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The popular 1940s comic, Wonder Woman, has now been brought to life! Brought to you by Vought American.

Diana Prince is known to be many things: Warrior, Supe, hero, and right-hand to Soldier Boy—more so than Gunpowder.

Named to be the warrior who's stronger than any man and woman combined. The woman who vowed to never bow down to any man.

But she's also the hero who lost everything in 1982.

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𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

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Million Years Ago by Adele

Back To The Old House by The Smiths

I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston

When We Were Young by Adele

No One Knows by Stephen Sanchez and Laufey

All I Ask by Adele

Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie

Remember You (Omnichord) by Trillian

Slipping Through My Fingers by Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried

Vanish Into You by Lady Gaga

Used To Be Young by Miley Cyrus

My Love Mine All Mine by Mitski

Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars

Past Lives by BØRNS

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) by Kate Bush

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Life was always something that was meant to be cherished and loved—for life was one of the greatest gifts a human could possess.

At least, that's what Diana Prince believed.

It never failed to amuse her, watching millions of people take life for granted. Billions of people, disregarding their privilege of sight, taste, touch, sound, and smell—and millions of them take it all for granted.

The frustrating idea of people taking life for granted never failed to make her skin grow colder. But Diana knew out of all 4.6 billion, a few million found their own ways to be unique and special. It was fascinating—maybe even heartwarming.

But, of course, life always managed to find a way of ruining that fascination.

Life's beauty dies out after everyone realizes that nothing matters and the higher-ups who "keep the population safe" are the very ones who make the worst decisions.

The ones who have the most power turn out to be the biggest monsters, while the rest of the world is forced to pay the heavy price: Pain and suffering.

But Vought promised something greater—something brighter.

In 1975, Vought promised to create a hero that everyone would turn to in a time of crisis. And in the 1980s, Vought turned that idea to become a group of Supes—a group dedicated to safety and protection.

This group would be named Payback. Led by Soldier Boy, the team would bring peace and justice to the world. The team would be made up of Soldier Boy, Crimson Countess, TNT Twins, Mindstorm, Swatto, Gunpowder, Black Noir... And Wonder Woman.

By the year 1978, Vought created a new Supe to be the symbol of justice, peace, and equality. This hero was to be the light in the darkness—a beacon of hope.

And no one would be able to symbolize those morals like Wonder Woman.

Diana Prince was born as a product of Vought, created to become Wonder Woman. What was once a popular comic in the 1940s had soon become a successful experiment of Vought.

An idea and comic left for dead was finally resurrected because of money... And a promise of a better tomorrow.

Hero and Amazonian; Vought had determination and the belief to bring forth a hero who knew no limit or would ever bow down to any man.

And thus, Wonder Woman was born and would become a special addition to Payback. She became Soldier Boy's right-hand woman—his friend.

But everything came crashing down in 1982, and all because of some mission in Pennsylvania.

It didn't take long before Vought tried to bury every detail of the mission, but one person was left with the truth—only one person knew the true depth of the mission.

But she was trapped in a cryostasis chamber, buried underneath the debris of the rotting warehouse in the outskirts of the state.

She was stuck with the truth that would never reach the public. Not that it mattered, Payback was dead and The Seven took their spot in popularity.

But that was just the beginning.

The beginning of a reckoning, for Diana's eyes would soon open once more.

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For forty years, the cold and ice-coated steel chamber had grown comfortable—not that Diana knew it had been forty years, maybe just two days at the most.

But it didn't seem to matter anymore, Diana had been stuck all those years and nothing seemed to ever change.

Even if freedom would soon break through the frozen rubble of the past.

"God, this sucks," Mel sighed, following the taller man through the abandoned warehouse, "why the hell are we here?" she questioned, taking note of how the walls were crumbling and the ceilings were rotten with mold.

Milo glanced at her over his right shoulder, "Careful." he said in response, unable to stop himself from smirking, listening as his girlfriend, Mel, groaned from behind him, "Jesus Christ, Butcher's doing his dirty work next time."

Her words made Milo chuckle as he held his hand out for her, "Come on, Butcher's gonna have our asses if we don't find her." he muttered, stepping over fallen pieces of roof and walls.

It seemed as if the entire warehouse was holding itself together by overgrown vines and electric cords—it was a miracle it was still standing.

"So?" Mel shrugged, holding Milo's hand as the duo walked into the next room, "I don't even like Butcher." she snickered, noticing the room was in slightly better condition than the rest of the warehouse.

Milo nodded, "Well, I do. Butcher's done a lot for us, it's only fair we return the favor," he explained as Mel looked over leftover files on the dust-covered shelves, "and he wanted this done, so, we're gonna get it done."

Looking around the room, Mel filtered through every file available, "There's nothing here about her." she frowned, grabbing the last file that was labeled W.W. D.P.

Looking through the papers, Mel stopped when a slip of paper fell from the file. Mel leaned down to pick up the slip, "It's a code." she mumbled, standing to show Milo.

Milo held the aged paper in-between his fingers, his eyes narrowing at the blurred numbers printed on the paper, "It's too old, I can't read it." He shook his head, pocketing the paper while Mel shook her head with a grumbled sigh.

"At least we know we're looking for a door." Mel frowned as she and Milo began to look for any doors or anything that somewhat resembled a doorway.

But the room seemed like a normal office—at least to untrained eyes.

As the pair continued to search, Mel stopped when she noticed something odd, "Milo, look at this." she called, watching as a few spiderwebs on the side of a cabinet gently blow with some type of breeze.

Watching the spiderwebs, Milo stepped back, "I think you found our door." he smiled, stepping back to allow Mel to take control.

Mel felt her biceps tense as she lifted the cabinet with ease, "I'm gonna need a damn tetanus shut after this." grumbled the woman as she set the cabinet to the side.

She had lifted heavier during drunken nights with Milo and the rest of the Boys.

As Mel set the cabinet down, Milo turned to face the smaller door that was carved into the brick and drywall, "Weird." he frowned, pulling the door open to reveal a secret set of stairs.

The two of them stared into the dark staircase before Mel nudged Milo to take the first step, "Go." she whispered, pinching Milo's ribs when he tried to step back, "I don't wanna go first." he argued as he reluctantly took the first step.

Each step caused a chill to run up their spines, but Mel ignored the sensation, holding her phone's flashlight to guide their way.

It didn't take long before the concrete steps ended and the duo stood at the bottom. Mel eyed the concrete walls, lifting her flashlight towards the ceiling, "Don't look up." she muttered, lowering her flashlight when Milo shuddered.

Holding the light towards a steel door against the concrete wall, "What the hell were they hiding?" he frowned, pressing his palm against the steel before another shiver ran down his spine.

Mel knocked her knuckles against the steel, humming when the steel seemed aged enough, "Yeah, this seems good enough. Step back, babe." she sighed, stepping back towards the stairs while Milo leaned against the wall.

But when Mel tried to throw herself against the steel, she stopped herself with a groan when Milo grabbed her arm, "No, we're not doing that again. Come on, I can give Wally a call and he can break into this thing." he suggested, holding Mel away from the door.

"And waste ten minutes? I thought you said Butcher needed this done," Mel sighed, crossing her arms over her chest, "where's that code?" she muttered, reaching into Milo's pocket to grab the aged paper.

Holding the paper against the light, Mel narrowed her eyes, "Fuck it, I'm just gonna—" she cut herself off, lifting her fist before bringing it down on the keypad with a sharp grunt.

Milo watched as the device crumbled, instantly opening the steel door without a moment's hesitation. He tried to give Mel a look, but he stopped when he and Mel saw a curtain of smoke and dust fall from the doorway and its hinges.

"Secret room," they both whispered in unison before Mel snickered, "holy shit." she smirked, her eyes narrowing when she finally noticed who was inside.

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It was inevitable, really. The darkness had grown more peaceful after the first few hours of isolation—it grew into a friend after the first two decades.

But Wonder Woman never had friends for long—that was clear enough.

The visor of the cryostasis chamber had been left dark for so long, it was a surprise when a sliver of light broke through the heavy smoke.

It wasn't long before the gentle rays began to shine against her closed eyes and nose. The soft warmth was enough to make her fingers twitch from their place in restraints. A touch of life.

But the light and warmth suddenly vanished when a shadow stepped into view. The shadow reached forward, taking hold of the chamber doors before the door was yanked from its hinges and connecting materials.

Once the door was freed of its hinges, the door was dropped with an echoed thud as clouds of dust brushed past her cheeks, falling onto her seemingly frozen skin.

It was her—It was Wonder Woman.

The light of the flashlight shined against her body, reflecting off the ice particles that had grown onto her skin and attire.

But when the warmth of the secret bunker pressed into Wonder Woman's skin, a spike of "fresh" air filled her lungs, forcing a sharp gasp to leave her lips as her eyes opened.

It wasn't long before Wonder Woman's body jerked from the restraints, all sorts of tubes and needles pulling out of her skin as her body collapsed onto the ground.

She grunted as her senses slowly sank back into their proper spaces. It felt as if her body was trapped under water—struggling to find any safety in or out of the water.

But when Wonder Woman finally forced her eyes to focus, her hearing pitched as she crawled from the cage that had kept her imprisoned for forty years.

Her hand blindly reached out, catching herself on the concrete walls, "God..." she breathed, unable to observe who stood in front of her. But it only grew worse when her body shuddered with coughs and gasping breaths.

Punching her hand against her chest, Wonder Woman's coughing fit finally stopped—only to bring the voices forward.

The silence was soon filled with people calling her name—their voices echoed and pounding against the base of her skull.

It was torture.

But Wonder Woman's sealed themselves into place the moment someone grabbed her shoulder.

Her eyes opened in time for her fist to shoot upward, striking whoever grabbed her in the groin. Even through a surprised gasp and pained cry, Wonder Woman's fist remained unmoving.

She only pulled away when the unlucky soul fell to the ground, "Motherfuck!" he shouted, holding himself as he helplessly rolled onto his side.

Poor Milo.

"Oh shit," Mel cursed, dropping beside Milo's side, "it's gonna be ok, Milo—it's not like we wanted kids or anything." she soothed, trying her hand at being optimistic.

But her words didn't give Milo much comfort, groaning as the pain ripped through his body, "Fuck! Fuck, i think I'm gonna th-throw up," he gagged as tears fell from his eyes, "Melanie, my balls—my dick." he hopelessly cried, leaning into Mel's touch when his girlfriend caressed his cheek.

Nodding, Mel grimaced with every noise Milo made, "I know, I know. We'll get you some ice and see if Quinn has that stuff she puts on Kiko's knee." she assured, listening as Milo melted into pained cries of not wanting Quinn to touch his "priceless items."

Soon enough, the duo turned when Wonder Woman pushed herself off the ground to stand in a more threatening position.

Wonder Woman stared them down, her expression stoic as her cold eyes narrowed, "Where am I?" she finally questioned, her voice hoarse after decades of forced silence.

Side effects of being under the ice for forty years.

But Mel wasn't going to let that distract her from the fact that Wonder Woman was still a Supe—still dangerous.

She held her hand out, lifting herself to stand in front of Milo, "Easy. Take it easy, Wonder Gal." she warned, keeping distance from the Supe as she subtly braced herself for a fight.

Wonder Woman remained still, "Where am I?" the Supe repeated, her hand moving to grab her swords—but her hand came in contact with her hip.

No sword or sword sheath.

The lack of familiar weight made Wonder Woman's eyes quickly avert from Mel to her waist. She took notice of how her sword and sheath were gone—her steel cuffs and lasso were no longer with her, either.

Lifting her gaze once more, Wonder Woman listened as Mel began to speak, "Easy now. We're friends—or we could be friends," she explained, trying to diffuse the situation, "we're friends of Soldier Boy." she lied, trying anything to keep Wonder Woman from punching someone else in the groin.

But Milo scoffed from his spot on the floor, "She's not stupid." he wheezed, whining when Mel kicked his ankle to be quiet.

"Friends of Soldier Boy?" Wonder Woman echoed, "he has no friends—not to mention he hates just about anyone who crosses him. So, I'll ask again. Where am I and who are you?" she frowned, taking a step forward.

Before Mel could lunge forward, Milo found himself grabbing Mel back, "Ok, ok, I know you think we're full of shit. Let's start over—My name's Milo Davis and this is Melanie Kessler. We don't know Soldier Boy on a personal level, but we're sure as hell hoping you did."

Milo's words made Wonder Woman's shoulders drop, "Did? What happened to him? Is he in danger?" the Supe questioned, her voice growing frantic as she moved towards the couple.

But that's when they noticed Wonder Woman was still dressed in her gear—the same gear she wore during her years in Payback.

It wasn't anything flashy—not in the way Soldier Boy's star-spangled armor gleaned under the studio lights or how Crimson Countess shimmered like a walking inferno.

Wonder Woman's gear was simpler, sturdier, built for purpose rather than spectacle.

A blue faux-leather battle skirt, reinforced and weatherproofed, hung from the red-and-gold chest and abdomen plate that Vought insisted would soon become "iconic."

Her thigh-high boots matched in color, grip, and grit—all built to carry her through collapsing buildings and televised charity events with the same unshakeable stride.

The gold band around her bicep never budged, no matter how many punches Wonder Woman threw. It sat as steady and unmoving as the golden tiara that remained balanced on her brow.

The so-called "Boomerang Tiara," as Vought branded it, eager to remind the public that anything could be a profitable gimmick.

But beneath the marketing gloss, Wonder Woman clung to the principles that made the suit her own. Every piece of her gear—every plate, every strap, every fold—was crafted from eco-friendly materials.

Wonder Woman made that point clear, defying Vought until she even eventually won.

She wanted her gear to reflect the world she was fighting to preserve—not the corporation trying to sell it.

There was only one Earth. And Wonder Woman refused to be part of the reason it was dying. Even if the people who once surrounded her seemed determined to ignore the damage.

But just like her attire, Wonder Woman's figure was in similar condition. Wonder Woman took pride in her figure and the way she stood out in a crowd.

It was true that Wonder Woman never pretended to have the soft, camera-ready body most female Supes were forced to have.

Vought never wanted that from their best seller.

They wanted a powerhouse—someone whose silhouette alone could stop traffic and break a man's ego in less than two minutes.

And Wonder Woman was always proud to say she lived up to the standards set for her.

Her biceps and triceps weren't vanity muscle; they were the product of years of brutal training, discipline, and stubborn determination.

"All for the benefit of being the hero children could see and be a proud American." Vought's words—not hers.

The definition carved through Wonder Woman's body—across her shoulders, down her back—until every inch of her felt forged rather than grown in a laboratory.

Wonder Woman's waist remained tight while her abdomen was chiseled, the hard-earned lines of her abs visible even beneath the chest and stomach plate Vought insisted she wear for "branding purposes."

And her legs—not the runaway-pretend "strong" that magazines loved, but real strength. Thick, stable, built for war, for sprinting into crumbling buildings, for standing unshaken in front of screaming fans.

Her thighs and calves carried the same relentless conditioning the rest of her body contained: Functional, honed, formidable.

And Wonder Woman never failed to be grateful for her body—not because Vought instructed her to be, but because she earned every inch of it.

She survived every lazy insult from smug journalists, every backhanded compliment from PR teams who wanted her "just a little leaner," every grueling hour in the gym with Soldier Boy pushing her past the point of reason.

It had taken years for Wonder Woman to look in the mirror and feel something that wasn't scrutinized. Her reflection sparked pride in her chest that made her smile bright as she represented every woman.

Because Wonder Woman knew she was to build something lasting—not just in muscle, but in legacy. If she was to leave a mark on the world, then she was to do it the only way she knew how: strong, undeniable, and herself.

But none of that seemed to matter after 1982—and it sure as hell didn't matter to the couple in front of her.

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"Where is Soldier Boy?" Wonder Woman demanded once more. Her words made Mel sigh, "He's—Soldier Boy's either dead or missing. It depends on who you trust to believe." she explained, her tone falling short of any empathy.

Dead or missing. Wonder Woman thought to herself, her heart dropping at the mere thought of her friend being dead.

The Supe remained still, no longer threatening as her expression fell, "No," Wonder Woman finally said, "he isn't—I just saw him yesterday. He was fine and left to film some movie with Countess. He couldn't have..." she trailed off, meeting Mel's gaze.

But the moment their eyes met, Wonder Woman knew she didn't need her lasso to know Mel was telling the truth.

Slowly, Wonder Woman stepped back. She wasn't sure what to feel—grief, anger, or guilt? None of it made sense. She had always been by Soldier Boy's side—not once allowing herself to leave him. Especially knowing all the trouble he managed to get himself into if she wasn't present.

But in his most crucial moment, she wasn't there. She wasn't there to save him.

Taking a deep breath, Wonder Woman met Mel's eyes once more, "What happened?" she questioned, her fingers curling into fists when no one answered, "I want to know what happened. What did he do?" she repeated, her voice strained.

Mel shared a look with Milo, silently agreeing on what they'd tell her.

Or at least, Mel thought they agreed.

"Before we get into that, we gotta fill you in on something you need to know..." Mel began before Milo blurted out, "2022!" he explained, exhaling a deep breath—as if telling Wonder Woman the year was the most dangerous part of the mission.

Mel's eyes narrowed at Milo's outburst, "Are you done?" she glared, giving him an unimpressed frown when Milo tried to smile, "Yeah." he nodded, trying to ease the tension he created.

"Like he said—it's 2022," Mel explained, crossing her arms over her chest, "not 1982. I'm sorry to say, but you've been gone for over thirty years. And it's true what we said about Soldier Boy. He's either dead or alive—we're still trying to figure it out."

But Mel knew the conversation would become difficult when Wonder Woman's expression fell once more.

Not into one of despair and ultimate heartbreak—but one of suspicion and disbelief.

"You expect me to believe it's 2022?" Wonder Woman scoffed, placing her hands on her hips, "last I checked it was 1982, so you two must be inside if you really think I'm stupid enough to—" she stopped when Milo pulled out his phone, showing the foreign device to the Supe.

Wonder Woman stared at the dark screen, her head tilting when it turned on to reveal a picture of Mel and Milo wearing carved pumpkins over their heads.

"What's that?" the Supe asked, hesitantly taking the phone from Milo when he placed the device in her hand, "Phones have come a long way." He smiled while Mel examined the inside of the chamber.

Holding the phone, Wonder Woman pressed the screen—her eyes softening when she saw the date. April 27th 2022. The Supe thought to herself, her grip on the device faltering.

Without hesitation, Milo reached forward to take his phone, "But they're really expensive." he muttered, pocketing his phone with an amused sigh.

Wonder Woman remained still before she turned to face the chamber once more. Her gaze hardened at the sight of her prison—her coffin that was tied with a personal bow of nightmares.

Finally, Wonder Woman looked over her shoulder, "And Soldier Boy? I can only imagine he met the same fate," she frowned, hanging her head when Mel took a moment to answer, "I'm not looking for the truth—I just need an answer."

Mel sighed as she finally answered Wonder Woman's question, "There was a rumor that he died 1984—something about a nuclear plant accident. But it reeked of foul play, not that anyone really cared." she explained, watching Wonder Woman turn.

"But you two think differently?" the Supe muttered, watching Milo nod towards the staircase, "A friend of ours has a file with the addresses and last known whereabouts of your former teammates." he answered, his smile falling to a frown when Wonder Woman shook her head.

"While I appreciate you two helping me, I doubt you did that just to tell me Soldier Boy might be alive. Why do you need me?" Wonder Woman frowned, her gaze following Mel when the woman snickered, "And to think Butcher just called you some pretty face."

But her comment didn't make Wonder Woman laugh while Milo nudged her shoulder, "Mel. Look, I know this seems like a ton of bullshit, but we need your help. We need your insight and experience that you have with your "friends." We need you on the team." he urged, stopping when Mel scoffed.

Mel kept her arms crossed, "I've been told it's not a team effort because some of us don't want it to be a team effort," she muttered, speaking on herself and M.M.'s behalf, "and I'll be first to say there's no team here—just a few freaks who want the same assholes dead. We just need you on our side in case shit goes sideways with finding Soldier Boy—We're also using him for a greater purpose." explained Mel, frowning when Milo pulled her towards the staircase.

"Excuse us," Milo smiled, glancing at Wonder Woman before giving Mel a scolding look, "why the fuck would you tell her that? She's Soldier Boy's best friend and you just told her that we're gonna use him. Are you trying to kill us?" he whisper-yelled, exasperated with Mel's take on the situation.

But Mel pressed her hand against Milo's lips, "Calm down," she whispered, "just follow my lead, ok? I know what I'm doing." Mel wickedly smiled, turning her attention back on Wonder Woman.

The Supe stared at the couple, not phased by their whispered words. Instead, she asked her own question, "And what about you two? Are you two committed to this little band of "freaks?" she frowned, her tone never rising—always remaining smooth and calm.

It wasn't long before Milo cleared his throat, struggling to answer the question without setting Mel off, "We're not their biggest fans, but we owe them." Milo finally said after a moment's debate.

His words made Mel uncross her arms, placing her hand on his arm, "They call themselves The Boys. It's a group of "righteous" people: Marvin Milk, Hughie Campbell, Kimiko Miyashiro, Frenchie, and their devoted leader, Billy Butcher—But we don't owe them shit. We only go into business for ourselves, not others." corrected Mel, eyeing Milo by the end of her sentence.

It wasn't long before the couple began to bicker. They tried to whisper until it turned to a near shouting match. And it didn't fail to make Wonder Woman chuckle, "I'll help you." the Supe simply assured, making her way past them and up the stairs.

But Wonder Woman found herself stopping when she reached the fourth step. Slowly, she turned to stare at the chamber once more, "I'll meet you two up there—there's something I need to do." she gently commanded, stepping back down while Mel and Milo made their ways up.

Once alone, Wonder Woman stood in front of the chamber, lifting her hand until the newly warm skin was pressed against the steel—the freezing temperature sending a chill down her spine as the room grew tight with tension.

Suddenly Wonder Woman pulled her fist back before it crashed forward, colliding into the chamber's side with a sickening crunch of steel collapsing against the concrete walls.

Wonder Woman stood tall as the chamber folded in on itself. She bit back a sigh of relief, flexing her muscles as she made her way back towards the stairs, not giving her prison another thought with every step.

Walking down the halls, Wonder Woman ignored the patches of mold and decay, stepping over piles of fallen ceiling tiles as she grew closer to the sunlight and fresh air.

Even from a distance, the world seemed the same—overgrown grass and a gentle breeze that fiddled with the leaves and fallen branches.

Nature didn't change and Wonder Woman was grateful for it.

But Wonder Woman could only assume the car parked a few feet from the laboratory belonged to Mel and Milo—not nature.

"Wait a second!" Mel shouted, jumping over different piles and cracks while Milo followed behind; but the both of them held different objects in their arms.

Wonder Woman turned, raising an eyebrow when she caught sight of a few familiar items, "Are those..." she trailed off, unable to fight her growing smile.

Mel and Milo weren't just holding a few objects—they were holding her items. The remains of her gear and weapons.

It was a defiant sight for sore eyes.

Mel smiled as she and Milo held Wonder Woman her sheath and back harness, the metal still dusted with decades of isolation and imprisonment, "We found them when you knocked that chamber on its ass." she chuckled, handing the Supe her sheath first.

Without any time lost, Wonder Woman secured the sheath to her hip. The movement was fluid and practiced—once part of a precious routine.

Next, Wonder Woman took the harness, silently thanking Milo with a smile before slipping it onto her body. She gave the harness and small adjustment, feeling the leather softly creak under her hands.

It was all too familiar—even after forty years.

Giving her shoulders a small roll, Wonder Woman looked up for the next item, her expression softening once more. The sensation of seeing her weapons after all these years made Wonder Woman's chest tighten as she held her hand out for her shield.

Mel didn't hesitate to give the Supe the battle-scarred shield—a physical embodiment of Wonder Woman's defiance against Vought when shields were to be marketed for Soldier Boy only.

Soon, the Sword of Athena was placed in Wonder Woman's hands. Wonder Woman stared at the blade, seeing her reflection in the light, "It's been too long." she whispered to herself, internally scoffing at the memory of Vought renaming the sword.

All because "God Killer" was deemed too provocative and too difficult to market to Midwest families. So it wasn't a hard choice when the name "The Sword of Athena" was suggested during a press conference—a name perfect for primetime, but still laced with an ancient promise.

Wonder Woman weighed both weapons in her hands, feeling the familiar balance return to her bones. She soon smirked, flipping the shield onto her back with a smooth twist of her arm, the magnet clasp locking into place with a satisfying click.

Once secured, Wonder Woman slid her sword into its sheath with a metallic whisper, the comforting sound of history—her history—finding its rightful place.

"Nice." Mel breathed, stepping back, allowing Milo to come forward with the last two items, "We figured you'd want these back."

In his hands were the Bracelets of Submission, Wonder Woman's most recognizable symbols of her legacy, and the final item: A simply coiled rope that made Wonder Woman's heart soar.

The Lasso of Truth faintly pulsed in Milo's grasp, strands shifting like liquid sunlight as it searched for the truth—Not that Milo ever had anything to lie about.

Wonder Woman's jaw tightened before her expression melted into a smile. She took the bracelets with a nod, sliding the steel over her wrists with a chime. They were the perfect fit, perfect weight—as if her body remembered them better than her own mind seemed to.

Fastening the bracelets onto her forearms, Wonder Woman clenched her fists as the strength carried in their material settled under her skin once more.

After a moment, Wonder tied the lasso to her hips, sighing in relief when the rope warmed against the skin of her hip and thigh. Like an old friend greeting her after being apart for too long.

Finally armed and finally restored, Wonder Woman turned to face Mel and Milo, her stance straight and tall—something heroic.

As heroic Supes get these days. Mel thought to herself as Wonder Woman motioned for the couple to lead the way, "I'll follow." she nodded, knowing she was out of her depth in this strange new world—this new generation shaped by Vought, lies, and cameras.

And it was clear Wonder Woman would need guides just as much as they needed her for their mission.

Stepping into the open space, Wonder Woman turned to stare at the laboratory that stole forty years of her life. Wonder Woman stared at the crumbling space, feeling a slight power surge in the bracelets around her wrists.

But the power faded when Mel honked the horn, leaning over the center console to reach, "You coming?" she called while Milo waved for the Supe to take her time from the driver's seat.

Wonder Woman gave the building a lasting glance before making her way towards the car, "I'll need a favor, actually. Can you two tell me what I've missed in my absence?" questioned the Supe, climbing into the backseat.

Mel snickered from her spot in the passenger seat, "We'll tell you anything you need to know." she agreed, pulling her phone from her pocket when it began to vibrate.

Of course it was Butcher calling again—he wanted Mel to call the moment Wonder Woman was found.

"But first—we gotta make a stop at our apartment." Mel said over her shoulder, ignoring the call—much to Milo's dismay.

Instead, Milo's worried expression melted when Mel leaned over the console once more, capturing his lips in a kiss.

Butcher could wait a few more hours. They both silently agreed.