My pal @einfach_mich sent me a link to this article that asked, with the DC reboot, Should Superman Hook Up with Wonder Woman? That got me thinking...
In my opinion… It’s Bats and Wonder Woman that need to explore a relationship. It would never be long lasting or as iconic as Lois & Supes, but it would be compelling as hell!
He couldn’t rely on his fop playboy persona, he’d be forced to be Bruce Wayne and let someone in. Total new ground. He’d have to experience vulnerability and trust. There is so much story that could emerge from such an attempt at a human experience. It’d be humanizing for both of them.
Now I’m all riled and desperately want this to happen!
So, now I'm on a Bats/WW jag. And what's the first thing you do when you land on a new pairing? You find the stellar fic that's been written that explores that relationship.
Finding the Fic
I read a fantastic article from Penthouse Magazine called "Holy Hookups, Batman!" It's all about how fanfic allows for the exploration of Batman's sex life. Especially aspects of his relationships that they'd never let you see in the comics or movies.
There were interviews with the authors of some of the major fics of the various Batman ships, as well as excerpts from each fic. The article gained much street cred when the fic representing the Batman/Catwoman ship was Chris Dee and her Cat Tales, which is an epic fic I LOVE that's been going on for 10 years.
Other fics I'll check out after reading this article:
- the Batman/daughter of Superman fic Truth and Justice, by JC Roberts
- the Bats/Supes slash fic Kansas, by A Darker Knight
In discussing Batman/Wonder Woman fic, the article introduced me to In Darkest Light, by Meljean Brook.
In Darkest Light by Meljean Brook
Official Description:
A strange encounter with Batman leads Wonder Woman on a darker journey than which she is familiar. Batman/WW shipper fic. Mature themes Language/sexual situations/some mild violence
DC Superheroes - Rated: M - English - Romance - Chapters: 5 - Words: 83,622 - Reviews: 124 - Updated: 4-16-02 - Published: 11-1-01
Wonder Woman had some personal tragedies, recently losing her mother, and is doing some soul searching. A curious encounter with Batman brings her to Gotham where she takes on Batman's methods and sees the affect he has on the city and its citizens. She starts questioning her mission of spreading peace in man's world and wondering if she's helping or hurting. Meanwhile, both Diana and Bruce struggle against the crazy attraction they feel for one another.
Here's an excerpt:
She advanced on him. "Bruce Wayne is just a function of Batman. Dick is a function of Batman. Everything you do is a function of Batman." Her anger built. Standing toe to toe with him, she said, "Cold, calculating Batman. Don't let anyone in, don't care about anyone." She knew it wasn't true; she had seen how he cared for his family, his city. But she couldn't stop. She pushed against his chest.
He didn't budge. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Diana, don't. I'm sorry. I know this is about Hippolyta, but don't --" The anger swelled, overwhelmed. She grabbed his costume, lifted him, slammed his back against the cave wall. She put her face close to his.
"Don't mention my mother," she whispered dangerously. She dropped him, stepped back. Her breath hitched. What was she doing? Yet she still didn't stop. "You don't have a monopoly on grieving for your parents, Batman," she said.
The change came over him so quickly and he moved so rapidly that she barely had time to register it before he reversed their positions, holding her up against the wall, pressing himself against her. He was furious, she realized.
"Careful, Princess." His voice was soft. She wished that he would rage, would match his anger against her own. His eyes stared down into hers, the shadows making his irises look like midnight. He suddenly buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaled. She felt the brush of his tongue, and her anger started to change to desire.
"I feel, Diana," he breathed into her ear, and pushed his hips into hers, pressing his erection against her belly. His mouth trailed fire down the line of her jaw. She tilted her head back, parting her lips. He brought his mouth close to hers; their breath mingled. "I'd like nothing more than to take you up to Bruce Wayne's bed and fuck you until you scream my name out loud--" Her eyes widened, in surprise and arousal, "--and to lose myself in you. But I can't." He let go of her, stepped back, leaving her filled with frustration instead of anger.
"Why?"
He smiled grimly. "Hawthorne spent his life looking for the secrets of men's hearts; I've spent my life searching for mine. And what I've learned, Princess, is that inside of me is a scared boy who just wants his parents back, and its dark in there. I walk a fine line; the difference between me and the Joker, Diana, is control. And if I let go of this control, give into lust, then what's next? I give into my desire to finish the Joker off once and for all? Then maybe I'll decide to take out someone else: Two Face, or some punk on the street. It won't stop."
Diana stared at him, amazed that he had opened up to her like that. And every sense told her that he was telling the truth, that he believed absolutely in what he was saying. She knew he was better than that, though. Stronger.
"It doesn't have to be that way. It might not happen like that," she argued.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose as if fighting a headache. Or an inner battle. "I never am going to take that chance and find out."
Diana bit her lip as two more truths hit her with the force of a locomotive. Her own truths.
She was in love with the Batman.
And he would never, ever allow himself to love her back.
He didn't budge. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Diana, don't. I'm sorry. I know this is about Hippolyta, but don't --" The anger swelled, overwhelmed. She grabbed his costume, lifted him, slammed his back against the cave wall. She put her face close to his.
"Don't mention my mother," she whispered dangerously. She dropped him, stepped back. Her breath hitched. What was she doing? Yet she still didn't stop. "You don't have a monopoly on grieving for your parents, Batman," she said.
The change came over him so quickly and he moved so rapidly that she barely had time to register it before he reversed their positions, holding her up against the wall, pressing himself against her. He was furious, she realized.
"Careful, Princess." His voice was soft. She wished that he would rage, would match his anger against her own. His eyes stared down into hers, the shadows making his irises look like midnight. He suddenly buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaled. She felt the brush of his tongue, and her anger started to change to desire.
"I feel, Diana," he breathed into her ear, and pushed his hips into hers, pressing his erection against her belly. His mouth trailed fire down the line of her jaw. She tilted her head back, parting her lips. He brought his mouth close to hers; their breath mingled. "I'd like nothing more than to take you up to Bruce Wayne's bed and fuck you until you scream my name out loud--" Her eyes widened, in surprise and arousal, "--and to lose myself in you. But I can't." He let go of her, stepped back, leaving her filled with frustration instead of anger.
"Why?"
He smiled grimly. "Hawthorne spent his life looking for the secrets of men's hearts; I've spent my life searching for mine. And what I've learned, Princess, is that inside of me is a scared boy who just wants his parents back, and its dark in there. I walk a fine line; the difference between me and the Joker, Diana, is control. And if I let go of this control, give into lust, then what's next? I give into my desire to finish the Joker off once and for all? Then maybe I'll decide to take out someone else: Two Face, or some punk on the street. It won't stop."
Diana stared at him, amazed that he had opened up to her like that. And every sense told her that he was telling the truth, that he believed absolutely in what he was saying. She knew he was better than that, though. Stronger.
"It doesn't have to be that way. It might not happen like that," she argued.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose as if fighting a headache. Or an inner battle. "I never am going to take that chance and find out."
Diana bit her lip as two more truths hit her with the force of a locomotive. Her own truths.
She was in love with the Batman.
And he would never, ever allow himself to love her back.
