Here we go again! This time I'm dipping my toes in a bit of non-con, though I'm not sure how far this will go (but mild sexual harassment is planned). The next chapter is already written as well and will soon be uploaded, everything after that needs to be written first.
I'm not sure where I'll go with this but I do have pointers!
Thanks at my bff for beta-reading
His phone was buzzing for the third time and Wally's sleep addled brain provided the idea that it might have been important. Even though it was his phone, not the League communicator. If that had been the case, then Wally would have been out of bed ten minutes ago.
But - there it went off again - it had to be important. Who called so early on a Sunday?
No one, that was.
With closed eyes he grabbed his phone and accepted the call, groaning into it. "It's Sunday," he whined to whoever was on the other end.
"But Wally!" A female voice begged immediately.
Wally only groaned more in response. "It's Sunday!" He insisted to Jean as he knew exactly what she wanted. She owned a coffee shop and probably needed some help.
But it was still Sunday.
"Pretty please? The other's all called in sick and they are sick, before you say anything. I'll pay you!"
"No you won't." She wasn't lying to him about getting paid but Wally had never taken the offered money. Though only because he was allowed to take all the leftover food with him when he helped out in her shop.
Before Jean could reinforce her offer, Wally noisily rolled out of bed and stood up, groaning again as he stretched. "Fine." He didn't sound happy about it. But saying no was just… Not possible. She was in need and he was a hero - not that she knew that - so he'd help.
"Thank you! You're the best!" She praised him with obvious relief in her voice and all Wally could do was shake his head amused.
"See you in a few minutes," he promised and ended the call. Standing there in his dark bedroom, Wally let the last traces of sleep roll through him, wishing he was back in bed. It was his own fault, really.
He shook his head and briefly glanced at his phone to check for messages but other than the missed calls there wasn't anything.
Not that there should have been anything else. Except maybe funny messages from his friends. Or maybe something from Bruce.
Bruce hadn't actually written him before but these past two weeks had been strange. He could have sworn the Dark Knight had been flirting with him. Though it was low key enough that he either imagined it or it was just really subtle. Wally could never tell.
Well. There was no use in staring at his phone. He had to be somewhere. He showered quickly and put on some clothes before heading out.
The coffee shop was in the center of the city, right between a few hotels and company buildings. Why Jean wasn't just hiring one or two more people was beyond him. Though then again, he wasn't a businessman. Who knew what other factors played into that?
Using his speed, Wally showed up there in record time, pushing the already unlocked door open and heading straight for the counter. "Good morning!"
There was a noise coming from the back of the kitchen, just before Jean came out, almost tackling him with one of her aprons. She threw it over his head and helped him close it in the back.
Amused he watched her do it for him as her blond hair flew wildly about, the messy bun she had attempted already on its way to say goodbye.
"There!" She declared and put her hands on her hips, smiling at him. "Thank you so much again!"
Both moved behind the counter while Wally checked out the name tag she had given him. There was actually his name on it.
"It's been a while since last time. Do you need a fresh up on how to use all this?"
Looking at everything, Wally hummed and pursed his lips. Just to make her squirm a little. She had gotten him out early on a Sunday after all.
Jean looked nervous for each second that rolled by and Wally took pity on her, shaking his head. "I might not make the best coffee but I still can make coffee with these," he grinned as she huffed and weakly punched him on the shoulder in retaliation.
"One of the others called again. There might be a chance she's going to show up in a few hours. Don't get me wrong she's sick but… if she says she can still work then I'll take what I can get. It's not fair to you to do this for the whole day." An apologetic look crossed over her face and he couldn't help but feel bad.
"Don't worry. Provide me with sugar throughout the day and I'm good." He wouldn't eat her into ruin, obviously, but he needed sustenance or he wouldn't be any help at all.
"Of course! Just take what you want as long as there's enough for the customers. I'll be in the kitchen and occasionally come out. We can do this!" She made fists with her hands, showing her determination.
Wally laughed and nodded, holding up his hand so that they could high-five on this as well before she returned to the kitchen and Wally reacquainted himself with the coffee machine. It was still the same so the buttons and setting were all familiar to him. This shouldn't be a problem at all.
.
Wally had had no idea that so many people worked on a Sunday. Around 8am unimaginable amounts of people came in and demanded coffee. He really shouldn't have been surprised.
Business people and people coming from the hotels all gathered here, having somewhere else to be. Some didn't even look at Wally while others were 'happy to see a new cute guy' working here - a costumer's words, not Wally's.
Slightly frazzled by the mass of people, Wally just took deep breaths and worked as fast as the coffee machine let him. And it seemed that he didn't do too bad a job. No customer actually complained about his coffee. Those that murmured underneath their breath were usually going on about the waiting time. But that was something Wally couldn't change.
Around midday everything calmed down a bit. Of course there was always a customer waiting but at least not with more customers behind them.
Having served someone their Frappuccino, Wally returned to the register and smiled at the next person to greet them.
Only that his smile froze in place and his breath stuck in his chest as he looked straight at Lex Luthor.
Luthor was looking at his phone, typing away and Wally… didn't dare to say anything, lest he drew the others attention to him. Would Luthor recognize him? It was difficult to tell. They had switched bodies once but… Wally didn't know what Luthor had done while having his powers, except cause chaos.
Swallowing thickly, he wondered if he could call Jean to swap him out without making the villain look up. He had just made his decision and meant to angle his body towards the kitchen when Luthor spoke up.
"Are you going to ask me for my order in this lifetime or-" Luthor had looked up during the annoyed remark and faltered.
Wally could point out the exact moment recognition flashed in Luthor's eyes, a small grin appearing on the other's face. He'd just have to play dumb. Should have done so from the beginning, instead of freezing up.
"Hello. What may I get you?" Just play dumb. Play dumb. The mantra going over and over in his head.
But Luthor just smiled at him, his eyes going over Wally's body behind the counter. "What a pleasure to… see you again. 'Wally', I assume that's short for Walter? Or maybe Wallace?"
"It's short for Wally. You're order?" Be slightly annoyed but dumb. That was basically his natural behavior, right? He could ace that.
"You know," began Luthor and actually put his phone in his breast pocket. "How about your number?" Smooth fucker. They both knew how it looked to the others here. Just a guy asking another guy for his number.
"How about the kind of coffee you like." He just needed to insist. To rebuff this fake flirting, even if it made him look kind of like an ass. Usually, he'd have a mad blush by now and no idea what to reply. But this was Luthor.
The twinkle in Luthor's eyes didn't vanish, if anything it got more amused by Wally's insistence on an order.
He was about to say more but Wally actually took the initiative this time, turning towards the kitchen and calling out loud. "Hey Jean. Could you take over for a second?" The customers behind Luthor were getting restless and he knew that the other wouldn't back down.
Wally wouldn't back down either. This was a League problem now. Because if Luthor knew him then he might find out the others. Depending on how much Luthor knew about him by now.
He turned to look back at him until Jean came out of the kitchen. She gave both of them a weird look before speaking to the person behind Luthor, prompting Wally to move around the coffee machine to were people picked up the coffee.
Was it wrong to indulge the other with this? Probably but… Luthor wasn't going away and Wally didn't know how to make him go away.
The businessman followed Wally, casually leaning against the counter. Amused and clearly waiting for Wally's next step.
Only that Wally didn't have one. He was acting purely on instinct and… it was failing him right now. There were still split-second decisions to make but at the same time he had to treat carefully. Luthor was a genius, wasn't he? Everything Wally said could be used weirdly.
If only Bats were here. Or Supes. Supes tended to draw Luthor's attention almost automatically.
"Order coffee or go." Okay. So it was a bit.. blunt. And straight forward too. Befitting more an angry customer than one who had asked for his number. He probably seemed rather hostile right now.
Luthor just shook his head. "If only it were that easy Wallace. But we both know that I can't just… go. Not after I met you."
God, he was so annoying. Luthor sounded even smooth while threatening Wally.
"You can and you will. Isn't there some fancy meeting you have to attend?" Maybe if he reminded Luthor of his job, maybe then…
But Luthor just 'tsked' and gently placed his hand on the one Wally had braced for support on the counter. He tried to pull back but Luthor had locked the muscles in his hand when he had reached Wally's wrist. "Don't be so shy," he murmured and Wally swallowed heavily. Nervously. "We've just begun and I, personally, look forward to it." He then looked over to where Jean handled the customers before looking back at Wally. "No coffee today. Maybe later."
Wally received a wink before Luthor let go and.. just left. Just like that. Without a fuss. Well, he had kind of threatened him but…Luthor only knew his name was Wally. Nothing else. Right?
Nervously tapping the counter, Wally stared at the door when Jean suddenly stood beside him. "Hey. Everything okay?"
Glancing at her and then at his hands, he nodded. "Yeah just…a mild form of harassment. That guy didn't know how to take a no." He could feel her looking worriedly at the door as well and then back at Wally.
She opened her mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it. "Do you need a break?" She asked instead of whatever she had wanted to say before.
But he just shook his head, forced his hands to stop tapping the counter and touched her shoulder as if she were the one who needed assurance. He took his place behind the register once more, smiling at the next customer and taking the order.
Wally didn't even know how to tell Bats that Luthor knew his name. Not that the how mattered much. He had to tell Bats. As soon as he got home since his communicator was beside his bed.
That one time he left it at home and this happened.
He dealt with every customer like before, even when his heart wasn't in it. His mind was racing and he wondered what Luthor would do now. Did he think Wally worked here? Would he cause Jean problems when he found out he didn't? There were so many possibilities.
Never before had Wally been glad to say bye to a friend when the day was over. Jean had tried to make him stay and eat some of the leftovers with her but he politely declined. So the leftovers were thrown into a bag and pushed into his hands before he could make an escape.
Wally appreciated it anyway.
Speeding home, once he was out of sight from anyone, Wally hastily unlocked his door, eager to get to the communicator.
Only that he didn't make it to the bedroom, having frozen up in the doorframe to the living room.
"You're home."
Luthor was sitting on his couch.
