Yeah, I'm still alive. Sorry I haven't updated in a long, very, very long time but I'm back to school and I've been occupied.
Cheekylildevil: No, to be honest, I don't have any idea of what the last pairings will be.
SweetValerieThanx! Hope you like this one.
Brneyedgirl: Hope you like it, I had to write this for parts each time I had some spare time.
Alekin: Nope, I'm not a vet and I'm not going to be one but I do love animals and I like to study about them. Thanx for the compliments.
LilLadyG: I'm thinking it very hard so the date turns out the way I want, but we have some other things to see before that day. Just be patient and thanks for your words.
Lilac gurl: Here's Wally's assignment, hope you like it.
Vianna: Thank you, I'm glad u like my story. Hope you like this chapter, and don't worry about reviewing with another account, thank you for telling me of your mistake.
Zarola: That's the easiest way of finishing an argument.
Dancing through the StormThanks, I still don't have the pairings decided but I'll write hints of both of the pairings you mentioned.
Superheroxnerd: Thank you! Glad you like my story!
YingYangHinata: Thanx.
Ravenstarglazer: Thank you. I finally updated.
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
Disclaimer: I don't own the TT
Where we left: "Who asked you anyway?"
Now with the story…
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
Chapter 5
: 8:30 a.m. at Jump's Daily the next day:
Wally walked down the corridor towards his Boss' office, Jade was with him. Joe had called them both to his office so he could give them their assignment; Wally's first assignment in Jump City. They soon reached the door of their boss' office and Jade knocked three times.
"Come in." They heard the reply and Wally opened the door letting Jade in first. He closed the door behind him before walking up to stand before Joe's desk.
"Please take a seat." Both journalists did as they were told and waited for Joe to continue. "Well, as you know, Richard Grayson arrived here a couple of days ago and now he's the CEO of Jump City Wayne Enterprises. Yesterday, a fellow journalist interviewed him and tried to get information about his business with Slade Wilson –My father-, but he failed; Grayson said he wouldn't say anything about it until today or maybe tomorrow after everything had been sorted out. They're meeting at Grayson's office at 10:00 o'clock and we have to be there as many others reporters will be; I'll send you both because I want an interview with Grayson and another with my father."
"Why don't you ask your father yourself?" Asked Wally curious, Joe smiled embarrassed.
"I asked him yesterday about it but he told me that he wouldn't treat me any different to other reporters just because I was his son; it's as if we're not family when regarding work."
"Oh." Wally replied "Well, don't worry boss Joe; we'll get the job done."
"I know I can trust you with this." Joseph told them truthfully "Jade is one of my best journalists and Wally has great references; I expect only the best from you."
"You'll get it Joe, don't worry." Jade assured standing up and turning towards the door "C'mon Wally, we better get going if we want a place to park my car."
"Your car?" Wally asked following Jade out of the office.
"Of course; and I'm driving." Were the last words Joe heard before Wally closed the door; the blond boy sighed.
"I hate my dad sometimes."
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
: With Wally some minutes later:
"This is gonna be tough." Jade commented as she drove her car making her way to Jump City Wayne Enterprises "I've interviewed Slade before and he doesn't speak much, and I bet getting into Grayson's office won't be easy."
"Maybe for the other reporters it won't be." Wally said with a smirk "We'll get right through the door without any kind of problem."
"Oh, really?" Jade asked sarcastically "Great, perhaps he could give us a tour around the building after the interview too."
"He'll be too occupied for that but I'm sure he could send his secretary to do it." Wally said taking his cellphone from his pocket.
"This is not a joke Wally, I'm serious." Jade said as they stopped at a red light "We need a plan."
"Just trust me, ok?" Wally replied dialing something into his cellphone before bring it to his ear. Jade looked curiously at him "Hello there my dear friend; Richard Grayson!"
"What!?!?" Jade yelled in shock, she stared unbelievingly at her companion before she heard someone sounding the horn behind her so she could continue driving now that the light was back to green.
"What?... A yell?... No, that was nothing… yeah really… I'm fine, how about you?" Wally continued his conversation ignoring Jade's exclamation "Yup, I know that, and actually I was going to ask you for a favor… No, it won't take long… No, it's not money… Look, as my first assignment I need to interview you about your business with Slade Wilson but many other reporters will be there too and I'm sure you… What? Tomorrow? No, please; I need this interview today, otherwise I'll lose my boss' respect and that's so not good… C'mon, you know I'd do something like this for you anytime… Even if I don't know you that much you're my cousin's best pal so you don't need to have any doubts… Help me with my job and I'll repay you any way I can… I promise… Really?... Really?... Really?... Ok, I'll stop… Thank you… Ok… Sure… See you there… Bye!"
Wally hung up and looked back at Jade with a smirk, Jade glared at him as best as she could out from the corner of her eyes for a second before focusing her eyes back on the road.
"Didn't I tell you I would do it?"
"Shut up." Jade replied exasperated "You're just a lucky guy who happens to be Grayson's friend… Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"And ruin the surprise?" Wally asked mock offended "Now, who do you think I am?"
"Whatever." The female journalist rolled her eyes and sighed before continuing "So, what did he tell you?"
"He told me he would give us the interview today after Wilson leaves the building." Her companion answered "And he'll give the interview to the other reporters tomorrow morning so our daily will be the first one in the city to have the news about this meeting told from Richard's point of view."
"Ok then, you'll take Grayson, I'll take Slade." Jade said decided.
"Wouldn't you be more comfortable with Richard?" The redhead asked "He's single, why don't you try your luck."
"I'm going to work, not to get a boyfriend." The raven-haired girl answered "Besides, why do you think we could fit together?"
"I was just saying, don't take it too seriously." Wally retorted chuckling "But are you sure you want to stay with the other reporters outside trying to get Slade to talk? I can tell Richard that you will be the one interviewing him if you want."
"I told you I've dealt with this man before, and I've been fighting with other reporters to get the news ever since I started to work for Joe." Jade commented "I'm sure I'll be just fine."
"Well then, if that's what you want." Wally said turning the radio on and starting to look for a good station.
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
Later that morning with the Journalists:
"Well, I guess we're on time." Jade said closing the door of her car behind her "There are some reporters here already and there are still more to come."
"Do you know anyone here?" Asked Wally looking at the other reporters.
"I've seen some of them before but I don't like to fraternize with the 'enemy" Jade answered making quotation marks with her hands as she said 'enemy'.
"Ok, I get it." The redhead nodded before spotting another redhead "Hey could that be…?"
Wally walked towards the redhead with Jade a few steps behind him, when he was close enough he discovered that the person he saw was, indeed, someone he knew.
"Roy? What are you doing here?" Roy looked up to meet his cousin's curious gaze.
"Some friends and I were called to make sure no-one gets shot or hurt in any way while the meeting is held." Roy replied rather coldly "And, let me guess; your first assignment?"
"Yeah, pretty cool, isn't it?" The police officer didn't say anything and just stared far ahead "Is something wrong?"
"Excuse me?" The questioned boy answered incredulous "Do you even have to ask?"
"But I didn't- Is this about yesterday?" Silence gave Wally the answer he needed "Aw, c'mon; that's in the past."
"You promised me you'd be home at half four and you arrived an hour later." Roy said menacingly "Be thankful that Kori had other things to do and we couldn't go out on our date yesterday, otherwise…"
"I have apologized like a thousand times already." Wally's tone was exasperated and ashamed "I promised I would make dinner for the next five months –which means I'll have to go to visit you if I get a house of my own before that time-, can't you just forget it?"
"It's not about me, you know how the twins can be; I need someone to watch over them and I thought I could trust you with that, but noooooo, you just had to be goofing around with Rachel yesterday and break your promise."
"I wasn't goofing around!" Wally excused himself as he blushed a little "Gar, Rachel and I had a great time together; that's why I was late yesterday. Can't someone make a mistake once in a while?"
"Whatever." Roy rolled his eyes and then noticed the person behind his cousin "Hey Jade."
"Hey Roy." Jade answered, both of them had spoken without showing any kind of emotion "It's been a while, you already got a new girlfriend I see."
"Yes, how about you?" Wally looked back and forth between his two acquaintances with a curios expression but they ignored him.
"I'm focusing only on my job at the moment."
"Good, I hope you're happy with it."
"I am, thank you."
"Hold on a minute!" Wally yelled exasperated waving his arms "What's going on here? How do you know each other?"
"I'll answer that once you tell me how you know each other." Jade replied crossing her arms over her chest.
"He's Richard's best friend and he's the cousin I mentioned during my conversation with the CEO." Wally explained "Now you answer my question."
"Well," Roy started "By any chance do you remember what I told you about my last girlfriend before Kori?"
"Yeah," The blue-eyed boy answered looking up trying to remember exactly what his cousin had told him about that girl "She was an Asian-American girl with black hair and… dark… green… eyes."
As he said the last part, Wally turned slowly to face Jade and took a look at her. After the revelation had sunk into him he mouthed an 'Oh' and heard his cousin sigh.
"I see your brain is working this morning." Roy said half-sarcastically half-hostile "It really surprises me that you didn't realize Jade's my ex the moment you saw her."
"I think he likes to think about more important things, he doesn't kill time thinking about you like you do." Jade spoke up.
"Would you get over yourself?" Asked Roy "We both agreed to break up because we realized we just didn't fit together."
"Yeah, yeah." Jade replied nonchalantly "I'm going back to my car to get ready for the interview."
"I'll check out the place to make sure everything's ok." The police officer said walking away.
"You do that!" Wally called after them "And I… I… I'm going for a Cappuccino."
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
: With Richard twenty minutes before the meeting:
"Ok then, is everything ready for the meeting?" Richard asked Kat who was typing something on the computer.
"Yes Mr. Grayson, for the tenth time; everything is ready." She answered not looking away from the screen "Why are you so nervous about this meeting?"
"Well, this is Slade Wilson for crying out loud. I just moved here and I know just how powerful he is." Rich answered with a sigh.
"You are the most powerful man in Jump City now: you're in no need to feel nervous." The blonde woman replied still calm.
"I'm not nervous." Rich defended himself "But the first impression is always important."
"You gave the CEO of Wonder Enterprises a very good impression yesterday, and even if she's a girl, what would make this meeting different?" Asked Kat finally turning away from the computer screen.
"I don't know, the rumors about Wilson perhaps." Rich proposed.
"They're just rumors." Kat assured returning to her writing.
"Yes, sure they are." Rich said more to himself than to his secretary "By the way, after the meeting I'll be meeting a friend of mine; his name's Wally West, let him in when he asks for it as long as it is after Slade has left the building… Give advice to the security guard so my friend won't have any problems."
"Got it Mr. Grayson." Kat replied with a nod 'Could this be the same Wally?'
"Ok then, I'm going back to my office." The black-haired boy said walking away "I want coffee ready by the time Slade arrives."
"You'll have it, don't worry!" Kat called after him watching him disappear through the door of his office "You just gotta love him."
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
: Outside the building at 10:00 a.m. sharp:
"He's here! Slade Wilson is here!" Wally and Jade looked up and saw a limousine approaching to the entrance door of Jump City Wayne Enterprises; the other reporters were already running there with their cameras and tape recorders or cell-phones in hand.
"I'll need your help Wally." Jade said quickly handing him her digital camera "You're taller than me so I need you to try and take some photos while I try to get into the crowd and see if I can get any comment out of him."
"Gotcha!" Replied Wally before they started to run towards the people tumult.
There were flashes everywhere as Slade Wilson got out of his limousine and walked towards the building's door; the police were holding the reporters back so the CEO of Wilson Enterprises could get into the building without any kind of problem. The red-haired journalist tried to get some pictures of him but he could only take two and, probably, only one of them would be useful.
Once Slade had entered the building the police officers and the security guard of the building stood in front of the door blocking the reporters' access. After a few tries the reporters gave up and backed off just a little. Wally found his friend and joined her in the now calm crowd.
"Hey, he didn't say a word right?" Wally stated more than asked.
"No, I think he won't talk until the meeting is over." Jade said with a shake of her head "Did you get any good photos?"
"I took two but I think just one of them is worth keeping." The man answered showing his workmate a picture that showed Slade's serious profile. Jade nodded in approval.
"I think it will do. When will you get inside with Richard?"
"Once Slade is out of the building; I don't think they would let me in earlier." Wally replied with a shrug "I just hope this meeting doesn't take long."
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
: An hour later:
"Here he comes!" At the yell Jade and Wally walked towards the door ready to continue doing their job.
"Ok, I'm going inside now and we'll meet again at your car once we're finished." Wally called, he saw Jade nod before pushing her way to the front of the crowd so she could be near enough to get the answers she needed.
"Do you have an appointment, Sir.?" Asked Charlie stepping in front of the journalist before he could walk through the door.
"My name's Wally West and I have an appointment with Mr. Grayson." Wally answered offering his hand to the security guard.
"Oh yes, I was informed you were coming; you can come in." Charlie said before shaking hands with Wally "My name's Charlie by the way."
"Nice to meet you Charlie, I'll see you later." The redhead entered the building before turning back to Charlie once again "Richard's office is on the top floor, right?"
"Yeah, once you walk out of the elevator you'll see his secretary's desk; the huge door parallel to the elevator is the one you're looking for." The blonde man answered with a nod.
"Ok then, thanks!" Wally yelled before racing to the other side of the building where the elevator was located. Some of the people that were on that floor looked at him strangely but if the security guard had granted him access to the building then there was no problem with him being in there. Wally pressed the button of the elevator and waited for it to arrive; some people stood by his side, too, waiting for the elevator. After a few moments he saw the elevator coming down through the transparent wall that supported the machine, he discovered that the elevator walls were like crystal and so he could see the people inside it.
A 'ding' sounded as the elevator stopped before him and opened its doors allowing the people inside to walk out of it leaving space for the ones waiting outside to step in. Once everyone was inside and all of them had pushed the button of the floor they wanted to get to, the doors closed and the elevator started to ascend. The journalist rested his hands against the transparent wall and looked down, up; everywhere he could. He liked to do that with these kind of elevators; it was a good way of knowing more or less what he could find on each floor he passed by. Again, he received some weird looks from the people around him but he didn't care: he wanted to do things his way and that was what he was going to do.
A few moments later he finally reached the last floor, he was the only one who wanted to go there, something good; that way there would be no interruptions while he was doing his interview. He spotted the secretary and went straight to her desk.
"Ahem, excuse me, Miss?" Kat looked up from her computer and found a red-haired man staring down at her "I'm here to interview Mr. Grayson, my name's Wally West."
"Oh, right. Just a moment please." Kat pushed a button on the intercom before speak again "Mr. Grayson, Mr. West has arrived."
"Let him in."
"You may enter now Mr. West." Kat said turning back to Wally.
"There's no need to be so formal, call me Wally." He replied with a smile before walking to the door and opening without knocking. Peeking inside he saw Richard sitting on his big leather chair at the other side of the room "Hi Rich."
"Hi Wally, come in." Wally obliged and sat on a chair at the other side of Richard's desk "How did things go out there when Slade left?"
"Crazy." Wally replied "All the reporters went straight to him once he was outside, I'm glad I didn't have to stay and interview him instead of you."
"Who's interviewing him then?" Asked the curious black-haired man.
"My workmate is, but don't worry about it now." Wally answered "I'm sure you have a lot of other things to worry about at the moment."
"Yeah, with all these papers, and the meetings, more interviews tomorrow, picking Robin up and that outing this Saturday with-" Richard cut himself off before he could say anything else, but Wally had heard perfectly fine that last part and couldn't help but smirk.
"What? Richard's found someone special already?"
"No!" Rich exclaiming a little too loudly "Ahem, I mean; it's just an outing between friends."
"Oh no, you can't fool me; I know there's something more behind all of this."
"How can you be so sure?"
"'Cause you're as red as my hair." Wally replied snickering after seeing Richard's face turning even redder, if possible "C'mon, who's the girl?"
"I'm telling you, it's nothing important." Richard insisted.
"If it's nothing important then I can't understand why you can't tell me her name…We're talking about a girl here, right?"
"Of course we're talking about a girl." The CEO's voice sounded a bit offended.
"All right then, who's she? Your secretary?" The journalist asked playfully.
"Trust me, that would never happen." Rich answered with a sigh.
"Ok then, who is it?" Wally asked again.
"If I tell you, do you promise not to tease me about it?"
"I promise." Wally knew he would most probably break that promise, but he just so desperately wanted to know. He smiled innocently so Richard could feel more comfortable.
"Ok." Richard took a deep breath before speaking "I'm going for a walk through the park this Saturday with Rachel… But it's at noon so it won't be very romantic, and that's just what I want."
"What?" Asked Wally his eyes open wide, his smile had disappeared the moment Richard had said the name of a person he had been visiting the past day "With Rachel?"
"Yes, happy? Look, I think we should start with the intervi- Wally?" Richard looked strangely at Wally because all the color had drained from his face leaving him looking almost pearly white "Wally, are you ok?"
"Ye-No, I mean; I need to use the bathroom." Wally answered shaking his head.
"You can use the one on this floor." Richard offered "It's right out of the office, the first door to your right."
"Thanks, I'll be right back." Wally walked to the door and exited from the office leaving the door open, he turned to his side and started to walk to the door in front of him.
"That's your left Wally." Richard called after his friend who turned around and made his way to the other door.
Once Wally was inside the bathroom he looked at his reflection in the huge mirror that was hanging from the wall and sighed deeply.
"OK, this can't be real." He said to himself "I can't believe that Richard and Rachel are going out… together… Aw man, this isn't exactly what I expected to happen today."
Wally rested his head on his hands and shook his head a little.
"This is so no good… What will I do? What can I do?" The journalist stayed in silence for a moment before raising his head to look at his reflection again "I know! I know what I'll do! He said they were just friends so I don't think this will cause trouble, besides, I enjoy the exercise..."
AT LIGHT SPEED LOVE COMES AND PLANTS ITS SEED
Well, that's it for the moment, I hope you liked it. Sorry it took so long for the update but school is taking most of my time, I'll continue with this as soon as I can. I promise.
Meanwhile, please review so I can know how I'm doing it so far.
Next Chapter: A little more about Wally and Richard. Wanna know what happened with Rachel while the two men were meeting? You'll know it in the upcoming chapter too.