AN: Based on events inspired by the episode "Twilight." I own nothing.
JL: The Newest Recruit
Part Seven
Twilight
It was a rare moment that Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman were working together in the Watchtower. Usually their shifts would be split up so two of them were together and not all three.
So far, it was a slow day. Batman was at the console working on something he wasn't sharing yet. He was often quiet and only spoke when he had to. Clark and Diana didn't have that problem as they love to talk together.
"Congratulations, Diana. Your books are the top sellers and I heard your speech in Washington, D.C. Very inspiring. The crowds continue to grow in every city you go."
"I didn't know you were in Washington," Diana said. "Why didn't you tell me? We could've spent some time together."
"Last minute. Perry sent me since I wrote that article on you."
"Hopefully, we can squeeze some time after my international tour. I've been so busy with the tour, my speeches and my shifts at the League I don't have much time for anything else. I haven't been to my apartment in weeks. My plants are probably dead now," she joked.
"I can go by your place if you like and check things out," Clark offered.
She was touched by the offer. "You don't have to do that. Your schedule is busy enough."
"I want to. When you don't have the time to go to your place, let me know. It's no trouble."
"Okay. I'll give you my spare keys when my shift ends," Diana agreed. "Thank you."
Batman who was listening gave a little laugh followed by, "Errand boy," to which only Clark heard.
Clark was going to remark on Batman's teasing when the room shook suddenly as if an earthquake was taking place. Clark and Diana went to Batman at the console.
"What is it?" Diana asked.
"Sensors are picking up a powerful energy surge," Batman said, "but I've never seen signatures like this."
Clark read the sensors. He knew where the signatures were coming from. *He* was coming. "I have," he gritted. "It's a boom tube."
Diana was unfamiliar with the term. She saw Clark leaving the console and stepping towards the middle of the room as if expecting something to happen.
And it did.
A light flashed in the room temporarily blinding them. A dark imposing figure stepped through. Diana never met him before but knew Darkseid when she saw him. Clark told her all about him from their first encounter after fighting Kalibak, to his invasion of Earth where Dan Turpin died, to his attempt to destroy the Earth first with a meteor and then brainwashing Superman and sending him to attack the people of Earth.
The two exchanged words and Superman launched himself on Darkseid throwing punch after punch carelessly nearly knocking the Watchtower out of orbit. She heard Batman's orders to stop him and it took her and J'onn to pull Superman back.
Diana never saw Superman provoke to attack so quickly or as angry before. She knew Superman's hatred of Darkseid cut deep but even she was surprised at Superman's complacency over the fact of his other nemesis Brainaic destroying Darkseid. Darkseid was unfazed by Superman's reluctance to help but left with a warning millions would die if he didn't intervene.
"So, what are you saying?" Hawkgirl asked after Darkseid left. "You're willing to let millions die because you don't like this guy."
"You don't know Darkseid like I do."
"We know he used you, humiliated you, brainwashed you. Wound you up like a tin solider and use you against Earth," Batman said approaching Superman. He got in his face and remarked rudely. "Cry me a river."
Diana whipped her head at Batman, angry at the tone he was using towards Superman. It was as if Batman was talking down to Superman and Diana felt someone as noble and honest as her friend deserved better than that. "You wouldn't speak so high and mighty if the Joker poisoned you with his chemicals, set you loose on Gotham so you can lay waste to the city you protect and put Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl in critical condition."
Diana didn't know what was overcoming her but she couldn't stop herself as the words flowed from her lips. "Yes, you do not care if the people of Gotham fear you. You thrive on fear but what if your fellow allies who you rely on began to fear you and pull away so you are truly alone?" She got in his face just as Batman got in Superman's. "You wouldn't like that and you would want revenge on the Joker for doing that to you so don't talk to Superman as if his feelings are petty and he should just get over it. Have you gotten over everything you couldn't control, Batman?"
Silence. That's what followed the room after Diana's tirade. Diana didn't understand her behavior herself. She never acted that way before. She sympathized with Superman and what he was feeling and to hear Batman criticize Superman for emotions Diana knew Batman experienced she lost it.
Batman inhaled sharply and took a step back. The last remarked stung him.
"Diana," Superman touched her arm and pulled her away from Batman. Diana looked at him. There was something in Clark's eyes that Diana read as sympathy and it was for Batman. "It's okay, Diana."
"No, it's not," Diana argued. "Batman has no right to talk to you that way."
Superman smiled; touched really that Diana would come to his defense. He never saw her get so angry so fast. Usually, everyone let Batman say what he wanted and do what he wanted, but it was obvious when it came to him, Superman, Diana wasn't going to allow Batman say what he wanted. "It's fine. Diana."
The anger from Diana's face melted and her expression softened to a smile.
"On an outside chance this isn't another of his schemes, we have to take action," Batman said bringing everyone back to the matter at hand. "So get--" he was going to tell Superman to get over it but after Diana's outburst he decided to hold his tongue. "So, let's make a plan."
J'onn stepped forward calmly explaining how they couldn't let Brainaic destroy anymore civilizations and they have to aid Darkseid.
"There's more to what Darkseid is saying, J'onn" Superman said. "But we'll play it your way, Batman. J'onn, Hawkgirl and I will go to Apokolips but I want you and Diana to go to New Genesis, tell High Father and Orion what's going on. We may need their help."
"Wouldn't I be more of a help coming with you?" Diana said.
"No, Diana, I think you better go with Batman. He's going to need you to get to New Genesis and you'll be better at talking to High Father than him." Clark suggested and smiled. "Just because you're alone with Batman, it doesn't mean we won't think you killed him if he doesn't return."
Despite the insult from Batman, the anger he was feeling towards Darkseid, he still had it in him to make her smile. "If that's how you want it, I'll go with him."
****
Diana and Batman arrived in New Genesis using a Boom Tube Superman had gathered during a previous battle with Darkseid. Once arriving there, they encountered a giant worm creature which knocked Diana out. After the help of a civilian they were shown where they could find Orion high in the clouds.
Diana flew herself and Batman to New Genesis where Diana was in awe of what she was seeing. The architecture of this place even challenged the designs of her beloved home Themyscira. She would've continued to be in awe of the place if Batman's sharp tongue didn't get her focused on the matter at hand.
After a run in with a New Genesis resident who toyed with them, they finally met Orion and once she and Batman explained everything to Orion they were taken to High Father. Orion wanted to use the opportunity to attack Darkseid and not help him. High Father left them to contemplate on what to do.
While waiting for High Father's decision, Diana paced anxiously and Batman stood patiently watching Diana make circles on the gold polished grounds of New Genesis while keeping an eye on Orion who was fiddling with his Mother Box. Orion looked as impatient as Diana waiting for High Father's decision and just as itchy as to join the fighting on Apokolips.
Thinking over Diana's reaction to him after what he said to Superman, he suspected an attraction to Diana on Superman's part but Batman hated to admit he missed Diana's attraction to Superman. So far, she was friendly with him just as she was to everyone else but after what happened earlier, there was no doubt in his mind, Diana was attracted to Superman. Given her naiveté Diana probably didn't know about the attraction or how deep it was.
While Batman mused over his thoughts, Diana grew concern about Superman with each passing minute. She felt she would be better suited fighting alongside with him on Apokolips instead of waiting for High Father to make up his mind. So while she waited, she paced. How was Clark Diana wanted to know. Was he being calm and not letting his anger cloud his judgment? What if the others were trapped and they needed her and Batman? Clark knew Darkseid better than any of them. He was certain this was a trap.
"Pacing will not help you, Princess," Batman told her.
"How can you be so calm? While High Father is making his decision, Superman and the others can be in grave danger? Have you given any thought that Superman might be right and this is a trap somehow?"
"Anything is possible," Batman said.
"Superman told me about Brainaic as well," Diana said thinking aloud. "He's very devious and can't be trusted anymore than Darkseid."
"Something tells me there isn't a lot Superman doesn't tell you," Batman quipped.
Diana's eyebrows rose puzzled. "What does that mean?"
"You were very quick to defend him earlier," Batman remarked.
"It wasn't right to put Superman down on feelings that are natural."
"Natural or not, Superman wasn't thinking clearly. He was only thinking of his anger towards Darkseid and it clouded his judgment to do what was right. I only said those things to get Superman's mind back in the game."
"You didn't have to speak so hostile to achieved your point, Batman," Diana said. "But we can discuss that another time. We should be discussing what's going on with Superman and the others on Apokolips. Darkseid and Brainaic are both enemies of Superman. Enemies do join forces to defeat a mortal enemy of their own. Isn't it possible Brainaic and Darkseid have joined forces to kill Superman? Knowing Superman still harbors hate for what Darkseid did to him, suppose he knew Superman would reject his plea for help and *we* would convince Superman to help regardless?"
Thinking along Diana's trail of thoughts, she had a point and if she was right, they *did* walk right into Darkseid and Brainaic's plan. Superman, Hawkgirl and J'onn were all in trouble and most importantly of all, Superman was right all along.
Orion who had been quiet during the exchanged growled, "I will no longer wait for High Father to make his decision." Orion activated his Mother Box which opened a portal to where Darkseid was. "I am going to Apokolips!"
"High Father told you to wait," Diana said but part of her was eager that someone was finally taking action. As soon as he opened the portal, she was going to follow.
"I have my reasons for not waiting," Orion said, knocking Batman aside to fly inside the portal.
Batman growled, "Next time I let Superman take charge just hit me real hard!" He dived in the portal after Orion.
As if he's right all the time Diana thought. "Do I have to wait for that to happen to hit you?" Diana remarked sarcastically and jumped in following Batman and Orion.
Batman looked at her surprised she would say that. Apparently this world was starting to influence her. That or she was hanging around Hawkgirl too much.
When they passed through to the other side, they were in space surrounded by floating rocks. Orion covered them in a protective shield so they could continue their travel safely in space.
"This isn't Apokolips." Batman stated the obvious.
"No, Mother Box senses Darkseid's hand here," Orion said.
Diana looked around seeing an electrical storm in space swirling around the large floating rocks. The closer they got to the storm, the more dangerous it became. Diana's worry for Superman grew. Soon they came upon a giant rock form of Darkseid's face. The three knew this was where everyone was. As they, flew inside the louder the sounds of battle became clearer. Diana clenched her fist and became edgy. A fight was taking place and she was ready to take part in it.
Reaching the epicenter, Diana saw several Brainaic forms fighting J'onn. She noticed Hawkgirl was down. Where was Superman? Then she saw him: pinned against an apparatus he couldn't get out of and having the life sucked out of him. His painful cries rang in Diana's ears and that angered her. Batman left to engage in battle with one of the Brainaic robots and Orion left to take on Darkseid. Diana flew into attack mode taking down one of the Brainaic robots. She tried to get to Superman to break him free but another Brainaic robot blocked her and another surrounded itself around her, then another and another until there was a large swarm over her like bees around honey.
She was Princess Diana of Themyscira, gifted by the Gods. No robots were going to take her down. "Hera, give me strength!" Diana cried out. Diana felt her strength rise upon summoning her Gods to help and she knocked all the Brainaic robots off her. They were scattered in all part of the room damaged or destroy.
Batman was at a console trying to access the commands to free Superman and J'onn was using a Brainaic robot to fight the others. Diana joined them and used the strength in her arms and legs to destroy the Brainaic robots and her bracelets to deflect them as she and J'onn covered for Batman.
More Brainaic robots tried to fight her and she punched and kicked at them. An explosion behind her caused Diana to look back. She saw smoke coming from the console Batman was working and Superman freed from his prison.
Diana flew to Superman and was going to ask him if he was all right when she heard Superman ask Batman with malice laced in his voice, "Where is Darksied?"
"I don't know," Batman said, "But we've gotta get out of here!"
They found an opening in the now damaging epicenter and decided to make their escape. J'onn carried a still unconscious Hawkgirl and Diana had an arm around Batman flying him out with Superman as the anchor. J'onn lead them to the Javelin. When Diana and Batman started up the Javelin's ramp, Diana looked back and saw Superman wasn't behind them.
"Wait. Where is Superman?"
"That idiot," Batman cursed. "I'll get him. The rest of you take off now!"
"No!" Diana stopped Batman. "I'll get him. Give me that boom tube."
"I said…" Batman started to argue.
"I know what you said but if anyone is going to bring him back it's me." The voice Diana sent Batman told him she wasn't going to argue with him and if need to, she would use force. "I can handle him. This isn't the time to test me, Batman," Batman gave Diana the boom tube and she flew off at warp speed.
"She better know what she's doing," Batman said and started up the ramp.
"If anyone knows what she's doing, it's her," J'onn said and went into the Javelin.
****
Great Gaea, please don't let me too late Diana thought worriedly as she flew to find Superman. Would she have to fight him to get him to leave? She knew how much Superman hated Darkseid and now it seemed Superman was going to fight Darkseid to the death. Death. That send a cold shiver down her spine. Diana wouldn't let Superman kill himself fighting a monster like Darkseid.
Diana flew down a red tunnel, hearing the sounds of punches, grunts and groans. Turning a corner, she saw Superman ready to resume his fight with Darkseid and an unconscious Orion on the floor.
"Superman!"
Superman turned his head and saw Diana. His eyes were full of rage that startled Diana. "GO! I'm finishing this!"
Diana went to him and grabbed his hand. She whispered, "Clark, don't be foolish."
If this was Batman, he would probably smack him but even through his rage, he couldn't hit Diana. Instead he blew his breath, knocking Diana off her feet. "Get out of here! NOW!!!"
The strength of Superman's breath slammed Diana into a wall. She saw Superman walk off to finish his fight with Darkseid. She didn't care how angry he would be with her but she wasn't going to let Superman die for the likes of Darksied.
Diana pounced on Superman from behind. She had her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck and shoulder. Diana activated the boom tube.
"No! Dammit, Diana! Let me go!" Superman growled.
Superman tried to fight her, throw her off him as he felt both of them slowly being pulled into the boom tube but Diana only tightened her hold on him. "I'm never letting you go!"
With Orion being in close proximity, he was being pulled in as well. Superman struggled all the way as he felt himself being drawn further and further into the boom tube. When they reached the other end, they crash landed on New Genesis on the outskirts of a forest.
Diana landed on her back and grunted when Superman's back slammed into her at the course of their fall. He stood and looked back at her, his face full of fury then stalked off.
Citizens of New Genesis gathered Orion and were tending to him. His labored breathing indicating how physically hurt he was. The Javelin landed behind her but Diana didn't give it any attention as her only concern was Superman.
The ramp was lowered followed by footsteps. A shadow covered her and Diana was forced to look up and see Batman looking down on her, his hand held out to her.
Diana took it and allowed Batman to pull her up. "He's angry with me, but I did what I had to do." Diana waited and asked. "No smart remark, Batman?"
Batman didn't respond. Diana looked passed him and J'onn carrying Hawkgirl out of the Javelin who was semi-conscious. "How is she?"
"Bruise ribs. She'll be fine," Batman remarked.
A large rumbling in the skies cause them to look upward. The skies were set ablaze by a fiery explosion. "It's over. Darkseid is gone as well as Brainaic. Neither of them could've survived that."
"That doesn't matter to him, Batman," Diana stated sadly. Her eyes fell to Superman who was watching the skies above him. "He's angry because he didn't deliver the final blow himself. He's angry with me for taking that away from him. To him, this was his chance to redeem himself after what Darkseid did to him. He's never gotten over being brainwashed."
"He's not the only one with high emotions today," Batman commented.
Diana turned to him. "Is that in reference to me?"
"It's whatever you want to think."
"I think you should include yourself in that, too. Given what he's been through, you could show a little sympathy towards Superman, but you are yourself, Batman. It is always your way because you trust yourself better than anyone else; because you feel your plan is right and everyone is wrong." Diana shook her head at Batman in pity. "It's sad that you feel you must be in control because you can't trust anyone else. Superman was right about Darkseid and you were wrong, Batman. You didn't calculate Darkseid and Brainaic working together and Darkseid betraying Brainaic. If anything, this situation should've told you, Batman, that you're not always right."
****
The Justice League left New Genesis and returned to the Watchtower an hour later. No one spoke on the flight back. Batman sat in the front with J'onn who was piloting the ship. Diana sat with Hawkgirl but she would occasionally shoot looks at Superman who distance himself from everyone.
As soon as the Javelin door's opened, Superman stormed off in an angry huff. Diana helped Hawkgirl to her feet. "He's still angry at you I see," Hawkgirl remarked.
"Yes, he is. Can you make it to your room?" Diana asked.
Hawkgirl nodded. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Go talk to him."
Diana left Hawkgirl and went to Superman's room. She knocked but he didn't answer. She knocked again. "Superman, I know you're in there." When he didn't respond, Diana typed the override code and the doors opened. To her surprise, Superman wasn't inside. She thought for a moment on where he could be. Diana went to the next floor where the workout rooms were. She entered and found Superman inside engaged in a battle simulator.
Diana turned the device off. "Clark."
With his battle gone, Superman crossed his arms at Diana annoyed. "I don't want to talk about it, Diana."
"Well, I want to." Diana walked to him. "I know you're angry with me for pulling you away from the fight with Darkseid."
"You had no right to do that!"
"I had every right to that. You do not kill. That is a code you always follow even with your most diabolical enemies."
"The world, no universe will be better off without him, Diana. The only ones mourning his death would be his sick advisor Desaad, his son Kalibak and those foolish blind followers of his who's spirits Darkseid's broken."
"Someone else more powerful could rise," Diana said.
"It wouldn't matter," Superman said arrogantly. "I'll take care of him, too."
"Listen to yourself," Diana tried to reason with him. "You're letting Darkseid corrupt you. If you kill him, what's to stop you from killing the next person who takes his place or someone who didn't agree with your ideas? What if it were I who stood in your way? Would you kill me, too?"
"Diana, you know I would never do that."
"Who knows. If you let yourself become evil like Darkseid and I stood in your way, you wouldn't see me as your friend but your enemy. You would kill me."
"No, I wouldn't." Superman stared at Diana seriously. "No matter what, I wouldn't forget how special you are to me and I would never kill you, even if you did become my enemy."
"I hope it never comes to that," Diana whispered.
Superman cupped the side of Diana's face. "It won't. I promise."
"There's one more thing you didn't take into consideration. You could've died in that explosion, Clark. Think of what that would've done to your parents, Lois, to me." Diana closed the distance between them and pulled Clark into a hug. Their first hug Clark realized. His arms came around her and hugged her back. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel Diana's body against his. Her voice was soothing; the feel of her body against his was even more welcoming. "I know you're still angry about what Darkseid did to you, but you can't let that anger consume you."
Clark sighed, reluctantly pulling away from Diana and sat down on the floor. "I know, Diana, but what he did to me, what he made me do to Earth, to Kara…" He buried his hands in his head, his mind reliving the things he did while brainwashed. "I just can't forget that and even though I've done so much to make it up to the people of Earth and Kara, I still feel like it will never be enough. The military was already wary of me when I first arrive. I don't think they trust me at all now."
Diana dropped to her knees, wrapped her arms around him from behind and pressed her head against his. "You feel by killing Darkseid, this was a way to redeem yourself." Superman nodded. "You don't need to kill Darkseid or yourself in the fight to redeem yourself, Clark. You *have* redeemed yourself but it's not me, the League, the people of Earth, Lois, or even your parents that needs to convince you. It's you and you alone. You have to get rid of the guilt otherwise it's going eat at you forever. I know you can get over the guilt. You have to accept all that has happen and move on."
Clark leaned against Diana letting her words sink in. Lois told him it wasn't his fault but he wasn't convinced. He still had the hate for Darkseid, the thirst for revenge inside him, but now with Diana talking to him, holding him like this it wasn't as strong as before.
"Thank you, Diana. I guess I needed to hear that. I'm sorry for getting so upset with you."
"I understand," Diana said. "I think the others will be glad to see you calm down. They are worried about you."
"I guess only you and Batman would face an angry Superman," he joked.
"I suppose so, but there's one thing I don't understand. Why were you sympathetic to Batman when he insulted you like that?"
Superman sighed. "He doesn't deal with lost well, Diana. Batman became who he is when he lost his family. He hasn't gotten over that. He never will. It's what makes him Batman."
Diana thought over what she said to Batman earlier; her comments about Batman getting over something he had no control over. "Oh, Hera, how terrible of me to say such things to him. I didn't know. I--" It was like a light bulb went off in her head. Why didn't she see it before? It all made sense. "Batman's Bruce Wayne!" she blurted.
Uh-oh. Superman stiffened. Did he say something he shouldn't have? "What?"
"Don't deny it. It's true. Oh, it all makes sense. Every time I was with Bruce Wayne, I had this feeling he was hiding something. Something told me the man I was with wasn't the real man. How can he be this Casanova and a humanitarian? Bruce Wayne *is* his façade."
"Diana, I don't know what you're talking about," Superman tried to deny the truth.
Diana laughed at Superman's attempt to protect Batman's secret. "Fine. If that's how you want to play it, so be it. But I know it's true. I won't tell. Batman wouldn't even admit it to me anyway if I did confront him."
Superman let out a sigh of relief.
"Feeling better?" Diana asked.
"Yeah."
"Good. I have to go." Diana released him and rose to her feet. "I leave for the international leg of my tour tomorrow and I need some rest after today's events."
"Bruce Wayne is flying you?" Superman asked standing.
Diana smiled suddenly as she knew Bruce Wayne's secret. "On the company's private plane," Diana said. "We start off in London, Barcelona, and Athens. Bruce said something about meeting me in Paris. He said he might have some business scheduled around that time."
Superman made a mental note to be in Paris at that time, too. "Have fun. I'll check your place while you're gone," Superman said. "Try to save some of your plants," he joked.
Diana stopped as she reached the door. She had forgotten about his offer to do that. "Thank you. I'll repay you." Diana gave Clark another hug and left the room.
"Have fun. I'll check your place while you're gone," Clark said. "Try to save some of your plants," he joked.
Given what happened today and their fight, Diana had forgotten about his offer to do that. "Thank you. I'll repay you." Diana promised and gave Clark another hug and left the room.
Bruce Wayne was going to be in Paris with Diana. Superman made a mental note to be in Paris at that time, too.
AN: You guessed it Maid of Honor is next.