Post

New York

Two hours slipped by and the 1st class came to an end. The class mingled a bit as everyone grabbed their coats.

"So I guess we have the box step down."

"Yes,' she said and then admitted. "I already knew that one before I came."

He helped her on with her LK Bennett Annabell Teal Coat. It was winter after all.

"So that's how you got by with waltzing all this time,' he joked.

She adjusted her sleeves and then turned to him.

"No one complained,' she countered.

"No, I don't imagine they would."

"Meaning?" She asked.

"Meaning I'm pretty sure most men were just happy to be dancing with you.' He offered.

"Are you flirting with me, Kal?'

"Is it flirting if you're telling the truth?" He ventured, as he slipped into his Old Navy Pea Coat.

"Are you going to answer all my questions with questions?'

"That depends on the questions, Diana,' he replied with a smile.

"You're not going to make it easy getting to know you, are you, Kal?"

"Is that a question?" he teased.

"Remember, I have ways of getting to the truth, Kal." She said as her hand instinctively moved to her hip.

He glanced down at where her lasso usually hung from her belt and then back to her eyes. He put his hands into his coat pockets.

"You didn't bring it, remember Miss Prince?" He put just a little emphasis on the name Miss Prince. "Besides, wasn't one of the reasons you're here to have fun?"

"Getting answers to my questions might be how I have fun," She replied. "Have you considered that, Kal?"

"Isn't it better if a person wants to give you those answers, rather than compelling them?" He asked. "We danced the box step for 2 hours, Diana. Was I supposed to tell you everything about myself while we were doing it?"

"No, I suppose not," She admitted. "You could have given me something though."

He smiled as they moved towards the exit.

"Fair enough," He replied. "The answer is yes."

"Yes? What's that supposed to mean?" She asked as she turned to look at him.

"Yes, I was flirting with you." He replied.

It was her turn to smile as they looked into each other's eyes.

"So." She finally said.

"So." He repeated. "Are you heading back to the embassy?"

"Yes, I have some paperwork I should probably get caught up on,' she explained. "Are you heading back to Metropolis?"

He glanced around them as the others from the dance class.

"Actually, I was thinking of sticking around for a little while,' he replied. "There's supposed to be a little informal meet and greet among the students so I thought I'd get to know some of the others taking the class. They seem like nice people and we are all taking this class together for the next few weeks so I figured I'd get to know some of them."

"Oh." She said, a little surprised that he wanted to linger.

"You're welcome to stay too, Diana,' He offered.

"No, no, I should really get back to the embassy."

"Okay, so I guess this is good night."

"Good night, Kal."

"Good night, Diana."

Neither seemed sure what they should do. There was a bit of awkwardness as they both considered a kiss, but in the end settled for extending their hands. They shook.

"Thanks for coming tonight, Diana, it was fun,' He said.

"Yes, it was,' she replied. "Thank you for sharing this with me, Kal."

"So I guess we'll see each other in two weeks for the next class?"

"I'm looking forward to it,' she said. "The waltz, I've wanted to learn that."

He absently reached over and buttoned one of the buttons on her coat.

"Button up, its cold outside,' he offered with a smile.

"You know that's not necessary, Kal,' she said with a smile.

"Sure, but it becomes a habit,' he replied. "Helps with your disguise."

"Tips from the master, I'll have to remember that,' she teased.

He laughed and put his hands back in his coat pockets.

"Night, Diana."

"Night, Kal."

She turned and headed towards the exit. She knew he was watching her leave, but resisted the temptation to glance back at him. At the door she stopped and spoke to Bob and Elaine, the instructors, introducing herself and complimenting them on the class. They returned the compliment, saying she seemed to be a natural and they hoped to see her at the next class. Diana said she would be there. The three shook hands and said good night.

Diana made her way through the lobby to the front doors. As she stepped outside, she could see her breath in the cool winter night air. Glancing down, she buttoned two more buttons on her coat and smiled. She didn't really need a coat and he probably needed one even less. It was something she had to adjust to since leaving home. Getting some time out of the spotlight required some adjustments and it seemed like a small price to pay.

As she walked down the street, Diana slipped off the fake glasses as she reflected on the last 2 plus hours. Curiosity more than anything had been her reason for coming. She had to admit part of her thought there had to be more to this then him just wanting to take dance lessons. If it had been Bruce, she knew there would have to be an ulterior motive. Some of her other teammates she could believe just wanted to learn to dance, but it seemed out of character for Kal.

Then she had realized she had fallen for the image he presented to the world just like so many others had. Whether it was really out of character for him she didn't know. It was what she'd tried to explain about knowing only the surface him, not the real him underneath.

She'd been straightforward about her intentions and she had to admit he'd reacted how she suspected he would. He hadn't dismissed them, but gently deflected them with humor and what many referred to as his farm boy charm. There were a few moments though where she thought he let his guard slip a bit and gave her glimpses of the real man underneath. His response about did she really think in 2 hours she would get to know everything about him had been telling. Some would probably take that as arrogant, but Diana saw it in a different way.

In five years she had met men of all kinds and their reactions to her usually fell into several categories. Some would become so tongued-tied and flustered they had trouble getting anything out. Others, one teammate in particular came to mind, pretended they hadn't noticed she was attractive or that they were above such things. Mostly though, the ones that found her attractive tended to try and impress her. They boasted of their accomplishments while continuously complimenting her on her beauty. She learned everything about them in the space of minutes or at least what they wanted her to know about them.

Kal's answer had been different. In so many words he had said, yes he thought she was a beautiful woman, but he wasn't going to pour out his life story because she danced with him once. In Diana's way of thinking he was acknowledging the reality of the situation between them but confident enough in himself that he didn't feel the need to impress her. He was wary of letting people in and just because a beautiful woman asked didn't mean he was going to let her.

As she reached the corner, Diana glanced back at the Plaza. Paperwork was waiting, but it had waited this long. Smiling, Diana put the glasses back on and headed towards the Plaza.

The Plaza

Clark watched Diana leave. After the door closed behind her, he couldn't help wondering what that had been about. She wanted to get to know him better, she'd said. What does that mean, he thought? They were already friends and she probably knew more about him than most people. Did she mean she wanted to be more than friends? While Clark, like most people, had certainly entertained thoughts about something like that regarding Diana, he'd always dismissed them. He was a 25-year-old guy and again like most 25-year-old guys he'd had similar thoughts about a lot of women including several of his teammates. That's what 25-year-old guys do. Well, it wasn't limited to just 25-year-old guys really; it was pretty much all guys of every age. Like most guys he certainly didn't act on most of those thoughts, he'd never get anything done if he did.

She wants to get to know the real me better? What the hell does that mean? He thought about it some more, but then dismissed it. Knowing Diana, she would tell him what she meant sooner rather than later. He would just have to wait and find out.

Some of the other couples from the class came over and introduced themselves. Clark shook hands with them. As was the norm at first nights they all started talking about the class. Others joined in.

The Plaza

Diana opened the door to the ballroom and stepped inside. She undid the buttons on her coat, but didn't take it off. She glanced around for him and finally spotted him in a group by the coffee maker. He was casually leaning against the table and seemed to be listening to the others. Diana didn't move towards him right away, but just watched him. Some of the other couples came over and introduced themselves to her and say hi. She was polite and returned their greetings, but few of them lingered the way they were around him.

She realized this was Clark Kent she was seeing, yet not completely Clark Kent. He 'accidentally' spilled some of his coffee but that was the extent of his fumbling, awkwardness. He must have made some joke about it as she saw the others laughing with him. She watched him for several minutes. He didn't have any more accidents and Diana had to wonder if that little one at the beginning had set the tone for how the others saw him. First impressions can be powerful things. Was it as simple as that, she mused? A moment of awkwardness was all it took for the image of mild mannered Clark Kent to stick?

He turned briefly and smiled at her, letting her know without words he knew she was there. His posture and manner didn't change from the moment before. It was all the invitation she needed, so Diana walked towards him.

"Diana."

"Kal."

"Why did you call him Kal?' One of the others in the group asked. It caught Diana off guard, as she was so used to calling him that. She started to fumble an explanation out, but he stepped in and saved her.

"When we first met she thought I said my named was Kal, not Clark,' he said. 'I was a little nervous so I didn't correct her right away. It's been sort of a joke between us ever since."

"Plus I like the name Kal,' Diana added.

The others laughed about it and some even started calling him Kal.

"Hey, that's only for my dancing partners,' he said in a mock outrage tone. This elicited more laughs and the group moved on to another conversation. Diana found herself enjoying listening to the others talk about their lives. She rarely got the opportunity as Wonder Woman to just talk to people like this and found it a welcome change.

"So what do you do for a living, Diana?' She was asked.

This time he didn't come to her rescue, but turned and smiled waiting for her response.

"I-I, um, work at one of the embassies,' she offered.

"Which one?"

"The Themysciran Embassy."

"Wow, the Amazons, that explains it,' one of the men said. "Do they hire only tall women?"

"Have you met Wonder Woman?' Some else asked.

"I just do paperwork, mostly,' Diana said. It was an answer, just not to the question they asked. "Paperwork in my office, that's where I spend most of my time."

"Is that how you two met?'

This time Clark did speak up.

"Yes. I was trying to get an interview with Wonder Woman and they sent Diana out to tell me no."

"He didn't have an appointment,' she quickly countered. "Plus no one had ever heard of the web site he claimed to work for."

She knew he was teasing her, enjoying the fact that she had to come up with details for her cover of Diana Prince on the spot. She didn't mind teasing him back either.

"I must admit I never heard of it either,' one of the couples said. Several others nodded in agreement.

"Nobody has," Diana added.

"We're new,' Clark stated, flashing Diana a quick look. "It wasn't a total loss, I did get a dance partner out of it."

"I felt bad for having to tell him no about the interview,' Diana explained. "He seemed so disappointed."

"I got over it,' Clark offered.

They continued this private give and take with each other as they talked to their fellow dance students. An hour and a half slipped by before everyone started to go his or her own ways. They all said they would see each other again in two weeks. This time Clark walked out with Diana. As they stepped out onto the street he buttoned his coat and turned up his collar.

"Taking the disguise a little bit far, aren't you Kal?" She said. "We both know you don't feel the cold."

"True,' he admitted. "It's a habit at this point. I don't really even thinking about doing it anymore. I grew up in Kansas remember? People in Kansas wear coats and button them up in winter."

Diana nodded in understanding. As they started down the street, both of them slipped their hands into their coat pockets.

"You were right, they are nice people," Diana said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah,' he agreed. "So shouldn't you be flying off to do all that paperwork or something?"

"I felt like walking a little bit,' Diana replied. "Besides, I know the boss and she's very understanding."

He smiled at this as they walked side by side down the street.

"So are you going to tell me what this sudden interest in me was about?" He asked.

"I already told you."

"Yes, but why is what I'm wondering,' he said. "We're friends already, Diana, so you do know me.'

"Yes, that's true to a point,' she countered. "By the usual rules the longer friends know each other the more they share and get to know each other better. You haven't been playing by those rules, Kal. Since I don't like those rules anyway, I decided I wouldn't play by them either."

"Did you ever consider there isn't more to know?" He asked. "Maybe I'm a case of what you see is what you get."

"Or maybe that's just what you want everyone to see,' she replied.

"So I probably can't talk you out of this, can I?"

"No."

"Didn't think so,' he admitted.

"Is the prospect of getting to know me and dating so horrible, Kal?" She asked.

He was surprised by the question.

"Ah, well, no, of course not,' he managed to reply. "Is that was this was, a date?"

"It did have some of the elements of a date,' she said. "But judging by your question, I'd say no. Usually both parties know they're on a date for it to be a date."

"Yeah, that usually helps,' he mused. "So if that what this is about, you want to go on a date with me, Diana?"

She stopped and looked at him for a moment.

"I haven't decided yet,' she replied. "Let's see how the dance lessons go, shall we?'

"You're suddenly coy with the answers, aren't you?"

"As you said earlier, Kal, it depends on the questions." She smiled and started walking again. "Besides, didn't you also say something about the experience being half the fun?"

"Yeah, yeah I did,' he admitted. 'So I'll see you in 2 weeks for the next class?'

"Of course,' she replied. "Oh, and that will be a date, Kal, I just thought I'd let you know ahead of time."