Hello everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, but the story is not forgotten! Here is a fresh new chapter for you. Once again I do not own DC Comics, the Justice League, or any of it's characters. Please enjoy and review!
Twenty minutes later Alfred pulled into the embassy's busy parking lot. He didn't bring anything too fancy, but for Bruce that still meant that it was a high end sports car which drew the gaze of every passerby. When I called and asked him to collect me early he didn't even bat an eye. I wondered whether Bruce had given him a head's up or if it was just Alfred's normal intuition. I climbed into the passenger seat and buckled before I acknowledged the elderly man. "Thank you for coming to get me on such short notice."
It's remarkable how soothing his crisp British accent could be. "It was no trouble, Miss Diana. You look down, my dear. Is there any way I may be of service?" I glanced down at my hands. I was at a complete loss for words almost constantly any more. Was it not so long ago I was somewhat eloquent?
"Remember when you once told me that Bruce loved me?" Alfred nodded, taking a quick glance at me before returning his gaze to the road. "Does he truly? He knows my powers are gone, but I haven't told him yet what my goddesses have told me. What if I tell him their bargain and he gets upset or decides that our love isn't worth a fight?" Alfred cleared his throat. "Well, Miss Diana, if he does then I have helped to raise a fool. He is over the moon for you. I'm sure whatever your goddesses told you will blow over once the wind changes and you will regain your powers. Until then you have a whole family standing behind you."|
Alfred's words rung true. How many times had the goddesses given orders only to retract them once they tired of their games? Maybe in a few days they would become enthralled with yet another mortal and leave me be. My heart clung to the hope, but my brain insisted logic prevail. Even if they chose to ignore me and return to me my powers, I needed an answer. An answer I wouldn't have until I spoke with Bruce.
"How are Dick and Barbara? I haven't heard anything at all." Alfred brushed some invisible lint off of his immaculate suit. "Barbara is doing better. She awoke Sunday morning without use of her legs, but she is alive. For that we are grateful. Dick is handling the situation as best as he can, I suppose. He hasn't left her side for anything other than school and sleep once visiting hours are over for the night."
My heart melted at the thought of the boy. When he had brought me my clothes the night before he looked so downtrodden. His normally bright blue eyes were ringed from lack of sleep and his hair a mess. "Is there anything I can do to help him, Alfred?" The old man chuckled. "Your presence helps more than you would ever believe. As for now I am certain that we must let nature take it's course and let wounds heal on their own."
I found Bruce in the study at his desk, hunkered down over some spreadsheets. "Well, you made it longer than I thought you would." Was I that predictable? "You're not predictable." I removed my coat and took a seat in one of the wingback chairs across from him feeling very foolish for thinking that going into work today would be a good idea. "You could have fooled me." He peered up at me with a look that could have melted iron. "I just know you." The hair on my arms rose and it felt like he was looking into my soul. "Just like I know you are going to finally tell me what your goddesses said."
I wished I could pause the moment and stay here with him forever. I could forget about my powers, the goddesses, the armored woman, and the world outside and just stare into his eyes. His gaze made me feel special in a way that I couldn't explain no matter how I tried. "Do you love me?"
"Yes." I froze, struck momentarily mute. I expected an argument or a discussion followed by a refusal. Not an honest answer in my favor. "You do?"
Bruce closed the spreadsheet folder before standing and coming around to the opposite side of the desk. He leaned against it and crossed his arms in front of him. "I have dated many women, Diana. More than I would care to admit. I've dated celebrities, models, heroes, and even a villain or two and yet none of them have ever made me feel as you do. You've seen me at my darkest and yet for some reason...one I still can't comprehend...you fight for me. You stay your wonderful self and mantain enough hope for everyone.
"Everyone who knows you is changed for the better." He took a few steps closer and leaned over the arms of the chair. "You are strong, beautiful, and wise. Whether you have your powers or not, that's not going to change." I expected him to kiss me, but he didn't. On one hand I was disappointed, but I was also glad. Bruce, as he had said, had been with many women and he could have pushed me. But he didn't. He took time and made me feel like a treasure. I reached up and put a hand through his dark hair. "My goddesses gave me an ultimatum. I either stay here with you as your property in mortal form or I return to my sisters never to leave Themyscira again."
Bruce's face was unreadable. When he spoke he actually sounded tearful. "The choice is yours, Diana. I won't stop you either way. I want...I need you to know that I would never keep you as property. You are too confident and courageous for anyone to do that. If you wish to stay with me here in Gotham, I would be pleased, but it will be your decision. If you desire to return to your sisters, however, I want you to know that I will fight every goddess in your pantheon for the right to visit you in Themyscira." He was silent for a moment and I thought he had finished, but then he spoke again.
"There is a third option." His voice was tender, and I longed for whatever words that escaped his mouth to be a solution. "Return to Themyscira. I will come with you and we will fight this together." I felt shivers run down my spine. "Bruce, men aren't allowed on Themyscira. I don't know if I can find my way back to my homeland now that I'm not an Amazon, let alone with a man in tow." Bruce's unreadable expression melted away and he appeared trouble. "Diana, with or without your powers you are an Amazon. You are a princess. No one can take your heritage away from you. If we face them together, they will have to see that you need your powers returned to you."
My shivers became uncontrollable. "What if we aren't enough? What if I'm not enough?" I knew that I shouldn't feel this way. Bruce had just finished calling me confident and here I was drowning in low self-esteem. And I was supposed to be this great role model for women everywhere...
Lost in my thoughts, I was caught off guard when Bruce finally did kiss me. It wasn't anything over zealous or passionate, but just enough to bring me back to reality. Well, at least away from my spiralling. As soon as I was quiet he pulled back and spoke again. "Don't let them batter you, Diana. Aren't you always the one telling me to never lose hope? If you give up now, then everything and everyone you fight for is lost." I felt drained. I had made so many life-changing decisions in the last couple weeks that I felt as though another would crush me.
"What should I do, Bruce?"
"I already told you that I'm not going to make this decision for you. This is a choice only you can make."
"I understand that. I just want your opinion." Bruce nodded, and pulled his desk chair around so he could sit beside me. "If you want to stay here, we will find a way to get you back into the fight. The Bat-clan could always use another member. If you choose to return, as I said, I will come visit you. For the third option, we stand as a united front. Whichever way you choose we willi find a way to keep you doing what you love most. It just depends on how you wish to do so."
Hope finally began to seep back into me. "Maybe if we return to Themyscira we can ask my mother about Akantha. Perhaps she will know of the goddess which she serves. Knowledge is the best weapon when faced with ignorance."
"We?"
"If you fight alongside me I am willing to go up against my goddesses. As you said, when stood against the pair of us they will have to cede the point." Bruce smiled. "I shall have Alfred ready the Batplane. Start packing whatever you need for the journey."
Bruce and I went our separate ways, him to his cave and me to my temporary living quarters. With a sweeping glance I realized I didn't have much to bring with me. I donned my armor, my heart heavy at the sight of it's tarnished exterior. I retrieved the red duffel bag I had borrowed from Dick and placed it on the bed before placing my useless Lasso of Truth and, in a moment of indecision, a pair of jeans and a T-shirt inside. My mother and sisters would be unhappy that I returned without invitation as I had been banished. They would be furious that I returned cursed by the goddesses and alongside a man. I had stolen the armor from the temple in the first place. Would they reclaim it? If we even made it to the island of course...
Ignoring the shadows of doubt in my mind I made my way to hangar inside of the Batcave. Alfred was fueling the small jet plane that was outfitted with many of Batman's toys as Bruce stood at a bench filling his utility belt with various batarangs, capsules with knockout gas, smoke screen pellets, and a couple things I couldn't name. "Have any anti-goddess spray in there? Or something that will make my mother magically forget my betrayal?"
"Magic is more your thing, Princess. Besides, who could stay mad at you? Believe me, I've tried many times." Bruce's cowl was down and I was glad I could see his features, despite the gloom of the cave. He was actually smiling at me. "Sorry to disappoint you, Princess. Just my normal gear." His comment made me finger my lasso. How I wished it was as battle ready as the Batman. The rope normally felt silky and emanated the magical aura bestowed upon it by Hestia that compelled everyone ensnared in its grip to tell the truth. Now I could feel each frayed strand of straw chafe my hand. It used to make me feel powerful, in control...now it just reminded me how out of control I really was. I went around thinking I was so powerful, so invincible. Now I knew just how prideful I had been. Was this what Clark and Bruce and even the goddesses were trying to tell me? Maybe some humility wouldn't kill me, but the lack of it almost had.
Bruce placed a hand on my arm. "Princess, we are going to fix this. I have yet to see you fail at anything, and I doubt you are going to start today. Are you about ready or do you have anything else you need?" I turned away from him and toward the bench. "Do you have any weapons I can borrow?"
"Weapons? You're going home. Why would you need weapons?"
"I would rather be safe than sorry. Besides, if my home is as safe as you believe, why are you geared to the hilt?"
"Let's just say I don't think being a man on the Amazon home world is a good idea. I just don't know whether my weapons will earn me respect or get me killed."
"It depend if my mother is in a forgiving mood. Or if the goddesses give her a choice." I reached forward to grab a small item off the table only to shock myself. The coursing beat of electricity thumped through my veins for only a moment before I dropped it. "Ouch!" Bruce smirked before turning toward a weapon cupboard. He rifled through it for a moment before pulling out a Katana. "I think perhaps a simple sword is more your speed, Princess." I took it sheepishly and tested the balance in my hand. It was heavier than I thought it would be. I almost asked Bruce what it was made out of and how he could possibly lift it when the cold hard truth hit me once again. I was mortal. Would the reminders never cease?
I forced a smile. "Thank you, Bruce. This will be great." With a deep breath I tied the sword to my waist and gathered my duffel. "Are you sure Dick will be fine alone?"
"Alfred will be with him. He will be fine. I doubt he would leave Barbara's side even if I offered him an opportunity to make the trip. I didn't want to make Dick choose between obligations so I took the matter out of his hands."
Once we finally took to the air I had Bruce plot a course toward Greece, hoping that once we reached the vicinity my homing beacon would kick in and I would be able to find my island. To any goddess still listening, please...don't take this from me as well. I beg it of you. If there is anyone still on my side, I beseech you to send me aid. I let out a burst of ironic laughter. "What's so funny?" Bruce said, not looking over from his controls. "I am praying to my goddesses, trying to find one who hasn't turned against me. I have no patron goddess left. All of them have forsaken me and I sit here like a fool pleading with them. Pathetic." Bruce's gloved hand reached over to grasp mine and I tightened my grip.
"They were your family, Diana. You never knew anything but love from them and they betrayed you. They betrayed you. You have done nothing but serve them faithfully. They should be afraid of the consequences. Somewhere in the universe there is a being more powerful than them that is looking down on them in disgust and they will take vengeance on them for this act."
Bruce spoke so confidently that I couldn't help but feel my spirits lift. With a deep breath I adjusted the course slightly. In theory, I had flown from my homeland and should be able to find my way back without my magical guidance system, but reality was often quite different. The length of the journey didn't help. The Batplane, with Wayne Enterprise's advanced technology, could make the journey quicker than any other (at least according to Bruce), but it still took a good couple of hours to near the Aegean. As we grew nearer Bruce kept glancing over at me, but I still felt nothing. It was like trying to find your way, blinded, through a jet black night. I was just about to admit defeat when I felt the pull that would guide me home.
I leaned forward and grabbed the co-pilot controls and began to adjust the course. I didn't dare turn to Bruce, afraid that if I lost my concentration I wouldn't be able to find it again. He merely fiddled with a few buttons, stabilizing my flight pattern. Oops. Apparently my plane operation skills weren't up to his standards. He leveled me a glare that could kill. "Take it easy on my plane, Princess, or I'm going to lose it." I ignored him as I yanked up on the stick, causing the plane to dip down below the clouds. "Princess!"
"It's here!" I almost thanked the goddesses, but then I remembered I was angry with them. When Bruce seen the quickly approaching ground he immediately took over, guiding us in at a dizzying speed. "Diana! You brought us in too fast. The stabilizers are failing at this angle. Pull up!" I yanked at the controls and just managed to level it out before we collided with Themyscira's highest point. With expert skill Bruce spun the plane around and landed it smoothly on the beach before giving me an irate stare. "You are going to have some lessons before I ever let you fly this again. Dick flies better than you. He's fifteen! Geez." He unbuckled his restraints with a groan. "We have company. At least they look happy to see us." His irony failed to amuse me.
Well, everyone that's what I have for you this week! Next chapter we shall see how our hero and heroine's arrival on Themyscira is received. Will all be well? Will Hippolyta be able to aid them in their search for answers? Thanks for reading.
