Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 10: Strong Hearts and Cold Trails
Clark's Apartment
The sun rose over Metropolis, awaking Clark Kent from the most peaceful sleep he had in his life. He could honestly say he had never felt this good or this rested. It defied even Superman's abilities, which only made it more satisfying.
When Clark stirred from the feeling of the morning sun on his face, he opened his eyes to see a beautiful sight. Diana was still curled up next to him, having fallen asleep with her head resting on his chest. His arm remained affectionately draped around her, holding her close in an intimate embrace. They were both still naked, covered only by the sheets of his bed. It provided a pleasant reminder of the passion they shared last night and the bliss it brought them.
'Wow. It really happened. It wasn't a dream. I went on a date with this beautiful woman, I opened up to her more than I ever thought I could, and I made love to her in my bed. And to think, at this time last week I was still convinced that I could never get close to anybody. But Diana isn't just anybody. She's not just some girl I met in my youth that I never thought I'd see again. She's an amazing woman and I'm falling in love with her. In fact, I think I'm done falling. I am in love with this woman!'
Clark didn't dare move a muscle. He just lay silent, admiring Diana's sleeping form. She looked so beautiful in the light of the morning sun. It was amazing to contemplate, all the emotions this woman had evoked in him. It rendered him powerless and vulnerable, a feeling he was not used to. But for once, he didn't mind. It actually felt good, being this vulnerable. It made him feel human, connecting with someone so completely.
He could have easily spent all morning just admiring Diana. But the morning sun eventually roused her as well. When she opened her eyes and saw his loving gaze staring back at her, she smiled back with a love and contentment befitting of an Amazon warrior.
"Hey," said Diana in a tired daze.
"Good morning, beautiful," greeted Clark. "Sleep well?"
"Better than all the souls in Elysium," she replied. "I still can't believe it happened. Last night was so…incredible."
"I know. I'm still trying to convince myself that it wasn't a dream."
"Well maybe this will help."
Diana shifted her body within his embrace, getting on top of him so the full weight of her naked body pressed against his. She then captured his lips in a soft kiss, sharing with him the same tender affection that had led to such great passion last night. Since they were still so tired, it didn't get nearly as heated. However, it still offered a tangible reminder that this was real.
"Mmm…are you convinced?" asked Diana.
"Completely," answered Clark.
She smiled again and nestled herself comfortably on his chest again, allowing her to listen to the soothing beating of his heart. He then wrapped both arms around her, holding her in a more secure embrace. Diana felt his strong hands drift along her thighs and lower back. Clark's soft touch filled her with such loving affection. Even after all the affection they shared last night, there was so much to enjoy.
"I don't ever want to forget last night," said Clark, his hands now resting on her hips.
"Me neither," said Diana, still in a tired daze.
"I also don't want last night to be a one-time thing."
"So you want to make love again?" she asked playfully. "I'm not sure if that's typical on the first date, but I could give it a try."
"I'm not just talking about making love…although that is an appealing idea," he responded. "I want last night to be the beginning of something deeper."
"After what we did in and out of this bed, how much deeper can we get?" asked Diana.
"There's only so much that can be done in the span of one night. And I want to take it even further. I don't want us to just be a man and a woman who go out on dates and make love."
"Even if it does make for such pleasant mornings?" she questioned.
"I'd like to think of that as a nice bonus…a very nice bonus. But in addition to all those other wonderful experiences we shared, our date revealed to me that I want to share my life with somebody. I don't want to cut myself off from others for the sake of being a better Superman. I believe I can be better and still have a relationship with a special someone. And I want you, Diana Prince, to be that special someone."
It was a serious, significant decision for a man to make this early in the morning. Having a naked woman on top of him certainly affected him. How could he possibly think straight with someone like Diana in his arms? But he meant every word he said. As he held this woman in his arms, he had no doubt whatsoever.
As Diana listened to his steady heartbeat, she thought about what this would mean for them. Reconnecting after being torn apart for five years was one thing. Building something from that connection was entirely different. She had no experience in sharing her life with a man. Then again, she had no experience being intimate with a man until last night. Before, the idea of opening herself up to someone like this made her feel vulnerable. Now, as she lay in his arms, it made her feel strong. For once, her heart and her mind made the path before her clear.
"Clark Kent…Kal-El…are you asking me to be your lover?" asked Diana while lovingly stroking his manly chest.
"If you need to give it some thought, take all the time you need," teased Clark, "And if you need some additional incentive…"
His words trailed off as he tempted her passions once more. His gentle hands became bolder, sliding up along her thighs and grasping her heart-shaped butt. Diana replied with a content purr, rousing from her morning daze in more ways than one. She found herself pawing his chest more passionately. She then rose up so that she could gaze into Clark's loving eyes.
"I don't need any incentive. As far as I'm concerned, I officially became your lover the moment I woke up in your arms," said Diana.
"Then the hardest part of this morning is officially over," said Clark proudly.
"You sound relieved. You shouldn't be. I want this too. I want to share my life with someone who can make me a better woman and a better warrior. You've already succeeded in part, Kal. I'm ready to go even farther with you."
"How far are we talking about here?" he asked curiously.
"As far as I have to," she replied in a more seductive tone.
Having made clear the extent to which they wanted to share this connection, Diana and Clark sealed their new status as lovers with a kiss. It felt so right, the desire to be together and share all these wonderful feelings. There had been so many forces keeping them apart from the moment they met. Yet here they were, lying in each other's arms and sharing so much love. It boded well for their new status as lovers.
As they kissed, their tender touching escalated. Clark gave her butt a harder squeeze, evoking another soft purr. Diana affectionately grasped he sides of his face, caressing his manly features and allowing her body to lightly grind against his. It wasn't nearly as fervent as it had been the previous night, but it was enough to trigger a fresh wave of arousal. With the sun now beaming in through the window, it felt like a fitting way to commemorate this moment.
Clark was fully prepared to share another round of ecstasy with his lover. Even though Diana didn't end up needing extra incentive to become his lover, it couldn't hurt putting those efforts to good use. He was just about ready to succumb to his lover's embrace. Then, the buzzer to his front door sounded.
"Hmm…who could be buzzing me this early on a Saturday?" said Clark, his lips parting from hers briefly.
"Ignore it. You have more pressing matters to attend to," said Diana playfully.
She captured his lips again, dispelling any inclination he might have had to answer the door. They resumed their passionate gestures, having every intention to see them through. Then the buzzer sounded again. This time it sounded more urgent. It was being pressed in rapid succession. It was then followed by frantic knocking. This clearly was not the act of someone just passing by.
"I better get that," he sighed, breaking the kiss once more.
"They'll come back if it's urgent," said Diana, still trying to tempt him.
"I'm sorry, Diana. But in my line of work, that's not always an option."
Despite Diana's best efforts, Clark managed to escape her grasp and slip off the bed. She could only groan in disappointment as she watched him retrieve a pair of sweatpants from his dresser and exit the room.
"It better be important," she said as she lay back in the bed.
"If it isn't, I'll show them the door and we'll pick up right where we left off," said Clark.
"That better be a promise."
"It is," he assured her.
This would likely be an ongoing issue. Their jobs and their work as superheroes was sure to provide plenty of interruptions. It promised to be just one of the many obstacles they would have to overcome. That didn't make this one any less inconvenient. He had a beautiful naked woman in his bed and it took something pretty severe to keep him from her.
Clark did his best to fix his demeanor, putting on his glasses and making his way to the front door. But before he could even get there or use his X-ray vision to check who was on the other side, the door was unlocked from the other side and Lois Lane barged in.
"Sorry. Forgot I still had your spare key and you were taking way too long," she said without so much as a greeting.
"Lois? What are you…" began Clark, so surprised that he forgot that he had lent Lois his spare key.
"Something's come up and every minute you sleep in is another minute we give to Lex Luthor. He's already several steps ahead of us. And unless we do something about it, we'll have no story and he'll be old news by Monday."
She looked like a wreck, sounding like was working on no sleep and several cups of coffee. She practically shoved Clark aside and set a heavy briefcase packed with folders on his kitchen table. She didn't ask for permission before shoving the place mats and tablecloth aside. She just opened up the case and started laying out the contents, becoming more disheveled in the process.
"Have you been up all night?" asked Clark.
"What does it look like? Have you known me to be this much a morning person before?" Lois retorted harshly.
"No, but I…" he began, only to get cut off again.
"I'll apologize later. I'll even buy you lunch for the rest of the week if you help me with this because it really can't wait," she continued, still talking in a hurried tone. "Perry has me looking for Luthor's latest hiding place. He thinks there's a story about where he fled and I think he's right. But this is one time I wish I could chalk it up to growing senility."
"Lois, I think you should…" Clark tried again, but Lois continued to ignore him.
"For some reason, he fled to Greece. Not Tahiti…not Switzerland…not some obscure island in the Pacific with no extradition laws – he fled to Greece. There has to be a reason for it. I've been digging into it all night, following leads and punching through dead ends. I thought I was onto something. Turns out, Luthor got the jump on me."
"Lois please…"
"This guy, Professor Felix Foust, has been swapping info with Luthor since before the Metallo attack," Lois went on, still ignoring Clark's demeanor as she flipped through her materials. "We're talking some very secretive stuff here, but not the usual Luthor variety. I would have liked to ask him about it, but he apparently skipped town. Nobody knows where he is. For all we know, he's swimming at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean."
"Lois, I need you to…"
"Most of the info they shared is gone. They burned or shredded most of the vital stuff, but one of the letters mentioned some ancient artifacts. We're not talking your usual trinkets here either. This stuff might be of the mystical variety, sort of like that Zatanna woman is rumored to use. I spent all night gathering as much of Felix Foust's materials as I could. It wasn't easy. I think Luthor might already have most of it."
"Lois…" said Clark, getting frustrated at this point.
"That's why I need your help. If there's something here worth finding, you and I can get to it before Luthor ties up any more loose ends. I'm thinking you can call some of your old contacts at the Metropolis Museum since they owe you for that…"
"Lois!" shouted Clark.
This finally silenced her. Clark rarely raised his tone around Lois. When he did, it was usually under extreme duress. Lois, who was still sleep-deprived and in a race against time, hadn't fully processed the situation.
"I…I'm sorry, Clark. My mind is going a mile a minute here," said Lois, now taking a moment to catch her breath.
"It's okay. Just slow down, Lois," said Clark in a calmer tone. "This is kind of a bad time to be dropping this on me."
"I know. I'm an awful best friend for doing this to you on a Saturday morning. I guess I should say good morning, how are you, and…"
This time, she cut herself off. In taking a moment to address her friend and colleague, she noticed something different about Clark's demeanor. She also noticed a few other peculiarities.
"Wait…why do I smell women's makeup?" she asked.
"You're still not slowing down, Lois. You've clearly got a lot going on. I do too. And this really isn't the best time to deal with it."
"I'm still waiting for an explanation on the makeup," retorted Lois.
"And I will explain it. Just not now," said Clark as he tried helping her pack up her materials. "Is there any chance at all we could talk later today? Any chance at all?"
"To hell with later!" she said in a more apprehensive tone. "Now I'm curious. What's going on, Clark? Why do you look like you just stole the Mona Lisa?"
Lois glared at him with her penetrating gaze and Clark was in no condition to resist it. He hoped to avoid the awkward explanation of the previous night and the days that led up to it. He hadn't even begun to come up with a cover story about how he met a woman like Diana and how they became so serious so quickly. He wasn't ready to deal with this, but Lois wasn't inclined to let it go.
Clark thought frantically for a way to work around this. But before he could begin to explain himself, the bedroom door opened and Diana stepped out.
"Clark? Is everything okay? I heard yelling," she said cautiously.
When she entered the kitchen, Clark shifted as though he had just been caught on camera committing a crime. Lois was so taken aback by her voice that she dropped the handful of papers she had been holding. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open in shock. Her line of work required her to be ready for plenty of shocking revelations, but she was definitely not prepared for this.
A strange silence filled the room. Diana, who thought his visitor had been hostile, entered the kitchen wearing nothing but a partially buttoned up dress shirt. When she saw that it was something completely different, she froze where she stood. She looked at Clark and then at his guest. Not knowing what she just stumbled into, she just smiled and greeted the other woman.
"Oh uh…hi," said Diana, blushing awkwardly.
"Hi," said Lois in the most coherent tone she could manage. "Clark…care to explain?"
"Um…sure," said Clark, now smiling oddly in light of this situation. "Lois, this is Diana Prince. She's uh…my girlfriend."
Olympus – Hera's Garden
"To the glory of Olympus and the bastards who built it!" said Hera as she raised yet another chalice of wine.
It was another solitary toast for a goddess living a solitary existence. Hera made many as she lazily lounged about her opulent garden. In this serene oasis, there was lush flora and a never-ending abundance for as far as the eye could see. The greatest wine and the sweetest fruits were completely at her disposal. Any mortal would have considered this place a paradise. But she was a goddess and she was miserable.
Looking down at her reflection in the wine, the Queen of Olympus scoffed bitterly before chugging every last drop. She had long since lost count how much wine she had consumed. She stopped keeping track centuries ago. Drunkenness was a crutch for mortals. For gods, it was a sanctuary. It was the only way to cope with the utter hypocrisy on which their rule was based.
For Hera, however, she didn't have the luxury of hypocrisy. She was the queen. Her existence was one of duty and propriety. She had to be the pillar of order that set her apart from her fellow gods. It didn't matter that it filled her with more disgust than pride. The other gods didn't care. Her husband, Zeus, certainly didn't care. They could conduct themselves however they pleased, so long as they served Zeus. But she could only ever be exactly what Zeus demanded she be. That was part of what made her the Goddess of women, marriage, and fidelity. It was an honorable role in principle. In practice, however, it was the most inglorious role on Olympus.
"Glory…bah!" she scoffed as she threw her wine chalice away. "What's so great about glory anyways? Is that what this is about? I say it's a joke and I'm too drunk to laugh."
Hera let herself fall limply onto a plush lounge chair in the center of the garden. The sound of babbling streams and diverse wildlife did little to improve her mood. And lately, she had fewer and fewer reasons to be in a good mood.
Her fellow gods and the Amazons that still prayed to her remained hopelessly preoccupied with their never-ending war. According to Athena, their efforts to contain the chaos in Tartarus were not going well. Something was empowering the forces within. She didn't bother paying attention to the details. She rarely concerned herself with such affairs, mostly because Zeus insisted that she not participate. He claimed it was to protect her, but she knew the truth. He just needed to control everything around him. It was the only way he could maintain his rule. She could care less how precarious his power might be. It wasn't like she could do anything to change it. Her fate was annoyingly inflexible and all she could do was drink her sorrows away.
"You're certainly looking relaxed, my Queen. It must be nice to be so unburdened during these trying times," came a voice that interrupted her bitter solitude.
Hera groaned upon recognizing that crass tone. It could only belong to Apollo, one of her husband's many illegitimate offspring. He had a talent for annoying her and getting away with it, taking full advantage of his role as one of Zeus' favorite sons. She learned long ago that there wasn't enough wine in Olympus to make any conversation with him bearable.
"What is it, Apollo?" she said bitterly. "I know you never visit unless you have an opportunity to annoy me. So state your business and leave before the wine wears off."
"My dear queen, you wound me with your coarse words," said Apollo, pretending to be offended.
"You're a bastard of Zeus. You have thick skin. Now quit pretending you're so honorable and say what you need to say."
"You just won't quit until you suck the fun out everything, won't you?" he taunted.
"What else is there to do on this insipid mountain?"
Apollo shook his head in bemusement. Hera wouldn't even make eye-contact. She continued lofting about lazily, only focusing her attention on the jug of wine she kept on the nearby table. It was her only solace at this point. It would have been so pathetic if she weren't the queen.
"In that case, I'll make this quick. I know you're very busy – what with the constant sulking and endless misery," said Apollo in an annoyingly casual tone.
"Just call me the Goddess of Spite. I'm my own temple," muttered Hera.
"Well whenever you decide to break from your perverse piety, I have a request. You don't have to do it. You being the all-powerful Queen of Olympus and all, this is entirely at your discretion."
"Could you possibly say that with a straight face?" she scoffed. "You carry yourself like the God of Sarcasm."
"I'm afraid there are some feats beyond even a god's power," he joked, "But sarcasm aside, this is a rather serious matter. It involves your son, Ares."
This finally got Hera's attention. She rose up from her lazy state and cast Apollo a suspicious gaze. He still had that annoyingly crass demeanor. He looked down on her the same way he looked down on everyone, like the world existed for his own amusement and nothing more. But even he wasn't brazen enough to broach certain topics and her son was one of them.
"And just like that, you've forced me to sober up sooner than I had hoped," said Hera.
"I know this is a sore subject and one you would rather discuss while drunk, but this is an issue that affects more than your mood," said Apollo.
"If only I could conduct all my queenly affairs while drunk," she sighed. "It would make my role just slightly more bearable."
"As you're well-aware, our efforts to contain the chaos in Tartarus have been frustrating at best and fruitless at worst. The growing imbalance has proved difficult to keep up with, even for gods. Zeus has everyone on Olympus on high alert, hoping to turn the tide and prevent further losses."
"Either get to the point or get me more wine because sobriety does little to make me give a damn," said Hera impatiently.
"Well with this tenuous situation in mind, I think not having Ares on the battlefield is proving to be a significant detriment. He's the God of War and this is a war we're not winning in the slightest."
"So pen me another Greek tragedy," scoffed Hera. "You know what Ares did. He defied Zeus. And we all know those who defy Zeus must be subject to horrendous punishment."
"Now who sounds like the God of Sarcasm?" quipped Apollo.
"What do you expect me to do? Weep for my son? A son who would give more love to his sword than he would ever give to his mother? You vastly overestimate my motherly instincts, Apollo."
She spoke with utter callousness. She then retrieved another wine chalice and poured herself more wine from the jug. Apollo continued looking down at her, looking way too amused by her demeanor. Yet he remained at least partially serious. There were far more effective ways to annoy her and he had yet to really push his luck with her, as he was prone to do. That meant that on some levels, his concern was legitimate.
"You may not have much love for your son, but I hope you're at least fond of our home. You may be miserable here on Olympus, but some of us actually want to preserve its integrity," said Apollo.
"Integrity?" scoffed Hera. "That's a poor choice of words for this place."
"Be that as it may, not having Ares is only making a bad situation worse. Even Lord Zeus must understand that on some levels. I know he's very inflexible when it comes to handing out punishments, but…"
His voice trailed off in not-so-subtle manner, expecting Hera to fill in the necessary blanks. Even in her drunken state of mind, she could see where he was going with this.
"You want me to beg my husband to change his mind," Hera surmised.
"That's not what I'm asking, my queen," said Apollo, pretending to be innocent.
"But that's what you were hoping, right? That I would go crying to Zeus, begging that he release our son from his cruel imprisonment as though that would ever change his mind."
"Well he's not going to listen to me, that's for sure. He's still somewhat miffed about that incident with the music I shared with that Canadian boy a while back. I think his name was Bieber."
"As if that's even your most egregious transgression," said Hera.
"All the more reason for you to confront him about this matter," Apollo argued. "He may love you about as much as a horse loves its tail, but he does listen to you. He might just be tempted enough to be reasonable for once."
Hera still gave little credence to Apollo's request. As far as she was concerned, it was more trouble than it was worth. Zeus might be more inclined to hear her out more than the other gods, but that was only out of obligation. In fact, their entire relationship was based on obligation. Even if she cared about the suffering of her war-mongering son, she doubted Zeus cared enough to reconsider.
She only pretended to consider Apollo's request as she choked down more wine from her chalice, drinking nearly all of it in a single gulp. It added to her drunken state, making her even less inclined to listen to Apollo. That still didn't stop him from annoying her.
"There's one other reason I was hoping you'd talk to Zeus about this…one that I doubt he's aware of, but could very well become a serious concern," said Apollo, finally sounding completely serious for once.
"A concern that has escaped Zeus? Like that has ever shaken the foundations of Olympus," said Hera in a slurred tone, already pouring her chalice with more wine.
"Well this might do that quite literally. It involves Erebus, the caged Titan of Darkness."
The Queen of Olympus dropped her chalice, spilling half-a-cup of wine in the process. The mention of a titan forced her to sober up even more. She didn't usually concern herself with Zeus' conflicts, but this was one that even Apollo wasn't foolish enough to joke about.
"And just like that, more perfectly good wine has gone to waste," she said. "What have you heard? Erebus is one of the titans Zeus took extreme care to contain after the Great War."
"Which is probably why he wouldn't think this a major concern," reasoned Apollo, "But I've heard some rumblings in the darkest depths of the underworld that the seal on the tomb housing Erebus is weakening."
"How is that possible? I watched Zeus make that seal himself. It cannot be broken, even by him."
"I don't know. I only know that it's not so impossible anymore. From what I understand, it has something about the nature of this recent chaos and the effects it has had on the balance of forces. That might just be a wild guess, but it would be consistent with the struggles we've been having lately. The release of a titan could be that proverbial tipping point from which even mighty Zeus cannot recover."
Hera begrudgingly set aside the vase of wine and forced herself to contemplate the situation that Apollo described. Assuming he was being truthful, which was rarely a safe assumption, the release of a titan like Erebus could spell doom for more than just Olympus. As miserable as she was under her husband's thumb, she still remembered the war against the titans. She knew it could be much worse if the titans were allowed to reign free once more. No god or mortal would be spared from their wrath, but the gods especially would suffer. She would rather not endure that, even if it meant serving a lousy husband.
"Exactly how bad is it on the front lines?" asked Hera, now taking this matter more seriously. "How close are we from this tipping point?"
"Not terribly close, but far too close for comfort," answered Apollo. "Having Ares on the front lines wouldn't solve the problem, but it would certainly help."
"And possibly create many new problems in the process," she retorted.
"Problems worse than a titan like Erebus being freed?"
"Point taken," sighed the queen.
The Queen of Olympus finally arose from her drunken stupor. She took a moment to fix her hair and garb so that she looked at least somewhat regal in her current state. She avoided further eye-contact with Apollo. She could already feel his bemused gaze on her again. He took a sadistic pleasure in getting others to do things they didn't enjoy doing. She refused to give him the satisfaction.
"So you'll talk to him about it?" asked Apollo smugly.
"I'll voice my concerns. Zeus will probably shoot them down in a way that will make me despise him even more, but I'll do it anyways – even if he ends up giving me more reasons to despise him," said Hera.
"That's all I ask," said Apollo, "And while you're raising these concerns, there's one other minor issue that I hope you'll mention as well."
"Does it involve a titan?" asked Hera.
"No, but it does involve…"
This time, Hera didn't give him a chance to explain. She had entertained Apollo's concerns enough for one day.
"Save your breath then. I can only bring myself to care so much about such matters," said Hera. "Now go. You've pushed your luck enough today. Leave me to my miserable royal duties."
"As you wish, my queen," said Apollo.
He left the Queen of Olympus to her royal misery. He didn't even bother to make sure she was sober enough to carry on a meaningful conversation with Zeus. That didn't really matter in the long run. It might even prove beneficial. He could always count on Hera to make everything worse with her attitude.
For the moment, everything was unfolding as planned. Apollo hid his satisfied grin as he exited Hera's garden. He couldn't let her know just how much she would be playing into his hands. That would ruin his enjoyment of the events sure to follow. Once the pieces began moving in the right direction, he wouldn't have to do much else other than sit back and enjoy the show.
'The seeds have been planted. Hera, you embittered old hag, you're more useful than Zeus gives you credit for. Hopefully, the fools who still worship you are just as accommodating.'
Metropolis – Clark's Apartment
Clark had been in some pretty awkward situations with women. He still vividly remembered how uncomfortable it felt when his X-ray vision first manifested during gym class in the seventh grade. Some of those awkward situations had come around Lois Lane. She had a talent for putting him in a difficult position. He didn't usually mind because those difficulties had been productive in many respects. However, this was not one of those situations.
After Lois got done picking her jaw up off the floor, Clark managed to settle her down. Diana, not wanting to add to the awkwardness, slipped back into his bedroom. He made some coffee while she sat at his kitchen table, restless and hunched over in a dazed stupor. He did his best to explain himself, having to make up a few details on the fly. As always, he avoided complete lies. Lois was his best friend. She deserved at least the partial truth. But in this case, even part of the truth was difficult to handle.
"I'm sorry. You'll have to back up again. I'm having a hard time connecting the dots here and for a reporter, that's a bad sign," said Lois, shaking her head in disbelief.
"What's so hard about it, Lois?" asked Clark as he poured her another cup of coffee. "I reconnected with a woman I haven't seen in years. We hit it off, we went on a date, and the date went well."
"A little too well from the looks of it," she said. "One date and she's letting you into her panties…which she seemed to lose track of, by the way."
"I hope you're not jumping to conclusions, Lois. That's also a bad sign for a reporter. Diana is not some woman I just hooked up with. She and I have something special. We didn't plan for it to go so well last night, but it just…did."
"That's not the conclusion I'm jumping to, Smallville. It's actually not too surprising that a swell-mannered farm boy from Kansas got laid last night."
"Then why are you still so shocked? Why is me having a personal life so difficult for you to accept?" asked Clark.
"It's not the concept that shocks me. It's the principles behind it," said Lois. "Now maybe I shouldn't have reacted so strongly. The lack of sleep and my frustration with this story is probably getting to me. But I think I have a right to be more shocked than anyone after what happened earlier this week."
She took a deep breath and sipped her coffee. She was still tense, but Lois managed to settle herself down enough to see the bigger picture. Looking over at Clark, she saw a very different man compared to last week. It wasn't just because of the afterglow from sleeping with a beautiful woman either. Clark Kent was her best friend. He had always been a stabilizing force in her life. Seeing something like this really undermined that stability.
"Clark, for as long as I've known you, you've always been very in control of yourself," said Lois with a rare tone of sincerity. "You carry yourself with the kind of discipline that might make my dad crack a smile. Nothing rattles you. Nothing distracts you. You're like a rock. I can always count on you to be there and weather the storm."
"That might be a backhanded compliment or it might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me," made Clark. "In either case, please continue."
"At the same time, you've always been alone. You keep to yourself, you never get too personal, and you always listen more than you talk. There are times I've even worried about you. In my experience, nobody lets themselves be that alone unless there's a reason. Now I've never probed for that reason. That's one story I don't care to report. But there have been times when I do more than just worry."
Clark could already sense what she meant. This woman was his best friend. She knew him on a personal and emotional level. For a brief time, he believed those emotions might be strong enough to make them more than best friends. Lois might have believed it as well, but it didn't pan out. He hadn't forgotten those feelings, making the context of this conversation more difficult.
"But those times didn't last," Clark pointed out.
"I know they didn't. That doesn't mean I stopped worrying," said Lois as she stared distantly at her cup of coffee. "That's not even why it struck me so hard when you say you have a girlfriend and you're already sleeping with her."
"And I'm sorry I didn't prepare you for that. I shouldn't have been keeping secrets, especially from my best friend."
"Don't apologize for having a personal life, Clark. Just because I'm your friend doesn't mean you need to share every intimate detail with me. What really worried me is why you avoided having a personal life in the first place. You always went out of your way to avoid getting too close to anybody. Sometimes you even went the extra mile, making sure you didn't get too entangled with anybody…no matter how many opportunities you had."
There was a distinct subtext in her tone, hinting that he had his share of opportunities with her. Lois didn't make it too obvious, but the meaning was clear. However, this didn't seem to bother her as much as other personal concerns.
"I always suspected that you had a bad experience in your personal life at one point – something so bad that it kept you from taking a chance on anyone," Lois went on. "I didn't want to pry. It was none of my business. Now that I've had it shoved in my face, I'm kind of dumbstruck."
"Believe me, I didn't mean for you to find out this way," said Clark. "This was the last possible way I wanted it to happen."
"Well it happened and now I have to deal with it. But maybe it's better this way because it puts your perpetual unavailability in a new light."
Lois finally looked up from her cup of coffee and smiled for the first time since she arrived. It was still awkward for Clark, but it helped ease some of his concerns. He still had to be careful. He still could only give Lois a part of the truth, but that didn't mean he couldn't give her the parts that mattered most.
"This woman you reconnected with – she's the reason, isn't she?" said Lois, having made the necessary connections.
"She's the reason for a lot of things, Lois. You'll have to be more specific," said Clark.
"You said you met her years ago before you even came to Metropolis. You didn't give a whole lot of specifics, but the way you talked about her made two things pretty obvious. You really fell for her and it ended really badly."
"Yeah, that would sum it up in the most basic way possible," said Clark. "She had family issues that I've got no business talking about. The way we parted ways – I guess it affected me more than I let on."
"And by some crazy twist of fate, you cross paths with her again while going after my Red Cross story. I would call that an obscene coincidence if the way I met Jonathan wasn't so similar."
Clark breathed a subtle sigh of relief. He had been worried that Lois might probe too deeply into the part about him meeting Diana while investigating her story about the Red Cross. She might start drawing conclusions about Wonder Woman, Diana Prince, and Superman. She didn't appear to make those connections, focusing only on those involving Clark Kent. That ensured he wouldn't have to come up with a more elaborate explanation.
"It's funny how things work out sometimes," said Clark.
"I know. But we're reporters. We report on crazy coincidences all the time. It shouldn't shock us this much," said Lois.
"And yet, here we are," he pointed out.
"And I'm still having problems wrapping my head around it. The idea of you – Clark Kent, the constantly detached yet always reliable friend – being in a real relationship is going to take some getting used to."
"Well if it makes you feel better, I'm still getting used to it as well. It's been so long since I've been with anybody and things with Diana are happening so fast."
"Knowing how careful you are with everything you do, she must be pretty damn special," said Lois.
"She is," said Clark, who couldn't stop himself from grinning.
Lois again shook her head in amazement. Seeing Clark Kent with that smitten expression on his face was still pretty jarring, but she was starting to accept it. He actually looked happy and relaxed, bearing the demeanor of a man in love and a man who just got laid. She hadn't seen this side of him before. Maybe it was wrong of her to think he would always be this quiet farm boy whose life revolved around work and travel. She didn't know much about Diana, but she had to be good for him on some levels to make him this happy.
The tension finally faded as the situation sank in. Lois finished the rest of her coffee and set her mug aside. She remained restless, but not for the same reasons as before. She and Clark now had an understanding. It didn't happen in as smooth a way as they would have preferred, but the hardest part of this awkward ordeal was over. There were enough difficult issues to deal with at the moment. Getting through this gave them one less thing to worry about.
As the overall mood became calmer, the door to Clark's bedroom opened again and Diana stepped out. This time, she wore one of Clark's T-shirts and approached with a much friendlier demeanor.
"Hey," she greeted. "Is everything okay in here? It got a lot quieter and I didn't know if that was a good sign."
"It is," said Lois, getting up from the table to greet her. "Sorry I made such a spectacle earlier. I forgot that some people don't expect friends to barge in this early on a Saturday morning."
"It's alright. We were bound to meet at some point," said Diana with a touch of humor.
"In that case, I might as well introduce myself under these less embarrassing conditions. I'm Lois Lane, Clark's best friend and mentor in all things not related to farm animals," said Lois, extending her hand to the other woman.
"Pleased to meet you, Lois," said Diana, accepting the gesture. "Clark has already told me so much about you."
"That leaves me at a huge disadvantage because he never told me about you. Most men wouldn't shut up about some pretty girl they met in their youth."
"Well Clark Kent isn't most men."
"No argument here, but I'm sure you know that better than any woman right now," teased Lois.
"I'd say that's a fair statement."
Now Clark was embarrassed again, but for an entirely different reason. At least the two of them were getting along despite the awkward circumstances. It came as a relief, knowing his girlfriend and his best friend could be friendly with one another. However, it appeared they might be too friendly in some respects.
"By the way, I borrowed one of your shirts, Clark. I hope you don't mind," said Diana.
"Not at all," assured Clark, trying to hide his embarrassment. "It looks better on you anyways."
"And at least you're wearing panties this time," said Lois under her breath.
"If you two have more to discuss, I'll be happy to leave," she offered.
"Are you kidding? That would make me the worst person in the world, making my friend's girlfriend leave before they've had a chance to enjoy the morning afterglow," said Lois as she turned around to gather her materials.
"Are you sure?" asked Diana. "You sounded quite urgent when you arrived."
"That's because I've had too much caffeine and hit too many dead ends. There's not much more to discuss anyways. So ahead and keep rocking that shirt. I'll kick myself out and catch up with Clark later."
"Anything I should work on in the meantime?" asked Clark. "You did say this involved Lex Luthor and time was a factor."
"And for that very reason, there's not much work to do," said Lois. "I think time has already run out. The best thing I can do is catalog everything I've found out and wait for something else to break. And the best thing you can do is tend to this wonderful woman who makes even a dirty polo shirt look sexy."
She had made up her mind and nobody could change it. She made that abundantly clear as she picked up the briefcase and left Clark's apartment. She didn't give Clark a chance to dissuade her and she didn't tell him anything about this story that would get him too curious. Lois might have been incredibly dedicated when it came to pursuing a story, but she understood when personal affairs took priority over work.
"I like her," said Diana with a grin.
"I had a feeling you two would get along," said Clark. "I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you two start conspiring against me."
"Oh Kal, you know I don't need anyone's help to conspire against you."
"Is that a warning or an invitation?" he joked.
"It's exactly what you think it is."
Diana helped ease the lingering tension, walking up to him and pulling him back into her loving embrace. He still had an empty coffee up in his hand as she gave him a loving kiss, throwing in a few tempting gestures to get him back into the same spirit as earlier. It worked even better than expected. There were still plenty of lingering feelings from the previous night to enjoy.
"Now then…what do you say you take Lois' advice and tend to your lover?" said Diana in a seductive tone.
"And how do you propose I do that?" asked Clark, already very intrigued.
"Well I was thinking we could start the morning with a nice hot shower…together."
"Together, you say?" he said with a widening grin. "I like that idea, although it might get a little confined."
"We'll work around that. And after that – well, let's just play it by ear."
Not needing any more convincing, Clark set his empty coffee mug aside and followed Diana back into his bedroom. She affectionately latched onto his arms, throwing in a few more tempting gestures along the way. The morning had encountered some unexpected complications, but it was already panning out in all the right ways. It boded well for their new relationship and for future mornings together.
Themyscira – Gymnasium
The collective spirits of the Amazons had seen better days. Morale amongst the Olympus' greatest warriors had not been the same since the departure of their sister and princess, Diana. For many, it was an unfortunate decision that brought great sorrow to those who loved and respected her. But for some, it was an act of betrayal.
After convincing them that she had atoned for her transgressions as a teenager, Diana continued defying the Amazon Code, seeking to connect with man's world rather than maintain the bonds of sisterhood. It was a harsh and bitter pill to swallow, their princess choosing man's world over her fellow Amazons. But Diana had made her decision and it could not be unmade.
Of all the Amazons it affected, Hippolyta was hit hardest. She was not the same woman without her daughter. Her style of rule was noticeably different. She carried herself with a cold, stoic demeanor, hiding her sadness under the guise of a stern and unflinching queen. Few Amazons let themselves worry about their queen. They had enough to deal with between the chaos in Tartarus and the growing inability of the gods to contain it. But Aleka, who remained Hippolyta's most loyal sister through these trying times, did allow herself to worry. And her worry had only grown in recent times.
Those worries often manifested whenever she trained, coming out in the form of greater aggression and simmering anger. For that reason, Aleka often trained alone in the gymnasium and most of her sisters knew not to bother her. This particular part of day, between chores and training, was her preferred time. She didn't do anything too elaborate, focusing primarily on sword techniques and attack stances. For her, training and combat wasn't just a duty. It was an outlet for this burning animosity that she could not confront.
"Honor…duty…compassion…valor…glory…and sisterhood," Aleka grunted in between attacks.
These words were all spoken by Amazons while training, often in perfect unison to demonstrate the harmony with which they fought. It was part of what helped make them the greatest warriors in the world. But there was one word they didn't say that Aleka valued above all others.
"Loyalty," she said with a force that would have subdued a titan.
The imposing Amazon halted her motions for a moment, but remained in an attack stance, ready to slay any creature that dared to test her. Saying this word out loud filled Aleka with many intense emotions, most of which she kept to herself. But as the months went by and the battles became more arduous, she found it increasingly difficult to keep them contained.
"What good is any warrior code without loyalty?" said Aleka bitterly.
Every time she asked herself this question, Diana came to mind. Since her exile, every memory of her became more vivid. Every battle they fought and every day they trained took on a different meaning. She was the princess. She was supposed to be the champion of the Amazon Code. But she abandoned it and her sisters. With every day that passed, this selfish act became more and more egregious.
"Does anyone care about loyalty anymore?" she exclaimed.
In her fit of rage, Aleka threw her sword across the gymnasium. She threw it with such force that it should have easily lodged itself permanently within the stone walls. But to her surprise, somebody caught it and did so with extraordinary ease.
"Is that a rhetorical question?" said a bemused voice, "Because we stopped asking that question centuries ago."
Knowing no ordinary mortal or Amazon for that matter could accomplish such a feat, Aleka took a defensive stance and turned towards the voice. She was apprehensively at first, but her poise eased the moment she recognized the source of the voice.
"Lord Apollo," gasped Aleka. "To what do I owe your divine presence?"
The imposing Amazon instinctively bowed, her tense demeanor shifting instantly in the presence of a god.
"Please, there's no need for such formality," said Apollo as he casually twirled the sword in his hand. "This is a decidedly informal visit for what I hope to be a truly menial issue."
"It is an honor and a privilege to serve a direct request from a god," said Aleka respectfully, "But if I would be so bold to ask – why did you come to me?"
"Well why not?" shrugged Apollo.
"I am just an acolyte. Surely, a task from a god is better served by Queen Hippolyta or a priestess."
"For a warrior of your reputation, your humility is astounding, Aleka. And under normal circumstances, that's exactly what I would do. But Queen Hippolyta and her ranking associates have been preoccupied lately and not just with her regal affairs."
"I…cannot comment on such affairs. It is not my place to do so," said Aleka.
"You need not be subtle. I'm not the only god on Olympus who has noticed a change in Hippolyta over the past year. It is truly tragic…the turmoil she has endured. But she continues to rule with heart and spirit."
"She is and always will be dedicated to her crown."
"I know she will. And perhaps that's all the more reason to give this task to you. I'd rather not burden Hippolyta more than she deserves. Since this matter involves Diana, I think it would be too strenuous on her heart," said Apollo.
Aleka cringed with anger upon hearing that name. She hid it as best she could in the presence of a god. Had anyone else dared say that name around her, she wouldn't have hesitated to rip their vocal chords out. She managed to restrain herself and stood willing to accommodate the wishes of the gods.
"I understand, Lord Apollo," said Aleka. "What is it that you need of me? Be confident in the utmost that I will carry it out fully."
"I know that you will," said Apollo smugly. "It has to do with this strange anomaly I noticed with Diana. As you know, whenever an Amazon is exiled from Themyscira, she forfeits her immortality and is doomed to age naturally like any ordinary woman. However, that doesn't appear to be happening with Diana."
"Forgive my ignorance, but isn't it too soon for her to age? She has only been in exile for a year."
"To an immortal, a year is nothing. But to a mortal, a year is plenty of time to show at least some signs of aging. I assumed as such when I took it upon myself to do a quick survey of life energies in the mortal world. With so many more beings wielding god-like powers running around, Zeus deems it necessary to monitor such beings occasionally. But the life energy emanating from Diana contained some anomalies."
"If I may ask, what kind of anomalies?" asked Aleka with growing curiosity.
"I'm not sure and I've neither the time nor the resources to figure it out," said Apollo. "Zeus has been running a much tighter ship on Olympus amidst the growing chaos. I thought it would be improper to bring this matter up during these trying times, especially since it might end up being insignificant. That is why I am asking you – a loyal and dedicated servant of the gods – to investigate this issue more thoroughly."
It still came off as an odd request. The gods usually didn't come to the Amazons for tasks such as this. Their primary focus had always been combat and sisterhood. Never-the-less, Aleka had no inclination to question the will of a god. At the same time, however, she was very much intrigued.
As angry as Aleka felt towards Diana, anything involving her was bound to affect Queen Hippolyta and the Amazons by default. So far, she had done nothing in man's world to undermine the sanctity of Themyscira or the Amazons. They knew she was still alive. She had probably created a new life for herself, as all exiled Amazons did. But if this anomaly, as Apollo called it, turned out to be something significant, then it was bound to affect them all. It may even end up giving her more reason to despise her former princess.
"You can count on me, Lord Apollo," vowed Aleka. "I will leave no stone unturned. I will uncover whatever is behind this anomaly."
"I know you will. You are as loyal an Amazon as they come. Believe me when I say that is a refreshing quality, especially among immortals," said Apollo.
"Some of us still believe in such values. I am among them," said Aleka proudly.
"Which is why I trust you'll do what needs to be done with the utmost discretion," he said. "Now I must warn you, this process will be somewhat tedious. It's going to take time to get the answers we seek."
"I will work for however long I must. And I will do so as discretely as necessary."
"I also cannot promise I'll be able to respond to your prayers at a moment's notice," added Apollo. "I must work under the assumption that Lord Zeus will keep every Olympian on high alert for the foreseeable future. So if I am unavailable, please take your findings to Queen Hippolyta."
"It will be done, my Lord. You have my word as an Amazon."
The imposing Amazon bowed respectfully. Apollo just nodded, acknowledging her vow and accepting it as a promise to the gods. Aleka didn't hesitate for a moment to begin honoring this promise. She left the gymnasium immediately with every intention of carrying out this task to the fullest. It had been a long time since she had received a direct request from a god. This was her chance to prove her loyalty to the Amazon Code, something their own princess failed to do. She was not going to make light of this opportunity.
Apollo sensed the extent of her motivation. He didn't need his godly abilities to see it. The moment he uttered Diana's name, Aleka reacted strongly. She was among the Amazons who refused to forgive the princess for abandoning them. That would only work to his advantage in the long run.
"Ah loyalty…the most pathetic and useful of all morals. It's almost too easy to enjoy," said Apollo, shaking his head in bemusement.
Still holding the sword he caught from Aleka, the Olympian laughed to himself as he casually tossed it across the room. This was the most tedious part of the plan, but it was also the part where he and Ares had to put in the least amount of effort. As any god of worth knew, the best plans weren't measured by the result of bold ambition, extreme toil, or glorious achievements. They were measured by how much could be accomplished by getting others to do the work for them.
"Now comes my least favorite part of any plan…waiting," sighed Apollo. "Guess just means I'll just have to take extra satisfaction in seeing how this plays out."
Metropolis – Daily Planet Rooftop
It had been an eventful morning for Clark and Diana to say the least. After Lois' unexpected visit, they went back to the less daunting challenges of their new relationship. Taking a nice relaxing shower together certainly helped get things back on track. It helped even more when that shower turned into some early morning lovemaking, both within the shower itself and on the bathroom sink. Between the events of last night and the years of complicated emotions, Clark and Diana had plenty of reasons to embrace this new relationship and put in the effort to make it work.
After cleaning themselves up, venting more passion in the process, things settled. Clark made some breakfast and Diana continued lounging around in Clark's old T-shirt. They didn't talk about Lois or the events of the previous night. They were content to keep things casual after all the recent emotional upheavals. But sooner or later, they would have to have a serious discussion about the future. They made it abundantly clear through their passions that they wanted to be lovers. Now they had to go about making it work.
After spending the morning like a normal couple after a date, they donned their less traditional attire and went on a brief flight around Metropolis as Superman and Wonder Woman. The crisp morning air helped to further clear their minds. It was also a new experience, being able to fly alongside someone. It highlighted another unique aspect of their new relationship. It wasn't just Clark Kent and Diana Prince who would be dating. Superman and Wonder Woman would be dating as well. They would have lives in and out of costume to share. They didn't just have jobs and civilian lives. They had duties and responsibilities as heroes. They had to somehow find a way to fit this into their new relationship.
This new challenge eventually led them to the roof of the Daily Planet. It offered one of the best views in Metropolis. It often helped Clark maintain perspective in doing what he did, both in and out of costume. Now standing next to Diana, holding her hand as they looked out over the city, his perspective changed a great deal. It would have to expand to make room for this amazing woman, carrying with it a great many risks and far greater rewards.
"What a beautiful view," commented Diana as she looked out over the city, "High enough to look so peaceful yet low enough to feel the rhythm of all the life below."
"It certainly is beautiful," said Clark distantly. "It's important to remind ourselves of how beautiful this world can be. Certain parts might make it feel ugly, but those parts will always be small in scale and even smaller in scope."
"In that sense, the scale of my world was painfully small for most of my life. Living on an island and fighting on the battlefields of Tartarus made it very difficult to appreciate such beauty."
"But you still do," Clark pointed out.
"Only because I've had the strength, the will, and the inspiration to do so," she replied, "And you're a big part of that, Kal."
"Well now I'm going to be an even bigger part. If we're going to be serious about having a relationship – a real, honest, genuine relationship – we have to be part of each other's world."
Diana turned away from the view and towards her new lover. She had a feeling this conversation would happen at some point. They already had confronted it in a very passionate manner. Now they had to confront it in a more reasonable manner. It wasn't nearly as overwhelming as the emotional outpouring from the previous night, but it was still every bit as daunting.
"We've both built pretty complicated lives on our own," Clark went on. "I have my civilian life as Clark Kent. I have my superhero life as Superman. You also have your life as Diana Prince. You now have a superhero life as Wonder Woman."
"Not to mention the life of an exiled princess, but I see what you're getting at," she added.
"Then I don't have to explain how difficult it'll be to build a relationship around that. From a purely pragmatic perspective, we could keep things casual. We could be lovers, keeping each other company when we want it and making love when we need it. But I don't want this to be casual."
"Neither do I," said Diana. "It just wouldn't be right, given all that we've been through."
"Then we're on the same page in terms of what we want. But in terms of going about getting it – this is where it gets murky. I live in Metropolis and have a career with the Dailey Planet. You live in London and have a career with the Red Cross. Sometimes, my work as Superman takes me off this world. And at some point, your life as Wonder Woman will take you places I can't go."
"You list these things as though they were obstacles."
"But they're not obstacles. They're our lives," said Clark strongly, "And they're good lives. We should be seeking ways to make them better and more fulfilling."
"And you think fitting a relationship into those lives would somehow undermine that?"
"No, that's not what I'm getting at. I guess what I'm trying to say is – I really have no idea how to go about this."
Once again, Clark willingly made himself vulnerable in ways he once never dared. This time, he did it without reservation. Diana wasn't just a pretty girl who went on a date with him. He felt a connection with this woman that made him want to be with her. They had already shared plenty of physical intimacy, but it felt like they were capable of sharing more.
"I spent the last few years keeping my life insulated," he continued, "I avoided anyone and anything that could possibly complicate it. And sometimes that life makes it hard to admire the greater beauty in the world."
"I know what you mean," said Diana. "I did the same when I first left Themyscira. I had to insulate myself from a world that everyone told me was so ugly and hostile. It took time for me to see just how beautiful it could be."
"But I don't want to live like that anymore…not when my feelings for you are so strong," said Clark.
"I don't want to live like that either. I want to live a better life and I want you to be part of that life."
"Then I guess that means we're both woefully ill-equipped to pursue a relationship at the moment. But that doesn't mean we can't make it work. And believe me, I want to make it work."
He took both her hands in his, communicating to her his desire and dedication to being the lover he needed to be for her. It made Diana vulnerable once again as well. She still wasn't used to such a feeling. Her Amazon instincts still dissuaded her, but her heart urged her forward.
She ended up calming his reservations about the challenge before them. She smiled and placed her hand over his, communicating all these feelings that she didn't fully understand. In seeing this man's dedication, Diana saw a new kind of beauty that no Amazon had ever witnessed. Standing before her was a man who, despite everything she had been led to believe about his kind, was capable of great compassion and love. She had seen so many instances during her work with the Red Cross. Now she was actually living it, which in turn put the idea of sharing a life into a new context.
"Kal, you don't need to convince me of your sincerity. You've already done that in so many different ways, going all the way back to the day we first met," said Diana with a heartfelt smile.
"Well it's a point something worth reinforcing," said Clark, now smiling back.
"I don't disagree, but I also think you're focusing too much on the challenges and not on the opportunities. I know you'll put in the necessary effort. I've every intention of doing the same. But before we start making this relationship happen, why don't we start by just letting it happen?"
She made it sound so reasonable yet so loving. It also helped that she moved in closer, allowing her warm presence to mix with his. Clark had a habit of overthinking a situation, but Diana had a knack for reminding him what felt right.
"Neither of us expected things to happen the way they did. I don't think anybody really intends to fall in love," she continued. "Our hearts have led us through plenty of difficult circumstances. I say let's keep following them and see where it leads us."
"You make it sound so simple," said Clark, already lost in her gaze.
"Well why can't it be simple? I'm in love with you. You're in love with me. Let's just start there and see where it leads us."
True to her words, Diana followed the whims of her heart, which led to another soft kiss. Clark followed her lead, kissing back and embracing her approach. In this simple act of affection, the many complications that lay before them felt less overwhelming. They may not have felt equipped, but they still had everything they needed to make this relationship as special as it deserved to be.
Under the warm midday sun and with the scenic view of the Metropolis skyline surrounding them, the foundation for Clark and Diana's love had been laid. There was so much to explore and so much to build on. They had no idea where it would lead them, but they were now prepared to face all these new challenges together.
Olympus – Ares' Containment Cell
There was little joy to be had while imprisoned in this endless abyss. Even a god was rendered powerless in the face of such isolation. That didn't stop the God of War from keeping up with his war plans. It also didn't stop him from taking a perverse pleasure in watching it come together even better than he anticipated.
Despite his limited power, he was able to form small vision portals within his cell. This allowed him to track each step of his battle plan. He recently confirmed that Apollo was still doing his part. Now Aleka was poised to do hers while Lex Luthor did his. The key to making it work was timing, which would prove to be a challenge. He also expected Diana to be a challenge after the role she played in the Metallo plot. He had even been concerned that she might pose a legitimate threat to his war.
However, the vision he saw of her and Superman fundamentally changed her capacity to affect this battle. Her being in love with Superman gave him the perfect weapon with which to contain her. It also gave him the perfect means of showing the consequences for defying the God of War.
"Princess Diana, you poor, pathetic fool," sighed Ares. "You've just made this infinitely harder for yourself and infinitely more satisfying for me."
Up next: Broken Dreams