TITLE: Single-Minded

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: Continuation of Chapter 34 "Remind Me", Batman uncovers disturbing information that could threaten his future with Diana.

Single-Minded

Walking towards the commissary to meet Diana for lunch, Batman found himself stuck listening to Wally as he babbled on and on about his date last night with Linda. He had tried more than once to escape, but the scarlet speedster was intent on sticking close to his side no matter where he went.

"And then…and you're never going to believe this," Wally said with a laugh. "Then, this truck drives right through a mud puddle and soaks us both."

"Hard to believe," Batman muttered, silently praying for something…anything that would save him from this conversation.

As if on cue, Question seemingly appeared out of the shadows, startling Wally. "Geez, man," Flash gasped, clutching his chest. "Don't do that! You could've given me a heart attack."

"We need to talk," Question told Batman, glancing over at Flash. "Alone."

Batman and Question both turned to look at Flash, staring him down. "I can take a hint," Flash said, holding his hands up in front of him. "No need to tell me when I'm not wanted."

"Then why are you still here," Question demanded to know.

"See ya," Flash muttered before racing off.

"What is it?" Batman asked, folding his arms against his Kevlar covered chest.

Question looked up and down the empty hallway before finally responding with his usual paranoia. "Not here."

"Follow me," Batman said, leading him into a nearby conference room.

Question watched as the Dark Knight disabled the security camera and sound system before locking the door. Batman finally turned to face him, a stoic expression on his face. "Happy?"

"That's better," Question decided with a nod. "I've got some information that you're going to want to know about."

"I figured that much," Batman replied. "What is it?"

"I stumbled across a new project that Amanda Waller is working on," Question revealed.

"What is she up to now?"

"You and Wonder Woman," he informed him.

"Us?" Batman questioned him. "What does she want with us?"

"She's got a new project called Batman Beyond," he explained. "She has plans for your baby if you and Wonder Woman ever conceive a child. She wants to make sure the mantel of Batman is passed down to your offspring, but she wants to shape the future Batman into her own personal weapon."

Batman's lips curled into a sneer as he processed this new information. Memories of the reoccurring dream that he'd had several months ago sprang to his mind, reminding him about his son Terry McGinnis that Waller created to replace him someday. It looked like she was still moving forward with that plan, but with Diana as the mother of his child.

"Diana isn't even pregnant," Bruce pointed out.

"Doesn't seem to matter to her," Question replied. "She is dead set that Batman continues on after you're gone and if your child has Diana's powers then all the better in her mind. She's just biding her time for now, but I have a feeling she'll be getting antsy soon. Who knows what she might try to do in order to hurry you two along."

A furious growl emanated from his throat as his gauntleted hands curled into fists. "She's going to try something, isn't she? Get a hold of our DNA to create her own version of a future Batman?"

"I don't know that for certain, but I do know this," Question said. "Amanda Waller is single-minded when she gets an idea in her head and it looks like you and Diana are dead in her sights."

"Thanks for the heads up," Batman murmured as he contemplated his next move.

"I'll let you know if I find out anything more," he reassured him.

Batman merely nodded his head as Question left the room, his mind racing with ways to stop Waller and whatever plan she was concocting now. There was no way he was going to let Waller get anywhere near Diana or any children they may have in the future.

"Wonder Woman to Batman."

"What is it, princess?"

"Are we still meeting for lunch?"

"Sorry," he replied. "I got delayed by Question. I'm on my way now."

"Something going on?" she asked, concern in her voice.

"Not really," he said. "I'll be there in a couple of minutes."

XXX

Diana lightly drummed her fingers on top of the table, glancing down at her lunch tray. She wondered what Question wanted with Batman. There was no telling when it came to Question and his infamous paranoia. Still, the information that he uncovered had proven to be invaluable on more than one occasion.

The fact that Batman had told her that nothing was going on made her wonder what exactly was going on. Bruce didn't lie to her but at the same time, he didn't disclose everything that was going on. He kept his cards very close to the vest as they say, only revealing what he wanted people to know when and only when he was absolutely ready.

That even included her at times. She knew that he did it because of his incessant and wholly unnecessary need to protect her. While it was sweet in a way, it was completely annoying and irritating and something that she was trying desperately to break him of doing.

She had a sneaking suspicion something was going on that he wasn't prepared to discuss with her just yet. Normally, she didn't press him for information, letting him come to her when he was ready. That didn't happen nearly enough, but she wanted to give him his space out of respect to him.

While she would love for them to be able to share every single part of their lives with each other, she knew how difficult it was for him. She hoped in time he would become more open with her, talking to her about the things that weighed on his mind.

The doors to the commissary swished open, Batman entering with his black whipping behind him. He didn't make eye contact with her as he headed for the trays, grabbing one before making his way through the lunch line. She could tell by the set of his shoulders and the rigidity of his jaw that something was niggling at him, something that he would no doubt want to handle himself.

Diana's forefinger lightly circled the rim of her glass as she watched him, wondering what it was that Question had told him that had his Bat boxers in a bundle. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't nothing. That much was blatantly obvious to anyone who knew him well.

Batman made his way to Diana's table, doing his best to school his features and bury the burning ire that was only growing hotter inside of him. The thought of Amanda Waller meddling in his life was bad enough. Adding Diana and any future child they might have together to the equation, and he was about to implode.

"Hi," she softly said with a smile.

Batman sat down, not making eye contact with her as he unwrapped his sandwich. "Sorry I'm late," he muttered.

"Everything all right?"

"Fine…why?" he asked with a frown as he finally made eye contact with her.

"Well, you seem upset for one thing," she pointed out. "Did Question give you some bad news?"

"You can never know when it comes to him," Bruce tried to tell her, attempting to brush it off as nothing of consequence.

Okay, that was unusual for Bruce. He always took Question's information seriously. "What was it about?"

Batman stared at her for a long moment, contemplating whether to tell her or not. He found old habits die hard despite being in a relationship with the woman who had managed to capture his heart long ago. "Not worth wasting my breath talking about it," he told her. "Did you start working on the mission assignment schedule yet?"

"I was waiting on you," she replied, studying him with a keen eye. Yep, whatever it was it was big. "Bruce, if you don't want to do this now, it's fine. I can write up the schedule myself."

"No, let's do this," he said, his mind already working out what he was going to do with Waller.

Diana knew this was going to be an uphill battle with him, one that she was going to be forced to continually fight for as long as they were together which she hoped was forever. She wasn't about to give up on him, though. She loved him too much.

She picked up the scheduling calendar and pencil, knowing that he wasn't really prepared to do this now. It was only a matter of time before he admitted it. "I have the vacation requests that have been submitted," she began, pulling out the requests that she had printed up beforehand. "It looks like we have several that want the same time off next month. We may have to go by seniority or whoever put their request in first."

"Agreed," Batman muttered.

"We also have a lot of requests off for the upcoming holiday," she continued, sensing that he wasn't paying any attention to her.

He hummed in acknowledgment but said nothing further. She looked at him with growing frustration, her lips pursing in annoyance. It was obvious that he wanted to be someplace other than here, probably to follow up on whatever information he'd learned from Question.

"I think we need to make sure that a rookie is paired with a seasoned Leaguer," she added.

Batman slowly chewed his sandwich, not really responding as mind attempted to drag him into the dark abyss that he always teetered on the edge of. Diana sat back for a moment just watching him before finally reaching across and placing her hand on top of his.

"Bruce, just go," she stated.

"What?"

"Just leave," she told him. "I'll take care of this myself."

"No, let's do this," he insisted with a frown.

"Look, it's clear that whatever Question told you is weighing on your mind so go look into it," she urged him. "You're not going to be able to think straight until you do."

His shoulders dropped almost imperceptibly, knowing that she knew he was keeping something from her. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I don't know what's going on."

"Just please don't shut me out," she requested of him. "I want us to be able to share everything without keeping secrets from each other."

"I'm trying not to," he confessed, "but I need more information before I can talk about it."

"I understand," she replied. "Now, go so I can least see you tonight at dinner."

"I'll be there," he swore to her.

"Promise?"

"Promise, princess," he responded with a small quirk of his lips as he stood to his feet. "I'd kiss you if we weren't in the comm."

"You can make it up to me tonight," she reassured him with a sexy smirk.

"I look forward to it," he softly replied before leaving her sitting there all alone.

"Me too, Dark Knight…me too," she whispered to herself, fearing that something was very wrong.

XXX

Bruce glowered at his computer screen, his hands clenching into fists. He fought the overwhelming urge to put his fist through his computer screen, knowing that it would solve nothing to lose his temper like that. Still, the idea was very tempting.

He'd spent hours digging through everything he could possibly get his hands on regarding Amanda Waller and Cadmus. He'd been able to hack into Cadmus's computer system, uncovering a file that held what appeared to be pictures of him and Wonder Woman on various missions. There were also some pictures of him on dates with Diana. Past that, there was nothing else that could be found.

If Waller was working on a secret project concerning their child, she was keeping it very close to the vest. He'd already visited her once, warning her about any project that concerned him and the future of the Batman. He'd hoped his warning had gotten through to her.

Evidently, it hadn't.

Had she originally been planning a Batman Beyond project like the dreams that he'd experienced several months ago…a surrogate son with the use of his DNA and an unsuspecting woman? Or had her plans changed when she realized that Batman was in a relationship with Wonder Woman?

Bruce couldn't help thinking about what their child might be like. Their child would be highly intelligent…maybe receiving Diana's gifts. He or she would most definitely be a force to be reckoned with, a fierce warrior who would be unstoppable. It was no wonder Waller wanted to get her hands on their child, likely turning him or her into a secret weapon for her own use.

His anger coursed hotly through his veins the more he thought about it. He had no doubt in his mind that he eventually wanted to have a child with Diana. If and when that day came, though, he would be damned if Waller would ever come near their child.

There was no way he was going to allow her to interfere in their lives or use his children for her own sick experiments. He'd seen what she'd done to Long Shadow and the Ultimen. There was no way in hell he was letting that happen to any of his children.

He swore that once he was done, Waller was going to curse the day that she ever met him or heard the name Batman. He was going to make sure of that.

Grabbing his cowl and gauntlets, he stood to his feet, desperate to find the information that he needed. He descended the platform steps, only to be stopped by the sound of Diana's voice. "Bruce, where are you going?" she asked. "Dinner is ready."

"Can't stay," he flatly stated as he continued to make his way to the Batmobile.

"Okay," she softly said.

Bruce stopped dead in his tracks, taken aback by her response. "Okay?" he repeated, finally turning around to face her. "That's all you have to say is okay?"

"I know you'll tell me about it when you're ready," she simply stated, giving him a warm smile.

Bruce stared at her for a long moment, his mind reeling with the way she was reacting. He was half expecting a demand for answers or some sort of guilt trip for not eating dinner with her like he had promised her that he would.

"I'll have Alfred hold dinner," she told him, turning on her heel to head back upstairs. "We can eat when you get back home."

"Diana, I don't know when I'll be home," he replied. "It might not be until morning."

"All right," she called over her shoulder. "Wake me when you get home."

Bruce's eyes narrowed as she began to make her way towards the stairs, gritting his teeth with the knowledge that she was playing him and yet he couldn't be absolutely sure. "Wait," he stated.

Diana stopped, turning to face him only to find him stalking towards her. "What is it?"

"You're using reverse psychology on me, princess," he growled. "It's not going to work."

"You're being paranoid, Bruce," she told him with a frown. "Go do whatever it is you need to do. I'll be here when you get home."

A low growl issued from his throat as he glared at her. "It's not going to work," he informed her before turning his back to her. "Don't wait up."

"I didn't plan on it."

He abruptly stopped short again, turning his head to glare at her over his shoulder. "And don't you dare follow me either."

"Never crossed my mind," she assured him as she began to climb the stairs.

"And don't try tracking my location through my comm because I'm turning it off," he yelled.

"Goodnight, Bruce," she called. "Be safe."

He stood there for a long moment, an angry snort filling the air. Damn Amazon princess.

XXX

Batman stood still as a statue in the shadows, regulating his breathing and the beat of his heart. He didn't want her knowing that he was there until he was absolutely ready. Instead, he watched as she exited the kitchen with a cup of tea before settling into her favorite chair with a stack of files that she'd brought home with her.

His lips curled into a sneer, knowing that one of those files was her pet project that focused on him and Diana. He wasn't about to standby and allow this arrogant woman to insert herself into their lives or their relationship, meddling in their future together.

She opened one of the files as she took a sip of her tea, completely unaware that he was even there. It was much like the last time that he had invaded her home except this time she wasn't in the shower. Still, she was just as vulnerable now as she was then.

"I thought I told you to drop your Batman project," he growled as he stepped from the shadows.

Amanda Waller froze in shock with the unexpected intrusion into her sanctuary, barely keeping herself from throwing her cup of tea. She very nearly allowed the tremble that she felt rolling through her from reaching her hand that held her teacup. Instead, she set her cup down on the table next to her chair before turning her attention to her unwanted guest.

"Get out of my house," she furiously spouted as she surreptiously took the files in her lap and shoved them between the chair cushion and the arm. "You have no right to be here. I should have you arrested—"

"I should have you skinned alive for what you're planning," he seethed as he closed the distance between them.

She immediately went for the gun she kept hidden in the drawer of the end table only to stop short when Batman kicked the end table over. "How dare you!" she cried as she bolted to her feet.

"How dare you make plans to turn my future child into your personal weapon," he hissed, the white slits of his cowl barely perceptible as he loomed over her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she insisted, refusing to recoil from his menacing proximity that he was using to his full advantage.

"Don't play dumb, Waller," he spat out with disdain for the woman before him. "It's beneath you."

"I have no projects concerning any children you may or may not have with Wonder Woman," she snapped.

"I never said who my future child would be made with," he cleverly pointed out.

She snorted derisively as she returned to her chair. "Isn't it obvious?" she calmly stated. "Wonder Woman is who you're currently bedding…unless you plan on dumping her like every other floozy who has passed through Bruce Wayne's bed."

Waller couldn't help but retreat as Batman lunged at her, his gauntleted hands coming to rest on the arms of her overstuffed chair. His face was just millimeters from hers, causing her heart to hammer in her chest and in her ears. She knew she had just pushed him too far.

"Don't you dare talk about Diana like that," he ground out with a deadly calm that had her breath catching in her throat. "You can say what you want about me or Bruce Wayne, but don't you dare disparage her."

The corners of Waller's lips curled ever so slightly as she attempted to regain a little self-control once more. "My mistake," she replied with a coolness that she definitely did not feel at that moment. "I can see that she means far more to you than your typical flings and one-night stands."

"Stay away from us," he ordered her. "Any plans that you might have for our future…burn them because you will never get your hands on any of our children."

"So, there is hope?" she responded with an unexpected pluckiness, a single eyebrow arching in question. "I thought you would've lost interest by now, but this is for real. The Batman actually found true love. I'm happy for you, Bruce."

"Don't," he growled. "Just…don't."

"I shouldn't be happy for you?" she taunted. "No wedding bells ringing for you yet? You really should get working on that baby with Wonder Woman. A child born of Batman and Wonder Woman would be incredible. No one would be able to oppose your child."

"You come after me, Diana or our child, I'll bury you so deep no one will ever find you," he threatened her as he finally retreated, turning his back to her.

"I'm not scared of you," she yelled with a snarl on her lips.

"This is your final warning," he told her, glancing at her. "You pursue this, and I can't guarantee your safety."

"You can't threaten me!" she roared. "Do you know who I am?"

"And do you really want to face an Amazon princess whose child you want to take?"

Batman paused for a long moment as he let that sink in. He could see her sinking back in her chair out of the corner of his eye as she realized the ramifications and consequences of such an action. The corner of his lips quirked as he turned to fully look at her once more. "And here you thought I was the terrifying one," he stated. "You haven't seen a ruthless Amazon warrior bent on revenge."

Waller closed her eyes as a full body shudder roiled through her. She opened her eyes and her mouth to speak to find herself all alone. She began breathing heavily, her heart racing as she pulled the files out from between the cushion and the arm of her chair.

She walked towards the fireplace, glancing down at the "Batman Beyond" title written on the front of the file. She quickly tossed them into the fire, wrapping her arms around herself as she watched the files go up in flames. It was still a project she would like to see to fruition, but it wasn't worth her life.

Batman didn't kill but Wonder Woman came from an island of female warriors who had no qualms about killing. Even though she hadn't killed anyone since coming here, she didn't want to find out the hard way or be the reason for her to start.

XXX

Batman made his way to his waiting Batmobile, a smirk finding its way to his lips as he approached. "You heard?"

"Every word," Diana said, leaning on the hood of his prized car with her long legs stretched out before her, her red boots crossed at the ankles.

Straightening up, she roughly grabbed him and pulled her to him, her lips colliding with his in a bruising kiss. His arms slipped around her waist, holding her close as he returned her heated passion with a fire all his own. It took several long moments before they finally came up for air.

"I guess I did a good job," he breathlessly murmured, his lips grazing hers once more.

"You did a very good job," she reassured him, her hand coming to rest against his emblem covered chest. "Thank you, Bruce. You have no idea what it meant to me that you let me in instead of shutting me out."

"Well, you didn't exactly make it easy for me," he teased.

"How so?" she demanded to know, draping her arms around his neck.

"Oh, come on, princess," he said with a chuckle. "You pretending not to care what I was doing or where I was going? How could I not give in?"

Her lips quirked as she tilted her head, her lips finding his in a sweet kiss that conveyed her gratitude. "That was all you, Bruce, not me," she tried to tell him. "You've really grown since you decided to give us a chance. I'm so proud of you for being willing to open up to me."

"I still think there was some form of manipulation there, but I'll take the compliment," he said with a twitch of amusement on his lips.

"Do you think she'll listen to you this time?" she asked, concern swimming in her blue eyes.

"She knows if she doesn't, she'll have you to deal with," he reminded her. "I think that will be enough to change her mind."

"Yes, but even you said that she's single-minded in her drive for getting what she wants," she replied, clearly worried about the possibility.

"If she tries to come after our child, she'll not only have us to deal with, but she'll have the entire Batclan as well as the Justice League coming down on her…and quite possibly the entire Amazon nation," he pointed out. "No one in their right mind would want something like that."

"True," she murmured with a sigh, a smile appearing once more. "I can't wait to have a child with you someday."

"Really?" he said. "You already think that I'm a handful. What do you think our child will be like?"

She chuckled with his reminder, knowing how true it was. "Hera help me, but I really want to find out someday."

"Me too," he whispered against her lips before claiming them once more.

"You know I have a little black negligee waiting for you to thoroughly inspect back home at the manor," she revealed, slowly raking her teeth over her bottom lip.

He growled with desire as he reluctantly released her. "Let's go home, princess."

Diana grinned as she made her way to the passenger side of the Batmobile, more than anxious to return home and show him just how much he meant to her. Tonight had been a huge step for him as well as for them in their relationship.

With any luck, they just might end up making that baby tonight and if not, they were sure going to enjoy trying for however long it took.