Fic: The Five Stages of Grief or: How Batman Got Her Groove Back (3/5)
Title: The Five Stages of Grief or: How Batman Got Her Groove Back (3/5)
Fandom: JL/JLU/General DC
Pairing: Wonder Woman/genderswapped!Batman
Rating: Teen
Warnings (this chapter): language, violence, sexism, perfunctorily beta'd (still looking for a beta, not just for this but for any other works)
Prompt: Stated pairing. Bruce becomes a woman, Diana helps him out.
Disclaimer: I don't own Wonder Woman, Batman, or any of the other DC characters, settings, or histories that appear in this work. I also do not own the quotes/sayings that inspire the titles of the chapters. I also most certainly do not own the Kübler-Ross model (five stages of grief model) that inspired the structure of this fic.
Author's Notes: Same as the first- Constructive criticism (and just general comments!) welcome. Thank you, pseudo!beta/real!BFF. Gosh. I've had this done for a while, just failed spectacularly at finding time to post it.
Previous Chapters:
1. Denial
2. Anger
Later Chapters:
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
- - - -
3. Compromise makes a good umbrella. . . .
"You can't keep wearing your old costume, it doesn't suit you."
The presence at her back rarely disappeared these days. Whether patrolling Gotham or up in the Watchtower, someone was always right behind her. Superman, The Flash, Green Arrow, hell. . . . even Aquaman had dropped in, and always with some story about needing a hand or being in the area.
Bullshit.
"Don't you have some truth or justice to be spreading around, Diana," she forced out through gritted teeth before sweeping the feet out from under a knife-wielding opponent.
Wonder Woman jumped off the fire escape, heels clacking on dirty pavement as she landed in the alley. She didn't belong here, not in her bright red and blue and gold. Gotham chewed up red and blue and gold; Gotham spit out maroon and bruised and dulled. The jibe remained unanswered. Instead, Wonder Woman only came to lean on an alley dumpster, wrinkling her nose in slight distaste but otherwise silent.
Her eyes hurt from looking at the Amazonian, so she shifted them back to the task at hand.
One of the gang came up from behind, and she quickly dispatched him and his other three gang mates.
Wonder Woman simply stood and watched, her face blank. It was. . . unusual, and not just for Wonder Woman.
"You know, when the others come to pay me visits recently, they try and get in the way, handle things themselves."
Wonder Woman smirked, choosing to stand beside her as they both surveyed the unconscious bodies. "I'm not sure if I should take that as an insult or not."
The criminals were tied up with ease, their pockets rummaged through and their cell phones searched for information. "It wasn't one."
"You seemed to be handling things fine without my help."
She gave Wonder Woman a look, and for the first time out of battle she could see why Diana earned that title.
The alley way was not quiet, as nothing ever could be in Gotham. Rats scurried under foot, and a siren blared in the distance, wailing for a hero to come and help. . . .
Wailing for its hero.
She unhooked the grappling hook from her belt. It hadn't occurred to her, really occurred to her, just how loose the belt was on her tinier waist until now.
Wonder Woman absentmindedly gestured to where the sound came from, "Gotham needs you."
She shook her head and began to raise her grappling hook towards the sky. "Gotham needs Batman."
Wonder Woman scoffed.
"But thanks. I'll. . . . I'll get to work on the suit."
She pulled the trigger, and away she flew.
Wonder Woman waited in the alley until the police came to formally arrest the gang members. She waited, using the shadows to hide herself as they loaded the criminals into the cars, most of whom were dazedly protesting their innocence, despite the drugs and weapons found on their person. And there, in the alley, amidst the flashing blue and red lights of the Gotham squad cars, Wonder Woman stood until Gotham was as silent as it would ever be.
Wonder Woman smiled wide, and flew away.
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