Complications

"Tender is the Night"

Gotham Heights

Diana was bored. It wasn't something she was used to, given her busy life and career. Because of the bet she wasn't on the regular schedule at the Watchtower. She'd contacted Jonn to see if they needed any help, but apparently it was a slow night. She reorganized her schedule for the Embassy and reviewed all her upcoming meetings, but that only took so long. She'd already cleaned the house twice and gone out for a long walk, yet she was still bored.

Clark was in Gotham meeting with Zatanna.

He'd asked if she wanted to come, but she had declined. Now she was rethinking her decision. They hadn't really talked about the night in the Jacuzzi. Her mother's leaving and words to Clark seemed to put a damper on that line of thinking, at least for him. For Diana's part, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She wasn't used to feeling uncertain, but this was all new territory for her.

She wondered if all women felt this confusion. Two men, both attractive in their own ways, yet still mysteries to her. That was the most startling thing; Diana was learning how little she really knew either of them. It made her wonder just how much she really knew any of her new friends in the Justice League. She didn't doubt they were heroes, that wasn't it. What she was realizing was that the people under the masks and costumes had these other lives that she'd only caught a glimpse of before.

A man like Bruce had so many layers to him, Diana was beginning to wonder if she would ever really know him or if he would let her. Living with Kal she was realizing that he was different than she imagined, as well. In just under two weeks she felt like her knowledge of him had grown so much. It wasn't that he was a different person, but it was. Little details about him, hints to the full portray were being filled in. She wouldn't have thought they mattered so much before, but now she was starting to understand.

To really know someone, you had to get to know all of him or her. It wasn't even just getting to know the good things, either. In this short time living with him, Diana already knew Clark could be frustrating, distant, overly cautious and unreadable, just to name a few things, but it was who he was. He wasn't perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. He certainly seemed to enjoy teasing her just a little too much and she found that irritating to say the least. He knew she didn't like him calling her Princess, yet he constantly did.

Diana was finding out that even those flaws were interesting to her. She was starting to understand that to have a relationship with someone, a real relationship was to take the good with the bad. Others might see her as perfect, but Diana knew she had her own little idiosyncrasies as well. Wonder Woman might appear perfect, but Diana certainly was not. Hers weren't as bad as Kal's she told herself, but she could admit there were probably little things she did that frustrated him.

Where they actually stood, she wasn't sure. Diana had no frame of reference for this. She was learning as she went, trying to catch up on an ever-changing landscape. She had to admit it was frightening, yet at the same time in felt exhilarating.

Diana wondered if Bruce even realized the side benefit their bet was having for her. When the idea of having a relationship first occurred to her, she imaged it like the stories she'd read, with an almost fairy book quality to it. It was a picture of white knights and damsels in magical kingdoms falling in love and living happily ever after. Maybe all young women have that image somewhere in their minds.

What she was starting to understand with this bet was that a relationship is so much more than the fairy tale. It was being vulnerable to someone else, letting your guard down so they saw all of you, the real you. The story didn't end when they ride off into the sunset, but was only beginning. A relationship was ultimately about intimacy on such a deep level and getting to know someone better than anyone else in your life. It was also about allowing the other person to get to know you in the same way. A true relationship wasn't about fairy tales, but reality. Maybe that was why so many ended, Diana thought.

Now that she knew about what a relationship could be, Diana wanted the reality, not the fairy tale. She wondered if she could have that with either man. Bruce was always holding back, shielding himself, falling into his Dark Knight persona. Diana was having doubts he would ever let anyone in that much. Kal had given her glimpses, on the farm and when he'd admitted his doubts sometimes about the goodness of people. Of all the things that had happened in their time here, that was her most cherished memory. The kiss had been wonderful, better than she would have ever imagined, but he had pulled away and not let her in. He shared that with Bruce, only Kal fell back on humor and pulled away into the mask of mild mannered Clark Kent.

Diana knew she needed to find some answers. She wasn't going to settle for the fairy tale anymore. These were the thoughts running through her mind, yet part of her was afraid of finding the answers. What if neither man could give her what she now knew she wanted? That prospect was almost worse than not knowing. It would mean she was truly alone, more alone than she'd ever felt in her life.

The other thought that had been running through her mind was what if they fell in love with someone else? They were both her friends and while she didn't know all the details, she knew there had been others in their lives. Hadn't Kal been in love with Lois and before that Lana? Bruce had dated a whole string of women, but Diana knew there had been special ones. Selina and Talia, from what she'd heard, had a rather complicated and tortured history with him. Diana wasn't so vain that she believed every man would naturally fall in love with her.

Bruce could be with someone right now. Diana knew she had no claim on him. Maybe the reason he pushed her away was because he was in love with someone else. Diana didn't know. Then there was Kal. He was with Zatanna at this moment. Yes, it was only an interview, but how could she know it wouldn't turn into something more? Yes, Kal was married to Diana, but they had never spoken about what that means. Perhaps he believed he could still date while they were married, Diana didn't know.

Zatanna was a beautiful young woman so it only seemed natural that Kal would be attracted to her. According to Wally, she'd admitted to everyone she wanted to date him. Diana wasn't sure what Zatanna's views on marriage were either. Maybe before Diana could tell them her views on marriage they would fall in love. Maybe they already had, Diana suddenly thought. The interview could have gone well and they probably started flirting with each other. Diana had seen Zatanna flirting on the Tower and she was very good at it. If the night in the jacuzzi was any indication, Kal knew what he was doing too. Maybe as the saying goes, one thing leads to another and they went back to her hotel room. Maybe they were having sex right now!

Stop, Diana told herself, don't let you mind run away with you. Hera, where did those thoughts come from, she wondered. Diana knew them both and they wouldn't do something like that. Well, maybe Zatanna would, she did always strike Diana as rather impulsive. No, she was a friend. Kal certainly wouldn't do that, Diana thought. If she learned one thing since living here with him, it was just how cautious he was. It was one of the things about him that irritated Diana, but maybe he was different with her? Maybe Kal would just throw caution to the wind and give in to temptation with Zatanna. Magic was one of his weaknesses, maybe that extended to magical women too!

NO, no, you're letting your imagination run away with itself, Diana mentally chided herself. If he was planning on something with Zatanna, why would he invite you to go along, Diana thought. Maybe he knew I wouldn't go! By the Gods, where are these thoughts coming from? It was just an interview, that's all, Diana said to herself. The boredom must be getting to you to spin such fantastic tales. You just need something to do, to take your mind off it, but what? Diana looked around the living room and her eyes finally fell on the book. Yes, she thought, I'll read for a while and before I know it he'll be back. Once he's here, I'll be sure to explain to him what marriage means to me, in no uncertain terms, Diana decided. Reading will stop all these silly thoughts from bothering me.

Resolve to get her mind off her current issues, Diana picked up the book and made herself comfortable on the couch.

Books were stacked in every conceivable spot in the room. Once this had been the main upstairs reading room of the Royal Library but then the war had come. The Red and the White had both done their share of bomb damage to the once grand structure, but it was the Black that almost spelled its death knell. For them there was only one book and it had all the knowledge one would need. All other books were blasphemy or redundant and unnecessary. Once the shortages hit, books were in demand for other purposes.

Avignon had taken up residence here long ago. A student until the Revolution he had a love of books. Man's greatest achievements and most profound thoughts resided in books. So many had already been lost to fanatics or the most basic human needs. This was his island against the world. In here Plato and Shakespeare still had a voice. His dreams of the Revolution might be gone, but he still believed there would be a day when these books would once again enlighten.

He sat on his cot and drank from a wine bottle. On the table in front of him were the security reports about the murders. He had told Prefect Castor he wasn't interested, but the files had arrived anyway. Butchery, that was the only word for what he saw. War had made life cheap and let loose a monster. Avignon told himself he didn't care, that the whole rotten mess could come tumbling down around their ears and he wouldn't lift a finger to stop it. The young victim's eyes haunted him though. They were like doll's eyes staring out at nothing, their very souls ripped from them.

As he took another drink, he could hear a key silently turn in the lock on the door. Avignon didn't even turn, just continued to drink. A few moments later, a knife pressed against his neck and he felt hot breath against his skin.

"Are you prepared to die today,' a man whispered in his ear.

"Yes, if you'll join me,' Avignon replied, raising his gun and pointing it at the man. A laugh erupted and the knife moved away. Avignon finally turned to see Sasha, his only friend, a former Zealot pulling off his scarf. Avignon's heart skipped a beat, as he saw she was with him, Asha. Illness seemed to cling to her frail frame, but she was still lovely in his eyes. That he had played a part in downfall still haunted Avignon.

"Are you going to drink alone, my friend,' Sasha asked, stretching out his hand to take the bottle from Avignon. "Few things are sadder than a man drinking alone. You should thank me for not letting you suffer this horrible fate."

"That's not a Zealot philosophy isn't it, Sasha,' Avignon asked. He took the bait, as the other man knew he would. These two were the only bright spots in Avignon's life and never failed to rouse his spirits.

"Bah, the Zealots or the Black, whatever name you call them, have no love of life,' Sasha explained between long drinks. "Sack cloth and ashes is the only thing they are comfortable with."

"And yet you were once one of them,' Avignon countered.

"We all make mistakes, my friend,' Sasha said. "It is the truly enlightened that admit them and change."

"Like yourself?'

"Of course! Now tell me where the rest of the wine is,' Sasha asked as he finished off the bottle.

"What are these?"

They both turned in surprise. It was Asha's frail voice and they so rarely heard it anymore. It was as if the ordeal in the prison had wounded her far more than the disease. She had emerged with a haunted lost look and for the most part fell silent. Avignon saw she was looking at the photos of the crime scenes.

"There has been a series of murders,' he gently explained.

"And that's news,' Sasha asked. "People die everyday in this place."

"Not like this,' Asha whispered, still holding one of the photos.

"No, not like this,' Avignon agreed. He handed one of the to Sasha and the big man wiped his mouth as he looked at it.

"Butchery,' he said.

"Yes."

"Why do you have them Avignon,' Asha asked.

"Prefect Castor had them delivered to me,' he explained. "He wants me to investigate."

"The nerve of that man," Sasha said dismissively. "Your former brothers in the Revolution have no shame. I hope you refused him, flat out."

"I did,' Avignon replied, still watching Asha.

"Good, then we should speak no more of this tragedy,' Sasha said. "Ah, you don't hide the wine as well any more!"

He pushed some books to the side and pulled out a fresh bottle. Using his teeth, Sasha uncorked it and took a long drink.

"This is what life should be like,' he said. Asha was still spreading the photos out with her fingers. She was trembling when she looked up at Avignon.

"This isn't over, is it?"

"No."

"What do you mean," Sasha asked.

'There are three victims so far, but there will be more,' Avignon said.

"How do you know?"

"Isn't it obvious,' Asha said, holding up another photo. 'The killer likes what he does."

"Yes."

"You are going to save them, aren't you, Avi,' Asha asked.

"Who?"

"The innocent."

"There are no innocent, Asha,' he replied.

"Yes, there are."

Metropolis – Suicide Slums

Intergang had a series of hideouts all over this part of town. They moved around out of necessity and to keep the heroes off their backs. One of their locations was hidden away in a bar, that unless you knew about it you would never find it. Currently sitting in the backroom drinking Tequila was Lashina. She was in a rather foul mood, to say the least. Since hearing the news about Kal-El and the Amazon it had only been getting worse.

Lashina was a woman of passions. They ruled her actions for the most part. As she took another swig of the liquor, she thought about Superman. Part of her hated him, but there was another part that would always want him. When he had been on Apokolips and Granny Goodness had persuaded him that he was Darkseid's son Lashina was his lover. He was everything in a man she could ever want, except for that stupid conscious of his.

When he stopping thinking the right way and went back to being the hero, he had rejected Lashina. Suddenly the passionate nights they'd spent together didn't matter any more, because he'd been brainwashed into thinking he was someone else. She wasn't Lashina, lover anymore, but Lashina, evil leader of the Furies. His rejection still burned deep inside of her.

Lashina always knew that she was the perfect woman for him, if he could just get over his issues with right and wrong, good and bad. She would never have him as long as he was the hero. One of the lessons she'd learned early on Apokolips was if she couldn't have something, she didn't want anyone else to have it either.

The thought of him with the Amazon turned the taste of the liquor sour in her mouth. Wonder Woman, the very name annoyed Lashina. She'd met the Amazon several times in battle and had to admit she was a formidable fighter, but Lashina had beaten her on more than one occasion. Yes, Wonder Woman had beaten Lashina too, but that only made her hate the Amazon all the more.

Now she was trying to take something that Lashina considered hers, Kal-El. Isn't that just like her, the pretty Princess from the Magical Island thinks she can have anything she wants. Not this time, Princess, Lashina thought. Every instinct told her to go to these suburbs and confront her right now. Lashina would teach her what it meant to try and take something from the leader of the Furies.

The only thing was that Lashina hadn't gotten to where she was by making rash decisions. Passions ruled her but cunning and intelligence guided her passions. She knew that to go and fight Wonder Woman now wouldn't get her what she wanted. It would only drive Kal-El into the Amazon's arms. In fact, if he was there, then Lashina had no chance of winning a fight against the two of them.

She couldn't call on the other Furies to help her either. If they knew she had a weak spot for Kal-El, they would use it against her. Any weakness was a liability on Apokolips. She had to find another way. As she ran over several ideas in her mind, Lashina didn't even acknowledge the door opening and the Intergang members that came in. She finally looked up at the sound of guns being drawn.

"Go away, can't you see I'm thinking,' she growled at them. "And drinking."

"I don't give a shit what you're doing, lady,' the leader replied. "You cost us several of our best guys tonight."

"If those were you best men I feel sorry for you," she snapped. "As far as tonight, it was the incompetence on your end that go them arrested. You imbeciles couldn't even manage a simple weapons transfer without being caught!"

"Don't try and put this on us,' the leader shouted. "I noticed you were there, but didn't get caught."

"Meaning?"

"It just seems a little funny, is all,' the man replied. "You're a hard broad to miss; yet the cops didn't arrest you. I was thinking it's almost like they let you go."

"If that's what you were thinking, you should stop attempting it," she replied. "You obviously don't have the head for thinking, dog."

"You know for one big bitch, you got a bigger mouth. I think I should point out there is one of you and seven of us. Oh and we got the guns."

"Yes, you really should stop thinking, it's not good for you."

"One bitch against seven, it hardly seems fair,' the man said with a laugh.

"No, it doesn't, does it,' Lashina replied, a rather wicked smile coming to her lips. They didn't even hear the first whip until it struck two of them. The second was drowned out by the screams. The rest were just a blur. It was over before it started and seven dead bodies littered the floor.

Gotham

Clark and Zatanna sat in a sidewalk café finishing up the interview. He was checking his notes and had to admit it had gone much better than he could have hoped for. She was a great interview.

"Thanks again for doing this, Zee, you're really helping me out,' Clark said.

"No problem, free publicity is always welcome,' she replied with a smile.

"True, but your shows are already sold out, so you didn't really need the added press."

'Maybe, so we'll just say you owe me one, okay,' she asked.

"Sounds like a deal."

He put his pen away and sat back to finish his coffee.

"Now I left tickets at the box office for you and Diana,' Zee said. "You guys are coming, right?"

"I'll ask her tonight, but I don't see why not."

"So how's that going, the whole being married in the suburbs thing?"

"It's not what you'd imagine,' he offered.

"How do you know what I'd imagine, ' she teased. He gave her a look, but she just smiled in return.

"Cause it's certainly not what I imagined."

"How so?'

"Well, a lot of things really,' he said. "I gave Diana her first driving lesson, which I'm still trying to recover from. There was a visit from her mother, the Queen and General Phillipus. Neighbors that think they're hippies or what they think hippies are from the movies and just too many other things to count,' he said. "Oh, and there was a visit to meet my Mom. So you can see how crazy it's been."

"You took Diana to meet your mom,' Zee asked.

"Well, it didn't start out that way, but yeah, sort of,' he replied.

"Wow, you really are a normal guy," she teased. "That's a big step isn't it? I mean taking your wife to meet you mom, it must be serious."

"Very cute. As far as normal, I don't know. but isn't that why you wanted to go out with me,' he replied, teasing her back. Zatanna gasped in shock, her face turning red and then she buried it in her hands.

"I'm going to die! You heard about that,' she groaned.

"Hard not to,' he joked. "It was the talk of the station last time I was there."

"Oh God, just kill me now. I'm going to die of embarrassment anyway!"

"Oh, come on, it's not that bad,' he offered. "I was actually flattered."

"Not that bad? That's because it wasn't you that blurted it out in front of everyone!" Zee suddenly stopped and looked up at him. "Wait. What did you say?"

"I said I was flattered."

"You were?"

"Who wouldn't be," Clark replied. "A beautiful young woman says she wants to go out with you is always nice to hear. I do have a question about your idea of normal though."

'What do you mean,' she asked.

"I've been called a lot of things, but normal usually isn't one of them,' he explained. "I mean, I'm a Kryptonian, I can fly, plus I've got countless villains and threats always looking to attack me. Not exactly what I would call normal, Zee."

"Well, if you think about it like that, yeah, but,' she started and then glanced around at the buildings surrounding them. "Wait a moment."

Zatanna raised her hands in the air and whispered an incantation.

"What are you doing?"

"I just thought it was better if we have a little privacy. It's a simple spell so no one can hear what we're saying,' she explained.

"There's no one around, Zee."

"It's Gotham, Clark, you never know what noisy person is listening, if you know what I mean."

"A little paranoid, are we,' he teased.

"You've met Bruce, right,' she asked. "Would you really put it past him to want to know what we're saying?"

"He's not that bad,' Clark said. She just stared at him. "Okay, yeah, he probably is."

"Well, see, you are normal compared to most of guys I meet,' Zee said. "I mean just think of the ones in the League alone. Bruce, great guy, but creepy stalker. Wally, he hits on everyone, some times at the same time. Plastic Man, well, he's just nuts. Lantern, G.I. Joe that can't decide which gorgeous woman he wants, so he's always kind of pissed. I don't even want to think about Constantine and his issues. Do I need to go on?"

"They are not that bad, well, maybe Plastic Man and Wally,' Clark admitted. "Okay, but I'd still hardly call me normal."

"You weren't suppose to know about that,' she exclaimed. "God, I'm so embarrassed!"

"Don't be,' he said, reaching across the table to touch her hand. "Like I said, I'm flattered, Zatanna, really. If things weren't so crazy right now, I'd probably take you up on the offer."

"You would?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you were dating Lois Lane,' Zee asked.

"I was,' Clark reluctantly said.

"Was?"

Clark really didn't want to get into this, but it was probably going to come out sooner or later.

"Yeah, I was, but she broke up with me recently."

"I'm sorry, Clark, that must have been horrible,' she said to him.

"It wasn't great,' he admitted. Clark didn't want this to turn into her feeling sorry for him, so he tried a joke to shift the focus. "I am still married though. My girlfriend may have broken up with me, but I still have the wife to go home to."

He gave Zatanna a smile and she returned it. Something about the way he said wife caught her attention.

"So you like being married to Diana?"

This caught him by surprise. He'd never thought about it that way.

"Yes, I guess, it's certainly proving to be interesting."

"What kind of wife, is she, if you don't mind me asking,' Zee asked.

"Orderly,' Clark joked.

"Come on."

"Okay, what kind of wife is Diana,' Clark mused. As he started to explain, Zee just sat back and listened. That something she heard in the way he said wife was there when he talked about Diana. Zee realized there was more going on between those two than she'd realized before. Clark tried to play it off with humor, but she could hear it in his voice. There was something definitely happening between those two. Before she could ask any more questions, though, Clark's Justice League signal went off and he answered it. Zee sat watching him with interest, wondering what the crisis was.

"Oh, Jeez, thank Jonn, I'll get there as soon as I can,' Clark said and then signed off.

"What? What is it,' Zee asked.

"It's Kara. I got to get to Metropolis right away."

"Did something happen to her,' she asked in concern.

"No, it's Toyman,' Clark replied. "Kara hates him. Apparently Kara, Stargirl and Mary Marvel are having a run in with him."

As he started to get up, Zatanna reached out and grabbed his arm.

"I'm sure she'll be able to handle it, Clark, no need to rush off."

He looked at her for a moment and then it dawned on him.

"You hate Toyman too, don't you,' he asked.

"Yes, I hope she teaches that foul mouthed puppet a lesson he won't forget,' Zatanna practically spat out. "I just wish I was there to see it!"

Clark was a little stunned by the vehemence of her reaction.

"Okay, then, I guess I'd better be going," he said. "Hopefully, Kara's not having the same reaction you are to Toyman."

Gotham Heights

The sound of the clock chimes made Diana look up from the book. It was late, much later than she thought and Kal still wasn't home. He's sleeping with Zatanna! No, don't be silly, she told herself. She was just letting her imagination run away with her, or was she? Hera, Diana, get a grip she told herself. It's probably just an emergency came up and he's pitching in. it would be nice, though, if he took the time to call his wife and let her know that he was going to be out late, she thought.

Metropolis

Supergirl, Stargirl and Mary Marvel soared over the city.

"Golly! This is so terrific being out on patrol for Superman,' Mary Marvel said, a huge grin on her face.

"God, she's so lame, why did you bring her,' Kara whispered to Courtney.

"Billy asked me if she could come and she was so excited I couldn't say no."

"Hey, why don't we all get ice cream after this,' Mary shouted to the other two.

"Great," Kara replied with a fake smile. She dropped her voice once again and whispered to Stargirl. "There is no way I'm hitting the clubs with her! No way!"

"Be nice, Kara,' Courtney replied.

"Down there,' Mary suddenly shouted. "I think that little man and his toys are trying to break into the bank."

Supergirl and Stargirl both turned to look where Mary was pointing. Kara gritted her teeth as she saw him.

"Toyman!"

She was off in a flash before the other two could stop her.

"Mary, quick, we need to get down there before Kara does anything crazy,' Courtney shouted.

"What do you mean? Why would she do anything crazy?"

"She hates him."

"Why?"

"Oh, you'll see, let's go!"

Below Toyman had his toy soldiers ready to blow the wall of the bank when he heard a rush of wind above him.

"Toyman!"

"Aahhh!" he screamed in fright at seeing Supergirl floating above him. She didn't look happy. "Hey-Hey Blondie, long-long time, ah, um, no see."

"Don't call me that, my name is Supergirl!"

"Well, that short skirt is certainly super from this angle,' he said with a smirk.

"You little pervert, stop trying to look up my skirt!"

Stargirl and Mary Marvel arrived and got between Kara and Toyman.

"Oh, great, Josie and the Pussycats have arrived,' Toyman grumbled. "What is Scooby Doo busy?"

"Kara, don't let him get to you,' Courtney said to her friend, trying to calm her down.

"You should listen to your friend, Blondie, she's talking sense,' Toyman quickly added. "By the way, honey, if those pants were any tighter I'd be able to tell you religion."

"Why you little ...,' Courtney shouted, but Mary cut her off.

"Holey Moley, you have a dirty mouth, Mr. Toyman!"

"Holey Moley? What are we in a time warp,' Toyman replied. "Did you just step out of the 1950's, sweetie? Hey, wait, you're Mary Marvel, right?"

"Yes."

"What happened to the black outfit? I loved it,' Toyman said. "It showed off that smoking little body of yours perfectly. I mean if the skirt had been any shorter it would have been a belt, sweet cheeks."

"That's it! The puppet dies,' Kara screamed.

"It was a compliment!"

"You're filthy," Mary shouted.

"Well, gee willikers, don't get your panties in a bunch, honey,' Toyman said with a laugh.

"I'm going to kill him,' Kara growled.

"Kara, don't let him get to you,' Courtney said, although she wouldn't mind a piece of him herself.

"Nice wand, babe,' Toyman said. "I've got one too, want to see it?"

"On second thought, go ahead, Kara, rip him a new one,' Stargirl snapped.

"A point of order, if you will, Blondie,' Toyman said, as Kara moved towards him.

"Stop calling me that!"

"Okay, whatever, Supergirl,' Toyman replied. "I just thought I'd point out that you can't touch me."

"And why not?"

"I haven't committed any crime yet,' he smugly explained. "No crime, no jail time. Hey that's pretty good, I just made that up. I'm a poet and didn't even know it."

"Then why do you have all these toy soldiers," Mary asked.

"I'm taking them for a walk, what's it matter? You know you should really think about going back to the black,' he suggested. "That yellow lightening bolt really drew the eye to your breasts."

Mary gasped and covered her chest with her arms.

"Shy, huh,' Toyman said with a smirk. "You know they say the shy ones are always the wildest."

"Crime or no crime, I'm kicking his ass,' Kara shouted and pushed Courtney out of the way. She hauled off to hit Toyman but Mary jumped in front of her.

"Supergirl, I know you want to, but you can't," Mary firmly said. "It wouldn't be right. You would be the one breaking the law if you hit him. I dislike admitting it, but he has a point, he hasn't committed any crime, so we have nothing to arrest him for."

"How about being a rude, dirty pervert,' Kara shouted, even as Courtney tried to pulled her back.

"Oh, yeah, I love watching hot chicks fight,' Toyman said, watching Stargirl struggle to hold back Supergirl.

"Stop it, you should be ashamed of yourself,' Mary chastised him.

"Maybe you're right, but what's a little man to do,' Toyman offered. "Since those two are into the girl on girl action, what say you and me get down and dirty right here, honey? You want Toyman to rock your world?"

Mary gasped as Toyman reached over and goosed her. She jumped away from him, her face turning red. She just stared at him for a moment, as he leered back at her.

"Why, you little son of a bitch, I'm going to put my foot so far up your ass you'll be tasting leather!"

Everything seemed to stop for a moment. Kara and Courtney stopped struggling with each other and turned in shock to look at Mary. They couldn't believe she'd said that. Even Toyman was a little taken back.

"Wow, listen to the mouth on her,' he finally said.

"Mary? I know he upset you, but remember we can't hit him because he hasn't done anything yet,' Courtney said, trying to sound as calm as possible.

"Fuck that! The little bastard dies,' Mary shouted, as she lunged for Toyman. He screamed and cowered behind his toy soldiers as Kara and Courtney rushed to grab Mary.

Clark flew into Metropolis worried he might be too late. Scanning the city he finally spotted them. As he landed, Toyman rushed over to him.

"Oh, thank God you're finally here,' Toyman shouted, as he hid behind Clark. "The hormonal triplets over there are crazy!"

Clark looked over and saw Kara and Courtney holding back a livid Mary Marvel. None of them seemed particularly happy. They were all shooting dirty looks at Toyman.

"What did you say to them this time,' Clark asked with a sigh.

"Nothing,' Toyman replied. "Some chicks just can't take a compliment."

"Let me go, I'm going to rip his little dick off,' Mary screamed.

"See,' Toyman said. Clark couldn't believe what he just heard.

"Mary?"

Gotham Heights

Diana couldn't read any longer and was pacing the living room. It was after midnight and Kal still wasn't home. She'd checked the Internet but there was no reports of Superman helping anywhere in the world. She wanted to call the station again but had already done that four times. He hadn't called once to let her know where he was or why he was late. He's sleeping with Zatanna, Diana thought. He's a married man and he's sleeping with someone else!