Part XII
A rapidly blinking red light in the corner of his lens followed by a low tone diverted Batman from his current prey. Someone had used the teleporter in the cave. Something he had expected since Diana had teleported from her apartment to the Watchtower. He estimated forty-five seconds for Clark to find him.
He felt a gust of wind whip through him at thirty-two.
"Shouldn't you be starting the JLA meeting soon?"
Batman never turned his eyes away from the building across from him. Inside was someone he hoped would lead him to Dalcone. He could tell Clark was practically boring holes in his back.
"That's kinda hard to do with two of the core members not in attendance."
Batman merely growled in response. He had known Clark would come, he just wasn't sure why. Was it going to be because of friendship or jealousy?
"How could you do that to Diana?"
Batman finally turned to look at him.
"And what exactly did I do, Superman?"
" I think you know exactly what I'm talking about."
"I think that Diana was perfectly consenting. I didn't force her to do anything."
Clark was angry. Very angry.
"She doesn't deserve that kind of treatment."
Batman decided to let Bruce Wayne out a little bit to push Clark's buttons.
"Oh, Believe me she got the best of treatment."
" Just another conquest for you then, Bruce?"
The bat reemerged.
"I don't think any of this concerns you, Superman."
"Diana's my friend and it damn well concerns me when she's hurt."
"Your friend? Is that all she is to you?"
Batman saw Clark's eyes turn a crimson hue. Definitely jealousy.
"You've been looking at her as more than a friend for quite sometime now
haven't you? Did you ever tell Lois what happened in the Wonderdome?"
"Shut up."
"Did you ever tell her how many years you and Diana were together before you remembered her? "
"Shut up, Batman."
Clark was visibly getting angrier by the second.
"If you ask me you're not angry at me because she's upset. You're angry because your back-up might be looking elsewhere."
Bruce never saw him move. He had barely finished speaking when he felt himself being lifted into the sky. Bruce being held aloft by the front of his batsuit, was floating with Clark high above Gotham. Clark's eyes were now blazing with barely contained fury. Must have hit a nerve.
" You just don't get it do you, Bruce?"
"And what exactly do I not get?"
Bruce watched a he struggled to regain his composure.
"What happened in the Wonderdome was….a manipulation. Diana
had been lonely for a long time. The technology just played off her loneliness."
"That's her excuse what's yours?"
"Could you just stop for a minute and let me finish, please?"
Batman glared at him for a moment before replying.
"Fine, but I'd prefer it if we did this back on the rooftop."
Superman lowered them both back towards the roof, releasing Batman from his grasp as they touched the tarred roof.
"The technology was programmed to keep Diana sated. We were just a means
to that end. You know just as well as I do, that it was able to make us believe what it wanted us to believe. It thought I would be the more compatible so that's the fantasy it created. For all of us, not just her."
"That's real nice Clark, but I've got work to do."
"I thought you were going to let me finish?"
"I thought you were going to make it quick?"
"I haven't gotten to the important part yet."
"You've got twenty seconds to capture my interest, Clark."
"During that time, Diana told me she didn't feel complete until you came into her life."
"What's your point?"
Batman could see him struggling yet again to keep his composure.
"My point is that Diana loves you. All of you, and whether you like it or not, you love her too. Don't sacrifice another one to the Bat. Especially not Diana, because then I'd have to hurt you.
Batman smirked, despite his best efforts.
"Always playing the white prince to my dark knight aren't you?"
"I'm just trying to help. You and Diana are two of my best friends. You both
deserve to be happy."
Batman turned his attention back to the building. The light was out. Most likely no movement tonight.
"Are you done, Superman?"
"I rescheduled the meeting, you've got one hour. I expect everyone there."
"Get out of my city, Superman."
"I'll take that as a yes."
Batman watched as Superman flew over his head towards the waxing moon. He shook his head.
"Why does everybody have to be right, lately?"
He walked across to the other side of the roof and dropped of the ledge to the waiting Batmobile. It was an older model, but still serviceable.
He only had an hour before the meeting.
"Damn boy scout," he muttered to himself.
He heard a slight bit of static before Clark's voice came over the communicator.
"I heard that."