Making the Best of It
Chapter 31
Wayne Manor
Diana walked the halls of the manor with a destination in mind. She could scarcely believe it even though it had only been a few weeks. Her daughter had just turned two years old. They had decided to go small for this birthday with just family and a few friends. All in all, Elissa had a fun time. She was smiling and laughing, even Bruce was smiling as he took photos of the birthday girl tasting her birthday cake.
Donna had gotten Elissa a doll. However, Elissa had no idea what the thing was, but her innate curiosity accepted it. Tim had gotten her a toy that played music. Which Elissa really loved as it lit up and everything. Barbara had gifted her a few books for her. Cassandra had brought some clothes for her. Jason had even sent a birthday card, to Bruce's surprise. It wasn't anything nefarious about it, just a simple card.
The man was torn as he wanted to mend their damaged relationship but his doubts and fears involving Elissa had to be considered made any move to mend stall.
Dick was still… lost to them. And that would have to be it for now.
The Amazon's heart ached as her daughter was getting so big. Her hair was getting longer, and she stood up. She had even started walking. It was awkward but she was walking. Diana could barely keep up with her. Elissa wanted to keep going and explore even if her little legs had given out.
She found her daughter in her crib, wide awake, her hair disheveled from sleep.
"Good morning, my love," the raven-haired woman greeted sweetly.
Her daughter squealed in excitement at the sight of her mother. Babbling, "Mama. Mama." Her little hands opening and closing in the woman's direction saying she wanted to be picked up, her legs bouncing herself in her crib.
Happily, Diana took her into her arms. "How did you sleep?" she kissed Elissa's cheek. The two-year old didn't respond instead holding onto her mother's shoulders. She set her down on the changing table and got her a fresh diaper. "Hungry?"
Elissa responded by struggling to get out of her mother's arms.
Chuckling, she set her down onto her feet and watched as Elissa wabbled to the door with her mother right behind her. She forgot which way to go and needed her mother's help. The two finished their trek to the grand staircase where Elissa's excursion ended because Diana didn't think her child was ready to go down so many steps.
"I have a surprise for you," Diana cooed, entering the kitchen with her daughter in her arms. Her daughter's blue eyes glanced at her mother curiously as she listened intently to her words. "I am off today. So, we have the whole day to ourselves," she explained, getting Elissa's breakfast.
They sat in the dining room to have their breakfast together. Bruce and Alfred were out at the moment, leaving the two ladies alone. If you forget the dogs.
Diana fed her even letting her try and feed herself before she got her changed for the day and went to the playroom. Elissa tried to play with some of her new toys, but her treasured blocks were far more interesting to her.
As the two played, occasionally, the woman would brush her child's hair with her hand, amazed at how much she had grown.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Elissa surprised her by offering her some of her blocks. Accepting them, the two built a grand wobbly tower until it collapsed in front of them. Elissa's giggles were contagious as the Amazon mother joined her in laughter.
The spent the whole morning and early afternoon playing together. When Diana needed to put her down for her nap, Diana decided to tell her a bedtime story that her own mother had told to her when she was a child. She had wanted to start integrating her culture into her daughter.
When Elissa had fallen asleep, Diana had journeyed downstairs to find that Alfred was home.
"Oh, hello, Alfred. When did you get back?"
"Not that long ago, Miss Diana. Master Bruce is still in the city," the butler informed her.
"I see," she accepted the information. "I just put Elissa down for her nap," she notified him. She saw him nod and she went to grab something to drink only for her the unfortunate sound of her Justice League communicator. She groaned before answering and learned that Cheetah had broken out of Belle Reve and was running wild.
"Barbara Ann," the Amazon uttered grimly.
She hated doing it, but she needed to go. She thought she had time off, but it was an illusion. There was no time off for her.
With resentment in her heart, she took off from the manor to Louisiana.
She had tracked her from the swamps to a desolate town long abandoned. She landed gracefully in a barren street. Wonder Woman scanned the decrepit buildings that surrounded her. Her trained eyes on the lookout for the slightest of movements. Wonder Woman could hear Cheetah was nearby. Prowling around waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Golden eyes glared at the Amazing Amazon from afar. Cheetah growled lowly as she stalked around in the dark of an abandoned building. She had a perfect view of her foe from an absent window. Saliva dripped from barred fangs as she hungered to taste Amazon blood. Their rivalry had gone on for far too long. They had been friends once, but that felt like a lifetime ago. Whatever love between them was replaced with anger and hatred from the Cheetah's perspective. So many promises made to her hoping for a cure until one promise became one too many. She had lost her patience as she was resigned to her fate as began to enjoy her life.
As Cheetah she was powerful. Strong and fast. A hunter. And the world was her jungle. She felt powerful being a force of nature, cutting through men with ease. Satisfying her thirst with the blood of men. She truly desired the blood of an Amazon. It may not restore her to her human form, but she had abandoned such hopes. Cheetah was all that remained and that was all that mattered to the former archaeologist.
On all fours she moved about the building, sneaking into a building next door with lightning agility. Wonder Woman wiped her head seeing something moving on her left. Her eyes squinted as she tried to investigate from a distance. She had the advantage of being out in the open. She was certain Cheetah was using the buildings for cover.
Wonder Woman took cautious steps closer to the buildings, her guard up. She suddenly tensed as dust fell from the roof of the building in front of her. Her head jolted upward, blue eyes widening as Cheetah was perched on the roof on all fours, a growl in her throat.
Diving, Cheetah snarled as her claws were at the forefront. Claws clashed with metal bracelets causing sparks to flare in the sun.
"Barbara Ann!" the raven-haired woman exclaimed.
"Diana," Cheetah greeted landing on all fours before getting into a standing position. "So good to see you after so long," her voice chillingly oozed.
"Surrender," Wonder Woman ordered. She was not trying to reach out to her anymore. Her former friend had killed five men in her escape. If she wanted to help her it would be after she was taken back into custody.
"No more trying to get me to change?" the furry woman's tail idly waved back and forth.
"Not while your free," the Amazon replied coolly.
Cheetah feigned hurt but stopped when her sensitive nose caught the scent of an unfamiliar odor. She had some trouble placing her, her face furrowed in concentration. "I won't be caged again!"
She charged at her, her speed incredible, claws slashing at the Amazon, who deflected with her bracelets backpedaling. Cheetah's foot shot up from the ground, talons slashing at steel as the Amazon struggled to defend herself. Cheetah's speed always surprised her.
Cheetah continued her combination of strikes with her claws using her hands and feet. She had been working on ideas on how to fight Wonder Woman and counted on her speed. Unfortunately, Wonder Woman was no slouch when it came to speed.
Sparks and limbs danced as the two women moved so quickly their limbs were blurs. When the raven-haired woman went to finally attack, Cheetah dodged by ducking low, palming some dirt. When she rose, she threw her hand out, the dirt a powder that blew into the Amazon's eyes.
"Ah," the woman grunted, temporarily blinded. Her eyes shut as she tried with one hand to clear her eyes.
Cheetah seized the moment and attacked. A well-placed kicked collided with Wonder Woman's stomach, a grunt escaping her. When she went for a slash, her attack was blocked by a powerful forearm.
Through a teary azure eye, Diana had managed to block the powerful strike. Unfortunately, Cheetah wasn't stunned by the counter for long as she used her left foot's claws to slash at the Amazon's exposed right thigh.
Hissing in pain as crimson trailed down her leg and boot, she could feel her lifeblood trickle inside the boot.
Pride filled the Cheetah as she saw the woman wounded. She struck again, only for her wrist to be caught by a powerful hand.
Stunning the Cheetah, Diana, through teary eyes, struck her hard with a left haymaker to the face.
Dazed, Cheetah backed away. Diana used the free moment to wipe her eyes, clearing them slightly.
Cheetah snarled, tasting her own blood. "Rahhh!" with an angry roar, she dove at the woman knocking her on her back.
The Amazon's head hit the ground hard, leaving her dazed. Cheetah straddled the downed woman, her fangs barred, clawed fingers splayed. She was about to tear her former friend's throat out when she froze. There was that scent again.
Her furry face furrowed as she tried to place that scent. Until…
"Why do you smell like baby powder?"
Diana's blood ran cold as soon as the question hit her ears. No…
A knowing look appeared on the cat-like woman's face. "Ohhh, you slut!" she teased. "Is that where you were? You got knocked up. Oh, that's just perfect."
The more she spoke the more fearful Diana became. Before Cheetah could continue, the Amazon summoned her strength and her right hand grasped the back of Cheetah's head, surprising the woman and pulled, slamming her face into the ground beside the princess's head.
She kept her hand where it was until she felt her enemy's body slump against her own indicating the animal powered woman had lost consciousness.
Taking deep breaths, Diana just laid there with her former friend splayed atop her. Her heart beating so fast it threatened to burst out of her chest. She laid there contemplating what to do next. Cheetah knew. Or at least at an inkling about Elissa.
Her heart wrenched as she struggled with the right thing and what she believed in. But then there was Elissa.
She struggled with her decision until she knew what she had to do.
Belle Reve Prison
"You will keep her secure?" a bandaged Wonder Woman inquired to the other woman.
The other woman was Amanda Waller warden of Belle Reve Prison as well as commander of Task Force X, better known as the Suicide Squad.
"Of course," the plump woman assured stoically. "Cheetah will be secured in our level zero ward. No visitors whatsoever."
The Amazon appeared torn, but this was the best way to keep Elissa safe and keep Cheetah from escaping again. "And she will remain in her cell," she told the black woman. "No Suicide Squad for her," she warned.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Waller denied with no change in her face whatsoever.
"I need her to stay where she is, Waller."
The forcefulness from the Amazon was surprising but Waller wasn't one to be intimidated. "If I were to leave her where she is, what do I get out of this arrangement?"
"I will owe you a favor," Wonder Woman simply said to Waller's surprise. Although, the idea of Wonder Woman owing her a favor was too good to pass up.
"Agreed. Cheetah stays put and serves her sentence," Waller swore truthfully.
"Keep up your end of our bargain," the raven-haired woman sternly told her.
"You do what you have to and so will I," Waller responded with mild aggression.
They exchange cool glances before Wonder Woman departed from the facility. Her heart torn as guilt cut deep within her.
Wayne Manor
She returned home as the moon was above the city. She had checked in on Elissa, disappointment welled up inside her as Alfred had put her to bed. She felt guilty as she promised to finish telling her stories of Themyscira.
She eased herself with the knowledge of telling her tomorrow. She had gotten showered and changed. She reapplied a new bandage to her leg as she was dressed in shorts and long-sleeved shirt. The events of the day plagued her as she had difficulty sleeping. She tossed and turned in her bed unable to become comfortable.
She kept glancing at her digital clock, grimacing as it was nearly four in the morning. With a frustrated huff, she hobbled out of bed and downstairs to the kitchen.
Her wounded leg throbbed, protesting her movements. She took a drink of water, stopping when she noticed Bruce standing in the doorway.
"Everything alright?" he wondered, stepping into the kitchen.
"Yes. I was just thirsty," she explained, finishing her beverage. She made a subtle movement to hide her bandaged leg, but his trained eye noted it immediately.
"What happened?" Bruce instantly questioned getting close to her, inspecting her leg.
She seemed uncomfortable that he was so closely inspecting her leg, but she still answered. "Cheetah."
"Hmm." His eyes were glued to her bandage.
"I'm already healing. It should be better in the morning," she assured.
"I see," he uttered. What happened next surprised the raven-haired beauty. She squeaked in surprise lowly as Bruce had picked her up bridal style.
"What are you doing?" she exclaimed.
"Carrying you," his voiced bluntly.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, she effortlessly got used to being carried by him.
They entered her bedroom silently. Carefully he placed her back in her bed with him sitting at the foot of the bed. He noted the solemn expression on her face.
"What's on your mind?" he inquired. His question startling her.
"Oh, it's… nothing," she answered blandly.
"Since when do you lie?"
In response, Diana started to go into detail of what had transpired earlier that day. He listened intently and silently as he didn't interrupt. He sensed that she needed to get it off her chest. How crushingly painful it was to compromise on throwing a friend even a former one into prison for the rest of her life all out of fear.
When she was finished, Bruce began.
"She's murdered dozens of people, Diana. She belongs in prison. Don't feel too bad about it."
She wanted to argue. Talk about compassion and redemption. But Barbara Ann had seemingly lost interest in such a thing. She recalled as they fought the glee in her eyes as she had wounded her. She wanted to kill her and would no doubt enjoy every minute of it. The fact that she learned of Diana's child made her worry what the cat-like woman would do if she tracked her to Gotham.
"I know," she conceded, regretfully. It didn't make her feel any better.
"Am I a bad person?" She wondered aloud.
"No," Bruce was quick to deny. "You're just someone who knows her best." Wordlessly, he caressed her calf with his hand. His touch sent a tingling sensation down her spine. His pleasant touch turned her mind to other things. "And someone who will do anything for their family."
"Can you hold me?" it sounded like a plea.
Silently, he inched closer until he was lying in bed with her, his arms wrapped around her protectively. His presence seemed to alleviate some of her pain. She nuzzled into his neck, her strong arms wrapping around his torso, her legs intertwining with his own.
She needed this. The comfort that Bruce had brought her with the smallest of affection. She knew he wasn't the most affectionate of people. But there was a gentleness to him that was coming out more and more. She believed Elissa was responsible for this change in him. Bruce would tell her that she had just the same effect as their daughter.
Her eyes grew heavy as sleep began to claim her.
He watched as she had finally slept, pleased that she was no longer plagued by regret. He hoped that she would never be put into such a compromising situation again.
Regrettably, we can't always get what we want.
Diana had been called in when Maxwell Lord's technology started causing havoc. People possessed by this technology via an app on their phones made them behavior erratically, almost homicidal depending on the circumstances of what the app made them see. The Amazon was forced to work with Lord, whom was working with ARGUS to handle the situation. She didn't trust him and partnered up with him to ensure this situation was rectified properly.
Surprisingly, they learned that it was not Maxwell Lord that was responsible, but his daughter calling herself Liar Liar. She held powers like her father if not more powerful where she could distort reality.
Liar Liar blamed her father as well as Wonder Woman for everything that happened to her in her life. Mostly, Max. But the Amazon refused to allow the girl to kill the man. Liar Liar was defeated but she disappeared afterwards. Later, it was learned that Lord's technology was purchased by Count Vertigo.
To stop him, Wonder Woman and Lord teamed up once more and traveled to Vlatava, home of Count Vertigo to stop him. She was blinded in a place crash. Using the Lasso of Truth, Diana managed to move about without her sight.
Unsurprisingly, Lord had betrayed her following Vertigo's defeat. Lord went on about how he had tried to reform but his daughter had helped him to see him for who he truly was. A Lord. A man among men. He was the only one truly deserving of his powers.
He bombarded the Amazing Amazon with his powers, probing her mind as he strongly tried to kill her.
"I'm doing this Diana because you fucking murdered me!" he exclaimed.
With his mental abilities he managed to make her stab herself with her own sword. He had left her lying in a pool of her own blood. Lord had intended to use Vlatava as his powerbase, but Diana had surprised him, escaping death by a loophole. To the letter of Lord's command, Diana had stabbed her side. If he wanted her to kill herself, she should have made her slit her own throat.
They fought once more with Max fading into unconsciousness. Diana stood over him triumphant but that feeling of victory was slain as she heard his last words before falling unconscious.
"Elissa. Such a… pretty name," he uttered smugly.
The woman was stunned, horror on her face as she stared at the unconscious man. What could she do now?
She secured him with power dampers and transported him back to ARGUS. After which she alerted Bruce of what had happened.
"I'll take care of it," he told her.
Diana tried to get more out of him. But he remained silent on the matter. She wanted to know more. She even seemed angry about being left out. She demanded to know what he was going to do. She didn't want him to do something he would regret.
He silenced her with a grim stare and left her at home.
Belle Reve Hospital Ward
Maxwell Lord awoke in a hospital bed, his eyes darting to the corners of the room. Immediately, he felt that something was wrong. He was wrong. He couldn't move. He desperately tried to move but his body refused to move.
His heart beat erratically, monitors indicating as such until a dark silhouette loomed over him, and white lenses bore into him like the devil himself.
Batman stared at him, silently considering alternatives.
Die. Die. Die.
Lord thought hard, beginning to use his power to command Batman to kill himself. Hatred in his eyes.
"Before you think about using your powers, I slipped you a powerful blood thinner into your IV. You'll die before your target can carry out your command."
Lord paled as he ceased using his power.
"I also injected you with a substance that mimics Locked-In Syndrome. You will spend the rest of your life here in this bed. Incapable of movement, feeding yourself, bathing. Or wiping yourself."
"Waller agrees with me that you are too dangerous and unpredictable. You'll die here, Max. Of course, you could end it quickly by using your power. Death by nosebleed, how… ignoble." Batman taunted the man. He could see the hatred in the man's eyes.
Batman soon left the man, whom was silently wishing the masked man dead.
Batman left the prison not happy about his choice but not upset about it either. He saw how upset Diana was when she had Cheetah secured in Belle Reve's level zero ward. She couldn't bear to compromise her beliefs again. He, on the other hand, was fine with it. Over the years, he had been forced to compromises to achieve his goals. And the past few years he had compromised a lot. Dent and Hush to name a few.
He was fine with it. He had to pick his battles to win the war. Diana, on the other hand, she should not be forced to compromise. He would do it for her. She didn't need to know how it was done so long as it was. Hopefully, she could sleep better knowing that Elissa was safe.
He swore he would do anything to protect her. Even if it meant compromising—crossing lines he normally wouldn't.
But he had been brutalized before by these 'people'. So much harm to his family by these individuals. He was going to make certain Elissa would never be harmed by them. They would never even get close to her.
No matter what.
Even if he had to damn himself.
Wayne Manor
He returned home to find Diana staring out to the garden from her bedroom window, nursing a glass of wine.
"What happened?" she never turned to face him, content with staring at the beautiful garden on the manor grounds.
"Nothing you need to know about. Lord is secure. That's all that matters," he said dismissively.
Diana whipped her head to the man, her expression cold. "I want to know," she demanded.
"He's alive if that is what you are worried about," he said coolly.
She set her glass down and marched up to the man. Her fierce expression spoke of her fiery personality when her patience waned.
Face to face with one another, she scowled at his stoic face. "Speak to me," she demanded.
An expressionless Bruce replied, "It's done. Now drop it." His patience starting to waver as she was getting in his face.
SLAP!
Bruce winced as he realized the woman had just slapped him. His cheek red and stinging. Surprise turned to anger; his stoic guise shattered.
The woman's anger was evident on her face, scowling at the man fiercely.
When she tried to slap him again, he caught her wrist.
He scowled. "No."
She used her other hand to try and slap him, but he caught that one too. Both were scowling at one another as if they were bitter enemies.
He knew she was lashing out violently because of what she had done with Cheetah and the foreboding of what he had done to Lord. She felt that she was losing a part of herself to something she had never experienced before.
She tried to lash out again only for Bruce to defend himself. She didn't seem to truly want to hurt him as they were before blatantly aware she was much stronger them him.
She suddenly kissed him aggressively. Her hands tearing at his shirt and hair with him doing the same to her.
He could taste the wine on her tongue. His calloused hands running through her ebony locks. The tresses felt like silk slipping through his digits.
His shirt torn from his body like it was nothing. Diana had become the aggressor, as her nails scratched at his rugged flesh. Her kiss forceful, her tongue almost smothering the man, her red lips smacking against his, her teeth nipping at his lips. She tasted iron on her tongue and heard a hiss escape the man as she had managed to draw blood.
Bruce would not be dominated as he, too, tore her shirt from her powerful body, exposing a simple black bra. He felt her hands fumbling with his belt and soon felt her shove her hand down his pants cupping his manhood in her powerful hand. He groaned into their hungry kiss, his hands on her hips pulling her flush against him.
In response, she started grinding against him as well as stroking him in his pants.
He pulled her pants down to her ankles along with her underwear, them breaking momentarily for breath. And then he tackled her to the floor, as soon as her back it the floor with a thump, she kicked her pants off and used her feet expertly to divest him of his trousers.
He mounted her. His manhood poking at her womanhood, he discovered that she was dry and understood she wasn't looking for love making. She needed to drown out her suffering with pain followed by pleasure. The Amazon was so consumed with regret that she needed to physically feel it just to drive it away with some other sort of pain.
She didn't want love making she wanted to be fucked.
He inserted himself inside her. It was difficult and uncomfortable. They both hissed upon insertion and when he tried to move. He attempted to play with her love button, but her legs had wrapped around his hips, her arms around pulled him flush against her breasts, her nipples brushing against his broad chest. Sensitivity surged through her veins clear to her toes and started to arouse her.
Their coupling was rough, her fingers dug into his back, her incredible legs secured around his hips, her toes curling against his buttocks as their rhythm was smoother as Diana became stimulated. He kissed her neck, sucking the flesh as he pumped within her. He was all for rough, but he still loved her enough to give her some of the gentle loving that she was accustomed to when they were together.
They were grunting and growling like animals and that was fine for the woman. Diana needed this. She hated herself for these choices they had made together. She gave herself a hard look in the mirror and wondered if she was a good person anymore.
Sweat permeated their flesh as they grinded against one another. She mewled as felt herself climax around him with Bruce a guttural grunt away from finishing. She felt warmth well up inside her as her partner finished and collapsed on her.
Their hearts pounding in their ears, panting for air desperately. Idly, her hand caressed the back of his head, she pressed a grateful kiss to his temple as the afterglow was starting to set in.
Sometime later, Bruce was on his back, an arm behind his head with Diana curled up to him on her side, her head resting on his chest. They were naked and still sweaty but neither carried as they continued to lie together on the floor of the woman's bedroom.
The atmosphere wasn't one of satisfaction. If anything, it was somber. Diana liked the sex, but she was still plagued by her choices.
"Am I a good person?" a sullen Diana uttered aloud.
He cupped her head, pulling her closer to his chest. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course, you are," he answered with a hint of contempt of the idea of her doubting herself.
He found the idea of Diana not being a good person incomprehensible. Himself, on the other hand…
He considered himself a detective. A crime fighter. A hero?
That was something that never entered his mind.
He can do the dirty work. He had done it before.
For his family. And Diana may disagree with it, but the results speak for themselves.
He just hoped Diana doesn't damn herself along with him.
NEXT: Leviathan
Thanks for all the reviews, favs and follows! Please continue to support the story!