Chapter Text
This was starting to get frustrating for Wally. All week, police reports have come in, he’s changed and rushed to the scene, and showed up only to find his rogues already tied up and beaten. When he questions them, they assume he had done it, seeing just a red streak. And he can’t tell them he’s not doing it. That’s against image. They’d just spread it across the city and use it for their advantage. It’s also not like he doesn’t appreciate the break. It’s nice that he doesn’t have to spend so long locking up the various Captain Something’s in Central City. It means he can spend a little more free time on the east coast (for no reason at all).
Well it would if a certain Bat would just take a friggin night off! Bruce had taken a leave from the Justice League after the Lords incident. It had shaken him. Bad. It was a hard conversation in the founders meeting too. Clark, Diana, and J’onn understood. They’re friends, close, and J’onn can read emotions. You didn’t need to be psychic to see that he needed to get out of the Watchtower for a while. Shay and John were a little more passive aggressive about it, though they’ve been a little more passive aggressive about everything that he does. So Bruce is permanently in Gotham, unless he decides to jump back into the League. Wally thought that would mean more free time. Nope! He patrolls every damn night. Comes back after and goes straight to sleep because, apparently before the split, he’d been averaging two hours a day. Wally knows that he should be happy Bruce is taking care of himself, but with that and this new speedster and not seeing each other on the watchtower, they’ve barely seen each other at all. It’s crap.
It really came to a head for him when he showed up to see Boomer tied in the corner of the jewelry store he had been attempting to rob.
“Hot Damn Flash, I go to Australia to visit me Nan and you start letting a kid do all your shit?”
“Hold it.” He zooms up, bouncing in excitement. A kid? The new speedster is a kid? “You saw him?”
“Yeah. He’s either a kid or real fucking short.” Boomer spits to the side as the lights from the police cars start to flash in the window. “If I see him again, he’s toast. He ain’t as fast as you Flash, and one of you is too many.”
That’s when Flash realized that this new speedster may be inexperienced. Young. They could get hurt. Wally couldn’t let that happen. He had to act and really focus on this to find them. He needed to be a detective.
All these thoughts ran through his head as he made his way home to his apartment, feeding his turtle, finally named Tortellini (tort for short), and thinking over how he could go about this. He’s not a detective. Barry was, an actual police officer with forensics and stuff like that. Wally could fix cars, make hotel coffee and check people in. Central crimes normally don’t come with mysteries to solve. However, he might be able to solve a few of his problems, mainly because he had the world’s greatest detective’s personal cell number.
********************
“Call Dick. He can fly out to Central on a moment’s notice.”
That wasn’t the answer Wally was expecting.
“I can’t just call Dick! I need you Bruce.” Wally was forcing himself to pace at normal speeds. If he tried to talk while going any faster, the signal would drop.
“I’m off the League Wally, this is League business.” Wally can hear the sigh on the other end of the line. “You can call someone else.”
“Yeah, I know that.” Wally flops down on his couch, watching Tort take bites out of a cherry tomato. “But it’s not League business Bruce. It… It’s personal. This is another speedster, inexperienced and they don’t know what they’re doing. They could accidentally hurt someone without the right control and they need help. And I don’t need the League treating it like a terrorist threat and coming down here guns blazing. I think they’re a kid. I need stealth and sneaky and smart and someone who knows how kids work and there’s no one better at all that than you.”
The phone is quiet for a long moment. Well, not quiet. Wally can hear Bruce parking his sports car that totally doesn’t have nitrous in the engine because that’s irresponsible. He can hear the car being turned off in his garage, the silence of the garage settling around him. The billionaire’s hand falls from the wheel, slapping against what Wally assumes are black slacks, all he ever wears to work.
“Alright. You win. I’ll fly out to central tomorrow. I can’t stay in a hotel. If Bruce Wayne is seen there, we could get swarmed by reporters again.”
“So by fly out, you mean use your fancy bat jet that can travel in space.” Wally can’t keep the smile off his face. “Did you come because I stroked your ego? Or because you pity me?”
“Think of it as a mix.” Wally can hear the smirk in his voice. Ass. “That means I’ll have to stay with you.”
Oh…
Oh no….
Asshole.
“I mean… don’t you have fake IDs or something?”
“Nothing that I can use in the US. Barely work outside of the country anymore either.” Bruce always closes his car door a little harder when he’s gloating. “I need to stay hidden.”
“So you really just agreed so I’d let you into my apartment.”
“Pretty much.” He’s holding back laughter. Such an asshole.
Wally knows it wouldn’t be a big deal for most couples. It’s been a while since they started dating. Wally’s stayed at Bruce’s hundreds of times before. It’s not a big deal. But it is. Bruce’s place is a mansion. Wally’s is a one bedroom apartment next to the laundry rooms. He has superhero pajamas. Bruce can’t stay here.
“I mean… we could both get a hotel… get some serious disguises?”
“It’s an apartment Wally. I’ve seen and stayed in an apartment before. I cannot risk showing Bruce Wayne in central city, and you need help.”
“You suck Bruce.”
“As you know very well.” Wally can hear the door to the garage close. He’s inside now. “I’ll see you tomorrow night Wally.”
“Bye Bruce…”
He never says bye back….
********************
Wally’s pacing his apartment, again, trying to fight the urge to go supersonic speeds. Why did he agree to this? He could have solved it on his own. He knows that. He’s smart. He can detective as good as the rest of them. He just wanted to spend time with Bruce. Damn him.
He’s spent all day cleaning his apartment, hiding all embarrassing things… most embarrassing things… and stocking his fridge. He doesn’t know how food works now. He can cook some basic things, so he’ll either have to cook for Bruce or get takeout. There’s no Alfred. You can’t Bruce without Alfred. They have to sleep in Wally’s bed. It’s a full size, but it’s not Bruce’s massive King Size memory foam with silk sheets that keep him cool and Wally warm at the same time.
His phone suddenly buzzes with a text.
“Top of Wayne Enterprises”
Wally’s just glad he’s meeting the Bat first. He can handle the Bat. This is a mission. Just that… They’ve also never done a mission just the two of them… Wally needs to stop thinking so hard.
Wally changes quickly into his flash uniform, zipping out of his bedroom window and across the city. He makes a couple quick stops, wants a latte, helps a local man finish his puzzle, that sort of thing. The passive things calm him down. It’s normal. He never understood how Batman could hero without these small things.
He can’t see Bats until he’s right next to him, on top of the building. Central’s Wayne building is one of the tallest in the city. Wally can’t help but wonder if that’s Bruce’s specification.
“You’re slow.” He looks over. Stoic. All Batman.
“Stopped to do some stuff.” He steps over, draping his arm over Batman’s shoulder, knowing he won’t do anything about it. “Besides, we have all night.”
“True, but I need to know a little more from you before we start.”
“Ooh, are you gonna be bad cop?” Wally winks, satisfied when he sees the corner of his mouth twitch up slightly.
“Hush.” He refocuses on the quiet city. “You said you haven’t seen the kid, but you know it’s a kid. How?”
“Boomer, Digger Harkness, he said he saw him for a second.”
“Then that’s our first lead.” Batman pulls away, stepping off the edge of the building and falling down to a lower one, using his cape to glide slightly to avoid the alleyway. Wally’s eye’s naturally start to roll as he jumps off, using momentum to take him to the same spot.
“I already questioned him.” He looks up to the older man. “He just told me what he saw.”
“But he never said how he saw it, or any details about what happened.” Batman looks over to him. “You can’t actually expect people just to tell you everything you need to know.”
“I don’t.” Wally can feel himself flushing under his mask. “Not all criminals are evil Bruce. I figured you knew that.”
“Of course I know that.” Wally feels the gloved fingers brush over his arm. “But it’s not a matter of someone’s morality. People want to protect themselves, so they’ll do anything in their power to do that.”
Wally leaned against the Bat, letting himself have the moment.
“Yeah… You’re right.” He looks up. “The lucky thing is he’s out of Jail… broke out this morning.”
“Alright. You know where he is then?”
Wally pauses at that, staring blankly as the Bat just starts walking.
“Wait. What?” He zips forward, stopping in front of him. “No lecture? Nothing about him not being back in jail? That’s it?”
“Flash, there is an actual road in Gotham that we call Crime Alley. It’s called that for a reason. Pamela Isley and Victor Fries share an abandoned apartment complex.” Wally hates the smirk that he sees growing on his face. “When they’re not doing anything, they’re harmless. Most of my rogues are scientists and doctors who send anonymous research to laboratories. I’m fine as long as they’re quiet.”
Furious. He’s furious. What is this? This is Batman?
“I hate you Bruce.” He knows it’s childish to use names, but that smirk was Bruce’s smirk. Not Batman’s.
“No you don’t. Now lead the way.”
********************
Batman positions himself in the shadows above the bar, watching Wally as he prepares to just run in and grab Harkness. It was probably not the cleanest plan he ever had, but it was effective. And once they got information from Harkness, Bruce would finally be able to see the speedster’s apartment. It was silly really. Just an apartment. He knew that even after seeing it, the two would still spend more time in the manor. It was just more convenient. Wally could run there in record time, Alfred loved having both of them over. It was just easier. However, in the moment, Bruce didn’t give a shit about easy. This was Wally’s space, his homestead. It’s personal, and Bruce has such a craving for that. Plus, none of his kids are going to barge in on them at the apartment. He loved Damian, but he was about to skin the kid.
Batman almost misses when Flash zips in, only the static in the air giving it away. He can worry about the apartment later. He knows he’s set to be bad cop (he’s always bad cop for a reason), but he’s been in Gotham for a while. He can’t take that into Central. At least not too much.
Soon, the speedster is back on the rooftop with a flustered Digger Harkness. Scowling. Eyes narrowed. Muscles clenched. Hand near his hips. Aggressive.
Batman kicks his leg out before Harkness sees him, knocking the boomerang he was reaching for out of his hand and across the roof. He uses his pause from the shock to step on his wrist, holding it down as Flash kneels in front of him.
“Fuck me. Why’d you bring in the fucking Bat. I stay out of Gotham for a reason Flash.” He’s glaring at Flash now, but there’s a new undertone. Not anger. Fear.
This will be easy.
“Will you calm down Dig. If I wanted you back in jail, you’d be there.” Flash rolls his eyes, completely unphased by Harkness’ aggression. “I just want to talk.”
“Send an email. Don’t pull me away from my beer? The fuck is this about.”
“The boy you saw.” Harkness tenses as soon as he speaks. He had forgotten the Bat was there for a moment. The moment he spoke again, the fear came back tenfold. “We need to know what all happened.”
“Nothin’ fucking happened. A not Flash little twerp came in and tied me up before I could do anything, then hit me in the jaw. Knocked out one of my back teeth.”
Flash frowns at that. Biting his bottom lip. Avoiding eye contact. That worried him. A smaller child could only have that kind of force behind their punch if they were using their speed.
“But you saw him. When?” Harkness’ glare sharpens. Confidence. The Bat hasn’t done anything to him yet.
“Why the fuck should I tell you shit?”
The Bat turns on a dime, sliding his foot off his wrist and swinging it around to his neck. Harkness flies backwards and falls back on the rooftop, Batman’s foot now securely over his throat.
“I asked nicely.”
“Dig, don’t be a smartass. I’ve seen him do some real damage and I’m trying not to let that happen here. But I’m in no hurry to get in between this.” Flash kneels beside his head, becoming the kind figure. “Just tell us.”
Harkness keeps one hand on the Bat’s boot, looking between the two with a mix of fear and…. Concern?
“Alright. Before he hit me, he slowed down. I couldn’t see much, just that he was short, had red hair, and a lot of red in his costume, but it wasn’t all red. I said that he was a kid and he turned around and punched me. Next thing I knew, Flash was there.”
“That all?” The Bat lifts his boot.
“Nah.” He turns to Flash. “Get better friends Mate.”
Batman walks away at that, though he can hear the joking reassurance from Flash as he lets Harkness go. The speedster zips up beside him, smiling.
“If only he knew.” Unphased. “So, what did your big brain pick up on?”
“Since this is a child acting rashly, it’ll be easy to lure him out. He’s focusing on crime, both from your rogues and basic criminals..” He glances over at Flash, taking in his gaze for another moment. “The best way to lure him out would be to commit a crime. One that police radio would pick up on so he could find it faster.”
“Wait. Bats. Flash can’t rob somebody? That’s not how I work.”
“You’re right. Flash can’t. So, we won’t be in costume. Ski masks and dark clothing. The whole nine. Trick the silent alarm at a jewelry store. Easy.”
“Okay. Cool, We can do that tonight!”
“Nope.” He can feel the smirk falling back on his face. “Already too late tonight. Not enough time to pull it off properly. Tomorrow will be fine.” Flash has stopped walking beside him, most likely glaring.
“You just can’t let it go, can you?”
“I rarely let anything go.” He smirks more fully. “Come on. I already have a duffel stashed on the roof of your building.”
“Of course you fucking did…”
Batman suddenly has a firm arm around his middle as the ground goes out from under him. Flash has sped with him before for a mission, but this was different. He was prepared before. Now it’s terrifying as he can’t focus on his surroundings, his mind going blank. He’s frozen when his feet suddenly touch down at Wally’s apartment building. The speedster is pouting, upset at the scenario, though blind to what just happened. Bruce can’t move, his mind tries to fall into it’s defensive mode as he takes in information suddenly, fighting decades of meditation and martial arts training. Flash is speaking. He can’t hear yet. His brain hasn’t given him hearing yet. One at a time. Sight, fine. Smell, stale city air with a BBQ nearby. Fine. Touch, the plates vs netting in his armor. Fine. Taste, questionable, can judge later. Hearing…
“Bruce? Hey… you okay? What’s wrong?” Wally’s concern. Fine
“I… Warn me next time. Wasn’t ready for that.” He shakes his head, breathing slowly to take his mind out of defense mode.
“Oh shit… I’m sorry. I’ve ran with you before, I thought you were okay?”
“I’m fine. Just need the warning first.” He looks up. The speedster is vibrating nervously, holding the duffel in his hands. Guilt. “I’m fine Wally.”
“I’m sorry…” He steps forward, leaning against the Bat’s chest. Normally Batman would protest, but he can let it slide. Wally doesn’t need to be upset. Bruce almost smirks as he feels the Bat going soft.
“I forgive you. Now, I want a shower. Something to eat, and to sleep. So let’s get downstairs.”
“Yeah… I always just climb in through my…”
“Bedroom window.”
Wally’s demeanor changes again, back to frustration. Fantastic.
“Lead the way then.” His voice even sounds pouty. Before the Bat could yell about it, Bruce leans in for a kiss, holding Wally’s chin and staying like that for a long moment.
Taste. Faded coffee and spearmint. Fine.
********************
Wally is left on the roof after the kiss. Stupid! What was he thinking? He was just so worried about a kid being reckless with their speed powers and he just speeds off with someone without a warning? He’s an idiot. And then the Bat just kisses him? What even is tonight? Now Bruce is in his apartment and….
Bruce is in his apartment!
Wally zips down to his bedroom window, stopping on the fire escape to see Bruce already out of armor, wearing some black sleep pants, tied a little low around his waist. He has a t-shirt in his hands as he turns to looks at Wally, his eyebrow raised.
“Do you normally stand there all night?”
“Um…” He still has star wars sheets on his bed. As Wally climbs in, he uses his speed to change fast, tossing his suit in a dresser drawer. When he slows down, Bruce is fully dressed and his armor packed away. Hidden. “I just.. What do you want to eat? Not a lot is open right now… but there are some places.” Now Bruce is just staring at him, the eyebrow even higher.
“Wally, you have groceries right?” Bruce sounds concerned.
“I… Of course I do… I just thought…” Wally watches Bruce’s face turn from concern to amused.
“Wally, do you think I can’t cook?”
The two stare at each other for a long moment, Wally starting to realize the absurdity of it all. His billionaire bat boyfriend is in his shitty apartment, offering to cook for him.
“I mean… You have Alfred…”
“I do have Alfred. The man raised me. And do you really think that man would raise a child and never make him learn how to cook?” Bruce smirks, turning to the kitchen. “I’ll make breakfast.”
Wally didn’t know what to say for that. He had this illusion of Bruce being a person who could solve a murder in record time, but would break a dishwasher if he tried to use it. That made him balanced. But apparently not. Apparently he really is good at everything. That’s just frustrating.
Wally takes a moment in the bedroom, debating on whether to change the star wars sheets, though deciding that Bruce already saw them. When he steps out, he sees Bruce scrambling eggs on the stove, the toaster already on. The eggs looked like Alfred’s, super creamy and no big hunks of egg.
“So, are you just good at everything? Because I have a problem with that.”
“Not everything.” He puts the toast on to plates, two on the plate for Wally. “Just not bad at the things you’d think.”
Wally rolls his eyes, putting some food into Tort’s cage.
“So was the turtle just for irony? Or did you have a passion I just never knew about.” Wally rolls his eyes at that, zipping back to the kitchen and sitting at the breakfast bar.
“Everything’s fast to turtles. It’s appropriate.” He looks down at the plate of eggs and toast before him. He wants to hate it. It looks a little different from Alfred’s up close, more pepper on top and the toast is a little darker. Still, when he takes a bite, it’s delicious. Damn…
“You know, with your panic about me coming here, I expected the worst.” Bruce looks over to the speedster beside him. “Why were you so worried? This place is nice.”
Wally meets his gaze before looking around the apartment, seeing a pull out couch he had bought used, a chipped coffee table, a small tv, stained countertops in the kitchen… his bathroom needs to be regrouted, his rugs all have stains. It’s a mess.
“Its a shit apartment Bruce. Too small and broken. Don’t lie.” He sees Bruce roll his eyes.
“It’s not small. It’s away from the noise of my home. And not broken. Lived in.” Bruce meets his gaze again. “Stop panicking about things that don’t matter. I’m glad to be here.”
The two eat in silence after that, Wally getting up to wash the dishes before Bruce can. He can see the older man starting to yawn, though he finishes his coffee. They both make their way back into the bedroom, falling into the bed that practically demands they lay on top of each other. After some different rotations, Bruce is spooned behind Wally, his bicep turned into a pillow, and one of Wally’s legs hangs off the bed.
“Told you it was small.”
“Not small.” Bruce presses a kiss to the red hair. “Cozy.” He falls asleep soon after that, leaving Wally to think on Cozy for another few minutes.
********************
He pauses at the building for a long moment, his hands shaking. Vibrating. This isn’t Flash. It can’t be. He must be wrong. Missing something. He tracked the wrong person. That’s all. Nothing to worry about. He just needs to track better next time. He’ll find Flash…
He has to…