this is not," Diana mused. "But then, why didn't Hermes, Athena, or Aphrodite just tell us all of this?"
Zatanna smiled at Diana's statement. "Morgaine had a theory for that too. She thinks that the Gods didn't consider this possibility when they sent a young Princess Diana to help a young Bruce Wayne through their dreams. She thinks that this is why they won't give an explanation – because they truly didn't consider the possibility that they were sending one soul directly to its mate. From a cosmic perspective, the simple fact that you would be chosen to go to him, Diana, demonstrates the pull that each soul has on the other in an attempt to find each other again. The Gods could have been influenced to make this decision unwittingly, whether they choose to believe it or not, simply because the strength of your connection pushed them to do so."
Diana sighed. "They would never want to admit that they didn't know what they started, so they refused to answer our questions. They would only offer what information was absolutely necessary to achieve their goals."
"Zatanna," Bruce interjected. "You said some of this was not good news. What is the catch – the cost?"
Zatanna sighed. "I know that you wanted to know the price for this..gift. To be honest, Bruce, I'm not really sure that there is one if this theory is correct. If it is, you were always meant to find your way back to each other." She paused and took another deep breath. "But, there is a belief in some cultures," she said and then looked directly at Diana as she continued, "and this includes the stories about this in your own, Diana, that once these souls are reunited and become one, they stay that way. Forever. So, what could happen is that when one of you dies, the other will as well."
Bruce stiffened at this revelation. His eyes met Diana's as he began to quote from Plato's Symposium, the original writing that told of Zeus and the splitting of single souls into two. "I am ready to melt you into one and let you grow together, so that being two you shall become one, and after your death in the world beyond you will still be one departed soul instead of two…"
Diana felt an uncharacteristic sense of apprehension building within her. She recognized the translation. "Why do you know that?" she asked quietly.
His eyes remained fixed on hers as he said, "I read it in school. It stuck with me."
"Why?" she said as the foreboding continued to build.
"Because I lost both of my parents, together, on the same night, in the same moment. It was something that had meaning for me.." His gaze finally broke from Diana's and fell on Zatanna. "So, what you are saying is that this could be truth instead of myth? If we stay…together…and one of us dies on a mission or on patrol, then we both die? And if we were to ever have…" He paused, unable to actually speak the word. "…we'd leave them alone, without either of us?"
Zatanna shivered at the look in his eyes. "I don't know, Bruce," she said softly. "I just don't think this has ever actually happened before."
He was undeterred. "Your best guess Zatanna? If you don't have one, then tell me this – what if we end this right now, what happens?"
Looking at him regretfully, Zatanna reluctantly answered, "I did ask Morgaine that question. She expects that things would return as they were for the most part. Your new abilities would fade. The biggest impact would be on you both emotionally. She said that the missing piece that you fill for the other – it will seem bigger. It would probably be even more difficult to recover from the separation, if you ever do. But Bruce, like I said, this is all speculation – it is impossible to know."
Bruce pressed on, "The alternative, Zana? Diana was told that there would be difficult choices. Her Gods must know something about this. Is this one of those choices? Why don't they just tell her?"
From behind him, Diana whispered what she believed was the answer to this question. "They want her."
He quickly turned to face her, the angry glare in his eyes meeting the open sadness in hers. He knew exactly who she was talking about. They'd just dreamt about her a few hours ago. The two stood looking at each other, silent, for several moments. Zatanna took this opportunity to quietly slip out of the room.
"No, Bruce. I won't accept what you are about to say. Not now. I couldn't bear it."
"Diana. The world needs you. You know the risks I take. I can't risk your life while I'm risking my own."
"You wouldn't be. You are more durable now. You would live as long as I do which could mean you are now immortal. You could continue your mission and help save the world for a very long time."
He shook his head. "I am a risk taker, Princess. Often it is the only way to succeed but there can be a fine line between success and failure. My risks include using satellites as missiles and piloting them into the Earth to save the world. If I hadn't, it is possible none of us would be here. And I was fine with it. All I could think about, as that missile burned around me, was that you would still be here. The world needed you and you would be here. Safe."
"Bruce, the world needs you too. I need you." Overcome, several of the tears she'd be trying desperately to hold back, finally spilled over.
"I need you too Diana." His voice became more rough with emotion as he continued, "But I've spent years risking my life to prevent another child from going through the hell that I went through when my parents were killed. I can't set up a scenario that could lead to it happening to my own…"
He stopped and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist as she instinctively wrapped hers around his neck. He felt his shoulder become wet with her silent tears. He was choking on his own.
"Princess," he whispered into her ear. "I love you, don't ever forget that. You can't possibly know how much. But my own happiness isn't worth the possible consequences."
"Shut up, Bruce. I know how much you love me as I love you just as much. You are not only sacrificing your happiness but mine as well?" she choked out angrily.
"I'm sorry." There was nothing more he could say.
She abruptly pulled away from him. The sadness was still clearly seen in her eyes but equally mated with anger. Her eyes were blue fire as she glared at him for several moments before she turned and walked toward the door.
"Princess…" he called softly as she reached the door. Her pause was barely perceptible when he called after her. She continued to walk toward the teleporter, picking up her uniform along the way. He followed. After a brief moment, she was gone in a flash of white light.
Bruce stood staring at the empty teleporter pad. His jaw clenched and flexed with the emotion he was trying desperately to keep buried. After a full minute he walked to his chair in front of the supercomputer and sat down. He rested his elbows on the desk and held his head in his hands. He ignored the tears he couldn't control dripping down his arms.
He felt a soft hand on his shoulder. "Bruce?" Zatanna knew him well. There were pieces to be picked up after the fallout. So, she'd waited. "I'm so sorry," she said.
He didn't move. "Why would it be me, Zana? She deserves better than this. She deserves better than me."
"Because each of you has exactly what the other needs. I think you know that your need is emotional. You hide your emotions away and repress them because they are the most fragile part of you. I don't think you'd deny that. Her emotions are the strongest of her many strengths, as she offers them freely and unconditionally. I have often been amazed by the love and compassion she can show to the vilest of people. She heals your heart – her power means your body is healed as well. She gives you emotional strength – her physical strength comes with it. She's superhuman, so it would make sense that she'd be giving that much more of herself whether she had planned to or not. Of course, in her case, being who she is – there isn't any part of herself that she wouldn't give you."
"Then what could she possibly need from me? All I could ever give her would be disaster and heartbreak."
"You offer her something she has never had and has wanted her whole life, Bruce. Love. Yes she is well loved by her mother and sisters, but she was willing to leave them to help the world. Diana is the epitome of self-sacrifice. Much like yourself. She gives, but has a hard time taking anything from anyone. Even if she were more comfortable with it, she is so strong, only the most intense of emotions would truly satisfy her. Your incredible will is only matched by the intensity of your emotions. I've seen glimpses of it. Unfortunately you choose to use that force of will to hide those emotions, intense but still so fragile, so few ever get to experience them."
Finally Bruce picked up his head and looked over at the teleporter pad where Diana last stood.
He wiped his eyes and took deep meditative breaths to push his emotions aside but found himself struggling. "Why does it feel like a piece of me has been ripped away?"
"Bruce, that's because it has been."