Chapter 2

A/N: I just want to give thanks to all those who read and reviewed this fanfic. You all inspired me to do more fics like these. Anyways, I've decided to do both Bruce and Diana's perspective since it was suggested by one of the reviewers. So, the long wait is over. Here is chapter 2. Read &Review :)

My pride, my ego, my needs and my selfish ways

Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life

Now, I never, never get to clean up the mess I made

And it haunts me every time I close my eyes

It all just sounds like oh, oh, oh, oh

That night, Batman went out for a patrol. His foot placed on top of a gargoyle's head. He leaned forward and rested an arm to look down. The streets were quiet now. Somehow, almost all of the villains that he knew were locked up in Arkham and in Blackgate. He sighed heavily. He was on top of a building that was across the Iceberg lounge. It was the same rooftop where he and Diana did a stakeout for an anonymous tip J'onn had received.

He envisioned seeing her standing beside him, waiting impatiently. Her long raven hair danced with the wind and carried her scent towards him. The wondrous fragrance had sent shivers down his spine. The man in him roared in lust as he drank in the sight of her. He did his best not to take her down then and there. When she tried to flirt with him, he did his best not to flirt back. It would have led to something more. Especially when she placed a strand of hair behind her ear, Bruce did his best not to smirk in delight.

She tried her best to show him that, somehow, their friendship could become something more, but he only thought about himself when he knew she could protect herself from the harm and danger they were to face if they would be together. She could take down the Joker and the rest of his rogues with a single flick of her finger and yet all he ever thought about was that it was dangerous.

Batman shifted his foot on top of the gargoyle's head. He looked at the people coming out of the Iceberg lounge. There were couples who had come out of the lounge with smiles on their faces. Some were still swaying a bit after enjoying their dance. Batman remembered how Diana told him that he owed her a dance. He gave himself the chance to smile when she outdid herself in solving the puzzle fast. Diana had always reminded him of that dance every time she had the chance to bring it up. He, on the other hand, never really did make the move of taking her out dancing or taking her in his arms and dance with her during the charity events they both attended. It was such a simple thing to do, but all he could use as an excuse was that their relationship would never work or Gotham was to be given priority before anything else.

Batman then remembered that one horrible night when he was injured from battling Penguin and his thugs. It was in the Batcave and Alfred had been treating his wounds. He could never forget that night.

"Bruce," she said in a trembling voice. Diana watched in horror at the long wound Bruce had on his back. She also noticed a bandage wrapped around half his body. Diana thought that he might have broken a few ribs again. Bruce turned his head a bit to the side to gaze at her face. She moved towards the medical table where Bruce sat still, his back facing her. Alfred had been cleaning up his wounds and was about to stitch the wound close. Diana walked around the table until she could see Bruce's face. She clutched it with both hands and gazed at him for what felt like a minute.

Alfred cleared his throat after finishing up in stitching the wound and excused himself, "I'll be upstairs if you need anything." He nodded towards Bruce, "Master Bruce," then to Diana, "Miss Diana," then he went upstairs along with the used medical supplies. The cave fell silent after Alfred left. Bruce and Diana merely gazed at each other. "Why do you let things like this happen to you, Bruce?" Diana said as she moved her hands on his shoulders. Bruce stiffened at the feel of her touch on his skin. "I have to, Diana. Gotham needs me," he said as he slowly got up from the medical table and walked past Diana to head to the Batcomputer. "You're risking your life, Bruce. You should be thankful Nightwing tracked your location or you would've been…" her voice trailed off. She couldn't say it. It scared her to say it or to let it happen.

Bruce stop midstride and turned to look at her, "Everyday, Princess," he paused, "We risk our lives everyday in order to help out others." She narrowed her eyes at him, "Yes, we do, Bruce," she walked to where he stood. The click of her heels echoed throughout the cave, "but that doesn't mean that you'd let yourself die out there without anyone knowing." Bruce could hear the fear in her voice. She touched his face, "Let us help you, Bruce. You and I both know you can't do this on your own." He turned his head away from her touch, "I can take care of every situation, Princess." This time, he returned his gaze towards Diana, but he now gave her an icy stare, "Metas are not allowed in my city." He walked away from her and headed to the Batcomputer. He sat down on his chair like a king would in his throne.

Diana followed him immediately. Her heels were clicking fast as if she was running towards him. She forced the chair to turn towards her and glared at Bruce, "That's the problem with you, Bruce. You think you can do everything. You're so selfish at times. You think you can handle every situation without any help, but we all know that you do," she was shouting at him this time. Bruce merely looked away from her while she kept on reprimanding him. "You're such a selfish, egotistic, proud man. I have had it with you," she glared at him one last time before she turned around and left without another word. It never came to him that it would be the last time he would ever see her or even feel her touch.

Bruce closed his eyes in regret. He never realized that Diana would eventually give up on him. How could he let such a strong, beautiful, kind-hearted woman like her walk out of his life in just a snap? He was a man of plans. He had contingency plans and back up plans for each one that he made, but this was one situation where he could never make any remedies or back up plans for that matter. He could never tidy up the mess he had done. Suddenly, few raindrops fell from the sky and soon enough rain came pouring down the quiet city. Bruce decided to end his patrol when all of a sudden, he heard his communicator beep.

"What is it, Pennyone?" He referred to Alfred. "Sir, Black Mask is back in Gotham. He's in Gotham Museum stealing a rare artifact called the "Wings of Icarus". I think he may want it for his own personal collection." Batman grunted, "Is he still in the area?" Alfred replied, "Yes, sir. I think he's on a shopping spree." Bruce needed this distraction. It was high time he got diverted from thinking about Diana.

Diana walked to the corridors until she reached the infirmary. She had noticed that the doctors were hustling and were in haste. She asked one of the assistants who was passing her way in front of her. It was a blonde woman holding a tray of used medical supplies, "What's going on?" The worry in her voice was standing out. "Batman is in a critical condition," replied the woman in a trembling voice. Diana's eyes expressed in horror at the thought of Bruce all bloody and wounded. "Where is he now?" Diana asked once again. She wanted to see him. Her heart raced in panic. "He's in the operating room right now, Ma'am," replied the woman before she ran to the supply room.

Diana rushed to the operating room and found a number of doctors working on Bruce. The doctors had kept his cowl on as they operated him. Diana's eyes were now filled with tears. Both of her hands covered her mouth when she almost uttered his name. J'onn had also been there to assist the doctors. She walked towards him, "What happened, J'onn?" The Martian looked at her for a second before he replied, "He broke a few bones after falling off a third-story building. Gladly, he landed on a pile of trash bags, but still the impact broke a rib or two. He also received long cuts and bruises maybe after putting out quite a fight. He received three deep wounds about four inches deep after being stabbed by a knife. He's still in a critical condition, but one of the doctors says that he'll survive this." Diana's worry lessened a bit, but still her heart was racing, "Who took him here?" J'onn replied calmly, "Pennyworth tracked him down after a few hours of not giving any updated sit reps, so he asked for Nightwing to go to Batman's location. Pennyworth knew that he could not treat the injuries Batman had received so he decided to let the league take care of Batman since he could use all the help he could get. Superman immediately rushed down the cave to take Batman here in the watchtower infirmary."

Diana glanced again at the unconscious body of Bruce being operated by the doctors. She knew he was vey strong for a mortal. As Superman would always joke, "Batman wouldn't let a few bullets kill him." J'onn felt the worry Diana was feeling. He could still sense the love she felt for him. He touched her shoulder in comfort, "He'll get through this, Diana. He's had worst and yet he survived it. I'm sure he can survive from this. He's Batman after all." Diana's smiled didn't reach her sad eyes, "I know he will." They both got out of the operating room, leaving the doctors to do what needed to be done.

Diana sat down on one of the benches outside the infirmary. Her eyes were distant as she looked at the operating room where Batman was still being treated. She felt confusion right now. She was with Clark now and yet, she still felt something for Bruce. She had to worry about him. Bruce was one of her colleagues after all, but was that really the reason why? She clutched her head on both of her hands. Superman had sat down beside her and touched her shoulder. She looked up at him with tears gathering in her eyes. He ran his hand through her hair and frowned. They were both quiet that moment. Not one of them knew what the right words to say were. Superman took her hand in his and ran his thumb on her palm. "He'll survive this," he said as he broke the silence. Diana nodded in agreement.

Diana thought back to the days when Bruce and here were still seeing each other. She did love him and she enjoyed being with him. She couldn't forget the way he would make love to her. Bruce was very passionate with her. He was very sweet and the way he ran his hands all over her body, it was such an intoxicating sensation. She could still feel the heat of where his hands once touched her. His soft lips, she could still remember, covered every inch of her body. Diana closed his eyes as she tried to remember everything she had shared with Bruce.

After a while, Superman left her after he was called out for a mission in Metropolis City. Diana was left sitting all alone on the bench. Sometimes, she would glance at the operating room wanting to know how Bruce was doing. Her heart danced in delight when J'onn came out of the room. She wanted to hear some good news from him. J'onn stood in front her with a smile, "He's in a stable condition now, Diana. You may see him now." Diana's eyes glowed in delight. The panic and worry in her heart disappeared at the good news she had heard. "He's in the recovery room now," J'onn said with a smile this time. She nodded with a smile and J'onn felt the happiness she radiated.

She slowly opened the door to find Bruce looking very serene while he slept. She sat down on one of the chairs beside the bed. She held his hand as she gazed at his face. She touched his face at smiled. Then she frowned, remembering how she had left him that night in the cave. After she left him all alone, she kept on crying while she flew back to her apartment in New York. As she arrived in her apartment, she sat down on her bed and felt her whole world shatter to pieces. Bruce had his faults and so did she. She was getting tired of it all. She covered her face with both of her hands and wept silently, letting the tears flood through her shaking hands. Diana propped her head on the soft bed and watched Bruce sleep, then her eyes slowly closed letting her drift off to sleep as well.

Bruce woke up to find Diana with her head propped on the side of the bed. His body felt very sore after what had happened to him. He couldn't remember what had happened to him after he had blacked out. His eyes darted back at Diana, this time she was lifting her head and the sight of her beautiful face brought him delight. The heart monitor was beeping rapidly when his heart reacted at the sound of her voice. "Bruce," she uttered. His name sounded heavenly when she spoke his name. She glanced at the beeping heart monitor. She chuckled a bit and glanced back at Bruce who was smiling this time. The sight of Diana laughing was what made Bruce smile.

"How are you feeling?" She asked. Bruce grunted, "Like both you and Superman threw me against a wall," Bruce joked. "And you still have the nerve to make stupid jokes in your situation," she chided flippantly. He chuckled a bit as he looked at Diana then it hit him.

Diana was with Clark now.

He was alone now and they were together, perfect for each other.

Although it hurts, I'll be the first to say that I was wrong

Oh, I know I'm probably much too late

To try and apologize for my mistakes

But, I just want you to know

"You don't have to be here," his smile was now a frown. His voice was monotonous. She took his hand with hers, "Don't say that, Bruce." He slowly took his hand from hers, "You're no longer mine, Diana." Diana noted how he called her 'Diana' instead of calling her 'Princess' which he usually did. "You should be with Kent now and not here with me," Bruce closed his eyes for a short while. "I didn't treat you the way that you should've been. I didn't think for a second just how perfect we could've been," Bruce sighed heavily. He winced when he hurt one of his broken ribs. Diana acted on attending to him, but he raised his hand gesturing to her to stop. "I didn't take you dancing even though I owed you one. I didn't give you all my extra time because I was always in the cave sulking and brooding. I didn't allow myself to love you even though my heart has been screaming at me to do so," he gazed at her this time, "You were already there, Diana, but I had always been blinding myself. I hate myself for having too much pride and for being so selfish that I didn't immediately realize, you were already drifting slowly away from me and by the time that you did," Bruce paused, "I was already too late to take all those things back."

Diana fell silent for a moment. Bruce really did want her. He really did care for her. He really did feel for her. The tears in her eyes fell down to her cheeks. She didn't know what to say to him. Bruce looked away from her. "I don't want you to get hurt," he then pleaded. "Please stop crying, Diana, especially when I'm the reason why." Diana's tears even flooded more as she gazed at him. "I love you, Diana. I always have and always will, but maybe it's time I let you be loved even more. It's time I let you go and let you feel even more loved. It's time I let you go and let you feel just how important you are."

I hope he buys you flowers, I hope he holds your hand

Give you all his hours when he has the chance

Take you to every party cause I remember how much you loved to dance

Do all the things I should have done when I was your man.

"I hope Kent will show you just how much he loves you always and gives you importance. I hope he treats you better than how I did," he paused, gathering all the strength he needed to voice out his feelings for her. "Even though there was no us, Princess," he sighed heavily again as he looked back at her, "I believe that there was something between us and that I will never forget it." Bruce fell silent for a full minute. Diana was still gazing at him, speechless because of what she had just heard from Bruce. "You can leave now," He broke the silence between them. Diana touched his bare shoulder. Her touch felt cold against his heating skin. He once again looked away from her, "Just leave. Please," he pleaded, "It's better this way." Diana gazed at him one last time before, stood from her seat, and headed out the door. Bruce was used to seeing her walk out from him. Diana walking out of his life was the one thing he regretted the most and he hated himself for letting her do so.

A/N: So, I hope you enjoyed reading chapter 2. I know Bruce is still sad, but no worries, he'll find happiness once again in Chapter 3. Thanks again, guys. Don't forget to review. - B