DISCLAIMER: The Justice League of America
characters are the property of DC Comics. The story contents are the creation
and property of Djinn and are copyright (c) 2005 by Djinn. This story is Rated
PG-13.
Witness to Love
by Djinn
Diana is mine. She is mine and yet...she is not. It is not unexpected, this tearing of
loyalties within her. I knew going in
that it would not be easy.
I just did not expect it to
be this difficult.
I do not think
And their workouts--he gives
her no quarter. The way they rain blows on
each other...it is like sex. Only more violent.
Is that how they would make
love if they could? This terrible
pounding they subject each other to every time they spar? I thought I was strong enough for her; I
thought she was not holding back when we made love.
If their fighting is any
indication, I obviously thought wrong.
She pretends to be at peace
with her decision. She chose me, and now
she will live with the choice no matter what.
She is stubbornly determined that way.
I've seen it in other facets of her life. She will fight to the bitter end. Bruce knew that--it's why he made her booby
trap the one he did. She will never give
up, and he knew it.
Bruce is a problem. It is not enough that I must watch
Next time I fall in love, it
will not be with an icon.
Poseidon is no doubt laughing
at me. He could probably tell me horror
stories of men who love Amazons.
I thought that when the
others were split apart from their alter egos it would be all right, that I'd
finally have her. That
when Superman and Clark became somehow less than whole, that he would cease to
be a rival. But
their separation didn't last long--and even before they were reintegrated,
Diana was sneaking away to visit
But she never mentioned those
visits to see
I love her. Perhaps more than I want to admit. But I am not sure I can tolerate this. I am not sure she will ever let go of
And the storm is in the
exercise room right now as they pound at each other yet again.
It is not smart to walk down
that way, but I do. It is not wise to
enter through the side door and sit in the small observation area, but I do.
I should not watch as they
spar, as their bodies come into contact over and over. They have done this so often it is like a
dance. It is like sex. They are having sex in front of me, fully
clothed, sweat dripping and blows landing and all that is missing is one or
both of them crying out in ecstasy.
"Hold," Diana says
and
How long was she aware of me
and she kept sparring with him? Does she
have no understanding what seeing them together this way does to me? I almost want to tell her the truth. No, everything is not all right. Not when she won't leave
"Your battle is fierce,"
I manage to say. It is a form of truth.
"Is it time to
go?" Diana will give me that. She will let me dictate when we go, how long
we stay. It is the only thing she will
give me.
"No. I just came to watch." I wave them back to the mat. It is a king's wave, as condescending as I
can make it, and I see
Diana shoots him a glance,
and their ability to communicate with just a look, in only a fleeting exchange
of smiles, irritates me.
I speak before judgment can
leash my impulse. "Perhaps this
time you could fight rather than just having sex on the mats."
Diana turns to me, her mouth
open slightly. She looks appalled at what
I have said.
And it hits me. He will never let her go.
Vaulting out of the seats, I
land lightly on the floor and walk quickly to the mats. "Perhaps we should make this a threesome? Would you like that,
Diana touches my shoulder,
murmurs, "Arthur, don't."
"Damn you," I
shout, launching myself at him.
It is intolerably stupid to
do this. Part of my mind is screaming
that he will wipe the floor with me. I
am strong, very strong, but I am not this strong. Not "take on Superman in a fit of
rage" strong.
Diana is the one who pulls us
apart. I expect a lecture. I expect anger. What I do not expect is the look on her
face--a look more filled with sorrow than I've ever seen. She does not cry; she only stares at us
both. Then she shakes her head and walks
to the door.
"Diana," I yell,
even though I know she could hear me if I whispered. But my pride is on the line here, and I need
her to meet me halfway--more than halfway.
I need her to respond, to come to me.
I need her to show him she's mine.
She stops and turns, but does
not walk back to me, not even when I hold out my hand. I hear a rustle of fabric and look up where I
was sitting. Bruce is watching us.
"Why won't you just let
things be? Why must there be this damned
rivalry?" She includes Bruce in the
look she sweeps over us. "I am not
a prize. I am not something to fight over. I choose.
I chose." She shakes her
head. "Apparently I chose
wrong."
"Diana." Bruce's voice rings out. "Cool off before you make any
decisions."
I do not want him on my
side. I do not need him on my side. "No.
Let her speak."
"You love me," I
say to her. It is not a question,
because I do not doubt it.
"I do."
"Then come with me. Let's go away for a while." I hold my hand out.
There is a noise behind me as
Bruce lands softly, then he is walking up. "Why don't we all take a time out?"
Is he doing this because he fears
she will come with me and he will lose her?
Or is he doing this because he cares for all of us, and if I continue
with this, I will lose her...and hurt her.
He turns to me. "Arthur, let it go."
I wish that I could. I see his eyes narrow as he realizes I will
not stop, that I cannot.
"Fine," he
says. "Lose her. I'm done helping you." He walks to Diana, his hand falling gently on
her arm for a moment, then he leaves the room.
She looks up at me, then turns to
"This is between
us." Her eyes are glittering now,
tears in them, tears I am heartily sorry that I've caused. "Arthur..." She cannot speak, begins to cry for real.
I am struck down by her
weeping. I can do nothing more than pull
her to me, trying to comfort her. Trying
to stop what I have put into motion.
"You no longer wish to
continue in this relationship, do you?" I ask, and my voice nearly fails
me. Sorrow--like the rushing of the
sea--fills me, fighting anger for supremacy in my heart.
"I love you,
Arthur."
"Then stay with
me." Surely she can hear how much I
love her? Surely she will choose me
again?
"I have done everything
I can to knock him out of my heart. I
don't spend time with him other than here.
And it's still not enough for you."
"You visited
"That was
different."
"It is always different
with you and him. You will always find a
way to justify your contact with him."
"He is my best
friend."
"No, Diana. He is your lover. You may not be having sex with him, but you
two are lovers. Had I known...had I
truly realized the depth of your connection..."
"You wouldn't have done
this?"
"I wouldn't
have." It is cruel to say it, hurts
her more than I probably intended. But
it is truth, and she is rumored to value that--when she is not lying to
me. "I love you, Diana. I will always care for you. But I find I am not a big enough man--or too
big, I'm not sure which--to share you with him."
She does not try to dissuade
me, does not plead or bargain or seduce.
She only takes a deep, ragged breath, her eyes never leaving my
face.
"Diana. Say something."
"He may be my
lover. You may be right. But you were my first. You'll have that. And I think that means more to you than I
do."
She is angry; I did not
expect that. I should have, but I did
not. Not when she spilled tears just
moments before. "I care for you, not
the conquest."
"If
you say so." Her voice breaks, she turns and rushes out of
the room.
I wonder if Bruce is waiting
for her. Waiting to
gather her up in his strong arms.
Willing to give the comfort that I cannot, willing to share her when I
will not.
Let him have her. He will only regret it. She is bound to
I tried. Not very hard, perhaps, but I tried. And I had her first. It is not flattering to me, but she was
right. I was her first lover, and it
soothes me to think I got there before
But...I love her. I did not want to just
be her first. I wanted to be her only,
her eternal. Her one
love.
At least I have made sure
that
But I doubt it.
Some loves are eternal, no
matter how destructive. Others are good
and true and last only a few cycles of the moon. Tides come in and out, and love grows and
then dies. And I know only that I loved
her, that I still love her.
That I may
always love her. Even if I will never have
her again.
Even if I
may never have had her at all.
FIN