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“Wally, get your head down, I'm not seeing.” Shayera said, getting to her feet to have a better look.
“Right, are you seeing now?” He got lower on the chair.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Guys, this is not right.” Clark said, with a sigh.
“Please, tell us what they are saying.” Wally begged.
“No. I'm not listening.”
“Pff. You're so boring. Who wants popcorn?” Wally ran out of the conference room, getting back a second later with a pot of popcorn.
“Shut up, I'm trying to read their lips.” Green Lantern stated.
Bruce's hands got more and more tight on the arms of the chair. They were all watching Diana and her boyfriend, Agent King Faraday, argue on the bridge that linked monitor bay to the conference room. Those walls were glass, allowing them to see everything.
The argument was pretty heated, Diana was late for the meeting and they knew why when she arrived with him after her. King was always around, since he was the CIA agent that was a bridge between the government and Justice League.
For Bruce's disgust.
He hated that man. And tried to tell himself that it was not because he hit on her from day one, having the courage to do what he couldn't. He just did not trust him, didn't want him around her, kissing her, making her laugh, and of course, screaming at her the way Bruce had seen him do at least five times this month.
He had seen much more that he wanted to. The first time he saw him kissing Diana at Javelin Bay, he thought he was going to puke or die. Something in between. It was more painful than any shot fired against him all those years. He may have, or may have not entered there on purpose, making them break the kiss. He just hated it, hated that he lost her, hated that he didn't have the courage to pursue a relationship with her. Of course she would move on. She wouldn't wait forever. And she didn't, for his disgrace.
Isn't that what he wanted? They were too different. He didn't support dating among the team. His enemies would use her to get to him. Isn't that what he wanted, when he pushed her away for four years? He didn't want her to be happy?
But she was not happy. Bruce couldn't understand why she stayed in this relationship, since they were clearly arguing like a divorced couple.
Diana's hands danced around her body, while she screamed back at the man, whose face Bruce could not stand to see. He was so angry that his jaw could break in two.
“Bats looks angry.” Wally whispered, but Bruce obviously heard and ignored.
“He is.” J'onn confirmed. He could sense, and it was unbearable. He was more angry than Diana outside.
“Why Diana dates that guy?” John asked, giving up on trying to read their lips.
“He is hot.” Shayera stated. John frowned his eyebrows.
“He is mistreating her. We should do something about it.” Wally said.
“I agree, I wish I could go there and punch his face for screaming at her, but that is not our business.” Clark sighed. Diana would absolutely kill anyone who tries to interfere.
“I tried talking to her, but she swears she is happy.” Shayera said, her head on her hand. “That man must be really good in bed to compensate for that temper.”
Batman turned his head to her, making Shayera want to swallow the words. “Not that I know anything.”
“Should we kill him?” Wally asked.
“No.” J'onn and Clark answered at the same time.
“I wanted to understand why she is with him.” Flash repeated. “That is not the Wondy we know.”
“Why do you think? He is what she thinks she deserves.” Shayera said, making all the men on the table look at her.
“But Wondy is amazing.” Wally was more confused.
“She is probably lonely. Give her a break. Besides, I think someone may have made her feel unloved.”
Now, Shayera was looking straight at Batman.
“We still should do something.” Wally added.
“Leave it with me.” Bruce said, simply. All of them looked at him.
“I didn't know you had suicidal tendencies.” John said.
King touched her arm, making Bruce move to the edge of his chair. If that bastard was stupid enough to try to hurt an amazon, Bruce would fly to his neck before Diana herself killed him. But he was trying to be loving, but Diana pushed his hand away and turned to leave.
And when she turned, she saw all of them looking. Flash turned his chair fast, while the others pretended to do something else. Except Batman, he kept looking at her. Diana sighed and walked to the room, opening the door.
“Sorry I'm late.” She said, marching to her chair next to Batman, as always.
“It's fine. Are you…?” Clarked started, but Diana stopped him with a hand.
“Don't.”
He cleaned his throat, getting his tablet.
“Alright… Let's start.”
Diana couldn't focus. She was still so angry. Her fingers were tight on her arms, leaving nail marks on her skin. She couldn't stop swinging her leg, anticipating going to the training room and ripping off the head of a training robot and pretending it was King Faraday.
She liked to have a boyfriend. Most of the time.
She put her hand on the arm of the chair, not wanting to perforate her arms with her nails. A gloved hand covered hers, making Diana's body fill with electricity. She looked at him, Batman's expression was ice cold as always, but his touch was caring. It was saying “relax.”
Her shoulders relaxed and she realised the air she was holding for dear life. The anger didn't seem so boiling, her throat didn't seem so tight. With just one touch he made her feel better.
Eventually, when she was more calm, his hand returned to his lap and she missed the touch.
An hour passed and the meeting ended, making all of them get to their feet. Diana was going to run away, but Batman was quicker and grabbed her wrist covered by her bracelet.
“You and I are going to talk tonight.”
“Why?” She asked, pretending not to know what that was about.
“You know damn well.”
Batman let go of her, turning and leaving. Diana sighed, feeling that anger back.
(...)
She opened her quarters door after typing the code. Diana was exhausted. She had asked to be sent to as many missions as possible so she wouldn't think about her problems with a certain agent, and she ended up sent into a dozen missions in a row, the last one a fight that ended up in the Potomac river, so she was soaked from head to toe.
All she wanted was to take a shower and… Diana stopped, knowing he was there. She sighed and cursed in Greek, turning on a table lamp.
Batman was there, sitting on a chair.
“Rough day?” He asked.
“Yes. Shouldn't you be on patrol by now?”
“I should. But this can not wait anymore.”
Diana took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and gathered all the rest of the patience that was left on her body.
“I had a fucking terrible day. The last thing I want is another fight. So, go back Gotham, and please leave me alone.”
“I can't do that.” He said. “Break up with him.”
Diana was startled.
“Excuse me?”
Batman got to his feet.
“He is an asshole. He screams at you in front of your teammates. He touches you inappropriately in public, making you embarrassed. You fight all the time. You look exhausted and stressed. That is not a good relationship.”
Diana felt her interior burn.
“That is not true. We both screamed, we were angry. I'm stressed when I'm thrown in a river by Bizarro. And I love when he touches me. Do you want more details?” She asked, getting closer to him, and Bruce felt his heart burn with the anger of a thousand amazons. “I like when he…”
“I don't want details, I know everything I need to know. He is bad for you. You're the only one that doesn't see.”
“You don't know anything! He makes me happy, I'm happy now.”
Batman crossed his arms.
“You're lying. You're not sleeping. You're always worried and hypervigilant when he is around. That is a toxic relationship.”
“What do you know about healthy relationships, Bruce Wayne?” She said, anger clear on her face. “Your exes are one worse than the other! Between an assassin and a thief, I think King is pretty fine.”
“Don't bring them to this. That is not about me. And I know way more about men than you do.”
Diana smiled.
“Oh, I didn't know you were into that.”
“Funny, princess.” He got even closer to her. “Break up with him, or I will make sure he won't step foot on my Tower.”
“Oh, you can have your fucking tower!” Diana screamed, getting a pillow from her bed and threw at him. Bruce didn't even flinch. “That is none of your business!”
“Of course it is. You are dating an CIA agent, the one that is supposed to report our actions to the government. Honestly, I thought you were smarter than that.” He said.
Diana felt her throat tighten and her eyes water.
“Yes, how dumb I am to think someone would love me for me.”
Bruce sighed.
“That is not what I said.”
“I don't have to explain myself to you, of all people! You have no right to say anything, and you know it!” Diana screamed at him, her finger in the bat on his chest. “And that's why you waited two months to say something. And you will not make any exigencies, you are in no position for that. King and I are having a bad week, but this is way more than you ever gave me!”
Diana turned just in time for him not to see her tears.
“Get off of my room!” She screamed, ending the discussion when she entered the bathroom and slammed the door.
Bruce closed his eyes. That was not what he had in mind for this conversation. Feeling the anger become remorse, he exited her room, but stopped suddenly when he saw Clark, Shayera, Wally and John in the hallway, their faces blank in fear. All of them pretended they were doing something else, but Bruce knew they were probably trying to listen to the conversation while Clark told them it was wrong.
With a grunt, Bruce walked past them, deciding he was going to punch every criminal in Gotham tonight.
(...)
“Did you enjoy lunch?” King asked her.
“Yes.” Diana answered, more interested at the petit gateau dripping chocolate in her plate.
Diana liked this in Faraday. He listened to her, knew she loved chocolate, always paid the dinner, called her once a day, always stopped by to see her when he was at the tower… Diana stopped herself when she was trying to list the reasons she liked him, for the third time only today.
But it was true. He never tried to push her away, never vanished from the face of the earth for days when she got closer, never seemed to like a psychotic clown more than her, never pretended they didn't kiss, never tried to kill himself by throwing a space ship on the ground…
But he also never knew what she was feeling with one look. Never was able to calm her down with one touch. Never made her feel like she was the prettiest woman on earth. Never turned her on just with the sound of his voice. Never cared about her safety above his. Never think it was fun to spare in the middle of the night. Never showed interest in her culture or language. Never gave up his own life to a dangerous mission that changed a whole city. Never was the bravest man she had ever met.
He was never him.
Diana swallowed the knot on her throat.
“What is it, that thing is not good, love?” He asked.
“No, it's delicious.”
“What is it, then? I already apologized. I shouldn't have screamed at you and shouldn't be that jealous. That's enough?”
“Yes.” Diana said, trying to hide her annoyance, that was not the way someone should apologize. “Can I have another one?”
“Of course you can.” He raised his hand for the waiter and asked another one.
“Diana?”
Her heart pounded and she turned suddenly when she heard his voice. Bruce smiled and walked to them.
“What a coincidence.”
Diana closed her eyes.
“Yes. What a coincidence.”
“We haven't seen each other in a long time. Since Paris, am I mistaken?”
He gave her one of his playboy smiles that made every woman's knees tremble within a three-kilometre radius. He was just so beautiful in that suit, it made her dizzy. But she was still burning angry.
“No, I think you're right. Bruce, that is my boyfriend, King Faraday.” She said, putting emphasis on the word boyfriend. No one would have noticed, but she saw the way Bruce's expression hardened a little.
“Nice to meet you.” Bruce shook King's hand. He was not happy with the intrusion, Diana could see clearly. “Can I sit?”
Bruce got a chair from a neighbor's table and put it on their table, sitting down. King sighed, annoyance in his face.
“Bruce, I don't think you can sit in the hallway.” Diana said. “It's a table for two.”
“Oh, don't worry. I just bought the restaurant, so this is all mine now.” He gave her a smile and raised a hand. “Please, a bottle of your best wine for my friends. On the house.”
King gave Diana a harsh look, it was saying ‘get rid of him’. She felt her stomach flip, this would definitely become another argument between them.
“So, you're CIA, right? I think I read it somewhere.” Bruce asked him.
“Yes, I am.”
“You're so lucky to hang out with Justice League. Especially with Diana, of course. Tell me, how is it to talk with Superman?”
“It's fine.” King answered.
“And Batman, is he as terrible as everyone says?” He asked again. “Diana never tell me anything about the League.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Ah, I knew it.” Bruce murmured.
Diana gave him an angry look.
“Bruce, where is your date?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“She had to leave early.”
“So you got bored and bought the restaurant?”
“Yes, pretty much. You know me so well, dear.”
Diana sighed.
“Bruce, we're kinda in the middle of something here.” She said, being polite and omitting her anger.
“Of course, I don't want to interrupt your date, I'm sorry.” He stood to their feet. “I will see if that pretty brunette over there is single. You two have a good night, it is nice to meet you, King.”
“Nice to meet you too.” He politely said, while Bruce gave another look to Diana that said “finish him.” She sighed and took the last bite in her petit gateau.
“Great, can we go out any day without someone hitting on you?” He asked, annoyance in his face.
“King, he is Bruce Wayne, what did you expect?”
“It is not easy to like you, did you know that?” He murmured, seeming very angry. Diana felt her heart tightening, her throat closing. “I'm going. See you this week.”
He got to his feet, opening his wallet and dropped two notes on the table. Diana watched with sad eyes he go away, without looking back.
At the corner of her eyes, she could feel Bruce looking at her, but she refused to look back at him. She called the waiter, just wanting to go back to her room in the watch tower and rest.
“The bill, please.”
“Mister Wayne told me it is all on the house, miss.” He said, smiling.
“Then keep it.” She got to her feet, took her purse and left.
Diana walked in the street, feeling so empty and sad. They were all right, that relationship was nothing like she expected it would be. At first he was way more nice to her, but suddenly he couldn't stand being outshined, couldn't stand the attention everyone — especially men — gave her, couldn't stand her needs. Why didn't she leave, then?
She was so lonely, basically the only one in the League that didn't have family, friends, a boyfriend, a life. When King gave her real attention, she jumped for it. But they were all right, she was humiliating herself. When on earth would she stand a man treating her like that? Her mother would be ashamed.
And the worst part, he couldn't understand why she didn't want to have sex with him. It was pretty obvious by now, he was in fact an asshole.
Bruce was right. And she hated it.
A car stopped by her side on the street. Looking up, it was a black Porche, with Bruce Wayne inside.
“Get in.”
“No way.” Diana looked down, keeping her pace. She didn't want to argue again, she didn't have energy for that.
“Princess, please.”
Diana looked at him, considering. Then, she opened the door and got in the fancy car. Bruce kept his way, driving not knowing where. Both of them stayed in silence swallowed by the darkness of the car.
“How did you know I was there?” She asked, her tone more angry than she realized.
“It was a coincidence.”
“You're lying.”
“Yes, I am. I put a tracker on you.”
Diana's chest burned with anger.
“You did what?”
“I have to keep an eye for you, since you don't know what you are doing.”
“You had no right to show up there, Bruce. It was our date, you ruined it.”
“I did not ruin anything, your date was terrible.”
Diana closed her eyes, breathing slowly.
“But you are right, I shouldn't have. Our discussion didn't turn out the way I wanted the other night as well.” Bruce admitted, to her surprise. “I'm just worried about you. We all are. You deserve so much more than him, Diana.”
She felt tears burning her eyes, locked on his. Diana turned to the window, finishing the conversation. She didn't want to talk anymore, she just wanted to go to her room. When they got to the mansion, Diana didn't wait for Bruce to open the door for her like he usually did, she opened it herself and got out, waiting at the door for him to unlock it.
When he did, she got inside, going straight to the grandpa's watch. Bruce went to her, but was not surprised when she didn't wait for him, just stepped on the transport pad and disappeared.
Bruce sighed. This was frustrating him to no end. Every time he saw them together, his chest tightened, his stomach flipped, it looked like he was dying. He knew she deserved so much more than King Faraday, but she also deserved so much more than Bruce Wayne. She deserved heaven, and probably no man was able to give it to her.
(...)
Bruce was going to some files when his phone rang. He saw Clark's name, and picked up.
“Wayne.”
“I'm your friend, you don't have to pick up saying that.”
“What is it? I'm busy.”
“I know the situation in Gotham is chaotic with the Penguin situation, but I wouldn't call if it wasn't necessary. It's Diana.”
His stomach froze.
“She is locked in her room and won't open to anyone. I think she broke up with him.”
Bruce sighed in relief.
“I'll be there in a second.”
He dropped what he was doing and went to the transport pad, putting on his mask and gloves. In seconds he was at the tower, marching towards her.
“Diana, please. Open up.” Shayera said, her forehead on the door. “We need to know if you're okay.”
Wally was also there, with a worried face. When they saw Bruce, both of them sighed in relief.
“She is there the whole day. Skipped monitor duty and didn't answer her coms.”
Bruce typed her code, worrying growing inside of him. The door slid open, and both of them were asking themselves if he knew everyone's codes.
“You go.” He said to Shayera. She agreed and entered, him following her. Her room was dark, but the bathroom's light was on. Shayera went there and Bruce saw Diana sitting down on the floor, crying with a bottle of whisky in her hand. She couldn't see him, he was hidden in the dark.
“Oh, my dear.”
Shayera sat close to her and hugged her, making Diana hug her back and start to sob.
“Di, what happened?”
“We broke up.” She said among the tears. “You were all right, he is an asshole.”
“So it's a good thing, you will be okay.” Shayera caressed her hair, letting her cry on her shoulder. Bruce felt his heart burn, he hated to see her cry. He wanted to go to that motherfucker and take the life out of his body with his bare hands.
“I will? I am so lonely. I'm pathetic. All I wanted was to be loved. Am I so hard to love like this?” She cried. “Am I so unworthy of this?”
Shayera didn't know what to say, she couldn't believe Diana thought those things.
“I feel like I'm going to be alone forever. And I hate it. I was raised to be a warrior, to never need anyone, but I just wanted to have someone. And I was so pathetic.”
“It is okay, you can cry.” Shayera caressed her back for many minutes. “Did you have the whole bottle?”
“Yes.”
Shayera sighed, looking to the place she knew Bruce was standing in the dark. Many minutes passed when Diana swiped up her tears and breathed.
“Di, I will let you two talk.” Shayera said, letting go of her. And then Diana realized, Bruce was there. Her friend smiled slightly and left the bathroom, leaving them alone.
Diana cleaned her face with the hoodie sleeves, looking down.
“I don't want you to see me like this.”
Bruce stepped up, his mask was gone, just like his gloves. He kneeled before her, his face showing his emotions clearly. He was in pain to see her like that.
“You're the easiest thing to love.” He said, simply. Diana looked at him, surprised. Her eyes were almost purple. Even crying she was beautiful. “I feel this loneliness all the time. I know it's dark, I know it's needy, but you are not alone. You will always have me, princess.”
Diana felt the tears coming back.
“Why don't you want me?”
Bruce was taken back with how vulnerable she sounded. It broke his heart. He thought she knew how much he loved her, he thought it was obvious.
“I want you more than anything in this world, princess. But just like I know you deserve better than him, I know you deserve much better than me.”
Diana couldn't believe he was saying this. She spent all this time thinking he didn't want her. And if this amazing man didn't want her, she deserved a man like King.
“You're so stupid sometimes.” She said.
Bruce sighed.
“I know.”
It was probably the whisky, but she crawled in his direction, her body rising until she was face to face with him and put her lips on his. Bruce held her against him, finally leaving all those suppressed feelings to come to the surface. If he was causing her so much pain by turning her down, he never wanted to hurt her again in his life.
His hands held her face, while she twisted her head to give him space to explore her. The kiss was burning hot, he felt his whole body reacting to her touch. Her world was whole, all that pain vanished. She wanted him so bad.
Diana never felt that with King Faraday.
He broke the kiss, their forehead together. She was so vulnerable, he didn't want to take advantage of her like this. Diana opened her blue bright eyes, pleading him. Bruce felt his heart burn with deep love.
“I'm gonna treat you the way you deserve. I promise.”
She smiled and kissed him again, before he put his hands around her body, lifting her up.
“Now, let's put you to bed before you puke on me.”
Diana hugged him, closing her eyes. If she knew this would happen, she would have broken up with that fucker weeks ago.