A/N: Ok, so this is a kind of wrap-up to my other two JL fics, and Diana's only in it for a lil bit - it's mainly Flash & Bats.

Friendship

It wasn't everyday that Batman found himself utterly surprised. And by Flash, of all people.

It was the third Monday of the month, and that meant a Founder's Meeting, to discuss any internal issues as well as look at non-urgent missions – normally governments that had requested a League presence at some event or another they expected trouble at. This time, it was the Chinese government, expecting trouble in Tibet. Lex Luthor had been spotted there recently, and Lex Luthor never went anywhere without some kind of trouble following him.

Naturally, Superman was the first to volunteer for the mission. Diana spoke up. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Kal. Isn't Lois's due date that week?"

The Man of Steel coloured and nodded. It wasn't that he kept forgetting, just that the closer it got, the more nervous and insecure he felt. The main thought running around his head for...let's see...nine months now, had been 'what if I make a terrible father?'. One of his best friends smiled encouragingly and reached over the table, squeezing his hand. Across from them, and under the table, the hands of his other best friend tightened into fists.

"Well I know Lois will never forgive me if I let you go to Tibet while she's in labour. After she's done killing you, of course," the Amazon joked. "I'll go."

"Not a good idea," Batman broke in.

Diana let go of Clark's hand and turned with narrow eyes to the man in black. "And why not?" she snapped.

"Because it's people, Princess," he replied, voice heavy with scorn. "Not a problem that can just be punched through."

"What exactly are you implying?"

"Subtlety isn't your strong point," he said flatly. "J'onn and Lantern should go."

"How dare you?!" she exclaimed. "I'm just as capable of diplomacy as anyone here – and definitely much better than you! I am an Ambassador, in case you've forgotten!"

"And when was the last time anyone actually had diplomatic relations with Themyscira?" he shot back. "I'm fairly sure they were still connected to the rest of Greece at that point."

Diana stood up, and made two impact craters on the surface of the table. Bruce inwardly winced. The tactic of making the princess hate him was definitely working, but that was the seventeenth table in a row he'd made her do that to.

"I cannot believe that you would bring my home into this," she spat, her voice low and exceptionally dangerous. "Who in Hades do you think you are?"

Before he could answer (thankfully, since he had no idea what to say), the alarms went off, signalling an alert. They all moved toward the door, Batman more than happy to let Diana go first. Maybe she could find something else to vent her frustration on, rather than his face.

In fact he was the second to last person to leave, the last being Flash, just behind him. Batman was a step away from walking through the doors- when there was a scarlet blur and they hissed shut with a helpful beeping sound that let him know they'd been locked as well. He turned to the kid, expecting a very good explanation very quickly.

Instead, it was Flash who glared angrily at him. "You've got to stop."

"Excuse me?" he asked, folding his arms across his Kevlar-coated chest.

"Diana," Flash said. "I don't know what the hell you're trying to do, or what the hell kind of point you're trying to prove, but you gotta stop."

Batman took a step forward. Flash didn't take one back. A little perturbed, Bruce tried again. "It doesn't concern you. Back off," he growled, reaching for the door.

Flash grabbed his wrist. For a fraction of a second, Bruce was actually frozen in surprise. Was he losing his touch, or had the kid just grown a backbone? He turned the Bat-glare on full beam, and was gratified to see the younger man swallow. But he spoke anyway, whereas normally the look would have sent him running to the nearest corner and cowering in it.

"Here's the thing…um…no."

"What?" Batman asked stupidly.

"I'm not backing off," Flash said determinedly. "Di is my friend, and you're torturing her for no good reason. It's like every little thing she does, you find something to needle her about. Nothing's ever good enough, and you're singling her out. You don't do it to anyone else."

"If you want me to tell you what's wrong with you, I'll be only too happy to oblige."

Flash reached up and pulled his mask back. "I'm serious, Bruce."

Bruce's mask remained on. "So am I. Open the damn door."

Wally ignored him. Actually ignored him. Him, the Batman. What the hell was going on? The redhead sat on the table. "What's going on?" he asked. "I thought you two were-"

"Again, back off," he ground out.

"I mean what, did you sleep with her and then dump her? Because between you and me, I thought the whole playboy thing was just an act, but it explains a lot if you did that to Diana-"

Unable to bear the thought of anyone doing that to Diana, Bruce snapped. "No! I'd never do that! Not to her."

Flash folded his arms. "Then what?"

Maybe it was because it was a Monday. Maybe it was because he'd had two hours sleep last night. Maybe it was because the Joker was out again. But for some unknown and unfathomable reason, Batman gave in. He flopped down into a chair, pushed his cowl back and ran a palm over his fatigue-ravaged face. "It's complicated."

Wally only frowned harder. "Try me."

Bruce was silent for a moment, only wondering where the hell to begin. The younger man decided to fill the break. "She hates you, man. I mean she really hates you. If it weren't for the fact that Superman's normally around, I think she'd have killed your ass by now."

"I know."

"Then why keep doing it? She loved you – and you're supposed to be one of the smartest guys on the planet. I tell ya, from where I'm sitting, you look like one of the stupidest."

Bruce laughed. It started out as a bitter little chuckle, but soon grew until his entire body was shaking with it and tears were welling up. It was loud, unexpected and totally without mirth. It was, in fact, a case of him laughing because he didn't want to cry. When it was gone, his face was in his palms, shoulders slumped. "Christ you have no idea how right you are, Flash."

Shutting his mouth and trying to hide his shock at Batman laughing, Wally shifted slightly. "Then what the hell's going on?"

"I love her," the other man replied simply.

"She doesn't love you."

"I know that."

"Well having a go at her all the time isn't going to help with the situation," Flash said dryly.

"Actually, I'm hoping it will."

Flash looked utterly gobsmacked. He wasn't dumb, but there was absolutely no logic in that sentence. He just blinked several times in question.

"Gotham comes first, Flash. You know that, she knows that, everyone knows that."

"Yeah, but, Bats, if Wondy knows that, then she'd accept it. She was willing to work around that to be with you, so why the hell weren't you?"

"Too risky. Firstly, Wonder Woman and Bruce Wayne have only ever met once. Second, she'd accept it at first, but then she'd want more from me than I would be able to give. And thirdly, it'd be far too dangerous for-"

"Her? You have seen Diana in action, right?" Wally interjected.

Bruce glared at him. "I was going to say me."

"Oh."

"In answer to your question, yes, I've seen Diana in action. I spend most of my time looking at Diana. Can you imagine how much time I'd spend thinking about her if I actually had her? How am I supposed to keep one step ahead of the sons of bitches in Gotham if all I can think about is the fact that I have Diana at home in bed waiting for me?"

Flash considered and smiled grimly. "Good point." His mouth slipped down at the corners. "But you've lost her, man. She really does hate you. You're playing with death every time you talk to her."

It was Bruce's turn to smile. "I play with death every night. What's a couple times during the day?"

Wally shook his head. "I still don't get it. What are you hoping making her hate you is gonna do?"

"I'm going to retire soon."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Why now?"

"It's almost time," was the only answer. "But when I do, I need Diana to still feel something for me. It's easier to turn hate into love than it is to pull love out of nothing."

Wally was intently studying the floor. "So…you want her to hate you…so that when you go grovelling – because you are gonna have to grovel, you know – she'll, what, fall into your arms?"

"Sounds stupid, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Flash answered immediately.

"I know I have no right. And I know she deserves someone so much better-"

"Yeah, and if you were any other guy I'd sock you, but…she doesn't want someone else. I mean, don't get me wrong, she'd still sooner kill you than kiss you, but I've never seen anyone else come close to you as far as Diana's concerned."

Bruce tried not to let his heart swell with hope. It wasn't possible, surely, it wasn't. He wanted, needed another chance, but definitely hadn't been expecting it. His eyes felt hot again. "Really?" he asked hoarsely.

"Really," Flash shrugged.

"I-" Another chuckle. "I don't even know how."

"That part's easy. You just have to be your big old blunt Bat self. Tell her you're sorry, tell her you love her, and wait."

"Wait?"

"Yeah. C'mon, you flirted with her for years, almost gave in a million times-"

"How the hell would you know?"

"Diana rants, I listen," Wally said casually, carrying on. "Then just switched off right at the moment she fell in love with you, then decided you were gonna make her hate you, and then you're going to tell her you love her. That's enough to confuse anyone."

"Yeah. Thanks, Flash."

He shrugged. "I'm doing this for her, not you. But 'soon' had really better be soon, because I'm not sure she can take much more." He got up off the table and walked over to the door.

Bruce pulled his cowl back up. "Flash." He followed and put a hand on his shoulder. "I mean it. Thank you."

Wally nodded seriously. Then his natural good humour shone through. "And be prepared for her to break your jaw when you tell her," he said with a grin, before disappearing down the hallway. He left Batman alone, wondering if he'd dreamed that. It was the explanation that made the most sense.

Either that or he really had just opened up to Flash.

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A/N: Hang on, we're getting there. Review this one please, I'm not sure if I got Flash right, so let me know! Climax coming soon!