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The Arboretum	By : HeyBats Category: DC Verse Cartoons > Justice League Views: 6408 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Justice League, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-The Arboretum
- 1
Forward

Author’s Note: I apologize in advance for the long forward but I always believe that an author should “know his/her audience” and if possible, an audience should know an author, or at least where I’m coming from in terms of my inspiration. Originally inspired by Justice League on the Cartoon Network, every one of my fanfics to date centers around my take on the shipper’ moments between Batman and Wonder Woman in that series: the kiss on the cheek in Gorilla City, the look between the two exchanged at the end of ‘Fury’, the entirety of Maid of Honor (you’re still going to take me dancing!”), the alternate world of Hereafter if Superman hadn’t intercepted the energy beam aimed at Batman and Wonder Woman, the kiss in Starcrossec alc all lead to very shippy stories. On occasion, I have strayed from the series to write some PWP stories (all of which involve that ship’), but those were for porn and have no basis in either the cartoon or comic continuity.

Contrary to my usual inspiration, this fic was inspired by the Obsidian Age (“OA”) and DC Comics poor attempt to resolve Batman/Wonder Woman’s relationship in the aftermath of that battle.

For those of you who have read OA, please skip to the paragraph titled JL: #90 of this forward. For those of you who haven’t read the OA, the cliff-notes version is that Manitou Raven is a shaman (medicine man) from 3,000 years in the past who, during that ancient time, was tricked by Gamanae (an Atlantean sorceress) to travel to present day times to kill the Justice League. Teamed alongside an armor-clad Mayan warrrior named Tezumak, the two “Ancients” successfully ambush six members of the Justice League (Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Flash and Plastic Man) during a battle in Florida.

The Justice League members are cast into a powerful sleep-spell by Manitou Raven, readying them for sacrifice by Tezumak to his dark gods. Wonder Woman is placed onto a table for sacrifice by Tezumak however a Batarang thrown at Tezumak’s head disrupts the Ancients’ concentration long enough for the rest of the JL to wake up and defeat the enemy. Manitou Raven is incredulous at Batman’s ability to wake up, saying “What are thesengs?ngs? No Man should be able to resist the spell I cast.” Rushing to catch the two Ancients fleeing from the battle, Wonder Woman thanks Batman for saving her, noting “I haven’t had time to thank you (for saving me). The Shaman’s magic is old…powerful. It took more than just strength of will…to break the spell.” Batman’s sotto voce reply “I wouldn’t know…I just…” before the battle rejoined.

Ultimately, the Justice League is killed when they journey into the past to confront the entire Ancients team, which, already apprised of their weaknesses by Gamanae, ambushes the League. Surrounded moments later by the bodies of their teammates, Batman and Wonder Woman say goodbye with a passionate kiss, revealing their true feelings for one another prior to their imminent death. Luckily, Manitou Raven realizes Gamanae’s betrayal and saves the spirits of League. After he helps them defeat Gamanae (who magically restores their bodies by mistake), the League ultimately invites Manitou Raven to join their team as the resident shaman.

JL#90
In issues leading up to JL #90, Batman and Wonder Woman try to meet for a date or two to resolve the confusion surrounding their evolving relationship. Ultimately in #90, Diana enters J’onn’s dream machine to resolve her conflicting emotions. In most of the panels depicting Diana’s dreams of their life together, the two of them were happy. Once back in real life however, Diana finds Bruce waiting for her. The two quickly decide to opt for the dreaded “let’s be friends” speech as neither wants to confront the issue, defying everything I’ve read about Diana’s willingness to pursue Truth and Love.

I have read many Fan Fiction stories (the best was by Rick Peterson called A Sunday Dinner at Wayne Manor on FanFiction.Net) which have attempted to resolve the ambiguity of the JLA comic. In a number of JL forums, I posted the question “How was Batman able to shake off the sleep spell?” but I never received an answer I was happy with.

Unable to resolve my own conflict about the storyline, I wrote a few ficlets which thankfully were immediately put into the trash bin as they offered nothing new on the storyline which hadn’t already been thought of by more talented authors. I resolved that it was a story I should just leave to others and move on with writing my little PWP stories. Luckily, during my once a month visit to my local comic store here in Los Angeles, I read the JLA: Elite #1 which depicts the departure aithaith/Major Disaster and Manitou from the League, as well as Catwoman #32, which depicts Bats’ and Cats’ knockin’ boots. Inspired by the fact that Bruce and Diana’s relationship blossomed during the original conflict by Manitou, use use finally began singing in my ear as to how to resolve the ambiguity of JL: #90.

The Arboretum
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The Justice League Moonbase (aka The Watchtower) was originally designed with one primary point of emphasis: utility. After a series of on-going modifications, the base is now fully equipped with technology spanning the knowledge of the galaxy and beyond. Accordingly labs, engineering rooms, computer and communications and finally power systems dominate almost 80% of the total space. Given the relative lack of creature comforts, an Arboretum was added as an afterthought but it brought the benefit of killing two birds with one stone: utility and comfort. From a utilitarian standpoint, the Arboretum provided an important source of oxygen as the plants and trees exchanged the noxious carbon dioxide exhaled by the human and alien residents for the pure oxygen generated by photosynthesis. A secondary benefit was that it provided a comfortable place for team members to unwind in a lush, green environment, which was juxtaposed against the stark metallic surfaces dominating the rest of the Watchtower.

The residential quarters of the Watchtower also provided a basic level of creature comforts for the League members. Given: 1) the fluctuating size of the League (currently established as seven primary Leaguers backed up by a like amount of reserve members) and 2) the usual comings and going of various Titans and/or Justice Society members dropping in from time to time to coordinate Superhero activities), the Watchtower featured 30 primary and guest residences.

The residences were originally decorated in relatively sparse fashion, thereby allowing members tcoracorate the room to their individual tastes. The bedrooms as delivered include a Queen-size bed, two reading chairs, bedside tables on either side and recessed reading lights controlled by switches next to the bed. Adjacent to the small but efficient closet, bathrooms include a large bathtub, toilet and sink. Each residence also had a view window overlooking the desolate lunarscape, which could be completely blocked out by a series of louvered blinds which render the room as black as the deep of space (a feature many members often joked was designed by Batman, given his penchant for the dark).

Some League members use their residences only once or twice a month while other members live on the Watchtower on a permanent basis. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, live full-time in Metropolis, Gotham City and New York City, respectively. Accordingly, those member use their residence quarters on the Watchtower infrequently at best. Superman occasionally sneeks a quick nap after Monitor Duty or to change into a fresh uniform, but otherwise the rooms were largely vacant.

Given the lack of use, the cree coe comforts in those residences are relatively sparse. Given that the residential quarters have been destroyed twice, Batman has only made a single alteration to his room; an extra hook on the back of the door to hang his cape and cowl. In contrast, Wonder Woman added two paintings of Themyscira to her room, as well as some comfortable Egyptian Cotton sheets given to her by an Ambassador of that country, but otherwise the majority of her personal items were back home at themysemysciran embassy.

Other members with part-time residences on Earth in turn used the Watchtower as their full-time home. Martian Manhunter (aka J’onn J’onnz) has a residence in Denver however he spends at least four out of five nights at the Watchtower. His residence is adorned with pieces of Martian art which he sculpts in his free time.

Given the large volume of members coming and going at all hours (and the fact that they all live in various time zones on Earth), the only places where members regularly catch up to socialize are the Kitchen and adjacent Coffee Room. Superman himself insisted on the upgrades to the Coffee room, which includes two milk steamers for lattes and expressos as well as a fully stocked inventory of exotic coffees from around the world, including Blue Mountain from Jamaica which he allows as his one luxury in life.

The Coffee Room is ideally situated between the kitchen and the residences, with a second hallway junction leading directly to the Monitor Womb. It’s close enough for those with extraphysical speed to duck out of the Monitor Womb, make a latte, and resume duty in the chair before alarms alert Batman that Monitor Duty is no longer being fulfilled to his satisfaction.

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Wonder Woman patiently waited in the Monitor Womb at 6 a.m. for J’onn J’onnz, to take over the next six-hour shift. As one of the more senior members of the League, she was rarely asked to pull the graveyard shift. In typically selfless fashion however, Diana regularly signed up for the shift at least twice a week. While she would have preferred to use the time to sleep, Diana realized that some of her teammates had spouses and significant others they would prefer to be spending their limited free time with at night. Unfortunately, Diana rued, she was not currently involved in a romantic entanglement which would excuse her from Monitor Duty.

Her shift had been quiet, a welcome relief from the once a month, galactic battles which the League typically faced. Diana spent the time methodically reviewing updates on various ongoing political and peace negotiations around the world. It was required reading for senior members of the League who performed diplomatic functions as an extension of their superhero duties. Diana’s position as Ambassador of the Themysciran embassy also required her to stay current on world events and she used her time in the Monitor Room wisely.

Of the senior members, only Batman wasn’t required to mediate peace negotiations. Given his amazing intellect and familiarity with human behavior, it wasn’t that he wasn’t capable of fulfilling the task. Rather, his one experience in mediating a peace treaty had proven that diplomats were so frightened of being left alone in the same room with him that they were signed the agreement just as an excuse to flee the room. In the debriefing at the Watchtower after his first and only mediation, Diana pointed out that an agreement negotiated on the pretense of fear wasn’t a strong foundation for a peace treaty. His response was typically cryptic: “I did what it took.” before he vanished in the teleportation tube back to the Cave.

The callous nature of his responses had originally infuriated her Amazon pride however over the years she began to look forward to such moments of candor, usually finding subtle truths and humor embedded in his statements. Her mission of Truth, as charged by the Amazon nation, had turned out to be a fool’s errand and her mission had changed as a result. Truth in Man’s World was revealed in subtle nuances of shades of grey, rather than the stark black and white viewpoint taught by her sisters. On occasion, Diana had been caught between opposing Truths and had emerged wiser, if slightly scarred, by the experiences. Her initial resistance to Batman’s methods had softened over time, as had her feelings for him, which surprisingly had blossomed from initial distaste for his company into a romance that she never would have expecte

D

During the Obsidian Age, Diana was surprised at the depth of her passion for Batman but after the battle with Gamanae was concluded, she could not bring herself to give herself fully to him, nor could she ask that he do the same for her. She used J’onn’s dream-machine to explore her subconscious desires however the conclusions were ambiguous at best. While most of the moments in the various incarnations of their lives were happy, the sense of loss she felt upon exiting the machine convinced her that her love for him had to remain platonic for the good of the team. Bruce’s reaction to her rejection was typically poker-faced, agreeing to remain friends. Lately, Diana realized he had waited (a rarity for him) for her to deny an attempt at a relationship before reaching the same conclusion.

Since that conversation, their relationship had cooled to a professional level that to Diana seemed empty, a shadow of its former self. Diana had recently requested and received Batman’s assistance in solving a murder committed outside the Themysciran Embassy. During their meetings he was even more distant than when they’d first met. Diana couldn’t quite put her finger on what had come between their friendship in the interim however her meditations in the Monitor Womb concluded she should immediately address her concerns.

J’onn’s touch interrupted her silent contemplation a moment later.

“Diana…are you asleep?” he asked gently.

“Of course not…just daydreaming…” she quickly retorted.

“I’ve been standing in front of you for two minutes but you wouldn’t answer me. Something on your mind?”

“No…nothing. Thanks for asking.” She said quickly.

J’onn looked at his friend for a moment then shook his head. Her denial was painful to feel even without the benefit of a psychic connection. She briefly updated him on the most recent events however she was distracted and J’onn shooed her away, noting the computers handled most of the duty and would update him if so required.

She retreated down the corridor to the residential wing, trying to determine whether she was tired enough to justify taking a quick nap before teleporting back to the Embassy. Tabling the nap dilemma, Diana decided to grab a quick bite of breakfast in the kitchen to satisfy a pang of hunger gnawing at her stomach. She slipped into kitchen, surprised to find it empty (Flash’s high speed metabolism meant that he was in the kitchen at least 12 times per day), then rummaged thru the Tupperware containers in the refrigerator. Diana recognized a quiche Alfred had teleported up from the Cave a few days earlier then popped the last slice into the microwave. The timer chirped a few seconds later and she set the now warmed dish on the nearest table then plopped into a chair.

The smell of the dish caused her mouth to salivate then she pursed her face in consternation a second later, realizing that she’d forgotten utensils. She rummaged through the nearby drawers in search of a clean set of silverware but had no luck. The dishwasher was full but unfortunately the person who had the kindness to load the sink full of dirty dishes had forgotten how to successfully hit the “on” switch. Diana lightly pressed the button, waited for the light to come on, then closed the door to hear the familiar whoosh of the rinse cycle initiate.

Satisfied that she had contributed to the overall hygiene of the Watchtower (which, given its large population of male members, was not to be admired), Diana turned to pursue her original goal of locating clean silverware. An idea clicked in her mind a moment later and she started to walk around the corner toward the Coffee Room when Faith’s hushed whisper of “Bats finally did it…he nailed the Cat!” caused her to stop immediately in her tracks.

Diana’s eyed widened in surprise at the revelation and her mouth went as dry as the Sahara Desert. She pressed herself against the wall around the corner from the Coffee Room then silently inched closer to the open doorway. Her advanced hearing picked up Plastic Man’s quiet whistle and response, “I thought he and Diana had somethin’ going…what happened?”

“Obviously nothing, so Batman decided to move on to greener pastures.” Faith retorted. “You men are all the same…you’d jump into a willing bed anytime.”

“Most of my dates aren’t that willing, which is half the problem!” Plastic Man retorted, “Besides, how did you hear about Bats’ and Cats’?”

“Nightwing told me on our date last night… we see the occasional movie together…” Faith replied with a grin

“You steppin’ out on me?” he teased. “You little tramp!”

Diana’s breathing rapidly escalated as she stood flush against the wall. Realizing that another Leaguer could emerge along the hallway at any second, she backed up five steps along the hallway then strode purposefully along the floor, heels clicking loudly against the metal walkway. She walked into the Coffee Room andded ded a cheerful “Good morning!” to the suddenly silent Faith and Plastic Man. The two of them looked at each other suspiciously, trying to determine whether Diana had intercepted any snippet of their conversation. Faith meekly shrugged then the two of them said, “Morning” in unison. Diana quickly poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot then rummaged through the drawers looking for her utensils.

“A Ha!” she exclaimed proudly, brandishing the plastic fork and knife. “I’ve been looking all over for a clean fork! Anything going on?” she asked, staring at the two of them over her cup as she sipped.

“Nothing in my little world.” Faith replied with a shake of her head.

“Same old, same old…” Plastic Man nodded slowly. “How’s Monitor Duty?”

“Pretty quiet.” Diana replied. “Think I’ll grab a nap before I head back to the Embassy. If I show up there they’ll put me to work.”

“Good idea.” Plastic Man responded as she strode from the room. “Have a nice nap!”

Diana rounded the corner and increased her pace back to the kitchen. She grabbed the plate of quiche from the table then stepped up her pace to her quarters, a bout of nausea seemingly on its way. She reached her door a few seconds later then entered the room, loudly banging the plate and coffee cup onto the nearest table before darting into the bathroom. Diana thought she was going to throw up however nothing came out as she stood over the sink. She looked into the mirror and thought her face looked a few years older. ‘Batman and Catwoman?’ she thought in despair. ‘What was he thinking?’

She sat back on the toilet lid a second later then focused on her breathing for a minute, drawing deep breaths through her nose then blowing out through her mouth to avoid an oncoming bout with hyperventilation. ‘Is this what if feels like to have a panic attack?’ she wondered. ‘Why would the news of him being with another woman have such an effect on me?’

Diana resumed breathing exercise however the relief it provided was only temporary. Rising from the toilet lid, she started a hot shower before retrieving her coffee from the table next to the bed. She shrugged out of the armor and costume (required for all on-duty members) then stepped into the stall. The heat temporarily purged the torrent of emotions from her mind and she luxuriated in its escape. Diana slowly shaved her legs (something she skipped from time to time in her rush to fulfill the requirements of her demanding schedule) then washed and conditioned her hair. Five minutes later, she ruefully turned off the shower then quickly toweled off, opting to pull on a Grecian sun-dress before combing out her wet hair.

Silently staring into the mirror, her eyes looked back with a vacant expression demanding an answer: Why had the news so shaken her? She opted to forego the blow-dry then grabbed her lasso and fled her quarters in favor of the welcome warmth of the Arboretum.

“Husband, the Bat is here to see you.” Dawn whispered to Manitou Raven. The interruption from packing their few meagre belongings was welcome as the shaman had grown surprisingly attached to their resident quarters on the JL Moonbase.

“Show him in, please, my wife.” He responded, puzzled by her reluctance to demonstrate their culture’s normal etiquette, which demanded that a host immediately bring a guest into their residence.

The recoil of fear and foreboding on her face was stunning. “You know that I fear the Bat.” She pleaded. “Please do not bring him into our residence.”

“It won’t be our residence much longer.” He replied evenly. He studied her face for a moment, trying his best to reassure her panicked features. “Why do you fear him so?”

“You know better than I the darkness inside his soul.” She countered. “His presence casts a dark shadow over everything and everyone in his path.”

“You do not see the Truth behind the mask.” Manitou cautioned, hiice ice growing more urgent, “Look as I do at his aura. His true essence should not be dismissed so callously. He fights for justice in the shadows, but he fights for justice nevertheless.”

“I see only what he allows me to see.” Dawn replied coolly. “Try as I might, the gifts you’ve given me do not allow such insight.”

Manitou nodded with regret. Pausing at the doorway, a pang of pity welled inside his heart, wounded that his wife couldn’t look past the dark mantle of his teammate. He opened the door and saw the familiar visage of the Bat leaning against the hallway bulkhead. Batman nodded an almost imperceptible greeting then jerked his head down the hallway. The two of them joined quietly in step, making their way to Manitou’s private sanctuary since joining the League: the Arboretum.

“What can I do for you, old friend?” Manitou asked as they walked.

Batman’s head flinched for a millisecond, surprised to be addressed with the familiar term. His countenance quickly resumed its brooding manner a moment later as they entered the Arboretum. “I want to talk about your resignation from the League. Your talents as a mage will be sorely missed.”

“Zatanna and Jason Blood still serve as reserve members. I will be but a telepathic summons away from J’onn if you require my assistance.” Manitou countered.

“Maybe but –,”

The two men rounded the corner in the path opening onto an open grove and were star to to find Diana seated on the floor of the grove, her knees hidden in the tall strands of grass and heather covering the ground. Clothed in a Grecian sundress, she was kneeling on the ground, embracing the natural warmth of the sun shining brilliantly through the dome covering the arboretum. Her lasso was wrapped around her torso several times and her hands held the respective ends. Each man could hear her prayer to Gaea, pleading for the Truth in the Ancient Tongue.

The two men froze at the sight of her. They quickly looked at each other then started backing up their path when Diana’s eyes opened, startled by the faint sounds of their feet treading the grass. Her head quickly swiveled towards them and her face reflected her annoyance at the interruption but immediately softened when she determined who was responsible for interrupting her prayer.

“Apologies.” Batman muttered, then grabbed Manitou by the arm to hasten his colleague out of the grove.

“No apologies required.” She replied solemnly, rising to her feet. “I was just about finished anyway. Thought I might take a stroll in the woods after my prayer…Please don’t leave on my account.”

The two men hesitated then Manitou took point, leading their way thru the field, Batman a half a step behind.

“That is very kind of you.” Manitou replied as the two men joined her in the grove a moment later. “I know what it is like to be interrupted while praying to the Great Spirit. It leaves a feeling of loss…as if one is left incomplete.”

Diana nodded in agreement then reached out to touch the shaman’s shoulder. “You will be missed by the League, Manitou. May Gaea watch over you.” She turned and gave Batman a quick once over, her expression solemn, a rarity for Diana. She nodded quickly at him, blurted a quick “Bruce,” then strode away, the hem of her dress flowing lightly across the blades of grass. She reached the edge of the forest, paused, then looked over her shoulder for a moment. Diana’s hand managed a light wave before she blushed at the feeble attempt. She plunged into the tree-line a moment later, her step gaining a sense of urgency as she left the grove.

Batman and Manitou watched silently as she disappeared into the woods, then turned to renew their conversation. Manitou studied his teammate’s troubled visage and noticed a minute hesitation on his colleague’s face as he watched Diana disappear into the woods. Manitou’s face broke into a wide grin as a new piece of knowledge had revealed itself. Batman turned to Manitou, who was still smiling at his friend. “What are you so happy about?” he snarled.

“I am happy to see two people that I admire in love.” Manitou replied. “Why I did not see it earlier is troubling to me, but these things sometimes take time to reveal their true selves.”

“What cause would you have to make such an accusation?” Batman flared defiantly.

“One of my gifts is my ability to read the aura, the life-force of Earth’s inhabitants. Most human auras extend three inches around the body. Those with extraphysical prowess are no different. Your aura and Diana’s are normally no different either, although you tend to radiate darker colors...Diana’s are lighter but no less powerful.” Manitou observed. “When you and Diana saw each other just now, your auras raced across the field like a moth to the flame, touched, then retreated.”

“That’s ridiculous…besides, we are not in love.” Batman immediately replied, the phrase uttered as if programmed into a rote memory.

“Do you remember when we first battled, my friend?” Manitou asked, the doubt evidence in his voice.

“In Florida or Atlantis?” Batman replied, well aware that in terms of chronology the battle in Atlantis preceded the battle in Florida by 3,000 years.

“Florida.”

“What about it?” Batman asked suspiciously, his mind working to recall the exact details of the battle.

“I have always wondered how you were able to break my sleep-spell so quickly. I spent months researching that spell yet you swept it aside like a wave crashing against boulder.”

“Your point?” Batman asked, his eyes squinting darkly behind the cowl.

“Your love for Diana was the power which disrupted the spell.”

“I don’t believe that for a moment. It was willpower which broke the spell.” Batman countered, his body language reflecting his tension in his voice.

“What fueled the willpower?”

“My mind.”

“The heart and the mind act as one.”

Batman considered the wisdom of the statement with the respect it was due, especially coming from arguably the most powerful mage on the planet. He took a deep breath then his shoulders slumped for a moment, the burden and tension demanded by the Bat momentarily released from his body.

“Let’s say that you’re right for a moment and that for argument’s sake I do love her. That doesn’t change the fact that my love for her would not be returned. She meditated in J’onn’s dream chamber and she said the conclusions she took from it were ‘terrible.’ Why would she lie?”

“Perhaps she feared that her love for you would not be returned in the same manner.” Manitou observed gently. “It matters not. Did I not see the two of you act on your love during the battle against the Ancients? I was there, remember? You died in each other’s arms…that creates a soul-bond which is not easily broken.”

“Maybe we love each other enough to know that we’re not good for each other. Besides, I moved on…I recently took another...”

“The Cat?”

“Yes.”

“Do you love her? More importantly, do you trust her?”

“I love her but I don’t trust her.”

“Then she was a casual attempt to diminish the gift you and Diana have been given.” Manitou replied, the irritation rising from his voice. “It matters not. Your spirits are soul-bound to each other. In the interim, she may take another…you may take another. It does not matter. Your love is what matters.”

Batman considered the statement for a moment then turned to walk into the forest in pursuit of Diana. “You will be missed in more ways than one, Manitou.”

Diana stood in a spot in the forest where the canopy of the limbs above her were thin enough to allow a wide ray of sunlight to reach the forest floor. She stood with her eyes closed, bathing in the warmth of the sunlight when the rustle of leaves behind her alerted her to his presence.

“Hello, Bruce.” She whispered. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Batman stared back at her, mesmerized by her beauty. “Yes, she is.”

She turned and flashed him a shy smile “I hope you’re not thinking of making another pass at me.” (1)

“As appealing as the idea seems, when it’s damp, my jaw still aches from that punch, so no, I think I’ll stand over here.”

“We’ve come a long way since that first encounter.” She murmured sympathetically. “What do you remember about our first meeting?”

“It gave me my first glimpse of Paradise.” He replied, eyes squinting. “Probably gave me a bit of hope when I needed it…”

“Hope?” she replied. “I thought your belief in your methods always obviated the need for hope?”

“I’ve always said that I never required Faith in God when I had you around.” Batman replied coolly.

“Has anything changed?” she asked skeptically.

“We’ve changed…for the worse.” He replied darkly.

“What’s wrong with the League?” she asked, the concern rising in her voice.

“Not the League. You and I have changed, Diana. Except on a essiessional level, we no longer interact. We avoid the mere pretense of friendship lest one of us demonstrate our vulnerability.”

“Unfortunately the news of your recent assignation left me feeling all too vulnerable.” Diana retorted.

“I don’t owe you an explanation, Diana.” Batman replied. “I am not a monk.”

“I did not ask you to be… did it ever occur to you that I might need or even offer you the same outlet which she has provided for you?”

His cowl recoiled at her statement. “How can you say that? Weren’t you the one who elected to consigned our relationship to the trash-bin, or is my recollection of that event incorrect?”

“I was trying to protect you from making an ass of yourself.” She countered, her eyes flashing in anger at his statement.

“How did you intend to accomplish that?”

“I knew that you would deny us any chance at a relationship. It would come in the form of on you your standard rationalizations about the damaging effects which you have on the people you love.” She seethed, “So I decided to beat you to the punch and tell you dn’tdn’t think we should try it. I was trying to protect you from yourself.”

Batman stood silently as he considered her statement. He raised his head to the sky, drinking in the sunlight, then returned his gaze to her again. “We’re a mess, aren’t we?”

“We are what we allow ourselves to be.” She stated calmly. “I would like for us to try to love each other but I need you to be willing to try.”

He stood silent for a moment and Diana was afraid that his silence meant that he had retreated behind the mantle of the Bat. He surprised her, striding across the remaining expanse of forest floor in four quick, lithe steps. He pulled the cowl off his head and tucked it into his belt then slowly brought his gauntleted hand to her cheek, leaning in a moment later to softly brush his lips against hers. Her reaction was immediate and she pu his his head firmly against her mouth, running her fingers through his hair.

His arms encircled her waist, drawing her in tight as their mouths continued their exploration. Their breath grew hotter while their tongues danced and wrestled. Diana drew in a sharp breath as his left hand worked his way off her ass then settled on her right breast. She wasn’t wearing anything under the dress and her nipples darkly protruded from the white fabric. He deftly pulled the guantlets off his hands, lightly dragging his fingertips over her nipples while her own fingers deftly worked the release on his utility belt.

He was astonished that she was able to remove it and she quickly pulled his shirt over his head. His cape was still fastened to the catches on his shirt and it briefly got snagged on his shoulders, but Diana ripped it free with a quick pull then placed the cape on a rock next to them. They stopped for a moment, surprised by the outpouring of lust between them. Bruce’s face reflected his confusion.

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this…” he started, then Diana leapt onto him, wrapping her legs around his waist and closing her mouth hungrily over his before he had another chance to speak. Diana used her free hand to grab the cape off the rock then threw it on the grass behind them. Bruce gently settled to the forest floor then laid them on the cape, spreading out the fabric underneath. Diana sat up and quickly pulled his boots off, throwing them over her shoulder with glee then leaned in and gently closed her front teeth around his left nipple. His pectoral muscle flexed with the sensation, which was foreign but enjoyable nevertheless. He drew in a sharp breath of his own as her mouth continued a southward migration. Her tongue probed the ripples of his ab muscles then worked its way into his navel before he felt her fingernails dig underneath the waistline of his trousers.

She smoothly pulled his pants away with a quick tug, revealing his burgeoning length. She quickly kneeled to kiss his length then tossed his pants over her shoulder before settling again to take him with her mouth a second time. Diana concentrated on the strange object before her, slowly licking the length of both sides of the shaft while her fingers lightly stroked his balls. The pleasure was too intense for him and he sat up to gather his wits. He ran his own fingers under the hem of her dress, bunching it up as he passed the silken nest between her thighs. Raising the dress ever higher, her milky white breasts were revealed in turn. Her arousal was almost complete as he could see that her, nipples were tightening past nickels to perfect dimes, then the dress was over her head and similarly thrown onto the forest floor.

He kissed her again, hard, then his fingers worked their way down her body while her own hands searched out for his length again. She found him and started stroking the firm rigidity of it then sucked in an intense breath as his fingertips lightly brushed against her clit, engorge its its own as her body tingled with the sensation. Diana was wet with anticipation and breath was running in rapid gasps when he laid her back on his cape. His mouth swirled around the firmness of her nipples, settling on one for a moment then returning to the other while his free hand located her wetness and started a kneading motion which ignited a new fire inside her body.

“I want to taste you.” He growled, then his head started moving down to take her sex in his mouth. She grabbed his hair, preventing him from reaching his destination. He opened his mouth to protest however she silenced him. “Two can play at that game.” She smiled, then grabbed him by the torso and spun him gently around in the air until his length was hanging above her mouth. She engulfed it in one steady plunge then gently drd hid his own body down on hers, his mouth settling on her sex a moment later. She could feel him working his tongue up and down her furrow, dilating her already engorged sex while his balls worked against her cheeks as she swallowed his length over and over.

Satisfied with their oral exploration a few minutes later, Bruce slipped his body off hers then spun around so that they were facing one another. His face and neck were wet and smelled of her cunt. She kissed him hard, savoring the intermingled tastes on her tongue then pushed him back on the cape, straddling his legs. Diana delicately positioned her hips over his own as this was her first experience with a man, then eased herself onto his length, accepting him into her for the first time. Diana grunted in a moment of discomfort as his length penetrated her outer labia then she felt her inner walls stretching to receive him. The pain flashed momentarily then lessened as the fullness of his length was inside of her a moment later. Her eyes flashed with heat at the purity of the sensation then she brought her heels underneath her knees and rocked back on his length.

His hands reached up to caress her breasts, occasionally raising his mouth off the ground to nip the pink protrusions with his teeth, stimulating her even more. After working up and down on his length for a few minutes, Diana slowed for a moment, then leaned in to kiss him again before throwing her head back as the first wave of pressure built up inside her. She could feel his tip of his cock working its way inside her walls and she cried with the pleasure he’d unleashed within her body, bringing her to a second bone-jarring orgasm in as many minutes.

Bucking her hips furiously, she reached behind her ass and felt for his balls cradled between the junction of his legs. She stroked under them, coaxing them to release their treasure. Diana screamed in triumph a moment later as she felt the first hot spurts of his seed unload into her. She rocked her hips in time with his ejaculation, taking him in to her inner depths, then finally collapsed on top of him a minute later when his tumescence retreated to its original, flaccid length.

“Why didn’t we do this a long time ago?” she asked, panting as the sweat running off her forehead stung her eyes.

“We were stupid.” He replied, brushing the matted hair away from her eyes.

“I love you, Bruce.” She whispered, savoring the words.

“Love you too, Princess.” He grinned back. “Let’s find our clothes before somebody gets some strange ideas about why we built Arboretum.”

In the grove a few hundred yards away, the Shaman smiled. His work as a Leaguer was finished.

The End

(1) From The Trinity by Matt Wagner
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The Arboretum