Conversations

"Everyone wants to talk, well, almost everyone"

Metropolis

Kara thought to herself, this is the life. No school, no farm chores, nothing until she did a patrol of the city later. She was sitting on the couch in her pajamas, eating Alpha-bits watching Jerry Springer. The only thing that would make this better was if the heavyset transvestite somehow got away from security and took a swing at his cheating midget lover. Krypton might by far more advanced than Earth, but it never had entertainment like this.

The sound of someone fiddling with the front door lock pulled her away from the action. What? Someone's trying to break in, she thought? Boy, did they pick the wrong apartment. She did a quick scan and gasped as she saw Clark. She turned off the TV and stood up as he opened the door.

"What the hell, Clark,' she said through the mouthful of cereal. "You can't just barge in here like this! What if I'd been naked or something?"

He stopped and looked at her, glancing at the box of cereal on the table and then back at her.

"Why would you be naked' he replied. "Besides, it's not barging in, this is still my apartment, remember?"

"What if I had someone spending the night? Did you ever think of that,' she asked.

"If you had someone spending the night than we'd have a bigger problem than just me barging in."

"What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be in suburbia with your wife?"

"Kara, give it a rest, please,' he asked. "I just needed to, um, pick up a couple of things."

As he closed the door and came in, Kara eyed him. Something was up, she could just tell by his body language.

"What's really going on, Clark?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, what did you and Diana have a fight or something?"

"No, nothing like that,' he said with a shake of his head.

"What did you do,' she asked. "Something stupid?"

"Yeah,' he replied. He sat down on the couch, still rolling over and over in his mind what had happened.

"What did you do?"

"It's not important, it was just a mistake."

"What did you like fart or something? Pull a Dutch Oven on the Princess," Kara asked. He gave her a look of shock.

"What? No, of course not! Where do you come up with this stuff?"

"Well, guys like that kind of stupid crap. They think it's hilarious,' she explained.

"Well, rest assured I didn't."

"So no crop dusting the room?"

"God no."

"Then what did you do?'

Clark looked over at his young cousin and then sighed. He might as well tell her, he needed to talk to someone about it.

"I kissed her."

"Yeah,' Kara replied, waiting for more. She was very interested in this.

"I shouldn't have."

"Did she slap your face?"

'No."

"Go all Amazon on you?"

As if to demonstrate, Kara threw a series of kicks and punches that came within an inch of Clark's face.

"No."

"So what did she do?"

"Well, she kind of kissed me back."

"That's great!" Kara exclaimed, a big smile lighting up her face.

"No, it's not."

"What am I missing?"

"Well, for one, I made a promise to the Queen," Clark replied.

"Oh that's right, she wouldn't like that too much,' Kara agreed. She dropped down on the couch next to Clark.

"There's also the fact that I'm in a relationship with Lois."

"Yeah, that's kind of a skivvy move on your part," Kara said. She picked up the box of Alpha-Bits and resumed eating them.

"Thanks.'

"Well, it is."

"I know, plus this whole bet was about Diana being interested in Bruce. What kind of friend would I be if I mess that up?"

"Maybe she's changed her mind,' Kara offered. "Maybe Diana wants you now."

"No, we both just got caught up in the moment, I think,' he said. "Besides, I actually believe Bruce is really interested in her. He wouldn't have made this stupid bet if he weren't. He's my friend too; I can't do that to him."

"So what are you going to do,' she asked.

"I don't know."

"Amnesia? You could say you hit your head on the way here and forgot everything that happen for the last week,' Kara suggested. "I'll say I found you lying in the gutter bleeding from the head and saved you."

"I don't think Diana would buy that."

"Evil twin?"

"Not that either."

"Couldn't you just pretend it didn't happen and not talk about it,' Kara asked.

"You've met Diana, right? Does she seem like the type of person that wouldn't want to discuss this?"

"No,' Kara admitted. "Diana's kind of direct. She won't want avoid this, she'll want to talk about it straight away."

"That's why I left this morning,' Clark said. "I didn't know what to tell her when she asks."

'Why did you kiss her?"

"I don't know we were having a really nice time. Dinner was great and then we were dancing. I was thinking about the song and then …"

"Then what?'

"I looked into her eyes and she said my name, Kal."

"So you kissed her because she said you name,' Kara asked. "You're kind of an easy mark, Clark."

'No."

"Then why did you kiss her, Clark?"

"I wanted to,' he admitted.

"You wanted to? That's it? That's you explanation,' Kara exclaimed.

"Yeah."

"Wow, you're really screwed. You better come up with something better than that before you talk to Diana.'

"Yeah, I know."

He reached over into the cereal box and took out a handful. They sat there for a while, neither saying anything.

"So do you want to watch Springer,' Kara asked.

"Sure."

Gotham

The Gotham Hilton was a five star hotel. Part of Zatanna's deal was that she gets a suite starting the week before her run at the theatre and for the length of her stay. It was so she could relax and prepare herself for performing every night, or at least that's what she told the promoters. She really just liked staying in luxury hotels, especially if someone else was footing the bill. She'd played enough dives and stayed in too many fleabag hotels early in her career, so now that she was successful, she was going to enjoy the perks that came along with it.

After embarrassing herself on the station, it was the perfect place to disappear to. She had just finished a long, relaxing bubble bath and was feeling much better. Yes, fighting demonic threats and arch villains was part of her life, but being a successful magician certainly paid better. Wrapped in the monogrammed bathrobe the hotel provide, she was thinking of ordering some room service as she came back into the main suite.

"So are you hiding out here," a voice asked.

She gave a little squeal and turned, ready to defend herself. Sitting in the shadows was Bruce Wayne.

"Jeez, Bruce, you scared the shit out of me! Can't you knock like a normal person?"

"I didn't think you'd be answering after what happened on the station,' he smoothly replied.

"And you couldn't take the hint?"

"So you are hiding?"

"No,' she protested. "I'm just taking a little time away from the station. I'm performing next week remember? I wanted to focus on getting ready."

"Hiding."

"God, it was so embarrassing, I'll never live it down,' she admitted.

"It couldn't have been that bad."

"Plastic Man hit on me,' she groaned.

"Maybe he's not that crazy after all,' Bruce commented. She gave him a look and he smiled in return.

"So what are you doing here, Bruce?"

"Just checking on you, seeing if you're okay."

"You mean after my outburst?"

"Well, you wouldn't be the only female member to have one of those lately."

"What do you mean?"

"Dinah seems to be taking it on herself to be a one woman wrecking crew with one of the minor biker gangs in Gotham last night."

Zee thought about this for a moment.

"The women's shelter,' she commented. "They torched it. She's probably feeling responsible."

"Yeah, that's my guess,' He replied. "It's not good having her running around with that attitude."

"Why,' Zee said, teasing him. "Are you afraid you won't be the biggest bad ass in Gotham any more?"

"Cute."

"I thought so,' she said with a grin.

"I take it you're feeling better,' he asked.

"A little."

"So are you still going through with the interview with Clark?"

She gave him a suspicious look.

"Why?"

"Well, I did promise him you would and I owe him a favor,' Bruce offered. "You know, the whole marriage thing."

"You're up to something, aren't you,' she asked.

"I'm hurt that you would think that, Zee."

"Don't even try playing innocent with me, Bruce, I've known you too long."

"You know it wouldn't have been the worst thing if you'd asked Clark out," he said. "He would be a step up from some of your former relationships."

"And what is that suppose to mean?"

"Let's just say there haven't all been winners."

"I guess you're right, I went out with you once,' she fired back at him.

"Even after all these years, you're still kind of a snot sometimes, Zee," he replied.

"And you're still sort of a dick."

"Case in point."

"I know you're up to something, Bruce," she said. "If I find out you are using me in this stupid bet I'm going to be very unhappy, very unhappy."

"Well, I wouldn't want that, would I?"

He smiled at her and moved towards the door. As he opened it to leave, he turned to her.

"Good luck with the shows by the way."

"Thank you,' she replied. "You're still coming, right?"

"Yes,' he said with a sigh. "That is if nothing comes up."

"Well, maybe when I do the interview with Clark I can get him to bring Diana to the show. I'm sure you'll make it if she's there,' she said with her sweetest smile.

"Yeah, still a snot,' he muttered. "I'll see you around Zee."

"Could you knock next time, please,' she asked. "Just once, for me?"

"I'll think about it, for you,' he replied with a smile.

The Watchtower

Anywhere else the scene would have drawn a lot of attention, a man dressed all in red talking to a shopping cart, but up here they were used to it. Wally and Plastic Man had been exchanging jokes for the last twenty minutes.

"I sold your thermos for $250? Oh, ha-ha-ha, I love it,' Wally shouted, tears coming down his face. "His thermos! Ha!"

Plastic Man suddenly got serious.

"You know, Wally, I think she's coming around.'

"What? Who?"

"Dinah."

"Huh?"

"I know she puts up this big front that she can't stand me, but I think I'm starting to grow on her,' Plastic Man said.

"I-I, um, ah, don't-don't think that's true,' Wally replied.

"She gave me an assignment, didn't she?"

"To the sewers."

"She's testing me, seeing if I'm worthy of her."

"Really think you're way off base there, buddy,' Wally said.

"I got her something to show how much I care," Plastic Man explained. From the shopping car, which was him, a flower suddenly grew up and opened in front of Wally.

"A flower?"

"It's a special flower, Wally.'

Wally looked at it again, it seemed just like a really big ugly flower to him.

"I'm not seeing it."

He looked a little closer to the flower and suddenly it sprayed him with liquid, drenching him.

"Oh, ho, ring-a-ding-ding! An oldie but a goodie! I love the classics! A ring-a-ding-ding!"

"I can't believe I fell for that,' Wally admitted with a smile. "You really got me this time."

As he was wiping his face off, Wally happened to notice that as Plastic Man transformed himself into little rocket, the flower blended back into his body.

"Hey, wait a second, if that flower is part of you, then this isn't water! Did you just piss on me?"

"Toot-Toot! A ring-a-ding-ding-Ding!"

"That's disgusting!" Wally gazed down at his wet uniform with a look of horror.

"He-Ha! Ring-a-ding-ding-ding!' Plastic Man shouted a he blasted off and started circling the room. Wally got up and disappeared out of the cafeteria to change out of his ruined uniform.

The Watchtower – Monitoring station

Dinah was at her post, coordinating thing with Jonn and Mr. Terrific as Ollie came storming into the room.

"Have you lost your mind,' he shouted at her. "I heard what you did last night! No back up? Have you forgotten everything I taught you?"

Dinah looked at him for a moment and then slowly rose from her seat.

"Jonn, would you take over for a moment?'

"Of course, Dinah."

"This way,' she said to Ollie and led him out of the room. She found the first open room and they walked inside. As soon as the doors closed, she whirled around to face him.

"Don't ever do that again!"

"Excuse me?"

"I have to work with those people, Ollie! You coming in and berating me like that undermines my credibility with them!"

"Your credibility, really?"

"Yes, I'm the leader of the Justice League if you didn't remember."

"How could I not? It's all you ever talk about anymore,' he replied.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

'Just forget it."

"No, you have something to say, say it Ollie,' she demanded.

"All right, I think you're letting this job go to your head. The vote was a popularity contest, Dinah and you won, that's all. When you are not up here, you're thinking about it and talking about it."

"I've seen so little of you recently, how could you possibly know what I think or talk about,' she asked, challenging him.

"Right, it's my fault,' Ollie sarcastically replied. "That's why you went all Army of One last night. I thought I taught you better than that, Di. Did you even think before you went in there?"

Dinah's temper was rising. She hated the way he was talking to her, as if she were some novice still wet behind the ears.

"It was personal, Ollie." Her voice was very control, as she didn't want to turn this into a shouting match. "Oracle had all the satellite Intel and I knew what I was facing."

"She also asked you to wait for back up."

"How do you know that?"

"I talked to her before I came here,' he informed Dinah.

"You talked to her? Why?'

"When you go off like that, people look to me for answers, Dinah,' he explained. "I told her how it was very personal for you, I think she believe me."

"You made excuses for me?"

"It's called smoothing the situation."

"Damn it, Ollie, I don't need you going behind me back like that! Barbara already knew why it was important to me! I'm not that teenage girl I was when we met! I know my job and don't need you undermining me."

"That sounds like the President of the Justice League talking again,' he replied.

"Take it however you want,' she said. "You can call it just a popularity contest, but I take it seriously. I don't need you playing big brother anymore.'

"Sounds like you don't need me at all anymore,' he fired back.

"No, I need you to support me, to be there for me like I'm always there for you,' Dinah answered. "I'm sorry if my not needing a mentor bruises your ego, Ollie, but things have changed. I want a relationship of equals. I think I desire that."

'You're right, things have changed.'

He looked at her one last time and walked out of the room.

Gotham Heights

Diana knelt before the small altar. Two candles were lit in front of her. One to Aphrodite, asking to understand what she was feeling and the other to Athena, so she would be wise enough to know what to do with that knowledge. She was just finishing her prayer when she heard the car turn into the driveway. Genuflecting, she put out the candles and raced down to the front door. She had put this off long enough and wanted talk about it.

Clark was still mulling over what he was going to say as he opened the door. Diana was standing right there waiting. Almost instinctively he took a step back in surprise.

"Is it okay if I come in,' he asked, still holding onto the door.

"Yes, I've been waiting for you to return,' Diana answered.

"Yeah, I got that impression.'

He stepped inside and closed the door. Giving her a nervous smile, he moved around her and went into the living room. She was right behind him.

"We need to talk, Kal."

Part of him wished he could have delayed it just a little longer, but he wasn't really counting on it. Moving over he sat down on one of the chairs.

"Okay, let's talk.'

Diana moved to the couch and sat down opposite him. She had been going over and over in her mind what she wanted to ask and how this would go, so she just plunged in.

"About what happened last night,' she began, but he cut her off.

"It was a mistake, Diana."

She had expected that, though not quite so quickly.

"The whole night or just the part where you kissed me?"

"Well, I'd like to point out, you did kiss me back."

"Kal.'

"Okay, no, not the whole night, Diana."

"So just the kiss,' she replied, nodding in understanding.

"I think we both just got caught up in the moment, Diana,' he offered. "This whole situation is strange enough. It just happened."

"So that's it?"

"Diana, this situation is because of a bet, remember? You wanted to prove to Bruce and your mother and yourself that you could do this. I think you especially wanted to prove it to Bruce,' Clark said to her.

"That may be true,' she offered. It had started out as that. Bruce was so frustrating and mercurial. She was still attracted to him, yet other feelings were there as well.

"There's also the fact that I'm seeing Lois,' Clark continued.

"I know, and I would never intentionally try and come between you two."

"Thank you.'

"How are things going with her by the way?"

"Not great,' he admitted. "That still doesn't justify what happened last night."

"So you're saying because of Bruce and Lois, we should just forget about kissing?'

"Yes."

"Can you do that, Kal?"

"I have to."

She looked at him, but his head was bowed, as if this were all taking a toll on him.

"I don't think it's as easy as you think, Kal,' she offered.

"Even if it's not, there's one other reason, Diana,' he replied. "I made a promise to your mother. I know she didn't like it, but she gave me her trust and I plan on honoring my word."

Diana could see how serious he was. It was one of the things she always liked about him, that when he gave his word he followed through. She couldn't ask him to break his word, no matter what she was feeling at the moment.

"So does this mean you want to end this? Is that what you came back to say,' she asked.

"No, I also gave my word to you, that I would help you win this bet,' he said. "I'll do my part, I just ask that we forget about last night and try and get through this."

"Just like that?"

"I'm open to any suggestions, Diana."

She could see there was only two ways from here, either she accept his offer and forget about the kiss or they could end the bet, in which case she doubted she would see him any time soon. The second option had little appeal for her. The answers she was still looking for involved him being here. Reluctantly, she would choose option one.

"All right, Kal, we will put it behind us and move on,' she said.

"Thank you, Diana,' he said. He finally gave her a smile and got up to go out towards the patio. Just as he was about to step outside, Diana called to him.

"Kal?'

"Yes?"

"I know we agreed to put it behind us, but I want to know one thing first."

"What is that, Diana?'

"Did you like the kiss?'

"Yes."