Chapter 19

Superman stood outside the monitor womb of the Watchtower watching Batman as he worked. He'd been here since early this morning which was very unlike him since Diana had been staying at the Manor.

In fact, they had seen him only for short periods of time since the Akusu attack, checking in for League meetings or when he had come by yesterday to discuss what was going on with Lex Luthor. For him to be here now was unusual to say the least.

Entering the monitor womb, Superman decided he better find out what was going on to have caused his friend to suddenly be spending his time up here instead of with Diana. "So did she piss you off or did you piss her off?"

Batman didn't bother turning around, but continued his work on the computer system. "She's fine," he coolly stated, refusing to divulge anything more.

"Right," Superman drawled, knowing better than that. "Which is why you've decided to spend all of your time here with us instead of at home with her?"

"It's none of your business, Clark," he said. "Leave it alone."

"Something is obviously wrong for you to be here," he pressed. "This is the most I've seen you in weeks."

"Diana is fine," he ground out. "Stubborn and infuriating as hell, but fine."

A knowing smile spread across Clark's face. No one could get under the Batman's cowl quite like Diana could. He never realized just how much until now. They truly were in love and, for some reason, it had never been clearer to him until this moment.

Clark studied Bruce as he leaned against one of the computer monitors, the dark scowl on the Batman's face fiercer than he had seen in a long time. He felt his jealous curiosity rising. Even though he had talked to Diana and knew that she was in love with Bruce, it didn't make their burgeoning relationship any easier to swallow.

If he was brutally honest with himself, there had always been a small part of him that had been in love with Diana since he had met her, a little niggling in the back of his mind wondering what it would be like to be with her. It wasn't that he didn't love Lois. He always had and always would, but there was a tiny part of him that always wondered…what if?

More than even that, though, he felt very protective of Diana. They had always shared a special bond unlike any other. As part of the trinity, he, Diana, and Bruce had always been very close friends – bonded by duty and forged by one nightmarish tribulation after another.

As leaders of the Justice League, they had always looked out for each other in particular, shared their true identities and knew each other better than they probably knew themselves at times.

While there was a part of him that was happy that Bruce had found love with someone special, it was just difficult to watch it unfold with Diana.

"You slept with her," Clark stated, more as a fact than a question.

Bruce stopped typing for a split second, but refused to meet his friend's intent probing stare. The muscles in his jaw tightened minutely as he ground his teeth, his insides twisting even tighter with the fury that had coalesced there. He didn't want to talk about it, but Clark obviously had different intentions.

"You love her, Bruce, and I already know that Diana loves you," Clark continued. "I'm happy for the both of you, but I swear on my life if you hurt her, I will not think twice about breaking you in two."

Bruce felt a tiny smile pull at the corner of his lips with his threat, thankful that Clark wasn't going to fight him on this anymore. He valued his friendship greatly and did not want this to come between them in anyway. He didn't want to have to choose between Diana's love and Clark's friendship because he knew Clark would lose every time.

Seeing that Batman was not going to respond, Superman decided to let it go for the moment. "Go talk to her," Clark advised him. "Whatever you're arguing about, you two can work it out."

"As long as she doesn't get herself killed," Batman spat out.

Clark immediately frowned. "Why? What does that mean?"

"I just found out that Luthor and the Joker aren't buying the JL's statement about her being off world. They're trying to track her down," he informed him, sitting back in his chair with a heavy sigh. "I've already started circulating rumors around Gotham to throw them off her trail."

"Let's hope it works," Clark said, his worry rising. "If they get a hold of her now, she won't be able to defend herself."

"Trying telling the Princess that," Bruce snorted. "There's a charity gala event tonight at the Gotham Museum. She's hell bent on going in order to draw them out."

"She what?" Clark nearly shouted as straightened up. "Is she trying to get herself killed?"

"She swears she'll be alright," Batman replied as he turned back to the monitors. "Damn stubborn Amazon pride."

"You are going to the gala tonight to make sure she's safe, right?" Clark asked.

"Of course," he ground out, surprised that he even had to ask. "I'm not about to let her go alone. Nightwing and Robin will be there too as back up."

"If you need help, you call me immediately," Clark ordered him, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I don't give a damn about your rule of no Metas in Gotham. This is about keeping Diana safe and making sure they don't get their hands on her so swallow your own stubborn pride and call me if you get into trouble."

Batman bristled with his words, knowing that he was just as stubborn as Diana could be. He also knew that Clark was right, but he could handle this and he could handle Diana as well. "Just be on standby," Batman finally snapped.

Clark fought back a smirk, relieved Bruce was at least willing to contract him if they ran into trouble. "I'm going to check out a few places to see if I can track down Luthor. His company maintains he's still away on personal business and cannot be contacted for any reason."

"Still nothing from the Akusu?" Batman asked.

"No, nothing," Superman informed him. "I think you may have actually scared them into finding a new queen."

"At least something positive has finally gone our way," Bruce stated. "Now if we can just fix Diana for her."

"It's not your fault you haven't found a way to get Diana's powers back yet," Clark tried to reassure him.

"I should've found a way by now," Bruce scowled.

"J'onn is still optimistic that maybe the affects of the weapon will wear off in time."

Batman shook his head, frustration that had been consuming him since this had first started intensifying once more. "If it hasn't by now, I doubt it ever will."

"You never know with alien technology," Clark reminded him. "Maybe her Amazonian physiology will eventually neutralize it. I know J'onn has been studying her unique composition, hoping to find a clue there."

"I hope we can come up with something for her," he muttered.

He just felt such guilt every time he looked at her, knowing that he'd failed her. Despite the fact that she was still so thin and her muscle tone had yet to fully return, she was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She deserved the best and he wanted to be the one to give that to her, including her powers.

"Keep me posted on what happens tonight," Clark told him before leaving.

Hearing the monitor womb doors swoosh closed once more, Batman sank back in his chair, tilting his head back to look at the ceiling. He was going to have to find a way to resolve these feelings inside, these overpowering fears about Diana's safety if he was going to continue to be with her.

He knew he couldn't give her up and yet he couldn't live with the idea of something happening to her. She had no way to defend herself except for the defensive training that he had been teaching her. And unfortunately the breakthrough that J'onn thought he'd found on being able to reverse what the Akusu had stolen from her turned out to be infeasible once they had sat down and worked it all out.

As furious as he was with her for insisting she go to the charity gala tonight, Bruce found he couldn't help but long to see her right now, to feel her body in his arms, to kiss her. He was truly afraid that he was going to lose her tonight, to lose the one thing in this life that he found he loved most.

XXX

Diana stepped out of the limo to a brilliant array of flashing lights that immediately blinded her as reporters began hammering her with one question after another ranging from her recent off world mission to who she was currently dating to what the elusive rarely seen Batman was really like. She politely smiled as she made her way inside, refusing to answer any questions.

She was on a mission and she didn't have time for petty things like who had designed her dress or if she was sleeping with Superman. The last question annoyed her the most. Why did everyone try to pair the two of them together all the time? Batman was more her type, but she wasn't about to tell the reporters that.

Entering the museum, Diana couldn't help the sorrow that pricked her heart. She wished that Bruce had come with her. She hadn't seen or talked to him since their heated argument in the batcave yesterday morning. He never came to bed last night, making her wonder just where he had slept.

She had missed him fiercely last night, missed curling up against his warm muscular form, feeling his arms holding her as well as his lips so urgent against hers. At the same time, she was still furious with him for being so unbelievably stubborn about this. She may not have her Meta powers any longer, but she could still defend herself in other ways.

She refused to be some helpless woman hiding behind a man or secreted away in his home. Bruce wasn't a Meta and he was a highly skilled warrior, probably the most skilled that she had ever met.

"Wonder Woman!" a woman practically squealed her name, causing Diana to stop to greet her. "How kind of you to come! You look positively stunning tonight. No one is going to be able to keep their eyes off of you!"

Diana smiled, pausing to talk to her while at the same time inconspicuously scanning the room for signs of possible trouble. She had somehow missed noticing someone who was discreetly watching her from across the large room, had been since the moment she had first arrived.

She looked positively breathtaking in a white beaded long sleeve dress that ended at mid-thigh, allowing a generous view of her gorgeous legs that seem to go on forever. Her hair was pulled up in an elegant up do, revealing her graceful neck.

He watched as she stopped to talk to someone, her smile lighting up the entire room. Arousal began to pound through his system, heating his blood as she turned to reveal a deep "V" in the back of her dress that ended near the small of her back.

Jealousy began to well up as he noticed she had managed to capture the attention of every single man in the room, every one of them practically drooling over her. Not one of them seemed to be immune to her graceful beauty and charm. He suddenly found he wanted to gouge their eyes out.

What was even more amazing to him was the fact that she had no idea how damn sexy and voluptuous she actually was. It was just all so natural to her that he didn't think that she was even aware of it.

Unable to bear it a moment longer, he strode purposefully across the room towards her, bent on having her all to himself. Approaching from behind, he could hear the woman prattling on, bombarding the Amazon with questions without even pausing for a response.

His entire body tensed with anger as the woman began to ask her about Superman.

"So I hear that you and Superman are secretly a couple," the woman said. "Is he a good kisser? He looks like he would be. He's just so handsome and I bet amazing in bed…"

"Princess…"

Diana immediately flushed inside with the deep baritone of his voice that seemed to caress her very soul. She quickly turned to find herself staring into penetrating blue eyes of Bruce Wayne, eyes that knew her inside and out.

He looked incredibly handsome dressed in his black tux. She suddenly lost all form of coherent thought as she watched his lustful gaze slowly travel the length of her body before finally meeting her eyes again.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, offering her his hand.

Diana smiled and nodded her head, taking his hand, the woman she had been talking to all but forgotten as she followed him onto the dance floor. Turning, Bruce swiftly took her into his arms, his hand coming to rest against her back as he clutched her other.

His intense gaze caused a flutter to erupt in the pit of her stomach as he moved them in time with the slow sway of the music. She didn't know why she suddenly felt so nervous inside. It's not like they hadn't been sleeping together and yet he always managed to have such a profound effect on her.

Bruce leaned in close, his breath warm against her cheek causing her to swallow back the overwhelming urge to kiss him. She did her best to focus on the music instead of how he was making her feel inside, the way her body always seemed to respond to him, betraying her.

Bruce, on the other hand, was only fairing marginally better at best. Her exhilarating scent was making his knees weak. He honestly didn't think that she had any idea what she did to him just by existing, breathing.

"You look absolutely gorgeous tonight," he breathed in her ear. "You have no idea how badly I want to take you right here."

"The feeling is mutual, Mr. Wayne," Diana murmured, pulling back to gaze into his eyes. "You look very handsome, but I must say I am surprised to see you here tonight."

Bruce's blue eyes danced with mischief. "Well, you see I find that I'm in love with this very beautiful, very stubborn woman who is more than determined to get herself into trouble."

"Hmmm…" Diana considered for a moment as she fought back a smile. "Doesn't really sound like anyone I would know."

Bruce couldn't help the smirk that threatened to form as his fingers took the opportunity to gently caress the bare skin of her back. "I'm not one to kiss and tell, but she is an amazing woman and incredible in bed. The things that she does to me and I do to her would make your head spin."

He felt her tremble slightly in his arms with his words, knowing that he was torturing her, but she deserved it for making him come tonight in order to protect her. He watched with pleasure as a warm blush began to color her cheeks.

He leaned in close again, his lips brushing against her ear. "And when she comes for me…it's the most beautiful site I've ever seen."

He heard Diana's breath hitch as his fingers skimmed just inside the bottom of the "V" of her dress to stroke her skin. A soft moan tickled his ears and he immediately decided teasing her like this was quickly backfiring on him as he felt himself growing harder by the moment. He was just torturing himself as well now.

"Bruce…" she softly rasped, fighting to control the pounding of her heart.

The song suddenly ended, forcing him to release his hold on her much too soon for his taste. She was equally disappointed. "Would you care to join me on the balcony for some fresh air, Mr. Wayne," she seductively asked, her blue eyes darkening. "It's getting rather…warm…in here, don't you think?"

"I agree, Princess. Much too warm," he huskily replied, taking her hand in his and leading her away.

He was more than anxious to get her alone, to kiss her breathless and touch her like he was aching to. Unfortunately, this was neither the time nor the place with all the prying eyes lurking about.

They began to make their way from the dance floor as another song began to fill the air. A sudden hand on Diana's arm caused her to abruptly stop, her hand slipping free from Bruce's grasp. She turned to find herself staring into the eyes of Lex Luthor.

"May I dance with you, Wonder Woman?" he politely asked, lifting her hand to kiss her knuckles before swiftly pulling her with him before she could even respond.

Feeling Diana's hand slip free from his grasp, Bruce stopped and turned to find Lex Luthor kissing Diana's hand. Hot rage seethed within him as he began to make his way back to her, his jaw clenched tightly.

"Why I'd love to," she sweetly replied as she followed him, casting a glance back over her shoulder in time to catch a glimpse of fury smoldering in Bruce's eyes.

Reaching the dance floor, Luthor wrapped his lecherous arms tightly around her as he cast a smug grin at Bruce Wayne. "I believe I just saved you from making a terrible mistake with that loser Bruce Wayne," Lex arrogantly told her. "He's a conceited playboy who will only break your heart."

"And a villain like you would be better?" she bit out, keeping her expression pleasant despite the heat in her voice.

"Now, now," Luthor leered at her, his eyes roaming over her. "No need to be testy, my dear Wonder Woman. I'm merely trying to save you from yourself."

"Myself?" she asked as Luthor spun her around only to capture her in his arms once more.

"Yes," he continued with a grin that made her skin crawl. "I have some very big plans for you, my beautiful Amazon. Big plans that I think you need to see."

"And what if I told you to go to Hades?" she smiled sweetly.

Luthor chuckled softly with her words, her fiery spirit so very alluring to him. "Then I'd have to say you had better come with me now or I will be forced to blow up the entire Gotham museum and everyone in it. You wouldn't want that on your conscious now, would you?"

Diana internally shuddered as she felt his hand drift down to suddenly grip her bottom, the desire to break every vile bone in his body becoming more tempting by the moment…if only she had her super powers.

"Then I guess I'd have to say that you have made an offer that I can't refuse," she ground out, her blue eyes flashing with deadly warning.

"Good girl," he patronizingly told her, releasing his intimate hold on her only to take a firm hold of her arm. "You have a good head on your shoulders. If you play your cards right, I'll let you keep it there too."

Diana quickly began scanning the room as casually as possible, searching for signs of Bruce as Luthor escorted her from the Museum. He didn't appear to be anywhere, but she knew he was somewhere nearby watching her.