so! first day of batflash week. combined both prompts and had a lot of fun writing this!! @batflashweek
here's the ao3 link if you'd rather read it on there!
The hospital wing of the Watchtower was all but silent-- Most heroes had gone home by this time, save for the unlucky on monitor duty and the few that wanted to raid the fridges of the cafeteria for a free late-night snack. Outside the window, stars glimmered in the void of space, and the lights were turned low. It was, Clark thought, really peaceful.
The only downside was that the reason that Clark was on the Watchtower still was an unpleasant one. There had been an attack, and the League had been called in to do their job. Some space aliens or other had decided that Earth was prime real estate, assumed that its defenses were minimal due to the fact that space travel was uncommon, and gotten their butts kicked. However, in the chaos, Bruce had been pretty badly injured. There'd been an explosion, and well... Rebar through the gut was not the most pleasant thing one could experience.
Thankfully, Wally had been able to get him to safety and stabilize the injury in time, with the grace of superspeed. To his credit, Bruce had a very high pain tolerance, but no matter how many anesthetics he received, he was just a normal baseline human and would need a while to heal.
That was why, at this moment, Clark was standing next to Bruce's bed in the aforementioned hospital wing, along with Wally and Doctor Mid-Nite.
"Are you sure he'll be alright?" Wally asked Doctor Mid-Nite with a worried frown.
"I'm right here, you know," muttered Bruce, though his voice was without venom. It was softer than usual, and the fact that it was directed at Wally made Clark feel off-balance.
Doctor Mid-Nite smiled. "He'll be fine, but I'd rather he stay here overnight for observation just to be safe."
"See," said Bruce, looking up at Wally. "No need to fret. I'm fine."
"Knowing you, you'll take the first chance available to get out of bed and back to work."
"I won't." Clark swore Bruce was pouting. It was... really weird.
Wally patted Bruce's hand. "That's because I'm going to make sure you won't." Bruce glared at Wally, but there was a distinct lack of malice.
"That's unnecessary. I'll be fine."
"I'd rather know for sure you're getting the rest you need." Wally stared pointedly at Bruce. "Besides, It'll give me a chance to start that book Alfie leant me." Alfie?
"You know he probably hates that nickname."
Wally shrugged, sitting down in a chair next to Bruce's bed. "If he says something I'll stop."
"He won't."
"Fine, how about I call him Al?"
"That's worse."
The two were so utterly domestic, and it left Clark feeling as if a rug had been torn out from under him. Since when had the two been so close? Since when had Wally been spending time at the manor to the point that he had regular interactions with Alfred. Why was Bruce smiling so softly at Wally, like the redhead had hung all the stars in the void of the night sky. And why in god's name were they holding hands?
Clark's mouth moved faster than his impulse control.
"Are you two dating?"
The two stared at him, and Clark wished very hard that he could fly around the world and turn back time to before he said that.
"...What."
Silence prevailed a few moments more.
"Are we dating?" Wally asked with a look more thoughtful than Clark had ever seen on his face. Bruce turned to look at Wally, though that did not lessen Clark's distinct sense that Bruce might just kill him.
Now it was Wally's turn to get Clark and Bruce's incredulous looks, but he just shrugged them off like nothing. "It's a good question. Would you like to? Date, I mean?"
Bruce was quiet for a moment, and Clark could all but hear the cogs turning in the skull of the world's greatest detective, emotional inept extraordinaire.
"Yes." And that was that. Clark felt distinctly like an intruder as he watched Wally lean down and press a kiss against Bruce's lips, a warm grin straining the speedster's cheeks. Even Bruce was smiling, albeit slightly.
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So I finally decided to launch a batflash (BarryBruce) week, mostly for myself so I would have a bit of structure and deadline in my writing but I decided to make it official so that anybody could join
Any version of Batflash is welcome: comics, arrowverse, dceu. elsewolrds, dcamu +( dcau!wally/bruce is also accepted)
this event will be pretty lowkey, you can do whatever you want: fics, fanart, crafts, video edits, metas, manips, comic graphics, playlist, comic rec lists
you are under no obligation to do all the dates nor do you have to post on the exact date
Tales from the Future - Batflash Week Day 1: Wards & Didn’t Know They Were Dating
After a tough mission in the future with the Titans, Damian and Wally discovered something very shocking. They couldn't keep this information to themselves, though, and decided to tell their families - save the very people the information is about.
Will the group of Robins and Speedsters stay focused enough to come up with a plan or realize that the future isn't as bad as they're fearing?
Damian watches Jason casually stroll in through the window, one leg swinging in after the other with practiced aloofness. “Tch,” he scoffs, “nice of you to show up.”
“Buzz off, Bat Brat,” Jason says, squeezing in between Dick and Tim on the couch. “I was busy .”
“Who was busy?” Dick asks.
“Me, I just said -”
“No, who was busy,” he clarifies, leering at Jason. Groans erupt from across the room, Damian hiding his face in his hand. Duke huffs from the armchair, mirroring him.
A smack echoes, Dick cursing. Tim glares from the other side of the couch, frowning. “None of us want to hear about Jason’s sex life.”
“I don’t know,” Dick says, rubbing his head, “I could use a good laugh or two.”
Sighing, Wally steps behind Damian. He turns to face his friend. Wally looks unimpressed, a similar expression to the other speedster guests who joined them this afternoon. The older Wally sits on the other armchair across from Duke, closer to Dick. Bart vibrates around the room, not really staying in one place for too long. “Is this how every meeting starts?”
“No,” Damian admits, “sometimes we do more than slap the other.”
Wally’s eyebrow climbs further up his forehead.
“Okay, everyone, settle down,” Damian calls. His brothers quiet immediately, giving him their attention. “We didn’t assemble to tease Jason.”
“But it’s such a fun team building activity.”
“Fuck you, Bubble Butt.”
“How dare you -”
Another clap silences them again. “Do I have to separate you two?” Damian asks, glancing between the older Robins. They dart their gazes towards one another for a brief second before relenting, a white flag waving from their stations. “Good,” he continues, running his hands across his chest. Smooths invisible wrinkles on his charcoal black button-down. “Now we’ve gathered you all for a reason.”
“A very important reason,” Wally preempts Bart, the latter’s jaw hanging. Offhand comment still cocked in his chamber, pulled from the trigger. “That has to deal with Barry and Bruce.”
Their family sobers immediately at the mention of their respective elders. “Really?” Dick asks, “What is it?”
Damian and Wally glance between themselves, silently discussing who would start. Taking too long, Jason breaks their debate. “Someone just freakin ’ start already!”
Taking point, Damian clears his throat. “We’d finished a mission with Jon, saying our goodbyes to him and his team in the future…”
A mission to the future seemed too early for Damian’s ragtag team of Titans. He could barely get them to stop fighting each other to handle villains of this century, there was no telling how they’d fare against criminals with advanced and alien tech. Yet Jon came for him at an inopportune time. Bubble bursting in during a team meeting, popping out with his friend , Saturn Girl.
“Damian,” he panted, ash smudged across his face, “I need you.”
That was all the convincing needed. Except the moment he set a foot into the time bubble a gust of wind sped past and snatched his wrist.
Wally wouldn’t let Damian leave them, the others gathering round demanding to be brought along. Damian scowled, trying to figure out a quick enough argument to shut the idea down without offending them. Because he promised them he’d be kinder . Kindness cost him dearly, since Saturn Girl gave them a free pass by saying, “Of course you can come along.”
Carried into the time bubble by the incoming stampede, they squished together to travel to the 31st century. He squirmed between Crush and Roundhouse, annoying Wally given the timed puffs of air he breathed through his nose.
“You were tickling my chin,” Wally scoffs, “And it was taking too slow.”
“We were advancing 1000 years in a blink of an eye!” Damian cries, “There’s nothing slow about it -”
“Guys, focus!” Wally says, “What does this have to do with Barry and Bruce?”
“Well, when we got there it turns out this villain had taken control of their head quarters,” Wally says, ignoring his cousin.
A green, floating eyeball paraded around the Legion of Superheroes’ Clubhouse. Members with glowing, verdant gazes stalked the halls like zombies. Unfortunately they proved much more resourceful and smarter than their appearance.
An accidental sneeze from Roundhouse alerted their presence, and heroes descended upon them. Damian found himself holding off a wolf-man with his staff caught in his sharp jaws. When he flipped the beast off him, Damian saw the rest of his team separated and battling in their own small groups. And the eye, watching them. Waiting.
“Its owner entered with fanfare,” Damian tells them, “using this boy who shoots lightning for special effects.”
Tim yawns, “Why does this matter?”
“It does! Now, she entered…”
The Emerald Empress immediately captured Roundhouse with her Eye, trapping him in her spell like all the others. Saturn Girl shouted for them to retreat, falling back towards a secret tunnel. Except on their way Djinn snagged her ankle on a waiting hand, phased through the floor.
“Go!” she says, “I’ll be fine!”
Damian froze, only Wally’s fast reflexes pulling him out from falling debris dropped by a gravity manipulator. They left Djinn and Crush - the latter shoving past Emiko to help the other girl. Behind the shut door of the secret entrance Damian saw emerald light flash and his heart sank.
“This is why you should have stayed in the past,” Damian growled once they snuck far enough away, “Not even five minutes and we’ve already lost half the team!”
“We’ll save them, Damian,” Wally said, a steady calm to the raging storm brewing inside the smaller boy, “We always will.”
“Don’t see how,” Emiko added, the first few words since travelling to the future. “Her Eye looks kitted to the max. Coupled with the heroes she already has under her thrall and the ones we gave her… I don’t think we have much of a chance.”
Damian huffed, “Especially once she combines her Eye with Djinn’s magic -”
“Djinn?” Bart asks, “Who’s Djinn? You keep mentioning her.”
Flushing, Damian glances at the grandfather clock ticking ceaselessly in the lounge. “She’s a team member of ours… very powerful magic, one of our strongest assets, and -”
“Damian’s got a total crush on her.”
He whips his head to glare at Wally, the other boy standing nonplussed. Instead of a smirk, a harsh line cuts across his face. As if his words were more of a tiresome fact than rope to hang him with.
His brothers gladly string him up. Dick coos, “Aw, you’ve got a crush Damian?”
“Thank God,” Jason says, “Maybe you’ll finally get that stick out of your ass.”
“Does this mean we have to chaperone you?” Tim asks, “Because I don’t want to double date…”
Duke leans forward in his seat. “Are we going to ever meet her?”
Damian waves their comments away. “This isn’t about me. And for the record I don’t have a crush.”
Jason scoffs, “Sounds like what someone with a crush would say.”
“I don’t!”
“Jason knows what’s he’s talking ‘bout,” Dick nods, clapping Jason’s shoulder, “Guy’s king of unrequited crushes.”
He brushes Dick’s hand off him. “Fuck you, at least half of them were requited.”
“Sure, and I made it to fifth base with Harley Quinn…”
Bart zips over to Tim, whispering. “What’s fifth base?”
Tim shakes his head. “You don’t want to know.”
Wally pinches his brow, reclining into his armchair. “Can we please get back to the story?”
“I would be glad to,” Damian says, “if people would let me.” Given the floor once more, Damian carries on where he left off.
They regrouped. Jon led them in a motivational speech, every word and gesture oozing small town sensibility. His father would be proud. After he rallied the troops, Saturn Girl presented schematics of the Legion headquarters. Damian and Emiko poured over the holograms, planning their assault. Satisfied with a course of action, the group returned.
Although their plans strayed early on from the course they laid. A few heroes that Saturn Girl thought were off-planet appeared and forced them to separate. Damian and Jon fled down one hallway, followed by a barrage of shrapnel. Cosmic Boy, as Jon told him, barreled their way with a Lantern and an orange lizard-creature at his side.
Jon handled the flankers, Damian keeping Cosmic Boy occupied. With power over metal most of his arsenal was useless, and he dropped it so he wouldn’t be controlled. Instead Damian relied on his training, utilizing the environment to his advantage. Waiting for Leading Cosmic Boy into a narrow hallway, snaking around the metal he pulled. Pushing his reflexes to the limit, Damian dodged each swipe until Cosmic Boy trapped himself in a cage of wires and panels.
Unable to move, Damian rabbit punched him.
Jon dumped his attackers to the floor when Damian returned, and together they advanced to the main room. Regrouping with the others, they stormed where Emerald Empress hid.
More heroes awaited them, guarding their queen while she mixed the emerald energy from her eye with Djinn’s unique purple magic. This timeline’s Doctor Fate underneath like a scale, helping to balance the power.
Knocking away a ball boy into identical triplets, Damian noticed the colors mixing together hideously. Terribly foreboding, a chill shot through his spine. “We need to stop this!” he yelled, tumbling underneath lightning.
Wally wrapped up a talking raccoon and hurled him towards a green-skinned boy. Being the only one who heard Damian, he tracked his gaze to the makeshift throne. “Okay,” he said, “let’s stop this.”
“So?” Bart asks, “How’d you stop it?”
Damian pouts, crossing his arms. “He threw me.”
“What?”
“He threw men,” he repeats, “at the Emerald Empress.”
Wally nods, smiling. “While I dealt with Doctor Fate.”
With those two erased from the equation, it was only Djinn and the Emerald Eye. Their auras swirled in battle for dominance. When it looked like the green would overtake Djinn’s purple, her eyes flashed brilliantly violet and swept over the encroaching light like a tidal wave. Purple energy coursed through the Emerald Eye until it short-circuited and turned grey. It fell to the floor, powerless.
Spell broken, the others woke from their trances. Some moaned with pain while others blinked in confusion. Their friends, Crush and Roundhouse, staggered away from Saturn Girl and Jon while returning to their senses.
“You beat the villain, big whoop,” Jason says, “still don’t see what this has to do with Bats and Flash.”
Wally rolls his eyes. “After the fight, when we were saying our goodbyes to the team…”
Roundhouse bounced between Jon, Saturn Girl, Wally and him, drawing the Legionnaires attention towards him. Asked questions with blazing speed that surpassed their speedster. Jon led him away from the group, Saturn Girl at his side while explaining a few of the concepts to sate his curiosity.
Leaving Wally and Damian open for an ambush.
“Excuse me?” someone cleared their throat behind them, “I… I can’t believe you’re actually here…”
Startled, Damian brandished a bat-a-rang immediately and spun on his heel to attack. Before he could launch his weapon, though, Wally gripped his wrist in an iron vice. “Damian, no ,” he scolded, nodding towards the frightened teenager in front of them, “ friend .”
He glared at the speedster, unrelenting in his combat stance. Wally didn’t back down either.
The newcomer looked between them, nerves dying as each second ticked on by. “Uh… is he gonna put that down?”
“Yes.” “ No .”
Wally sighed, lowering Damian’s hand. “Sorry, we’re a little on edge…”
“Yeah, yeah,” the teen said, “Emerald Empress took a lot out of all of us… your team did a great job.”
Nodding, Damian used his silence to study the newcomer. Recognizes him from their previous battle as the one with lightning powers. If he hadn’t witnessed his powers in action the costume would telegraph immediately what he can do. Lightning bolts mean two things - and he didn’t rush away like any other speedster would when presented with danger. So that meant the only other option was electricity manipulation. “Who are you?”
“Oh, right, uh -” the teen chuckles awkwardly, scratching his head, “the name’s Garth - or, uh Lightning Lad.”
“Cool. I’m Wally, Kid Flash. And my trigger happy friend is Damian -”
“ Robin .”
“...I was getting to that.”
Garth beamed, “I know, I know! I… kinda know a lot about you, actually…”
A chill raced down Damian’s spine at the giddiness crackling across Garth’s face. Being trapped with a fanboy is not what he needed. Wally tensed as well, darting his gaze over in silent communication. However a different emotion flickered behind his eyes, telling Damian to suck up whatever outburst bubbled up inside him. He snapped his jaw shut. Agreeing to play nice only because he felt too tired to cause a scene.
“Hey,” Wally started, “it’s always great to meet a fan -”
“A huge fan,” Garth cut him off, “Like, you’re such an inspiration. I remember growing up, whenever a dust storm tore through our settlement and we’d be locked inside for days , my brother, sister and I would read up on all your classic adventures.” He turns to Damian, “Both of yours.”
“I’m surprised you had time to even read about his ,” Damian smirked, “ my adventures - that have passed and are yet to come - should have been enough entertainment.”
“...Actually you’re featured in a lot of Flash’s stories.”
Damian bristled again, not caring for how Wally’s chest puffed up. Only to deflate slightly, with a sigh. “Looks like I’ll never get rid of you,” he mumbled.
Scoffing, he rolls his eyes. “You’re lucky I still hang around you after all these years…”
Garth chuckled. “Oh, man… the banter is just like they said it’d be.” He bounced where he stood, sparks jumping off his shoulders. “I really can’t believe… you two. Some of the best teen heroes. You are part of the reason I am who I am today. I’ve met Superman and Jon already… all I’ll need for my life to be complete is to meet the originals and I’ll be set!”
“Originals?” Damian asked, “What are you talking about?”
“You know, your mentors. Batman and Flash ,” Garth continued, eyes glowing blue, “Those guys, I mean… Growing up where I’m from there were some pretty strict rules on how to live your life. If you didn’t fit the mold you’d be ignored and cast aside. My brother Mekt… being born without a twin… Anyway, Batman and Flash were in your face with who they were. When they came out they didn’t bat an eye -”
“What?”
Damian and Wally leaned forward with vested interest. “What?” Wally said again, “What do you mean, ‘came out’?”
“When they publicly announced they were dating?” Garth answered, “Well… it’s not like they had a choice, what with that picture in the Gotham Gazette but - hey, they didn’t deny it! That’s…” He stilled, finally noticing the expressions of the others. “You didn’t know? But aren’t you from… wait, what year are you from?”
“2019.”
Garth paled, stepping away from them. “Oh… oh frack . I - I shouldn’t have said that, should I?”
It didn’t matter. The future dropped upon them like a bombshell. Damian’s vision whited briefly until he blinked into awareness once more. Wally’s grip on his wrist tightened, reminding him that throughout the conversation he latched on like a vice. Wrenching free, the bat-a-rang fell with a clatter.
“Please,” Garth whispered urgently, “forget I said anything. Brainy’s all about not interfering with the timeline. If he finds out I outed them he’ll kill me… and that’d really hurt my chances with the guy.” He looked between them. “You don’t have any questions, do you?”
There were a million. Except Jon returned, telling them how it was time the Titans returned to the present. Herded into the time bubble, Wally and Damian didn’t say another word about what they learned. Waiting for the perfect moment to discuss it.
With others who deserved to know.
They watch their family process the information, breath held, waiting for a response.
Bart reacts first. He snorts, drawing all focus to him. A single laugh blossoms into a full-body heave until he tips over the couch, sprawling across Damian’s brothers’ laps. “That’s really funny guys,” he wheezes, “Seriously… amazing.”
Damian scowls. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because it’s not true?”
“We were in the future, Bart,” Wally says, “How can it not be true?”
“Maybe it has to do with the fact that I’m from the future?” he says, “Because I’m Barry and Iris’s grandson . If they somehow didn’t end up together d’you think I’d still be here?”
“Then again,” Tim interrupts, “you are from a timeline that doesn’t exist anymore.”
Bart’s good mood shatters into a million pieces. Pouting, he glares at his friend. “Thanks for reminding me.”
Jason shifts under his heavy weight, rolling Bart off. “So,” he says after the heavy thud , “What are we gonna do?”
“Who says we have to do anything?” Duke says, “It sounds like them getting together is a good thing - hey !” He whacks the pillow thrown at him from its target, his face. Jason, the guilty culprit, looks remorseless. “What was that?”
“You were speaking crazy,” Jason tells him, “How can Bruce dating Barry be any good .”
Dick smirks, folding his arms across his chest. “Wow, Jason. Didn’t know you were a homophobe .”
“Fuck you, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it?”
Jason sinks into the couch, mirroring his brother. “If Bruce really is gay, bi or… queer than… it’ll be another thing we have in common,” he whines, “The more that happens the sadder I get.”
“Wow,” Dick says, voice thick with emotion. He reaches across to squeeze Jason’s shoulder. “I can’t believe… you actually followed through whenever I told you to suck a dick. I’m proud of you.”
Slapping Dick off him, Jason bares his teeth in a growl. “Keep talking and I’ll show you how I beat Dick .”
“I’d like to see you try.”
Wally zooms from his seat and breaks the two apart, hands firm against their chests. “Knock it off you two, we’re getting distracted from the bigger picture… how to make sure this doesn’t happen.”
“You mean you don’t want to be brothers, Wall?”
He rolls his eyes at Dick’s artificially sweet expression. “Batman’s creepy enough without imagining him all domestic with Barry.”
“Or all sex-like ,” Jason adds, making every wrinkle in the room crease with agony.
Damian shakes the image from his mind, switching back onto the topic at hand. “Now we’ll have to be very careful so they won’t find out we’re on to them -”
“Which’ll be hard,” Tim adds, “they’re two of the best detectives in the world.”
“But they’re only two people,” Wally says, stepping closer to Damian, “we’re a team . Trade shifts - always knowing where they are. Making sure they’re not alone together.”
Wally raises a brow at his cousin. “I bet you want to tell Superman or Wonder Woman, too… have an inside operative during Justice League meetings.”
“...That could work.”
Duke stands with a shout, interrupting the planning. “This is crazy! If Bruce and Barry want to be together than why should we get in the way? It seems like the future’s pretty good when they’re a couple. Are we really gonna get in the way of that?”
His outburst brings an unexpected bout of clarity to Damian’s plans, parting the cloudy skies for sunshine to burst through. Reminded of Garth’s casual openness about himself and his reverence to Damian’s father, he winces.
Like dominoes everyone else sobers into quiet reflection. The energy fueling the crazy planning in the room deflates, letting everyone return to their senses. Damian feels the tightness of his bones over hearing the shocking news finally settle, as if coming to terms with the future.
Dick clears his throat, the first to break the silence. “But if they do get together,” he starts, waiting until he’s found every eye in the room before continuing, “... then Jason won’t be special anymore.”
Bruce adjusts himself on the Batcave’s examination table, eyes fluttering shut as Barry runs careful fingers across his temple. When they stumble over the cut he hisses, a hand darting over to squeeze his.
“Sorry ‘bout that, babe,” Barry says, “that’s one well hidden wound.”
“It’s okay,” he says, “It’s my fault for letting Kite Man get the drop on me.” The mediocre villain swooped in and sliced open his cowl with the tail of his giant kite, catching the Dark Knight in a moment of weakness. If Barry hadn’t been at his side, he would have walked away with much worse.
“I’m surprised he got a few good swings in,” Barry says, dabbing at the cut with some peroxide, “You feeling okay?”
“I’ve… got a lot on my mind.”
Barry pauses, pulling away. Bruce cracks one eye open, frowning at the seriousness weighing on his lover’s shoulders.
“Nothing bad,” he continues, snaking his arms across Barry’s waist to bring him closer. Spreads his legs open so he can fit between them. He nuzzles at his chest, enjoying the frantic heartbeat that is normal for Barry Allen. “I… I’ve been thinking about us and… the future .”
“...Wanna elaborate on that so my mind won’t fill in the blanks?”
Bruce takes a steadying breath, the words rushing from his mouth afterwards. “I want to tell the boys about us.”
An eternity passes in a second, Bruce clinging tight to Barry’s body. Afraid the other man will vibrate free and out of his life. That never happens. Instead the opposite, Barry settles further into the moment. Tips Bruce’s head so he can see the beaming smile on his face.
“What brought this on?”
“I… I just think that we've been really good,” Bruce explains, hating how his nerves easily expose themselves in the tremble of his voice. “And I understood why you wanted to take this slow, in case things don’t work out. It wouldn’t be the first for either of us, to have a relationship fall apart. But everyday you stay by my side and I… I feel different. Better. Happier . And I think the same is true for you. We’re making each other better people. I love you and I love the person you inspire me to be… And I want my family to know.”
Barry offers a wet chuckle, hiding in Bruce’s hair. He kisses the cut he grazed earlier, a few tears trickling into it. Composing himself, Barry straightens in Bruce’s embrace. “I love you, too,” he says, “And if you want to tell your boys then… I want to tell the Flash family, too.”
“Really?”
“We should do it together, actually,” he continues, skin vibrating in excitement, “have some sort of family dinner!”
“They’ll immediately sense something’s up if we do that,” Bruce laughs, “You sure we can’t just call a meeting down here and… rip the band-aid off? In costume?”
Barry rolls his eyes. “Come on, it won’t be so bad. I mean what’s the worst that can happen?”
Bruce readies a response, only the clacking of Alfred’s heels interrupts him. His butler speeds over with anxious haste. “Master Bruce? Barry?”
“Yes Alfred?”
“It’s the boys.”
A headache tickles his head, adding to the pain already camping there. “Which boys.”
“All the boys,” he says, turning to Barry, “even your boys.”
“What?” Barry asks, “What are they doing here?”
“I don’t know, but a fight’s broken out!”
Barry tenses against Bruce. “A fight?”
Bruce, disappointed, sighs while sliding off the table. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure. One moment I was in the kitchen readying dinner and the next I knew there were crashing sounds coming from the parlor. When I got there Duke had a speedster in a headlock, Dick and Wally were fighting, and Jason hung Damian off the chandelier… again .”
Frowning, Bruce fixes his cowl. He looks to Barry, “Looks like family dinner will have to wait.”
Barry shrugs, mirroring him. “I can hope. Besides… that wouldn’t have been very us , would it?” He slips his hand into Bruce’s waiting one, squeezing.
“No it wouldn’t,” Bruce agrees. “Now come on, we have a fight to break up.”
Hey guys I wrote another thing for my favorite rare pair! I hope everyone enjoys this!
The casket was too small. In his many years doing this he never saw a small casket before. It shook him to his core. Faces flitted in and out of his vision as he stared at the small casket. Jason was only 15. Bruce nodded as people offered him condolences, patting him on the shoulder as they left the funeral, hurrying away from the incoming rain. He was supposed to be putting dirt on the casket but… he couldn’t. The dirt was clenched in his hand, but his fist was shaking. Clark was the last one to linger as the rain began to fall. A few drops at first, but it didn’t matter. Alfred was ever his dutiful self and had brought an umbrella, opening it up at the first sounds of rain. Clark squeezed Bruce’s shoulder, making the man glare. How dare he treat him like a child? Clark opened his mouth to say something but stopped when Alfred shook his head at him. Clark sighed and wrapped an arm around Lois, listening for once and heading to his car. Dick and Barbara were behind Alfred, but frankly Bruce wished they would leave too.
“Alfred?” He rasped out, making the man startle.
“Yes, Master Bruce?”
“May I have some time alone?”
Alfred frowned but nodded anyways, “only if you take this umbrella.” Bruce gave a weak smile and nodded, taking the umbrella from him as the rain poured down even harder. Jason loved the rain. It was… had been an excuse to stay inside with Alfred all day to cook and read. The quiet splashing of his family retreating disappeared quickly in the sounds of the rain as the dirt fell from his hand. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t. Bruce couldn’t bring himself to apologize to this broken coffin, it was wrong. He should be hugging Jason, holding him and telling him he was sorry. He should have gotten Jason the help he needed, taught him coping mechanisms, just… something.
“Bats?”
The familiarity of the nickname and the sudden voice made him jump, though of course he didn’t show it. Bruce turned around to face the speaker, finding Wally West standing there, soaked to the bone. His red curly hair was plastered to his forehead and was dripping water into his eyes even as he shook it out. “Wally? I didn’t know you were here…”
Wally smiled sadly and shrugged, “I’ve been taking more of a wallflower persona lately. It was something Jason taught me.”
“Why are you still here?”
Wally frowned and reached into his inner jacket pocket, pulling out something in a ziplock bag. “I’m glad I had the idea to put this in plastic before I left today. I wanted to give you this. I… uh well… I made it when I heard the news. I loved Jason; he was like a little brother to me. You probably never noticed but we hung out a lot.” He handed the small book to Bruce and rubbed the back of his neck. “I had a bunch of pictures from those times and thought you would want them. So, and I know this is silly okay? But I made you a small photo album with them. I hope it helps.” Bruce looked at the book with wide eyes then back up at Wally. Wally’s eyes were red, and his pale skin was flushed from the tears he had been trying to hide.
“I knew you two were close. I was so happy Jason had someone other than me or Alfred to talk to.” Bruce squeezed the album close and did the unthinkable. He dropped the umbrella and pulled Wally into a hug. “Thank you, Wally. For this and for being his friend.”
Wally chuckled thickly, the tears finally catching up to him. “Don’t thank me Bats, I’m just glad I get to share the memories with you. I’m sorry by the way. We were supposed to hang out the night it happened, I just thought something came up. You know how it is.”
Bruce let go of Wally and pushed him back, holding him so they were an arms length apart. “Don’t apologize, just think of the good, for me please.”
Wally sniffled, “okay I will.” He smiled and laughed, “hey. It’s not traditional funeral food, but do you think Alfred could help us whip up some chili dogs? Or is it bad that after all this talk of Jason is making me crave them?”
Bruce laughed with the redhead and shook his head, “I think chili dogs for today sound amazing”
$$
Wally’s hand shook as he adjusted his grip on his uncle’s (empty) casket. He was at the front, Hal Jordon was next to him, tears streaming his face. Wally kept his eyes trained on the doors ahead of him, he couldn’t stand to look at the people whose eyes were full of pity and shook their heads at him. Someone cleared their throat as he passed, making him turn. Alfred was there. He was sitting next to Dick and the ‘new’ Robin. Wally didn’t learn his name yet. Alfred smiled at him and he found himself offering a small smile in return. Alfred was the grandfather he never had. Wally turned his attention back to the front, his knees shaking with relief when he saw he was a few steps away from finishing this spectacle. He couldn’t handle the stares anymore. Poor little Wally West wasn’t wanted by his own parents, and then his uncle took him in and now he’s gone! What a sad life! They could suck it. He slid the casket into the hearse and stepped back, reaching out for his Aunt Iris’s hand which she grabbed gratefully. She gave it a squeeze as people began filtering out of the church. Barry had never been a religious man, but he did believe in God. Wally thought that was dumb. With everything they saw, and knowing the Greek gods were real, how could you still believe in religion?
“Wally? Are you ready?”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Wally turned to his aunt who smiled softly, “it’s time for the luncheon, no Allen-West funeral would be complete without food.”
“Oh right.” He wasn’t hungry. Even though he ran around the world three times today and hadn’t ate since yesterday. He guided Iris towards the little side door where the dining hall of the church was, then stood by the door and nodded at people as they walked in.
“I’m so sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“I made you food.”
After then tenth ‘I’m sorry’ Wally became deaf. He just nodded to get through the line. He felt like he was going to explode. Iris looked at him sympathetically. She knew what was on his mind, they had been planning it ever since he became and adult. The public didn’t know the truth of what happened a week ago. They thought Kid Flash died, not the Flash. Wally wasn’t ready to take on the mantel but… he had to. Iris reached out between the crowd and grabbed his arm. He looked down at her in surprise as she squeezed his wrist and mouthed exactly what he needed. ‘Go. Run away, just come back to me when you’re done.’ His body sagged in relief when she let go and all it took was him to lower his head and walk away. No one stopped him as he went between the buildings and no one flinched when a black blue suddenly went by them. Within a second he was hopping in his aunt’s backyard, trying to stomp out the fire from his shoes.
“Shit!” He threw the shoes off quickly and placed them on the concrete where they smoldered. He walked in through the he back door into the kitchen and froze when he saw Alfred Pennyworth standing there. Alfred’s eyes grew wide as they stared at each other. “Uh… how did you get in here?”
“I have my ways. Why are you home so early?”
“Iris sent me home. What are you doing?”
Alfred looked down at the pots and pans and narrowed his eyes at him, “making you comfort food. Iris asked me for help because you haven’t been home in a few days. When was the last time you ate?”
Wally sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, “Uh…”
“That’s what I thought! Go get changed!”
“Okay! Geez!” Wally went to go upstairs but stopped when he saw Bruce Wayne standing in the hallway, looking at the pictures on the wall. “You’re here too huh, Bats?”
“Wally! You’re back early.” Bruce looked at him sheepishly and rubbed his shoulder, looking comical for a second as he struggled to find what he wanted to say. “I wanted to…”
“If you apologize or say something stupid, I’m leaving! Without eating! I’m so sick of people treating me like I’m broken! He’s gone! Just like Jason! There’s nothing we can do! HES GONE AND I… I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!” Wally screamed as tears fell down his face. “God dammit! Dammit!” He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes to stop the flow of tears, but it made it worse. “Fuck the universe Bruce! Fuck you and fuck everyone!” Wally fell to his knees as his legs gave out, “I’m not ready!”
Bruce frowned and got down on his knees as well, surprising himself as he wrapped his arms around Wally and let him sob into his shoulder. Wally grabbed onto him like a lifeline. “I know.”
“This is wrong!”
“I know Wally. You have every right to be mad. You have every right to cry. What do you need right now? I could leave if you want to be alone.”
Wally cling tighter, “n-no… just let me cry and maybe beat you up later okay? I’m still mad but if you leave right now, you’re gonna see a really ugly crying face and I’m not ready for that.”
Bruce chuckled despite himself, “okay. You can cry now, and later come to the bat cave and you can take some of your anger out on me in the sparring ring okay?”
“Okay.”
Wally buried his face in Bruce’s jacket, the wetness already sleeping through to his skin. “What is Alfred making?”
“I don’t know, would you like anything specific?”
Wally pulled away and wiped his nose, a small smile on his face. “Would it be bad to say chili dogs sound amazing right now?”
Bruce chuckled sadly and shook his head, “not at all.” He stood up and offered Wally his hand, who took it and clasped it gratefully as they headed into the kitchen.
$$
Beep……….. Beep………… Beep…………
Wally hated hospitals. The harsh lights gave him a headache and showed everyone’s ages in stark reality. Bruce’s gray hair was bright and glittering around his temples and the light showed he was now more salt than pepper at this point. It was time for another dye job. The oxygen mask hid some of his smile lines, but the wrinkles around the eyes and on the forehead looked deeper than they were in this light.
They had been married for ten glorious years. Bruce was pushing fifty, Wally was pushing forty. Nine years didn’t seem as big of a gap now as it did back then. He spun the ring on his finger as he stared at his husband lying on the bed. He had been out for five weeks. Wally visited every day. At first the whole family visited every day, but Mari and John were scared that Grandpa wasn’t waking up, Jason had a new baby, Tim and Barbara were having a baby, and Damian… well he was dealing with his grief. Some people had died, but no one who deserved to live in either of their opinions. Wally shifted on the hard chair, his hand reaching out and grasping Bruce’s cold one. There was a knock on the door before it creaked open. Wally glances up quickly before turning his attention back to Bruce with narrowed eyes.
“You have a lot of nerve coming here now. It’s been five fucking weeks.”
Clark cleared his throat nervously, “Wally I’m sorry, but- “
“No! You don’t get to be the good guy here!” Wally stood up so fast his chair was knocked over with a clatter. “He took a fucking bullet for you and what happened!? He gets attacked by Doomsday while you’re off doing who knows what!”
“I was saving civilians!”
Wally glared at him, “that’s not your job during those missions, and you know that. We’re the civilian team, you and Wonder Woman are the horrific monster beating team! Bruce knew what had to be done!”
“That’s not fair! I have a family Wally! I’m allowed to feel scared!”
Wally turned his glare to Clark. “When you’re wearing that symbol, you don’t have the right to be scared. And don’t you dare use the family argument! We have five kids and three grandkids! Plus, one on the way!” Wally set his chair upright again and sat down, grabbing Bruce’s hand. “Clark… you’re still my friend but I’m starting to see why Bruce always kept a close eye on you. You’re old now, you can’t do everything anymore. It’s time you stop acting like you can be in multiple places at once. If you had… maybe I wouldn’t be in this room right now, wondering if I’m going to have to pull the plug on my husband…”
Clark sighed, “I’m sorry Wally. You’re right I wasn’t thinking. We’re all getting so old now… it’s hard to realize that I can’t do some of the things I used to.”
“Clark. I don’t want to hear it. I’m so mad at you right now and I won’t be okay until Bruce wakes up.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Wally fell silent before sighing and rubbing his eyes, “this will be the last you see of me in person. I won’t be able to handle being around you knowing you inadvertently killed him. I’m sorry Clark, but we have a family together and they will need me more than the League does.”
“So, you’re quitting?”
Wally sighed and nodded, “my ear-piece hasn’t been in in weeks. Just take me off the roster. I’ll come back if he does.” He lifted Bruce’s hand and gave it a kiss as he turned his back on Clark.
“Alright then. I’ll tell the League.” Clark set something down and reached for the door again. “For the record I am so sorry. I didn’t realize…”
“He’s almost fifty Clark. He’s only human.”
“Goodbye Wally.”
“Goodbye Clark.”
The door swung shut behind Clark and Wally felt tears drop from his eyes. They landed on the covers lightly, causing several wet circles to dot Bruce’s bed. Bruce didn’t move. Wally sighed and wiped his tears before standing up, it was time for him to go home. He walked to the head of the bed and pressed a kiss to Bruce’s forehead. “I love you Bruce. Hope you have an amazing night.” Wally squeezed Bruce’s hand one last time before heading back home to the manor where he could fight the urge to eat a giant plate of chili dogs.
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Just wanted to write something for my favorite rare pair!
Wally tightened his grip on the man’s ankles, “better give him what he wants.”
The thug scoffed, “please! You’re a pushover Flash! You’re not goin’ to do nothin’!”
Flash looked over to the dark figure behind him, “should I do it?” There was a small rustle of fabric and Flash nodded. “Alright then.” Flash immediately relaxed his hands and wrists and with a scream and wide eyes the thug that was previously dangling over the edge of the tallest building in Gotham was now free-falling in the air.
“Give him five seconds.” Batman said next to Flash as they watched the large man plummet to the sidewalk.
“Okay.” They watched the man get closer and closer to the ground before Wally suddenly stepped over the edge of the roof and chased after the man. He ran along the brick between the windows and caught up to the man who screamed in terror when he saw the red blur. “Should have just complied buddy!”
“FLASH PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET ME OUT OF HERE!”
Flash sighed but reached out and grabbed the man’s outstretched hand and pulled him in close. “Hold tight!” Flash transferred the man to his back and abruptly turned face and ran back up the building towards Batman. He made it back in record time and practically threw the thug back at Batman. The man stumbled and fell to his knees, shaking. “Back up Batman he might-“
Wally was cut off as a loud retching noise rang through the night as the man emptied his stomach. “He might puke.”
Bruce grimaced as he stepped away from the puke. “Tony, tell me about what Sionis is doing with those weapons in Central. Or Flash here takes you for a ride again.”
Tony tagged as he shook with fear. “Please no! I’ll tell you everything I know!”
Batman smirked, “that’s what I thought.”
Tony preceded to tell them everything he knew and after he was done flash nodded and raced off to Central to deal with Roman Sionis. Batman quickly put Tony in cuffs to take him back to the GCPD.
$$
Wally opened the door to the café as a hand ran through his hair. “Knock it off!”
“It was out of place.”
Wally giggled and grabbed the offending hand, “more like you prefer it messy.”
“It’s cute, like your freckles.”
“Oh Mr. Wayne, you’re such a flirt!” Wally kissed the back of Bruce’s hand as they walked up to the counter. The barista smiled at them and handed over their regular order. A black coffee for Bruce and a caramel mocha frappe for Wally. They came to the shop everyday after missions, particularly ones where Wally was needed in Gotham. It was a nice way for them to relax, plus a great way to cherish the new budding relationship they had.
#LikeYouBatWay, Day 4 of Batflash Week - Secret Relationship & High School/College
Barbara Gordon is a detective. She never lets herself get distracted from the clues. There's nothing more important than solving a mystery. Except every PI has their girl Friday, and in this case Barry fits the description.
After realizing her feelings for her friend are more than platonic, what will she do? Is there a chance that Barry might return her affections? Or does he not like her that way?
She'll just have to take the risk... but she won't be doing it alone.
During lunch the girls don’t always sit together, busy either with school clubs or other friends. But they set aside every Wednesday in their schedules to eat at the same table. All six of them would gather in their designated spot and catch up on what they missed. Diana introduced the idea after a whole week passed when the max occupancy of their group never went over three. They agreed that they needed one lunch where all that mattered were each other. And nothing save an emergency would distract any of them from enjoying it.
Barbara wouldn’t call her feelings an emergency, but she could barely focus on Kara complaining about their chemistry teacher as she pushed her food around. Especially when the mush took the shape of a lightning bolt. She rested her chin on her elbow and sighed dreamily, a sappy grin blossoming on her face.
“Babs!”
She startled, arms flapping dramatically as she fell back with a yelp. When Barbara recovered it was to five curious stares bearing down on her. “Yes?” she asked, as if she wasn’t sprawled on the floor.
“Are you okay?”
Barbara shot up, cheeks burning. “Am I okay? Who asks that kind of question - of course I’m okay do I look not okay? Because I’m not. I mean, I am - I’m okay…” Strangling her bat ears on her hoodie, Barbara nearly tore them off.
Zatanna laid a hand on her shoulder, smiling. “We were calling your name for a full minute but your mind was a million miles away.”
“Oh, yeah,” she tried playing it off, scoffing, “I was thinking about a project that I have due tomorrow, obviously. It’s… yeah…”
“Really?” Kara smirked, poking at Barbara’s plate, “does it have to do with electricity ?”
Barbara glared, smearing the lightning bolt. “No!”
“Because it’d make sense,” she continued, “why you were doodling lightning all throughout History - although the hearts? And inside them… Barbara Gordon plus Barry Allen -”
“Kara!” Barbara hissed, “Why were you looking at my notes?”
“You know I don’t pay attention in that class. When she mentioned we had a test coming up I’d hoped you’d written it down or something.”
About to launch into a lecture on vigilance, Barbara gets sidetracked by Zatanna squealing at her other side. “Barry Allen? You have a crush on Barry Allen?”
“Not so loud, Zee!” she whispered, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. Thankfully Barry didn’t, the senior joking around with Hal and Oliver a few tables away. He glanced over, though, and caught her staring. Barry smiled and waved, Barbara returning it albeit weaker. The crooked smile fell among the chorused cooing from her table.
“Barry’s one of the nicest guys in school,” Jessica said, “You’d be so cute together!”
“How did this happen?” Karen asked, “You weren’t acting like this the other day?”
Barbara bit her lip, cutting off her own excited squeals. “Okay,” she started, “well I was staying late at Sweet Justice, working on that stolen chemicals case remember?”
The others left, each having their own plans to attend to. Barbara didn’t mind, content to figure out the mystery. Especially since none of the others shared her passion for them. She noticed how their eyes glazed over at times, Kara almost always snapping and telling her to get to the point. Being alone meant she could piece the clues at her own pace.
However an hour in she needed a change in scenery and took her research from their base and up to the public space of Sweet Justice. Commandeering a table she told Barry to keep her floating in milkshakes until she was done. While Barbara pieced together more of the scene, the lynchpin tying the case together was lost to her. “What am I missing… What am I missing? ” she groaned, slumping onto the table.
That’s when Barry stopped by with her fifth milkshake. He leaned over Barbara and studied her notes. “This looks like too much work for extra credit,” he chuckled, “What seems to be the problem?”
Barbara sighed and sat up. “No it’s not extra credit I’m… trying to guess where this thief is going to strike next! I’m stressed and not even milkshakes are helping.” She still snatched it from his hand, because they aided in other ways besides mystery solving.
Barry smiled. “You want to maybe talk about it?”
“No, no,” she waved him off, “I wouldn’t want to bore you.”
“You kidding? I love mysteries!”
Barbara stopped slurping her drink. “You do?”
“Of course,” he nodded, sitting across from her, “To me, mysteries are like a kind of science. There’s testing theories, sifting through data, comparing samples…” Barry launched into a passionate explanation of forensics that Barbara tuned out. Instead she focused on the lightning crackling in Barry’s eyes, his beaming smile, and how he practically vibrated from excitement. These thoughts led her onto a path with one obvious conclusion.
Barry Allen was cute. From there she was doomed.
“We spent the entire night talking over the case,” she gushed, remembering it, “And because I had someone to talk with it helped me see a clue I glossed over by accident! It was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “Of course you’d fall for a nerd .”
Barbara pouted at her friend, ready to launch into another lecture when she noticed the troubled expression marring Diana’s face. “Diana,” she said, “is something wrong?”
“Are you sure this is wise, Barbara?” she asked, “It’s a wondrous thing, these feelings of ‘the crush’. But you remember how I acted when… Steve … was around. Do you think this could interfere with our mission?”
“It won’t!” she promised, grinning, “because this won’t be a crush for long!”
Zatanna gasped, squeezing her arm. “You’re gonna ask him out?”
“In a way...”
Kara rolled her eyes. “It’s a yes or no question, Babs. Simple. Don’t try and complicate it any further.”
Barbara slammed her fork onto the table, fire burning behind her determined gaze. “I can’t ask him out! That’s too risky! But don’t worry, I have a plan. And it’s going to work.”
The next day Barbara shuffled into school defeated, dragging her backpack behind her. All the usual pep was replaced with a crushing, frustrated disappointment. She could only focus on the storm clouds hanging overhead, so she didn’t see the hand that shot out and dragged her backwards.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with -”
“Barbara, calm down,” Diana said, squeezing her arms, “it’s only us.”
Her friends gathered around her, each wearing their own best worried features. Zatanna’s pouty lips and Karen’s shining eyes were in fine company alongside Diana’s set jaw, Jessica’s drawn brows and Kara’s clenched fist.
Barbara preempts them all. “I’m fine.”
“That’s a lie if I ever saw one,” Jessica sighed, laying her hand over Diana’s on Barabara’s shoulder. “You can tell us Babs.”
“Or,” Kara said, “we can use Diana’s lasso on you.”
Diana rejected the idea immediately. “I don’t use my lasso on my allies… if I don’t have to.” She glanced at Barbara, “I don’t have to, do I?”
Unable to find a weak link their fencing, Barbara accepted her fate. “You don’t,” she said, slumping into a nearby desk, “I’m… I’m a little upset.”
“A little?” Karen said, “Barbara, we’ve never seen you frown for this long! What happened?”
She wrung her hands. “Remember how I told you all that I had this plan to deal with Barry and my feelings… well… it kinda, completely... fell apart on me.” Barbara squeaked the last part in a rush, hiding behind her fingers when done. After a beat of silence she looked between her fingers at her friends.
No one seemed too shocked.
“Really?”
“Well,” Diana rubbed her neck guiltily, “when you told us what it was we… didn’t think it would work.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me!”
“We didn’t want to burst your good mood,” Zatanna said, “and there was a chance it could have worked… a teeny-tiny, little chance .”
“It would have worked!” Barbara shouted, “If the world would’ve stopped butting in at every possible moment !”
Diana guided her into her seat again. “Why don’t you tell us what happened. From the beginning?”
Steeling her nerves and gathering her courage, Barbara thought back to yesterday and began.
After school Barbara ran home to gather supplies for her plan. Knowing Barry liked mysteries, she decided to create one of her own. Leaving a clue for Barry to find, he would hurry over to the perfect location finding Barbara waiting for him in a surprise date. “It was so totally perfect,” Barbara sighed, “until…”
She set up the small picnic first, knowing there’d be no time after dropping off the note at Sweet Justice. However racing over on her scooter in high spirits, Barbara didn’t count on her location being the scene of some drama.
“I mean a park is Ivy’s stomping ground,” Kara said, “Should’ve thought of that when picking a place.”
“You beat her though, right?” Karen asked.
Barbara nodded. “With help from Barry.” He zipped in, already in costume, surprised to see Ivy there. “I tried to salvage it,” she continued, “while he was dealing with her I scrawled another note and dropped it where he could find it.”
And when he read it Barbara zipped away, picnic basket tucked under her arm.
Arriving at the new location she caught Barry in the middle of a heated battle with Giganta. “Go to the docks, there was a villain. Go to the zoo, another villain! Until finally I thought the park would work with Ivy gone. But then…”
The darkness made it difficult to see; Barbara wouldn’t let that stop her. She lit flashlights and shoved them into the ground around the blanket. Barry wouldn’t miss her. Panting, still in costume, Barbara didn’t realize anyone else could see her, too.
“My, my, my! Who has bright red hair, a face so fair, and a wit unmatched and rare?”
Her friends groaned. “The Riddler?” Zatanna scoffed, “I thought we sent that creep packing last month?”
“He must’ve escaped,” Barbara shrugged, “And given his M.O., when Barry showed up…”
“The true mastermind behind today’s villainy!” Barry cried, holding The Riddler up by his collar, “Of course it had to be you! No one else would have left those riddles just lying around!”
“What?” he asked, “I don’t - I don’t know what you’re talking about -”
“You’re going back to Gotham where you belong !” Barry said, punching once more and knocking him out. Shouldering the unconscious villain, he turned to a gaping Batgirl. “Thanks for the assist all day, Babs - I mean… Batgirl . We make a pretty good team!” She couldn’t answer him, too shocked to speak. “I’ve got this no problem, and you can get return to your… night picnic .”
Stepping over a stray flashlight, he caught sight of a sandwich she laid out in preparation. “Oh! Turkey pesto! I love those - you don’t mind…?” To him, her silence was answer enough. With his other hand he snatched the sandwich, thanked her, and ran off.
“And that’s what happened,” Barbara sighed, “My whole plan… ruined .”
She expected sympathy from her friends. Kara’s obnoxious laughter was anything but understanding. Barbara glared at her friend while she bent over.
“Oh, man,” she breathed, “how can the fastest man alive be so slow on the uptake . Ha!” Humor infectious, the others began giggling as well.
“That’s why we’re laughing!” Kara snorted, wiping a tear from her eye. Regaining composure, she returned to full height. “Okay, seriously though, what happened was a whole mess of bad luck.”
“That’s putting it lightly,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Oh Babs,” Jessica reached out to her again, “it was only a minor setback. Not a total failure -”
“It was though!” Barbara jumped up, “If it happened maybe once or twice it would have been a setback! Everything that went on yesterday was fate telling me it’s not supposed to be.”
“Don’t be silly, Barbara,” Diana said, “the Fates do not concern themselves too heavily with matters like this. I’m sure it was all really bad luck.”
She hid behind her hands once more, screaming into them. Barbara heard Karen whisper to Diana, “I don’t think she meant the actual Fates…”
Jessica dragged her into the light, squeezing her hands. “Look, you shouldn’t give up hope yet.”
“Hope?” Kara scoffed, “I thought you were the lantern of willpower?”
“Which is why,” she continued, “Babs shouldn’t give up. It was only one night. Maybe the next one won’t be so bad.”
“How can you be so sure?” Barbara asked her, “Who’s to say the same thing won’t happen again?”
“Because someone else will be fighting crime that night…”
Barbara pulled at her hoodie strings while walking side by side with Barry, tamping down the blush rising to her cheeks. Every so often they bumped into each other and she had to cut off the squeals rising in her throat.
“Y’know,” Barry started, “it was pretty empty in the museum tonight, not that I didn’t mind. Meant we didn’t have to wait to see the new exhibit. Usually, though, there are all sorts of crowds the first few days. Weird, right?”
She chuckled, swallowing around the clump of nerves in her throat. “Well we did go an hour before closing, so it’s not that weird...” He shrugged, agreeing with her cover.
When they entered the museum there were a lot of people still hanging around. An exhibit on a recently discovered pharaoh’s tomb from Egypt always drew interest. Especially since inside they discovered artifacts that looked alien in origin. Parts of a spaceship alongside strange cloaks adorned with metallic feathers meant that there was more about Prince Khufu and his wife Chayara researchers hadn’t realized.
It wasn’t only everyday civilians who were interested, either. As they made their way through the hall of magnets Barbara noticed a shadowy figure creep around a corner. Her heart fell into her stomach.
Luckily Barbara was prepared that time. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she stopped Barry, “wait for me?” He nodded, and Barbara snuck behind a plant to radio for her friends. While Karen slipped by without notice, Kara zipped through like a hurricane. Barry hadn’t seen, though, too preoccupied playing with some of the magnets on display. Everyone else did and quickly cleared the room.
It took careful coordinating and precision to ensure Barry remained unaware of the activity happening in the museum, but they managed to see the exhibit and avoid the villain. There were close calls, especially when examining a few of the hieroglyphics. The shadowy thief was right behind them, claws sharp and ready. Barbara snuck out a bat-a-rang only for Jessica to lock it in an emerald bird cage.
Now, far away from the museum, she hoped that was the end of any villainy for the day.
“Thanks again for inviting me,” Barry said, smiling at her, “it was a lot of fun.”
“Totally! I had fun, too! I mean, of course I’d have fun because you’re a pretty fun guy to hang around… not that I only think you’re that I mean - I mean you’re more than that! You’re…” she squeaked to an end, tugging the strings on her hood too far and causing her hood to pucker over her face. Quickly she tears it off, completely embarrassed.
Barry had moved on, obvious to her faux pas. He stood by a hot dog vendor staring at the contents. “You want a hot dog? My treat.”
“Sure!” Barbara stepped over, bouncing while the vendor made their hot dogs.
From out of the corner of her eye, however, she spotted a familiar silhouette charging towards them. Two lamp posts burst, glass shattering from uncontrolled lightning blasts. She glared, growling. “Livewire.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” she shoved him towards the cart, “I need to tie my shoe.” Kneeling she lit up her communicator again. “Anyone free to deal with Leslie? She’s inbound!”
No one answered her, but Barbara heard bushes rustle nearby. Diana jumped out and tackled Leslie out of the street and away from them. Zatanna whooshed after her, purple glitter trailing behind.
“I swear,” Barry huffed, hot dogs in hand, “I thought I heard -”
“Nothing! You heard nothing!” Barbara took her snack from him and dragged Barry away, arms looped together, “It’s so beautiful tonight, not a care in the world. No crime or anything, really! So there’s no reason to think of the quiet as anything suspicious, okay !”
“Okay?” Barry dug his heels in, stopping them, “Any reason we’re zipping by it?”
Barbara snorted, “Didn’t think you had any problem with going fast?”
“No, but usually I’m the one caught speeding,” he chuckled, “what’s got your engine revved?”
She ducked her gaze, shuddering a nervous breath. Barry watched her with an easy grin, not pressuring her any further than his simple question. Barbara drew upon the strength and courage she reserved for fighting crime into this moment, knowing that it’s perfect for revealing her feelings. Ignoring her nerves, Barbara turned to face him again. “Barry, I -”
“Oh, hold that thought.”
He shoved his hot dog into his mouth and pulled his phone out. Checking it over, Barry sighed and his smile melted into something softer. He sent a quick text and pocketed it again.
“So?” Barbara asked, “anyone important?” At the back of her mind a voice whispered something horrible that floated around like a gnat she couldn’t shake.
“Wha - oh, sorry,” Barry blushed, shrugging, “Um… look, I hate to cut and run…”
Barbara’s mood fell, her bubble burst. “What?” she whispered.
“I had fun today, really,” he said, “we should hang out more, outside of Sweet Justice and work , y’know? I’ll see you in school tomorrow!” Then he zipped away into the city, Barbara left behind in the dust. Her hot dog slid out of her bun, slapping the ground and condiments spraying everywhere. A tear forced its way onto her face and trailed down her cheek.
“Oh Barbara,” Jessica started from behind laying a hand on her shoulder, “I’m so-”
“Please,” she cut her off, “Don’t say it.”
“What a jerk though,” Kara scoffed, “All the hard work we went through to give him a great day - I crashed through Venus !”
“Kara,” Zatanna hissed, “stop making this about you! Can’t you see Babs is hurting!”
“Not as bad as Barry’ll be hurting,” she said, cracking her knuckles, “I say we corner him before school and -”
“No.”
“What?”
“No,” Babara said, hurt fading into steely determination, “because I’m not giving up. There’s nothing to feel sorry for yet.”
Jessica whooped, clapping. “That’s the spirt, Barbara!”
“May Aphrodite bless you on your quest for love,” Diana said.
Barbara waved at her friends, running, “Thanks for all your help girls. But now it’s time for Batgirl to take point!”
She found him on a rooftop, facing the shadows in his Flash costume. “Barry!” she yelled, “Barry!”
Barry startled, spinning his heel. “Batgirl,” he said, glancing behind him, “What are you doing here?”
“We didn’t finish our conversation,” Barbara huffed, stomping her way over, “You left .”
“I - I know,” he started, hands raised between them, “but we can do this tomorrow at school, can’t we?”
“No!” she said, “We can’t. Because I had a plan in place to tell you that I liked you but it didn’t work out and then I had another one and my friends helped me except you had to go and ruin it by running away just as I was about to confess the deepest secrets of my heart and - and - and…” Barbara puffed up her chest then slowly deflated.
Barry stared wide-eyed during her speech, mouth open.
It irked her. “Well? Are you gonna say something ?”
Jolted into action Barry’s cheeks burned to match the color of his costume. “Oh, well um - that’s real sweet Babs,” he said, scratching his neck, “I like you, too, but…”
He didn’t need to finish. “Oh.”
“I’m really sorry Babs -”
“No, no,” she stepped back, arms crossed, “it’s okay. I… I probably should’ve taken all that happened as a sign it wouldn’t work out.”
“No, no Babs,” Barry continued, hesitatingly reaching over to her, “don’t be so hard on yourself… it’s not what you think. I… I think you’re really cool and smart and - and I like how we both have similar interests and I’m probably as big a fan of Bats as you…”
“How is that supposed to make me feel better!” she asked, “You’re basically saying we’re perfect for each other except for one small thing -”
“I’m already dating someone!”
His outburst stilled her frantic mind. Barry froze, obvious to her that he didn’t mean to share that little piece of information with her. The irritation and annoyance waging war inside her cooled off into a reluctant disappointment. “Oh…”
“Yeah,” Barry said, “Babs, I… I think you’re amazing, and anyone would be lucky to be with you like that but… we’re perfect the way we are. As friends. And I hope this doesn’t come between us?”
Her heart softens at his plea; his words comforting to hear. “Of course,” she said, “But… if we’re friends, I don’t think we should keep secretsbetween us…”
He stiffened again, gulping. “I mean,” he rubbed at his neck, “some secrets are okay -”
“Please!” Barbara cut him off, “You can tell me. You already told me you were dating! Can you not tell me? Is it someone I know? Is it? Is it?”
Barry glanced behind him, “Well… kinda -”
“Who is it? Who is it, who is it, who is it, who is it ?”
“Batgirl.”
Her body shut down from shock. She recognized that voice, having heard it from listening in on frequent calls with her dad. From the shadows her hero emerged. “Batman!”
“Hello,” he said, smirking.
There was so much she wanted to say to him, but given the whirlwind of recent events and her confusion, she chose the first thing that crossed her mind. “I thought you’d be taller?”
His smirk fell into a frown, and instantly she shifted into overdrive to fix it. “Not that it’s bad I think I imagined you so tall because I’ve never actually seen you only heard about you and, well, my imagination went wild so you’re not too short. I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting to see you here I mean why are you here is there a villain you’re chasing? Do you need me to partner with you to chase them? Is that why you’re here, is it? Is it, is it, is it -”
“Batgirl,” Barry stopped her, looking particularly flustered, “he’s not here for any of that.”
“Then what would he be doing here! On this rooftop, at this time of night, hiding, with you…” The clues flew at her rapidly, from Batman’s expectant stare to Barry’s shaking hands and everything in between. “Oh my God…” she shouted, “you’re dating -”
Barry’s hand blanketed her mouth. “Please, it’s a secret for a reason.”
She pried his hand off of her. “Secret?” she asked, “Why would you…” Barbara gasped, glaring at Batman, “it’s because he’s older than you! Batman, how could you -”
“What?” Barry said, “No, Babs, he’s not - yes, he’s older, but by like two years .”
“Two years?” Barbara repeated, “What! How are so young ? I thought you’d be as old as my dad !”
Batman scoffed, scowl deepening. “I’m not that old.”
“Explain yourself!” she demanded, pointing at him. And when Barbara realized what she had done she softened her expression and added, “please?”
“No one would take Batboy seriously,” he said, “and technically I am a man. A young man.”
“That… makes sense,” Barbara said, “But this…” She gestured between them, asking without any words.
“It kinda came out of nowhere,” Barry admitted, “I was on my way home from a shift at Sweet Justice…”
Barry decided not to speed his way through the route like he normally did, slowing down and enjoying the evening. “Like I thought we were going to do earlier,” Barry chuckled. As he crossed the street, however, he noticed a crawling vine and his attention was captured. Knowing it wasn’t a normal sight Barry changed into his costume and followed it.
“I was in town to capture Ivy,” Batman told her, “you remember, I told you this when you pretended to impersonate your father.”
“You knew that was me!”
“Of course I did. I’m Batman .”
“Anyway,” Barry rolled his eyes, “I stumbled on Ivy near the school and confronted her -”
“Just as I touched down, ready to haul her away.”
Their first meeting wasn’t perfect. Barry ran in front of one of Batman’s bat-a-rangs, getting frozen in the process. Batman didn’t realize Barry could create mini tornadoes and was blown away at one point. And throughout the battle they were fighting with each other.
“We didn’t get Ivy that night,” Batman said, “but… other things sort of fell into place...” He flashed a brief smile Barry’s way, causing the other boy to preen under the attention. Barbara cooed at the display. “But we’ve been keeping it under wraps.”
“Distance, secret identities,” Barry added, “it’s something neither of us had to deal with before, and we’re working through this in our own time…”
“So,” Batman continued, “can we trust you to keep this secret, Batgirl?”
There weren’t any doubts. “Of course you can. I’m honored you even told me about this.”
“Why wouldn’t I,” Batman said, advancing towards the rooftop, “Barry’s mentioned you before. That along with your outstanding track record in the field… you’re a great hero, Batgirl. You wear the bat well.” He held out a grappling hook, winking at Barry. “I’ll text you later.” Batman shot off into the night.
Batgirl watched him leave with stars in her eyes, floating. She was brought back to Earth by a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Hey,” Barry said, “are you sure you’re okay with this? With me not… well -”
“Are you kidding?” Batgirl shrieked, hugging him, “Batman said he likes what I’m doing. Batman! That’s better than any relationship!”
Jumping around with Barry in her arms would have made her dizzyingly happy. She was, but for reasons she didn’t expect.
