Unintended
"The Swimmer"
Gotham Heights
His hand arched up and then moved forward, slicing into the water. His feet effortlessly kicked, propelling him ahead as he rolled his shoulders and brought his other arm over. Reaching one end of the pool, he executed a flip turn and glide back underwater. He could easily have spanned the whole pool this way, but he wasn't using his powers, so he broke the surface and turned his head. Taking a breath, he began anew. He'd been out here for the last hour.
There was a light layer of steam coming off the heated pool at this early hour of the morning. It had been a long time since Clark swam laps, probably since high school. He was on the swim team briefly, but then another of his powers kicked in. That was the end of competitive swimming for him. It wasn't fair anymore. It was the side of his powers most never considered. He was just as competitive as the next person, but because of his talents he never had a chance to truly compete at anything really.
That's probably where it started for him, the non-aggressive posture that was second nature now. A teenager his size the questions naturally came about him joining the team. After awhile he just got tied of making excuses and started to consciously present himself as mild mannered and slightly awkward. He got so good at it the questions stopped and the idea of him trying out for the team almost became a joke among his high school classmates.
As he reached the other end, he flipped and headed back. Gliding under the water, Clark remembered sitting in the stands watching others get all the cheers from the crowd. The pretty girls and cheerleaders rushing passed him as they greeted the football players getting off the bus, hardly even noticing he existed. That was the most difficult part of it all. Every teenager wants to stand out and be noticed, but he wasn't allowed. With great power comes great responsibility he had heard over and over growing up. He knew it was true and accepted it, but just once it would have been nice to see the pretty girl rushing to him not passed.
The irony of his present situation wasn't lost on him. Clark was living with the prettiest girl of all, yet she was interested in another. He was the nice guy helping her as she pursued the rich captain of the football team, just like back in high school. He wasn't the same person he was than, but there would always be a small part of him that would wonder what if?
As hard as it was back then, it had helped him he later realized. He'd been forced to channel those energies in other directions, to use his mind instead of his body. Being a reporter and writer wasn't dependent on his physical gifts. It didn't matter if he could shatter mountains or leap tall buildings only that he could turn a phrase or convey an idea.
Maybe those experiences helped him when he finally did get his share of attention too. He'd just started out to help others where he could, but when he finally made the transition to Superman suddenly the spotlight was brighter than he ever imagined. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't liked the adoration that came with being Superman at first. Having women jump off buildings just to meet him was certainly good for his ego. Perhaps because he was a little older he quickly understood that it wasn't really him they were in love with and adored, but the uniform just like the captain of the football team.
It made him realize just how special the few women were that hadn't rushed by him when he was just Clark Kent. That was the reason he was always cautious around women when he was Superman, even the women of the League. Part of him always wondered if they were just attracted to Superman or if they saw the man underneath the costume, Clark Kent?
As he reached the end of the pool, Clark briefly stopped and glanced up at the second floor bedroom window. She was probably still sleeping. He was out here because a rather disturbing dream woke him up. It was a dream about Diana. He knew nothing good could come from those kinds of thoughts. They were both his friends and someone would get hurt if he pursued them.
Clark turned away from the window and started swimming back towards the other end.
The Watchtower
A rather glum Zatanna sat in the cafeteria nursing a cup of coffee. Her shift had ended a little while ago, but she hadn't felt like going home yet. The whole situation the last few days with the bet wasn't exactly to her liking, but there wasn't really anything she could do. 'Home wrecker', even a make believe home, really wasn't something she wanted on her resume. Besides, even though they weren't exactly close, she did consider Diana a friend and friends don't do that to friends. So here she sat, miserable but not sure there was anything she could do about it.
Dinah, Shayera and Mari entered the cafeteria and saw her. Being her friends they had two choices. One was to try and comfort her and tell her things would work out or two, tease her. Being her friends, they chose the later. She being their friend knew it was coming and would give as good as she got. Walking over to her table they were all smiles as they sat down.
"How's your night going, Zee,' Shayera asked. "Super?"
"Shut up," Zatanna moodily replied.
"Someone's not in a very good mood,' Mari observed.
"Well, she couldn't let Dinah be the only buzz kill around her,' Shayera joked.
"Hey!" Dinah protested. "You know that's just because I have to deal with that imbecile Plastic Man!"
"Where is he by the way?"
"Moscow. I sent him to investigate the sewers,' Dinah informed them.
"What's in the sewers,' Zee absently asked.
"I don't know, that's why he's investigating,' Dinah replied with a smile.
"Jeez, I thought you were kidding about having a shit list,' Zee muttered.
"I never kid about something like that, so watch it."
"You're kind of evil when you get on your bad side,' Mari offered.
"Yeah, yeah, she's a badass, whatever, but that's not the subject at hand,' Shayera interrupted. "Zee's pining away here for Superman."
Shayera smiled as Zee gave her a look.
"I'm not pining," Zatanna protested.
"Oh, come on, everyone knows you like him,' Dinah said.
"I'm not saying I do, but why wouldn't I? I mean I'm single and he's single. He's good looking and nice, what would be so wrong about that?" Zee turned to the Shayera and Mari. "Look we're all single, well, except Dinah."
"Hey, I'm single,' she replied.
"You keep telling yourself that,' Zee said with a smirk. "As I was saying, we're single and how many nice, handsome guys are we meeting? Most of them only want to go out with us because we're famous or in the Justice League. It would be nice to go out with someone who that wasn't the only reason they wanted to be with us."
"But now he's living with Diana,' Shayera pointed out.
"Yeah, I know,' Zee admitted.
"So what are you going to do,' Shayera asked.
"What can I do? They're married, well, sort of anyway, besides, Diana's a friend, I would never do that to a friend," Zee explained.
'You're not that good of friends,' Dinah teased.
"I still wouldn't do anything,' Zee replied. "I mean how would it be if I started hitting on Ollie? Wait, forget that, bad example, I would never do that, he's not my type at all."
"What's wrong with Ollie,' Dinah asked, a little indignant at Zee's tone. The other three just looked at her for a moment. Dinah wanted to protest more, but finally just shrugged and nodded her head. "Okay, he's got his issues, I'll admit."
"Look, take Mari, we're friends, how would you feel if I started going after John?" Zee asked, but then looked at Shayera. "Forget that one too, another bad example. Aren't there any normal couples in the League?"
The other three sat back trying to think of one.
"Huntress and Question?"
"God, that's sad if they're the normal couple,' Zee groaned.
"Ollie and I are more normal than they are,' Dinah stated.
"That's a real testament to your relationship that you're more normal than the nut and his psycho girlfriend, Dinah,' Shayera teased.
"Watch it, or you'll be on my list."
"Again with the list,' Zee asked.
"You're not sending me to the sewers, no way,' Shayera protested.
"Don't worry, I think I can think of something even better for you,' Dinah said with a smile.
"She's power mad all of a sudden," Shayera replied. She turned back to Zatanna, giving Dinah a sideways glance. "So what are you going to do, Zee?"
"What can I do? It's not like I see him that much to begin with and now he's in the suburbs."
"You could move there, you're rich remember?"
"I don't like him that much,' Zee grumbled.
"You know if this bet ends, so would the marriage,' Mari offered.
"Yeah, I guess I'll just have to wait it out."
"Can you do that,' Dinah asked.
"Yes! Jeez, you make me sound like some crazy stalker,' Zee protested. "I'm just interested, that's all! It's not like I'm in love with the guy, I'd just maybe like to go out on a date with him. Okay?"
"Isn't he dating Lois Lane,' Mari asked.
"Are you enjoying punishing me,' Zee asked. "Is that it? Like I don't have enough to worry about with him living with Diana?"
"Just a date, huh?"
"Yes, but if you keep throwing roadblocks in the way, I won't even get that,' Zee protested.
"Just for the sake of argument,' Dinah began. "Let's say I agree with you, Clark's a really good-looking guy and I can understand your interest. Again for the sake of argument, say I've even thought about it in the past. Suppose you go out on a date with him, how are you going to sleep with him? There's that whole Man of Steel issue, remember?"
"I didn't say I was going to sleep with him,' Zee gasped. "I was just talking about a date, dinner, maybe a movie!"
"When did you think about going out with Clark,' Mari asked. "I thought you've been with Ollie forever?"
"We're not talking about me,' Diana quickly said and then turned her attention back to Zee. "So how do you get around that little problem?"
"Dinner, Dinah, just a date, not sleeping together!"
"Yeah, but what if it goes really well,' Dinah replied with a smile. Shayera leaned over to Mari.
"I guess we know why Ollie's always coming back."
Dinah reached over and smacked Shayera.
"This close, Shayera, this close!"
"Oh, not the list again, please!"
"I'm just telling you,' Dinah replied and then shifted her attention back to Zee.
"So?"
"So what?"
"So what about it? The whole Man of Steel issue and you sleeping with him,' Dinah asked.
"I'm not sleeping with him, would you stop saying that,' Zee protested.
"Can he even sleep with a human woman,' Mari asked. "When you were hot for him, what did you come up with?"
"Again, not talking about me,' Dinah informed her. "I think he would really have to control himself to pull it off.'
"No one has that much control,' Shayera chimed in. Mari and Dinah nodded in agreement, as Zatanna blushed.
"Just for you information, that's all,' she said. "I'm not human, I'm Magi and we're stronger than normal humans."
"I doubt that,' Shayera said with a shake of her head. "Come on Zee, you're just a slight thing, he'd break you in half.'
"We're also stronger than you bird people,' Zee informed Shayera.
"Please. You're built like a dancer, not a warrior."
"Well, if you remember when you three were in that illegal fight club getting your asses handed to you by Diana, you may have noticed they didn't abduct me," Zee proudly said. "That should tell you something, Shayera."
"They didn't abduct Star Girl either, that proves nothing,' Shayera fired back.
"Just trust me, I'm a lot stronger than I look. Besides, if I ever was to sleep with him, I'd figure something out,' Zee replied. "But I'm not looking to sleep with him, just a date, okay?"
"So how do you think you'd do it,' Dinah asked. "You know, just for conversation."
"When exactly were you interested in him, Dinah,' Mari asked.
"Could we focus on Zee, Mari, please?" Dinah gave her a look, but as she turned back to Zatanna she blushed a little.
"It doesn't matter,' Zee lamented. "I'm probably not even going to see him for a whole month anyway."
Batman entered the cafeteria and seeing Zatanna made his way over to her table.
"Zatanna, could I speak to you for a moment," he said.
"Yeah go ahead."
He glanced at the other women, who were not staring at him. He would have preferred to do this in private, but the look on Zee's face told him she wouldn't go along with that.
"All right, as part of the bet, I sort of owe Clark a favor,' Bruce began.
"Because you got him married,' Dinah asked. Bruce shot her a glance and then started to ignore her question.
"Was it,' Zee asked before he could continue. he sighed and grumbled a bit before answering.
"Yes, in part, anyway, since you're going to be in Gotham next week, I suggested you would be willing to give him an interview. So how about it?"
Zee's eyes lit up, but she managed to keep the smile from breaking over her lips.
"Well, maybe, Bruce, I guess I could do you this favor, but I'd want one from you in return,' she said.
"What?"
"You have to come to my show."
"I'm too busy,' he immediately replied.
"Well, I guess that means no interview than,' she said, holding her hand up in the air. He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the next.
"All right, one show, that's it,' he finally agreed.
'That's all I ask,' Zee said with a smile. "I'll do the interview for you."
"For me, right,' Bruce drily said and then headed off.
"You are so lucky, it's sickening,' Dinah groaned.
"Why the fake reluctance? You were dying to see Clark a moment ago,' Mari asked.
"I just wanted to mess with Bruce a little,' Zee admitted. "I like seeing him make that face when he doesn't get his way."
"So now that you are going to see him, just out of curiosity, how would you get around that Man of Steel thing,' Dinah said.
The other three looked at her.
"What?"
Gotham Heights - Evening
The group had gotten together for another ritual, but there was some tension in the air. LuAnn had managed to get a goat this time, but the excitement wasn't the same. As they were all putting on their ceremonial robes, Bob suddenly spoke up.
"Everybody, could I talk to you for a moment?'
The others turned and looked at him, but didn't say anything. He bowed his head for a moment and then looked each of them in the eye one by one before he finally spoke.
"I just wanted to apologize for the incident last time,' he said. "I know I got a little out of hand there. It's just that the monkey was really pushing my buttons and I snapped. I mean these are really nice ceremonial robes that the ladies made and Carl's taken such nice care of at his dry cleaners, I just felt the monkey was mocking not just me, but everything we're trying to do here. I lost my temper when he starting flinging his feces, I'll admit it. There's no excuse, but I'm sorry. I hope it didn't ruin what we have here for all of you. Again, I'm sorry."
Everyone was touched by his words from the heart. Cubby was the first to go over and give him a hug. One by one the other followed. As Cubby put on his pointy hat, there was a tear in his eye.
"I knew you are all good people and that's what makes this special for me. We're not just a bunch of Satan worshippers, but dare I say it, a family. Sure, we all come from slightly different backgrounds, but we've come together for a common cause, getting Satan to help our businesses. After listening to Bob, I have to say I see him not as just another Satan worshipper, but as a friend. That's the way I see you all, as friends."
"Here! Here!" Phil added.
"You know, when I used to raise and show AKC poodles, I always felt like something was missing,' Jenny said. "I was looking for what we have here, a community."
"That's the same reason I joined the model ship-in-a-bottle builders association,' Ted added.
"What ever happened to them,' Bob asked.
"It was cancelled, an extreme bout of ennui,' Ted replied. "But here, I've found that connection.'
"I don't know about everyone else, but I can feel the love in this room,' Cubby said. "Now let's get in there and kill that goat for Satan!"
Everyone cheered.
"Don't forget, there's peach cobbler afterwards,' LuAnn added.
Gotham Heights – Early
The smell of fresh brewing coffee brought Diana out of her slumber. Almost instinctively her hand reached to the other side of the bed, but only found the cool, crisp sheets. Opening her eyes, she glanced around the room, but he was nowhere to be seen. He must have got up to make coffee, she thought, not wanting to get out of the comfort of the bed just yet.
Diana smiled to herself as she thought about the previous night. They'd had their first disagreements, but nothing major. She still didn't understand his two feet versus four feet comfort zone problem, but if that was the worst thing, it wasn't too bad. She had to admit, when it finally came time for bed, she had been nervous. She had argued with everyone, even him that it wasn't that big a deal, but when the actually moment came, it was.
As she prepared for bed, changing into her nightgown in the bathroom Diana found her hands shaking a little. All the reasons and arguments she had used suddenly didn't seem as strong in the face of actually sleeping in the same bed with him. She found herself modest, quite unlike her usual self. Perhaps it was nerves, but she fussed with the dressing gown that went over her nightgown for much longer than was necessary.
She heard the door to the bedroom open and close and realized he had finished changing into his pajamas in the other bathroom. Taking several deep breaths, she tried to calm herself. She knew this wasn't an actually real marriage, but at that moment she felt like a bride on her wedding night. She was going to sleep with her husband for the first time. It was silly, but she had jitters at the thought.
She finally opened the door to the bedroom and stepped out of the bathroom. He was already in bed reading and glanced up when he heard her. He seemed to forget about his book at the sight of her. Diana found herself blushing and quickly tried to shift the focus off herself. She asked if he was wearing new pajamas, as she could still see the sharp folds from them just being taken out of the package. It was his turn to blush, admitting they were new and that he usually didn't sleep in pajamas.
He told her she looked lovely and she thanked him as she moved to her side of the bed. She fumbled with the knotted belt of her gown and finally managed to slip it off. She felt very vulnerable standing there in just her nightgown, which was strange as she had never been self conscious before. She gave him a tentative smile, which he returned, as she pulled down the covers and slipped in next to him.
He set his book on the nightstand and looked at her before turning out the light. Good night, Diana, he said and she said Good night, Kal. He turned off the light and then moved down under the covers. She had never been more aware of another human being in her life than she was of him at the moment. Again she tried to tell herself this was no different than if they had to share a room on a mission, but it certainly felt different.
Diana finally decided the best thing to do was to just go to sleep and not let her mind make more of this than it was. Unfortunately as she shifted in the bed she brushed against him. Goosebumps immediately rose on her skin. He didn't say anything for which she was thankful. She was very aware of how warm his skin was. It probably had something to do with the source of his powers, but she had never noticed it quite so much.
Eventually she drifted off to sleep, the exact moment she was sure of. Now it was morning and she had slept wonderfully, which surprised her. As she ran her hand over the empty side of the bed, she could still detect a faint hint of him on the sheets. It was a clean, earthy smell that brought a smile to her face. Sleeping next to him had been much easier than she had expected last night. She had slept so well, she hadn't heard him get up.
Now the thought of where he was came to her and she pulled back the covers and sat up. Her dressing gown sat on the chair next to the bed and she stood and slipped it on. The sun was just starting to come up, so Diana went over to the window to open the curtains. As she was about to, she glanced down to see Clark swimming in the pool. There was a light mist coming off the water, but she knew immediately who it was by the powerful stroke.
She stood there for a moment, just watching him swim his laps. Diana found herself wondering if he did this often. She had always felt of the League members, she knew him the best, but now she wondered about that. He was Kal to her, but there was a whole other life he had that she was just realizing she knew hardly anything about. It brought back those pictures she had unpackaged earlier of his. Lois Lane, Diana knew he was in lo…involved with her, but none of the details.
She had been so focused on winning this bet and proving Bruce wrong, she hadn't had time to stop and consider what this would mean for her and Kal. No, she told herself, don't let your mind go down that path. He's your friend and helping you win this bet. Those thoughts would only lead to complications and someone would get hurt. Besides, whatever his relationship with Lois, he's involved with her and you are sort of involved with Bruce, she reminded herself. Don't make more of this than it is. He's just helping you as a friend, that's it.
Diana left the curtains alone and stepped away. If she'd remained a moment longer, she might have seen Clark stop and glance up at the window.
Diana tied the dressing gown around her and headed downstairs. The smell of coffee grew stronger with each step. She had to smile as she walked into the kitchen. Sitting on the counter was a new coffee maker, fresh ground coffee, a mug and some fruit. It seems Kal had gone out for supplies. Taking the large, plain mug she poured herself a cup and let the aroma bring her fully awaken. She was just taking her first sip, when the sound of splashing caught her attention.
Diana glanced out the patio doors and saw Clark climbing out of the pool. He was just wearing a boxer style swimsuit and the steam of the water was coming off his body. He moved over to the patio table and picked up his towel, brushing his hair off his face. In that moment, he might had been the most handsome man Diana had ever seen.
"Pretty."
The word slipped from her lips before she even realized it. When she did, she blushed and turned away.