TITLE: Mindscape

AUTHOR: LOTSlover

CHARACTERS: Batman / Wonder Woman

RATING: T

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

DISCLAIMER: I love Justice League, but especially Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I do not own the characters and, if I did, things would be much different for them.

SUMMARY: Set during the episode Double Date, Bruce and Diana have a date of their own…one that determines their future. BMWW

Mindscape

Diana's razor-sharp focus was locked on her prey as she sized up her dangerous competition, knowing that there was a lot riding on who won and who lost this match. She risked a brief glance down at the table that separated them, pausing to slowly rake her teeth over her bottom lip as she considered her options.

Her opponent was a shrewd one, his expression giving absolutely nothing away as she through her next move. The only sound in the room was that of the fire softly crackling in the fireplace and the occasional pop of the sap inside the pieces of wood. It made for a soothing background noise, but it did little to help ease any of the tension that permeated the room like a thick blanket.

She intently studied her opposition once more, wondering what was going on behind those piercing azure eyes that were boring directly into her, knowing that he was probably already making plans to celebrate his inevitable victory. If he did win, she knew that it wouldn't actually be unpleasant by any means. In fact, she would undoubtedly enjoy every single second of it.

It was the notion of losing that she loathed more than anything. She was a fierce competitor in every sense of the word, something that had been ingrained into her ever since her mother had formed her out of clay on Themyscira. Her competitive spirit had only grown stronger since coming to Man's World…and especially since meeting a certain vigilante from Gotham who matched her in said intensity.

Pursing her lips, her fingers lightly caressed the piece that held the most interest for her, her gaze flickering up to his handsome face that still intently studying her. She quickly retracted her hand only to have her fingers settle another, earning a barely perceptible growl which she readily dismissed.

"Green Arrow and Black Canary are getting pretty cozy," Diana nonchalantly commented as she reached for her glass of wine.

"So are Huntress and the Question," Bruce replied, studying her. "What's your point?"

"Really?" she replied in mild surprise. "I can't say that I saw that pairing coming."

"It's unexpected, but it works."

"We'll see if it lasts," she said. "I think Arrow and Canary are really cute together. I could see them getting married one day."

"The League's becoming a regular dating service," he grumbled as he took a sip of his coffee.

The corner of Diana's lips quirked slightly in amusement. "I thought you of all people wouldn't mind so much by now."

"And why is that?" he asked, genuine curiosity getting the better of him.

"Well, I thought that your feelings on love would've changed somewhat by now," she coyly answered him, the tips of her fingers gently caressing her bishop.

Bruce's intent gaze dropped from her face to her fingers, knowing that she was up to something devious. "Why? Because I'm sleeping with Wonder Woman?" he questioned her.

His question caused a shiver to race up her spine. Hearing him give voice to their relationship like that caused her insides to flutter. "I would like to think our current situation might have changed your view a little bit," she ventured, her fingers moving to her knight as she studied the expression on his face, hoping to catch even a flicker of what he was thinking.

"Are you saying that sleeping together should make me more of a romantic?"

Diana's lilting laughter was a melodious sound that filtered through the library and into Bruce, warming him despite his best efforts to appear aloof. "No, Bruce," she replied with a shake of her head. "The Batman is definitely not a romantic, but I believe that Bruce could be."

There wasn't even the slightest flinch as he continued to intently study her, clearly not about to give anything away. The man had the best poker face on the planet, making it next to impossible to read him. It was as infuriating as Tartarus to her.

Bruce fought back the smirk he could feel threatening to form on his lips, refusing to give any hints about his thoughts or feelings at that moment. She met his direct gaze, locked in a fierce battle of wits and wills that could go either way. They were evenly matched in almost every way.

"And which Bruce is that?" he questioned her. "The womanizing playboy?"

A single eyebrow arched over one eye ever so slightly as she contemplated his question. "He isn't real."

"He isn't?"

"No, he's a mask—nothing more," she ultimately decided. "I'm talking about the real Bruce…the real you that you like to keep hidden from everyone."

"How do you know he even exists?"

"I've seen glimpses of him," she informed him. "He makes an appearance now and then."

"Oh, does he now?"

Diana hummed in response as her gaze fell to the board that separated them. "Yes…and he's very attractive. In fact, I find him just as attractive as Batman if not more so."

"Do you really want to know what I think?" he asked her.

"Always," she told him.

"I think you're stalling," he evenly stated, not rising to her bating him about their relationship.

A raven eyebrow fully lifted in response as she released her hold on her knight, returning her attention back to her bishop. "Why would I be stalling?" she innocently inquired, giving him her best innocuous expression.

"Because you're going to lose, and you can't stand losing," he smoothly shot back.

"I am not losing," she countered with a haughty glare.

"You've been contemplating your next move for the last twenty-two minutes," he said. "You know you'll like what I'm planning so I don't know why you don't just surrender."

"Maybe what I'm planning is even better," she coyly told him, drawing a raven lock behind her ear.

"Throw up the white flag, princess," he told her. "You're sunk."

"You know I don't surrender," she stated with a haughty air. "I never give up on what I want."

"I can vouch for that," he replied, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Diana's blue eyes narrowed as she stared down her lover, clearly unamused. "Are you complaining?" she demanded to know. "Because if you are, I'll just return to spending evert night in my quarters on the Watchtower instead of being here."

"Hell no," he immediately growled, leveling her with a patented Bat-glare. "You're not going anywhere."

Her lips curled with his adamant response, knowing that he would definitely not like the idea of sleeping all alone. Despite his best efforts, he had grown accustomed to having her in his bed and in his life. She already knew that there was no other place she'd rather be. She was very pleased that he obviously felt the same way.

"Why, Bruce…are you saying that you might like me?" she lightly teased.

"Possibly," he muttered.

"Even have…feelings for me?" she pressed, leaning even further across the narrow table towards him.

"Maybe," he murmured, his smoldering gaze falling to her mouth.

The tip of her tongue snuck out to wet her bottom lip. "Could it possibly be…love?" she asked with a throaty tone that sent a shiver straight through him.

"Love?" he whispered.

"Love," she repeated with a nod.

"Is that what you think this is between us?" he softly teased, an undercurrent of curiosity in his voice.

While they had admitted they loved each other in the Watchtower infirmary after Bruce had nearly killed himself to save Diana and Clark from Doomsday, it really wasn't something that had been said much since then except for when she had returned from the Underworld a few weeks ago. Of course, talking about his feelings wasn't exactly his forte.

"It's not just about what I think, Bruce," she told him. "It's about what you think too."

"I think you're trying to distract me," he stated as he sat back in his chair, folding his arms against his chest as he glanced down at the chess board to find that she had moved her bishop.

Diana sat back as well, somewhat disappointed that she hadn't been able to get Bruce to tell her he loved her again. Despite expressing their feelings for each other physically, he'd only said it to her once. She was anxious to hear those words from him again. She was worried about pushing him into talking about it before he was ready, knowing that discussing his feelings was not something that he felt comfortable with or anything that carried a commitment.

"I always play fair, Bruce," she insisted.

It was Bruce's turn to chuckle as he stared down his lover. "You do possess a certain quality of innocence that is quite endearing, princess, but you do not play fair," he adamantly declared. "You're a sexy flirt and you know it."

"That doesn't necessarily mean that I don't play fair," she maintained with lifted chin, "and who is stalling now? It's your turn, Bruce."

He intently eyed her, knowing that she was up to something, but what that something was remained a mystery. His gaze fell to the chess board, his mind running through various scenarios and moves in order to win the game. "So, do I get a hint about what you're planning if you win?"

Diana watched as he picked up one piece only to put it back down and chose another. "I guess I could let you into my mindscape."

"Mindscape?" he questioned her with unmistakable interest. "Sounds rather extravagant."

"Could be if I win," she cryptically replied with a shrug of a shoulder.

"So, what's my hint?"

"Horses," she revealed.

Bruce's eyebrows lifted in surprise with her hint. "Horses?"

"Yes, horses," she confirmed. "That's your hint."

"Not a very good hint, princess."

"Actually, it's more than what I should've revealed," she decided. "Besides, you're the great detective. I'm sure you'll figure it out. Now, do I get a hint about your plans?"

"Fine," he agreed. "Me."

"You?" she questioned him. "You are my clue?"

Bruce smirked at her. "Yes, that's your clue—me."

"That does not help me at all, Bruce," she readily decided. "You would be there to regardless. That's not a good clue."

"Neither is horses."

"It was a very clever clue and far more revealing than 'me'."

Bruce gave her a crooked grin as he moved his chess piece, watching her face for her reaction as he reached for his cup of coffee. Diana's eyes briefly widened only for her to tuck her surprise behind a mask of indifference. She bit back a Greek curse as she pondered her next move.

She propped her head up with her fist, her elbow resting on the table as she studied the board. Not only was he backing her into a corner, but he had yet to reveal his true feelings or his thoughts on their future together. While the results of this game would prove to be a rather huge indication, it didn't reveal his thoughts or real feelings.

Would she just be another woman on his arm? Another notch on his bedpost? Another name on a very long list of broken hearts and failed relationships?

She silently shook those thoughts from her head, feeling as thought that wasn't true. Still, she had to admit that it would be nice to know what he thought about when he looked at her…although sometimes those thoughts were quite clear. She shivered as she thought that lustful gleam he sometimes got in his eyes when he looked at her.

Bruce carefully studied her, the expression on her face one that he couldn't quite put a name to. It seemed both focused and apprehensive…contemplative with a hint of worry. It made him wonder what she was thinking about. Was it him or the game that had her so perplexed?

He watched as her fingers reached for a chess piece before deciding against it, choosing another only to change her mind once more. She was the most graceful, most alluring woman that he had ever known. She never ceased to mesmerize him or incite such powerful feelings inside of him that took him by surprise.

He had pretty much given up on the whole notion of love, locking his heart away long ago. She had managed to not only find it, but she had reached inside of it and began to restore it. She was putting the pieces back in place bit by bit and showing him what real love could actually be.

He felt the words he'd uttered a few weeks ago dancing on his tongue but found it difficult to actually say them again. It wasn't that he didn't love her or didn't want to tell her. It was just easier for him to show her than to actually say the words.

There was a bit of irrational fear that he still carried within him that told him if he said it too much that life would take her away from him. The rational part of him knew that it wasn't true, but the demons that still swarmed inside his soul told him otherwise.

"Your move," she said, shaking him from his thoughts.

Bruce's attention fell to the board, noticing her plan of attack. It was a shrewd move, one that he had not initially considered, but he could see the intelligence of it now. He took another sip of his coffee before deciding on his next strategy.

His fingers fell to his knight only to feel the unexpected brush of her foot against his leg. It momentarily startled him especially with the thoughts that he'd been having about her. It was as if she could sense he was thinking about her, reaching out to connect with him.

Assuming the brief contact was over, his attention moved to his queen only to discover that she had other plans. Her foot began a sensual caress of his leg, slowly and quite deliberately working her way higher towards his thigh. His eyes narrowed as he stared her down.

"What?" she innocently asked, reaching for her glass of wine.

"Wicked flirt," he muttered with a husky quality, his mind trying to run through various scenarios as it worked two and three moves ahead of her. However, it was becoming harder to concentrate as her toes plotted a very dangerous path, one that abruptly caused his breath to hitch.

Diana's toes reached her desired destination, her lips curving into that sweet smile of pure innocence that was anything but. "Me?"

"Diana…" he uttered her name, his fingers gripping his chess piece tightly as her toes teased him through his pants. Her name was supposed to have been said with firm authority and unmistakable warning, but it came out far more aroused and needier than he had intended. Damn her.

He gritted his teeth as he attempted to ignore her concentrated ministrations, but it was damn near impossible especially with the cheeky way she was looking at him. She was devious and dangerous in every sense of the word and nothing could make him think anything different about her.

"I wonder what Huntress sees in Question," Diana nonchalantly verbalized her thought, her toes and foot continuing their focused assault.

"I wouldn't know," he ground out, each syllable punctuated with growing desire that was quickly overwhelming him.

"I mean the man has no face," she continued with her train of thought, shrugging a shoulder as she swirled the wine in her glass. "She must see something that the rest of us don't."

"Obviously," he stated, trying to keep a tight rein on his building arousal as he tried to decide his next move. He hated losing as much as she did…although he was rather intrigued with her idea. Horses. What in the world did his Amazon princess have up her sleeve this time?

"The man is a lunatic," she told him. "His paranoia makes yours look practically nonexistent."

"Gee, thanks," he growled, his entire body tense.

"No offense intended," she assured him. "It's just that the man is very strange. I heard he goes through people's trash for evidence."

"I've had to do that before," Bruce replied, doing his best to keep his façade stoic, but it was becoming next to impossible.

Diana gave him an incredulous look as her foot applied just enough pressure to cause him to gasp. "Bruce…digging in people's trash?"

"You'd be surprised what you can learn by going through people's trash," he told her with a breathy air.

"I wonder what I could learn about you," she thoughtfully commented.

He looked at her with a hint of surprise, his grip on his chess piece near shattering as she continued to torment him. "I'm an open book, princess," he maintained.

Her lilting laughter melodiously floated through the room. "You, my lover, are not an open book. Trying to get anything out of you is more difficult than traversing the Pits of Tartarus."

"You're obviously trying to get something out of me now," he growled, tossing his chess piece down.

Bruce was up and out of his chair in less than a heartbeat, pulling her up out of her own seat and kissing her with unabashed hunger. She barely had time to respond, her arms slipping around him and pulling him closer as his mouth descended on her throat.

"I take it I win?" she ventured with a throaty chuckle as her eyelids fluttered closed.

"Yes…you win. You get to pick the date to make our relationship public," he growled against her throat. "Now, I get what I want."

Diana hummed her approval and her pleasure as he lifted her up and carried her to the couch. Landing on her back, she found a very insistent Bruce already beginning to divest her of her clothing as he devoured her. His fingers deftly unbuttoned her shirt, his mouth following the path of his hands and earning a breathy moan.

She may have won the chess match by default, but they were both getting exactly what they wanted now.

XXX

Bruce slipped his arm around his date, noticing not for the first time that evening how breathtaking she looked. He hated to admit it, but she had picked a pretty inventive way for their relationship to be made public even though he thought his idea hadn't been half bad.

"Is there any place in particular you would like to go, sir?"

"Downtown Gotham and take your time," Bruce replied to the driver.

"Yes, sir," the driver said with a smile, clicking his tongue to the two horses that pulled the carriage Bruce and Diana were seated in.

Diana settled in against Bruce, her lips curling with contentment. The evening had been absolutely perfect so far, beginning with dinner and dancing and ending with a romantic carriage ride around Gotham. There was no better way to make their relationship public.

"So, what exactly did you have in mind for this date tonight if you had won our match?" she asked.

"A nice dinner and some dancing," he told her, turning his head to nuzzle her ear with his lips.

"That's it…that was your big idea?"

"Then, we would have gone to the opera…or maybe the symphony…sitting in my personal balcony seats," he continued. "I would have started kissing you just before intermission…maybe doing something like this…"

Diana gasped softly as he began to nibble on her earlobe before kissing along her jaw, the tips of his fingers turning her face so that he could continue on to his destination. He kissed her slowly…deeply and breathlessly. His fingers tangled in her raven mane as he continued his deliberate assault.

Breaking the kiss, he breathlessly continued. "Then, we would have had to excuse ourselves during intermission, missing the rest of the performance while we continued where we left off in my bedroom at the manor."

Diana found it difficult to form words let alone coherent thoughts at that moment, her throat suddenly dry. "That…would've been…good too," she softly replied.

Bruce smirked as he leaned in close to her, his lips barely grazing hers. "How about our next date?"

"I think I'd like that," she readily decided as she pressed her lips to his.

"I love you, Diana," he breathlessly said, his nose nuzzling hers. "I know I don't say it often, but never forget that I love you more than anything."

She smiled warmly at him, her hand caressing his jaw. "I love you too, Bruce."

They continued to kiss as the city that Bruce had sworn to protect with his life passed them by, the hour-long ride flying by without their notice until the driver announced they had returned to their starting point. "We'd like to go again, please," Bruce told him.

The driver tipped his hat in acknowledgment, a knowing grin on his face as he clicked his tongue at the horses once more. His wife was never going to believe him when he told her who had given a carriage ride to tonight.