Authors Note: Thank you to my two reviewer's last chapter, thank you for pointing out my anonymous review thing was blocked – also, a big thank you to the person who added me to their faves list. Hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Title: Brave New World
Rating: T (For Safety)
Summary: AU. Bruce Wayne is just trying to keep himself upright in High School. He's succeeding too – that is, until the beautiful Diana Prince comes into the picture…
Disclaimer: The Justice League and all mentioned characters belong to DC Comic Books. The title does not belong to me either. I own none of the said mentioned candy either.
Brave New World
Chapter Two
Bruce tried to ignore Wally cry of amazement as he pushed the button for the twentieth time that night.
"Wally," he said, exasperated, "no matter how many times you push it, the TV's going to come up in exactly the same way."
Wally nodded, still gazing at the large screen, "I know, but it's just so cool!"
Drool pouring from the corner of his mouth, Wally finally decided to leave the remote alone and flung himself next to Bruce on the massive couch.
"Man, how loaded are these guys?" Wally whistled, crossing one leg over the other, he looked enquiringly at Bruce.
"I don't know," for once in his life, Bruce was stumped, "I know they've got a lot, not sure how much."
Wally wasn't practically bothered. "Whatever they're got – I'd kill to have it."
As Wally decided to take a breather and head towards the bathroom, Bruce took a chance to look over the room. Coming from a rich family, he hadn't really noticed how fancy the room was. It was only when Wally mentioned it did Bruce finally take in the facts. Faux fur rugs were placed neatly around the spacious living room and dinky china ornaments took up most of the space within the room. Bruce had been coming to the Grayson's house for many years now and still it unnerved him how he could not have noticed. He supposed it was because of Wally. Meeting Wally had caused Bruce to open his eyes to many new facts and things (Such as detention)
Hearing a crash from somewhere above him, Bruce's eyes widened and he began to stand up.
"I'm ok! I can fix that!" Sighing, Bruce placed himself gently back in the leather chair.
He still didn't know how Wally had managed to arrive at the Grayson's. Bruce had specifically told him not to come tonight – but he'd come anyway. Sparing a glance at his young charge for the night, Bruce smiled. Dressed in velvet pyjamas and playing with expensive building blocks, Richard Grayson was the perfect image of a rich child. Thankfully for Bruce, Richard did not have the attitude of a stereotypical kid – an utter brat. Then again, that might be due to the fact that he couldn't talk yet. But whatever it was, Bruce found himself thanking the Grayson family. Eyeing the bowl of snacks that Mary had left out ('Just take whatever you like Bruce, we're not going to eat it') Bruce dove into it and pulled out a Black Jack. Normally, he stayed away from these during the week, but, nobody except Wally was going to see him and the black would go away by the morning. Taking his chances, Bruce unwrapped it and crumpled the wrapper in his hands.
"Ooh! Is that a Black Jack?" Bruce barely had time to move his precious bar away before Wally dove at him.
Cursing, Bruce pushed him onto the floor and spoke in his most evil voice. "Do not ever do that again." He pointed to the candy, "Mine."
Shaking, Wally suddenly remembered the secret passion that Bruce held for Black Jacks and slowly backed away.
"He heh. Ok Brucey, I'll just get a Snicker instead." Sweat oozing from every pore, Wally put his hand into the bowl and ran his hand smoothly around the interior.
"Hey, there's no Snickers!" His face was picture of anger, rechecking the bowl; he blew some air out the corner of his mouth and grabbed a Mars Bar instead.
With the hand not occupied by the chocolate, Wally reached down and picked up Richard. Placing him on his hip, he threw both himself and the child onto them couch – or, at least, he attempted too. Quickly ramming his candy into his mouth, he reached out with both arms to Richard and grabbed him before Wally hit the sofa.
"What did you think you were doing?" Of course, with the Black Jack in his mouth, it was hard for Wally to understand his friend – so he settled for a shrug of the shoulders.
Bruce ripped the bar from his mouth and started to ramble off into a long lecture, (The type he was famous for) with no intentions of stopping. Trying to save himself some fun time, Wally waved his hands in front of Bruce's face.
"Yo, Bat Boy! Fyi, I don't care!" Bruce scowled at Wally's nickname.
"Must you call me that?" He blew upwards and moved away the piece of hair that was annoying him.
"Well, yeah of course I do. I mean it's not every day you – Hey!" Bruce was spared by the embarrassment of the next statement due to Wally's short attention span.
"What?" he tugged Richard up higher and handed him a Rusk biscuit from a small tray located on the table.
As Richard began to chew slowly on the snack, Wally pointed to the window.
"Isn't that the new girl?"
Brows raised in bewilderment, Bruce handed the two year old over to Wally and walked over to the window, calmly.
"So it is. What's your point?"
Wally sighed, as if he thought Bruce was stupid. "I say we go welcome her to the neighbourhood!"
"No, just no Wally."
"Why not?" his tone was questioning.
"I've got to look after Richa-" his excuse was cut short.
"Screw that," Bruce glared at him for his choice in language, "Mary and John didn't say anything about you not being allowed to go out with him did they?"
"Well, no but –" once again, he was cut off.
"Well then let's go! Strap him in and I'll meet you outside."
Wally zoomed off – he wasn't named the fastest person on the track team for nothing – and left Bruce alone with Richard.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" the two year old just stared at him. Bruce sighed heavily. This was going to be a long night.
Break
Feeling red rising to his cheeks, Bruce tried to ignore the stares he was getting and continued to push along the bright pink baby stroller. He had completely no idea why it was that particular shade in colour, perhaps they had thought Richard was going to be a girl or maybe Mary just liked that colour. Either way, Bruce found himself cursing them. Hurrying to catch up with Wally, he stubbed his toe on the sidewalk. Trying to keep his yells at bay while limping, he pulled the pram into line with his friend.
Eyeing the baby's mode of transport with disgust, Wally spoke up. "I can see why you don't take him out more often."
Bruce just glared, the pain in his left foot numbing his brain – leaving him unable to come up with a witty comeback.
Sensing that Bruce was in no mood for talking, Wally left them in the dust yet again and sped off round the neighbourhood once more. Quickening his pace, Bruce began to trace Wally's steps, avoiding the small lines of dust he'd created. Chuckling slightly as he coughed, Bruce made the mistake of closing his eyes. Within seconds, he was surrounded by a group of girls – each dressed in matching hot pink outfits.
"He's like so cute!" One of them remarked.
"Thank you ladies, but I really have to go now..." Trying to ease his way out of the crowd, Bruce found that he was trapped.
"Oh damn…"
Break
"I know she's here. You saw her too didn't you Bruc…Ey?"
Wally tried not to laugh at the sight that his eyes were hungrily licking up. Well, it wasn't every day you saw your best friend getting harassed by a large gang of peppy girls. Wally shook his head, grinning madly all the while. He thought about going to help him, but that thought was shook out in seconds. Nah.
"Is he your friend?" A sudden voice and a tap on the shoulder caused Wally to jump in fright.
He turned around, clutching his heart for the second time that day, and he found himself staring at the very person he had been looking for.
"Uh…Yeah…Why?" Wally blinked, his mind trying to process how he had missed her.
"Then shouldn't you be helping him?" Her brows were laced with confusion and she was looking at him in such a way he felt compelled to answer.
"Well….I was going to yeah….But then I thought……No….Hm...Heh….Why don't I just go and help him right now?" Sweating, Wally zoomed off into the sea of Barbie's and helped Bruce smooth talk his way out.
"Why didn't you help me sooner?" Bruce yelled, ignoring Wally's random pointing. "You left me alone with tha-Oh, hello."
Blinking, two pairs of blue eyes gazed at each other. For a few moments there was silence – until Wally decided he couldn't take the quiet any longer.
"So," he swiftly moved into the conversation, like a lion stalking its prey, "What brings you to this part of town? Are you single? How do you like Gotham so far? Do you have a boyfriend? Do you want to go to the park with us?"
Stepping back as Wally edged slowly into her face, she answered his rapid fire questions. "My mother has a new job, yes, It's ok, different than what I was expecting, I already answered that, and yes." Wally silently pumped his fists at that, "But first," the boys blinked at her, "Didn't you have a baby with you?"
It took a moment for this piece of information to fully sink in. When it did Wally was the first to react.
"Holy Cow!" Racing back to where he last saw the stroller, he gasped in anger when he realized that the girls where making a break for it. "Hey you!"
The group stopped, realizing they had been found out. "Run!"
Hearing this command, the girls began to run away, thankfully, they were running in a straight line so it was easy for Wally to follow them. Letting out a warrior like cry, Wally tore after them, muttering swear words all the way.
Diana and Bruce gazed after him. An embarrassed silence fell over the duo.
"Is he always like…" Diana started, moving one hand towards her hips.
"Pretty much yeah." Bruce allowed himself to sigh. Correction – this was going to be an even longer night.
End Chapter Two
Brave New World
Authors Note: This was going to be longer, but I got stuck on where to take it somewhere between Diana's line ('Didn't you have a baby with you?' and Wally's reaction. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, feel free to point out any mistakes or something of the short.
