Velvet

Gotham Heights

After a rather awkward and frustrating day, Diana finally managed to fall asleep next to Clark. Sometime during the night her unconscious mind began to wander, unconnected images and sounds filtering in and out. She started to dream. At first they were more like memories of people and places. There were images of Themyscira in her youth. Swimming with her sister. The endless games of childhood shared under the golden sunshine. They came in no specific order.

While they were all wonderful dreams, her last one was the best. A smile came to Diana's slumbering lips, as this was a very good and adult dream. How dreams work is a remarkable process. They pluck bits of information from many sources to add to the texture and world of the dream. Those with fertile imaginations can have the most intimate and vivid dreams. Diana had a very fertile imagination.

She was on her honeymoon with Kal. They were in Niagara Falls. Somewhere she must have seen something about it being a honeymoon destination and her mind remembered it. They were in the Jacuzzi, honeymoon suite. There was a large heart shaped bed with red silk sheets. In her waking hours she would have thought the whole motif garish and tacky, but in her dream it seemed perfect.

Diana was in the heart shaped bed with Kal. Everything was so vivid down the feel of his body against hers. Her imagination was filling in all the details even of things she didn't have first hand knowledge of. They were very good details. She could feel his hard, tone chest against her, his hands sliding up her arms, his lips against hers.

"Diana."

She heard him whisper her name and almost purred as her hands explored his body. He was wearing pajamas and as she kissed her way down his chest, the buttons seemed to press against her. With a groan of desire, she ripped his pajama top apart, not wanting anything between them.

"Diana."

There was more urgency in his voice this time. She could feel his excitement pressing against her. Her body seemed alive with sensations and wanton desires. Running her nails down his chest, Diana smiled wickedly as she heard him gasp. Shifting her body, she was on top of him now, their bodies pressed tightly together. She kissed her way along his collarbone to the side of his neck, licking playfully at his earlobe.

"Diana!"

His voice seemed even more strained and she imagined he was just as excited as she was, almost overwhelmed by the desire and sensations rushing through her. Kissing her way along his jaw line towards his mouth, Diana skimmed her fingers down his sides towards his pajama bottoms. His hands stopped her. In her dream she thought he was playing with her, so she sensually moved her body against his, bringing another groan from his lips. He still didn't release her hands. The want building up inside of her was almost too much to take. The urgency of her desires couldn't wait any longer. Hotly kissing her way to his lips, she whispered to him.

"Kal, I want.."

"Princess!"

His voice was louder and strange. Diana's eyes opened and she was looking down at him, mere millimeters separating them. As the fog of the dream slowly began to lift, she realized they weren't in Niagara Falls, but in their house in Gotham Heights. Diana's eyes went wide in surprise as she realized she was lying on top of him in their bed.

"Good morning,' he managed to say, the full of effect of her being this close to him playing havoc with his senses.

"Um, morning,' Diana replied, still processing what was happening. She could feel every inch of him against her.

"Doing a little dreaming, were you?"

"Yes,' she said, blushing as she stared down at him.

"Must have been a pretty good dream," he offered.

"Very,' she replied, realizing he was still holding her wrists just above the waistband of his pajamas.

"Anything you'd care to share?'

"Um, ah, no, no,' Diana quickly replied and then shifted away from him. This brought another groan from his lips and she was very aware of his excitement. Embarrassment filled her and Diana rushed to climb off of him. In her haste, her knee made rather unfortunate contact with his lower anatomy.

"Diana!" He gasped and then groaned in pain.

"Um, ah, sorry." She moved quickly to her side of the bed and pulled the covers up to her neck. Diana was mortified by what had almost happened. She couldn't look at him.

Clark sat up on the side of the bed taking deep breaths. He glanced over at her, but the sight of her brought back the feeling of her against him. He bent his head and ran his hands over his face. His whole body was keyed up and he knew there was no way he was getting back to sleep.

"I, um, ah, well, I think I'm going to take a long swim,' he offered, finally getting up and walking towards the door.

"Yes, I think I'll take a shower and get up too,' she offered.

He stopped at the doorway and looked at her.

"Try a cold one, Diana, a very cold one."

"Right."

The Watchtower

Batman came down from the transporter pad and nodded at Jonn. He moved over to the log of who was on the station and scanned the names.

"She's not here,' Jonn said, as he continued his work on the controls.

"Who,' Bruce asked.

"Zatanna."

"Why would you tell me that,' Bruce asked, a little surprised by Jonn's statement.

"That's whose name you were looking for, weren't you?"

"Reading my mind, Jonn?"

"No, of course not,' Jonn said with a smile. "I've just observed that whenever you arrive you check the names in the log. You tend to start at the bottom. Since they are in alphabetical order it makes sense that her name is the one you are looking for."

Bruce stood there for a moment in silence. As Batman he had trained himself not to be a creature of habit, as this would aid his enemies. Jonn's observation shocked him. Bruce hadn't even realized he was doing it. He did look for her name when he arrived almost automatically. When did that happen, he wondered?

"Was I mistaken,' Jonn asked. "If so, I apologize."

"No, you are quite the detective, Jonn,' Bruce replied.

"That's quite the compliment coming from Batman,' Jonn said with a smile.

"Don't read too much into it,' Bruce quickly said. "Since you've noticed a pattern, can you tell me where she is?"

"Gotham, perhaps,' Jonn offered. "That is where she transported down to twenty minutes ago."

"Thank you."

Jonn nodded and turned back to his monitor. Bruce didn't say another word and walked out of the room.

Metropolis

The room was pitch black, curtains drawn. The scrape of a match was heard and then candles were lit. Six criminals stood around a circular table. Gorilla Grodd, Livewire, Killer Frost, Cheetah, Solomon Grundy and Toyman each held a candle.

"So we're agreed,' Grodd said. "The Metropolis Central Bank will be ours by the end of the day."

"Yes, I can't wait to get my hands on all that money,' Livewire said with glee.

"Um, what about Superman,' Toyman asked.

"Grundy,' Grodd said, turning towards the pale hulking figure.

"Grundy smash!"

"Any other questions," Grodd confidently said.

"Brilliant plan,' Toyman sarcastically replied.

"Grundy will keep Superman busy while we make off with the loot," Grodd explained. "The simpler the plan the better the plan."

"That all sounds good while we're standing here holding candles,' Toyman replied. "What that's about, I haven't a clue. The thing is, when Superman's around, his pals in the Justice League have a tendency to show up."

"Are you afraid of the Justice League, little man,' Killer Frost said with scorn.

"Hell, yes! Especially that little spitfire cousin of Superman's,' Toyman exclaimed. "It's like she can't take a compliment or something! I really think she might hate me."

"I'm sure she's not alone,' Cheetah observed.

"Well, now that you mention it, several of the women in the League seemed to have negative reactions to me,' Toyman admitted. "It's a mystery to me why, though?"

"Perhaps it's all the pervy talk,' Livewire offered.

"Little man a degenerate,' Grundy added.

Everyone turned to look at him in shock.

"Degenerate? Really?" Toyman said. "Everything's Grundy smash and suddenly you're Mr. Polysyllable when it comes to me?"

"Grundy just saying you have a dirty mouth, little man."

"I'm a romantic at heart,' Toyman said in his defense.

"Pervert is more like it,' Cheetah replied.

"Jealous,' Toyman smugly said, with a grin. "I'm attracted to the good girls, what can I say?"

"You little pig,' Cheetah snarled and started towards him. Grodd quickly got between them.

"This isn't getting us anywhere,' he shouted. "We stick to the plan and all of us will be rich by sundown! It's victory or death!"

The others cheered, except Toyman.

"Are those the only two options,' he asked. "I mean that seems kind of extreme, doesn't it? How about victory, death or running away?"

Grodd just shook his head in dismay as the others looked at Toyman in disgust.

"What?"

The Watchtower

Kara, Courtney and Mary were sitting at one of the tables in the cafeteria when Wally came rushing in. He spied them and quickly moved over to their table and sat down.

"Kara, just the person I've been looking for,' Wally said. "I need your help and you owe me."

"How do I owe you,' Kara asked. Wally nervously looked over at Mary. She was drinking a root beer float and seemed the calm, quiet girl most knew.

"Well, you know,' Wally said, tilting his head towards Mary. "I helped when you had to calm insane girl down, remember?"

"And you were useless,' Kara replied. "It was Jonn that had to step up."

"I still gave it a try, so you owe me,' Wally said.

"What do you want?"

"I don't think it's nice you calling me insane, Mr. Flash,' Mary said. She had a hurt look on her face.

"Sorry, Mary, it's just you kind of got wound up there," Wally said, feeling guilty. 'You know, with Toyman and all."

"That bastard!" Mary was on her feet and there was fire in her eyes.

"Easy Mary,' Courtney said, reaching out towards her friend. Wally and Kara shifted back in shock.

"We don't say that name around her," Kara whispered to Wally.

"I see why!"

Kara and Courtney were both next to Mary now, trying to calm her down. It took a few moments, but finally she sat back down and continued drinking her root beer float. Wally watched her, ready to dash out of harm's way at a moment's notice, before turning back to Kara.

"So are you going to help me, Kara,' he asked.

"With what?"

"I have a date with Shayera, but I can't think of where to take her,' Wally admitted.

"So you want our help on where to take her,' Courtney asked.

"No, just Kara,' Wally replied.

"Well, screw you,' Courtney shouted. "What the hell's wrong with the two of us?"

"Courtney, language, remember,' Kara offered.

"Right, right, I'm really trying, I am,' Courtney replied. She turned to Wally and calmly asked, "why don't you want our help on your date, Wally?"

He had shifted towards Kara more, not sure who was worse, Courtney or Mary.

"Um, well, Kara's more devious and sneaky,' Wally nervously said. "She always knows where the coolest places are and manages to go to them without Clark knowing, so she seemed perfect."

"Thanks,' Kara sarcastically replied. "You want my help and then call me devious and sneaky. How did you get a date with Shayera anyway?"

"We can be just as helpful as she can,' Courtney offered. Mary nodded in agreement.

"Okay, where would you suggest I take her,' Wally asked.

Courtney seemed at a loss, but Mary spoke up.

"There's an exhibit at the main library in Metropolis of all the First Ladies' inaugural dresses you could go to,' she offered. "They also have a nice little coffee shop that makes their own ice cream."

The other three looked at her for a moment and then Wally and Kara snorted with laughter.

"What,' Mary asked.

"The library, really,' Wally said with a laugh.

"It's nice and educational,' Mary said in her defense.

"What part of that sounds like a date," Wally asked. "Educational? Are you serious?"

"It was just a suggestion,' Mary replied.

"Okay, nice try, Mary, but maybe he needs to go with something different,' Kara offered.

"Like something fun," Courtney murmured under her breath.

"So what do you know about Shayera, Wally, that should help figure out where to take her,' Kara asked.

"She's gorgeous and she has wings,' he replied. They waited for something more, but nothing came. Kara gave him a look. "What?"

"Kind of thin on details, are you,' she said. "What are you going to take her to Arbys or something? You have to know more about her than that!"

"I like Arbys," Courtney offered.

"Thank you,' Wally explained. "Everybody's suddenly down on Arbys. They make a damn good sandwich, in my opinion!"

"I like the curly fries,' Mary added.

"Yes! That's another plus for Arbys,' Wally said. "It's an underrated establishment!"

"Well, maybe the three of you can go there and then see the dress exhibit,' Kara replied. "You're going with Shayera remember? What else do you know about her?"

"She likes to hit,' Wally weakly offered.

"Okay, that's something,' Kara replied.

Gotham Heights

Diana was still a little rattled by her dream. She was standing in the kitchen sipping her coffee waiting for her breakfast to pop up. The one appliance she'd master was the toaster. As she waited, the dream kept running through her head. The cold shower had helped, but she was still rather keyed up as the dream lingered.

Clark quietly walked in and smiled as he saw her. God, she is gorgeous, he thought. He had been thinking about teasing her the way she'd teased him but that presented a problem. Whenever he was close to Diana his own senses seemed to go on overload. In teasing her, he was teasing himself too. When he touched her or kissed her, he didn't want to stop and wound up as frustrated as he was trying to make her. He needed another way and for once honesty was the perfect vehicle for his revenge.

Diana gasped and felt a shudder go through her as he circled his arm around her waist, brushed her hair back and kissed her neck.

"Ummm, something smells wonderful,' he whispered in her ear.

"It's-It's just toast, Kal,' she stammered, rattled by his touch.

"I wasn't talking about the toast, Diana,' he playfully whispered. She wriggled out of his grip and moved away from him.

"You're doing that on purpose,' she said to him. "You're teasing me and it's just cruel. You know I made a promise to my mother, yet you persist."

"Are you saying you don't like it,' he asked with a smile.

"No, but it's not fair."

"Huh, you seemed to think it was fair when you were doing it to me,' he replied, leaning back against the corner.

"That-That was different,' she said in her defense.

"How?"

"I was just experimenting, but you know exactly what you are doing,' she explained.

"Somehow I think you knew what you were doing too, Diana,' Clark replied.

"It's still not fair," she said. He grinned as he saw her give a slight pout. Slowly he moved over to her and put one arm on either side of her, effectively trapping her against the counter.

"Kal!"

"Okay, Diana, I won't tease you like you did to me, fair?"

"Yes."

"There is something I want you to know though,' he continued, looking deep into her eyes. "This will be just between you and I. I probably won't say it again, but I want you to know. You are the most beautiful and fascinating woman I've ever met, Diana. I might not say it, but I want you to know, that whenever I look at you, I'm thinking how much I want you. We might be in a crowded room, or the Watchtower or on a busy street somewhere, but when our eyes meet, I want you to know that's what I'm thinking."

Clark leaned in and kissed her, then turned and walked out of the room. He had a big smile on his face. Diana stood there stunned for a moment.

"Hera, help me, this is going to be the longest week of my life,' she lamented.

The Watchtower

Wally stood grinning, holding up two tickets. Shayera was looking at him and behind her Zatanna, Mari and Dinah were looking at him too. They had shocked looks on their faces.

"Boxing? You're taking her to a boxing match,' Dinah asked.

'Yes, the sweet science,' Wally replied. "There's a crafty bantamweight on the bill named Rookie Carroca that is not to be missed."

"Maybe Arbys wasn't such a bad idea,' Mari whispered to Zee. She shrugged her shoulders in reply.

"I love it," Shayera exclaimed, hugging Wally.

"You do,' Dinah said.

"You do,' Wally repeated.

"Why wouldn't I,' Shayera asked. "Blood sports, fighting, it reminds me of home!"

"Remind me never to go to her planet,' Zee offered. Mari nodded in agreement.

"This is wonderful, Wally,' Shayera said. "I must admit I was a little nervous about what you might pick."

"What? Did you think I'd take you someplace stupid,' he replied. "I just asked myself what do I know about Shayera and it came to me."

"Okay, this is getting a little thick,' Zee said. "I just stopped up to see this, but I've got a show to do. Have fun watching people beat each other up, you two."

"Oh, we will," Shayera replied.

"I didn't seriously mean…oh, forget it, and have fun."

Gotham Height

Another ceremony had finished and all the worshippers were changing clothes. Jenny seemed strangely quiet as the others excitedly talked about what had happened. She had been thinking about what they were doing for several days now. She looked up as Chubby began to address everyone.

"Wonderful stuff in there people, just wonderful,' he said. "I think we're really hitting our stride with this Satan thing. At this rate we're going to have to have another barbeque just to take care of all the goats we're sacrificing!'

The others laughed, but then Jenny spoke up.

"Um, Cubby, I was just curious, what exactly is the end game with all this?"

"Huh?"

Everyone turned and looked at her.

"You know, when you go to a fortune teller she tells your fortune. When you go to an séance you contact a spirit. If you follow that line of reasoning, what it the end result we are after, summoning a demon or actually contacting Satan?"

"That's a good question, Jenny," Cubby admitted. "I hadn't really thought of it that way."

"I don't want to meet Satan, I'll tell you that,' Bob spoke up. "You know, the horns and the stench, that doesn't sound pleasant at all."

"He'd ruin this carpet if he appeared,' LuAnn offered.

"That's true," Carl added. "I know stains from the laundry business and if Satan appears that not a stain you are getting out."

"Plus, isn't he like a big liar too,' Dottie asked. "He'd probably say all sorts of horrible things to us. You know like, yes, that shirt goes perfectly with those slacks Bob."

"What's wrong with this shirt,' Bob replied. "I love this shirt!"

"Stripes with checks, really?"

Before they could continue, Jenny spoke up again.

"So are we going for summoning a demon then? Is that what we're doing?"

"A demon doesn't sound very pleasant either,' Nancy observed. "They are always naked in the movies, which is just disgusting. Then there are the bugs."

"Hold on, I just had this place fumigated, I'm not paying to have that done again,' Cubby objected.

"So what are we shooting for,' Jenny asked.

No one had a reply.

Gotham

Zatanna was heading in the back door to the theater when she saw Constantine waiting with a bouquet of flowers. He flicked his cigarette away and smiled at her.

"Good to see you again, love."

Zatanna looked at him and then the flowers.

"These are for you,' he said, holding them out. She took them and smiled.

"Thank you, John."

"Nothing too good for you, Zee."

She eyed him suspiciously now.

"Did you buy these,' she asked.

"In a manner of speaking," he replied.

"There not from a funeral home, are they?"

"You know there's a saying, there aren't any used flowers,' he offered. She dropped them immediately.

"That's just disgusting!"

"I was joking, come on, do you really think I do that,' he asked.

"Well, kinda,' she admitted.

"You were more fun when you were younger, Zee,' he said. "I thought maybe we could rekindle those days."

Constantine stepped closer to her, bringing his hand up to touch her face.

"John, I don't think so,' she said. "I'm flattered, but that's over. Maybe you'd better just go."

"Don't I even get a chance to convince you," he asked, leaning down to kiss her.

"I believe the lady ask you to leave,' a voice said.

Constantine and Zee turned to see who it was. A man stepped out of the shadows. Zee gasped in surprised and Constantine just smiled.

"Well, hello, Mr. Wayne, hiding in the shadows seemed to suit you,' Constantine said. "This is a private conversation though, so wank off, please."

Bruce took another step closer. He was in a suit, but his eyes said he wasn't leaving. Zatanna had been watching him the whole time, not sure what was happening.

"Bruce?"