Chapter 33: The More Things Change...
"What are doin' here, man? 'Dis ain't safe. 'Dis sort of stuff's never safe 'round these parts. 'Da Bat's watchin' us. He's always watchin' this sort of stuff! I like my kneecaps how they are, man! We shouldn't be doin' this!"
"Relax, would ya? What did I tell you a week ago when we started on this? Have you still not watched the news? The Bat's still shook up from what he was going through with that cloud thing. Even if he is out on the streets again, he won't be firing on full cylinders. He won't know a thing about this. No one does. Relax, buddy. We're in the clear!"
"I don't know man, I don't know. What 'bout the young Bat Brats? Or da cops? Look, I know we done the leg work already to get 'dis far, but there's no goin' back from 'dis. We get caught doin' this, an' we don't shower without rear-view mirrors for years!"
"How many times do I have to tell you to relax? None of them have any reason to be looking for us, and no reason to be snooping around here either! We're not exactly high up on any known food chain, and as for this place, have you forgotten how much work it took for us to track it down, even with knowing that it was out here some place? Ryzhkov and the others kept quiet about it all for months! There's no way that they'll have blabbed now. The Russian mafia took great steps to keep their bonus stash hidden. Its a good job for us that I pay attention to these things! You'd have never remembered that little throwaway comment that mobster made when we made them that delivery way back. But we've found it now. After all that hunting, we've found it. Man, the hard part's over! No one's gonna stop us now. We take the stash, we get it away from here, and then we make ourselves an absolute fortune! Ain't nobody going to stand in our way, 'cause none of 'em know that this is here or that we know about this. The cops, the mob, the Bat. None of 'em. Now grow a pair, and let's get that door open. I want to check out the goods."
"All right, man. If you're sure..."
The second goon still didn't sound convinced as he stepped forwards. The two had lingered on the street corner., underneath a broken street lamp, taking shelter in the dark while they debated following through with their plan. Now that debate was over. Now they were acting on it.
They crossed the street, clearly heading for a rack of self storage bays that stood over there that had largely fallen into disrepair. This wasn't a part of the city that was regularly in use, even by the criminals and the corrupt. It was just a near empty slum, making it nigh on perfect for the Russian Mafia to turn into a hidden stash for the drugs they had been trying to unleash into Gotham. For a while they paused again when they were faced with all of those bays garage-like doors. One of them literally started counting off bays on his fingers, part of him making sure that he got the right one. Eventually, though, he was settled.
"It's this one," he said to his ally. "Break out the bolt cutters. Let's get in there, see what we got. Then I'll call in the truck so we can start loading."
"Right," the other one grunted, doing as he was told. He had the bolt cutters in hand all along, lifting them up and getting to work. The mobsters had fairly hidden their stash in plain sight. With the area so bland even the criminals kept away, it was only secured by an old fashioned padlock so as not to attract attention. However, it had attention now, and that padlock wasn't much. It was soon removed. The door to the storage bunker was soon rolling open, revealing what laid beyond.
It was exactly what they had been expecting and more. Tonnes of the drugs, stacked from top to bottom. Enough to do some serious harm to the innocent and the easily manipulated. Enough to make the pair of criminals ecstatic. The first one, the brains of the operation, slapped his fellow in the arm as both of their eyes lit up.
"We made it man, we made it! Welcome to el Dorado man! We've flipping made it!"
"And 'dere ain't no Bat to be seen. Heh he! Call 'dat truck in! Let's get all of this loaded up! Let's get 'dis all out of here. And then let's laugh at the Bat all 'da way to 'da bank! You were right, man. He ain't nowhere to be seen. Heh, I knew he wasn't as all powerful as the legends say!"
"Think again, boys."
He growled it out, using his full fearsomeness in every syllable. He had been watching it all unfold from the shadows, not nearly as absent and fragile as they believed. The criminals' efforts to track the drugs stash down wasn't as successfully secretive as they had thought it was. He had been tracking them all night, just waiting for them to reach the stash. Catching them with the contraband meant more than just catching them. It meant they would get a custodial sentence more like what they deserved, and that was what he was here to bring about.
For Batman was there to deliver justice.
The criminals didn't see him until he was right on top of them. He leapt out of the darkness from up above them, cape billowing around him to make him look three times his actual size. At least one of the two men, though, never really had the chance to see that. Batman hit him hard, hands slamming into the criminals shoulders, knocking him down to the concrete below. With a crack, his head struck it, not hard enough to do anything fatal, but hard enough to take him completely out of play.
The other one, the stupid one, didn't last much longer. His reactions were nothing to write home about. In a fluid motion he rolled over the body of the unconscious man and back to his feet. With great speed for a man without any powers, his hands were being rammed into pressure points, one in his side and one up in his neck. The guy looked like he was instantly going down after that, but, especially considering what he had been planning to do, that wasn't enough for Batman. Using pure brute force, he hurled his fist against the villain's jaw. Teeth were sent flying, hitting the pavement only a fraction before the rest of the second unconscious foe.
But Batman would be wrong to think that that meant it was done. The bang was ripping through the air from practically the instant he had made himself visible, coming as the shotgun as fired. The two criminals were not alone in their villainy there that night. They had practically said as much. Now the truck driver was making his presence known, and he was fighting back.
Luckily Batman knew that would happen. He had watched the foes arrive. He had known all along that there were three of them. That was why he had attacked as he had. The speed of it, the movement involved and the truck driver's weapon of choice all meant that by the time he had pulled the trigger, Batman was already moving from the spot where he had landed. He didn't wait around to let the driver take another shot at it either.
The driver was stood out in the street, over by that broken street light where the other two had huddled earlier. Batman had kept tabs on him throughout. That was why he never stopped moving, never stopped acting. The second crook was only just dealt with when Batman was pulling the grapnel from his belt. He didn't hesitate before firing it.
The cable latched on, right on target. It curled around the truck driver's knees, tight. One hard yank was then all it took. The truck driver was sent flying backwards, unable to keep his feet. Even though he did fire again, it was irrelevant. This time the shot was sent harmlessly skywards.
The driver cracked the ground hard just like his fellow before him, but this one stayed conscious. He was soon scrambling, trying to fight on. He had dropped his gun when he fell, but he was desperate to get it back. His fingers were stretching desperately. They were soon able to grasp onto the barrel–
"Wrong move, man," Batman growled again. He wasn't showing the signs of it, but he had had to act quickly to cross the street in time. Now his boot was resting heavily on the shotgun, preventing the truck driver from utilising the weapon once more. The next second he was dropping his body fast, slamming his knee into the drivers temple. Once again, he made sure it was nothing lethal, but the foe wouldn't be causing any sort of problem any time soon.
The crooks were down. They were all taken care of. Initially, at least. Now was the time for the authorities to do their part. Batman was activating his comm even as he was getting to work tying the three guys up right there with the stash of drugs they had been after. They had thought it would be their fortune. Instead it had been their undoing.
"Alfred," Batman grunted into the now open comm line to the Batcave while securing the rope binding the three crooks together very securely. "Send the message to Gordon. The scavengers are apprehended, with enough evidence here to put them away for a long time, and make sure the rest of the Russian mobsters aren't getting loosed any time soon either."
"Very well, Sir," Alfred's voice returned instantly in Batman's inbuilt cowl earpiece. The butler had been listening on from the cave all night, just as he had been every night since the incident with the cloud. Batman had insisted on getting back to work in Gotham near instantly, despite Alfred's protestations that he was there to recover from his ordeal. Alfred was worried about him, Batman knew that, but he had a job to do, a job that he knew he was well enough to handle. Still, Alfred had insisted on keeping an eye on him at all times, just in case. "The Commissioner will have the message now. No doubt he and his officers will be there shortly. I do hope, though, that you haven't forgotten the other appointment you had planned for tonight?"
"No, Alfred, I hadn't forgotten," Batman confirmed to the closest thing he had had to a father for so many years. He finished locking the three criminals down as he did so. Just as planned, all three were still out of it, and would be staying that way. But just to be sure that no one else wandered past and saw what they had been after, Batman pushed the storage bay door too as he straightened back to his full height. Alfred's message to Gordon would inform him that it was there, but it wouldn't do to let some kid stumble upon that lot. Not when Batman knew he couldn't stay long enough to keep guard.
"I'm glad," Alfred replied, sounding it. He knew what Batman was doing tonight, beyond his usual quest for justice. In fact, Alfred had actively encouraged it. He had been encouraging such acts for years, hoping to save some of Bruce Wayne's humanity from the dark of Batman. The fact that this time Bruce had done all the work himself, had actively sought it, had only made the old butler proud. "You better get moving though. The Batcomputer is picking up the presence of a metahuman entering the city, from the air, coming from across the ocean."
"Understood, Alfred," Batman responded, keeping his voice stoic, though he knew that Alfred would easily pick through that. No one knew him better than Alfred. No one probably ever would, no matter how much he let them in now. "I'm on my way."
"Good luck, Sir," Alfred said at that. He was sounding happy as well as proud now. "I'll give the two of you some privacy. I shall see you when you get back, Master Bruce."
"Goodnight, Alfred," Batman said back, doing so with a smirk of his own. The comm clicked off after that. Batman hoped that Alfred would take the hint and go rest, but he knew that the butler was bound to sit up to wait for him to get home, just as he had done every night for the past two weeks or so. Still, Batman hadn't the time to think any more about it. Alfred was right. Batman's link to the computer in the cave was showing him the presence of the meta over Gotham. He had to go and intercept that person.
Pointing upwards into the sky, Batman launched his grapnel. In the next second the high tensile rope was dragging him up into the darkness of the night, and to what awaited him across the city. With no one around to listen in on his thoughts he wasn't afraid to admit it.
He had been looking forward to this for days.
Even if she wasn't affected by the temperature, Wonder Woman could feel the brisk air whipping around her as she flew over the ocean. She had been flying for a while now. It had been nice to see her people again, her mother included, but now was definitely the time for her to return home.
Home. That was the first time she had ever thought that word without it being in reference to Themyscira. She would always be an Amazon, loyal to her kind, but that one single word was perfect symbolism of how times could change. It was only a few years since she thought very little of Man's World. Now she was feeling like it was a place where she could truly belong. It was all a product of spending time out in the wider world, of learning the goodness of Man's World that the Amazon's had been cut off from for too long. It was all a product of time. Over the last few years, all that she had been through, all the people she had met and all the experiences she had had had changed her, hopefully for the better. And she had enjoyed that time thoroughly, finding her true place in the world.
A place she was looking forward to remaining in for a long time to come. Meaning this place truly was her home now.
But Themyscira would never be forgotten. Her feelings towards that paradise would never lessen, no matter how much her feelings for this one would grow. That was why she had immediately decided to return there when it became clear that she would be taking time away from the Justice League, to allow her mind to recover from the efforts within the cloud.
Her mother had certainly been glad to see her, as had her fellows. Her time in exile from the island was long since forgotten. It had truly been paradise again for those days, or at least it would have been if Diana had been able to forget her life beyond the island. The purpose of her being there was to rest, to avoid thinking of all that could remind her of the cloud and what happened in there. Yet not for one second did she manage to do that. Her compassion wouldn't allow it. She couldn't just switch off and pretend like none of it had happened, especially when so many people had been hurt during those events.
And of course, there was a certain other issue on her mind that stopped her pulling her thoughts away. Hippolyta had picked up on the near absence of Diana's mind over many of their days together. She had questioned her about it, but thankfully not to a pressing degree. Diana still wasn't ready to reveal all, not even to her mother. It wasn't because she was worried about how her mother or the other Amazon's would react. Diana knew that she was doing nothing wrong, and she trusted the Amazon's to accept her decisions. However, she also knew she had to do the honourable thing first. Despite all that was said before, there was still much to be discussed with him before the message could be spread any further.
Still, those days on Themyscira had been happy ones. Even hearing that J'onn would be going away for a while couldn't selfishly sadden her. Even being away from the League like she was, she had still heard the stories of what was happening. She had heard all of the good news about John and Shayera, of the rebuilding in Metropolis and of the justice facing Felix Mulligan. And she had received another message on top of that, a message from Bruce.
"I think we've healed for long enough."
It had been simplistic, but she had filled in the pieces for herself without any problems. She knew him well enough by now to pick up on all of that. It was Bruce's way of saying that he was done recovering, that as far as he was concerned their time apart need not be extended. It was his way of saying that it was time for the two of them to finally talk through all the issues they still had to settle between them. It was Bruce's way of saying that it might finally be time for the two of them to get that shot at a proper life together.
And it had been his way of inviting her into Gotham to do all of those things. Bruce was a man of respect, but if he had felt the need justified it he would have come to her on Themyscira. At the very least his message would have organised a neutral venue, or told her a time to find him in the cave. Instead, Diana was convinced he was openly letting her into his city, the place that was entirely his jurisdiction, via his absence of any other description of where they should meet. She doubted very much that she would be there to help him in his crusade, but the simple fact he seemed to be so willingly letting her loose in his city, for a time at least, was encouraging. It alone made Diana smile.
By now, she was almost there. Once that message had come through she hadn't waited around, not longer than it took to say farewell to her mother and the rest anyway. Flying over the mighty oceans using her gods given gifts, she was now close enough to see the lights of Gotham against the backdrop of the black night sky. That said only one thing to her; Batman would be in action.
Seeing those lights only inspired Wonder Woman to fly even faster. In next to no time she was over the city. In even less, she was touching down atop one of its many towers. She didn't know which one, nor did she know where Bruce would be. He hadn't given her that much detail, or any really, but Wonder Woman had absolutely no doubt that he would find her. She just had to wait for him to show up. However, despite keeping both eyes open from an exceptional vantage point, despite knowing it would happen, she still didn't actually see him coming.
"Princess."
The voice, typically, sounded from behind her, nearly causing her to jump out of her skin. Hera, how did he do that? Wonder Woman quickly spun to face him, though, forcing her regal composure back into place as, for the first time in days, they were reunited. He was stood there, at his full height, in his full cape, cowl and armour, looking every bit of the Batman that he wanted the criminals to see. And yet, beneath all of that, Wonder Woman could definitely see more. She could definitely see that, for once and almost certainly under a very conscious effort, he wasn't keeping his true self entirely buried. Not from her. As if to prove it, he added a few extra words.
"I'm glad you came."
Wonder Woman couldn't help herself. Amazon warrior or no, it had been a long couple of weeks, and she was definitely glad to see him again. The distance between them now was short, but she was still hurling herself across it as if it were great. Before he knew it, she had her arms wrapped around him, catching him in a very meaningful hug. As she did so, she too said a very simple statement that expressed so much more.
"So am I."
They were together again. Both had known that they needed to be apart immediately after the cloud, to be used to having separate minds again and to recover from the strains they had been put under, but that was never going to last forever. It had been nowhere near as long as it had been during his self imposed exile, and yet this time the reunion felt far more poignant. Last time, he had returned for business, because he still had his job to do. This time, it was all about them. Just seeing her again almost brought a great light to his darkness. Her rushing over and wrapping him up in her embrace definitely did.
Batman returned that embrace as soon as he could, but he was at first uncharacteristically frozen with joy. Her smell was filling his nostrils as well as her sight filling his eyes. His senses had never been as treated as they were in that moment. Even in the more sentimental moments, during the cloud attack he had never had the chance to enjoy her like he had now. He was determined to enjoy it. Hopefully she was feeling the same. However, despite everything, despite how he had found a way to let her in to his caged existence, he was still Batman. He still had his caution to get around before this moment could be enjoyed to its fullest. He still had to check before he could say what he really wanted to. Releasing her from his hold, she cottoned on and let go herself, gazing up into his shrouded eyes.
"Something on your mind, Batman?" she asked before he could say anything, clearly picking up on his thoughtfulness as well as making a light-hearted reference to recent events. The smile on her face never wavered, the wondrous, beautiful smile.
"I was going to ask if you were all right," Batman replied, gazing deep into her ocean blue eyes. He couldn't actually read her thoughts any more, but he could still try to get a read on her. "We went through a lot up there. I wanted to make sure that it hadn't done any lasting damage, that there weren't any side effects from it all. Especially mental ones."
Wonder Woman actually smiled a little broader, though she did hesitate for a second. She was clearly having to fight off saying his birth name. She would know that he wouldn't approve, not here, out in the open of Gotham, even if they were alone up on the rooftop. "Batman, you should know the answer to those questions better than me, oh mere mortal. It should be me asking you the question. But since I know you're going to insist, I'm fine. It was strange at first, empty even, and I felt drained for days, but the rest worked. Physically, mentally, I feel like none of this ever happened, health wise. I hope the same goes for you?"
Batman nodded. "I'm getting used to it again. It's amazing how easy it is to forget how a simple thing like having your thoughts to yourself can feel."
"Tell me about it," Wonder Woman returned. "It's not everyday you have full access to the Batman's brain. And it wasn't a bad place to be, despite what you tell people."
"Then you are perfect," Batman couldn't help but say. "Otherwise you wouldn't be able to say that."
Wonder Woman smiled again, though at Batman's comment a trace of sadness did cross her eyes. "I can't deny that plenty of your memories were...difficult to see. There was plenty in there which saddens me greatly. But I regret sharing none of it. I accept that you don't want me to lose myself to them, but some of them are going to stay with me, and I'm glad of that, no matter how sad those memories can be. After all, they make me feel that much closer to you."
"I was right, you are perfect," Batman repeated himself, gazing ever deeper into those fabulous eyes. "No one would be able to handle those things like you. I certainly wouldn't if our pasts were reversed. Thankfully I don't have to. I remember some of your memories too, Diana. I remember the paradise you grew up in, the image you see and wish to spread throughout our world. I remember the true goodness I got to see throughout your past, even deeper than what the world can see. It is...inspiring. Truly. It's been inspiring me even more to fight to clean up this city, giving me hope every single day since we left the cloud of what it may one day become. You have been inspiring me every day. Just like you have been doing since the day I met you."
It was Wonder Woman's turn to gaze deeply into him then. "You really mean that don't you? Oh, don't answer, I know that you do. Its very flattering. Your dedication to the crusade for justice is inspiring too, as is the size of your heart for a man who by all rights should have none. For you to say those things... I'm very honoured. And its a very good sign for our future."
Their future. Ever since that night in the Batcave eight months ago, they had both established that they were going to give a life together a go. Hearing her actually say the words meant more than just thinking them though. They were so meaningful that they overwhelmed the gladness Diana's other words ought to have brought with an even greater amount.
And yet, at the same time, those two words raised so many other thoughts. It was time. It was finally time to ask all the questions and solve the issues that still hung between them. It was time to get those things out of the way, to enable them both to then live their future. There was so much more that he would rather do first, but right his brain was well trained to rule his passions. After all, there was no time like the present.
"Diana, before we go any further, we need to talk," Batman told her, keeping things serious. "It'd be too easy to simply allow our hearts to run away with us, but there's more to both of us than that. We need to sort out the last few details to make sure we can actually make this work. We need to figure out how we're going to do this, and how its going to affect everything else."
"I don't see why it should change anything," Wonder Woman was quick to reply, practically shrugging it away. "We both have our own missions, our own priorities as Wonder Woman and Batman. I don't, and will never expect you to abandon Gotham, nor will I try to make you change your way of saving it, even if it isn't my own. At the same time, I won't stop being the champion of the Amazons and an envoy of peace to the world. But we don't have to forget those to embrace our base instincts too, our passions. There's no reason why we have to lose what makes us who we both are to make this work. I think we're both stronger than that."
Batman certainly agreed there, but there was something else that was more on his mind. "And the League? Relationships amongst the team has caused issues in the past, Princess. Dare we risk it happening again?"
"Yes, Batman, we do," Diana again quickly jumped in, sounding slightly forceful. Immediately Batman could tell that she was seeing practically right through him, even with the link between them long gone. "The world needs us both, still. The League needs us both. I'm not leaving it. Don't you go thinking of abandoning us again, either. You've just put yourself through months of training to make it work. And I can assure you that the past won't repeat itself with us. The Amazon's are not preparing for a full scale invasion of Man's World. Besides, John and Shayera seem to have worked things out all right in the end. No, it shouldn't have to change anything regarding the Justice League either."
She was right, of course. She so often was. Damn, there was no one else out there who could make him change his mind like she could, no one else out there who could make him see sense like she could. The thought had indeed struck him that it might be best for him to step back from the Justice League and focus entirely on Gotham instead, but after just one short speech from Diana that thought was already sounding ridiculous and paranoid. Nothing would have to change unless they forced things to, not on that front anyway. Just so long as outside forces didn't try to enforce that change.
"We'll have to be careful, though," Batman told her, his change of subject no doubt confirming to Diana his concurrence with what she had just said. She knew that he wasn't a man of excessive words, after all. "After what happened in the cloud's final moments, people are already talking. They may not believe it any more, but they're talking. With Lois' help we may have dodged the worst of it this time, but that's not the kind of attention either of us want."
Diana actually let out a small laugh at that. "If anyone knew who you were under that cowl they'd understand how odd that sounds. But I know what you mean. It's a good job I'm not here looking for overly public displays of affection. I just need you to be you, and to be with you. Other than that we can be as subtle as we have to be."
Batman didn't have to mention that it wasn't just the attention of the general public that he had been thinking about, but also that of their respective enemies. No doubt if any of them learnt what was truly developing between Batman and Wonder Woman they might start getting ideas, plans for villainy against them both. That wasn't something that either of them should encourage, even if they could handle it. However, once again an issue had been dealt with before it needed to be raised thanks to Diana's words. Two birds, one stone. Instead, it was time for the next one to be faced.
"In that case, we just need to sort out that face of yours."
"Excuse me?" Up until then she had been all smiles. After his last sentence, a fire had come to Wonder Woman's façade. Why was obvious. It was because Batman had baited her. He took note of her reaction. Repeats may be fun.
"The whole world knows Wonder Woman, Diana," he explained, allowing the grin to creep onto his face as apprehension dawned on hers. "Practically everyone out there knows your face. No design of glasses can hide it entirely. Now that you're mine, I don't intend on keeping you cooped up in the manor or the cave when we're not on duty. I plan on showing you the world, in all of its splendour. But with the end of the cloud already putting the idea of Batman and Wonder Woman in people's minds, I can't exactly do that without putting my identity at risk. And I'd rather not have to make you wear a paper bag on your head through it all. That sight's far too lovely to hide."
The smile was definitely back on Wonder Woman's face, a rather cheeky look to it as she mulled over what he was saying. "Oh don't worry, Batman, now that you're mine too, I don't intend on letting anyone find out your secrets until you're ready to tell them. Besides, Kal must have some trick to pulling off such a simple disguise. You don't have to show me the world, I've seen plenty of it for myself, but I can always ask him for some pointers. We'll find a way to pull this off outside of our costumes, don't worry about that. But for now, let's just take things one day at a time. Play your cards right and we'll have plenty of them to come to figure things out properly. This is new to both of us after all. No doubt this road won't be as smooth as either of us would like, but we can't pre-empt everything. There's no point trying to second guess it all. Let's just enjoy the ride, for a long, long time."
A moment ago she had killed two birds with one stone. Well this latest stone had taken out an entire flock. Batman knew that he could well have wound up trying to sort everything out right here and now. It was just in his nature to try and figure all problems out straight away, before allowing any time for himself. It was the way of the Batman. He had all sorts of things lined up to question her on next, chief among them to try and decide how to handle the fact that he was only a mortal, whereas she would last forever. However, Wonder Woman had shown him another way once again, as only she could. One day at a time. Yes, that would be better. That way all options were left open to them both, and all other avenues could be explored as they were lived. All wonderful options...
If not a couple of weeks ago, then certainly eight months ago his mind wouldn't be able to think like it was doing then. The thoughts were far too happy. It was just another sign of the effect that Wonder Woman was having on him, even if it wasn't an effect anyone but her was truly getting to see. For they were thoughts of pure joy that began racing through Batman's head in that moment. Dreams, even, of all sorts of possible futures, of all that may be. In every one of them, Diana was right there with him, right to the end. Sometimes they were married, sometimes they didn't even need to make that step. Sometimes they weren't alone either. In some of those thoughts, they had a whole family there with them. But regardless, with Diana there with him, all of them were happy. Batman knew they were all just dreams, that with the dangers they faced everyday the happiness of them could so easily be tainted in darkness. But for now, for once, for this moment, Batman was happy to stand in the light.
But he couldn't do so forever. The real world didn't stop to allow him his moment, and he had to get back to it. Especially as Wonder Woman's statement wasn't quite all encompassing. She still had one issue to raise herself.
"There's just one thing though, Batman, one last thing that can't wait," she said, after having paused for a moment to both let him absorb what she had said before and to also pick her own words. This was clearly important for her. It was therefore important for him. "We have to tell my mother. I know she might find it difficult to hear given the past of Themyscira, but I can't keep this from her any longer than I have done already. The thing is, when I do–"
"Say no more, Princess," Batman cut her off. He knew that this would happen one day, and he had just had a long eight month stretch to plan for it. He was well prepared. "J'onn's entries to the Watchtower cultural database weren't the only ones that I've been reading recently. I've been catching up on my Amazon traditions and customs too. Whether she comes to me or I am invited to the island, I'm prepared to face whatever she brings to bear my way."
Wonder Woman looked even happier when she heard those words, especially due to how much Batman meant them. "Be careful when you say that. No doubt Mother will have serious initial apprehensions about allowing any man get this close to me. I'm sure she will respect my choice, even if she's not happy about it, but she won't make life easy for you, certainly not at first. She still hasn't forgiven men for their crimes throughout the years, not even really in any individual cases, even if here are signs that that is starting to change. She'll want to make sure that you're trustworthy, respectful, honourable. Worthy."
"And am I, Princess?" Batman couldn't resist probing for her answer there. He knew he could handle whatever the Queen of the Amazon's could throw at him. He knew that he could pass any test, even if he didn't have Diana to inspire him to. With her there it would be no problem at all. Still, he wanted to hear her say it. After all, he had asked himself the same question often enough over the years. "If you were the one making judgement, am I worthy?"
Wonder Woman didn't answer straight away. Instead she spent a long moment just staring at him, unmoved. The moment after that, she closed right up to him again, so that their faces were practically touching. Batman could feel her breath on his cheeks. It took all his discipline not to melt straight into her, to hold his ground and wait for her full reaction. It was difficult, but somehow he did hold out until she spoke.
"I think so," she said softly, practically a whisper, though full of so much love. "But why don't you show me, one more time?"
Her hands reached upwards at that, gently resting on the sides of his cowl. Batman knew she meant to lift it, to take a glimpse of his true face before what was to come next. In his heart he deeply wanted to let her. He wanted to give her everything she could ever want, that included. But his head still ruled. He was still the Batman. He would never be able to open up completely and openly to her as another man might. He would always have his mission, his paranoia, his needs, his issues. He would never convince himself that he was worthy of her. But he had somehow convinced her that he was, Bat and all, and that was what was important. He knew that she would be able to accept it, especially since he was prepared to show her all just as soon as they weren't on an open rooftop.
His hands reached up, clasping onto her bracelets before she could push the cowl back. He didn't physically stop her, but she got the message easily enough. For now the cowl would have to stay on. Thankfully, she didn't seem to mind too much. Thankfully, she was still perfect. She only waited a second longer, allowing him to see her smile of acceptance, of understanding.
And then she kissed him. A kiss with even more passion than the one seen around the world.
And one, of course, that Batman returned in full.
They had made it. They were going to make it. The last hurdle had just been leaped, the last obstacle between a fanciful idea and a very real one. A long time had passed since the initial steps had been taken on this winding road, but that first path had finally finished, and they had made it to the right end. Now a whole host of new paths lay before them, and each one of them would be very enjoyable to explore. The future, while never seeming bleak to her, had suddenly gotten a whole lot brighter. However, right now it was the present that she was very definitely interested in.
She was starting to get used to kissing, but it wasn't making any of the experiences any less enjoyable. In fact, each time seemed to be even better than the last. Each time, she never wanted it to end. And from what she could tell, from the passion with which he returned the action, Bruce didn't want it too either. Unfortunately, the world always got in the way.
Throughout most of the kiss, she had kept her eyes closed, too busy being lost in emotion. She didn't know why she opened her eyes in that moment. It wasn't as if she could gaze into his eyes through that cowl of his, nor was there anything else in the mask that she needed to see right then. But open her eyes she did, right in time to spot as the distant light suddenly illuminated the Gotham night sky. She had heard all about this before so she knew what it meant, even though this was the first time she had actually seen it. It meant that it was time for this moment to end. However, while she couldn't pretend that she wasn't disappointed, she wasn't saddened. Bruce wouldn't be who he was if it wasn't for this. And besides, there would be plenty of time later to pick up where they left off.
It took great force and self control, but Diana eventually broke away. She stayed close, but the kiss was done. For a brief moment Batman stared at her, as if concerned something might be wrong. Then his detective mind kicked back in all over again, and he saw it too. The Batsignal had been lit. Gotham needed him again.
"I'm sorry, Princess," Batman spoke softly, breaking away from her the rest of the way. "But you said yourself that nothing needs to change. Duty calls."
"Do you want some help?" Wonder Woman knew the answer, but she had to ask it anyway, even as Batman was already moving off towards the ledge, ready to swing away into action. Sure enough, without even turning back to her, Batman gave the predictable answer.
"The rules in Gotham haven't changed either, Princess. This is still my city, and it has to be healed my way. Besides, you're helping me plenty as things are."
A fresh grin erupted on Diana's face in reflex at that last sentence. She could tell that the additional "just by being you, and by being with me" was there too, even if it wasn't spoken. Bruce would always be Bruce. He would never open up as any other man might. But she wouldn't have it any other way.
However, just before he leapt into action, Batman had a final bit to say.
"One last thing, Princess. Since I have to go, I know you'll be heading back up to the League now instead of staying here. But you have to make sure you leave the Watchtower at precisely nineteen hundred hours tomorrow night. And don't be late."
Diana's smile turned virtually into a scowl in that second. Despite it all, no man bossed her around like that. He'd better have a good reason. "And why, may I ask, should I do that?"
Batman, though, actually turned back from the ledge to flash her a grin. "Remember what I told you in the cloud, Princess. I'm going to do this right. I owe you that. Keep your schedule for tomorrow clear. Be at the Manor tomorrow night, and bring your dancing shoes."
The scowl was instantly gone. The smile was definitely back. She certainly did remember what he has said in the cloud. She remembered seeing what he had originally planned for their first proper date too. Even the most fierce hearted of individuals would have found what Bruce had planned then very sweet. No doubt he had changed his plans since the surprise had been spoiled, but knowing him as she did Diana was certain that this new plan of his would be just as good as the last one, if not better. She was suddenly wishing it was tomorrow night already. She was certainly no longer angry at him for bossing her around. Oh yes. She was going to enjoy this.
"In that case, don't you worry. I'll be there," Wonder Woman finally answered him, a rather flirtatious tone now filling her voice. She could certainly see him picking up on that, even if he did try to hide it. That made her smile grow broader. She was definitely going to enjoy this. All of it.
But first there was the mission. The Batsignal was still shining bright, and it couldn't be ignored any longer. Bruce was needed out there, to do what only he really could. Yet Diana didn't wish him luck. She knew she didn't have to. He had enough skill and courage not to need luck. That was why she took a different tack instead. "Good hunting out there, my Prince."
Now it was Batman's time to show a smile again, though typically his was far less broad. The way that Diana had just turned his nickname for her back on him, the affection that that act displayed; he clearly enjoyed it – even if he almost certainly wouldn't allow it to stick. Still, Diana was glad to see that smile. She knew that as soon as Bruce left that rooftop his jaw would set again, his face turning stern. The outward image of the Batman would firmly take over, the man she had managed to unlock underneath hiding away again. The real him. The him that she had made her own.
But the time had come. It was time for Bruce to go answer that call. Standing tall, he had his grapple in his hand, ready to fire. He only paused long enough for four departing words before he disappeared into the darkness of the Gotham night.
"See you soon, Princess."
And with that he leapt away, out into the abyss. Wonder Woman watched him go as much as she could, her honed eyes able to follow him for a while before he was lost from view. So many times she had found herself fascinated with what that man could do, the skill, the grace and the determination, especially for one who was supposedly only human. However, Wonder Woman was hardly the first to note that that may actually be his greatest strength, that humanity. It was certainly a part of what truly drew her to him, the dedication and spirit that it needed every day for Bruce to become Batman. Her Batman.
Oh yes, she was certainly very happy right now. In fact, even as she watched Batman swing away on his grapple, she allowed herself to start imaging the future, all sorts of futures, the kind of futures that she wouldn't normally stop to consider if it wasn't for Bruce. And there were plenty of such futures, nearly countless of them even. Discovering which path they would end up taking was certainly going to be memorable, and not to be missed. To say that she was looking forward to living it would have been the understatement of a lifetime, even an immortal one. She knew that the public of Man's World had been talking of her and Batman since the cloud incident, and she knew that plenty of very smart people were very taken with the idea, even if they had been convinced that that was all it was. Well Wonder Woman herself was definitely taken with it, and for her it was now very much more than just an idea. Now it was real. After years without even knowing the truth of their hearts, and then months waiting for it, the connection between her and Bruce was now very real.
But Batman wasn't the only one with a job to do in the present. Wonder Woman would be needed somewhere too. No matter how much she wanted to stand on that rooftop reflecting and dreaming until the next night, she wasn't that selfish. With Bruce now disappeared from sight, it was time for her to go back to the Justice League.
"Wonder Woman to Watchtower," she spoke as she activated her comm, still staring out across the skies at the spot Batman had been when he had disappeared from view. "I think I've been away for long enough. If you're ready for me, I'm ready to be brought back up there."
"Diana!" Mr. Terrific's voice suddenly rang through her earpiece comm. "It's good to hear your voice again, and I'd be delighted to beam you up. But if you say you're ready, there's a situation out in Africa. I've just sent Superman to help out, but I'm sure some Amazon aide wouldn't go amiss either. And then we can catch up when you're done."
As Mr. Terrific spoke, Wonder Woman's eyes had drifted back up to stare at the Batsignal still lighting up the Gotham night sky. It was still making her smile, still making her happy. In that moment, she was practically convinced that she could feel Batman feeling the exact same way about her, almost like the link between them was still there. Instead, she was sure it was just a matter of the empathy between them.
The love.
It was a smile that she was sure would not be leaving her face until she was in the heat of the action again, even though it sounded like that wouldn't be far away. It was time for Wonder Woman to get back into the action too. She had meant it when she had told Bruce that nothing between them need change. She would always be Wonder Woman.
She just happened to be in love with Bruce at the same time.
"All right, Mr. Terrific," she spoke into her comm once again, signalling her readiness to face whatever threat was out there, waiting for her to help stop it. "I'm always ready to help. I'm sure Superman can fill me in when I get there. Energise."
A/N:
And there you are. After only about 300,000 words they're finally properly together. Bats and Wondy, as it was always going to be. Just so easy and natural to write those two together, and it always will be. If only those with actual control over them would be permitted to do so...
Anyways, time for you guys to have your say again! Been a long old ride getting here. Just the epilogue to go now though and another story comes to a close. News on what comes next to follow, but you should be able to guess that, however much of it I actually do, the characters are only at the beginning of a far longer journey. I can get more stories out of these characters than I could ever write out of pure fandom. Hopefully that's good news to you all for the future.
In the meantime, feel free the revel in the present. And let me know what you think about it all!