Everyone had gathered around the teleporter in groups.

J'onn had been kind enough to bring some food for all of them while Superman quietly talked to Batman about sending Wally back.

This was probably the one time that Wally wished for super hearing. The stern look coming from Superman, while Batman stood there like a brick wall, was kind of impressive to watch.

It was probably for the best to not stare at them.

Looking down at his food, Wally ignored the way Green Lantern glared holes into his head. The green hero stood with Shayera off to the side, also privately talking.

At least J'onn and Diana were with him and offered their presence as comfort. It worked too, or Wally might have hidden himself somewhere for the time being. Although…leaving the teleporter room seemed risky. It would be for the better to remain here until a solution was given.

"Don't worry," Diana quietly said while taking a bite. She had seemed reluctant to sit down and eat but had ultimately followed J'onn's example.

"I can't help it," Wally sighed. "Getting back was so important to me and now…I'm back right there again." For all the dimensional travel he went through, it all certainly felt so very out of control. At first he hadn't had the means to control it, simply a victim of circumstances, but now there must have been a way to control it. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here again. Only that these means weren't his to control and he was at the mercy of Batman who apparently hated Wally's opinions on basically anything.

J'onn briefly placed a hand on Wally's arm. "We understand. But the League was always a team effort and as such we will reach the consensus that you want."

Wally only nodded but didn't reply. It seemed that half of the team didn't feel like letting him go, despite him wanting it. While it must have looked as if Wally hadn't given this any thought, it was still a hard decision. It was just that Wally had made it quite a while before he had even come back.

But this would be just another thing to fight past then. The universe always tried to throw him off but he wouldn't budge on this one either.

Determined, Wally finished off the rest of the food and took, after being offered, Diana's leftovers.

He knew the moment Green Lantern and Shayera moved towards them. Shayera sat down besides Diana, so that she could face Wally, while Green Lantern remained standing slightly outside the group.

"So, that's it then. You're really going to leave," Green Lantern said, his arms crossed.

Wally nodded as he turned to him. "Yes."

"Are you sure this is the best decision? That this is what you want? You know you will be missed?" Rather than a kind tone, Green Lantern sounded stubborn and set to change Wally's mind.

Sighing, Wally leaned back on his hands. "Counter question. Wouldn't you also leave if Shayera was somewhere else?"

"I wouldn't want him to leave," she frowned, feathers ruffled. "Neither would he want me to leave the League."

"No, you misunderstand. Imagine GL here has to leave the planet, Lantern duty. Or you have to go back to your planet and in both of these scenarios it's impossible to ever, ever come back. Wouldn't each one of you follow?" Wally looked from Shayera to Green Lantern. Both of them looked at each other before giving more or less uncomfortable glances at Wally.

He let his head fall back with a defeated noise. "I see your communication skills have vastly improved." That a couple could be so cute but also so bad at talking things out. Not even now they gave an answer, probably wary of upsetting the other with said answer. He lifted his head again. "I want to be where he is. Outside of this tower nothing is waiting for me."

Of course he knew that Batman very likely could turn it all right here too. That Wally and Flash would make a miraculous return and it would be planned out. But he didn't want that. Didn't want to be stuck here now when he knew he was more at home someplace else.

Green Lantern made some kind of grunt and sat down beside Shayera. "You're happy then? Over there?," he asked.

"I am. It was an adjustment at first but…yeah." Wally even smiled a little, just thinking about Bruce and his family making affection flutter in his chest. The thought of them worrying about him now…it was the same when he first arrived over there. Just thinking what his friends went through after they believed him dead…then again, this was the difference. Right? His friends here had thought him to be dead. As tragic as that was, it was a clean cut but Tim and in turn the others…if they managed to get Faro then they would know, or theorize, what had happened to him.

They must feel powerless. They had no means to breach other dimensions. While it was for the best in general, right now it must have been torture for them.

Although, now that he thought about it. How had Batman actually managed to get him to come back? Especially after not knowing for sure that he was dead or not.

Frowning, he glanced over to Batman and Superman, only to find Batman staring at him. Superman was still quietly talking. Wally's expression turned into a frown but Batman simply continued to stare.

Fine.

Turning back to the others, his eyes met J'onn's, who offered a nod.

Green Lantern audibly sighed, drawing their attention to him. "Look, kid, I just want to make sure that you're sure. You have to admit that it's strange that you go from our Batman to…well…," he trailed off, briefly looking at Shayera then back at him.

If Wally would get one gray hair whenever his judgment was called into question, he'd have way too many gray hairs. That's for sure.

He pushed himself into an upright sitting position, squaring his shoulders. "I thought about this happening. Of you mistaking this," he agreed with a nod. Green Lantern opened his mouth but Wally went on. "Also, you're right, at first I was afraid of this myself. I thought, how could I be such a horrible person?," he asked into the little group, causing various expressions, but no one interrupted him. "Then I came to realize that I wasn't doing that. Bruce in that other dimension…you have to believe me when I say that the things he and Batman here have in common is so low. It's mostly the crime fighting really, but the person himself? Wow."

Walla chuckled a bit at the thought. Even now he felt kind of bad, talking like this about both of them because here he went and compared them again. Though, how else would the others understand? He had done just the same for a while.

At the same time, it was impressive how not the same two Batmen could be. Even Lord Batman had been closer to this dimension's Batman and…

His thoughts stalled for a moment, his eyes snapping back to Batman who, this time, was actually focusing on Superman. That– was that how Batman had gotten him back to this dimension? With Lord Batman's help? Surely not.

"Wally? Is everything okay?," J'onn asked and briefly followed his line of vision before looking back.

Forcing himself to face the others again, he nodded with a stiff movement. "Yeah. Sure. Just…I feel like I might need one more talk with Batman before I leave. But I'm not sure I should." Maybe it would be better to remain without answers and just go as soon as the possibility was there.

Then again…didn't he deserve at least some answers? Most of all the one when he would be able to leave?

Suddenly feeling emboldened, Wally suddenly stood up and zipped over to Batman and Superman, startling maybe most of them. Only Batman faced him with controlled movements, as if he had anticipated it.

"So, about me getting back…," Wally began and looked at both of them but settled on facing Batman.

"Just a bit patience Wally, Bruce and I were still-"

"Look, it's either possible or not. I don't care if you," he glared at Batman specifically, "want to or not. I'm asking, can you repeat whatever you did and send me back?" Because if they were stalling due to not actually knowing how to send him back then…he didn't know what would happen then.

"It's possible," Batman said, "but it's going to be powered through you again."

Wally blinked surprised. "You knew that it's a painful process?"

"What? Bruce-"

"It hurt?," Batman asked and it sounded like a genuine inquiry that Wally couldn't feel too angry about that part. "The device was designed with the type of your energy in mind so that it could feed on it to power itself. A short process."

"Well, it hurts. This thing felt like it would burn through my wrist the more power it took. It built and built and then it…I'm not sure. It felt like it snapped back at me, disintegrating my cells before I found myself back here. Right where that machine took me from the first time," Wally explained as he showed off his little wristband.

Batman frowned. It was clear that this hadn't been part of its intended design then. "Then we cannot-"

"Let me stop you right there," Wally immediately bit back. "I would endure it ten more times if it meant I get to go home. I appreciate that you weren't hurting me through this on purpose but what's done is done." Of course, Batman would use it as an excuse but Wally didn't want to hear any of it. He only needed to get Batman to activate the damned thing. He didn't want his concern or pity or apologies, as improbable as the last thing would be.

Batman glared at him again but got glared at in return by Wally, while Superman offered a rather stern version. They were all quiet for a few seconds before Batman turned his glare to Superman. "Get the teleporter ready then."

Superman made a surprised noise, giving both of them a strange look before he nodded and walked off to the terminal. Wally watched how J'onn immediately joined the Kryptonian, and turned back to Batman.

"Can I ask you something?," Wally asked.

"Depends."

Right. Blowing air out of his nose, he opted to just dive straight in. Batman would be difficult regardless. "Did you send something not unlike the machine that first transported me after me? Before this wrist thingie?"

It was obvious that Batman hadn't anticipated this question, the surprise briefly flashing in his eyes, mouth twitching. "Yes."

"And? How did you do that?," Wally frowned, curious. "How did you send it after me? Before Diana saw me no one suspected another dimension?"

"I had my suspicions," Batman admitted.

Great. If only Batman would give more than just tidbits of information. "Just… How? I want to know. Could it blow up too like the machine here? We thought Gotham was in danger."

Batman frowned. "Of course not. I built in a failsafe should it even get close to such energy readings." For a moment it looked like he wouldn't elaborate, until a quiet exhale of air followed. "I based it off of the machines generator but combined it with some of the technology from the Lords' universe. As such I let it follow the energy to wherever it went. I didn't know for sure if you had been transported somewhere else or died. When the machine vanished, I couldn't know if it followed you or if it simply tore itself apart. "

"So, it…you built it on a hunch?," Wally asked surprised. Was that true? Then again, why should Batman admit not knowing something if that wasn't the truth. But the others…

He briefly looked over to the others. "The others didn't know you did that though," he said just as Diana looked up to smile at him, once she noticed him looking. He smiled back before he turned to Batman. "You lied to them about where I was but…" Wally's eyes widened slightly as he stared at Batman. "You knew it looked like Lord Batman all over again, didn't you? That's why you hid it."

Batman remained quiet in the face of the accusation.

Groaning, Wally pinched the bridge of his nose as he let that thought settle. It made sense though. "So, what? Diana saw me for a moment and you knew your theory was right. And then you built this?" He held up his hand to show the gadget.

"Yes. It's a more sleek and inconspicuous design than an entire generator. It was designed to activate as soon as you had it around one of your wrists."

Which had obviously worked. "And what? You sent money with it? So, anyone would deliver it to me?"

Batman only nodded, causing Wally's ire to rise even more.

"You do realize you put me in danger like this? Compromised my identity as well!"

"You were in civilian when this person put it on you. Hardly a compromised identity," Batman replied with a calm voice. How he could be so calm despite it all was a mystery to Wally. Or maybe he was just that good at portraying what he wanted to portray.

Wally was seething. "Hardly? You out of all people would know that every little bit of information counts. And this sleazeback of a person now knows that something weird is going on with me. I- I can't believe you would do this to me." There was a time way back, when Batman even recognized how well Wally hid any information about himself. And now this was hardly a compromise?!

Batman sighed, as if long suffering. Wally really felt like punching him but chose to listen instead. "It was never intended for you to go back. So yes, compromising your identity was something I was willing to do."

Which meant Wally wouldn't get an apology. Not even a tiny, fake one. Wally scoffed, turning his head away to watch the others again since he would punch Batman for real if he kept looking at him.

A heavy silence settled between them but Wally wasn't willing to break it just yet. Never in a million years had he thought he'd be this angry at his friends. At Batman.

True, he had been…disappointed when Bruce helped him realize what they had done to him but he simply couldn't stop seeing them as his friends. They had gone through so much, had founded this amazing thing and now… When did it turn into such a joke?

Sure, to the public they were the same old League, minus him now, but internally? When did these chasms appear, these roles everyone felt like they had to adhere to? Was it the Lords? Were they really bested by alternative versions of themselves instead of learning from it?

He wished he could confidently say his friends were better than this, but the truth was that he couldn't tell anymore.

He turned back to Batman when Batman's eyes felt like they would burn a hole through his head from staring alone. For a brief moment they only looked at each other, although Batman was as difficult to read as ever. Somehow, Bruce was easier to read. Or simply chose to be more open with him.

"I wonder," Wally finally broke the silence, "did I ever do something to you? To warrant all this?" He didn't really expect an answer, but at least some of the energy Batman gave off changed. He seemed uncomfortable. "Yeah, I thought so." Sighing, Wally somehow still felt disappointed. But being a hero did teach him that sometimes one didn't get answers to things. Only more questions.

Starting to turn away, Wally was stopped by Batman's hand on his arm. He immediately snapped around to glare at him, but Batman lifted his arm to look at the teleportation device. "What are you doing?"

Batman turned Wally's hand, gently, and didn't look up. "Watch, or you won't get this off once you are where you want to be." Batman then proceeded to show Wally a sequence of pressing on the device without actually pressing it. Only then did he meet Wally's eyes. "Understood?"

Wally nodded. "Yeah. Next time though, ask." He tore his hand out of Batman's grasp and glanced down at the device. The sequence seemed easy enough to remember. He would just have to remember the place the other had started with.

One of Batman's hands twitched at his sides but he didn't comment further on Wally's hostility. Instead, he walked past Wally towards Superman and the others.

Wally followed but moved to stand with Diana, as he felt better being closer to her than the others. At least she and J'onn understood him instead of vaguely pretending to. Which hurt more than he had thought.

They too, besides Diana, knew how soulmates affected your life. If not by first hand then simply by growing up in this world. He wondered if Batman was afraid about his true soulmate? Or did Lord Batman rattle the other so much that he let himself be influenced? Hinging the entire League's wellbeing on Wally? That was just…

He shook his head.

An arm around his shoulders brought him out of his thoughts and he smiled at Diana.

"Princess."

"Everything will be alright," she said with a smile of her own. "We will miss you greatly but such is life. Just promise to be happy wherever you go."

She really was so precious. His chest hurt at the idea of never seeing her again but he knew he was doing the right thing. He gave her a confident nod and leaned into her side. "I will. And you, whenever you think 'Wally would have liked that' then give it a try, okay? Experience all the fun things."

Diana nodded as well as she gave him a warm laugh, promising to do just that. She was so strong and despite it all, he could see her eyes were wet but no tears escaped. She was one of the most beautiful beings he had ever gotten to know.

It made him blink a few times. He hadn't planned to start crying and he wouldn't now.

J'onn put a hand on his arm. He didn't say anything but only offered an encouraging smile that Wally echoed.

"The teleporter is ready now," Batman announced from where he stood with Superman at the console.

Everyone turned to look at Wally who in turn looked at each of them. "Soo…goodbye hugs?," he offered, his heart hammering in his chest all of the sudden.

He really was going to do this. Leaving the dimension behind he had grown up in, his friends, no matter how strange they had gotten, and somehow…he was just nervous. There were no second guesses in his mind, just the ache of leaving someone, people, behind forever. Somehow this hadn't hurt as much when he had been sure he was stuck in his new home.

Everyone, except Batman, moved to give Wally a tight hug. Shayera even punched him in the shoulder, albeit with rather weak force behind it when it came to her. "Don't be an idiot like you were here," she said with a scoffing noise but Wally knew better. Wanted to know better but he wasn't so sure about it anymore. In this case he chose to simply believe in the best version of her.

The hugs were mostly silent after that, until Wally stepped up on one of the teleporter platforms.

"So…how are we going to…?," Wally trailed off and held up his hand with the device. The teleporter hadn't actually brought him into the dimension, that had been the tiny device. In this though, he had to trust Batman that he would do what he said he would. Their eyes met at the open question.

"As mentioned before, it will feed on your powers again. The activator is burned out from its first use so we will trigger it with the teleporter." Batman started to power up the teleporter, a constant hum echoing in the room. Everyone else stood behind him as they watched.

Wally felt a tiny sliver of doubt. "And you know that will happen?" And not just evaporate him? That would be…unfortunate.

Batman offered a hum. It was barely audible. "Yes. I built both devices. Ready?"

Slowly, Wally looked at them standing there. United in sending him back, despite their various feelings about the idea. This is how he would love to always remember them. As a team.

He nodded. "Take care, all of you," he smiled.

A second later the pad underneath him activated. Wally could feel the energy building around his feet but without the usual feeling of being transported away. The energy built around his legs as if traveling upwards and then, like a snap, Wally knew when the device on his wrist activated.

It suddenly felt tighter, humming with energy it stole from him and much like before it started to turn warmer with each passing moment. It hurt, despite being prepared for it this time, it hurt and it only started to increase.

He tried to act as normal as possible despite sweat running down his face within seconds. His limbs started to shake, almost imitating the way he usually vibrated when excited. He knew the moment the ruse was up when worry entered the others faces but by then his vision started to blurry and his nose bleeding.

This time he noticed and lifted a hand to swipe the blood away. Only that his hand never made it that far as his knees buckled. He came down on the ground hard, air leaving his lungs as his own powers pressed against him. Whenever he thought 'this is it' it only got worse and he questioned if he even remembered the pain he had been initially.

He didn't remember this.

His hands formed fists, his fingers cramping and his lungs spasming. He thought he might pass out until it all snapped back at him.

Like whiplash it barreled into him, knocking him down onto all fours. His vision was a blurry mess, his throat raw when he finally found the strength to suck in air. He thought he might scream but his ribcage didn't allow for the strength, causing him to make weird, breathy noises as he worked through the pain.

His breathing was the only noise he heard, his arms shaking against the hard concrete, rubble digging into his knees.

A loud gasp and the tension left his body. He tilted to the left, landing on his side before falling onto his back. He blinked the tears away, the blood in his nose feeling uncomfortable as it couldn't fall with gravity anymore.

His vision slowly adapted. The tears were still making it all blurry but he didn't have the strength to wipe them away and yet, a breathless laugh tore out of his aching chest.

There was sky above him. He wasn't in the Watchtower anymore.

The idea that he could have just beamed down to Earth briefly crossed his mind but somehow he knew that he had traveled through dimensions again. He refused to believe that all this pain was for nothing.

His breathing slowed, his muscles burning in a way he wasn't used to.

He really should appreciate his healing factor more. Having aching muscles just wasn't for him.

Eyes falling close, Wally breathed through his mouth, his body feeling heavier than it should. His thoughts were floaty and slow, almost as if he hadn't eaten enough. Logically he knew that his body was rapidly healing all of his pains and aches which in turn cost him energy, but at the same time he couldn't care. He was perfectly fine where he was lying.

Maybe a nap would do it…

A hand on his head startled him, so he slowly opened his eyes. There was a black blob, Batman?, above him who touched his face gently. A thumb passed by his nose, barely touching it, before he was turned by his shoulder to the side.

A second later he suddenly coughed, forcing the congealed blood out of his nose. It landed with a noise he couldn't quite hear.

Suddenly, breathing was way more pleasant than before. But he also felt even more exhausted after that, his eyes closing.

He was picked up by the other, the vibration in the other's chest telling him that he was being talked to. Wally lifted his hand without opening his eyes and more or less weakly slapped the other's shoulder. "Thanks," he wheezed out, his chest tighter than he imagined when he tried to talk.

Somehow he knew it was Bruce and in turn knew he was safe now. It really did pay off to have such a capable unit like Batman as a boyfriend.

The thought of laughter passed by his mind, as he finally succumbed to his exhaustion.