Date: Saturday, June 11th, 2011, 11:55 pm
Location: Metropolis
The last note of the waltz hung in the air, a delicate echo of our surprisingly intimate dance. I guided Diana to the very edge of the dance floor, away from the immediate throng but still within the soft glow of the ballroom. Her hand, still in mine, felt warm and strong. The faint, genuine chuckle she'd let slip was a small but significant victory—a crack in the Amazonian facade.
I brought her hand to my lips, a gesture both old-world charming and subtly possessive. My eyes met hers over our clasped hands, a silent challenge in my gaze. "The dance was... illuminating, Diana," I murmured, my voice a low, intimate tone. "Truly, a rare pleasure."
Her expression remained composed, though a flicker of something unreadable crossed her eyes. She did not pull her hand away, allowing the gesture.
"Illuminating, perhaps," Diana replied, her voice a warm, melodic counterpoint to my own, her eyes holding my gaze with an unexpected intensity. A faint, almost imperceptible curve touched her lips. "And pleasurable, yes. Though I confess, Mr. Luthor, I did not expect such... dexterity from a man of your considerable intellect." Her thumb brushed lightly over the back of my hand, a gesture so subtle it could be accidental, yet it felt entirely deliberate.
"One must cultivate all their faculties, Diana," I countered smoothly, my smile widening fractionally. "Even the ones not immediately apparent to the public eye. There's always more than meets the eye, wouldn't you agree?" My gaze dipped briefly to her lips, then back to her eyes, lingering.
"Indeed," she murmured, a hint of amusement in her tone. "It seems we are both full of surprises tonight." Her grip on my hand tightened almost imperceptibly, a fleeting moment of connection before she finally, slowly, began to withdraw it.
"I hope you enjoy the rest of the party," I continued, my smile broadening just slightly. "And I am very much looking forward to our 'exchange of information' tomorrow. Mercy will contact you with the details for our mid-morning rendezvous."
I released her hand, the contact breaking, but the unspoken tension between us remained. She gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, her eyes still fixed on mine.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," I added, my gaze sweeping the room to locate my next target. "There's another conversation I've been meaning to have tonight."
With a final, confident nod, I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, a solitary, statuesque figure amidst the fading glamour of the gala. My gaze swept the room, registering the cluster of my security detail, but my focus was entirely on Bruce Wayne.
As I made my way through the throng, the whispers of the crowd became clearer, buzzing around me like a swarm of curious, agitated insects.
"Did you see that? Luthor just kissed her hand!"
"Who is that woman? I've never seen her before."
"She's stunning, but... where did she come from?"
"Is she another one of his... projects? Or something more?"
"I heard her name was Diana Prince. I haven't heard of her before."
"But what about Thea Queen? And his secretary, Mercy Graves? I heard they were practically living at the tower."
"He's always got a new one, doesn't he? But this one feels different."
"She looked like she could snap him in half! She looks like a Greek god."
I felt the familiar weight of countless eyes on my back, the hum of renewed gossip. Luthor and Prince. What an interesting pair. Let them talk. Let them speculate. Their limited imaginations couldn't possibly grasp the true magnitude of the game that had just begun.
My path led me directly towards the champagne fountain, where Bruce Wayne held court. He was draped in two women, their laughter echoing a little too loudly through the elegant room, his smile wide.
"...and then I said 'If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it.'"
"Oh, Bruce, you're terrible!" one of the women said, laughing.
He clutched a glass of what was surely sparkling water, acting the part of the bored, oblivious billionaire, exchanging vapid pleasantries with other equally dull socialites. It was a performance, and a rather convincing one, that only a man such as him could truly perfect.
As soon as his eyes met mine across the dwindling distance, the facade flickered. The playful smirk on his face stiffened, and his gaze sharpened, becoming instantly alert. He gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod to the two women, a silent command, and their effusive chatter quickly died as they murmured apologies and drifted away, taking the other socialites with them. In moments, he was alone, swirling his glass, the superficial charm evaporated, replaced by a deep, unsettling stillness. He was no longer Gotham's playboy billionaire, Bruce Wayne. Right now, the person in front of me is Gotham's dark knight, Batman.
I reached him, stopping a comfortable distance away. "Mr. Wayne," I greeted, my voice smooth and resonant, deliberately cutting through the last echoes of his forced joviality. "I hope you are actually enjoying the evening rather than just pretending. Even a man such as you needs to find some time to relax, you know."
Bruce offered a thin, almost imperceptible smile, devoid of humor. "I was wondering when you would contact me. I know you did not invite me here just for me to play pretend all night." His eyes, cold and assessing, locked onto mine. "Congratulations, by the way, on the Orphanage Initiative. A truly commendable endeavor." His gaze flickered towards the direction Diana had taken, then back to me, sharp and probing. He knew I had just put on quite a show with the Amazon.
"Commendable, and necessary," I replied, letting my smile widen just enough to convey genuine satisfaction. "Children are the future, after all. And every future needs careful cultivation. Particularly when the darkness of your city constantly threatens to derail them." I took a step closer, lowering my voice slightly, ensuring our conversation remained private despite the surrounding hubbub. "Speaking of cultivation, you seemed quite absorbed by the city lights earlier. A curious pastime for a man who spends his nights in the shadows of Gotham, wouldn't you say, Bruce?"
The simple use of his first name, devoid of any pretense, was the true weapon. It wasn't a revelation, but a chilling reminder of the knowledge I held over him, the line I had crossed a year ago during that unpleasantness in Star City. He tensed slightly and frowned. His eyes, however, didn't widen in surprise; they narrowed into glacial slits, flickering with a contained rage. He didn't flinch. He didn't even breathe heavily—a true professional.
"You're still pressing the same buttons, Luthor," he stated, his voice a low, gravelly growl that only I could hear. "It's tiresome. Get to the point and tell me why you wanted me here."
"Straight to business then, Bruce. I like that about you," I countered, allowing a knowing smile to spread across my face. "It seems we are, in our own unique ways, kindred spirits, wouldn't you agree? Both driven by a desire to reshape the world into a better place. Though our methods, and perhaps our motivations, differ slightly." I leaned in, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You see the threats. You understand the necessity of… intervention. And you've done a commendable job, for a single individual. However, imagine Bruce, what could be achieved with proper resources. With a unified front."
He scoffed softly, a sound of pure disdain. "I work alone, Luthor. Always have. Always will. I don't partner with men who leverage children for public relations or spy on their city's protectors."
"Ah, 'work alone,' you say?" I chuckled, a dismissive sound. "That's quite rich coming from you, Bruce. Especially when I distinctly recall seeing a rather agile young man in red and green tights swinging alongside you recently. Or perhaps you've forgotten about Dick Grayson?"
Bruce's eyes hardened further, a dark storm brewing within them. This was the raw nerve, the one he guarded more fiercely than his own identity. "You cross a line, Luthor. A very dangerous line."
"A line you yourselves have blurred, wouldn't you agree?" I countered, my voice laced with subtle mockery. "You preach about working alone, about principled action, yet you drag a child, however capable, into your nightly vigilantism. Hypocrisy, wouldn't you say? My 'leveraging children' for an orphanage, a haven, seems positively altruistic by comparison. I give them hope, a future, a home. You give them... a target. A costume. A target on their back, wearing a costume."
His jaw tightened, a muscle clenching visibly. "He's not a child. He made his choice, and his identity is more secure than you could possibly imagine. Unlike some, I don't believe in making grand proclamations without accountability, or using advanced tech to murder." His gaze shifted, almost imperceptibly, as if recalling something specific.
"Your power suit from last year... quite the display of excessive force."
My smile remained fixed. "Accountability? I built a clean energy grid for Metropolis, Bruce. I funded medical breakthroughs. I just opened an orphanage for children who had nothing. My entire public life is a testament to progress, demonstrating how I strive to make the world objectively better. What part of that isn't 'accountable'? As for my suit, it was an answer to a threat that conventional means couldn't handle. A necessary tool, for a necessary moment." I paused, took a breath, and stated, "If mercy were a possibility at that time, I would have granted it to Mr. Dorrance."
Silence hung between us once more. Bruce stared at me, trying to see if what I was saying was the truth. After a few seconds, he sighed and then countered, "It's the why, Luthor, not just the what. Every act, no matter how grand, has a motive, and with you, those motives always feel… layered. Calculated. Your benevolence is undeniable, but it's also a cloak. I don't trust cloaks."
"You mistrust because you cannot control, Bruce. You cannot analyze me in your bat-computer," I scoffed, a genuine smirk now. "That's your fundamental flaw. You believe every powerful man must have a hidden vice, a secret agenda to justify your own dark methods. My agenda is quite simple: progress. Supremacy. Humanity's triumph over all limitations, internal and external." I saw the lingering fury in his eyes regarding Dick. I decided to offer a moment of strategic reassurance. "And concerning your young protege, Bruce, rest assured, his secret is safe with me. I have no intention of harming him. In fact, my new ward, Zoe, has... a nascent friendship with him. An interesting development, wouldn't you say? Almost as if someone close to you suggested he make contact with her, perhaps in an attempt to... gather information?" My gaze bored into his, conveying a clear message that I saw through his strategy, yet also offering reassurance. "Regardless, his privacy is assured. His connection to Zoe makes him more secure, not less, in my estimation."
I paused, letting the implication sink in. "But no matter. The world is changing, Bruce. Fast. More and more metahumans are appearing. Some, like the one in Metropolis, are... benign, even helpful. But what if they weren't? What if an alien like Superman wasn't a hero? What if his benevolent intentions shifted, or if a greater power coerced him? Or what about these emerging threats from beyond our world? These are not criminals you can intimidate in an alley, nor problems you can solve with a new gadget."
My gaze became intense, cutting. "That's why I'm here. I propose we form a coalition. A true team of protectors. Not just costumed adventurers, but a disciplined, resourced force. To bring peace. To make this world better. To ensure that humanity has a shield, a sword, against everything that's coming. We have the intellect, the resources, the… foresight. Imagine, an elite response unit, operating outside the constraints of conventional governments. We could truly protect humanity from any threat. Bruce, with your unique insight, your unparalleled strategic genius, and your detective reasoning, you would be invaluable in its formation or, at the very least, you will stay out of my way."
His gaze was like ice, boring into me. "I don't need a 'contingency,' Luthor. And I certainly don't need your help. My methods are effective. Your methods are... always a means to an end that benefits you. Your vision of 'peace' always comes with a leash, and I don't wear leashes."
"A leash?" I scoffed, letting a touch of genuine annoyance seep into my voice. "You truly misunderstand me, Bruce. I'm not trying to bind Batman. I'm proposing a partnership—a collaboration among equals, or at least among individuals interested in protecting their world with the full breadth of their capabilities. There's no leash; there's a shared purpose. A strategic alliance for global security. Your unique skills, combined with my resources and foresight, and perhaps those of others we could bring into the fold, could accomplish infinitely more than any lone wolf ever could."
"And what guarantees are there, Luthor," he challenged, his voice dangerously low, "that this 'order' wouldn't simply become a tool for your control? That this 'protection' wouldn't just be a means to eliminate anything that stands in your way? You've already demonstrated a willingness to push boundaries, to acquire knowledge by any means necessary. That's what I find dangerous, not your public good deeds."
"The guarantee, Bruce," I countered, leaning in, my voice almost a purr, "is mutual self-interest. You want to protect humanity. So do I. You just have a rather antiquated, inefficient way of going about it. I offer a comprehensive, global solution. The world is more than just a crime-ridden playground, Bruce. We can either stand together against what's coming, or you can continue to flit about the rooftops, playing whack-a-mole with street thugs, while the real threats consume us all. And when that day comes, when your Gotham is ashes, what will you do then?" I let the last phrase hang in the air, a final, barbed arrow.
I took a step back, my smile returning, a triumphant glint in my eye. "I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening, Bruce. I understand your decision to operate independently. It's a conviction I, in my own way, can appreciate." I reached into my inner jacket pocket, extracting a sleek, black business card with only my personal emblem and a direct, private number. "However, should you ever find yourself facing an obstacle that even your considerable might cannot overcome, or if the future I'm building becomes too complex for you to navigate alone..." I extended the card towards him. "... you'll know how to reach me. Consider it an open line to an ally, should you ever need one. The choice, as always, remains yours."
Bruce stared at the card for a long moment, his eyes unreadable, before finally, slowly, taking it. His fingers brushed mine, and I felt the brief, cold contact. He didn't speak.
"Goodnight, Bruce," I said, a final, confident nod. "The night, after all, is still young. Just know that the future is coming, whether you fight it alone or not. I merely offer you a choice in how you face it."