Chapter Five: Chase

Introduction: Does it really matter who wins? FYI, Wonder Woman wears her 'Odyssey' aka Wonder Woman #600 outfit minus the jacket. While Batman wears his current suit from the 'New 52'.

She had been searching for him for several minutes, frustration was setting in, and from her starting position she knew that she had been flying over a half dozen rooftops. However, the fact that didn't just challenge her, but mocked her slightly was what irked got under her skin. While she knew where he was, or at least hoped she knew, he was definitely making it difficult. But that was his way and he wasn't someone who gave into subtleties.

Despite all that, she had a vague intuition as to where he might be. Her instincts, her Amazonian upbringing, her hunting skills, to understand her prey, were being tested. That was perfectly fine with her.

She had every intention of passing this test.

Wonder Woman floated in the air and didn't move, closing her eyes and breathing deeply, focusing, concentrating, being more aware of her surroundings. Ignoring the other, sights, smells, sounds that would affect her hunting. Instead, she focused on the scent of Batman, something she knew well, his heart beat, way of breathing, movement of arms and legs. The flutter of that massive black cape, how it sounded, the heaviness of it when it moved created a small gust of wind whenever he landed or moved quickly.

Opening her eyes slowly, she smiled as she felt more in tune with the world around her. She then lowered herself closer to the rooftop beneath her. Looking for anything different, some clue, some possible change, anything that would give away his presence.

I'll find you, Bruce.

He had been shadowing her carefully, smartly and diligently for the past few minutes. Watching as she flew around, hunting, foraging, yet she wasn't focused, thinking her Amazonian upbringing, her powers would lead her to him.

Typical.

He crouched like a tiger in the shadows, using the darkness - his longtime ally - to shield himself from view. When he followed, he was silent, almost like a ghost as he stalked her. Waiting for that moment to pounce, waiting for the moment to strike, to declare victory. Would he brag? Gloat? He wasn't sure, but one thing he did know, he would win.

He watched her like a predator, for another minute or so. Preparing him to catch her. Suddenly, she stopped in mid air, she was at least 30-feet above him, he noticed her become still and close her eyes. Using his cowl's enhanced audio and visual features he observed how she calmed herself.

Damn.

Batman knew what she was doing and he didn't like it. She was concentrating, creating a focused and controlled mindset to hunt. Batman watched as she relaxed and opened her eyes, smiling.

She's focused.

He wasn't sure how much that little standing still bit helped, but it might have given her more of an edge. He watched as Wonder Woman lowered herself further and started slowly looking down at the rooftop below her. Looking for anything, something that would lead her to him.

Now he began to wonder if the hunter was the hunted. The predator was the prey.

Wonder Woman realized she should have brought her leather jacket. It would have helped her blend in with the darkness. Too late now, she was going to have to make sure her golden belt and gold straps didn't grab as much attention as she thought it might.

Lowering herself closer to the rooftop below she moved her eyes slow and deliberate. Looking for any movement. She turned her head and body ever so slowly. She made sure to not let any thoughts of what was to come later tonight interfere with her hunt.

No matter how delicious and pleasurable it was going to be.

The left side of her mouth curved into a smile at the thought what she and her husband would do to one another. However, now was not the time.

She came to a complete stop and noticed something. She focused her attention on one stop that was at the far corner. Focusing her hearing on that spot, she could hear the distinct sounds of a familiar rhythm.

Got you, Bruce.

Wonder Woman moved faster and crossed her arms.

"I found you!"

Nothing.

"I know you're there."

Still. Nothing.

"Batman! Come out of the shadows. Or I'll make you come out."

She lowered herself to the ground and confidently walked to the spot where she knew Batman was. Peaking around the corner, she saw…

Nothing.

"What in Hades?"

She shot up in the air and turned her head in multiple directions.

Suddenly, she could hear movement behind her and a small whirl of wind blew past her right. She turned her head that direction and saw a batarang fly past her and then around, she watched its trajectory as it spun back and headed for her. Moving to her left and easily dodged the small black projectile as it harmlessly moved past.

Tracking it, she turned and saw the person who had thrown it and cursed.

Damn him. How does he do that?

Batman grabbed the batarang and folded it up and put it back in his utility belt. Crossing his arms, he stared back at her.

"Not fast enough, Princess." He told her pointedly.

"You enjoy playing this game, don't you?" Wonder Woman said as she floated down only a few feet from him as she crossed her arms and glared at him.

"I don't play games." Came the stone-faced reply.

"If you don't play games." She countered, inching closer to him, almost daring him to do something. "Then why hide?"

"I'm not hiding now." Batman replied smirking. "I was merely shadowing you."

Wonder Woman tried not to laugh out loud. "Is that what you call hiding now? Shadowing?"

She received no response, as Batman continued to stare at her, his black cape billowing in the wind, like clothes hanging from a wire. They stared at one another, much like earlier, waiting for one to make the first move.

Wonder Woman flew closer and was only two feet away. She smirked confidently, and gently ran her fingers over the bat symbol on his broad chest.

"Since you obviously aren't in the mood to talk." Keeping her right palm on his chest, she leaned forward and spoke next to his right ear. "Let's see how good you are at chasing me."

Batman's lips curved a bit. "On one condition."

"No flying?" Came the quick reply, Wonder Woman knew exactly what he was asking.

"Yes. No lasso either."

"Fair enough." Pulling back, she lifted her free hand and played with the pointy ears of his cowl. "But you can't use your gadgets, no batarangs, smoke pellets, voice synthesizer, and the like, though the grapple gun can be an exception."

"Fine." He replied evenly.

She smiled and gently pushed him by his chest. "Catch me if you can."

In one motion she back flipped in mid-air and landed one knee onto the rooftop, looking up she delivered a confident look. Standing up quickly and running across to the next rooftop, she jumped and landed gracefully. Turning she taunted him with the 'bring it' hand gesture and puckered her lips for a kissy face.

Batman went wide-eyed and growled; she taunted him, and something she only did during sparring sessions. She obviously wasn't backing down from him and neither would he. Pushing his cape back, he ran after her and leaped to the spot where she was. Wonder Woman had already run ahead and was moving with grace and showing off her agility and speed. Her years of training from a young age had resulted in her at being peak physical strength and ability. Even for demi-gods they still needed the constant training to maintain their edge.

Batman moved faster to keep pace with her, but he also knew that she would and could change course at any moment. While she - at times – would be predictable, she had learned much training with him in the Watchtower and, much later, at the dojo within Wayne Manor and the AR room in the Batcave. He knew it wasn't going to be easy.

But that's what made it fun.

Wonder Woman went into a baseball slide and under a massive pipe, standing right back up she didn't stop her quickened pace from the start of this little chase. She moved with a grace that only the world's greatest ice skaters had and the leaps and agile movements that made the world's top gymnasts envious. Leaping over with one arm over a large air conditioning unit, she saw her next destination.

The building across from her was at least 50-yards away. She had already determined how and when she should leap, though that wasn't an issue with her powers. She knew she'd be further ahead of Batman, aware of how he'd have to release his grapple and aim in one motion, by the time he made it across she'd be further away. Smiling confidently, she breathed deeply and as she got within 10-feet of the edge, she leaped.

Time seemed to slow as she leapt and felt the wind in her hair and against her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment and enjoyed the feel of the world around her. It felt invigorating, as if she was home on Paradise Island. But Gotham was her home now and yet even with the darkness that consumed the city, it still felt as if nature wanted to fight it's way out and be free.

Opening her eyes, she saw the edge of the building and pushed her feet out in front of her and landed, she used her momentum to roll forward and rest on one knee while also placing her right on the surface, she looked over her shoulder and saw the man she loved pull out his grapple and, as she predicted, in motion aimed and fired. She watched where it went and saw the hooks hit a large smokestack with a crunch.

Batman pulled the trigger and ziplined across, his cape spreading out behind him as he inched closer. Wonder Woman stood up and ran not looking back, still smiling.

The Dark Knight landed, looking down to see his landing spot, he released the grapple guns trigger and retracted the line. He landed with minimal impact and placed his grapple back into it's compartment, looking up, he expected to see his wife ahead of him and taunting again.

He didn't see her.

Standing up quickly, he scanned the area and wondered where she could be. Knowing he couldn't use his gadgets, infrared or other features of his cowl, he had to rely on his instincts, which were at the highest peak of what a normal man could achieve. He moved carefully and quietly, no sudden movements or overreactions. Though he knew, as did she, that they both knew each other too well. Who had the edge? It quite possibly didn't matter at this point.

Moving through the rooftop that had many hiding spots, though with the enhanced earpieces of the cowl, he could hear the faintest of heartbeats or the lowest of breathes. He wouldn't lose this one, no matter what, his pride and own stubbornness wouldn't allow it. Or as Wonder Woman sometimes said, his 'bullheadedness', even if it really wasn't a word.

He stopped when he heard a sound of something whirling from behind, he turned and saw a golden object with a red spot move towards hi mat blazing speed. Knowing he couldn't catch it, he rolled to his right and quickly watched where its next direction was. He stood up and prepared to make an attempt to grab it.

However, before he could act, he felt his legs go out beneath him and fell to his back. Landing with a thud, he looked up and saw a confident Wonder Woman, with a fist placed on her hip looking over him, without even looking she grabbed her tiara with one hand and slipped back on.

"Got you." She said triumphantly.

"Sure." He spun while on his back and used both his legs to scissor her left and twisted, tripping her.

Wonder Woman yelled out in surprise, and fell to the ground, but kept her arms out and pressed her palms in front to brace herself. Landing, she looked and saw Batman standing up, smirking.

"Had enough?" He grounded himself into a fighting stance.

Getting up, she brushed her hands and went into her own stance. "Of course not."

"Didn't think so."

They charged and started to spar. They moved quickly, rapid fire swings with arms and multiple kicks in succession. Both threw punches, but blocked each other successfully, they attempted grappling maneuvers, but countered those as well. Sweep kicks and parries weren't enough more blocking and counters ensued.

After several more minutes of grunts, growls and cries of controlled anger, Batman finally caught an opening, he grabbed her by an arm and spun her over his head and onto the ground, she landed with a loud thud and the rooftop cracked underneath in some parts. Taking advantage of this he did a small leap and landed on top of her, straddling her by the hips and pinning her arms above her head. Their faces only inches apart.

"I win." Batman said as he stared her down.

Wonder Woman had recovered, but realized she was trapped, or so she let him think. "It appears so."

"Give up?"

"Never." She shot back with a low growl. Though she did enjoy his dominance over her. Short as it was.

Wonder Woman then lifted her hips up and forcefully pushed him off her. He cried out as he flipped and landed on his back and let out some air upon the impact, while also losing his grip on her wrists. She then did a quick handstand and landed on top of him, her body gracing his, though she made sure to land gently, though not to gently.

She pressed her full body against his and pinned his wrists above his own head. Smirking and now she was only mere inches from his face.

"Do you give up?" She turned the questioned back at him.

"Never."

"What will it take me to convince you?" She asked; an undertone of seduction peppered her question.

Batman smirked back. "That's for you to decide."

"Well," She moved down. "How about this?"

They kissed, their tongues touching and exploring each other's mouths and tasting one another. This chase had been, though unofficially, declared a draw. Even though neither would ever say it to the other. Pride and stubbornness had a way of getting in the way.

They continued to make out, pulling away for air a moment later. Both smiled at the other and knew how much fun they were having. This night so far hadn't been as bad as they thought or the disaster it could have been.

Wonder Woman was going to going her mouth when they were interrupted by a loud beep. Knowing what it was, she removed one hand from his and watched as he reached over and tapped several commands into his gauntlets control pad.

What they heard next ruined the moment.

"All available units to the Third Bank of Gotham. Robbery in progress. Large contingent. All available…"

Batman cut the signal off. He heard the woman above him sign in disappointment, but he could tell by the look on her eyes that she was prepared for what they had to do.

"Duty calls." She said.

"Duty calls."

"Let's do this." Wonder Woman let go and got up, extending a hand and helping Batman off the ground.

They both straightened themselves out and nodded. They then turned and headed for the Third Bank of Gotham. Words didn't need to be said in this circumstance. Work was to be done. It was their obligation.

And it was the right thing to do. To protect others and stop crime.

They were a team and whoever had chosen to make this robbery attempt was going to learn what they were getting themselves into.

Next: Stopping the robbery.