Disclaimer: I do not own Justice League or Justice League Unlimited. I merely write this for my own entertainment and the entertainment of others.
A to Z, an Anthology
Victory
They'd won. The Daily Planet building was in ruins, but they'd won. Darkseid was gone, his fleet retreating from Earth. Lex Luthor was gone. The Legion of Doom was on the run, being cheerfully pursued by practically the entire Justice League.
Bruce watched Clark's eyes constantly drift in the direction of his paper's demolished building and tried not to roll his eyes. Subtlety would never be the Kryptonian's strong suit.
"Kent," he snapped harshly. Bruce smirked inwardly when Clark jumped, a guilty look crossing his face.
"Yeah?"
"Go find Lane. You're too distracted to do much good here right now."
Clark blinked at him, clearly surprised. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his lips. "Wow, Bruce," he said, "you really are going soft, aren't you? First giving the bad guys a head start, now telling me to go check on Lois. What's next? Helping Wally decorate the Metro Tower for Valentine's Day?"
Bruce growled warningly, but the other man just laughed before leaping into the air and flying off into the Metropolis skyline.
"That was really very sweet of you."
He closed his eyes. He really was beginning to regret his generosity in letting Clark off the hook. Note to self, he thought. Never cut the Kryptonian a break if said Kryptonian and the Amazon are just going to tease you about it.
"Sweet," he replied, disgust rolling off of him for even having to say the word, "had nothing to do with it. He's so busy worrying about his girlfriend to be much help in rounding up the Legion. He'd be a liability in battle and someone could get hurt."
Bruce didn't have to turn around to see the smirk on Diana's lips. Her amusement was palpable in the very air.
"Of course," she said mockingly. "Never let it be said that Batman isn't thinking strategically and considering all possible outcomes."
He grunted, but didn't disagree with her.
She appeared beside him, and he immediately saw that her eyes were practically sparkling with mischief.
Oh great. What's she up to?
"I wonder," she said, "if Batman's considered what would be required to stimulate the outcome of us having dinner this evening?"
He raised an eyebrow at her, even though there was no possible way she could see it behind his mask.
Diana just kept smirking at him, her eyes full of promises.
Victory: n. win; success.