Right Here

Inspired by "Heroes in Crisis" Press Conference scene.

Hall of Justice: Conference Room

Superman sat back in his chair and sighed. Wonder Woman silently watched him, sitting on the edge of the table beside him.

"You haven't said anything."

She shrugged slightly. "What should I say?"

"Just say it."

"Say what?"

"I can see it in your expression...your eyes. I can feel it with your demeanor. You are still angry with me."

"I'm not."

"What is it?"

"You tell me."

"Diana, come on."

She stared at him silently.

He sighed leaning forward putting his head down.

Flashback: 4 days ago

"Wonder Woman, take whoever you can and get out of here. I got the rest!"

The creaking of the building was getting louder as the flames continued to engulf the building.

"No! We do this together!"

"The building is about to collapse in less than 5 minutes. I need you to-"

"Look at you two... bickering like a pathetic old married couple." Leader of the Murdemonyx, terrorist group said as he waved his gun. "Faster than a speeding bullet, right, Superman? Both of you think you are superior. And you idiots praise them."

He pointed his gun at the remaining hostages who were huddled together.

"Any last words to the billions of people watching?"

He was nationally live broadcasting his attack. If this was the day he outsmarted the two most powerful heroes on the planet, all the world will witness such a moment.

"This is going to be glorious," Murdemonyx leader laughed as he pulled the trigger only at the same time the broadcasting stopped as the building started to collapse.

Collective gasped from all over the world and then utter silence.

A few feet away from the collapsed building, Superman had his cape over the hostages he carried.

"Wonder Woman?" He coughed looking around. "Wonder Woman?"

"Over...here." He heard her say through the thick smoke and debris.

"Is everyone accounted for with you?"

"Everyone is here."

Superman sighed relieved.

But then he heard a heartbeat slowing down.

"Stay here, paramedics will be here shortly."

Superman hurried back digging through the rubble. Once he threw the last large piece of rubble to the side, he dropped to his knees.

"He's dead," he said out loud.

Wonder Woman stood behind him. "May his soul rest and be cleansed of corruption."

Hours later...Hall of Justice

Wonder Woman and Superman met Batman in the the conference room.

Batman slid a folder to them without saying a word

"What is this?" Superman questioned.

"Gavin Limar. Very long rap sheet since the age of 17. Apparently, he hasn't been of fan of the League but quite a fan of the Leagion of Doom and wanted to create his own Legion. There's a few recordings you two should see." Batman paused a bit. "You will also need to be prepared to hold a press conference."

"Why?"

"The whole world saw everything. From his speeches, playing Russian Roulette with one of the hostages to you two bickering and right as the building started to completely collapse."

"What is there needed to be said, Bruce?"

"It's already speculation Superman decided to be judge and executioner."

"That's not what happened at all. Kal did what he could and-"

"Alright, I'll do it."

"What? Kal, you of all people, being a reporter should know anything you say-"

"I know, Diana."

Batman stood up about to leave. "We've found Gavin's group members, they are all in a holding cell at Arkham. I need to figure out the next step."

Kal and Diana were silent staring at each other as Batman walked out. Even when the door slid shut, they stared at each intently.

"Kal, you don't have to do this. You tried to get him out but if you would waited any longer, the others would've been lost as well."

"If I don't say something, it will be as if I'm guilty. This is exactly why I wanted you to take the hostages and leave. I didn't want you caught up in any of the backlash."

"We are a team. We deal with things together."

"Some things I need to handle alone."

"Why do you do this, Kal? There are sacrifices I'm willing to make, too. You don't have to take it all on your own. Not when I'm right here with you."

"I just..." he sighed and took her hand. "Please Diana, let me handle this."

She sighed and frowned. Letting his hand go, she walked away leaving out the conference room.

Now (1 hour earlier)

Superman stood at the podium. He looked out into the large crowd of reporters and civilians.

He had watched Gavin's recordings, dragging down the Justice League.

"The Justice League have you all fooled. They want you all to put your trust in them, lower your guards so at the end, they have the control over us all..."

Superman can sense the unintended fear and skepticism. The League's intentions are always questioned, no matter what they do to genuinely earn the civilian trust. Social network commentary and newspaper reports causing even more rifts.

What the other civilians would never know is that these heroes, these "Gods", have mortal families and friends. These "Gods" have suffered tragedy, the joys of love and happiness as mortals have. Some of them born with such purity and innocence like Wonder Woman. She isn't a dainty delicate flower. She's a Princess, Warrior, and Ambassador. She's faced a whole helluva lot, especially with the press. But Superman felt it was his responsibility to protect her anyway.

He looked down and sighed. Hearing familiar light foot steps and heartbeat coming closer he looked back.

Wonder Woman stood a few feet behind him. From her stern look, it was no need for him to protest because she wasn't going anywhere.

Superman turned back to the crowd and began to speak.

Wonder Woman kept her eyes on Superman the whole time. She could sense his uneasiness. He was close to stumbling on his words.

Then there was silence as Superman paused and clasped his hands together.

Wonder Woman stepped closer to him and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. At that instant she felt him relax. He reached and placed his hand over hers. Her support was all he needed to make it through this.

"...We make mistakes, we own up to them, learn from them, and move forward. Thank you for your time."

As the reporters started mumbling amongst themselves, Superman turned to Wonder Woman. She nodded slightly.

They both walked back into the Hall Of Justice. Still silence as they walked to the conference room. The door slid open, Diana walked in first and Kal followed closely behind.

With the door closed and being completely alone, they still said nothing. But the tension was felt.

Diana sat on the top of the table with her legs crossed. Kal sat in the chair next to her. He glanced at her. She still wasn't saying anything.

He sat back in his chair and sighed. Diana just watched him.

"You haven't said anything."

She shrugged slightly. "What should I say?"

"Just say it."

"Say what?"

"I can see it in your expression...your eyes. I can feel it with your demeanor. You are still angry with me."

"I'm not."

"What is it?"

"You tell me."

"Diana, come on."

She stared at him silently.

He sighed leaning forward putting his head down.

"I'm disappointed in the fact that you want to carry all this stress all by yourself. You don't have to do that, Kal. You have a whole team. You have...me."

He looked up at her.

"It was hard for me to open up to anyone...but I trusted you. I opened up to you. But it seems something has changed within you, Kal. I don't know what it is. You are distancing yourself."

"I'm...I'm sorry, Di. I don't ever want you to feel that way. I don't want you hurt. I want to protect you."

"Kal, I'm-"

"I know. I...know. But what I mean is, I've tried to open myself up too, but only to a certain degree out of fear of getting someone hurt. I've had to pretend and lie. When I became Superman, I didn't want to wear a mask. I didn't want to hide anymore. But Clark Kent...Clark still had to be different. Had to pretend. As a reporter and a superhero I'm suppose to uphold truth and integrity. How can I when I'm consciously living like this? I've either had to be just Clark Kent or Superman. That's how my life has been until I met you. With you, I'm just me. All of me. No lies, no holding back, no pretending. I guess I didn't know how to go about it because it's something still so new."

"But you are pushing away and holding back from me anyway?"

Diana shook her head and got off the table about to walk out.

"No, Diana, wait."

Kal got up quickly and grabbed her by her waist. Diana turned to him. He kept a firm grasp on her hips and stared into her eyes.

"That's not at all what I'm trying to do. I told you, I've never had anyone in my life like you. I've went about things the wrong way, I've realized that. I've also realized, having you by my side, having your support, being 100 percent honest not only with you but with myself is the right way. It's still been complicated for me...so surreal. But I don't want to lose this feeling. I don't want to lose you." He reached up to gently caress her cheek. "I love you, Diana."

"Kal..."

"I do."

Diana placed her hand over his and closed her eyes for a moment. Opening her eyes to Kal, staring deeply within his again.

"The walls have been broken down. It's me and you against whatever together. We protect each other. You won't lose me and even if a day comes when that just might happen, don't you dare ever give up. You keep fighting and be the man I know you are. I'm right here now and I'm always right here..." She put her hand over his heart. "...no matter what."

Tears welled up in both their eyes.

"I love you, too," Diana whispered.

Kal pulled her as close as he possibly could encasing her in his arms and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Diana wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, running her fingers through his hair.

Pulling back just a bit, they both smiled.

"This feels so much better being like this."

"It's is and I wouldn't want it any other way," Diana said pulling him back into another passionate kiss.