With You

Fortress of Solitude

Superman sighed deeply as he leaned forward, shaking his head.

It had been a difficult and intense couple of days since the Justice League held a press conference. In which Lex Luthor decided to blind side them and hijack the conference for his own self promotional gain. Nothing more than a snake in the grass. Tensions still high from a close invasion. Billions of lives hanging in the balance. The trust of the League within the people in constant question. Of course he would use that to his advantage.

"I look forward to working very closely with these fine heroic ladies and gentleman. Superman?" He smiled and holding out his hand.

Cameras constantly flashing. He had no other choice.

Reluctantly, Superman shook his hand.

Batman narrowed his eyes.

WatchTower

"What was I suppose to do, Bruce?! I was put on the spot. And with everything going on, do you really think I could've just walked away or said what I really thought?"

"This is why I don't do press."

"No, you stay in the shadows to bring fear," Superman snapped sarcastically. "The rest of us, especially me, not only speak to the public but take the backlash and whatever thrown our way. We aren't trying to make people fear us. The public needs to have trust. And maybe that's something you need, too."

With that Superman walked out of the briefing room.

Superman sighed again putting his head down.

"Kal?"

He turned in his chair and forces a small smile for her. "Diana."

"Apologies if I'm being intrusive and you want to be alone."

He stood up. "No, no, not at all. You know you're always welcomed."

"I was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat with me? Just to get out for a while," her voice soft in her request.

Normally he'd jump at her invitation and the chance to be with her but he's not feeling himself, though and he doesn't want her to pity him.

"I don't know if I'll be good company right now, Di."

"Kal, you can't stay isolated. That's not you." She sighed and looked down. "I know and understand the dilemma you are facing. But you don't have to face it alone..."

Kal moved closer to her and cupped Diana's chin, raising it, for her to look at him.

"I'm sorry. Where would you like to go?"

She lit up with the most beautiful smile. "One of those food trucks you've told me about?"

He smiled and nodded. "Ok, let's go."

Downtown Metropolis

A rush of fresh air hit their faces as they were flying. Diana Prince and Clark Kent landed onto the sidewalk where they would go unnoticed.

It doesn't feel like a coincidence that the backs of their hands keep brushing as they walk side by side to the food truck parked at the end of the block.

"It's a beautiful day, Kal. Clear skies...nice breeze. The sun, Kal. The sun gives you vitality. I wouldn't want you to miss a moment...especially not because of some snake like Lex or Bruce having his usual paranoia fits."

Clark laughed slightly. "Yeah, you're right. Thank you, Diana. I did need this."

Clark looked at her and smiled so mesmerized by her.

Their order of burgers was filled quickly and they are able to get a seat on a bench nearby.

Clark wasted no time digging in. "This is great!" He could taste every single ingredient.

Diana can't help but smirk at him, "Slow down Kal. Aren't you suppose to fan your food first?" she teased.

"I can take the heat and some..."

He took one of the fries from her basket in retaliation of her tease.

"A man of the sun, of course. But just for that you owe me some of your chocolate shake," she says reaching for the frosty cup and taking a long sip of his drink.

He's momentarily stunned at her boldness and his eyes are entranced at the way her luscious red lips curl around his straw.

"Hey now, keep that up and you'll have to buy me another one!" He jokingly chides her.

She just smiles back at him before taking a bite of her burger. They fall into comfortable silence as they eat and watch the random birds picking at crumbs on the ground left behind from previous diners and others walking by.

"You know," he says after sip of his shake, "Times like this, I think back on things Ma and Pa taught me. No matter how much good intentions I have, I still have to be cautious and careful. I still have to make decisions and choices I might ultimately not agree with but I could be for the better," he sighs. "It's not easy and it's not getting any easier."

"It's not suppose to be easy. Especially for us. But you can handle a challenge. You can handle me, right?" she teased and it's just enough to pull a small smile from his mouth.

"Of course I can."

His heart flies as he watches her reach her hand over to where his is resting against his thigh and she takes it in her own. Her delicate fingers joining his, giving him a gentle squeeze. Clark's eyes are locked on their joined hands in what can only be described as shock until she speaks.

"I'm here, Kal. You can talk to me and if there is anything else you need...I'm here for you," she says.

The tenderness of the moment tugs at his heart and he knows he's staring at her with much more adoration than he should be but he can't help it. Can't seem to draw his eyes away from her face and when her eyes finally meet his, he wants to kiss her so badly.

She wasn't anticipating wearing her heart on her sleeve tonight or finally letting him know without all the subtext how she feels about him. But just like everything else in their partnership, in their relationship, moments with him take her by surprise. She's wondering why she doesn't tell him, tell him now.

"Thank you," he says interrupting her internal dialog, "You know the same goes for me too right? You don't have to deal with things alone either."

She smiles as she thinks of all the ways he has consistently been such a true partner to her over the years, "I know, Kal. You've always been there for me."

It's so new, but at the same time feels like the most normal thing to sit here, his hand linked with hers.

However, all too soon it seems, she's standing and he's standing too, slipping his hand out of hers and taking their trash to dispose of it. He doesn't want this to end. He's so afraid that she'll close up and lose what feels so much like progress tonight on that wall of hers.

"Walk with me in the park for a little while?" he asks.

Diana bites her lower lip in the way that he simultaneous finds adorable and so sexy before she replies with a simple, "Yes, of course," with a smile.

He can't help but hope that she didn't want the night to end yet either.

"Actually," she says, eyes soft, "I'm all yours for the rest of the night. No training classes tonight with Hessia."

Clark feels as if his heart has stopped dead, and then suddenly it's revived, galloping and wild in his chest as they head down the sidewalk with their hands intertwined. He has been waiting so long, paying close attention to her signs, her clues, hoping that soon...very soon... the day would come when they can be more.

Trusting that all these months they were working up to the right time. He is willing to go through thick and thin with her. He just hopes so badly she would let him be completely with her in every sense, as they move forward.

They follow the sidewalk straight ahead for several minutes. The evening air cooling, the majority of the after-work crowd dispersed, leaving the streets quieter than when they first arrived.

Diana pulls Clark over to the swings.

They each take a swing. Diana moving back and forth while Clark is still and simply watches her, admires her long sexy legs, her hair blowing in the breeze she creates as she swings. After a few minutes she slows down and finds herself biting her lip again, something that keeps happening when she's near him.

A flood of feelings overcome her.

"You okay?" he asks, ever attentive, noticing the change in her features, her brow creased and serious.

"I was just thinking about everything that has happened with us."

He watches her suck in a deep breath, glance towards the sky before looking back to him.

"I was really worried I was going to lose the Kal I know," she says

He can see the fullness forming in her gorgeous eyes and his heart begins to ache for her, with her.

"I know we have to make very difficult decisions that we may regret later. Things don't always go how we think they should or want them," she barely manages to get out.

He's never seen her like this before. She's actually letting him in, sharing her feelings.

"We can't wallow. We can't let the doubt from other consume us making us doubt ourselves and what we are focused on achieving. We have to keep going," she whispers and she's surprised by the tear that rolls down her cheek.

She quickly swipes at the offending streak, tries to make it disappear. She was supposed to be making him feel better tonight, she hadn't realized how much this was what she needed too.

But he sees, he knows her so well. Her openness tonight is making him feel bold and he decides to act on it. Clark quickly stands, his abandoned swing propelled backwards.

He walks up to her, looking so calm and sure, though inside he feels anything but. Clark reaches out his hands to her and after a moment's pause she takes them. He draws her up to her feet, gently pulls her towards his chest and embraces her.

Finally, Diana allows it, she lets herself sink into the warmth of his broad chest and be comforted by him. Her tall, curvaceous frame fitting perfectly in his arms.

"Hey," he says rubbing his hand slowly up and down the line of her back, "I'm not going anywhere. Yeah, I get pissed off but I know I have to get it over it," he tries to reassure her. "And I have you to keep me in check regardless," he whispered to her softly as she rests her head on his shoulder and breaths him in.

They stay like that for a few moments. It no longer feels like all the work they have been doing should lead to one another as a final destination. Being with each other should be part of it. At the end of the day they are partners and best friends. Why should they keep suppressing their true feelings when letting it be free feels so right.

Diana slides her hand from where it's been tucked around his waist and runs it up his chest. She stops near his heart and she can feel the moment his heart rate picks up speed and the calm moment they had quickly turns into tender wanting and desire. She keeps her hand there, gently stroking her thumb back and forth gathering up the rest of her courage.

"Diana..?" He asks, taking a risk and breaking the silence, his voice deep and rich.

She lifts her cerulean gaze to meet his eyes, the tension between lasting only a second before she reaches her hand up to his face and urges him down to meet her lips with his own.

For a moment he doubts that this is really happening. He didn't really die or trapped by the black mercy, right? He's not in heaven or just dreaming that Diana is kissing him right now? But her warm silky lips are moving, sliding over his and he's jolted back to reality.

He suddenly comes alive at her touch, tugs the hand at her waist, seals her body to his own and brings his other hand up to caress her face, raises her jaw as he seeks permission to deepen the kiss. He knew they would be great, he knew kissing her for real would be amazing but this, this is beyond even his writer's imagination.

She can feel her whole body come alight with just the spark of his lips. The fire growing with the slick of his tongue chasing after her own and his strong arm holding her so tightly against him. She moans, lists her body closer to his and it's perfect. But it's so much more than just physical desire, for both of them.

They slow and part the kiss naturally, ever like them, in sync, and Clark rests his forehead against hers as he catches his breath. He rubs his hands tenderly against her sides but keeps her close. Diana works on steadying her own pulse, just enough so she can tell him what she's wanted to for what seems like such a long time now, what's been in her heart.

"Kal, I don't want to wait or hold back anymore. I just want to be with you."

The words are so soothing, reassuring to his heart. He didn't make it up, he didn't just imagine what they've been working towards.

"This moment is what I've longed for since the moment we met and gotten to know each other. You are this gorgeous light, Diana, that makes all worries, doubts and stresses go away. I'm so grateful for you," he says his voice velvety and soft as he whispers back to her. "But, I want to make sure you trust me and know that I will do all that can for you."

"You've been the man that I've put all my trust in. We have our own disagreements but you've showed me so much good that is, can be, that always will be no matter what we go through," she says framing his face with her hands, the move causing him to take a deep breath.

His eyes shine with love, longing and she's pretty sure that's what hers reflect back to him. Diana skimmed her hand from his face, down his arm until she can twine her hands with his. The connection just as intoxicating as the kiss was, so intimate and right.

Smiles burst onto both of their faces when they part.

"I love you, Diana."

"And I love you, Kal."

She tugs his hands, brings him in for another kiss, deep and passionate. Clark pulls her her impossibly closer to his body and holds her tighter, kissing her deeply, sensually.

She laughs at his eagerness, though she feels the same. It all just brimming at the surface, the desire to share more of everything with each other. Ready to face any and everything that comes their way together...forever.