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She cut a smooth path through the glittering crowd, navy blue evening gown her armor for the night. Most slid out of her way, awestruck and not a little wary of her power. Some had the courage to speak to her, questions or comments that trailed off into the sounds of the live band. None dared to try and impede her. All of them watched as she ascended the grand central staircase, climbing higher, out of the lights and into the shadows.
Were it a different time, Diana would feel bad about ignoring all of those people, breezing by them without stopping or even smiling. It was not in her nature to be rude, even when she might have been entitled to such behavior, but she didn’t have time for social niceties. No, tonight she was on a mission, her focus solely on her target.
The halls were dim but her steps sure, treading a path she’d traveled many times. His study is empty, the doors ajar enough to indicate the way. Diana pauses for a moment to gaze at the large portrait resting above the fireplace. She’d only seen it a few times, but she was always struck by the warmth forever captured in their expressions. She mourned their deaths for the hurt it had caused to Bruce, yet she wondered if she would have ever met their son had they lived. The thought is too painful to consider for very long, so she crosses the room, exiting onto the balcony beyond.
It’s ridiculous that after all this time, just his silhouette was enough to take her breath away, yet it happened anyway. Diana watched him for a moment, the no doubt tailor made tuxedo stretched across his shoulders dropping as he registered her presence.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” she said, taking another step closer, hands clasped behind her back, the faint sound of music and conversation drifting up to them.
Though he didn’t turn, he does shift upright, spine straight and hands sliding seamlessly into his pockets. “Seeing as this is a function held ostensibly in my name, in my home no less, to celebrate my rather substantial charitable donation, I felt I was invited.”
“I’m not sure glaring balefully off the third floor balcony quite counts as attending. A balcony, it’s worth noting, that’s only accessible through the very off-limits, definitely restricted third floor,” she replied, the slightest teasing lilt to her voice.
“Not that it seems to have stopped you,” Bruce said, turning halfway. His profile was set against the final remnants of the sun bleeding against the evening sky, sharp and undeniably striking. “How did you get up here?”
Diana lifted her shoulder slightly, coming to stand beside him. “Alfred is fond of me.”
“More fond of you than me it seems,” he grunted. Bruce’s gaze was a heavy thing, nearly palpable as she continued to look out over the lawn, covered in clumps of finely dressed people.
A shiver slipped along her spine as she finally turned to face him, his eyes focused solely on her. “I wouldn’t say that, Bruce. I think you’ve been Alfred’s only priority since the day you were born, even when it seemed like he was too harsh. He loves you.”
He only hummed in response but Diana caught the flash of doubt across his features, not of Alfred’s feelings but of Bruce’s worthiness for them. The doubt he harbored was not news to her, yet it hurt all the same. She wanted nothing more than to show him just how truly worthy he was, of love, of peace, of a life beyond darkness and pain.
“What are you doing here, Diana?”
His question pulled her from her reverie. “I haven’t seen you for over three weeks. You’ve gotten very good at avoiding me so I thought when I saw you’d be attending that I would come find you.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you.” Bruce’s frown was harsh and deep, seemingly offended at the notion.
“Then maybe you were trying to avoid your own feelings,” she replied, laying her hand gently along his right forearm. He tensed and for a moment she feared he might flee. Instead, his eyes narrowed, face drawing down into a glare that would send nearly everyone else scampering away. Diana simply lifted her eyebrows, aware he would never hurt her.
“Please, don’t,” he rasped.
She took another half-step into his space, head tilted back ever so slightly to hold his eyes. “Why not?”
“I’ve already told you, I have en-”
“Don’t you dare give me that ridiculous list again, Bruce Wayne,” she interrupted. “It was ridiculous then and it’s ridiculous now. You think I don’t know you’re not perfect? You think I don’t know you have enemies? You think I’m not just a little bit scared this might all blow up in our faces? Do you really think so little of me?”
His eyes had gone wide at her tone. “No, of course I don’t.”
“Then why won’t you just be honest with me?”
Diana waited in stunned silence as he pulled in a shuddery breath, a look of unadulterated anguish stealing over his face. Bruce’s eyes slid shut before he spoke. “Because I’m terrified.”
“Of what?” she asked. When he remained silent for a few moments, Diana pressed closer, her right hand coming to rest on his chest. “Please let me help you.”
“Of you. Of myself. Of us. Of losing my purpose. My life has been defined by one thing since I was eight years old; defending Gotham. I don’t know if I can still honor the pledge I made to my parents and allow myself comfort and stability. How could I be so selfish, to turn my back on my city?”
The words tumbled free in a rush, as if they had been held back for a long time. It was more or less what she had expected to hear but it was still a relief to finally have confirmation, to know what they would need to work to overcome. She had no doubts they could overcome it, for despite all of his lists and reasons, not loving her had never been given as an excuse against pursuing a relationship.
“You are a great many things, Bruce, but selfish is not one of them. You’ve given your life to protect innocent people without receiving recognition for it. How many hundreds of millions of dollars have you given, for schools and hospitals and Hera only knows what else? Why do you think you can’t have a life outside of saving others? You’ve spent all these years honoring the past, why not fight for the future? Fight so you can take your family into your city and be unafraid of being harmed.”
Diana heaved a deep breath as he stared down at her, the blue of his eyes turned to black in the shadows of night. She lifted her left hand to cup his cheek.
“Diana.”
Her name was all he said; a whisper, a prayer, a plea.
“Do you want me?” she asked.
Bruce swallowed thickly. “Yes.”
“I’m right here, Bruce, and I’m not going anywhere.”
His hands, large and steady, came to rest on her hips. She inched closer, relishing the feel of him pressed against her. He spoke only two words before their lips came together.
“Thank you.”
Kissing Bruce was as wonderful as she’d imagined, slow and easy, familiar in spite of its newness. His fingers pressed into her skin firmly when she prodded at his lips with her tongue, moaning softly as they tangled and slid apart. Her left hand snuck around to caress the back of his neck, relishing the shiver that rippled through him in response. Each of them was short of breath when they finally and reluctantly separated.
She didn’t even try to fight the smile that pulled at her lips, even less when she was rewarded with a rare, genuine smile from him in return.
“This is going to be complicated,” he said, not in a tone of warning, rather like they were facing something that required their attention and effort.
“Because I’m a princess from a race of immortal warriors and you’re a rich kid with a lot of issues?” she asked teasingly.
He huffed in amusement. “No, because I’ve never actually properly tried to- that is, I haven’t genuinely pursued a- what I mean is, this will be the first relationship I want to succeed. I’m not entirely sure how to proceed in a way that won’t end in disaster.”
“We’ll just figure it out together, then. I have faith enough for the both of us,” she said, pressing a fleeting kiss to his lips, amused and endeared at his stumbling efforts. Diana was rather covetous of this Bruce, who let her see past the implacable facade and into the real man. “Perhaps you ought to start with a certain question.”
“Would you do me the honor of a date, princess?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” she said, happily finding his lips again for a much longer embrace. His ardent response filled her with so much joy she felt she could float away with it.
“I didn’t get a chance to say earlier, but you look otherworldly tonight, Diana,” Bruce said, the husky tone of his voice bringing a blush to her cheeks.
“Thank you. You look rather dashing yourself.”
“A walrus looks good in a tux,” he replied dryly, making her laugh.
“Tyche smiles upon you tonight, Bruce. Not only do I accept your request for a date, we can start right now, “ she said.
His brows drew down. “You want to go downstairs to be gawked at?”
“Heavens no. Why would I do that when we can dance by ourselves up here?” she said, swaying slightly to the music.
There was an undeniable twinkle to Bruce’s eye as he took her hand in his, the pair falling into step with one another seamlessly. There was little she wouldn’t do to see him this happy for the rest of his life.
In the years since she had come to Man’s World, music had been one of her chief avenues of exploration. Diana was firmly convinced that art was the purest expression of self, and music one of the most versatile means, thus she was thrilled to recognize the song the band was playing as one of her favorites.
When she began to hum along to the instruments, Bruce looked down at her with one of his patented smiles, just the corners of his lips curling up.
“Recognize the tune, princess?”
“Yes, it’s one of my favorites. Do you know it?”
A huff of laughter escaped him. “Do I know Sinatra? This was Alfred’s idea of modern music when I was growing up.”
Much to her delight he began to sing, turning an amazing night into a perfect one. Her eyes closed as his deep, rich voice washed over her.
“ Fill my heart with song and let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you.”