Kiss.

It wasn't the goal…then again, what was the goal? Diana isn't any surer now than she was then. She hadn't been looking for company, for validation, for anything really, if anything, she was looking for solace; a moment amidst the chaos to be alone. To, perhaps, become used to the feeling since it seemed to be what she was destined for, after all. A foreigner in a stranger land with stranger people. There were no sisters here to offer companionship, no familiar faces…Nothing.

Pity parties weren't healthy, but there was nothing wrong in wallowing in a reservation for one for a little while, right? That was, assuming the loneliness didn't suffocate her first, and with the way she was currently feeling it was a distinct possibility. The weight on her chest wasn't getting any lighter. Nothing like a little solitude candy coated in guilty. That was one of the positives of man's world, wasn't it? Everything was candy coated. Even the ice cream, and that was something she could get used to. Relationships however, were not.

Diana? How's Steve?

With a slight start Diana turned quickly, muscles sluggish but at attention. She hadn't even heard him coming. Stupid. What if he was someone else? Zeus only knew she was for now and always would be a walking target. At least she could defend herself, those she loved seemed to be another story…

Angry.

Could she blame him? With all that he'd done for her and this was how she repaid him; with a dangerous situation that was every bit her own fault even if it was unintentionally. Not that that made anything better, because really, what did her intentions matter anyway? The road to hell was paved with the good ones…Funny, that saying seemed to cross cultures. That was about all that seemed to cross cultures…Everything was so convoluted.

The wind moved around them, catching strands of her hair, floating his cape. Maybe she was tired of the silence, or maybe…just maybe, she was tired of feeling so goddamn alone all the time. Whatever the reason, Diana's lips were moving.

When I first came here from Paradise Island, I was shocked to see that men and women weren't at war like I'd grown up believing. They were in relationships. For a short time I thought their relationships were simple. If they liked one another, they were together. But I couldn't have been more wrong.

As the silence punctuated her words, she took a moment to wonder just when her soft tone had turned so bitter. An empty, hollow feeling seemed to be swelling in her chest as even now, she was trying her best, using every advantage that Athena had granted her to understand the complexities of relationships. How had everything gone so wrong?

Relationships are complicated. For us, even more so. I have another identity.

Diana let out another small sigh as his words echoed her thoughts. Somehow she'd been hoping that maybe he, being of this world would have an answer, a puzzle piece that perhaps she'd been missing. Unfortunately, she was wrong. His voice, however, was a welcome disruption from her thoughts and the thought that maybe, just maybe, she was alone in this problem.

The reporter?

Diana's blue eyes glanced over, curiosity piqued. She'd always wondered why he felt the need for an alias.

My name's Clark Kent.

Interesting. The name held no meaning to her. It didn't seem particularly embellished, nor did he seem to be named after anyone of importance that she knew of. Did that mean it was plain? Was he hiding?

Why do you have an identity like that?

Why would he be anyone but himself? It didn't make sense.

I grew up with it. And I kept it once Superman came on the scene. To protect the people I'm close to.

To protect the people he was close to... It seemed so simple. But really, how in the world could a man of his stature, a man who had more in common with a god blend in with men? For a second she wanted to laugh. Even without the forgiving light of Apollo and under the harsh light of Selene, he was still something to behold. He was tall, imposing, strong, he exuded confidence and mystery and his looks could have been chiseled from marble…where had that come from?

And it's worked?

Closing her eyes a moment to refocus her thoughts, Diana hoped her voice didn't sound as incredulous to him as it had to her. But really, how could she not question the notion. His face gave nothing away.

I don't know. I still have to keep secrets from everyone. So how close I am to anyone is debatable.

His voice gave everything away. In that moment he was nothing of what she first described… Superman…Clark turned out of the light and back to the shadows. The glow faded leaving behind just a man. How quickly they could all fall…The seemingly invulnerable man seemed oddly…vulnerable. Somewhere in her chest the ache settled a little deeper, seeping further down until even her marrow felt hollow.

We're not like Zeus, but we're not like them, either.

Outsider, foreigner, danger to others. Everything but what she wanted to be.

We're not like anyone.

He wanted it too, didn't he? To feel something beyond this endless loneliness…anything. What Diana wouldn't have given, in that moment, to feel like she was a part of something. She was an Amazon half a world from home, a princess without a kingdom, a woman without… Again her chest gave a sharp pull, tightening until breathing wasn't feeling anywhere near as natural as it should have. Each inhale took effort…so much effort. This had to be what drowning felt like, knowing there was air somewhere and yet knowing that every breath you took only brought you further away from it.

People like us are really alone, aren't we? Do you ever feel alone?

The words left her lips little more than a whisper, but she knew he heard her.

Of course, I…do.

Diana wasn't sure if it was just the desperation or if it was knowing that her desperation was shared that started the connection. She wasn't sure if he was the one moving toward her or if she was the one being drawn to him. All she knew was that the warmth coming from his skin was like a beacon, the only thing keeping her from crashing and splitting against the rocks. For all the world around them, the cool night air, the brightness of the moon, the glittering of the stars, and more importantly the loneliness, it was all forgotten.

This was not her first kiss. She and Steve had shared their fair share of kisses. Diana was also fairly certain it would not be her last. The sensation though still new, was an enjoyable one and one she hoped to feel again, but she'd never, ever even dared to hope it would feel like this. His lips were soft, softer than she'd imagined and so gentle. So very gentle, maybe even a little…hesitant? It was too late to turn back. Like a woman in the desert finding her first drop of water, Diana was ready to drink it all in. Her hands wound their way up his body, slipping in to his hair and holding him there. His hesitancy melted away and his hands held tightly to her shoulders. Not that she minded. At all. Something within her was easing, it was lifting… This was…this was heaven, it was…air.

Perhaps more than that…it was a beginning, and dear gods above, it was terrifying.

(*Italics are mostly dialogue from Justice League 12)