Welcome to my entry/entries for the WonderBatKeywords event. I decided to put them all into one story instead of doing different one shots. Too much time haha.

Day One: Balance.

The dim light from the computer barely lights the space at the desk, allowing me to see what I'm doing only slightly, however I am too focused on the task at hand to care much about seeing anything around me. This is my solace, the one place I can feel safe, and the darkness that covers the cave blankets me and my work tonight as it has for the last decade. The computer beeps, reminding me that my downloaded file is now ready to view, however something else on the screen has caught my eye.

The blinking message in the corner teases me, and I try to fiddle with the broken batarang in my hands, trying to keep my mind on how to stop Penguin and his newest group of thugs; they have been terrorizing Gotham yet again, and the last time The Batman encountered them, they got away, and all I got was a knife wound to the side.

"Master Wayne," I hear from behind me. "It is not good for ones eyes to be left in the dark for this long." Alfred flips on a light, and I can't help but squint my eyes at the intrusion.

Alfred places a cup of coffee on the desk and crosses his arms, disappointed that I have been down here for the better part of a day. However, I can't stop my work. I need to get to the bottom of this. I need to stop Penguin.

"Thanks," I mutter quietly, glancing up at the man who has raised me since the age of eight, once my eyes adjust to the light he has forced into the cave. Alfred only sighs, knowing I will not acknowledge his comment about being in the dark; doesn't he know I do my best work in the dark.

"Mister Kent has called," Alfred says, placing his hand on the back of my chair. "Twice." I don't move, knowing what Alfred is going to say. It is the same thing he has said for the last three weeks, since the day I walked away from the League. Away from her. "He wants to know if he should still keep up this facade for you."

I stop fiddling with the broken batarang in my hand, letting the two pieces fall to the desk. I turn to Alfred and let a hand run over my face, before I let out a small sigh. Clark is the only one who knows the real reason I left the League. He is the only one, besides Alfred, keeping my secret. "Clark knows I'm done with the League," I respond.

Alfred shifts uncomfortably and he lets out a defeated sigh as I turn back to the computer screen. "And what should I tell Ms. Diana?" he asks.

My shoulders tense and my body freezes when I hear her name. Not a day goes by that I don't think of Diana. She was my best friend, and we had had the chance to be more, but as always, I had screwed it up. I had my reservations regarding Diana. I had pushed her away over and over again, trying to make her see that we were too different and things would never work. But Diana was persistent, constantly fighting me, and I had almost given in. That was, until I had seen her with him.

Andrew Harper was one of the many reporters who had been assigned to cover a press conference the League was hosting after the fallout of the Thanagarian invasion. He had taken a particular interest in Diana, introducing himself to her before everyone else, trying to charm her with his defense of the League. At first it had seemed like nothing, in fact it was welcomed by us all; the League definitely needed people in their field after one of our own had betrayed the world. However, the more he was around, the more I could see he was much better for Diana than I could ever be. She, however, did not see it that way. But I knew - I knew I would only destroy her. I knew I would hold her down, wouldn't let her live up to her full potential. The world needed Wonder Woman, so who was I to distract her. So, I took that choice away from her, leaving the League, and her, behind, knowing they would get along fine without me now that the new Watchtower was up and running, and they were starting to get new members to help with the workload. Gotham was where I was needed.

"Diana will drop it," I say, trying to convince myself more than Alfred. We both know how stubborn she is. She is not just going to go away without an answer as to why I left so suddenly. Hopefully by the time she decides to ignore my warnings to stay away, I'll have an answer that will satisfy her.

"Master Wayne," Alfred says. He knows he needs to talk me out of being foolish, tell me I'm being an idiot and that I need to go back to the League….back to where she is. But he also knows I won't listen.

"I have work to do, Alfred," I say, stopping the man from saying anything further.

Alfred lets out a sigh behind my back as I begin to type something on the computer, refusing to turn and see him. Without another word he walks away, letting the light shut off as he returns to the manor, leaving me alone in the dark once more.

When I know that Alfred is gone, and that I am truly alone, I lean back in the chair and let out another sigh. The blinking message that I had minimized still taunts me, beeping occasionally, begging for me to read it, however I won't succumb to that. I know who it's from, and I know what it's about. A silly message from her isn't going to change my mind, and the more I stay away from her, the less I'll hurt her.

There is a moment of silence and I sit and type on the computer, wondering if I made the right decision. My thoughts, however, are interrupted when my phone begins to ring. My eyes glance towards the screen that is displaying her name and I shake my head as I let out a small chuckle. She really doesn't know when to quit.

I let the phone continue to ring, deciding to let it go unanswered instead of sending her straight to voicemail. It rings a few more times before silence fills the room once more. The computer beeps once more and I know there is no way I can continue to ignore the message sitting in the corner of the screen. Without another thought I open the message Diana has sent, my lips turning into a smirk as I see the multitude of messages she has sent me within the last three weeks. They start off fairly nice, with Diana offering to be there should I need to vent about anything. She's worried about me, and although I enjoy the sentiment, she needs to forget about me. It's better that way. The last message, however, is completely different, as she has used all capital letters and about a dozen exclamation points, threatening to barge into the cave if I don't return her messages.

The lights come back on and I quickly shut my eyes, before my hand covers my face and I let out a groan. "Alfred," I say through gritted teeth, rubbing the eyes that have been pierced by the bright light, "Just tell Diana I'm busy."

"Tell her yourself."

My eyes flash open and I try to hide the shock when I hear her voice, but I know it's too late. "Diana," I say, clearing my throat, trying to rid myself of the shock of seeing her standing in the cave. When I had quit the League, I had disabled the transporter's access to the cave, not wanting either Diana or Clark to show up unexpectedly to try to talk me out of my decision. I had given Alfred clear instructions that he was not to let Diana come into the manor, and knowing how much Diana respected Alfred, she wouldn't force her way, and with as busy as the League had been, I knew a visit from the Amazon at Wayne Enterprises was most likely not going to happen. I suspect Alfred didn't listen and has something to do with the woman standing at the end of the cave. "What are you doing here?" I ask, my eyebrows furrowing as I watch the Amazon walk towards me.

Her eyes are narrowed and she crosses her arms over her chest, before she glances up to let her eyes meet mine. "How dare you," she whispers. Her nostrils flare and she bites her bottom lip.

She makes her way to me, stopping only when her face is a few inches from mine. I can see her cheeks are red; she's angry and I know I am the reason for her anger. "How dare you," she repeats, and I know, based on the narrowing of her eyes, she is getting angrier by the second.

Nothing I can say will make this moment any less tense. I, however, try anyway. "Gotham needs me more than the League," I say, reciting the explanation I had rehearsed time and time again. Diana takes a deep breath and shakes her head. She doesn't believe me, and I don't blame her. I wouldn't believe the lie I just spat out either.

"You just left," she says as she leans against my desk. Her hands clench into fists and I can tell she's trying her hardest not to lose her temper. "You told Clark you were leaving, and just left. Why couldn't you tell me?"

She continues to stare at me, her blue eyes piercing through me, and I struggle to maintain eye contact. "I didn't think it was necessary for me to tell you my decisions," I say. I watch as her head tilts and her mouth opens, shocked by my statement.

"Why are you so content with pushing me out of your life?" she asks.

I only shrug my shoulders and turn back to the computer, hoping if she sees me working she'll get the hint and leave me alone. "You don't need me," I respond, as I begin to type on the keyboard.

Diana hears my answer, but it doesn't satisfy her. She stands and grabs the back of my chair, yanking me away from the computer and turning my chair so that I am once again face to face with her. Her eyes stare into mine, and I can finally see the hurt that lies there; the hurt that I have caused. "But I do," she confesses. She closes her eyes and lets her head fall with a sigh. "Bruce, you're my best friend. You're the one I can confide in. You were there for me when Shayera betrayed us all and I just can't imagine what would possess you to think I didn't deserve some kind of goodbye." She lifts her head and lets out another sigh, wondering if this sudden confession will get her anywhere.

I stare at Diana and take a deep breath. Anger was expected, but her sudden confession was not. Didn't Diana know who I was? I was damaged. I was dark and brooding and she was none of that. She was beautiful, and pure, and what the world needed in its time of need. "You don't need me," I repeat, letting my eyes lock with hers as I try to let my words convey the hidden meaning. Diana has never needed anyone, nor will she need anyone in the future. She is an independent woman, far stronger physically and mentally, than anyone I have ever known. Her beauty is only sharpened by her will to fight for those in need, and the intelligence she possesses makes me know she will be smart enough to understand the hidden message I have given.

Diana nods slightly, understanding what I am trying to say. She stands from her spot on the desk and looks over her shoulder, debating what is the best way to leave me to my misery. I suspect that she knows where I stand, she can live her life without having to worry about me. She has Clark, as well as the rest of the League. She can find someone who is much more optimistic and lively like her.

Without a word, Diana sits on my lap and places her hands on my face. My heart stops as I stare into the eyes of the woman sitting on me, staring at me, waiting for a reason to stop. In my shock I am not able to give her one, and she slams her lips on mine.

Her lips are just as I remembered: soft, and plumb, and oh so inviting. She curls one hand into my hair, letting her fingers dig into my scalp, begging for a reaction, but I am too focused on the feeling of her lips on mine to give her one.

Just as quickly as she has kissed me, she is pulling away. Her teeth gently gnaw on her bottom lip as she stares at me nervously, wondering if what she has done will ruin any chance I will reconcile and come back to the League - back to her. She moves to get up from my lap, and I nearly let her when I can hear a nagging voice come from the back of my inner thoughts. It tells me I'm an idiot for lying to her, and an even bigger idiot if I let her leave, and for once in my life I allow myself the littlest bit of happiness.

I quickly wrap an arm around Diana's waist, keeping her in my lap, before a gloved hand comes out and cups her cheek. I pull her in for another kiss and when our lips connect I can't help but give her a small smile. I suddenly realize there is no way I would be able to stay away from Diana for very long. What she has said is true, I am her best friend, but she is mine as well. Granted, there is Clark who I love like a brother, and Alfred who has been like a father to me, but with Diana, I love her like I've never loved anyone before. She is the most caring, most compassionate person I know, and she always makes the world a bit brighter, even during the gloomiest nights in Gotham.

Diana pulls her lips from mine, content with her results, before she lays her head on my shoulder. She knows the task is only partially complete, as she'll still try to convince me to rejoin the League, before she goes on about us being more than friends. This time, however, I welcome the impending conversation. With Diana, it doesn't seem so frightening and intimidating.

We are different, but I suppose that is what makes this work so well. She calms me when I need it. I bring her back to reality when she has lost sight of it. We work, and no matter how much I try to tell myself we're too different, we're from different worlds, I know it is a futile mission. She is my other half - my better half- and there is no way she is going to let me go now. Maybe her, and this balancing act we find ourselves a part of, was what I needed all along.

Let me know what you all think!