Prophecies Fulfilled
Sep. 4th, 2006 12:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
It's Bruce's birthday. Gotham's elite are all going to be there, along with quite a few other characters, and Angela Hastings; and Bruce has quite the question for Angie.
Beta by
merfilly and
ilyena_sylph.
Chapter Four: When I'm Thirty-Four
Life returned to what Bruce had grown accustomed to as normal, or something close to it, in the next two days.
Wally kept to his late-night shifts at the garage three times a week, joining him on patrol on his first free evening last night. It was good for the others, to have his levity back over the com-link; winter was the hardest season for this work, and morale was low this late in the season, so close to the promise of spring and returning warmth.
Bruce mused on all this as he left the elevator and flashed Linda a smile from in front of her desk.
"Mr. Luthor is here to see you; he's been waiting in your office," she said, and it was a struggle not to glower at the knowledge.
"Thank you, anything else?"
"Thorpe from WayneTech left some messages, they're already forwarded to your desk."
He nodded, and steeled himself as he walked into his office. The bald figure turned around with a smarmy smile, standing and offering his hand. Bruce shook it, grimacing internally, and gestured for him to return to his seat as he sat behind the desk.
"What can I do for you, Lex?"
"That is the question, isn't it Bruce?"
Bruce shrugged out his hands.
"Just tell me, what brings you to Gotham?"
Lex sat forward in the chair, raising one eyebrow wryly.
"As you know, I've returned as head of LuthorCorp since my unfortunate incident, and it's been quite a struggle, finding the same... support."
"Damage to your public image does tend to make it more difficult," Bruce said dryly.
"We've been partners in the past, Bruce, I'd like to think we understand each other. I'm here to seek a renewal of those mutually beneficial ties."
"As I recall, our partnerships have all ended because I couldn't knowingly and in good faith continue working within... your sense of business ethics. If you think it's a mistake I'll be making again, I'm sorry to disappoint."
Lex chuckled, and sat back in the chair, crossing his leg over one knee and smoothing the blue suit fabric.
"I was hoping we could work something out amicably, but it seems that isn't in your plans. So I'll be straightforward. I want in on the Wayne GulfStream X4 project."
"And why should I be interested?"
"Because, Bruce, I've been sitting on quite a bit of... interesting information for the past few years. Information that you would prefer... not be public knowledge."
"Likewise, of course. You're hardly in a position to be making threats."
"No threats. Just statements of fact. We can be partners, or we can be adversaries. That's all."
Bruce smirked, and stood.
"I have some matters to attend to. Good day, Lex."
Lex paused before he stood up smugly, and Bruce let out a sigh of relief when he was gone. Dancing with Luthor wasn't anything to look forward to, even in his state of diminished public faith.
"Mr. Wayne? Mr. Fox is here to see you," Linda said over the intercom.
"Thank you, send him in."
He'd just seen Lucius at the staff meeting, and as such, just waved him over to a seat with a smile.
"Lucius, what can I do for you?"
"I hear Luthor was here, what did he want?"
"Same as always, but I'm not prepared for the possible public fallout that occasionally comes from dealings with him."
Lucius nodded, and adjusted his glasses.
"So, Friday night, turning the big three-four. Picked up a date yet?" Lucius asked with a grin. "If not, I have a few suggestions I could throw your way."
As much as Bruce liked Lucius, the last time he'd 'set him up' it had been... less than pleasant. And seeing that his birthday celebration would be at the manor, would be fairly inescapable. He quickly thought up possible alternatives he could use as a graceful excuse, but only came to one person immediately available, and most likely willing to say yes.
"Actually, thanks for reminding me, I do, but I completely forgot to call her back to confirm!" Bruce said, slapping his forehead and sighing dramatically. "Let me do that right now, just in case."
He dialed up Wally's cell number, and it didn't even ring once before a sleepy voice answered him.
"Mmph."
"Angie, it's Bruce. I didn't wake you, did I?"
"Uh, can I say no and get away with it?"
"Of course you can hun. Listen, I'm at the office and I just wanted to confirm if you were still free for Friday night."
"Uh... your birthday party... Oh oh oh, right, Angie, you want me to go as your date?"
"That's the general idea," Bruce said, chuckling.
"Well, uh... yeah. Sure. I mean, I'll need to get something to wear..."
"Whatever you'd like, I'll take care of it myself."
"I sure hope so, you have any idea what dresses like that cost?"
"Fantastic, I'll be in touch. Ciao!"
Bruce hung up the phone to the sound of Wally laughing hysterically away from the phone, hoping it didn't carry enough for Lucius to have heard it.
"Well, that's that, perhaps next time."
"Mm. I'm taking the next few days off, family vacation. I'll be back for the event," Lucius said, standing.
They shook hands and Bruce saw him off. The door shut, and his phone rang; Bruce smiled as he went back to the grind of his work.
* * *
One of the advantages of being the Flash was definitely the free food. Almost anywhere Wally went in the city, all he had to do was sit up at certain counters and have whatever he wanted. Perhaps it was an abuse of his fame, but a hungry hero doesn't turn down a free meal and a smile.
He was at the airport, just having gotten away from the cameras and reporters that wanted a sound-byte after he'd helped a 747 with landing gear that wouldn't engage come to a soft stop on the grass next to the runway.
The newfound ability to sometimes slow objects down helped quite a bit with that. Even if he couldn't exactly make it work on command, and thus, couldn't really rely on it. When gambling got mixed in with heroics was when bad things happened, and it wasn't a risk he was comfortable with, even if things had turned out spiffy this time.
This time.
He escaped to a little diner just outside the terminals, where he perched on a stool and was greeted by a perky waitress with a Southern accent.
"Heyya sugar, what can I get ya?"
"I'd settle for a moment of your company, but if it's not too much, some burgers would really hit the spot," he replied with a wink.
She nodded, called back to the cook, then poured him a cup of coffee, much appreciated after working outside in the cold, even if he could warm himself up.
"It's good to be seein' you around these parts again," she said.
"It's good to be seen," he replied with a grin.
They talked about her son back at home, and price of gas; Wally had a few suggestions about economy cars through bites of food, which stations were the cheapest. He saw things like signs and roads so often it was all committed to memory; came in handy for giving directions.
But, despite the weather, winter was a decent time of year to be the Flash in Central City. Over the years, Barry had become something of a tourist attraction for the area, no doubt why the Flash Museum was even built, and Wally had spent most of his life as a kind of seasonal entertainment. Bart was already starting to learn a little about that, coming home with stories about girls buzzing over how cute Impulse was; and he couldn't say a word.
It was nice to be appreciated, and the kind of celebrity he had was awesome, but over the years... it was nice to just have things quiet.
And cold; not to mention slippery.
Summer... was more and more appealing as the days passed, regardless. Giant robots rarely came out during the winter. Sometimes it seemed like costumed super-villainy was seasonal entertainment, too.
Except for Len.
Wally chuckled to himself, and the waitress, whose nametag said she was Sally, gave him a funny look.
"Oh, it's nothing," he said, "just thinking."
"You look like it. Anything in particular?"
"Just how things change. Over time. And at the same time, don't at all, I guess."
"Isn't it the truth. You know, I've read a little bit about you. You used to be Kid Flash, right?"
Wally couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, I was."
"So was the old Flash really your father, like people say?"
He looked at the last burger on his plate, and ate it before he answered her.
"Well, no. But I see how you could make that mistake."
Barry Allen had gone when he was still a kid; his real dad? A long time before that. His real dad was still alive, somewhere, the reason he'd spent a good chunk of his childhood in an orphanage. He hadn't seen him for years, and the truth was, he liked it that way.
Wally hated his father. He tried not to even think about him, let alone talk about him. Especially with Bruce.
He felt his mood shifting into something unpleasant, finished his coffee, and bid Sally goodbye before he took off back to the city.
* * *
Bruce had a funny look on his face all day Thursday, that Wally saw him, anyway.
He'd woken up the next morning to Bruce looking down at him with this look of intense focus, like he was trying to make some life-or-death choice as Batman. Which was something Wally was all too well acquainted with, over the years.
Wally just gave him a funny look right back, and sat up.
"Happy birthday," he said with a grin. "Although, I didn't really get you anything.... seeing as you're the richest guy around."
Bruce continued furrowing his eyebrows for a moment, then kissed him without a word, getting off the bed and vanishing into the bathroom.
"So no sex then?" Wally said, loud enough to carry through the ajar door.
He came back out after a few minutes, rubbing a towel through wet hair, and Wally almost given up to go back to sleep.
"I've been having a lot of crazy thoughts," Bruce said, leaning against the frame of the bathroom door, in nothing but a towel, with steam billowing around him a bit.
"What else is new?" Wally said, settling on his elbow with a smirk. "So, what's your crazy idea?"
Bruce licked his bottom lip quickly, staring out the window past Wally, then back at him seriously.
"Could you promise me, and mean it, that you'd never leave?"
Wally was taken aback by the question, literally pulling his head back and looking at Bruce with a worried frown. They rarely ever talked like this, and since he'd been at the manor again, hadn't really broached the subject at all. He'd just come back, and stayed, at that was it.
"Bruce... what kind of question is that?"
"I mean it, Wally."
Wally got up, and paced around a little.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Just answer me."
"Bruce... I mean... I'm here, but you know the way things are. I could die any day, my luck could run out and that's it. Bad things happen, and we're both..." Wally sighed, and paused. "We're both... I don't know."
"I see."
"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Wally said quickly, waving his hands around, "I mean... why are you asking me this, now?"
"Yes or no?"
Wally sat down on the edge of the windowsill, hugging his arms around himself a little.
"Right now, just, decide? Stay with you forever, and mean it?" Wally sighed again, then shook his head and couldn't help but smile. "Of course I would."
His chest flushed all warm, and he felt lighter somehow. Not freaked out, like he thought he'd be, to say it.
Bruce leaned down to kiss him again, and they ended up pressed against the window running their hands over each other as they slid their tongues together. Wally whined a little when Bruce pulled away.
"I have things to take care of. I left you some things in the guest bedroom."
The guest bedroom, the one where Wally kept all of his girl-things like a kind of dressing room. Which meant it involved getting dolled up for the party, which Wally'd almost forgotten about, again.
"Okay."
Bruce dressed quickly, and rushed off after another quick kiss, and Wally was left wondering what the heck Bruce was on about.
He took another nap before breakfast, the house already quiet and empty, with Alfred off in the ballroom doing his prep thing. Wally decided to leave him in peace, and that he was due for a trip up to the Watchtower, having decided to go back to full-time again.
It was a lot to add to patrolling during the day, then working at night... or patrolling at night... but a month had been long enough that he felt up to being busy again.
Maybe tomorrow.
He suited up and ran to Central City with a grin on his face. Things were totally working out.
* * *
Wally came back, and avoided being downstairs, as the occasional daytime help was here, and he knew it'd be imprudent to be seen just hanging out in Wayne Manor in his underwear all the time.
There was still the matter of the guest bedroom, and Angela could be seen hanging around Wayne Manor in her underwear. Maybe not, but... same idea.
He shaved pretty much everything, used some fancy stuff on his face that kept stubble away, then used it on his legs for the hell of it. There was a lot of time for him to do this, and he'd need it, to wrap his head around what Alfred always said, becoming the character.
Which had been made significantly easier by recent events.
He plucked his eyebrows just a little, like he'd been taught, and waited on the rest to go hunt down his underwear and the fake-busomy bra, settling on red lace with black stockings.
It was then he noticed three boxes on the bed, white and marked with a dressmaker's logo. 'So that's what he meant, huh?'
Wally laughed at himself as he found silk gowns inside; one black, one green, one blue.
"I thought I was supposed to give him presents?" he said with a grin.
He put on a black skirt and a green sweater for the time being, pinning on the wig and putting on a bit of eyeliner to go downstairs and see if Alfred could use any help.
The daytime help just gave him sideways glances as he wandered to the ballroom, weaving around armloads of flowers and furniture being shifted about.
Alfred was in the ballroom, overseeing the dusting of the chandeliers by crews on ladders that wielded little dust-buster looking things.
"Miss Angela," he said as Wally walked over, looking up at the work.
"I was going to ask if there's anything I could do... but it looks like you've got these guys under control."
"Indeed. I am not employed for anything less," he replied with a bit of a wink.
"Then... could I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Is something up with Bruce? He's been acting all weird."
"I would comment, but I have been sworn to secrecy, my dear."
Wally put his hands on his hips and looked at him narrowly.
"So you're holding out on me?"
"I'm afraid so. I believe you will find out soon enough, and I hate to spoil a good surprise," Alfred said wryly.
"You know, I really thought that it was me supposed to do all the birthday surprises."
"Master Bruce is not one for abiding by what is... usual."
"Ain't it the truth," Wally said, shaking his head again. "Such a weirdo. So, who's coming to this bash?"
"The young masters, Miss Barbara, and Master Dick have all promised to attend, as well as a great deal of the city's influential members, and all of Master's Bruce's usual guests, his business associates. I believe Leslie will also be coming this evening."
Wally took note of the one name he'd heard Alfred say without an attachment of some title curiously, but didn't want to pry.
"So... who's going to be covering the night shift?"
"Miss Lance have volunteered her services, and I believe Mr. Queen is in town for the night."
"Oh." That struck him as odd, but again, he made a little 'humph' noise curiously and shrugged to himself.
Wally hung out with Alfred until the place sparkled, and was full of decorations, flowers, and a banner high on the ballroom wall. It was really quite something, and the downstairs felt more like a swanky party house than the manor.
Alfred got a free moment after overseeing the caterers, to help zip Wally into the green silk he'd decided on, and lace the black corset over it snugly.
It was a nice contrast, and Alfred commented that it brought out the color of his eyes... which was also kinda nice to hear. Once he was gone, he admired how the slit up the side made his legs look, put on a bit more makeup, and picked out shoes with low heels that laced up around his ankles.
It was hard to believe he'd killed most of the afternoon already, but once he'd finished putting a couple of sparkly red hairpins in the wig, Bruce was there, wrapping his hands around his waist and kissing his neck softly.
"I love you, Wally."
Wally looked him in the eye through the mirror.
"Are you sure everything's alright?"
"It should be. I need to get dressed, guests will be arriving any moment." Bruce kissed his cheek, then went to his room, shutting the door with a click.
'Man, what the heck...'
* * *
Being around the Bats in drag? Not as bad as he thought it'd be. Their eyes glittered with laughter, but they just smiled and acted like he was Angie, and they knew him that as just that.
Bart actually laughed, before Wally threatened to tell Tim just how he'd been winning at GTA every time.
Mostly, it was just being paraded around on Bruce's arm, meeting people whose names he instantly forgot, just smiling and keeping up the act. More or less a prop, but he didn't mind.
It was nice to be pulled close, kissed without restraint, just to be together around other people.
It struck Wally that Angela had a very different relationship with Bruce Wayne than Wally did. Which he knew, but right now, couldn't stop thinking about. This must be how Bruce always felt, with how he played at being two different people every day. And right now, Bruce was smiling, accepting well wishes with idle laugher and meaningless chitchat.
A few hours went by, and Wally really wasn't paying any attention.
Not until Bruce left him next to Dick with a grin, asking the string quartet to stop, and going to the center of the room and raising his hands up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention."
The crowd came to a quick quiet, moving away from him to give him the floor, and their complete attention.
Dick nudged him in the ribs, and Wally gave him a quizzical look before Bruce spoke up again, looking straight at him.
"Angela, could you come here, please?"
Wally hesitantly walked forward through the crowd, which pushed away to give him a clear path, grinning nervously as Bruce took his hand...
And knelt on the floor, on one knee in front of him.
Wally's mouth dropped open and he forgot how to breathe.
"Angela, we've been through a lot together. I've known you for many years, and grown to love you through them. Through every trial, and every hard time, you've shown me unmatched strength, giving me a light in the darkest places, and giving me meaning when I'd almost forgotten what that meant," Bruce said, voice steady and sincere, and his face matched it with a look of adoration as he pulled a box out of his pocket, with a sparkling ring inside that he offered up. "If there's one thing I can admit to, it's not knowing how to live without you anymore. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and spend it still learning everything you are. Would you give me the best gift I could ever ask for, and say you'll marry me?"
Wally wanted to faint, or run away, or answer him, but he just let time stop around him, rooted to the spot.
Bruce had already asked him this, and suddenly it all made sense, but it didn't at all. Yet there he was, and there they were, surrounded by expectant faces, some with their hands over their lips, a few astonished, but all eyes on him.
What else could he possibly say?
Time sped up, and Wally broke into a grin.
"Yes, Bruce. I will."
The crowd broke into a roar of applause as the ring slid on his finger, and Bruce began kissing him, hugging his waist tight. They broke apart for Wally to lean and whisper into his ear over the noise.
"Bruce, you son of a bitch, I can't believe you just did that to me."
"Then it wouldn't look like a surprise."
"Why in the world did you do that?"
"So Bruce Wayne won't need any more excuses to be frequently absent from the social circles, and I'll have more time to devote to my mission."
"That's all, huh?"
Bruce pulled away, smiling at him.
"What do you think?"
Wally laughed, and kissed him again, and they were mobbed by more well wishing in a never-ending stream.
Commissioner Gordon gave his best after the major himself, and it took Wally a second to realize who was standing in front of them.
Lex freaking Luthor.
"Congratulations Bruce, I never thought I'd see the day," he said, with a smarmy smile as Bruce's hand got a little tighter around Wally's, but he smiled back. Luthor's attention shifted to Wally, and his face flickered with curiosity.
It took every bit of willpower Wally had not to look terrified as Luthor picked up his hand, and kissed it with a smirk.
"Lex Luthor... but, have we met?"
"Well... I, I don't think so," Wally said, managing not to stammer that much.
"I'd swear that we have. I never forget a face."
Luthor might have said something else, Wally just knew when he was gone and he took off, walking, out onto the snowy deck, catching his breath in the frigid air.
Bruce had followed him, of course.
"I, Bruce... I think he recognized me. What if... what if he did? Oh, he definitely did. I wasn't sure, but... he could have, he did, what do we do?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" Wally said incredulously, turning around. "What do you mean, nothing? That's Lex Luthor, supervillain, hello?"
"I've long suspected he knows far more than he has made apparent. It isn't in his best interest to bring... certain details to light. He doesn't often throw away bargaining chips. He's merely posturing."
"Bargaining chips?"
"Yes. It will be a long time before he's in any position to be making serious threats. He's not a stupid man."
Wally stepped closer and continued looking at Bruce in amazement.
"Are you telling me that Luthor just saw Batman propose to the Flash, and we're not going to do anything about it? And neither is he?" Wally whispered unbelievingly.
"He did, didn't he?" Bruce smiled, and wrapped his hands around Wally's upper arms. "That's exactly what I'm saying. And I meant every word."
"Anyone ever tell you what a sentimental sap you are sometimes?"
"Not recently."
"You're also an idiot."
"I believe you've said that a few times recently."
They laughed and held onto each other, until the cold got too much, and they returned to Bruce's family waiting just inside.
Barbara came over first, giving Wally a hug and a smile.
"Congratulations," she said, with a bit of the same ironic twinkle in all their eyes.
Then they all just laughed, even Alfred was chuckling and shaking his head.
Not a trace of normalcy to be found, but right now? Wally was fine leaving normal to other people. Bruce squeezed his hand again; and he was certain.
Beta by
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Chapter Four: When I'm Thirty-Four
Life returned to what Bruce had grown accustomed to as normal, or something close to it, in the next two days.
Wally kept to his late-night shifts at the garage three times a week, joining him on patrol on his first free evening last night. It was good for the others, to have his levity back over the com-link; winter was the hardest season for this work, and morale was low this late in the season, so close to the promise of spring and returning warmth.
Bruce mused on all this as he left the elevator and flashed Linda a smile from in front of her desk.
"Mr. Luthor is here to see you; he's been waiting in your office," she said, and it was a struggle not to glower at the knowledge.
"Thank you, anything else?"
"Thorpe from WayneTech left some messages, they're already forwarded to your desk."
He nodded, and steeled himself as he walked into his office. The bald figure turned around with a smarmy smile, standing and offering his hand. Bruce shook it, grimacing internally, and gestured for him to return to his seat as he sat behind the desk.
"What can I do for you, Lex?"
"That is the question, isn't it Bruce?"
Bruce shrugged out his hands.
"Just tell me, what brings you to Gotham?"
Lex sat forward in the chair, raising one eyebrow wryly.
"As you know, I've returned as head of LuthorCorp since my unfortunate incident, and it's been quite a struggle, finding the same... support."
"Damage to your public image does tend to make it more difficult," Bruce said dryly.
"We've been partners in the past, Bruce, I'd like to think we understand each other. I'm here to seek a renewal of those mutually beneficial ties."
"As I recall, our partnerships have all ended because I couldn't knowingly and in good faith continue working within... your sense of business ethics. If you think it's a mistake I'll be making again, I'm sorry to disappoint."
Lex chuckled, and sat back in the chair, crossing his leg over one knee and smoothing the blue suit fabric.
"I was hoping we could work something out amicably, but it seems that isn't in your plans. So I'll be straightforward. I want in on the Wayne GulfStream X4 project."
"And why should I be interested?"
"Because, Bruce, I've been sitting on quite a bit of... interesting information for the past few years. Information that you would prefer... not be public knowledge."
"Likewise, of course. You're hardly in a position to be making threats."
"No threats. Just statements of fact. We can be partners, or we can be adversaries. That's all."
Bruce smirked, and stood.
"I have some matters to attend to. Good day, Lex."
Lex paused before he stood up smugly, and Bruce let out a sigh of relief when he was gone. Dancing with Luthor wasn't anything to look forward to, even in his state of diminished public faith.
"Mr. Wayne? Mr. Fox is here to see you," Linda said over the intercom.
"Thank you, send him in."
He'd just seen Lucius at the staff meeting, and as such, just waved him over to a seat with a smile.
"Lucius, what can I do for you?"
"I hear Luthor was here, what did he want?"
"Same as always, but I'm not prepared for the possible public fallout that occasionally comes from dealings with him."
Lucius nodded, and adjusted his glasses.
"So, Friday night, turning the big three-four. Picked up a date yet?" Lucius asked with a grin. "If not, I have a few suggestions I could throw your way."
As much as Bruce liked Lucius, the last time he'd 'set him up' it had been... less than pleasant. And seeing that his birthday celebration would be at the manor, would be fairly inescapable. He quickly thought up possible alternatives he could use as a graceful excuse, but only came to one person immediately available, and most likely willing to say yes.
"Actually, thanks for reminding me, I do, but I completely forgot to call her back to confirm!" Bruce said, slapping his forehead and sighing dramatically. "Let me do that right now, just in case."
He dialed up Wally's cell number, and it didn't even ring once before a sleepy voice answered him.
"Mmph."
"Angie, it's Bruce. I didn't wake you, did I?"
"Uh, can I say no and get away with it?"
"Of course you can hun. Listen, I'm at the office and I just wanted to confirm if you were still free for Friday night."
"Uh... your birthday party... Oh oh oh, right, Angie, you want me to go as your date?"
"That's the general idea," Bruce said, chuckling.
"Well, uh... yeah. Sure. I mean, I'll need to get something to wear..."
"Whatever you'd like, I'll take care of it myself."
"I sure hope so, you have any idea what dresses like that cost?"
"Fantastic, I'll be in touch. Ciao!"
Bruce hung up the phone to the sound of Wally laughing hysterically away from the phone, hoping it didn't carry enough for Lucius to have heard it.
"Well, that's that, perhaps next time."
"Mm. I'm taking the next few days off, family vacation. I'll be back for the event," Lucius said, standing.
They shook hands and Bruce saw him off. The door shut, and his phone rang; Bruce smiled as he went back to the grind of his work.
One of the advantages of being the Flash was definitely the free food. Almost anywhere Wally went in the city, all he had to do was sit up at certain counters and have whatever he wanted. Perhaps it was an abuse of his fame, but a hungry hero doesn't turn down a free meal and a smile.
He was at the airport, just having gotten away from the cameras and reporters that wanted a sound-byte after he'd helped a 747 with landing gear that wouldn't engage come to a soft stop on the grass next to the runway.
The newfound ability to sometimes slow objects down helped quite a bit with that. Even if he couldn't exactly make it work on command, and thus, couldn't really rely on it. When gambling got mixed in with heroics was when bad things happened, and it wasn't a risk he was comfortable with, even if things had turned out spiffy this time.
This time.
He escaped to a little diner just outside the terminals, where he perched on a stool and was greeted by a perky waitress with a Southern accent.
"Heyya sugar, what can I get ya?"
"I'd settle for a moment of your company, but if it's not too much, some burgers would really hit the spot," he replied with a wink.
She nodded, called back to the cook, then poured him a cup of coffee, much appreciated after working outside in the cold, even if he could warm himself up.
"It's good to be seein' you around these parts again," she said.
"It's good to be seen," he replied with a grin.
They talked about her son back at home, and price of gas; Wally had a few suggestions about economy cars through bites of food, which stations were the cheapest. He saw things like signs and roads so often it was all committed to memory; came in handy for giving directions.
But, despite the weather, winter was a decent time of year to be the Flash in Central City. Over the years, Barry had become something of a tourist attraction for the area, no doubt why the Flash Museum was even built, and Wally had spent most of his life as a kind of seasonal entertainment. Bart was already starting to learn a little about that, coming home with stories about girls buzzing over how cute Impulse was; and he couldn't say a word.
It was nice to be appreciated, and the kind of celebrity he had was awesome, but over the years... it was nice to just have things quiet.
And cold; not to mention slippery.
Summer... was more and more appealing as the days passed, regardless. Giant robots rarely came out during the winter. Sometimes it seemed like costumed super-villainy was seasonal entertainment, too.
Except for Len.
Wally chuckled to himself, and the waitress, whose nametag said she was Sally, gave him a funny look.
"Oh, it's nothing," he said, "just thinking."
"You look like it. Anything in particular?"
"Just how things change. Over time. And at the same time, don't at all, I guess."
"Isn't it the truth. You know, I've read a little bit about you. You used to be Kid Flash, right?"
Wally couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, I was."
"So was the old Flash really your father, like people say?"
He looked at the last burger on his plate, and ate it before he answered her.
"Well, no. But I see how you could make that mistake."
Barry Allen had gone when he was still a kid; his real dad? A long time before that. His real dad was still alive, somewhere, the reason he'd spent a good chunk of his childhood in an orphanage. He hadn't seen him for years, and the truth was, he liked it that way.
Wally hated his father. He tried not to even think about him, let alone talk about him. Especially with Bruce.
He felt his mood shifting into something unpleasant, finished his coffee, and bid Sally goodbye before he took off back to the city.
Bruce had a funny look on his face all day Thursday, that Wally saw him, anyway.
He'd woken up the next morning to Bruce looking down at him with this look of intense focus, like he was trying to make some life-or-death choice as Batman. Which was something Wally was all too well acquainted with, over the years.
Wally just gave him a funny look right back, and sat up.
"Happy birthday," he said with a grin. "Although, I didn't really get you anything.... seeing as you're the richest guy around."
Bruce continued furrowing his eyebrows for a moment, then kissed him without a word, getting off the bed and vanishing into the bathroom.
"So no sex then?" Wally said, loud enough to carry through the ajar door.
He came back out after a few minutes, rubbing a towel through wet hair, and Wally almost given up to go back to sleep.
"I've been having a lot of crazy thoughts," Bruce said, leaning against the frame of the bathroom door, in nothing but a towel, with steam billowing around him a bit.
"What else is new?" Wally said, settling on his elbow with a smirk. "So, what's your crazy idea?"
Bruce licked his bottom lip quickly, staring out the window past Wally, then back at him seriously.
"Could you promise me, and mean it, that you'd never leave?"
Wally was taken aback by the question, literally pulling his head back and looking at Bruce with a worried frown. They rarely ever talked like this, and since he'd been at the manor again, hadn't really broached the subject at all. He'd just come back, and stayed, at that was it.
"Bruce... what kind of question is that?"
"I mean it, Wally."
Wally got up, and paced around a little.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Just answer me."
"Bruce... I mean... I'm here, but you know the way things are. I could die any day, my luck could run out and that's it. Bad things happen, and we're both..." Wally sighed, and paused. "We're both... I don't know."
"I see."
"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Wally said quickly, waving his hands around, "I mean... why are you asking me this, now?"
"Yes or no?"
Wally sat down on the edge of the windowsill, hugging his arms around himself a little.
"Right now, just, decide? Stay with you forever, and mean it?" Wally sighed again, then shook his head and couldn't help but smile. "Of course I would."
His chest flushed all warm, and he felt lighter somehow. Not freaked out, like he thought he'd be, to say it.
Bruce leaned down to kiss him again, and they ended up pressed against the window running their hands over each other as they slid their tongues together. Wally whined a little when Bruce pulled away.
"I have things to take care of. I left you some things in the guest bedroom."
The guest bedroom, the one where Wally kept all of his girl-things like a kind of dressing room. Which meant it involved getting dolled up for the party, which Wally'd almost forgotten about, again.
"Okay."
Bruce dressed quickly, and rushed off after another quick kiss, and Wally was left wondering what the heck Bruce was on about.
He took another nap before breakfast, the house already quiet and empty, with Alfred off in the ballroom doing his prep thing. Wally decided to leave him in peace, and that he was due for a trip up to the Watchtower, having decided to go back to full-time again.
It was a lot to add to patrolling during the day, then working at night... or patrolling at night... but a month had been long enough that he felt up to being busy again.
Maybe tomorrow.
He suited up and ran to Central City with a grin on his face. Things were totally working out.
Wally came back, and avoided being downstairs, as the occasional daytime help was here, and he knew it'd be imprudent to be seen just hanging out in Wayne Manor in his underwear all the time.
There was still the matter of the guest bedroom, and Angela could be seen hanging around Wayne Manor in her underwear. Maybe not, but... same idea.
He shaved pretty much everything, used some fancy stuff on his face that kept stubble away, then used it on his legs for the hell of it. There was a lot of time for him to do this, and he'd need it, to wrap his head around what Alfred always said, becoming the character.
Which had been made significantly easier by recent events.
He plucked his eyebrows just a little, like he'd been taught, and waited on the rest to go hunt down his underwear and the fake-busomy bra, settling on red lace with black stockings.
It was then he noticed three boxes on the bed, white and marked with a dressmaker's logo. 'So that's what he meant, huh?'
Wally laughed at himself as he found silk gowns inside; one black, one green, one blue.
"I thought I was supposed to give him presents?" he said with a grin.
He put on a black skirt and a green sweater for the time being, pinning on the wig and putting on a bit of eyeliner to go downstairs and see if Alfred could use any help.
The daytime help just gave him sideways glances as he wandered to the ballroom, weaving around armloads of flowers and furniture being shifted about.
Alfred was in the ballroom, overseeing the dusting of the chandeliers by crews on ladders that wielded little dust-buster looking things.
"Miss Angela," he said as Wally walked over, looking up at the work.
"I was going to ask if there's anything I could do... but it looks like you've got these guys under control."
"Indeed. I am not employed for anything less," he replied with a bit of a wink.
"Then... could I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Is something up with Bruce? He's been acting all weird."
"I would comment, but I have been sworn to secrecy, my dear."
Wally put his hands on his hips and looked at him narrowly.
"So you're holding out on me?"
"I'm afraid so. I believe you will find out soon enough, and I hate to spoil a good surprise," Alfred said wryly.
"You know, I really thought that it was me supposed to do all the birthday surprises."
"Master Bruce is not one for abiding by what is... usual."
"Ain't it the truth," Wally said, shaking his head again. "Such a weirdo. So, who's coming to this bash?"
"The young masters, Miss Barbara, and Master Dick have all promised to attend, as well as a great deal of the city's influential members, and all of Master's Bruce's usual guests, his business associates. I believe Leslie will also be coming this evening."
Wally took note of the one name he'd heard Alfred say without an attachment of some title curiously, but didn't want to pry.
"So... who's going to be covering the night shift?"
"Miss Lance have volunteered her services, and I believe Mr. Queen is in town for the night."
"Oh." That struck him as odd, but again, he made a little 'humph' noise curiously and shrugged to himself.
Wally hung out with Alfred until the place sparkled, and was full of decorations, flowers, and a banner high on the ballroom wall. It was really quite something, and the downstairs felt more like a swanky party house than the manor.
Alfred got a free moment after overseeing the caterers, to help zip Wally into the green silk he'd decided on, and lace the black corset over it snugly.
It was a nice contrast, and Alfred commented that it brought out the color of his eyes... which was also kinda nice to hear. Once he was gone, he admired how the slit up the side made his legs look, put on a bit more makeup, and picked out shoes with low heels that laced up around his ankles.
It was hard to believe he'd killed most of the afternoon already, but once he'd finished putting a couple of sparkly red hairpins in the wig, Bruce was there, wrapping his hands around his waist and kissing his neck softly.
"I love you, Wally."
Wally looked him in the eye through the mirror.
"Are you sure everything's alright?"
"It should be. I need to get dressed, guests will be arriving any moment." Bruce kissed his cheek, then went to his room, shutting the door with a click.
'Man, what the heck...'
Being around the Bats in drag? Not as bad as he thought it'd be. Their eyes glittered with laughter, but they just smiled and acted like he was Angie, and they knew him that as just that.
Bart actually laughed, before Wally threatened to tell Tim just how he'd been winning at GTA every time.
Mostly, it was just being paraded around on Bruce's arm, meeting people whose names he instantly forgot, just smiling and keeping up the act. More or less a prop, but he didn't mind.
It was nice to be pulled close, kissed without restraint, just to be together around other people.
It struck Wally that Angela had a very different relationship with Bruce Wayne than Wally did. Which he knew, but right now, couldn't stop thinking about. This must be how Bruce always felt, with how he played at being two different people every day. And right now, Bruce was smiling, accepting well wishes with idle laugher and meaningless chitchat.
A few hours went by, and Wally really wasn't paying any attention.
Not until Bruce left him next to Dick with a grin, asking the string quartet to stop, and going to the center of the room and raising his hands up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention."
The crowd came to a quick quiet, moving away from him to give him the floor, and their complete attention.
Dick nudged him in the ribs, and Wally gave him a quizzical look before Bruce spoke up again, looking straight at him.
"Angela, could you come here, please?"
Wally hesitantly walked forward through the crowd, which pushed away to give him a clear path, grinning nervously as Bruce took his hand...
And knelt on the floor, on one knee in front of him.
Wally's mouth dropped open and he forgot how to breathe.
"Angela, we've been through a lot together. I've known you for many years, and grown to love you through them. Through every trial, and every hard time, you've shown me unmatched strength, giving me a light in the darkest places, and giving me meaning when I'd almost forgotten what that meant," Bruce said, voice steady and sincere, and his face matched it with a look of adoration as he pulled a box out of his pocket, with a sparkling ring inside that he offered up. "If there's one thing I can admit to, it's not knowing how to live without you anymore. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and spend it still learning everything you are. Would you give me the best gift I could ever ask for, and say you'll marry me?"
Wally wanted to faint, or run away, or answer him, but he just let time stop around him, rooted to the spot.
Bruce had already asked him this, and suddenly it all made sense, but it didn't at all. Yet there he was, and there they were, surrounded by expectant faces, some with their hands over their lips, a few astonished, but all eyes on him.
What else could he possibly say?
Time sped up, and Wally broke into a grin.
"Yes, Bruce. I will."
The crowd broke into a roar of applause as the ring slid on his finger, and Bruce began kissing him, hugging his waist tight. They broke apart for Wally to lean and whisper into his ear over the noise.
"Bruce, you son of a bitch, I can't believe you just did that to me."
"Then it wouldn't look like a surprise."
"Why in the world did you do that?"
"So Bruce Wayne won't need any more excuses to be frequently absent from the social circles, and I'll have more time to devote to my mission."
"That's all, huh?"
Bruce pulled away, smiling at him.
"What do you think?"
Wally laughed, and kissed him again, and they were mobbed by more well wishing in a never-ending stream.
Commissioner Gordon gave his best after the major himself, and it took Wally a second to realize who was standing in front of them.
Lex freaking Luthor.
"Congratulations Bruce, I never thought I'd see the day," he said, with a smarmy smile as Bruce's hand got a little tighter around Wally's, but he smiled back. Luthor's attention shifted to Wally, and his face flickered with curiosity.
It took every bit of willpower Wally had not to look terrified as Luthor picked up his hand, and kissed it with a smirk.
"Lex Luthor... but, have we met?"
"Well... I, I don't think so," Wally said, managing not to stammer that much.
"I'd swear that we have. I never forget a face."
Luthor might have said something else, Wally just knew when he was gone and he took off, walking, out onto the snowy deck, catching his breath in the frigid air.
Bruce had followed him, of course.
"I, Bruce... I think he recognized me. What if... what if he did? Oh, he definitely did. I wasn't sure, but... he could have, he did, what do we do?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" Wally said incredulously, turning around. "What do you mean, nothing? That's Lex Luthor, supervillain, hello?"
"I've long suspected he knows far more than he has made apparent. It isn't in his best interest to bring... certain details to light. He doesn't often throw away bargaining chips. He's merely posturing."
"Bargaining chips?"
"Yes. It will be a long time before he's in any position to be making serious threats. He's not a stupid man."
Wally stepped closer and continued looking at Bruce in amazement.
"Are you telling me that Luthor just saw Batman propose to the Flash, and we're not going to do anything about it? And neither is he?" Wally whispered unbelievingly.
"He did, didn't he?" Bruce smiled, and wrapped his hands around Wally's upper arms. "That's exactly what I'm saying. And I meant every word."
"Anyone ever tell you what a sentimental sap you are sometimes?"
"Not recently."
"You're also an idiot."
"I believe you've said that a few times recently."
They laughed and held onto each other, until the cold got too much, and they returned to Bruce's family waiting just inside.
Barbara came over first, giving Wally a hug and a smile.
"Congratulations," she said, with a bit of the same ironic twinkle in all their eyes.
Then they all just laughed, even Alfred was chuckling and shaking his head.
Not a trace of normalcy to be found, but right now? Wally was fine leaving normal to other people. Bruce squeezed his hand again; and he was certain.