Forces Aligned

Part Six

Superman awakened to bright solar lamps shining on him. "I'm alive." He touched his neck. "And I'm still whole." Superman turned to see Wonder Woman by his side. "Diana."

"It's all over," Wonder Woman said gently. She reached forward and ran her fingers through Superman's hair. "Elise, the surgeons and even two of the Aremid assassins are in jail. You're safely recovering in the fortress. You've been here for six hours."

Superman struggled to sit up. "Careful. Careful," Wonder Woman said gently as she helped Superman sit up. "You're still recovering from the affects of kryptonite poisoning. They pumped a lot in you for the surgery."

Superman gripped Wonder Woman's hands gently. "Thank you. You saved my life."

Wonder Woman was at a lost of words as the stare Superman was giving her was intense. If she didn't know any better, she would think Superman wanted to kiss her. The thought of it sent her heart racing and her cheeks warming. "There's no need to thank me, Superman. I was doing my job."

Wonder Woman stayed with Superman in his fortress until his full recovery later that day. They left the fortress separately and Superman thought it would be another four months or longer before he saw Wonder Woman again, but he was surprised when she called to meet Clark Kent a week later for lunch in Washington, D.C.

Diana was waiting for Clark as promised on the patio of Donner's restaurant. People around them may have thought the woman in the dowdy black pantsuit, spinster bun-style hair and glasses unattractive but Clark found her absolutely beautiful.

"I see your hair has grown back," Diana said as Clark sat across from her.

Clark rubbed the back of his head where his hair was cut. "You're not the only one. Lois and Jimmy have been teasing me about my bad haircut for days."

Diana heard of the infamous Lois Lane and her close association with Superman. She wondered how close they were but knew this wasn't the time to ask but later she would. A waitress took their orders and it wasn't long before she served them their meals.

"What's the occasion?" Clark asked as his food arrived.

"Just wanted to see you," Diana said as she took a bit into her lunch. "And talk."

There were still too many people around for Diana to discuss with Clark what she wanted so she made small talk with the events in the world today. Clark easily picked up on that as well. When they were finishing their lunch, the patio was pretty sparse and it was easier to talk about things the public shouldn't hear.

"Congratulations," Diana said sipping on her coffee. "I read your story about Elise's arrest and Wonder Woman saving Superman in the paper."

"Thanks. Perry thinks it's a great story and I might get a journalistic reward for it." Clark didn't add that Lois was green with jealously and grilled Clark on how he got such a great story.

"The way you wrote about me saving you made it seem like I deserve one as well."

"I think so," Clark said. "And anyone would be a fool to not think so as well."

"My bosses don't seem to be fools then," Diana laughed. "It looks like I will be promoted and put out in the field more. It's what I want but I didn't think it would be this soon."

"Won't that put your identity at risk?" Clark asked.

"No, I can handle it. I'll have to be more careful. I have bad news though," Diana said as her smile faded. "Elise and her associates pled guilty to the bombing of the Main Bridge and trying to perform the transplant on you but Elise was killed before she was taken to prison. The truck carrying her to prison exploded."

"The Aremid?" Clark guessed.

"Yes. Elise pled to a lesser charge because she was going to cooperate with the authorities. Her testimony would've broke the Aremid group wide open but now her secrets remain with her. The two Aremid associates refused to talk with what they knew and killed themselves."

"That's unfortunate." Clark wanted to know the face of the men who nearly killed him.

"Yes, but the government won't stop until we destroy the Aremid group."

"And I'll help you in any way I can," Clark promised.

"I know you will." Diana looked at her watch. "Oh, I should be going. I have a meeting with my boss in ten minutes."

"Yeah, so do I." Clark rose from his seat. He was going to pay for lunch but Diana beat him to it. He held a hand out for Diana to shake. "Next time I pay."

Diana took his hand. "It's a deal. I'm glad you're all right, Kal."

"It's all thanks you, Diana. I won't forget it."

Looking in Clark's eyes, Diana had something on her mind to do with Superman since leaving the fortress. She backed out of doing it then but she wasn't going to now. Taking one, then two and three steps, Diana embraced Clark. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him. Clark returned the hug. Diana admitted to herself to liked the feeling being held in Clark's strong arms stirred in her. They stood like that for a minute before Diana pulled back, gazing at Clark, allowing the emotions whirling inside her to be seen by Clark. Clark wondered if this was the opening his parents told him about. Clark was going to speak but Diana made the first moved and kissed his cheek.

That was all the invitation Clark needed.

Diana started to walk away but Clark grabbed her hand. Diana turned to him puzzled as Clark pulled Diana to his side again. He cupped her face with his strong hands and covered her lips with his own. Diana's eyes widened in shock but she quickly closed them and kissed back. Kissing was something Diana had no experience in but she couldn't deny the strong emotion crashing into her. Diana gripped onto Clark's lapel as he secured an arm around her waist.

When they parted, Clark grinned seeing Diana's cheeks were flushed. "I assume it won't be another four months before we see each other."

"It's safe to assume you are right," Diana whispered as she closed her eyes and kissed Clark again, longer than before. When they parted this time, they were both grinning they fogged each other's glasses.

After quickly wiping their glasses, Diana said, "I should go."

Diana turned and walk away but Clark grabbed her hand. "Next week I have to go to Almerac. An acquaintance is getting married and I told her I'd come. Would you like to join me?"

"Almerac?" Diana said puzzled. "Where's that?"

"A planet in another star system."

Was this what humans called a date Diana wondered? Diana smiled. "Is this a date?"

"If you want it to be." Clark was taking this one step at a time. He would let Diana decide what it should be. It was his once chance with her and he wasn't going to blow it by making Diana uneasy or feeling pressured.

Diana thought carefully as she considered her answer. "Then…." She flashed Clark a bright smile. "I accept."

Richard Moulton, Diana's boss, looked out his office window pissed. Nothing went right for him these past two weeks. He had every right to be pissed. He blew a billion dollar deal. Well, it wasn't his fault but Wonder Woman's. If she hadn't showed up at that park to help Diana Prince and Simmons or stop the late Elise Wood-Remington from operating on Superman, he would be a billion dollars richer. He should be happy. He had half a billion dollars for his Aremid organization but he wanted the whole billion.

Wonder Woman was gonna pay for this he vowed. If only he knew how to find her, he'd kill her himself. Right now, Wonder Woman was on Richard Moulton's personal hit list.

At that moment, Diana Prince entered his office for their meeting. He couldn't believe he had to promote meek, unattractive Diana Prince to field operator. Still, it could work to his advantage. Diana said she didn't meet Superman or Wonder Woman when she was in Metropolis but she relayed the information of the attack on Superman to a reporter for the Daily Planet. If he played his cards right and with enough patience, his gut told him Diana Prince would lead him to Wonder Woman and he would get his revenge.

The End