A/N Don't own the characters so don't sue me.
Many thanks to Lady Isis for the super beta. Also thanks to DaisyJane for her input and help on this chapter. Without there help this story would be in limbo!
Shut outs to Hepburn. Loved the card, still giggling like a schoolgirl! ;) Kittybatman for being the GENIUS, caring and funny person she is. :) To Icha for being such a great BM/WW shipper, can't wait for your next update, mate. :) And to the rest of you all that write/read and enjoy Batman and Wonder Woman as a couple. This chapter is dedicated to you all.
Read and enjoy.
Batman's Gift
Chapter 2: Dates.
The Joker had broken out of Arkham and was running down an alley way. He stopped and saw Batman behind him. "Catch me if you can Bats," the Joker sang out and turned to run.
The emblem of the Bat was in his face.
The Joker bounced off him and fell back in shock. He looked back to where Batman was standing just seconds ago then turned and look up at him again.
"How?" was all Joker got out before Batman roughly lifted him up. He dragged him to a street light where a police cruiser stopped. He handed Joker off to the cops and was gone. That was how Bruce handled his nights now. With increased speed and strength he was catching the criminals before they even had a chance to run.
The weeks passed by quickly. With his new gifts he only needed a few hours of sleep a night. His business life was picking up and his night time life was even better. The crime rate in Gotham dropped below the national average for the first time since he became Batman.
At the next Justice League meeting he was late again, and when he entered the conference room six pair of eyes watched in awe at what they saw. The Batman had a light smile on his face. Wally was the first to speak. "Finally got one of my jokes, Bats?"
Batman stopped and for a brief second, giving the Speedster the batglare - but then chuckled. "No, Wally, just been having a very good couple of weeks." He took his seat and looked at Superman. Superman stared at him in shock for a few more moments, then shook his head and started the meeting.
He sat next to Diana and listened to Superman drone on. But five minutes into it he turned himself toward her and just stared. No one noticed what he was doing except Diana; she was trying to figure out what he was doing. She turned her head and looked back at Bruce, in a defiant stare down.
Bruce just smiled at her, and continued to stare at her. Everyone finally noticed what Batman was doing and stopped listening or talking to watch the two.
As the seconds ticked by Diana continued to return his stare, but her face was slowly turning a brighter shade of pink the longer he stared at her.
Bruce, without turning away from her, spoke. "Is something wrong, Clark? Why have you stopped talking about the new communications array?"
Clark was a little intrigued by the Bruce's behavior. "Why are you staring at Diana, Bruce?"
Bruce - with his billionaire smile on his lips - said, "Simple, I'm looking at the most gorgeous woman every created. I'm still listening to your proposal about the array," he said off-handedly.
After hearing his confession Diana finally couldn't handle his stare and turned away from him. He continued to stare at her profile.
Clark finally spoke up for her. "Bruce, you're making Diana nervous."
"Princess, am I making you nervous?" he said in his deep baritone voice, with a predatory smile. "If I am I'll stop."
Diana squared her shoulders then turned and looked at Bruce. "He is not making me nervous at all, Clark, please continue." Diana turned back towards Clark talking and tried her best to focus on Clark's voice. Diana wasn't embarrassed by his continued stare, just a little flustered by it.
Diana was the first one out the door when the meeting came to an end. Clark walked up to Bruce. "What is with you?" he ask him in a concerned tone.
Bruce turned and looked at him. "Nothing, I finally see Diana for who she is, and to be truthful I like what I see."
Clark looked annoyed at him. "Don't do it again!" Bruce had a tiny smile on his face as Clark walked away shacking his head.
Everyone else left except Shayera. Who waited until they were alone before attacking him. "What in the hell are you trying to prove?!" she yelled at him.
He stared flatly back at her. "Nothing, why?"
"You know damn well that girl likes you, and you're playing this stupid trick on her! If you hurt her, Bruce, you will not have to worry about all those Themysciran Amazon warriors coming after you, because I will be there first to kick your ass," she threatened him.
Batman stared deeply into her eyes. "Jealous... I wasn't looking at you? If you want you could always transport down to the Batcave with me..."
As expected, she punched him square in the face - knocking him to the ground. Bruce looked up at the winged warrior and smiled. "I'm only kidding Shayera. Nice left hook by the way."
She glared down at him as he rubbed his cheek. She angrily told him, "There is something different about you, Bruce, and I don't know if I like it at all." Shayera turned and left him to help himself up.
Shayera rushed to Diana's quarters and knocked on the door. "Who's there?" Diana replied to the knock.
"It's Shayera, can I come in and talk to you?" The door opened and Shayera walked into the room "Listen, Diana, whatever Bruce is up to I'm here for you. I don't know what he was trying to prove with that stupid staring game he was doing during the meeting." Shayera flopped down on Diana's bed.
"I kind of liked it - it was like he was marking his territory. Seeing if someone confronted him on it," Diana sighed out happily. It wasn't that she was happy with the 'territory' part, but the part about showing his interest in her... well that brought a flush of heat that went all the way down to her toes.
Shayera was about to respond to that, when there was a knock at the door. "Who is it?" Diana asked.
There was a short pause. "It's Batman, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Diana's eyes lite up with excitement as Shayera got off the bed ready to beat the living hell out of him if he tried anything. She opened the door and Batman walked in, he nodded his head at Shayera and looked directly at Diana. "Diana, I was wondering if you're free tomorrow night."
Diana smiled. "Sure am, why?" She had a somewhat nervous smile on her lips.
Batman pulled his cowl off his face and looked directly into her eyes. "I would like to take you out on a date, if your mother there..." he looked at Shayera, "will allow it."
Shayera stared at him furiously before Diana spoke. "I would love to, meet you at the manor?"
Bruce pulled his cowl back on. "Sure, transport down at 7 pm, and we can start with dinner and dancing if that is okay with you?"
Diana looked like she was ready to jump up and down like a teenager. "Sounds lovely," she managed.
Batman glanced at Shayera and said, "Night Shayera." Then he turned and looked at Diana. "Good night, my princess." He bowed and kissed her hand, then left the room.
Diana was radiant as Shayera's jaw muscles tighten up. "So what should I wear? You have to help me pick something out, Shayera, this is my first date ever." She happily bounced over to her closet.
Shayera looked at Diana's face, and thought better then to bring the princess down with how she felt about the way he was acting. She helped her pick out a lovely strapless black evening dress.
John caught up to Bruce before he could beam back down to the Batcave "Batman, got a second?" he asked as he ran up next to Bruce.
"Have a few, what's up John?" He knew what he was going to ask him.
"I'm glad to see your acting a little normal, but what is up with you lately? I mean you never have acted this way since... since I've known you," John said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"John, I'm just feeling fine. Does there have to be anything wrong with me for that?" Bruce stared into the green eyes of the Green Lantern.
"Anyone else no, but we're talking about you. You're the brooding, don't-say-more-than-three-words Batman. It's like, you're not yourself. Maybe you should got to the infirmary and let J'onn do a few tests."
He glared at John for a moment, then in a gruff voice "Listen to me, I'm fine. I will go to the infirmary, but J'onn is not to read my mind or I'm out the door." John nodded his head in agreement and escorted Bruce to the infirmary.
Forty minutes later he stalked out of the infirmary to return home.
"Well, is there anything wrong with him, J'onn?" John asked cautiously.
J'onn looked at him "He is in perfect health, every scan I did came back that he is the real Bruce Wayne."
"Thought so, did you get anything from him mentally?" John asked.
"Only surface feelings, all I got were extreme happiness, but I did feel a bit of anger a few times when I had to draw blood from him."
John threw his hands in the air. "Guess he is just feeling better, which is pretty damn scary thing." He laughed out loud.
"He isn't acting like his normal self, but this change in him is refreshing," J'onn spoke while cleaning up the discarded medical supplies.
Superman walked into the infirmary. "Well did you find out why Batman is acting weird?"
"Batman is Batman only he seems to be happier," J'onn stated to Superman.
"Clark, you've known Bruce the longest, have you ever seen him like this?" John asked.
"Never in all the years I've known him, only when he is Bruce Wayne out in public does he smile. His Wayne smile is a fake, but tonight was the first time I've seen a real smile on his face. Whatever he is up to we will have to keep an eye out on him." John nodded his head in agreement, happy Batman wasn't something anyone has dealt with before.
All three left the infirmary still talking about the changes in Batman.
"Master Bruce, your date has arrived," Alfred told him.
Bruce made his way to the front entrance, and his first sight of Diana took his breath anyway. Her hair was styled into a tight braid on one side and loose on the other. The minimal makeup just highlighted her already beautiful features. The black strapless dress hugged her body in all the right places, sparkling in the light as she shifted under his gaze.
"Heaven has lost an angel."
Diana blushed at his comment, but smiled.
"Are you ready to leave or would you like a drink first?" Bruce asked as he finished walking up to the living goddess, bending over and kissed her hand.
"Whatever you think is correct, Bruce, this is my first date... ever," Diana replied while fidgeting with her purse. Bruce smiled at Diana and lead her into the parlor, he poured her a glass of white wine and handed it to her. He motioned for her to come and sit down at one of the large couches.
"So this will be your first date in Man's World, are there dates on Themyscira?" Bruce inquired.
Diana shook her head. "No, just dates for training."
Bruce slowly drank his wine while Diana just looked a little out of her element. "Listen, Diana." Diana looked in to his crystal blue eyes. "Relax, have fun, we are only going to have some food and dance a little. If you feel uncomfortable at all tell me and we will end the date. I don't want to push you into anything that you don't like or want."
Diana blushed a little. "No, I need to test out different things in Man's World, if I want to be Themyscira's Champion. Experience is what makes a Champion."
Bruce smiled at Diana and placed both of their glasses down. "Well then, let's experience Man's World's version of dating." Bruce got up and offered Diana his hand. She took it with a large smile on her face, together they left the manor for their dinner date.
When Diana returned to the Watchtower at 11 pm, Shayera was waiting for her. "So did Bruce mistreat you? Tell me everything and I will tell you if he tried something," she harshly asked her.
Diana smiled at her friend and lead her to the commissary to have a late night drink and to discuss her date with Bruce.
Minutes later: "Wow Bruce actually didn't try to kiss you at the end of the date," Shayera said in a shocked tone.
"No, I wanted him too but he said we could try that on our next date. Which he asked me to come with him to a charity event being held by Wayne Enterprises next week."
Shayera had listened to her describe the date - Bruce had been a total gentlemen, which surprised her from what she knew and heard of the playboy persona of Bruce Wayne.
Bruce Wayne and Wonder Woman walked hand in hand. Flashes from the cameras were nearly blinding Diana, her temper was rising. Bruce felt her grip his hand tighter, he whispered into her ear.
"I know, just smile and pretend to enjoy the attention." His reassuring words calmed her, she brightened her smile. This was their second date and Bruce had warned her about the attention she would receive. Diana had not expected this much, it seemed like hundreds of people crowded the entrance towards the charity event.
Once inside the entranceway Diana's nerves settled down. She closed her eyes to allow the continued flashing lights in her eyes to dissipate, Bruce genitally squeezed her hand. She reopened her eyes and looked up at his brilliant smile.
"Feeling better now?" he pleasantly asked her. Diana nodded her head, he then winked at her. "That was just the first hurdle, now you're in the belly of the beast. These people are fakes and phonies. Try not to decapitate anyone," he jokingly said as he raised his brow and chuckled.
Diana smiled up at him. "I'm not making any promises," she joked back. Bruce nodded and escorted her into the large ballroom. The next few hours were hell to Diana, Bruce had been correct about these people. But what kept Diana sane was watching Bruce interact with the people. His playboy act was silly and quite amusing to her at times.
Once on the dance floor she melted into his embrace. "How are you holding up, Princess?" Bruce exhaled deeply into her ear. It sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine.
"Keep that up and I think I can handle a few more hours," she throatily replied back. She felt Bruce stiffen in her embrace and relaxed deeper into their shared embrace. The two lost themselves on the dance floor, and once the music was over Bruce lead her away to a private corner.
He stared deeply into her eyes. Diana's cheeks slowly reddened as he peered into her very soul it seemed to her. His eyes dropped to her lips, she mirrored his actions. She watched as he licked his suddenly very inviting lips. The two slowly moved towards each other. A spark crossed their lips as they finally touched. The kiss was slow and tender, but slowly built up with passion. Diana finally pulled away from his intoxicating lips, her emotions were all over the place causing a sudden feeling of confusion in her.
Two thoughts continued to battle within her mind. One was demanding she act like an Amazon warrior. Her womanly side was pleading with her to continue the very enjoyable kiss. Bruce touched his forehead against hers.
"Wow..." he sighed out quietly. "Diana, as much as I would love to continue this... We must stop..." His breathing was deep, it heated her face more.
"You're correct, Bruce." Diana said as she bit her bottom lip. Bruce's eyes enlarged - did she know what she was doing to him with that simple expression? He closed his eyes and forced the Bat to come forward.
He pulled further away from her but continued to hold onto her hands. His eyes reopened and Diana noticed the slight change in them. The passion was gone but his eyes still held a caring look to them.
He pulled Diana back onto the dance floor. They enjoyed themselves for the rest of the evening dancing, but Diana couldn't deny she was disappointed that Bruce acted the total gentleman for the rest of the evening. When he escorted her back to the javelin she used to transport down to Earth, he gave her a simple kiss on the lips.
"Diana, I truly enjoyed myself, I'm sorry for pushing myself on you earlier." He looked upset with himself.
"No..." Diana said - too quickly. She blushed but continued. "I enjoyed it.. A lot... I had a lovely date with you... Bruce." Bruce smiled, his name on her lips always caused him to melt a little.
"So we can have another?" He looked at her hopefully. Diana wrapped her hands together and nodded her head. Bruce smiled. "I will contact you about another one... very soon." He took her hand and kissed it, then turned and left her. Diana spun around and walked towards the cockpit area. The smile on her face didn't vanish until the next day.
For the next few weeks Bruce's life was actually beginning to be normal and very enjoyable. A couple dates a week with Diana and his patrols at night seemed to be getting more easier since learning to use his gifts more efficiently.
It was Diana and Bruce's tenth date, Bruce had booked the whole restaurant for the both of them so they could have some alone time.
Diana looked more radiant then ever. Her dress was metallic gray color that sparkled in the light. Her hair was down the way he loved it, and her face seemed to have a glow about it tonight.
Bruce picked up his glass of champagne and toasted her. "To the woman that makes me see the light, goodness and happiness life can bring."
Diana clinked her glass "To the man that has shown me that the darkness isn't so scary and brooding," she winked with a smile.
Bruce chuckled and smiled at Diana; his emotions had not been in turmoil since there first date. He actually could see a great future with her.
"Diana, I was thinking - since its our tenth date, would you like to spend the night at the manor?" Bruce asked her as he stared into her blue eyes.
Diana was a little taken aback with this and thought about it for a moment. They had progressed to a petting stage on there dates, the next logical step in their relationship would be sleeping together. Diana nervously said, "I think... I would like that, Bruce."
Bruce's megawatt smile almost matched Diana's.
Unknown to Bruce or Diana life was about to turn and disrupt their lives forever.
It started with a low rumble, but both Diana and Bruce felt it. The restaurant started to shake and both their glasses of champagne tipped over spilling their contents on the table. Pictures and other objects that hung on the walls started to fall down. Both Bruce and Diana jumped up from their seats.
Outside the restaurant, a few blocks up the ground split open and a hand busted out from it. Once the figure had pulled it self out the earthquake stopped.
Bruce and Diana had made their way outside and saw a few traffic lights had fallen, and all the power in this area of the city was out. Bruce could make out a figure in the distance, he went to his car and opened the trunk, grabbing a brief case and ran towards an alley way. In a matter of a few seconds he had on a lightweight Batsuit. He and Diana moved up the street to see what had happened.
The figure was overturning cars and throwing them around, when Batman was close enough he could see it was a man of average size but was wearing a chiton and sandals. The man turned and faced Batman and Wonder Woman, his eyes glowed red with anger.
He sniffed the air and pointed a finger at Diana and yelled, "Amazon!" and leapt at Diana.
Batman moved toward the man and side kicked him away from Diana. "Know him, Princess?" Batman spoke as the man slammed into a building wall.
"Never seen him before," Diana said as the man got up. He growled at both of them and jumped again at Diana. Diana got into a defensive stance. Batman was on the man in mid-jump, slamming him to the ground. The man bucked Batman off of him, and was on his feet before Batman hit the ground. He kicked Batman into a large window and turned to Diana.
Batman grunted as he got back outside the building, okay no more Mister nice guy, Batman thought. The man had Diana pinned to the ground trying to lash out at her. Batman jumped the thirty feet distance and kicked him off of Diana.
Diana got back to her feet, as she watched Batman started to hammer the man into the street pavement. The blows started to imprint the man into the pavement. Diana was amazed at seeing Batman's rage and power. The man stopped moving and Batman stood over him. The man was stuck in the pavement.
"Batman, how?" Diana asked in awe.
Before Batman could reply a voice was heard behind them. "Because of me Diana."
She turned to see Zeus standing there; Diana automatically bowed her head and dropped to one knee.
"Batman, I forgot to give you these," Zeus spoke while throwing a pair of metal jet black gauntlets at him.
He caught them and looked at them suspiciously. "What are these for, Zeus?" Batman demanded.
Zeus walked over to Diana and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Rise, my child." Diana looked up to Zeus. "These are to send the prisoners back, Batman." Zeus turned his attention back to Batman.
Batman looked at gauntlets and looked at Zeus. "You son of a bitch what is the meaning of this?!" Batman spat out in anger.
Zeus replied, "Your the keeper of this prison, the one I placed under Gotham sixty years ago. Surprised one got out so soon," Zeus spoke calmly.
"WHAT IN THE HELL IS A PRISON DOING HERE?!" Batman screamed at Zeus.
"It's a minimum security prison for the immortals and demigods that have broken Olympian law," he simply replied to Batman.
"Put the gauntlets on and touch him, he will be return to the prison. You shouldn't have to worry about him or any others for a while," Zeus told Batman.
Batman eyed Zeus for a moment and spoke "What trickery is this, Zeus, you told me the gifts were with no strings attached."
Zeus smiled at Batman. "True, but you still have to protect Gotham and this prison is in Gotham. If one of the eighty prisoners escape, your job is to return them. Sorry I forgot to tell you about them, they have been starting to become agitated as of late. Guess their negative energy has been causing more trouble in Gotham then I thought."
Batman's eyes nearly bugged out after hearing Zeus speech. "Your telling me Gotham has been slowly turned mad because of this prison of yours?!"
Zeus nodded his head "True it's been corrupting Gotham for some sixty years, but you're here to keep it in check. You should put the gauntlets on and send him back before he regains consciousness."
Batman listened in horror - were his parents killed because of this god's prison?
"Why should I? Most likely these gauntlets of yours will have a curse or something on them," Batman growled out.
Zeus was taken aback by his tone but said, "They are just a key."
Batman spit on the ground and asked Diana, "Does your lasso work on gods, Diana?"
Diana had a look of horror on her face when Batman asked her that. Zeus laughed, "It does but do you truly think I would allow you to use it?" Zeus looked at Batman with miniature lighting bolts in his eyes.
"I don't trust you, Zeus, either you allow me ask you if the gauntlets will effect me while the lasso is around you or I will just simply walk away," Batman spoke with his teeth tightly clinched.
Zeus nodded his head and grabbed the lasso of truth and wrapped it around his arm. "Are the gauntlets curse or going to bind me in a manner I don't want?"
The lasso glowed while Zeus spoke. "No."
"Were my parents killed because of this prison influencing Joe Chill?" he growled out so low that Diana had a hard time hearing him.
Zeus sighed out then said, "It's possible."
The pain of Zeus's confession nearly brought him to his knees. But a flicker of hope dawned at his darkest moment. He allowed that thought to bring him back from the brink of insanity.
Batman put on the gauntlets while Zeus handed the lasso back to Diana. The prisoner was slowly trying to get out of the ground when Batman walked up to him. He touched him with one of the gauntlets. The man screamed for a moment and disappeared in a flash of light.
Diana asked "What is going on, Batman?"
Zeus spoke for Batman. "I gave him the power to keep Gotham safe." Diana turned to look at Batman but Batman was staring at Zeus.
Batman was shaking with rage and spoke quietly "Zeus, you will pay for this. You have basically trapped me here in Gotham as Batman for eternity. I wanted a normal life one of these days, but you took away that small dream. Your prison is also the reason my parents died. YOU WILL PAY!" Batman screamed out with pure hatred.
Zeus looked at Batman with an amused smile on his face. "I am the king of the gods of Olympus, your threats are of no consequence to me."
With that Zeus vanished in a flash of light. Diana looked at Bruce and didn't know what to say or do. Batman's shoulders slumped down.
"Bruce, I..." Diana spoke quietly not knowing what to say or do.
Batman turned to her and growled out, "Don't tell anyone about this, Diana."
Diana looked at Bruce and agreed not to. She was going to hug Bruce but he pulled back "Diana leave, I need time to think." She looked at Batman and slowly turned to go but he spoke once again. "I will contact you soon."
Diana looked over her shoulder and smiled with a friendly nod before flying off into the darkness of the night.