A/N: This story is set in the DCAU, around JLU in the timeline. I draw inspiration with the plot from the movie Justice League: Doom, the JL: Tower of Babel graphic novel, and theamerican91 's awesome fanfiction Heart of Darkness (see my Favourites) which briefly alludes to Tower of Babel.

The POVs are a little messed up, sometimes I might add a thought of someone else just because. All right. Here we go.

Bruce POV

"Bruce Wayne!"

The drunken yell was heard around half the ballroom as peoples' heads turned to see who was screeching the name of the notorious playboy.

The billionaire in question put his hands up in what he obviously hoped was a calming gesture. "I swear, I kissed her on the cheek, Randi," he said, his own voice not quite as slurred, but enough so that it was clear he wasn't sober.

The brunette bombshell he was arguing with slapped him across the face so hard he stumbled back a step. "My name is Mandi!" she hissed. "And you're a douche!"

She stormed away, leaving Bruce to rub his jaw and laugh for the entertainment of the people around him. "If I called her Sandi, you think she would have taken it better?" he grinned. The small crowd that had been watching the scene smiled measuredly at the joke and after a moment or two, realized the confrontation was over and turned away.

But never for long, Bruce thought grimly to himself as he snatched a glass of champagne off a passing waiter's tray. Eyes were always on him. He just had to make sure he controlled what they looked for. And he did.

As he pretended to take a sip of alcohol, he scanned the room, calculating. He would have to be seen with at least two more women tonight; perhaps if things were getting too dry, get 'caught' with another in a compromising position.

"Brucey! It's been too long!"

Bruce turned, plastering on his biggest grin. A group of society hags stood in front of him, rich women in their late-forties who ran in the same circles as he did.

"Mrs. Vivian Faxfair," he addressed the woman that had called to him. "It's been too long." He allowed his eyes to travel over her body, quick enough that it wasn't extremely obvious but slow enough that he knew she would catch it. Then he met her eyes and turned up the wattage on his sexy grin. Audible sighs were heard. The woman beside her fanned herself in a very unsubtle way.

"It's Mrs. Vivian Walters now, actually," Vivian said, batting her eyes. "I got married again."

Bruce feigned surprise, even though he already knew this. "Really?" he allowed a small measure of disappointment into his voice. "Tied yourself down again?"

Vivian sauntered forward and put her hand on his arm. "Sometimes I get loose," she breathed into his ear.

Bruce opened his mouth to respond when he heard another voice.

"Hello, Mr. Wayne."

And this was a voice he actually wanted to hear.

He remained rooted where he was, staring into Vivian's eyes for just a moment; just a moment that he needed to compose himself before he faced her.

He turned, so fast in his apparent drunken exuberance that he stumbled slightly. "Wonder Woman!"

Diana stood before him, wearing a beautiful pale pink gown that didn't reveal much but skimmed over her curves. Her hair was clipped in a very simple bun at the nape of her neck. Classy. Elegant, Bruce noted with approval. She took his breath away with her confidence, her grace, and with her smile.

Unfortunately, Bruce couldn't give her or show her those kinds of compliments. Instead, he allowed his eyes to peruse her body as well, even slower than to Mrs. Vivian Walters. His gaze lingered especially around her generous bust before she- ahem, ahem- coughed.

He looked up, into her beautiful ocean blue eyes. "Sorry," he said, delivering a rakish grin that indicated that this wasn't the case at all. Vivian's friend who had fanned herself earlier harrumphed in the background.

Diana, to her credit, wasn't shaken up at all by his tactics. "Hello, Mr. Wayne," she said again, formally. "I hear that you are one of the major benefactors and hosts of this charity ball. I wanted to thank you for supporting it."

"Not at all," Bruce said. "I love charity. I love Metropolis. And I love museums," he blabbed, spreading his hand to indicate their current venue. "So it all adds up to a night I wouldn't want to miss. Are you a speaker here tonight?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Bruce boldly stepped closer. "We danced once in Paris, you know."

Diana nodded again, but her eyes asked him: What game are you playing?.

He held out his arm. "I seem to remember we were rudely interrupted that time. Care to finish that dance?"

She hesitated a moment, and Bruce saw her eyes glance at the society women beside him before returning his gaze once again. "Why not, for the generous philanthropist," she said graciously.

The more boisterous side of Bruce's personality did a mental fist-pump. God, he thought with self-disgust, the Flash was rubbing off on him.

Diana POV

A new song started up; it wasn't extremely slow but it wasn't very fast either. Bruce gathered her into his arms and they began to dance.

When she'd first seen him, he took her breath away, even though she'd seen him in a tux in the tabloids and in the flesh several times before. The fact was, he was a really beautiful man.

Of course, she would never tell him that in those words. It might hurt his precious masculine pride. She smiled at that.

He interrupted her reverie when he asked in a voice a few pitches lower than Bruce Wayne's, "Have you seen anything yet?"

"No."

"Keep on the lookout."

Diana rolled her eyes. Yes, the Justice League was at this function for more than one reason, as they'd gotten a tip that the newest rendition of the Injustice Gang planned to steal an extremely precious ancient Hindu relic from the museum, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy herself.

She wrapped her arms at a respectable distance around his neck, his silky dark hair tickling her hand. She itched so badly to run her fingers through it."I was. But then I went over to you, because I felt sorry for you."

He arched an eyebrow, barely able, she noted with satisfaction, to keep his genuine amusement off his face. "Sorry for me?"

"Yes," she replied seriously. "As those vultures" she put a little extra venom than necessary- "descended upon you, I remembered that it is my duty to defend those who cannot defend themselves."

Bruce laughed then. A real laugh. It wasn't loud; in fact Diana would be surprised if anyone else in the near vicinity heard (except for perhaps Clark, who was also here under the guise of reporting). But it was real. Warm flutters erupted in her stomach, and she felt a silly sense of accomplishment for forcing the true Bruce to make an appearance.

Sort of pathetic of her, she mused. But still.

"I could have handled them," he said, his ice-blue eyes a little warmer than they had been before.

"Well, you weren't doing a very good job," she retorted. "They were hanging all over you. One would think you were a set of monkey bars."

Bruce chuckled again, quietly; and then delivered an extremely cliche line with only a hint of irony. "Do I detect a note of jealousy?"

Yes, actually. As silly and catty as it was, Diana had felt a twinge when she had heard what that woman whispered into Bruce's ear. Even knowing he would never take her up on it. She felt... jealous. Perhaps, a little bit possessive.

If her Amazon sisters knew about it, she thought glumly, there wouldn't be a need for her to be exiled; she'd be laughed right off the island.

When she didn't answer him for a minute or two, his eyes shuttered closed again; she'd missed her window. She felt a sense of regret. "The song is almost over," he said. "And I've acted out of character too long. Someone might be noticing." He leaned forward as he said this and skimmed his nose up the curve of her neck. "I'm being too forward. You should push me away now."

Diana heard the double meaning in that last sentence. She didn't want to do it. Doing it would give Bruce just another reason to hate himself.

She half-closed her eyes when his lips brushed her cheek. "But I'm enjoying it too much."

His lips stilled for a millisecond.

Diana suddenly felt his hand roughly grasp her backside.

It was more from shock and instinct than anything else when she bodily threw him away from her, him crashing into a nearby table of entrees, right at the exact time that a scream was heard on the other side of the ballroom.

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