Tempo
"It always starts with words. Words matter."
Gotham Heights
A rather sleepy Diana was suddenly roused by the text tone on her phone. Ride of the Valkyries was a bit jarring. Through half opened eyes, she looked at the window and saw it wasn't even light out yet. Groaning, she reached over to the nightstand and picked up her phone. There was a new message.
- Couldn't sleep, so I got up and went downstairs. Just wanted you to know where I am – C.
Diana slammed the phone down and buried her head back in the pillow. He thinks he's funny, she thought, still half asleep. Pulling the covers up tight around her chin, Diana took a deep breath and started to fall asleep again.
How much time had passed she didn't know, but once again she was roused by Ride of the Valkyries.
"Hera help me,' Diana muttered as she reached over and picked her phone up again. There was another message from him.
- Having breakfast now. Pancakes, yum! Just wanted to let you know – C.
Muttering to herself, Diana turned off the ringer and slammed the phone back down on the nightstand. She was just about to close her eyes, when she saw the phone light up once more. She lay there watching her phone do a little dance as it vibrated, until finally she picked it up. There was another message from him.
- Almost forgot, having coffee too. Just wanted to let you know – C.
Diana tossed the phone back on the nightstand and turned away from it. She saw his side of the bed was empty and absently thought he was lucky he wasn't there, or she'd hit him, hard. Diana reached over and grabbed his pillow and stacked it on top of her own. She could smell him on it, but found it rather comforting. She closed her eyes and started to fall asleep again. It may have been ten minutes or fifteen, but she slowly became aware of her phone dancing on the nightstand again. The surface was glass, so the vibrating phone made a little tapping noise. Diana tried to ignore it, but her hearing was very, very good. I'm not going to give him the satisfaction; she thought and refused to turn over. The phone continued it's little dance. Tap-tap-tap.
"Damn him,' she said, finally giving in and reaching for the phone. As she suspected, it was another message from him.
- Breakfast was great! I'm changing into my swim trunks now and will be going out to the pool to swim some laps. Just letting you know where I am – C.
Diana slammed the phone down and almost a growl came from her throat. She couldn't close her eyes, as she knew what was coming. She lay there staring at the phone waiting. It took several frustrating minutes but finally the phone began to dance once more. She grabbed it and glared at the tiny screen.
- In the pool now, water's perfect! Just wanted you to know where I am – C.
Throwing back the covers, Diana sat up and grabbed her robe. She threw it on as she headed out the bedroom door. Muttering to herself, Diana stomped down the stairs and headed towards the patio. She nearly jerked the door off the hinges as she opened it and stepped outside. He was just finishing a lap at the end nearest her and stopped at the edge of the pool when he saw her. He gave her a big smile. Diana glared at him.
"Morning, you're up early,' Clark pleasantly said. Diana was gritting her teeth as she glanced around and saw his phone on the patio table. She moved over and picked it up. She dropped it on the cement and then slammed her foot down on it, grinding her heel until it shattering into many pieces. She shot him a look and then started to storm back into the house.
"You're very beautiful when you're angry,' he said. Diana stopped and turned, her eyes shooting daggers at him.
"What,' he innocently said. "I'm not allowed to flirt with anyone else, remember? Nice legs, by the way."
He pushed off the side of the pool with a big smile and slowly did the backstroke towards the other end. Diana looked at him for a moment and then turned and walked back into the house. Despite herself, a little smile spread across her lips.
The Watchtower
Oracle had sent up the latest data on the Lost Souls motorcycle gang and Dinah was scanning it for clues. She had a pencil in her hand and was circling bits of information she thought were important. Across the room from her, Jonn and Wally were discussing the upcoming schedule and Wally as trying to get out of several weekend shifts. Dinah was looking for connections between the gang's movements. The chuga-chuga sound followed by toot-toot caused her to close her eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. When she looked up Plastic Man was right in front of her grinning. He was a toy train at the moment.
"Yes?"
"Hey boss!"
"Did you want something,' she asked.
'Heard you got info on the bad guys, mon rare and I'm ready to go,' he excitedly said.
"First of all, it's mon frère, not mon rare. Second that means my brother." Dinah corrected him.
"You say tomato, I say Swiss cheese."
"That makes no sense."
"Gotcha,' he replied. "So when do we go?"
"There is no we, Plastic Man. Never was, never will be,' she explained.
"But you are starting to like me right? I can sort of tell. I grow on people!"
"No, no I'm not,' Dinah replied. "Look, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you and me, us, isn't going to happen."
Wally and Jonn stopped talking and turned to watch.
"Why not," Plastic Man asked.
"Look, let's just say it's me not you,' Dinah tried to diplomatically offered.
"If you're worried you'll fall for me, I understand,' Plastic Man replied.
"Yeah, that's not it. I hate to say this, but I really don't like you."
"You don't? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm really sure,' Dinah said. "I'm sorry, but it's almost organic or something, you just irritate me."
"Irritate or interest,' he asked with a smile.
"Definitely irritate."
"You know I'm not as crazy as everyone thinks,' he whispered to her. As if to belie that, he turned himself into a pogo stick and starting bouncing up and down in front of her. Dinah took a moment to stay under control. She bent her head forward, pressing her thumb and index finger against the bridge of her nose right between her eyes.
"Yes, yes you are,' she finally said.
"Apple and mangos,' Plastic Man replied. "One man's crazy is another man's haircut. So when do we leave for Gotham?"
"WE are not leaving for Gotham,' Dinah forcefully said. "WE are not going anywhere together. There's no WE, got it?"
Plastic Man looked at her for a moment and then his grin turned into a frown. He changed into a little toy red wagon and slowly started to head for the door. Dinah felt horrible and was about to say something, but one of the wheels on his wagon was the off kilter kind and gave off little squeaks. Squeak-squeak-squeak, the sound seemed to bore into her brain and irritate her. Why couldn't he just do a regular wagon, why the squeaky one, she wondered? He was doing it just to irritate her, she just knew.
The door closed behind him and Dinah was about to get back to her data when she noticed Jonn and Wally looking at her.
"What?"
Jonn gave her the same placid look he always did, but Wally's was one of disappointment.
"You've changed, Dinah,' Wally said.
"That did seem a bit cold,' Jonn observed.
"What? I was trying to be nice,' Dinah exclaimed.
"Maybe that's why Ollie dumped her,' Wally said to Jonn.
"He didn't dump me, I broke up with him!"
"You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart,' Wally said with a smirk.
"All right, Wally, that's it! You just made my list!"
Dinah glared at him and pointed her finger. Wally took a step back, a little nervous by her reaction.
"I'm having no luck with the ladies lately, have you noticed,' he whispered to Jonn.
"Perhaps it is your tone,' Jonn suggested.
"You think? Hey, speaking of Plasty, did he tell you the one about the two blondes in a parking lot trying to unlock the door of their car with a coat hanger. The First Blonde says: "I can't seem to get this door unlocked! So the Second Blonde says: Well you better hurry up. It's starting to rain and the top is down! Ha-Ha! Oh, man that just killed me when I heard it."
"Yes, I liked that one as well,' Jonn said with a smile. "I like the imagery of it."
Dinah stared at them for a moment, then silently picked up her papers and stomped out of the room. Wally and Jonn watched her go.
"She's very tense lately, have you notice,' Wally observed.
Gotham
Bruce came down the main staircase dressed in all black. Alfred was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs.
"You are up early, Master Bruce."
"Yes, I've behind on some important work and want to catch up. I don't want to be disturbed by anyone, Alfred,' Bruce replied. "I'm going to lock myself in and set all the alarms, just in case you know who decided to pop in again."
"Are you speaking of…
"Yes,' Bruce said, cutting him off. "So if anyone and I mean anyone wants to see me, just tell them I'm too busy right now, okay?"
"As you wish sir."
"Thanks, Alfred. I've been trying to get to this work for almost a week and now it's critical, so I hope you understand."
"Of course, sir."
Bruce gave him a rare smile and then headed down to the Batcave.
Metropolis
In an organized crime situation, the usual way of moving up is a death or committing a crime that impresses your superiors. It's a time-honored tradition of making your bones, as it were. Three of Intergang's most junior members got it in their mind that taking out Lashina was their ticket to the big time.
They weren't aware the rule on Apokolips was that only the strong and smart survive.
As she dragged Donny by his leg out from the table he'd been hiding under, he suddenly had an epiphany. Perhaps this wasn't the life for him. When she easily held him off the ground by the same leg and reared back her fist, he was sure of it.
"Please! Don't kill me, Lashina, please! Give me a second chance, I'll change my ways!"
She stopped for a moment, as his words seemed to trigger something in her mind. A second chance, change my ways, yes that is what I've been looking for, she thought. She actually smiled at the little man she was holding.
"Thank you, that was a big help to me,' she said.
"So you're not going to kill me?"
"Oh no, I'm going to kill you," She replied. "I just wanted to let you know I appreciate your help before I did."
Gotham
Zatanna and Constantine were sitting in an outdoor café having lunch. It was much nicer than the previous time, so naturally she was paying.
"You should really try the truffles, they are divine,' he said between mouthfuls. "I can remember the last time I had them."
"Probably the last time I paid for lunch,' she snapped.
"Well, I did paid last time,' he pointed out.
"Greasy spoon versus four star restaurant, I don't think that's quite the same."
"Well, I know you like the best,' he offered with a smile. She gave him a look, but let it go.
"So have you heard anything from Mr. E,' Zatanna asked.
"Na, apparently he's still trying to live the 'normal life,' Constantine replied. "How about you, heard anything from the Stranger?"
"No, but then he just sort of pops up now and then,' Zee said. "Nimue still hates him, though."
"Ah, Madame Xanadu, I always fancied her,' Constantine mused. "Still hot and sexy after thousands of years."
"You go near her, Constantine and I swear I'll make you wish you'd never met me!"
"Okay, relax, it was just an observation,' he said. "You are so touchy about her."
"Well, she helped raise me,' Zee said.
"Is she going to be at your show,' he asked.
"Why?"
"Just curious,' he off-handedly said. "I'd like to go myself, but alas, all the tickets are sold out."
"You want freebies, is that what you're not so slyly implying?"
"Since you mentioned it, yes."
"Why should I,' she asked.
"Old time sake?"
"Try again,' Zee replied as she dug into her lobster salad.
Gotham – Wayne Mansion
Alfred made his way to the front door as the chime rang again. He opened it to find Dinah standing there.
"Miss Lance, a pleasure to see you."
"You too, Alfred,' Dinah replied. "Is Bruce here? I wanted to ask him about some reports Oracle sent me."
"He is, Miss, but I'm afraid he doesn't want to be disturbed," Alfred explained. "He's sealed himself off below."
"Can't you call him or something? This is really important."
Alfred looked at Dinah and could see she wasn't going to leave unless she spoke with Bruce. Reluctantly he stepped to the side and let her in. She followed him down the hallway to the library, where he pressed the extension to the Batcave. He put it on speaker.
"Yes?" Bruce's voice came over the speaker.
"Sorry to interrupt, Master Bruce, but Miss Lance is here and rather insistent on speaking with you."
"Did you tell her I didn't want to see anyone?"
"Yes, he did, Bruce," Dinah said, cutting in. "I want you opinion on some data Barbara collected on the gang. Think I found some connections, but I'd like you to look at it."
There was a long pause on the line.
"I'm sort of in the middle of something right now, Dinah. Why don't you send it to me? I'll look at it and get back to you later tonight."
She was about to say more, but the line went dead.
"He hung up on me,' she said in shock. "That prick!"
"I know, Miss, but there's really nothing to do about it,' Alfred offered. "I promise to make sure he gets back to you."
Dinah looked at Alfred and then the phone. She couldn't believe this, but there was nothing she could really do. If Bruce was in the cave with all the security turned on, there was no way she could get passed it and down to him. Reluctantly, she realized she was just going to have to accept it.
"All right, thank you, Alfred,' Dinah finally said. "I don't like it, but don't really have an alternative."
"Again, my apologies, Miss."
With nothing left to say, Dinah left the mansion.
The Watchtower
Wally finally found Plastic Man in the back of the cafeteria. He wasn't easy to spot at first, as he made himself into a table and chairs. The fact that they were red, yellow and black was sort of a give away though. Wally pulled up a chair from another table and sat down next to Plastic Man.
"Hey, buddy, how you doing?"
"Great!"
Plastic Man's face appeared in the center of the table with a huge grin.
"Really?"
'You betcha! Everything's coming up tulips for me!"
"So Dinah shooting you down earlier didn't bother you,' Wally asked.
"She didn't shoot me down."
"Um, yeah, she did, buddy, I was there and it wasn't pretty."
"Maybe to the untrained eye it looked like she shot me down, but she really didn't."
"I'm kind of an expert on women turning me down and trust me, she turned you down, buddy,' Wally said.
"That's only what she wanted you to think."
"Huh?"
"She's delicate."
"Dinah?"
"She's very fragile and reserved,' Plastic Man said.
"Are we talking about Dinah,' Wally asked.
"She's shy around others and embarrasses easily."
"Black Canary? Dinah Lance, is that who we are still talking about,' Wally asked.
"She can already feel herself warming up to me and it scares her,' Plastic Man continued. "I just have to prove to her that I'm worthy of her love!"
"Have you met Dinah? I think she was pretty clear about her feelings, buddy."
Plastic Man wasn't listening any more and began to sing.
"Hey ho, Uncle Joe, the lights went out
and the tables and the chairs all began to dance about!
What a night, we all shout,
The back of my front. The back of my front!
It ain't no stunt! If I can be so blunt.
The back of my front! The back of my front!"
Wally moved back as Plastic Man began to make his chairs dance around the table. Finally Wally just shook his head and walked away, the sound of the song filling the air.
"THE BACK OF MY FRONT! EVERYBODY, SING ALONG!"
Gotham
Diana was making her first shopping trip out alone. Kal had told her about the invitation to Zatanna's show and she agreed to go. She believed him that he wasn't sleeping with Zatanna, but Diana decided to get a new dress for the occasion. She wasn't jealous, but she decided she wanted to look her very best for that evening.
Her two previous experiences at shopping had been with the other women of the League and with Kal. They had both been rather enjoyable. Credit card in hand, Diana decided to come to Gotham to look in some of the more exclusive stores. She felt rather exited as she started driving towards the city.
Traffic put a bit of a damper on her good mood. On the freeway she got stuck behind an old couple in a very nice large car driving rather slow in the fast lane. They seemed completely oblivious to the speed limit, doing 45 in a 65. Cars raced by them and Diana had trouble getting back over as traffic picked up closer to Gotham. She didn't want to be rude, but it felt like she was crawling they were going so slow. Finally she saw an opening and gunned it, flying by the old couple.
She found her exit and headed towards downtown. Unfortunately it was the end of the school day and she got behind a bus. Every time she was about to pass it, the school bus would put on its signal. It was almost like the driver was trying to play with her. Yes, children kept getting off, but when they came to any railroad tracks the bus would come to a dead stop. There wasn't a train for miles in either directions, yet the bus stopped, turning on its signals so she couldn't pass and then seem to wait several moments before starting again.
It seemed to take forever, but finally she got downtown and parked her car in a lot. The young man was very nice, although he seemed to have some sort of social anxiety disorder Diana theorized. He was sweating and stammering, while blushing severely every time Diana spoke to him. She did think it was nice of the lot owner to hire someone handicapped like the young man.
The city was crowded with people and Diana smiled as she walked along the wide avenues. She laughed to herself wondering what would Bruce say if he knew she came into his city without telling him first. At the thought of him, her mind seemed to turn back to the questions she had the other night. Where they stood outside the bet had been bothering her. There were many issues she wanted him to clarify before anything went any further. She resolved to head up to the mansion and confront him.
First though, there was a dress to get. Due to the economy, many of the stories were having sales and it seemed there were many women taking advantage of it. Diana's experience in the high fashion stores was like nothing she's ever been through before. She was bumped and jostled, while other customers snatched dresses right out of her hands. Everyone seemed so aggressive. She remembered she was trying to blend in but they were sorely testing her patience.
When she asked one of the clerks how much a dress was, the woman actually looked down her nose at Diana and said 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'. When the same woman 'accidentally' tripped over Diana's foot later, she couldn't help but smile.
Diana managed finally to find just the right dress. She could hardly wait to see the look on Kal-everyone's face when she wore it. She went to another clerk to pay for it and was warmly received when they saw her black card. The clerk that had been so rude seemed shocked by this. Diana couldn't help herself and as she left she turned to the clerk and said, "what do you know, it turns out I can afford it."
She browsed a few other stories but the crush of people started to bother her. Customers cut her off, while others block her way, as they talked on cell phone oblivious to anyone else. Finally she's had enough and started walking back to her car. It was rush hour by now and traffic was bumper to bumper. Horns honked, car and truck fumes filled the air, while people rushed by all around her.
Diana had lived in Washington since her arrival and was used to traffic, but usually she was in the back of a limo. When she went someplace, there were ropes to cordon off the entrance. Things seemed much more civilized. Here, mingling with the masses, there appeared to be no civility. Men shouted outrageous things at her as she walked by. People bumped and pushed her as they walked, not even stopping to say excuse me. She could have sworn several people tried to feel her up in the crowd, but when she turned around there was just a sea of faces. Many of them were leering at her, but she couldn't pick anyone out that had touched her. When she tried to cross the street, cars honked their horns and the drivers shouted profanities.
When she finally made it back to her car, she was actually happy to see the nice young man with the social anxiety disorder. His hands were much to sweaty, but other than that he was very pleasant.
She almost changed her mind about going to the mansion, wanting to get out of the city as fast as possible, but she didn't like to put things off. Plunging into the traffic, Diana guided her car towards Bruce's house. Traffic eased somewhat when she got closer. She pulled up his long driveway and got out. It was an impressive structure, although she thought it must be very lonely living with only Alfred in such a huge mansion.
She knocked on the door and waited. A moment passed and then the door opened.
"Princess Diana, this is a most unexpected surprise."
Diana smiled at Alfred. He was also such a gentleman and after the day she'd had it was a nice change.
"Nice to see you too, Alfred, may I come in?'
"Of course."
He stepped to the side and let her enter. Diana looked around the foray at all the expensive paintings and antiques. They were all lovely, but she found herself comparing it to the house in Gotham Heights. Bruce's house had the feel of a museum, while the house in Gotham Heights had the feel of a home. This thought was interrupted by Alfred's voice.
"How may I help you, Princess?"
"Is Bruce home? I'd very much like to speak to him,' she said.
"He's in the residence, but I'm afraid he doesn't wish to be disturbed,' Alfred replied. "He was very specific about it."
"I'm sure he's busy, but I won't take up much of his time. I just have a couple of questions I need to know the answers to,' Diana explained.
Once again, Alfred could see she wasn't going to leave without speaking to Master Bruce. He already knew what the reaction would be, but he nodded and led Diana down the hallway to the library. He dialed the Batcave and waited.
"What?"
"Princess Diana is here, sir."
"Diana?"
"Yes, Bruce, I want to talk to you,' she said.
"Is it about League business,' he asked.
"No, it's, well, personal."
"I'm sorry, Diana, but I'm right in the middle of something,' Bruce replied. "I'm going to be at Zatanna's opening show, so why don't we talk there? I'll be happy to answer any questions you have."
Before she could reply, the line went dead.
"He hung up,' she said to Alfred.
"Yes,' he said. "I'm sorry, it seems his manners aren't at there best today, Princess."
"Where is he, down in his cave,' Diana asked. She started to move towards the secret door, but Alfred stopped her.
"I'm sorry, Princess, but Master Bruce has turned on all the security around the cave."
"I can get passed it,' she stated.
"Yes, I believe that's probably true, but not without considerable damage to the mansion,' Alfred explained. "I don't believe it's wise for either of you to draw that much attention to yourselves."
Diana knew the older man was probably right, but she still didn't like it. She couldn't believe the nerve of Bruce hanging up the phone on her like that. She just wanted to get her hands round his neck and shake him. Frustrated, she knew she would have to wait.
"Very well, Alfred, I have to be getting back anyway."
"Thank you, Princess Diana,' he said, a little bit of relief coming through in his voice. Reluctantly, Diana left the mansion.
The Watchtower
Dinah was sitting at one of the back tables in the cafeteria sulking. She wouldn't call it that, but that was what she was doing. Zatanna came in and saw her friend. She immediately came over and sat down.
"Hey, what's up,' she said with a smile.
"Aren't you worried about sitting with me,' Dinah asked. "Apparently I'm mean and cold."
"Well, you know what they say, you can't pick your friends,' Zee replied.
"Actually the saying is you can't pick your family,' Diana countered.
There was a silence for a moment between them.
"So was it your constant need to correct people that made whoever say you were cold and mean,' Zee asked.
"No, I was actually trying to be nice."
"Tough week, huh?'
"Yes,' Dinah admitted. "Apparently the fact that I take my job seriously doesn't sit well with everybody."
"Ollie? I heard about that, I'm sorry, Di,' Zatanna offered.
"Thanks, but it's not just that, it's everything."
"You know what you need is to have some fun,' Zee suggested. "Now I saved you tickets to my show and I want you to come. Everyone's coming, Wally and Shayera, John and Mari, even Clark and Diana. I thought you could come and afterwards we could hit the town, what do you say?"
"I don't know,' Dinah replied. "I'm not really in a party mood right now."
"Too bad, you're coming."
"I don't want to,' Dinah said. "Everyone's going to be there as couples and I'll be by myself. It will be awkward; I'll be the third wheel. I'm not coming."
"Look, I'll set you up with a date, how about that,' Zee suggested.
"I really don't want to go out with one of those weirdo magic people you know,'Dinah replied.
"Weirdo magic people, thanks, Dinah,' Zee grumbled. 'I'm one of those weirdo magic people, you know."
"I didn't mean you, but you know what I mean."
Zee thought about whom she's had lunch with and sort of knew what Dinah was talking about. An idea came to her mind and she smiled at Dinah.
"What,' Dinah asked.
"I'll get Bruce to take you,' Zee suggested brightly.
"What?"
"Bruce, he can be your date,' Zee explained. "I'll fix it up."
"I don't know, that seems a little weird, doesn't it,' Dinah asked. "Besides, he wouldn't do it anyway."
"Yes he will,' Zee countered. "Look you'd be doing me a favor. He's coming to the show because I made him. I just know he's going to be a jackass and show up with three models or bimbos. He'll do that stupid playboy cover of his just to piss me off. If he goes with you, I don't have to worry about it."
"I still don't know,' Dinah replied.
"Well, I do and you're going with him. I'll set it up today,' Zee firmly said.
"Good luck, I tried talking to him earlier and he's in his Bat vault with all the security turned on," Dinah grumbled.
"It's the Batcave. Look you just find something to wear and leave the rest to me,' Zee said.
"I really don't know if I want to be Bruce's date for the show,' Dinah complained. Suddenly the table they were sitting at seemed to move. Both of them jumped back as the top began to shift and then Plastic Man's face appeared. He had a huge grin on his face.
"I'm available!"
Dinah looked at him and then turned to Zee.
"Okay, I'll go with Bruce."
Gotham Heights
Diana's day wasn't getting any better. She had stopped at the market just to pick up a few things. At first everything was fine. The people working in the store were very nice to her, just as they had been when she'd come with Kal. A nice man offered her a small basket and she thanked him. Carrying it over her arm, she found the things she wanted and was all set to check out. Scanning the check out lines, she got in the one marked express, 12 items or less. She was fourth in line.
It seemed to be taking much longer than then it should. Diana glanced up at the person currently checking out. He seemed to be arguing with the cashier whether fifty packages of Ramen noodles was actually one item. This seemed to be taking forever. The rather slovenly young woman in front of Diana was screaming at her two children as they ran all over the front of the store getting into everything. As she stood there, Diana didn't believe she had ever heard the names Dwayne and Nevaeh quite so many times in such a short period of time.
Finally the man with the Ramen noodles was finished and they moved up. The next person up was a rather older lady. She asked for a price check on each item and several of her items had no price or bar code on them. This in turn made the cashier call for someone from grocery to come to her register. While they were waiting for the person to arrive, a man in his thirties got in line behind Diana. He was wearing a blue tooth headset and talking very loudly about some deal he'd gotten earlier in the day. It didn't sound like that important a matter to Diana, but he apparently was very proud of it, judging by the volume of his voice. He seemed to go on and on and on about it.
The older lady was finally ready to pay and she said she was sure she had exact change. Diana had to stifle a groan as she watched the woman dig around in her purse for the pennies, all 87 of them. Half way through she lost count and had to start again. Diana felt a dull throb start over her left eyebrow. Dwayne and Nevaeh bumped into Diana as they grabbed for candy. Their mother grabbed it out of their hands and jammed it back into the rack. The man behind Diana was now going through the entire process of his great deal. He seemed to want to share his genius at getting ten bags of mulch for forty dollars with the person he was talking to.
The older woman was at seventy-nine pennies, but they were coming much slower now. When she dumped out her purse on the counter, the pain above Diana's eyebrow began to throb more intensely. Eighty three cents and counting, Diana wished she had some change on her just to end the agonizing searched through the bits of paper, rubber bands and assorted junk from the older woman's purse.
Apparently whomever the man behind her was talking to didn't fully appreciate what an amazing deal the man had gotten on the ten bags of mulch so he started to repeat the whole process, only slower and louder. Thanks the Gods, eighty-seven cents, finally, Diana thought. The end seemed a little nearer as she took two steps forward. The slovenly woman with the two obnoxious children said to the cashier that yes, she did have her discount card with her. Unzipping her fanny pack, which seemed to be holding on to her huge waist for dear life, she began digging through to find her card.
Diana had a vision of a repeat of the penny search, but thankfully it didn't come true. The cashier began to check out the slovenly woman's items. Diana absently noticed they were all basically process fat and loaded with sugar. As she glanced over at Dwayne and Nevaeh screaming and running all over the store, she thought perhaps the woman should consider modifying their diet. Judging by the grease stains on the front of her Who Farted t-shirt, though, Diana didn't think that was likely.
All her items were scanned and Diana thought it was almost over, the the slovenly woman suddenly remembered she had coupons. Once more she went into the fanny pack. Diana reached up and began to rub above her eyebrow, as the throbbing pain seemed to be spreading. The man behind her was still talking loudly about his genius in getting a deal on mulch. The coupons were finally all found and then the slovenly woman asked for a pen so she could write a check.
Diana was having a tough time not spinning around into her Wonder Woman outfit and cleaning house at this point. No, she told herself, she was in Gotham Heights so she couldn't use her powers. She would dearly love to turn around and crush the phone in the man's ear though. As she watched the slovenly woman, Diana saw of course the woman hadn't made he check out to the store ahead of time. As she slowly scrawled out the check she constantly stopped to scream at her two children. One thing Diana was very sure of and that was she now hated the names Dwayne and Nevaeh.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the slovenly woman was finished and it was Diana's turn to check out her few items. She laid them on the conveyer belt in order for the cashier, but when she looked up she realized the girl wasn't looking at her items, but taking out her drawer. Another young cashier was standing next to her with a drawer of her own. It was a shift change. The two cashiers were apparently friends as they chatted away about their plans for later that evening and caught up on mutual friends. Diana stood there waiting, seemingly invisible to the two of them.
The mulch man began dropping his items on the counter and pushing Diana forward as if she were already done. This was too much, so she gave him a hip check and moved him back a few paces. He looked at her like she was so rude, but continued to talk on his phone. He finally switched from his mulch story and was now telling whomever he was talking to about the hot rude woman in front of him at the story. It was as if he didn't think Diana could hear him. She was about to say something, but the cashiers had finally finished catching up.
"Ma'am, do you have a discount card? Ma'am,' the new cashier said.
"No," Diana replied.
"Would you like to sign up for one? It only takes a few minutes?"
"No, thank you."
"Would you like to donate a dollar to the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast Cancer research?"
"Not today," Diana replied. "I'd just like to check out, please."
The man on the phone behind Diana told his friend on the other end of the phone how snotty the hot, rude woman in front of him had been to the cashier.
"If you give me your e-mail address, the store will send you weekly coupons, Ma'am,' the cashier said.
"No thank you," Diana said.
"Do you have any coupons?"
"No."
A miracle happened then and the cashier actually started to scan Diana's items. Several questions later, debit or credit, paper or plastic, Diana was at last finished with her shopping. She was just about to leave, when she turned and stepped very close to the man on the phone. She looked him directly in the eyes.
"It wasn't that good a deal,' she said and then walked out of the store.
Gotham
Alfred was just starting to prepare dinner when the front door chimes rang again. He rinsed his hands off and headed to answer it.
"Certainly is a busy day for guests." He said aloud.
When he opened the door, Zatanna smiled at him and walked in.
"Hi, Alfred.'
"Hello, Miss Zatanna,' he replied. "I'm afraid Master Bruce isn't receiving visitors today. He was very specific about it, actually."
"Antisocial as always,' she said. "I imagine he set all the security to keep everyone out, right?"
"Yes, Miss."
"Okay,' she said and then started walking towards the library. Alfred hurried to catch up to her.
"If you wish, I can contact him on the phone and let him know you're here,' he suggested.
"No, that's okay, I can already hear him being rude,' she said.
"I would point out, Miss Zatanna, I believe you were the person he was trying to keep out."
Zee stopped and smiled at Alfred.
"Well, he knows that's not going to work. Don't worry, Alfred, I'll take all the blame. Hsinav!" With that word, she slowly disappeared. Alfred shook his head and then headed back towards the kitchen.
"Always an interesting young woman,' he mused.
The Batcave
Bruce sat facing the multiple computer screens, data, pictures, video streaming across all of them. He knew she was there even before she said anything. He grumbled a bit, but refused to turn around. He did his best to ignore her, but as the moments passed and she didn't say anything it finally got too much and he turned around.
Zatanna was standing looking at the glass cases with all the past uniforms. She stopped in front of one of the Robin outfits and then looked over at him with a smile.
"This one's kind of cute, can I try it on?"
"No."
"Oh, come on, I bet I make a damn hot Robin,' she replied.
"No,' he repeated. "Now I assume you came here for a reason?"
"Yes, of course."
"It wasn't just to annoy me was it,' he asked.
"No."
"So the fact that I left instructions not to be disturbed and set all the alarms didn't give you a hint that I was busy,' he asked, a little of his annoyance slip through.
'Bruce, if I paid attention to every time you said you wanted to be alone, I'd never see you, she explained.
"I'm really starting not to like you, Zee,' He grumbled.
"No you're not,' she replied, moving towards him. "You're just mad because you can't always get your way."
He crossed his arms in front of him and glared at her.
"So what do you want this time?"
"I just wanted you to know you have a date for my show,' she said. She was standing right in front of him now, smiling.
"Do I?"
"Yep, Dinah."
"Funny, I don't remember asking Dinah,' he replied.
"You didn't, I did it for you."
"And did you even consider I might have other plans,' he asked.
"Yes, but that's why I asked her for you,' Zee explained. "I don't want you bringing some bimbo to my show, Bruce. You can pretend to be playboy some other night, not mine."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, besides, you owe me,' she said.
"How do I owe you?"
"I took you to lunch, remember?"
"That was payback, I don't owe you!"
"Yes, you do, now stop arguing cause you're taking Dinah. I already told her so it's all set."
He sighed.
"So I get no say in this?"
"No."
"Anything else,' he asked. Zee turned and looked back at the glass case, then turned back to him.
"Let me try on the costume,' she asked. "Come on, you know it would look great on me!"
Despite himself, Bruce couldn't help smiling.
"No, there already is a Robin, remember?"
"I just wanted to try it on, not become your sidekick, Bruce,' Zee fired back. "I mean, get real here."
Gotham Heights
Diana opened the front door and sighed. She hung her new dress on the coat rack and set her items from the store down on the hallway table. She was happy about the dress, but other than that her day had been horrible. She walked into the living room and flopped down on the couch. There was music playing, Nina Simone's version of the classic 'My Baby Just Cares.' It sounded very nice, she thought.
Clark came out of the kitchen wiping his hands on a towel. He was in his shirtsleeves and had his cuffs rolled up.
'Hey, you are home,' he said. "I was just making dinner, I hope you're hungry."
When she didn't answer, he noticed the unhappy look on her face.
"What's the matter,' he asked.
"I had a bad day,' she admitted.
"Well, you know when I was young, Ma used to tell me that nothing cures a bad day like a hug, so come here,' he said, sitting down next to her. Diana leaned towards him and Clark put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in his body. They sat there quietly listening to the music. A little smile came to Diana's lips.