Chapter Fifty-Five:

Bruce pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs into the phone, making his way up the front steps and into the Manor. "What is it?"

"It's about Wally," Kyle says, sounding urgent.

Bruce sighs again, already being able to tell his headache is getting worse. "Isn't it always?" he mumbles under his breath. "What about him?"

"I can't find him," Kyle says desperately.

Bruce stops in his tracks, furrowing his brows. "What do you mean you can't find him?"

Bruce can hear the sound of wind in the phone, as if Kyle is currently flying. "Meaning I went out for like twenty minutes to get us both some supper and when I got back he was gone. I told him I would be right back, Bruce."

"Maybe someone needed saving," Bruce offers, continuing back through the Manor and in the direction of the cave.

"No, I've searched everywhere in Keystone."

Bruce opens the grandfather clock and goes down into the cave, careful to not slip on the rock stairs. "Somewhere in the world then?"

"Well, that's where I hope you come in," Kyle says. "You have trackers in all of our suits, right?" Bruce refrains from answering. The League members aren't supposed to know about the trackers and Bruce had thought the only one who did know was Clark. "I was hoping you could use it to find his location. Please, Bruce. Wally… he hasn't been in a great place lately and I'm honestly afraid he'll do something reckless or something dangerous." Kyle pauses. "I mean, life threatening dangerous." The Lantern groans in frustration. "You know what I mean! Unnecessary life-threatening danger."

"Yes, Kyle," Bruce says slowly, pressing a button on the keyboard to the computer. "I do."

"So, will you? I'm really worried here."

"I'm way ahead of you," Bruce informs Kyle and he ignores the soft sigh that comes from the beta. The computer beeps and Bruce looks at the results. "It says he's still at his apartment."

Another groan from the Lantern and the wind in the phone picks up volume. Kyle must be flying faster. "But he's not! I just came from there, Bruce."

"Okay, calm down." Bruce looks around the cave, his eyes landing on the Batwing. Dick will be taking it out in a few hours if he can manage to leave his room long enough but maybe Bruce can use it before then. "I have Superman keeping an ear on Wally. If Wally was in trouble, Superman would tell me." Bruce walks up to the Batwing and glides a hand over the sleek surface. Dick has been a bit neglectful of the thing, the body of it needing a good cleaning. But Bruce supposes Dick probably isn't in the mood to do so right now. Not when the beta can barely drag himself out of his room to begin with. Luckily the rest of the kids have a handle on Gotham without Dick for now.

"But Superman is fighting a horde of robots right now with Wonder Woman. Can he really be doing that and be keeping an ear on Wally at the same time?" Kyle asks.

"How do you know what Superman is doing right now?"

Bruce can imagine Kyle rolling his eyes under the domino mask. "He called on the coms for help. Wonder Woman offered. When I offered, he said he and Diana should be able to handle it. Apparently, it's not bad enough for the whole League but bad enough to need assistance." There's a green glow at Bruce's peripheral and Bruce turns to watch it. "That's why I went to Wally's. To keep him company."

Kyle lands in front of Bruce and hangs up the cellphone in his hand. Bruce places his back into his pocket. "Do you have your com-link in right now?"

Kyle nods. "Of course. Whenever I'm suited up, I have it in."

"Good." Bruce leans onto the Batwing and places a hand on his stomach. It's starting to ache and he takes a deep breath, ignoring the headache pounding in his head. "Call Superman. Have him listen for Wally."

Kyle lifts one of his hands to his ear and speaks, asking about Wally. After a bit of waiting, Kyle lowers his hand and looks dejected. "He's too busy right now."

Bruce thins his lips. "Then we're going to have to do this the old-fashioned way." Bruce turns around and pops open the cockpit of the Batwing. He smiles at the sight, having missed this greatly.

Kyle eyes him as Bruce climbs inside. "Wouldn't it be better if I just used my ring? You are pregnant after all."

Bruce glares at the beta, starting the Batwing up. "Doesn't mean I can't fly my own plane." Kyle looks unconvinced but says nothing after. "You go check the battlefield where Superman and Wonder Woman are. Wally might have decided to go help anyway."

"And you?" Kyle asks him.

"I'm going to check Gotham." At Kyle's questioning look, Bruce elaborates. "He's been spending a lot of time around here, the Manor, as of late."

"He has?" Kyle looks away briefly before the beta's eyes dart back to Bruce. "Because of… Dick?"

Bruce studies Kyle and his demeanor. "Because I've been helping him." Kyle seems to relax at this and Bruce narrows his eyes. "Get searching, Kyle." Bruce closes the cabin to the Batwing and watches as Kyle flies off. With one last pet to his stomach and a deep breath, Bruce also takes off.

Flying the Batwing is like riding a bike. One doesn't forget how to do it and when you do manage to pick up the activity again, the person has forgotten just how much they enjoyed doing it in the first place. That's what the flying feels like right now to Bruce. Not having done it in months has made him deprived of the thrill flying the high-speed plane gives him, the feeling of freedom and power it provides. Bruce has missed this greatly and relishes in the fact that he is seated behind the controls once more.

Bruce presses a button to link up to the com-links the League members use, setting it for Kyle's frequency only, as he begins to sweep Gotham. So far, he doesn't see any red or yellow blurs. "What if we can't find him?" Kyle's worried voice comes through the speakers.

"He'll show up," Bruce reassures. "Don't start worrying unnecessarily just yet, Kyle."

Kyle sighs, the sound heavy through the speakers. "I know, it's just… he's my best friend, Bruce."

Bruce doesn't say anything at first, his suspicions rising. Finally, he says, "I know."

Silence descends on them for a while until Kyle starts speaking again. "Bruce?" Bruce hums to let Kyle know he is listening. "How's Dick?"

The question takes Bruce by surprise. He hadn't expected the beta to be interested in knowing how the other beta is doing. "He's… doing okay."

"Has he…" Kyle starts hesitantly. "Said anything about Wally?"

Bruce's eyes narrow and instead of answering the question, Bruce asks his own. "Have you found him?"

Kyle sighs and Bruce is going to have the sound of it ingrained into his head to fit right beside his headache. "No, he's not at the battlefield. I thought I would check Central City… again."

"You've already checked it?"

"Yeah, I checked it after Keystone," Kyle says. "He wasn't there or at Iris' house. She couldn't tell me where he had run off to."

"He could be anywhere, Kyle."

"I know." Kyle's voice sounds worried and sullen. "That's the problem. How are we going to find him, Bruce? I mean, what if he hurts himself?"

Alarm bells spike in Bruce's head and he feels his heart pick up speed with adrenaline. "What?" Bruce goes faster in the plane to hasten his search for the omega. "He's been that upset? The last time I talked to him, he seemed to be getting better."

"Dick wanted Wally to be a surrogate for his and Kori's child," Kyle says vehemently. "Tell me, if Clark had done the things Dick did to Wally and then told you he wanted you to be a surrogate for him and Lois, how would you feel? What would you pretend to feel?" Bruce's lips thin, knowing that if that had happened, a real possibility that might have eventually happened if things hadn't gone the way they had, Bruce would be extremely hurt. He doesn't know what he would do about it but he does know he would pretend to be okay.

"Now," Kyle continues. "Wally hasn't done anything to hurt himself yet but we all saw what happened out on the battlefield when Clark got shot with the Kryptonite bullet. Is it really that far a leap to believe Wally might do something to-" Kyle cuts off, having to gather himself and his emotions again. "We have to find him, Bruce."

Bruce nods even though Kyle can't see it. "Well, he's not in Gotham."

"He's not in Central either."

Suddenly, Clark's voice fills the coms. "Sorry to interrupt you two but Kyle, I finally got some time to find an answer to your earlier question."

Bruce can practically feel Kyle perk up through the speakers. "And?"

"Wally is currently in China ordering some food." The silence that follows is deafening.

Bruce imagines being able to hear Kyle's heart breaking. "Kyle?"

"Bruce?" Clark interrupts. "I have to go. Sorry. Wonder Woman, behind you!" Clark cuts off the feed.

"Kyle?" Bruce tries again. He can no longer hear the wind from the Lantern flying. "Kyle?"

"Sorry," Kyle's soft voice sounds through the speakers. "I'm sorry, I… I wasted your time, Bruce." The beta gives Bruce a humorless chuckle. "I worried for no reason, like you said."

"You did tell Wally you were getting supper, right?"

More silence and then a sadly muttered, "Yeah."

"Kyle-"

"It doesn't matter," Kyle cuts Bruce off. "You know, Wally can do what he wants and maybe I'm being too clingy. Maybe you are right and he's doing better."

"Kyle?" Bruce starts, hoping the beta will listen to him and not interrupt him again. "Just meet me at Wally's. We'll wait for him to come home so we can make sure he's really okay."

There's a long pause before a defeated, "Okay," makes its way through the speakers.

Bruce punches the speed all the way up on the Batwing and makes it to Wally's apartment in record time. He lands in a secluded alleyway and walks the few blocks to Wally's apartment, each step making his headache pound in his head. When he reaches the apartment building, Kyle is sitting outside on the steps. "Is Wally home yet?" Kyle nods, not meeting his eyes. He's holding a plastic bag. Bruce gestures to it. "What's that?"

Kyle holds it up as the beta stands. "It was the dinner I got Wally and I." He shoots Bruce a small smile. "It's cold now."

Bruce doesn't comment on it more and just motions for Kyle to follow him. They head up to Wally's apartment and Bruce is the one to knock on the door. It doesn't take long for Wally to answer, heavy bags under each of the speedster's eyes. "Kyle!" Wally exclaims, obviously hyped on caffeine. He's talking fast and Bruce almost has a hard time keeping up. "Where did you go? I thought you'd be here when I got back?"

Kyle is holding the plastic bag behind his back. "I forgot something so I had to go and take care of it."

"Oh!" Wally finally turns to him. "Hey Bruce! What are you doing here? I have Chinese food. Actually got it from China too. Have you ever had Chinese food that has come from China? On second thought you probably have." Wally giggles. "Sorry, I've had like fifty cups of coffee in the last," the omega counts on his fingers, "ten seconds." He shrugs. "Give or take a few milliseconds."

"Wally," Kyle begins, taking a step. "I thought we were going to eat together?"

Wally's smile falls almost immediately. "I know but…" he wrings his hands together. "I kind of just want to eat alone right now, Kyle. I'm sorry. I… I really appreciate what you are doing, I do, but I need… I want… to be alone." Wally reaches out and grabs a hold of Kyle's hand, squeezing it. "You're a really good friend, you truly are, but today…" Wally trails off, dropping Kyle's hand. "Today's just not a good day and I need to be alone."

Kyle opens his mouth but Bruce places a hand on the beta's shoulder to stop him. "We understand, Wally. We just want to make sure you're going to be okay."

Wally looks between them. "Yeah, I'll be fine. And Kyle, I'll," Wally smiles at the Green Lantern apologetically, "I'll call you later, okay? I'm sorry if I made you waste any food you might have gotten." With one last smile to the both of them, Wally shuts the door. Bruce feels Kyle go slack in the shoulders under his hand.

He guides the beta back outside. Once there, Kyle turns to him. "I don't get it. What's the difference between today's bad day and yesterday's bad day? He let me help him yesterday."

Bruce sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose again. "Kyle, sometimes people just need some space to deal with things on their own. They don't want to feel like they have to pretend in front of others."

"But Wally knows he doesn't have to pretend in front of me," Kyle says desperately.

Bruce lowers his hand to the side and eyes the beta carefully. Kyle is looking tired himself, worn out and defeated. "Kyle, listen to me." Kyle nods. "You don't want to be a rebound."

Kyle's mouth drops open, his eyes widen, and the fakest snort Bruce has ever heard comes out of his throat. "What?" Kyle fakes a laugh. "Rebound? What are you talking about? I'm not - I don't - tt, I don't like Wally like that. He's my best friend and only that."

"Wally was Dick's best friend too," Bruce dead pans.

Kyle's smile slowly disappears and he sags. "Is it really that obvious?"

Bruce shrugs, making his way back to the alley where he left the Batwing. Kyle follows. "Not until you started to take care of him."

Kyle squirms beside him. "It's not like that." Bruce raises an eyebrow at him and Kyle rolls his eyes. "I mean, I'm not looking to get into a relationship with him. I know he doesn't see me like that." He huffs. "I spent years listening to Wally talk about his crush on Dick, Bruce. Trust me, I know where I stand." Kyle shrugs and continues more quietly. "Plus, it's too soon for Wally to move on anyway."

Bruce gets into the Batwing, starting it up. "Dick thought Wally didn't see him like that either." He leaves Kyle with that, beginning to ascend into the air. He's just taking off when suddenly a sharp pain emanates throughout his head. Bruce grimaces and closes his eyes against it, bringing a hand up to bunch in his hair. He groans in pain, starting to shake with the intensity and nausea overtaking him.

The Batwing jerks suddenly and when Bruce squints his eyes open, there is a green glow around it. The plane is gently lowered onto the ground and the top popped off it. "Bruce!" Kyle quickly goes up to him in alarm. "Are you okay? What happened? You almost flew into a building!"

The pain in his head starts to dull and the bile that was threatening to come up his throat subsides some. He gently opens his eyes to peer at a worried Kyle. "I'm okay." Kyle looks unconvinced. "I just… felt a bit dizzy for a minute there," he lies.

"Bruce-"

"I'll be fine," Bruce interrupts, the beta looking concerned. "It was just a symptom of the pregnancy."

"I don't think-"

Again, Bruce cuts him off. "Who's the pregnant one here, Kyle?"

Kyle's eyes dart around, as if Bruce asked him a trick question. "You?"

"Exactly. That means I am the one knowledgeable about symptoms that come with a pregnancy and getting dizzy is one of them." Kyle frowns. "So that means there's no reason to tell Clark what just happened either."

Kyle looks uncertain, the edges of his mouth pulling down. "If you're sure."

"I'm positive." Bruce takes a deep breath, looks around the cockpit of the Batwing, and wonders how he is going to get home. He doesn't want the same thing to happen again and not have anyone around to save him this time, but he also doesn't want to give away his unease. Bruce's eyes find their way to the plastic bag that Kyle is still holding. "You know what? Why don't you join me and the boys for dinner?"

"What?" Kyles exclaims. "No, I do not want to see Dick."

"Dick will be in his room and then he will be going out on patrol. It'll be fine." Kyle frowns again. "It'll probably just be Tim and maybe Jason."

"What about… Damian?" Kyle asks.

"Damian is…" Bruce pauses, thinking back to how the kid has been acting as of late. "He's a tossup."

Kyle's eyes glance back at Wally's apartment building. The beta sighs loudly. "Okay, fine. As long as Dick won't be there."

"He won't be." Bruce starts the Batwing's engines again. They had automatically shut off when Kyle had landed the plane. "Follow me." With that, Bruce ascends into the air. Making sure Kyle is there beside him, he finally starts heading home once more, ignoring the worry building in his stomach.

A/N: Thank you for reading!