Alright here is the third chapter! Bruce over at Barry's house, both of them alone in the living room on the couch while the boys play video games upstairs, perfect for romance right?
Sorry not yet. I'm attempting to stick close to character and we all know how Bruce Wayne is with relationships. That, and Barry did just get a divorce.
I will stop chatting now and get to the story.
Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Speedster
Bruce felt a little more than awkward. He wasn't sure why he even opened his mouth in the first place to land him at Barry's door with Dick recounting the video games in his bag. Without even knocking the boy wonder walked in and called "Wally I got the new Zombie Slayer 3!" As he ran up the stairs to what could be assumed the younger speedsters room.
The house had been cleaned up a bit with a more organized stack of boxes that was significantly smaller than before somewhat hidden by the stairs. Though there seemed to be a sense of emptiness the home was nice and cozy with a decent sized television and warm couch in the living room, and a visible table meant for company in the kitchen.
Out of said kitchen came the blonde with a slight smile on his face. His blue eyes were still dull but a little brighter than last time. "Hey Bruce." He wiped his flour covered hands on his apron, the smell of cookies wafting in from the kitchen. "I was just making some of Wally's favorite sugar cookies, Iris gave me the recipe to make when he's over." He explained, and Bruce figured that was his excuse for being a bit of a mess. "Dinner is also almost done. It's my dad's recipe for roast beef, and my own cheesy potatoes."
"It smells wonderful Barry." Bruce smiled politely on the outside, but knew Barry wouldn't expect any more than that out of the evening. "I didn't know you cooked."
"Iris usually did that, I learned but didn't need to after we got together." Barry shrugged but the slightest hesitation was there from those shaking shoulders.
"I see..." Bruce nodded and followed the man I to the kitchen, leaning on the counter next to him like a billionaire would. "My offer still stands." He stated, looking at the side of the speedsters face as he placed cookies on a towel covered plate.
"Bruce I think we both know you don't want to listen to how Iris and I bit the dust." Barry smiled a little at Bruce and glanced up before sliding the pan into the sink and checking on dinner.
"No offense Barry, but that's why I'm here. This isn't good for you, the League, or Wally. You're not in your right mind and that can put everyone in danger." Bruce felt himself dip back into Batman, his icy eyes almost stareing at the speedster accusingly.
Sighing a little Barry fidgeted around his kitchen, stirring this or adding something to that before pressing his palms on the counter and looking down as he spoke quietly. "Iris was cheating on me. He was some average guy, and he could be around a lot more than I could. With everything I made her feel neglected. I..." He trailed off and looked away. "I came home about a month ago and she was with him, and she didn't even seem to care. No guilt or sorrow, just... Nothing. Things got worse when I tried to make them better, and she made me sign the papers." Leaning on the counter Barry covered his face with his hands. Short shaky breaths seemed to leave him as he tried to calm himself down.
Bruce frowned deeply as Barry went on, feeling a small sense of understanding. He'd been the man in the bed while the husband came home, and that feeling was bad enough. "It was for the best Barry. She couldn't handle the life she would have had to live," he responded just as quiet as the blonde had been before.
"Yeah..." Barry nodded and stood up straight. It was silent again other than the sounds of the boys upstairs playing their games loudly, until he turned around with a smile. "So the food should be done, you wanna go get them?" He asked, walking over to pull a pan out of the oven.
Deciding he could wait to make the process of grief harder for the male later Bruce nodded and walked over to the end of the stairs calling up "Barry says food is done boys!" When he returned to the kitchen he was met with a raised eyebrow and a hand on Barry's hips. "What?" He asked, genuinely amused by the response he was getting from the slightly shorter male.
"I could have done that myself." Was his only response as he shook his head and began to get plates out. He was both shocked and a little annoyed it seemed when Bruce walked over and grabbed the plates from him, responding with "Then why didn't you?"
He was met with a sharp glare that rivaled any woman's and a sharp "get those on the table."
Bruce caught himself about to laugh and simply smiled as he set the plates on the table. "You're about as bad as Alfred." He shook his head.
"I bet he can actually whack you with one of those trey things." Barry responded with a smirk, and that was the first time since that meeting he saw Barry lit up and happy. It made him almost smile return, but he didn't.
"Nah Alfred has his own way of dealing with all of us." Bruce smiled to himself fondly over the man, and then looked up as Wally came speeding down the stairs and Dick jumping over them completely.
"Woah Barry this looks freaking amazing!" Wally grinned as he sat down and bounced happily in the chair.
"Save some for all of us Wally." Dick teased and shoved the speedster playfully.
After a bit of banter between them Barry 'scolded' Wally and smacked him playfully, earning a loud laugh from Dick.
Bruce watched things unfold, sitting at the table with this broken man and these two children who seemed to be the light of his life. The way Barry moved and glanced around, the way he talked with the kids and Bruce himself led the detective to decide something he didn't plan on.
There was much more to Barry Allen than he originally thought, and he planned to find out what was hidden deep inside of him. For safety purposes of course.
so here is the third chapter! I hope you liked it i loved writing it, and i really do enjoy these two.
Read and reply, comment, tell me how i'm doing and such!
till the next chapter.