Dating The Dark Knight

Chapter 17

APHRODITE'S VIEW

Bruce stiffened at the thought of having the manor blown up and burned to ashes. The thought made me cringe as well. It would be my fault if the last of his family legacy was destroyed. I had never felt so trapped in my entire life....so useless and useful at the same time. I was just here, sitting while this man was planning to wipe out the world. It was absurd. How he was to accomplish this was beyond me. I knew he wasn't bluffing, more damage was going to come. Would I join him to ensure the safety of a city for a few precious days, months or however long it took him to prepare for this abomination, or remain hidden and allow him destroy the city, but somehow prevent his plan from becoming reality? Had I...had I any faith in myself? In my skills? In what I had managed to accomplish since I arrived in this city? 

I had some faith in myself. Be it little, it was still something that kept me together. I absolutely didn't want to surrender to him, and with my brother's life on the line, he knew he had me trapped.....And there was Bruce. Bruce who protected me, who I had kissed out of my childish emotions. We didn't need any of this now....I would stay away from him, romantically, to keep our heads in the game, this ridiculous game......

"Aphrodite!" Se'ir called out loud. I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to face him. "You must be thinking up a storm 'cause you're about to destroy my couch." He told me. I noticed small sparks were racing along my body. I took a deep breath, and began to calm myself....and slowly, the sparks died down.

"Sorry." I said.

"It's alright. No wonder Larson wants you, you're a powerhouse." Se'ir laughed.

"It's nothing to joke about." Bruce countered then kneeled infront of me. "Come with me." He said. I looked at him, his face didn't betray an answer. I shrugged and got up. 

"While you two are at it, I'll go check on my sensors." Se'ir said as we walked out.

"Good." Bruce replied as we stepped out into the still gloomy afternoon. It might start raining soon.

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BRUCE/BATMAN'S VIEW

As I led her out, she remained quiet. I watched her thinking inside, her face focused, worried and nervous at the same time. It was perfectly understandable. Her eyes were lighter today, finally betraying the stress that had followed her. She was fidgetting, trying to stay calm while weighing the odds. Her thought process was interesting. Alfred had once asked me if I was worried about being close to her because of her abilities. My answer remained the same, and evident.

I truly admired this woman. 

"Breathe." I said. Her eyes landed on mine and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Step 2?" She teased softly. 

"You need more practice." I replied. She raised an eyebrow then considered it. 

"Just help me take my mind off this." She sighed. I led her through towards of the back of Se'ir's home. She was quiet, only answering questions when asked. Though she tried to hide it, I knew she was hurt emotionally. 

"How is this practice setup?" She asked suddenly.

"Aiming." 

"Okay." She responded, emptily. Her current emotional distress bothered me. We arrived at the spot I searched the surrounding for rocks. I found 5 large rocks and positioned them a few feet from her and spaced them out.

"Aim and destroy all of them." I told her as soon as I was done. She nodded and closed her eyes. She opened them and then glowed brightly. She pointed a finger covered in small sparks at a rock, generated a jagged line of quintessence then fired at the rock. She missed, only hitting the sides of the rock. She exhaled and tried again. She succeeded. The rock was immediately disintegrated. I encouraged her while she did the same with three more. The line of energy she generated evolved from jagged and rough to smooth and steady. I was impressed with her level of control.

"Now before you hit the last one, think of it as one of his creatures." I said, testing her. She aimed for it but once she did, her glowing eyes widened as though she had just realized what I had said. "What are you waiting for? Destroy it." Her hands shook as she pointed. "Do it now."

"No." She responded, tears spilling from her eyes as her glow flickered till it finally died down, revealing her dull green eyes. 

"Kill the creature, Aphrodite." 

"I won't." She replied firmly. "Why do you want it dead? Aren't you against such?" She cried, wiping her eyes. Her eyes once again betrayed the story behind her decision. She kneeled on the floor, still frozen in her emotional distress.I walked to her and pulled her into my arms. 

"You're right. I don't want it dead, and I will always be against it." I told her.

"Then why?" She sobbed gently as I stroked her hair. 

"You'll find out soon." I replied.

"Stop it." She said all of a sudden, pushing herself away from me. "You don't have to do any of this, Bruce-" 

"I'm fully aware that I don't have to." I replied and captured her lips before she spoke again. She stiffened under my touch, still unsure. I kissed her with an intensity that surprised me, in a few seconds, she responded. My hands tightened around her body, pulling her closer to me. Her hands  made their way around my neck. Whatever had possessed me to kiss this woman so fiercely showed no signs of leaving. She had stumbled into my life, bringing her gift and her temporary curse, and I had a drive to protect her. I had denied any emotions for her, and I was currently proving myself terribly wrong. Earlier on, I didn't want her in my life. I didn't want her to mean a lot to me. I didn't want her taken away from me as a result of the consequences of my lifestyle.....

I deepened the kiss, and I pinned her down beneath me. She pulled away to breathe.Our breathing was rough. Her face was flustered and slightly confused, probably wondering what had gotten into me. She was beautiful....incredibly beautiful. I leaned in to kiss her throat, neck, shoulders, and forehead. She moaned softly, her fingers still tangled in my hair. I kissed her again, savoring her sweet taste. After 2 more minutes, we pulled away. She looked up at me, our foreheads touching, and smiled.

"What's gotten into you Bruce-man?" She asked quietly.

"I don't know, but I'm glad it did." I confessed. I got off her, pulling her up with me. She hugged me tightly as soon as we stood.

"Thanks for the comfort." She said. 

"You're welcome. Let's head back in-"

"One more thing." She said and turned to the rock. "It's not a person anymore. Its a lifeless, inanimate object we will use as target practice." She added and shot at it. 

"Good work." I told her.

"Good encouragement." She replied. I took her hand in mine, still surprised at the ease that came with being with her............

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APHRODITE'S VIEW

No more comments on what had just happened at target practice. I'm glad it did.The aim I refused to take reminded me all too much of the aim taken at Ares that evening, it momentarily broke me down....and I also wasn't interested in taking a life. We were back inside his warm home. Bruce pulled out his keys just as Se'ir turned to address us. 

"Okay...there hasn't been anymore news concerning him, and activity hasn't spiked since." Se'ir reported as soon as we walked in. 

"Get in the car, we're heading back to the manor, there's no time to waste." Bruce said to Se'ir as he walked out, motioning for me to follow...

"You can't just order me around. Wait, Wayne....Is this your way of asking me to watch Aphrodite while you go on patrol for that lunatic?"

"Just get in the car." Bruce replied while Se'ir shook his head, rose and began to assemble a few items.....

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-TheDarkKnight123