Balance
"Baby you can drive my car"
Gotham Heights
One day slipped into the next and then the next. The first week was coming to a close and so far they'd managed not to use their powers. To say that was foremost in the minds would be a falsehood. While they'd met more of their new neighbors, the elephant in the room was the kiss.
Per their agreement, neither talked about it.
That's not to say they didn't think about it, because they did, quite a lot.
They stuck to mundane topics mostly. They both talked about the weather more than they probably had in their lives. The fact that they were sleeping in the same bed every night wasn't helping either.
As hard as Clark tried not to think about her, being so close to Diana was causing him to have some rather vivid dreams. Orchids and fire, he would wake up with those scents on his mind. He slept very little.
As was becoming his routine, when he did wake up it was out to the pool for laps. This was to cool down and try and get his mind off things he shouldn't be thinking about. At the rate he was going, by the end of the month he'd probably be able to give Arthur a run for his money.
As he reached the end of the pool closest to the house, Clark reached out for the edge and his hand landed on something soft. He stopped and as he wiped the hair out of his eyes, his fingers moved a bit trying to figure out what he was holding. It was a rather shapely ankle. Slowly his eyes moved up to see it was attached to a muscular, yet feminine calf and knee. The lower part of a perfect thigh followed. Shifting back in the water, he saw Diana was standing on the edge of the pool in just her nightgown. It was rather sheer and in the early morning light it certainly hinted at what lie underneath.
"Oh, Jeez," Clark groaned.
"Good morning, Kal."
"Good morning Diana. You're up early."
"I wanted to talk to you about something,' she said to him.
"Okay."
"We've been here almost a week and it occurs to me you've done all the driving,' she explained. "There are two cars. If you're not here and an emergency comes up I will have to drive myself. I want you to teach me. I've flown a plane and the Javelin, so it can't be that hard."
Still not looking up at her, considering the angle, Clark stayed close to the edge.
"I suppose that's true,' he replied. "How about you get whatever work you have to do with the Embassy out of the way and then we can try?"
"I was going to have some breakfast, would you care to join me,' she asked.
He glanced up, but instantly averted his eyes again.
"I-I think I'll swim a few more laps, Diana."
"As you wish,' she said. "Oh, Kal?"
"Yes?'
"You can let go of my ankle now."
"What? Oh, yeah, sorry,' he quickly replied. He released his hold on her and blushed a little. Diana looked at him for a second, then turned and walked into the house. There was a little smile on her face and a little extra sway to her hips as she saw him in the reflection on the patio door looking.
As the door closed behind her, Clark watched her walking towards the kitchen. This angle was bad either, he thought.
"This is going to be the longest month of my life,' he lamented. He turned and headed back towards the other end of the pool.
Gotham
Dinah slowly walked out of St. Anthony's hospital. She set the bouquet of flowers someone left for her on the Watchtower on top of the marble railing. The person she intended them for still wasn't receiving visitors. She stopped and glanced out at the skyline, a sadness welling up inside of her. The young woman was going to survive, but just barely, losing an eye in the process. The burns had been extensive covering seventy percent of her body. Long painful months of recovery lay ahead of her. She would never been the same.
"Well, look what we have here, boys," a voice said. "A little female hero, only this time she doesn't have the element of surprise on her side."
Dinah looked up to see three Lost Soul bikers sitting waiting for her.
"Feel like partying, little girl?"
"Yeah, let's dance,' she hissed. "How about I start it off with a tune?"
Unleashing a blast of her power, Dinah sent them and their bikers crashing backwards. As they scrambled to get up, she was already on the move. The first biker never got his gun pulled out of the waistband of his pants before her foot made contact. His finger reflexively pulled the trigger and he shot himself in the leg. A kick to the face stopped his screaming.
"You Bitch!" The next biker shouted as he threw a punch at her. Dinah blocked it and then jabbed her index finger into his throat. He grabbed at his throat, gagging and gasping for air. Dinah hit him with a straight right sending him to the ground. Somehow he managed to pull a gun, but her foot slammed his hand into the ground. Gritting her teeth, Dinah reached towards his face and plunged her thumb into his eye. A sickening scream came from him, as she flicked her finger and his eye popped from his head.
"And eye for an eye."
She turned towards the last biker, but he was running towards the hospital. Visitors were just coming out and before Dinah could reach him, he grabbed one and held his gun to the woman's head.
"Back off or this bitch gets it!"
The hostage was screaming in terror as he slowly dragged her back up the stairs. His focus was so intent on Dinah that he didn't see the bouquet of flowers start to transform. Black Canary had a look of confusion on her face as the flowers slithered off the railing and moved up behind him. A tendril moved to his arm and silently wrapped itself around it. Before the biker realized what was happening, the gun was pulled away from the hostage and he was in the grip of Plastic Man.
"Have you heard the one about the crazy guy that can bend himself into all sorts of different shapes?" Plastic Man had a huge clown shoe on and gave the man the boot. "It's an ass kicker! A-ring-a-ding-ding!"
The biker tumbled down the steps and when he finally stopped Dinah was standing over him. She dropped the other biker's eye in his lap.
"Run,' she whispered. "Tell Ramon and the other, Hell's coming for them."
Terror was written all over the man's face as she scrambled to get away from her. He limped over to his bike and tore out of the parking lot. Dinah watched him go and then turned to Plastic Man.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"You brought me,' he replied. "I try to do something nice and give you some flowers and you turn around and try to give them away."
"Well, um, ah, thank you,' she reluctantly said.
"Anytime boss. So want to kiss or something?'
"Don't push it."
Across the street
High above the scene a lone man gazed down the shaft of an arrow, ready to launch it with unerring accuracy. As he waited and watch things unfold, he slowly released the tension on his bow. Ollie watched with admiration as Dinah dispatched the bikers. He was just putting away his arrow and shaking his head at Plastic Man's showing up when a voice spoke from the shadows.
"You're not going to help her?'
"She doesn't need my help anymore, Bruce."
Batman stepped out of the shadows and moved silently up next to Green Arrow.
"What are you doing Ollie?"
"You mean being in your city without telling you,' Ollie said with a smile.
"No, I meant with her."
Ollie glanced down at Dinah as she moved over to greet the police who had finally arrived. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Letting her go."
"Is that really what you want,' Bruce asked.
"What I want doesn't really matter now, it's time,' he replied.
"It's time?'
"She doesn't need me watching over her anymore, Bruce."
"Maybe not, but are you sure?"
"Were you sure when Dick finally left,' Ollie asked.
"No, but that's different,' Bruce replied. "You and Dinah have a relationship Ollie."
"Look at her, Bruce, she's just coming into her prime," Ollie said. "I'm past mine."
"Feeling sorry for yourself,' Bruce asked.
"No, just realistic. I'm closer to forty than twenty, Bruce. How much longer can I do this, really? Dinah's twenty-five, she's got her future ahead of her."
"So?"
"She doesn't need me the same way she used to and I'm not sure I can be the man she needs now," Ollie admitted. "Everything changes, Bruce, but I'm sure you already know that."
"Excuse me,' Bruce said.
"Diana," Ollie replied. He turned and looked at Bruce. "That's one of the reasons you're so hesitant, are you? She'll always be the same as she is today, but you won't. Aging will all be one sided between you and her, your side. Sure, you're younger than me, but not that much younger. You're starting to feel all the battles and injuries starting to creep up on you. The idea of one day you won't be able to do this anymore is only made worse by the thought of being with her when it happens, isn't it?"
There was a long silence between the two.
"We weren't talking about me."
Batman stepped back into the shadows than disappeared. Ollie turned and looked back down at Dinah, his eyes full of sadness.
Gotham Heights
Diana sat behind the wheel of the car going over all the controls and instruments. Rationally she knew this was much simpler than flying a jet, but she found she was excited and nervous at the same time. It wasn't a matter of her powers being necessary to drive it was actually the opposite. She was like any other first time driver.
Secretly she'd been going over the rules and regulations of the road on her computer. She'd memorized all of them and keenly watched everything Clark did when they were riding together. Flashing him a confident smile, she turned on the engine. Diana liked the sound of it roaring as she slowly pumped the gas pedal.
"Well, we might as well get started,' she brightly said and then reached for the automatic shift. Clark's hand was on top of hers in the next moment. She looked over at him in confusion.
"You might want to open the garage door first,' he suggested.
"Oh, right,' she replied, trying not to let him see her embarrassment. Diana reached up and pressed the button to open the garage. She watched in the rearview mirror as it rose and then the bright sunlight came streaming in.
Clark was watching too. He knew she would pick this up fast, like everything else, but he also remember his and Kara's first time driving. They had both made a few mistakes. As he looked out the garage, he could see kids playing all up and down the street and inwardly groaned.
"Could you hold on just a second, Diana? Let me just make a call."
"All right, but you're not going to talk me out of this,' she said.
"Wouldn't dream of it, just give me a second, okay?"
"Very well."
Clark slipped out of the car and walked around behind it, effectively blocking her from backing up. He quickly dialed the number and then spoke to the person on the other end of the line. It was a brief conversation and he hung up with a smile. He walked to the driver's side and opened the door.
"What,' Diana asked. "I thought you were going to teach me to drive?"
"I am, but since we're trying to keep a low profile, maybe doing it with all the people in the street isn't the best idea,' he replied.
"Then where,' she asked.
"I know the perfect place, slide over, please."
Reluctantly, Diana slid over a little and Clark got in. She was still sitting a little closer than normal and they were touching.
"Could you move over just a little more, please,' he asked. Giving him a look, Diana nodded and moved over some more. "Still a little close."
"Should I sit all the way over by the other door, Kal,' she sarcastically said.
"Yes."
Smallville
Martha Kent was standing on the front porch as Clark and Diana landed. They weren't in costume, which surprised her. When he called asking about the old trunk, she figured something was up. She hadn't expected Wonder Woman, though.
"Hey, Ma, I'd like you to meet Diana,' Clark said. "Diana this is my mother, Martha Kent."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Kent," Diana said, offering her hand.
"The pleasures mine," replied Martha. "We don't get much royalty out this way, Princess."
"Please, call me Diana."
"All right, but only if you call me Martha, Diana."
Martha Kent had a keen eye for detail and while she was shaking hands with Diana, she noticed a platinum ring on her finger. Glancing over at Clark, she saw he had one on too.
"So you have something to tell me, Clark?"
"I just wanted to teach Diana how to drive and I figured out here would be the safest place,' he explained.
"That's all well and good, but what is with the rings you two are wearing,' Martha asked.
"Oh, well, that's kind of a long story, really,' Clark fumbled to say.
"We're married,' Diana spoke up.
"What?"
"Married." Diana repeated, thinking the older woman hadn't heard her. Martha looked at Clark, the shock plain on her face.
"Not married-married, Ma,' Clark offered. "Sort of pretend Amazon married, really."
"No, it was official, Kal,' Diana interrupted. "Until my mother dissolves it, we are married under Amazon law."
"Wait, I don't remember the Queen saying that,' Clark replied, turning to look at Diana. "I'm pretty sure I'd remember something like that!"
"Well you were rather confused, perhaps you missed that part,' Diana explained.
"No, I don't think that would have slipped by, Diana!"
"Is someone going to explain what the hell is going on,' Martha finally asked.
"Did you just swear, Ma,' Clark asked, a little shocked at this.
"Yes, Clark Jerome Kent, start explaining right now!"
"Oh, she used all three of your names, I've heard that isn't a good sign," Diana commented. Clark looked at Diana, then at his mother and shook his head.
"It's really rather simple, Martha,' Diana spoke up again. "Kal is helping me win a bet against Batman."
"By marrying you?"
"No, that was my mother's idea, Martha,' Diana replied.
"Yes, someone was so sure she was bluffing,' Clark added.
"I've admitted my mistake, Kal, when are you going to let it go?"
Martha had been watching and listening to the two of them and now she was really confused. She moved over and sat down on one of the porch chairs.
"Here I always thought it was Kara I'd have to worry about,' she muttered. Shaking her head, she looked up at Clark again. "So why exactly did the Queen want you to get married?"
"Because we're living together,' Diana explained.
"What?" Martha gasped in shock.
"I know you like being direct, Diana, but do you think you could ease into some of these explanations, please,' Clark asked.
"You're living together?"
"It's part of the bet, Ma,' Clark quickly offered. "It's a gated community and you have to be a couple to live there. We're just pretending to be a couple so Diana can win the bet."
"So because you're living together, Diana's mother, the Queen insisted you get married? Do I have that right,' Martha asked.
"Yes, sort of," Clark replied. "She wasn't thrilled about the idea to put it mildly."
"I really thought she was bluffing, Martha,' Diana added. "My mother is a very clever woman and I thought it was her way of getting me to not go through with the bet."
"But she wasn't bluffing, was she,' Martha asked.
"No."
"So you're married?"
"Just for a month, Ma,' Clark explained. "The Queen also made it very clear it was more of a distant courtship, very distant."
"So keep your hands off her daughter in other words,' Martha replied.
"Now you got it."
"Although, you did kiss me, Kal,' Diana pointed out.
"I thought we agreed we weren't going to talk about that,' He said in exasperation.
"You kissed her,' Martha asked.
"It was a mistake,' Clark quickly said.
"You said you liked it,' Diana noted.
"Did we really need to share that with my mother?"
Diana turned to Martha.
"Does it bother you that I mentioned Kal kissed me and liked it, Martha?"
"Oh God,' Clark groaned, covering his face with his hand. "You're killing me here, Diana."
Martha had to smile as she watched Clark's reaction. It was still a little confusing, but she took pity on her boy.
"No, Diana, it doesn't bother me, but I think Clark's going to die of embarrassment if you continue. Why don't you two go do your driving lesson and give me a chance to process all of this information?"
Clark looked up at Martha and mouthed the words, thank you. She just nodded and smiled.
"When you're done, come back to the house, I'll have something to eat,' Martha said. "We can talk more about this marriage then."
"I look forward to it, Martha, ' Diana said with a smile. "Are you ready, Kal?"
"Yeah, why not,' he replied. "The truck is in the barn."
Martha watched as they headed over towards the barn. Clark was still trying to figure out what he was going to say to his mother when they got back. He felt Diana walking closer to him before he actually looked.
"Um, four feet, Diana, please?"
"Why do you need so much personal space again, Kal,' she asked, not moving away.