Chapter 21

Challenge's of Love

Commissioner Jim Gordon entered his son Jame's bedroom and gave this ten year old a kiss on the forehead. He then closed the door behind him.

Batman was perched on the stairway , the same stairway that he first had his conversation with Gordon dressed in the cowl and the cape. His eyes narrowed as Gordon opened the back door and stood on the porch.

"Storms coming ," Batman said with his famous line that he used with Gordon.

Gordon looked at and saw his masked friend.

"I was wondering would you would show up? Ivy is moved to a secure cell at Arkham."

"That's not why I'm here Jim,"

Gordon folded his arms.

"There is someone else targeting people."

"Could you identify this unsub ?" Gordon asked.

"He wore a long brown over coat and an bandages covering his face."

Gordon shook his head.

"You just can't win , can my friend?"

"No."

"I sense that there is something else you want to tell me?"

"Yes."

Gordon prepared himself .

"I'm going away for awhile."

"Why?"

"I'm needed for a crisis elsewhere."

"I thought we were into this together."

"We are Jim." Batman said. "I just need stop a crisis before it's too late."

"Who will protect Gotham?"

Gordon waited for a response but instead he got the silent treatment . He looked up and saw that Batman was gone.

"Figures,"

Diana was on her knees, eyes closed shut. She blocked out all the sounds that were forming around her.

Finally she spoke in a whispering tone. "Athena, I humbly ask for courage and wisdom through this dark time." Diana paused with her words as she thought about Bruce and what he was going to become at the midnight hour. "The man I am in love with doesn't deserve to be this form that the gods of cursed him to be. I understand deeply that this is out of your hands Athena. I need to be strong for him, show no weakness like he showed no weakness when she was transformed." She opened her eyes and looked up at the crescent moon as clouds who blowing over its bright light. "I have to be strong for him."

Diana got onto her feet and moved to the balcony ledge. She lifted her body upward and sat on the cold cement. Looking out at the city lights, the orange glow that reflected in the puddles of the sidewalks. She started to remember all the precious moments we shared with him. All the battles that made her realize just how much she was in love with Bruce Wayne.

Years ago…

"Diana," Batman called out as he jumped on the trench the missile left and began digging. He moved the rocks out of the way with a hope in his heart knowing that she would be still alive. His dark hazel green eyes stared at the rubble of the missile. "Diana, can you hear me?"

There was no response.

He had to try harder. "I won't give up." He said in a whisper. "I will find you."

Shayera and Jon Jones touched down onto the ground and saw the dark masked hero lifting rocks out of the way.

"Should we tell him?" Shayera asked looking at Jon.

Jon moved closer to Batman and placed his hand on the hero's armored shoulder. "I'm sorry but she's gone."

Batman pointed his head down.

"No,"

Both Shayera and Jon never heard the Dark Knight say that word with deep sorrow in his tone.

It was right then and there they both knew under that cowl was a caring man.

Underneath the missile Diana opened her eyes. "Hera, give me strength." She said as both of her hands lifted the weight off her chest. She lifted it off of her sleek body and threw it to the trench on the other side.

Shayera lifted her head and smiled.

Diana crushed the missile control with her hands and looked at the Gorilla's.

"You're city is safe."

There were loud cheers as Jon helped her out off the trench and walked to over to where Batman and Shayera were standing. Batman was silent; his lips were form in a straight line and his looking onward.

Diana stood next to Batman as the Gorillas cheered with thanks in their eyes. She looked down at his gloved hands and saw the dirt that collected on the fabric when he tried to dig underneath the missile. Never before had she felt so many feelings for a mortal man. She knew that the Dark Knight, the aloof hero of the league was one that dug through the rubble to save her.

She placed her hands on his broad shoulder and gave him a gentle kiss on the flesh of his chin. His shoulders drop, eyes widen. He pulled away looking embarrassed trying to show that he wasn't blushing underneath.

"Thank you," She said with a pleasant smile.

Batman gazed at her.

"You don't have to thank me."

Diana smiled.

Diana sighed with a heavy heart thinking about the other time Batman prove to her that he had a heart underneath the Kevlar armor.

"Now, I think I turn the dear Dark Knight into a panther and as for the amateur." She paused as her ice green eyes looked at Zantanna. "I think a black and white rabbit would suit you find."

Batman lifted up his hand to the witch Circe as she was about to transform him. "Wait," He said with a steady voice knowing that he had only a few seconds left form he was reduced to being a large jungle cat.

"What do you want?" Circe growled showing that she was displeased. "Well spill out your final words as a human."

Batman stepped closer to her.

"Bruce," Zantanna called out from behind. "What are you doing?"

"Take me in Diana's place. She deserves to live a life as a hero."

"Bruce,"

Circe was complicating his bargain. "You the handsome daring Dark Knight would want to be reduced to a pitiful creature just like the princess, why?"

Batman turned and looked at Zantanna. "Because…"

Circe settled her feet to the ground and moved closer. "I have something better. I will release Diana from the spell if you give me something."

Batman prepared himself.

"I want something that is very precious from you. Something that you kept you long to conceal, something when gone you can never regain."

His eyes closed as he lowered his head and listen to Circe's voice.

"What are you saying to him witch?" Zantanna growled holding up her wand.

The witch looked at her.

"Relax; he knows that he has to do. Don't you handsome."

Batman sighed as he moved to the stage.

"Bruce , what do you think you're doing?"

He moved to the center stage and grabbed the microphone.

"Oh no," Zantanna said. "Is he doing what I think he's doing?"

Bruce under the cowl gulped down . He straighten his shoulders thinking that this was worst than being turn into a pig. He lifted up the microphone and thought about Diana. "This is for you princess,"

His dark hazel eyes looked at the Circe's prisoners sitting at the tables. He rubbed his M shaped lips together and lifted up his chiseled chin.

Zantanna stood next to Circe. "I hope your happy?"

The witch smiled. "He is quite a handsome man. Especially those lips."

"Just enjoy the show witch."

Batman waited for the right tune and than began .

"Am I blue..."

Zantanna rolled her eyes. "Not this song."

"Ain't these tears in my eyes telling you?"

As he sung Bruce thought about all his past relationships with Selina Kyle , Talia al Ghul and Rachel Dawes. The one name that was written on his lips when he sung those words was Diana's.

"But now I'm the sad and only one,"

Diana was on the converter belt breaking to break free for the ropes. She closed her eyes as her plump body neared the sharp circulating saw. She prayed to Hera that it would be fast. She entered .

There was a bright flash and the walls crumbed as she broke through and looked at the pigs.

"Circe,"

Batman placed the microphone back in it's holder and walked to the stairs. The men at the tables arose and clapped using their hands. But he didn't care . Zantanna met him half way and stopped him in his tracks.

"You should of told me that you had a great singing voice. I would of thought because of the raspy growling you would have damaged your throat."

"Remember when the Penguin tried to kidnapped that singer?"

"Ricky...Yeah so?"

"I spent a month on stakeout . I must of heard that song a dozen of times."

"Yes there anything you can't do?"

He looked down at her with sincere eyes.

"Well there's one thing I have been really good at."

"And that would be?"

"Saying thank you."

Batman gave Zantanna a smile .

A few hours later Diana and Batman were walking down the hallway of the watch tower discussing their night. Batman remained silent trying to keep his secret hidden.

"Truthfully the transformation and still a blur to me." She said. "Did I miss much?"

Batman gulped down trying to shallow his pride. "Not really." He said thinking about how he felt when the woman he was falling in love with was turned into a pig and how he down to travel through portals with his good friend and the worst part was he had to sing to free Diana. "The important thing is that you're safe."

Diana gave him a small smile.

"That's not the only thing."

He stopped and watched her down the hall humming the tune that he sung hours ago . "How could she know that song?" He thought as he looked at the woman he was falling in love with and gave a smile.

"Sad and lonely one ,"

Diana awoke from memory land and looked at the watch around her wrist.

"It's almost the hour."

"Why do you worry about the mortal man named Bruce Wayne , Diana?"

She looked at Athena.

"I never thought this would happen to him."

"I know that you are worried but he will be fine ."

The goddess walked over to Diana and pressed her hand on the princess chest.

"I'm giving you a gift Diana, you are the only one that can understand Bruce Wayne when he is in the form of Pegasus. Do not worry he will sound just the same ."

Diana nodded.

"Athena will you at least tell me what we're up against . I have a right to know."

"It's not my place to say , but heed my words Diana , an evil is coming to Gotham that was destroy everything . All the souls of the good people in this city will belong to the underworld if you and Bruce don't fight."

"I understand."

Bruce returned to the penthouse through the tunnel of his bedroom or the so called panic room. He slipped his body through the narrow space still wearing his armor. He pulled off the cowl and threw it onto the bed.

Looking at the alarm clock , he saw that there wasn't much time. He had 15 more minutes before the transformation.

Silently he moved to the bed and striped off his armor , he looked at the cowl and sighed.

"It's not who I am underneath."

He walked to the wall to ceiling mirror and looked at the reflection.

Alfred entered the bedroom with a glass of water.

"Sir , I'm afraid it's almost time." He said handing Bruce the glass. The billionaire gulped it down .

"I only have 15 more minutes Alfred to be human."

"I know. We'll find away out of this for you sir,"

"Stop saying that. There is no way out. After the midnight hour Bruce Wayne and the Batman won't exist any more." He looked at his features. "All the memories of Thomas and Martha Wayne within this flesh will fade."

He moved to the bed , lifted up the cowl.

"I wanted to ..." He lowered his head.

"Sir , you must not lose hope. It's not who you are on the outside but it's who you choose to be inside that counts."

Bruce nodded.

"So you would be alright without me?" He asked.

Alfred smiled.

"Of course , you have nothing to worry about at my end."

The billionaire placed the cowl on the dresser .

"Remember no matter you will always be a hero in my eyes."

Bruce looked at the time.

"It's time old friend."

Diana was standing by the ledge as the two men walked through the French glass doors. Her eyes looked at Bruce . She had to be strong for him . He needed her more than ever.

Bruce walked up towards her and she ran into his arms .

He crashed his lips onto hers and they became locked into a full kiss not wanting to get go. He pulled away and looked at the moon above.

"Bruce , no matter what I will always..."

He placed one of his fingers on her lips.

"I know princess. I know."

She looked at her watch.

"How much time is there?" He asked.

"One more minute."

Bruce looked at her with his deep hazel green eyes , that were full of pain and anger but she could see a twinkle in the hues of colors.

"Princess , I want you to do something for me? Take care of Alfred for me."

She nodded.

Bruce fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around his stomach .

"Don't be afraid." She said. "I'm here ."

He smiled.