Waltzing Matilda

New York – Plaza Ballroom – 2 Weeks Later

The second lesson had begun. They started by going over the box step and dancing a few songs to that before moving on to the waltz. The instructors said this was to show how they were building on what they'd already learned. Clark held Diana in his arms as they, along with the rest of the class went over the new instructions.

"So tell me something I don't know about you, Kal?"

Diana had decided to wait until after the new dance was introduced to ask him. He looked at her and saw her eyes were focused on his waiting for an answer.

"Is this part of your plan to get to know me better?" There was a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Yes."

"I see,' he replied. "So what sort of thing do you want to know?"

"Surprise me,' she said with a smile.

"The lady issues a challenge,' he replied, with a smile of his own. "All right, challenge accepted. When I'm at a restaurant I never order anything that has the word 'smothered' in the description."

"What?'

That was not what she was expecting. She wasn't sure what he would say, but this was definitely not one of the possibilities she'd considered.

"You know, when they say a western omelet smothered in cheese or New York strip steak smothered in onions and mushrooms? Something about that conjures up an unpleasant image for me, so I can never order it,' he explained.

"You don't order anything with the word 'smothered' in the description? That's it?"

Her voice clearly indicated this as not what she was looking for from him.

"Did you know that before?" He asked.

"Well, no,' she admitted.

"Surprise."

He smiled, she didn't.

"Tell me something else, Kal."

"I like dancing with you."

"You're trying to deflect me from the subject, but I have to admit I liked it, so I'll let it go,' she replied. "This time."

"You're a tough woman to please, Diana."

'Yes, I am."

They lapsed into silence for a few moments, continuing to dance to Norah Jones singing The Tennessee Waltz. He initiated the conversation this time.

"So does this 'getting to know you' thing go both ways?"

"Of course, Kal, I have nothing to hide,' she immediately replied.

"Good, good."

"What? Ask away, Kal."

"All right, do you realize what most guys think when an attractive woman says they 'want to get to know them better', Diana?"

He thought he detected her body stiffen just a little bit and there was a bit more of a blush to her cheek.

"Yes." Diana replied. "I casually mentioned it to a few of our teammates, Dinah, Shayera and Zatanna in the cafeteria. They all informed me of what most men would think."

'What did they say?' He asked, clearly enjoying this question. Diana wasn't smiling, as she knew he what he was doing.

"In order, Dinah immediately said he thinks you want to 'do' him, Shayera agreed and said absolutely and finally Zatanna said she wouldn't be surprised if he started taking his clothes off right then and there."

He couldn't help laughing.

"I'm glad you're amused,' Diana said a bit sourly.

"I am,' he admitted, still smiling. "I kind of had the same idea as you and also casually asked some of our teammates what they thought it meant. Ollie immediately said she wants to 'do' you and Wally said he'd start stripping off his clothes right then and there."

Diana couldn't help laughing along with him.

"So is that what you meant, Diana?" He asked once they had stopped laughing. She could see the twinkle in his eye and knew he was teasing her.

"No." She said flatly.

"Yeah, that's what I thought,' he replied. "But that does raise another point I find a little bit disturbing."

"What's that?" She asked, expecting another joke.

"I've had two weeks to think about it,' he said. "After initially thinking of the 'do me' part and dismissing it, I got to thinking about what it means to say you want to get to know someone better."

"And?"

"Implied in it, Diana, is the idea that the person someone presents themselves as to the world isn't who they really are,' he stated. "That would mean you think they are faking it, putting on some mask to fool everyone. If that's what you're suggesting I'm doing, Diana? I'm not sure I like that implication."

She was caught off guard by his statement. She had expected him to make a joke, but looking into his eyes she saw he was very serious.

"Are you saying you think I'm trying to fool you and everyone else in some way, Diana?" He asked.

"Yes and no, Kal,' she replied honestly.

"Care to explain?"

"You are fooling people everyday as Clark Kent,' she said. "Inherent in that disguise is an element of subterfuge."

"That's if you accept that it's a disguise," he countered.

"Isn't it?" She replied.

"No."

"You're hiding who you truly are, Kal, turning away from your gifts,' Diana explained. 'Neither of us is like them, yet you pretend to be one. Aren't you trying to fool everyone, including yourself?"

He didn't break form and they continued to practice the waltz, yet Diana felt him change in posture and attitude.

"Again, no,' he said rather quietly.

"Care to explain?' She said, turning his words back on him.

"You grew up Princess Diana of Themyscira,' he said. "I grew up as Clark Kent. You have always been what you are now, while I made a conscious choice to be Superman. For you Wonder Woman was just another title added to a list of titles you go by. It's really an extension of who you've always been. Superman is just something I do, not who I am. It's a title, but I didn't grow up with titles so I had to figure out how to integrate Superman with still being Clark Kent. I am Clark Kent in every conceivable way, yet I'm also Superman and Kal-El of Krypton. If I were to live as you do, as attractive as that thought might be, I ultimately would have to give up being Clark Kent. That's not something I'm prepared to do."

"Eventually you'll have to, you know that, Kal,' Diana stated.

"Yes, but that day will come soon enough,' he replied. "Some people believe I can do everything, Diana. It's not true, I know that better than anyone, but why can't one of those things I can do be living as who I am and who I grew up as? Why does it have to be either or?"

"Because it's not who you truly are,' she offered.

"But you see it is,' he said with a smile. "You want to get to know me better, you say, well that's the secret, Diana, I'm Clark, I'm Kal-El and I'm Superman. Just as you're Princess Diana, Daughter of Zeus and Wonder Woman, you can't separate one from the other, neither can I."

"It's still hiding."

"Maybe, but I wouldn't be here dancing with you if I didn't," he countered. "It wouldn't just be you and me dancing, it would be a thousand people watching us, shouting questions, taking pictures. The other couples here taking lessons wouldn't be able to; they'd be pushed out by the mob of attention we would engender. Not everything has to be in the spotlight. Is it so wrong to want to be a writer, to do something I've come to love without always being under the microscope of celebrity? Aren't the two of us entitled to a private life away from all that, away from what we do?"

"So are you saying I'm wrong in the way I live?" She asked.

"No, absolutely not,' he immediately replied. "You take things on your terms and I admire that about you. It's how you've always lived your life and you shouldn't have to change. I'm just saying it's not how I've lived my life, that's all."

They were silent as the record changed and then they resumed dancing. Clark noticed Diana was smiling.

"What?" He asked.

"I believe that is the most I've ever heard you speak about yourself, Kal,' Diana replied. "And to think all I had to do is challenge you."

He gave her a look and her smile got a little wider.

"Clever,' he admitted. "I see I'm going to have to be on my toes with you."

"Absolutely."

"Uh-huh." He replied and then decided to shift the topic. "So I believe you said this was a date, right?"

"Yes, why?"

"You know there's a rule about three dates, don't you?' He teased.

"Yes, but I believe I told you I don't like those rules so I'm not following them,' she informed him.

"So 'getting to know me' doesn't mean you want to 'do' me and the three date rule is out the window,' He continued. "I'm starting to have a hard time seeing the upside of this for me, Diana."

"I'll take you to dinner after the class is over,' she offered.

"Deal."

They continued dancing.

"So is that a firm no on the three date thing or…?"

"Yes, Kal,' she said, cutting him off.

"Just checking."

"You know you could take this opportunity to get to know me better too," she suggested.

"Oh, I think I am getting to know you better, Diana,' he replied. "I just have different questions than you do."

"Such as?"

"Tell me something everyone thinks they know about you, but it's not true."

Diana seemed to consider this for a moment.

"I'm not dating Superman,' she finally offered.

He gave her a confused look.

"I thought you just said we were on a date?"

'We are,' she replied. "But I'm on a date with you, not Superman, Kal."

"But I am Superman."

"Yes, but from what you said you're not just Superman,' Diana stated. 'I'm getting to know the person that's all three people, Superman, Kal-El and Clark Kent."

"Huh?' He mused. "So should any of them start taking their clothes off?"

He smiled and so did she.

"Just dance, Kal."