AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for such a short chapter guys. I haven't been able to really sleep the past couple of days, and I'm typing this right before I get to work. Will all the dark stuff that has happened to Batman I thought maybe some light heartiness would be in order. Enjoy. Will post a longer chapter and get back to main storyline in chapter 11.

Chapter 10

The next few days in the Justice League were hectic after their meeting. Batman went back to his usual job as shadow king behind the League as Flash went back to his antics. Between them it seemed as if nothing had changed. Strangely enough, however, when Batman saw Flash flirting with Wonder Woman or talking with Hawkgirl he found himself frowning at the younger man. He had always done this, but now he found there was an extra element to his distaste of the younger man flirting with the women. It was not until he saw Flash walk in with Wonder Woman into the cafeteria he realized what it was he felt.

He was jealous.

Batman did not like the idea of Flash flirting with a woman. In fact, he did not like the idea of his fellow comrade associating with another person in a sexual manner at all. He had been sitting at a table with Green Lantern talking with him about a shift the other man needed him to cover. When he noticed Hawkgirl walk up to the table Batman watched sensing it was all about to go horribly wrong.

"I'm sorry, I thought we were having dinner." Hawkgirl said frowning at Wonder Woman. The Amazonian had a matching frown on her face as well.

"Is it Tuesday? Silly me, making dinner plans with two beautiful women on the same night."

"Uh huh." Wonder Woman said frowning as she gazed up at Hawkgirl.

"We can do this another time." The other woman responded as she turned to leave. Batman didn't know when he did it, but suddenly he found himself walking towards the table. Ignoring Green Lantern who asked him what he was doing.

"Flash." Batman said. It felt as if someone else were saying these things. Yet Bruce wanted to them. Flash blinked turning around in his seat to stare at the other man. He seemed surprised the other man had approached him.

"Yes?" Flash asked.

"You promised me you and I were having dinner tonight. Since you cancelled on me last Wednesday." Batman lied easily. Flash stared his mouth opening as if he meant to argue the point. Abruptly closing it his eyes widened as the younger man tried to think of what to say. Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl looked equally shocked as well and exchanged glances.

"Well, you know, because you went and sat with John I just assumed…well, you didn't want to anymore." Flash said awkwardly stumbling over his words. Batman frowned playing the part of a displeased man at having his appointment canceled as he continued with his lie.

"Did I ever say I wanted to cancel? I had to discuss something important with John, regardless of that fact you assumed I no longer wanted too. You never even told me you had made other arrangements." Batman replied evenly. By now Diana, Wonder Woman, and Shiera, Hawkgirl, now only gaped at Flash waiting to see what happened next.

"Look, Bats, can't we discuss this later? I'm kind of in the middle of-"

"No. Diana and Shiera are more than welcome to join us. But you promised me. And I expect you to keep your word." Batman interrupted. Pulling out a chair he sat down right at the table, reached over, plucked a roll from Flash's plate, and began to take small bites of it.

Now Flash was in a predicament. He could either sit there and deny what Batman had said. Therefore opening himself up to the scorn of the two women. Or he could go along with it and hope for the best. Bending his head down Flash muttered a few things as he began to eat his food. Shiera sat down at the same table her gaze fixated on Batman as he ate silently eyes narrowed as if he meant to go into battle.

"You've certainly been busy." Diana commented giving Flash a small smirk. The young man spluttered as Batman finished the roll, reached over and deliberately grabbed another one off of Flash's plate. Hawkgirl raised a brow at the serious way their new companion ate.

"Perhaps we should leave you two alone. Clearly you have things to discuss. You might want to get some more food, Flash. He's going to eat all your food at the rate he's going." Diana said calmly. Getting up both women walked away with their trays to sit at another table. Flash stared dumbstruck as both his dates left. Batman continued to eat his roll acting as if nothing was amiss.

"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Flash muttered under his breath as he reached for his drink. His eyes narrowed when Batman helped himself to grapes the younger man had got from the cafeteria as well. Popping them into his mouth one at a time like candies.

"Having dinner."

"Well, can you get your own food? Stop eating mine."

"You steal food from other people all the time. John told me about his disco fries you ate, and the thirty-six cakes you stole at a party one time. But that's only the tip of the iceberg, isn't it?"

"I was…I was hungry! So, what, you're taking me in for theft of food?"

"No, but I do expect you not to complain if I wish to share a meal with you." Batman answered crisply. Flash sighed and began eating his food falling into a sullen silence. Bruce could not where this sudden childish attitude of his had come from. He might as well have been wearing a sign he wanted the younger man to pay attention to him.

"You know, Bats, if you wanted to have dinner with me…all you had to do was ask." Flash said quietly. Batman glanced at him as he took Flash's cup from him, apple juice surprisingly instead of soda, and took a sip. Flash raised a brow when the cup was put back down, reaching over to take a drink himself seemingly unperturbed by sharing his drink.

"I couldn't catch you. You're always all over the place."

"Oh come on, you mean there's not a Bat gadget to stop me?"

"Hamburger at the end of a fishing pole, but it requires you to actually be hungry for it work. Mornings are the best to go Flash fishing." Batman answered calmly. Flash snorted nearly squirting apple juice out of his mouth as he fought back laughter.

"Okay tough guy, how about we meet for breakfast tomorrow then?"

"Only if it's an informal meeting." Batman replied. He meant he did not want to meet Flash as their hero personas. He did not know how it would go over should they meet in person. Bruce Wayne with Wally West? It was nearly impossible to wrap his mind around. Outside of the Justice League Flash's secret identity was really nothing more than an energetic young man looking for his next thrill.

"Sure." Flash said. A genuine smile crossing his face. He seemed almost…relieved. Why?

"It'll be my treat, Bats."