(Disclaimer: I still don't own Justice League, Nightwing or anything DC related. Or do I? But seriously, I don't.)

First Steps

Chapter Two: Introductions

Wally stood off to the side of the darkened elevator as it ascended the new, Metropolis based Watchtower. He looked at his feet, the wall, the ceiling, anything that wouldn't involve his looking at the tall Brazilian stood next to him. He had only recently learned from J'onn that she was called Fire, and that just drove him even crazier. She couldn't have a more perfect name as far as he was concerned. It didn't help that she looked almost completely naked when she 'lit up'. He had tried to keep his infatuation to himself, although he probably wasn't doing a good job of it. He stole a glance at Fire, and to his horror, she was looking back at him. He quickly snapped his head back.

Front and center, Wally. Front and center. Maybe she didn't even notice. What's taking this elevator so long? This tower isn't that big. Maybe the elevator's broken!

Wally smiled in hope, thinking of the possibilities, and then his eyes widened in shock.

Oh God, maybe the elevator's broken. How long does it take to fix these things? A few hours? A day? I can't survive a few minutes with her, let alone a day!

Just as Wally was about to break out in a sweat, the elevator came to a halt, and through the small window in the elevator, Wally saw John's head come into view. If he wasn't about to start hyper ventilating in panic, he probably would have laughed at the image of John's head floating. As it was, the doors seemed to open at a snail's pace, causing Wally to tap his foot subconsciously. Fire looked over at the noise, and Wally quickly put a stop to it. He gave her a nervous smile, and she smiled back, showing her teeth in the most beautiful grin that Wally had ever seen. She started to walk out of the elevator, and waved as she left.

"Bye," she said, laughing slightly as she went.

"Buh," Wally said back, grinning like an idiot the whole time. John stepped on, and the doors closed behind him. The familiar hum of the elevator filled the small room again.

'Buh'? The best you could manage was 'Buh'? Come on man! You can pick up chicks in your sleep! What's different about this one? You're THE FLASH, for Pete's sake! She should be nervous around you, not the other way around!

Wally was so involved in his own head, he obviously missed something John had said, because he was giving him a concerned look. Wally shook his head free of his previous thoughts.

"Huh? What?"

John took a deep breath. "I said, are okay?"

"Uh, yeah… why?" Wally questioned, his eyes narrowing. Both he and Shayera had been acting like this recently, and he was getting a bit irritated by the whole 'I'm worried ever since you disappeared after going faster than you've ever gone before' thing.

"You just seemed a bit… spaced out there."

"How'd you mean?"

John smiled slightly. "Never mind."

Something about that smile grated on Wally, but he let it pass, not wishing to start a confrontation that would undoubtedly end in front of all the other members.

They both shared a brief silence in the elevator, watching the lights flash by the window, before Wally broke the silence.

"You have any idea what this meeting's about?"

John shrugged, and shook his head. "No idea."

The doors promptly opened, and the two stepped out and walked through the hallway and into the conference room where the founding seven members would discuss Justice League business. Well, six of them would discuss Justice League business. Wally would just try and stay awake during all the endless reports and analyses that were brought before them. The only member who he actually listened to was Shayera, and that was only because she knew him well enough to know when he wasn't paying attention, and always made him pay for it later.

Painfully.

The others were already sat in their seats except Batman, who was nowhere to be seen, which didn't surprise Wally, considering he was a 'part timer' and all. John took his seat around the table and Wally followed suit, admiring the Flash logo he painted on the back of the chair, and chuckling at the memory of Bats' expression when he had first seen it. It was one of the few times he had shown any emotion towards Wally other than contempt and impatience. Clark usually kicked off the meetings, so Wally was a bit surprised when J'onn stood and spoke first.

"First of all, I'm sorry for announcing this meeting at such short notice, but Batman insisted that we discuss this matter."

Bats insisted on something? On something League related? Now Wally was interested. Now what could be so important to Bats that he would want a big meeting with the seven big wigs?

As if to answer Wally's question, the elevator door slid open, and Batman stepped out, followed by… Wally wasn't quite sure who he was.

Geez, how many sidekicks does Bats have? What's this guy's name? Batboy?

Wally smiled slightly at his own joke, but quickly snapped back to reality as Batman spoke.

"This is Nightwing…" Batman said, gesturing to the young man behind him, "and he has been asked to join the Justice League."

That's it? We're here to welcome some clone of Bats into the League? Wally looked over at his other team mates, and they had similar expressions on their faces, with the exception of Clark and J'onn, J'onn having no readable expression while Clark stood and smiled.

"Welcome to the Justice League, Nightwing. It's good to have you aboard."

Nightwing smiled and nodded. Wally raised an eyebrow, surprised.

Whoa. He can smile?

"Good to be here."

And he can show emotion! Maybe we should just replace Bats with this guy, Wally mused, slightly distracted by the feeling of familiarity he was getting from the visitor. Maybe I've met him as Wally West…

Diana slowly raised her hand.

"I don't mean to be rude, but was there any reason for all of us to be here to welcome-" she looked at the visitor expectantly.

"Nightwing," he said politely.

"-Nightwing into the League? This usually doesn't require more than two or three founding members, and I'm sure we all have pressing business to attend to."

Wally raised his arm.

"Yeah, I was kinda wondering about that. I mean, what's so important about this guy?" he said, forgetting who was stood patiently by the table. He smiled apologetically. "No offence."

"None taken," Nightwing said, his expression unreadable.

Guess he has some Bat traits after all, Wally thought.

Clark broke the awkward silence that followed.

"Actually, it was Batman's idea that we hold this meeting."

All eyes fell on Batman. If this had any effect on him, it didn't show. He simply looked at Nightwing.

"Wait in the hall."

Wally was sure he saw Nightwing's jaw grinding, but decided not to say anything, pleased at the fact that even his sidekicks couldn't stand Batman. Wally's thoughts were interrupted by the doors to the hallway hissing shut as Nightwing stepped through them.

Making sure they were securely closed, Wally started to speak, but was interrupted by Clark.

"What's the problem, Bruce?" he asked, the fatigue in his voice suddenly so apparent. Wally wondered what exactly the big blue boy scout had done to tire himself out so much, but pushed it aside, being too interested in the conversation unfolding in front of him.

"I don't want him in the League."

"Why not? He seems pretty capable from what you've told us."

"Yeah, what's the problem?" Wally asked, smirking. "Afraid he'll steal your thunder?" he asked, well aware of what the response would be.

Wait for it… wait for it… THERE it is…

The Bat-glare. Patented in Sweden.

Wally decided to return the favour with his own patented Flash-glare, wondering how long Batman could actually hold. If he was honest, Wally had never tested how long the Bat-glare could go on for, usually avoiding it at all costs. But this time, Wally wasn't going to run. He was going to stick it out.

Shayera interrupted the ensuing silence, looking at Batman with a slightly bored expression.

"So why bring him all the way out here just to say 'sorry kid, go home'?"

Batman broke the glare to look at Shayera, and Wally smirked and reclined back in his chair slowly, making a silent reminder to thank Shayera later for helping him in his victory.

"I didn't want to; but J'onn insisted I discuss it with the rest of you."

Wally looked over at the Martian, surprised that he had shifted the blame onto Batman at the start of the meeting. J'onn looked at him.

Why J'onn, I didn't know you had it in you.

I'm afraid I couldn't resist, J'onn telepathically responded, a slight smile on his face.

"I don't understand the problem. Is it because you don't think he's experienced enough?" Diana asked, the impatience in her voice seeping through. Wally wondered what she was in the middle of doing when the meeting was announced. He promptly decided he didn't want to know; too much awkward imagery for a meeting.

"As I recall, that was why you denied Batgirl and Robin entrance into the League," J'onn chimed in.

"Yeah, just who is this guy? Is he another sidekick?" Wally asked, the familiarity Nightwing held in his brain starting to bug him to no end.

"He was," Batman responded, emphasis on the 'was'.

This just confused Wally more.

"So if he isn't a sidekick anymore, why are you deciding whether he gets in or not? Isn't he kinda… out of your hands?"

The room was silent. Clark looked over at Batman.

"He's right, Bruce. I know how you feel, but he's become a hero in his own right, and we can't deny him entry because you're feeling overprotective."

There was a long silence. Wally was starting to get dangerously bored. Wally knew he was, because he always did the same thing when he started to get bored. He would look at Batman's pointy ears and wondered what he would look like without them, and whether he could move fast enough to take them off without Batman noticing. Considering Batman's demeanour at the moment, these were not the best thoughts to be having. Wally decided to call an end to the meeting.

"Could we just put this to a vote and get on with our day?"

Diana nodded. "I second that."

Clark stood. "All right. Those in favour, raise your hand."

Diana's hand shot into the air, beating even Wally, as every hand slowly raised, with the exception of one member. Clark gave a concerned glance in Batman's direction, then looked at Wally.

"Wally, would you mind bringing him in?"

Wally gave him a grin and a thumbs up, and whizzed to the door, impatiently waiting for it to open. Nightwing was stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall next to the door, his head down in deep thought. Or impatience, Wally couldn't tell. He was just struck by how familiar the pose seemed.

Okay, now I've definitely seen that pose before.

Wally pushed it aside yet again, and put on his best official voice.

"Sorry about the delay. C'mon in."