Chapter Text
“You know Kat, I could spend the rest of my life cuddling with you.” Renee Montoya said as she sat on a love seat with Katherine Kane sitting on her lap. The television was on, channel six news. Katherine couldn’t care less about what the anchorman reported, she was content with laying her head on her partner’s shoulder as Renee traced patterns on her bare stomach. The crop-top she was wearing was far from decent but who was complaining?
“I might just say the same thing, your lap is very comfy.” Katherine grinned as she slouched back to press herself more on Renee. Her back sandwiching Renee’s breasts and they loved it. The television showed footage of Batman and Batwoman fighting crooks side-by-side and Katherine could not contain her smile. She was that same Batwoman, the one who made Gotham a better place for all.
“You know baby, sometimes I wonder if Gotham is worth protecting.” Renee voiced out, reaching for the remote to mute the television. Katherine looked back at her with a nervous smile.
“But you’re doing such a wonderful job at it. Plus with the Batman on your side people could sleep better at night.” Katherine replied to her girlfriend. Katherine stood up and pulled Renee with her. “I think what you’re doing to help clean up Gotham gives people hope.” Katherine embraced Renee and Renee hugged her back.
“It’s just so frustrating at times. One day we bag the Riddler, then next there’s a mass breakout in Arkham.” Renee gave an example of the line of work officers at the GCPD had to commit themselves to. “I haven’t told about this time when we hauled Joker in, and fifteen minutes later he was gone. Killed seven people on his way out. Seven.” Renee slumped her shoulders and sighed. Katherine bit her bottom lip, she desperately wanted to tell Renee her secret. That she was Batwoman, the crime fighting badass that sometimes flirts with Renee during patrols or investigations. But she has been sworn to secrecy by the Bat, and nothing is scarier than angering the Bat.
“It’s worth it.” Katherine said, “All of it. From waking up in the morning to polishing your gun, hauling criminals in and catching them if they escaped. It’s worth it, why? Because you keep people safe, we all do.” Katherine whispered to Renee in a soothing voice. She pulled Renee’s head up by her chin and kissed her softly. “It may not seem like it, but every little bit helps.” Katherine hugged the woman in front of her.
Suddenly the room twisted in a bizarre maelstrom of color and eerie visuals. “Then why?” Katherine turned around to where the voice was and saw Renee, her form contorted and disproportioned, voice deep and scratchy. Katherine ran away from the figure, her fight or flight response kicking in full flight. She tried to open the door the led out of the room but it wouldn’t move. “WHY?” The contorted figure asked again, spreading fear and dread through its voice. Katherine put up a fighting stance, if she was going down, she would go down swinging. She tried to hit the figure where she presumed its brachial artery was located but her hand slipped right through the figure.
“WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER? WHY ISN’T GOTHAM GETTING BETTER?” It asked again and again. Katherine fought it with every breath she had. Kicks and punches where simply phasing through the figure. Katherine gasped for air, arms blocking her vital parts as she struggled to fill her lungs with oxygen. The figure inched forward, slowly closing the distance between them until final it wrapped it’s form onto Katherine who could only struggle and scream in terror.
“Kate.” She heard it. A voice. A calm and gentle serenade of sound. She was saved.
What Katherine knew next, she was held in a tight embrace by someone who smelled of dewdrops and sunshine. Katherine blinked a couple of times to enhance her vision which took no time at all. Where was she? What?
Katherine looked around. She was sitting on a floor, her back pressing tightly against someone who she would’ve guessed was sitting against a wall. She was in her usual get up of black shirt and jeans, and she had noticed her hair which was supposed to be in a ponytail sprawled out on her shoulder. Katherine reached for the hand of the person who was embracing her. She touched something cold, a bracelet maybe? The person had their arms tightly and snugly wrapped around Katherine’s body, just below her breasts. Katherine turned her head a bit to see Diana meeting her gaze with concern and passion emanating from her blue eyes.
“Wha- what happened?” Katherine asked, her head feeling as if it was hit by a metal baseball bat. Katherine tried to get up but Diana held her down.
“Take it easy,” Diana said in a calm voice. “We had to emergency land to a nearby island. We were flying and then you suddenly blacked out.” Diana explained the events leading to this and Katherine listened as much as she could. “You were… convulsing in your seat so I had to move you to a bed. But you punched me square in the face and yelled,” Diana took a moment to recollect herself. “Well, very colorful language. When I tried to placate you, we sort of got into a fight. But don’t worry,” Diana reassured Kate by combing her red locks with her fingers. “You’re fine now.”
Katherine could feel all her bones located in the proper position so thank god nothing was broken or shattered or both. Katherine tried to stand up but her legs gave up on her. “It must be some kind of magical fatigue.” Diana pondered and Kate raised her eyebrows which caused her head to hurt even more. Diana placed a hand on Kate’s forehead to check her temperature. “In layman’s terms, your body was shocked due to an over influx of magic coursing through you. I have not seen this type of effect before.” Diana stood up and easily carried Kate bridal style. Kate reddened a bit at this, especially considering the fact that she had a good view of the Amazon’s amazing bosom.
“I can walk.” Katherine tried to protest but Diana smiled and ignored it.
“And where’s the fun in that? This way it’s enjoyable for both of us, wouldn’t you agree?” Diana teased a little bit. Kate had not said a word in reply, but the movement of her eyes from Diana to the ceiling indicated it was true.
Diana placed Katherine on a bench and propped her head up with a blanket that she folded. “Rest, we’ll be at the Island in a couple of minutes. I’ll get you checked up once you’re there. Alright?” Diana said with a smile that could light up even Batman’s dark aura. Kate nodded in response, still a little embarrassed. Diana’s hand caught Katherine’s own and placed a kiss on her knuckle. “I don’t want anything happening to you, so please, don’t be Batman and listen to orders.” Diana finished and without waiting for a response walked back to the front of the jet and took off to the island.
Kath looked troubled. What if she had told Renee her secret, would she have stayed with her? If Kate reassured Renee, would she never have left Gotham and herself?
“Renee, wherever you are, this is for you. So be happy alright?” A tear slid down Katherine’s cheek. They may not be together anymore, but Renee Montoya was a driving force for Kate’s decision to take her duties up a notch. She just hoped that Renee will find happiness where happiness for her is found.
“Coffee?” Diana offered a cup to Katherine. Currently, the redhead was sitting in her room which was located at the royal house. As much as Katherine wanted to be treated as the common pilgrim, she didn’t have the strength right now to argue against someone who went out of her way to help her. Maybe tomorrow when the fatigue wears off.
“Worry not, it’s made only in Paradise. Coffee here is more of a drink to help us sleep than to keep us awake.” Katherine nodded, and with a shaking hand reached for the handle and sipped a few. It was amazing, it was coffee that tasted like all the delicious fruits and sweets she liked without the expense of the addicting taste of coffee.
“Wow,” Was all Katherine could say before taking another sip. Diana sat down on the foot of the bed, taking sips at intervals of her own cup of Paradise Coffee.
“I appreciate everything you have done for me Diana.” Katherine started. She placed her coffee down on the end table before sitting straight. “I want to start my training as soon as possible.” She said in an adamant voice.
Diana laughed and reared her head back. Her laugh was beautiful and graceful even, was this even possible? Katherine smiled and kicked the Amazon on the hip playfully. “I’m being serious here.” Katherine pouted and crossed her arms.
“It may take a week for you to get used to the island and its special qualities. Another day or two to memorize the scale, and perhaps three minutes to get lost.” Diana warned Katherine with a giddy tone. It wasn’t uncommon for a pilgrim to get lost in the island. All of them are being watched so they wouldn’t kill themselves or accidentally fall of the side of a cliff.
“I think you may be forgetting that I am a member of the Batfamily. You know, Batfamily? As in the group that is led by the Batman?” Katherine tested the waters and Diana laughed even harder.
“I have not forgotten.” Diana said after a while. “But you do know that under all that grit and brooding, Bruce is a big teddy bear. Or should I say teddy bat.” Diana said as she lay down on the bed, using Kate’s legs as a pillow. Katherine wasn’t complaining, not in the slightest. Although this position reminded her of Renee and how she would use to do this after a long day of work.
“If you insist. We’ll start the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, you need to be introduced to your trainers, which includes my mother.” Diana counted all of the trainers in her mind before nodding her head. “Yes, and there is also a welcome home feast for my arrival. It has been five months since I have visited.” Diana added.
“Wait, did they miss you that much after five months? And why is your mother training me? Isn’t she like the queen of Amazons?” Katherine’s eyes went as big as her mouth. The thought alone of the Queen training her gave her chills. Queen Hippolyta. The queen of the Amazons. The same queen that rules Paradise. “Fuckin hell.” Katherine muttered.
“Aw don’t be like that, mother is perfectly gentle with training.” Diana started rubbing Kate’s feet to comfort her which was doing it’s job perfectly. “The island also has this feature. Time here moves slower. So while it was only five months there in Man’s World, it was close to five years here.” Katherine moaned gently with every press Diana gave her.
“Once you live on the island long enough you get used to the crazy cycles of weather and day.” Diana said, continuing her therapy on Kate’s cute feet. Diana was fascinated. Kate’s feet were soft and delicate but she could see that her legs were toned and muscular and she has seen footage of Batwoman against thugs. Diana must say that this Batwoman had an impressive kick.
Kate watched Diana tend to her feet. She felt embarrassed. Diana Prince of all people is rubbing her feet. The Wonder Woman who could beat up Superman and Batman at the same time is giving her a foot massage. While it was not unpleasant, it was a feeling that she welcomed to a degree.
“Kate, the feast will be held tomorrow night. I will introduce you to my sisters and mother in the morning when you wake up. After that, well, if you’re up for it I want to give you a tour of the island.” Diana concluded her foot massage and Kate nodded. Not at the loss of Diana’s touch mind you, but at the proposal.
“What time should I wake up?” Kate asked, finishing her cup of coffee-fruit drink-sweet beverage-thing and handed it Diana who had her hand open to receive the cup.
“Any time is a good time.” Diana simply said before walking towards the door. “Before I forget, there are clothes in there if you need them. You could also put yours in it if you wish.” She pointed at a chest on the side of the room. Kate acknowledge that fact and nodded.
“Well then, pleasant dreams Kate.” Diana said before she walked out of the door.
“Good night!” Katherine called out, knowing that Diana would hear her with her sharpened hearing. Katherine sighed in relief. Her eyelids fluttering as she laid back down on the bed, threw her covers over her body and blew out the candle on the night stand. Tonight, she dreamt once more of the contorted figure of Renee Montoya but quickly it was purged by a ray of beauty and elegance. Tonight she dreamt of another woman. A woman with silky flowing hair and piercing blue eyes who smelled like dewdrops and sunshine. She smiled in her sleep, content with her situation.
“Has she gone to bed?” Sat upon the throne of Paradise Island, the queen asked her daughter. Her body, relaxed and comfortable after years of ruling the nation, shifted in her seat to better accommodate her stiff back after sitting on it after long periods of sitting on it. Two royal guards looked at each other, relaying the concern about their queen and her mannerisms. In the end, the two guards said nothing of the queen’s sitting position and stood there saying nothing.
Diana walked down the path of the throne room with all the grace of a princess. At the foot of the throne, she bowed to show respect. The dim lighting in the hall made her porcelain skin glow. Hair flowing down in straight strides on her back as she replied, “She is sleeping soundly. I thank you again mother for allowing me to tutor her in part.”
Hippolyta gestured her daughter to lift her head and stand up. She herself rose from the throne and started walking towards her daughter. Queen Hippolyta placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder with a small smile and open heart. “It is rare for my daughter to ask anything of me. It was one thing to leave the island, another to stay over at Man’s World to fight for them. Dear Hera, how you’ve grown.” Hippolyta moved her hand to her daughter’s cheek and brushed her thumb over her it.
Diana placed a hand over her mother’s and closed her eyes to savor the moment. It was broken when another princess opened the two massive doors of the throne room. Unlike Diana’s entrance, Donna flew through the room to tackle Diana in a warm and tight embrace. The younger princess nuzzled her sister’s neck. “Diana! I missed you so much! Mother and Artemis won’t give me a breather during training it was so horrible!” Donna continued on and Diana did not catch most of what her kid sister said in her flurry of words and complaints. Diana stood up which made Donna stood up, Hippolyta loved to see her daughters get along so she did not cut the conversation.
“Mother said you had a visitor! And not the cat lady!” Donna looked behind Diana. When she found no other foreign face, she scanned the room only to find lit torches, her sister, her mother and the royal guards Beatrice and Zamara. “Where is she?” Donna asked her sister with an innocent look. Diana knew better that if she told Donna where Kate was, Kate would wake up in the middle of the jungle.
“She’s resting.” Was all Diana had to say. Hippolyta gestured for both of her daughters to follow her to the adjacent room and they all followed her without a word, including the royal guards. “Beatrice,” Diana said, walking behind her mother towards the War room.
“Yes, milady?” The royal guard stood straight, waiting for a command. Diana turned around to face the loyal royal guard. “Send word to Artemis and Philippus to meet us at the war room. After you have spoken to them, you are relieved for tonight. Please.” Diana never forgot her common courtesy, even if she was a princess.
“It will be so. Thank you ma’am.” The guard saluted before running out into the night to find the intended amazons.
“Zamara, could you prepare a sparring ground for my sister and I? I want to test what skills she honed when I was gone. After that, you are relieved for the night as well.” Diana asked of the guard. Donna looked at her sister with a smug grin before nodding her head to Zamara.
“As soon as it will be, your highness.” She bowed her head before heading out, catching up to her fellow royal guard on the way out.
“Now that we’re alone, tell me what’s been going on Donna. How are your studies with Epione and Penelope? Have you been giving them a hard time?” Diana asked. When she had visited the last, she had remembered Donna had taken apprenticeship under the healer and archivist. It was boring and she would know because she had once been taught both principles and it was a pain to get through.
“Oh you know, Epione was nice enough to give me a wide margin.” Hippolyta opened the door to the war room. It was a decent size room with a large table in the middle. On the walls were paintings of the goddesses, each of the burning with fighting spirit and determination. The table held two maps, one of Paradise and the other of Man’s World. The chandelier held fire that would never burn out. Windows looked overhead the entire island. It gave the people within the room a magnificent view of the ocean and its vast openness.
“Hardly. I had to convince Epione to be patient with Donna. Not only can’t your sister close a wound, but she could actually open them to the point of fatality.” Hippolyta sighed out, looking over the map of the island and placing strategic idols over them for future references.
“Mother you’re being brash. I can now, as of last week, can close a sword’s gash.” Donna proudly pumped her chest out. It was an achievement of the ages if you asked Donna Troy, but no one in their right mind would take her seriously. But it was true, as of the last seven days, under the careful eye of Epione, she can now close a sword wound.
“And what of your adventures in the archive? Surely Penelope has kicked you out of the Archive after the first hour.” Diana joked. Diana knew that even the Oracle of Paradise had a boiling point and Donna had a knack of pushing the kettle over when its hot.
“Oh well, funny thing is, when I talked to her about being an apprentice, she straight out denied it. It wasn’t even up for debate, she just shook her head and walked away!” Donna complained about it for the next minute or two and Diana feigned listening. Bobbing her head up and down to certain specific points in the story.
The War room’s door’s opened to reveal the two women who would train the Batwoman. Artemis, a loyal Amazonian from their ‘sister’ tribe in Egypt known as Bana Mighdall, who would teach the Batwoman in Hand-to-hand combat. She had agreed wholeheartedly to train anyone in need of training. Katherine was the first instance of a woman outside of paradise that wanted to train, and hearing that she was a partner of the infamous Bat of Gotham that Diana spoke highly about, it was an effort to see how she would fare against one of the best in Man’s World’s opinion.
The second woman was Philippus. The fearsome chancellor of Paradise. The one who practically reared Diana in the ways of an Amazon. In both strength and humility, Diana revered Philippus to be her second mother. The tall woman who had been on this earth for over three millennia was skilled in both weaponless and armed combat but had agreed to teach Diana’s friend the ways with weapons. It wasn’t Diana’s idea, Philippus overheard a conversation with Hippolyta about training and Philippus would be damned if she did not help her daughter. Diana was frantic, seeing as Batman was against edged weapons. “Simple answer, we use nonfatals!” Philippus’ words were more joyous than Diana had hoped but had agreed nonetheless. Seeing as Dick had Escrimas and his electric staff, it was all against killing.
“Not to be rude Princess but I was sleeping.” Artemis’ bluntness never failed to lighten Diana’s mood.
“And I was in the middle of a rather extensive chess match against Iphthime, and I was winning. My dear Diana, I thought we had already talked about this?” Philippus was much more calm after being chancellor. It was a nice change of pace after the Doom’s Doorway fiasco.
“I know, and I apologize. I just wanted a quick run through of the training regiment.” Diana held her breath and everyone in the room noticed it.
“What is it? Something on your mind?” Philippus asked as she and Artemis neared the table. Hippolyta looked at Diana once and knew exactly what was up. Donna looked confused as hell.
“You care deeply for her, do you not?” It was Artemis that asked this. Diana’s cheeks quickly flushed a shade of Katherine Red as she head this. Seeing as she is a close personal friend of Diana, she could read her like a book by now. Hippolyta was thankful that she was spared being the one who embarrassed her daughter. Donna still was confused until Philippus whispered into her ear what was going on. Donna smiled and looked at her sister with an appraising look. She gave the elder princess a thumbs up.
“She’s been through a lot. I don’t want her getting hurt. She’s… well I want to protect her. Spare her pain if I could.” Diana nodded. Yes that was it. She wanted to protect the redhead. Not imagine what it would feel like to bring her to bed and have her way with her. No. Not at all.
“We won’t ask anymore, will we?” Hippolyta saved her blushing daughter with a look to everyone in the room. Philippus nodded and Artemis as well. She knew Donna would bug her sister about this more later but now it was time to discuss the regiment.
Diana listened to the voices of her sisters and mothers about what Kate was about to be put in. It was worth it in the end if it gave Kate the peace she was looking for and the strength to fight the horrors in Gotham. But Diana could not shake the thought of the beautiful redhead sleeping soundly under the covers of her room. The light breathing of Kate was a sweet melody to Diana’s ears when she left and the way she smiled in her sleep the moment her eyes shut was the most endearing image Diana could imagine. It was beautiful to watch Kate sleep soundly. She had been through hell in the past couple of weeks. Diana could admit, if not to her fellow amazons then to herself, the she had grown to care deeply for the redhead. Maybe even more.