Due to popular demand (2-3 ppl really) an Interlude of Chapter 6 - Bruce's POV!


Bruce felt rather inconvenienced while he put the already prepared papers out in front of him in the meeting room of Luthor's company tower. Not that it was any fault of Luthor's (though the man surely had done something illegal in between this and their last meeting) since the appointment had been made in advance at a perfectly calculated rate. And Bruce never minded checking up on Luthor through these kind of things anyway.

Not only as a businessman but as a vigilante as well, since Luthor tended to hide things rather well, even if Clark kept an eye out for them.

But Wally had started to act strange (or not act strange, it was difficult to tell when the aforementioned person didn't show up at all) the past week and Bruce was determined to find out what the problem was.

Because it had to be a problem.

Of course it happened to them occasionally to be too busy to attend their superhero work but the way it was happening was suspicious. Wally didn't just…not show up while not telling them over an official channel. Or mentioning how he really couldn't do monitor duty during that time and he was so sorry (Bruce knew he wasn't).

Then there was the strong possibility that Wally might just avoid him. Maybe his interest had been coming on too strong? Thought he was pretty confident that he had been quite subtle about it all, up until the point where he had texted Wally about getting some lunch together.

He had been confident about that too.

Slightly shaking his head, Bruce took one of the papers and pretended to read over them for appearances sake. He actually should read over them but he was sure his departments and lawyers had everything set up perfectly. All that was missing was an agreement with Luthor, their signatures and then he could be off waiting in Wally's flat for the other. The redhead had to return home at somep-

"Bruce!"

His head snapped up and to the door where Wally stood slightly to Luthor's side, who looked just as confused as Bruce felt.

"Wayne! I mean that's…Bruce Wayne and… I'm a fan…," Wally added as an afterthought and Bruce had to give it to him as he schooled his own face accordingly to a blank expression, it was as good as any other excuse would get.

He turned his attention to Luthor who greeted him with a polite "Bruce, thank you for coming," and a firm handshake that he met. Nodding in Luthor's direction, he focused his gaze to Wally.

(What was Wally doing here?!)

"And who is your new assistant?" His thoughts were tumbling over each other as he kept a mildly curious facade, barely acknowledging Wally in a polite way a business man, and Bruce Wayne, tended to do.

"That's Mr. West," Luthor informed him uselessly but dutifully. "He recently joined my team and will be writing the protocol today."

Recently joined his team, Bruce mimicked the other within his own mind. He could only imagine how that had happened. Certainly not due to Wally's willingness if the Speedster's looks were anything to go by. Too pale, too thin, frazzled, if he had to put a word on it. For now.

It explained so much. If Bruce had to guess, and he was rather good at theorizing, he'd bet that there was no friend with a problem, rather than Wally having been forced to do something he didn't want. It would explain the radio silence, the excuses and not nearly enough text messages - not that they had written much before but Wally tended to send something in 10 messages when there only needed to be one.

"He won't be sitting down with us?" Wally looked like someone who should be sitting. At least to Bruce who knew what a healthy Speedster looked like.

Luthor went on about Wally being too anxious and that he ought to stand a bit as a solution, a dumb one if Bruce had ever heard one but Wally complied.

Whatever Luthor had done to him, said to him, it had its effect. Not only on Wally's state of health but on his behavior as well.

Bruce didn't like it one bit.

It wasn't as easy has he made it look to turn away from the redhead. Bruce wanted nothing more than to pull him to the side and demand answers and offer solutions. The first solution being the instinct to just run away from here but Bruce rarely indulged in those kind of urges.

Instead he (somewhat) focused on Luthor, giving the right answers or rebuking the other in a fitting manner. The papers between them were business after all, Wally standing over there against the wall however was something else entirely.

His plan to go to Wally's flat after this solidified only more. He knew that Wally slept at home, that he'd have to return at some point and then…and then they would talk. Sort this mess out while Bruce brought bags of food with him. Or ordered food. He'd have to ask Alfred about ordering somewhere huge amounts of food without it getting too suspicious.

From time to time he could hear Wally's stomach rumbling, the kind of rumbling the Speedster usually happened to have on really drawn out missions, when food and time to eat was scarce. Something the entirety of the League founders tried to avoid landing the redhead in. It was rather distracting and Bruce catched himself more than once making a fist, only to relax his hand again.

He didn't have enough justification to punch Luthor right then.

Instead the meeting went on, the contract providing a solid ground for them to work on. At last they came to an agreement and signatures were put down while Luthor waved Wally over to read over the written protocol while the redhead was made to bring Bruce a coffee.

Bruce pretended to study his own papers and notes when Wally placed the coffee on the table. He could feel the others body heat on his shoulder, making his hairline prickle due to awareness.

"Correct it and then copy it," Luthor said to Wally and handed the protocol over again. Did Luthor even realize how ridiculous that sounded? No normal assistant could correct a protocol that fast, especially handwritten, and copy it. If the other thought himself to be clever then he was severely mistaken.

But Luthor seemed oblivious to it, instead making small talk at him to which Bruce replied here and there, though his mind was preoccupied with trying to come up with explanations for this bizarre situation.

Wally returned in due time, having waited long enough and not long enough to make it seem strange, and held out the copy to him. "Mr. Wayne," Wally said to him and Bruce took the opportunity to look up at the redhead.

It was difficult to not offer any form of assuring expression so he settled for a friendly blank face. And then Wally glanced down at the protocol Bruce just touched. He glanced down.

Perfect. Something would shed some light on this. He gave a brief nod that could have been interpreted as a polite thank you and tucked the papers away. He wouldn't dare to look at it while inside this building. Instead he took all the other things of his and put them away before standing up.

Luthor walked him to the elevator, while being overly nice to him. If the other thought it would make Bruce offer some better conditions then he was wrong. Especially not now that Wally was here.

Exchanging the final pleasantries Bruce stepped into the elevator as Luthor turned around and walked back to the meeting room as the doors closed in front of him.

The weight of his folder was burning in his mind. In there was a message from Wally, who was now alone with Luthor (how often had he been alone with the man?), that would shed some light on the situation.

An elevator had never moved so slow. Surely this was what Wally felt like with the world being slow around him.

Cautiously he flexed his fingers around the folder as a soft ding popped up and the doors opened again. People acknowledged him on his way out but he barely put any mind to it, he had other things on his mind and they'd see it as such.

His ride was already waiting outside and he directed the driver (why hadn't he taken Alfred with him?) to take him back to his hotel. Technically he'd be safe to go over his papers now without looking too suspicious but…he wasn't Batman because he was so trusting towards others.

And yet…

Shooting a quick glance at the driver's head, Bruce decided that it was safe to look at it during the car ride. Luthor hadn't had a hand in choosing this vehicle nor the driver. He'd be fine.

He opened his folder and carefully glanced over the papers in there, most of them already known word by word due to the meeting, until a page with something close to readable writing appeared. It just showed just in how much of a rush Wally had been, because Bruce knew that the speedster could write neater than this.

Though it didn't matter. Bruce had long ago learned to read this as well.

Don't come to my flat!

Luthor has access to my phone and is threatening to look through it to find out who you guys are. He knew that you were in my flat this week and he knows when I leave or arrive.

He's also being creepy

I need a plan.

I'm sorry! I tried, I promise.

It… read more like a telegraph, only that the stop was missing at the end of each sentence. And what did Wally mean with Luthor being creepy? That could mean various things and Bruce could only hope it would be one of the lesser evils that came to his mind.

Reading it over once more, Bruce frowned at the apology. Wally certainly hadn't searched out Luthor to get into this mess. No. It was Luthor's fault and not Wally's. There was no need to feel sorry.

He'd have to tell him.

He put the paper away just when the driver came to a stop. Bruce was out of the car before the other could even attempt to get out and hold the door open for him.

So he'd actually have to attend the Gala this weekend in Metropolis. Originally, he'd had more important things to do - mainly keeping it free so that Wally could actually go to lunch with him - but now other things had become more important. Like getting said Speedster away from a dangerous villain.

On his way into the hotel he activated his communicator, nowadays no one batted an eye at a businessman talking to himself thanks to technology, and waited for someone to answer his call.

J'onn greeted him just when he entered his hotel room. "Batman."

"Call in an emergency meeting," Bruce began as he started to change into his other outfit. "as soon as possible. Don't bother contacting Flash, it's about him.

We have a problem."