Central Park Showdown
Author: Erika
Feedback: [email protected]

Pairing: None
Disc: The characters are property of DC comics and their associated companies. Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston.
Rating: PG

Summary: Dswaynne put up a challenge/request on the Wonder Woman's message board. This is challenge number 2: A quiet moment between Clark and Diana, while playing chess in Central Park.

Just for the sake of writing, I am assuming both Diana and Clark remember the events at Valhalla.
Beta-reader: Adrian, Pollyanna and Steve.

~oo00oo~

Clark and Diana had decided to meet in Central Park concerning the latest happenings to the Justice League membership. The loss of Batman had affected the team; his protocols and his subsequent dismissal had resulted in low team morale and bickering among the members. At their last JLA meeting, Clark had invited Diana to Manhattan hoping that the change of scenery would help them evaluate the situation better.

Throughout their walk in the park, and their brief discussion to the Batman situation, Clark had taken note of how many people turned around to openly gaze at the woman beside him. Though dressed in ordinary clothes--he in his daily reporter persona and Diana in a professional dress, with a sun hat to match and dark glasses--she still attracted quite a bit of attention. One could not help but notice her beauty.

He had asked Diana to meet him here, hoping to resolve the JLA crisis, and now they both found themselves sitting over a game of chess. He couldn't help but wonder if he had ever thanked her for all the support she had given him over the years. Clark knew that rumours about them still flourished, hinting at a possible romance between them and they would continue to do so as long as his secret identity remained hidden.

Diana had never complained about the rumours, no matter how outrageous they sometimes got. She hardly seemed bothered by them; at least she didn't appear to be. He knew his own behaviour toward her at times didn't help to dispel the talk.

Indeed, the events of the year gone by had probably resurrected many of the past insinuations within the heroes' community. Especially in discovering that in one potential future, they would have a child together and the one thousand years spent fighting in Valhalla had probably only helped fan the embers of a near forgotten flame.

He wouldn't be surprised if many of their teammates speculated at this new closeness he now had with Diana. Even though nothing had ensued from those thousand years he and Diana had spent together, it was difficult to deny that their fighting ability had improved to the point that at times they fought like one entity. 

Indeed it felt as though they were reading each other's mind across the battle field, instinctively knowing each other's position, moving as one. Yes, a thousand years spent fighting side-by-side would do that. How could anyone, understand that first his grief over losing Lois and then their mission of theirs had provided obstacles to the possibility of a relationship developing between them.

Valhalla had been a test of his will ... to survive, to fight, to live.

And throughout that time, she had never pushed, never hinted that she was interested in changing or pursuing a relationship with him. She had respected his wishes and had instead concentrated on the battle before them, and in the process she had given his life purpose and direction.

She had refused to allow him to fall into the grief he was feeling for having lost all he had loved. Instead she became his rock which he could lean on and with her support he had become a hero for all the people of Valhalla.

He looked over at his friend and most trusted teammate, and noticed she was giving him a look that silently asked him, 'Are you okay?' It was then that he noticed he had not been following the conversation, or the game.

"Clark, it's your turn," she said, the hint of a smile in her eyes.

He looked down at the chess pieces and reached for his knight. "You know, Diana, we should do this more often."

"Hmm. If you want, I'll schedule you in my appointment book. How are Tuesdays for you?" She asked, looking down at the board, a strange smile hovering over her lips.

He held the knight in his hand. "You have an appointment book?" he asked her, telling himself it was merely out of curiosity.

"Yes... if Tuesdays are a problem..." she left the question open for discussion.

"No, they're not," he reassured her.

"We could meet on Mondays. I'm sure, I could convince Arthur to meet me on Tuesdays instead."

"Arthur?" Aquaman? Diana and Arthur?

"We meet every Monday morning," she informed him.

"Oh. I see." Clark said, putting the knight down on the board.

She looked down at the board again, raised her hand and reached for a game piece. She smiled at him, arched her right eyebrow and stated, "Checkmate."

He glanced down at the board. Her queen had cornered his king. He glanced back up at her, but she had already gotten up to leave.

"I'm sorry Clark, but I have a meeting with Artemis in one hour."

"Of course," he said, getting up himself.

"We'll meet at the watchtower, as usual?"

"Umm...yes."

He watched as she walked away from him all the while thinking, Arthur and Diana?! Aquaman and Wonder Woman?! He sat back down. J'onn would probably know. He would ask him in the next JLA meeting. With that planned in his mind, he got up and headed back for the Daily Planet.

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