#Batflash Week

[greekesctasy]

sorry you dont have the brain to understand batflashs extremely unique unlabeled situationship. as if its my fault

[parhelios]

Batflash Week: Day 1

November 3: Wards/Didn’t know they were dating

so! first day of batflash week. combined both prompts and had a lot of fun writing this!! @batflashweek

here's the ao3 link if you'd rather read it on there!

The hospital wing of the Watchtower was all but silent-- Most heroes had gone home by this time, save for the unlucky on monitor duty and the few that wanted to raid the fridges of the cafeteria for a free late-night snack. Outside the window, stars glimmered in the void of space, and the lights were turned low. It was, Clark thought, really peaceful. 

The only downside was that the reason that Clark was on the Watchtower still was an unpleasant one. There had been an attack, and the League had been called in to do their job. Some space aliens or other had decided that Earth was prime real estate, assumed that its defenses were minimal due to the fact that space travel was uncommon, and gotten their butts kicked. However, in the chaos, Bruce had been pretty badly injured. There'd been an explosion, and well... Rebar through the gut was not the most pleasant thing one could experience. 

Thankfully, Wally had been able to get him to safety and stabilize the injury in time, with the grace of superspeed. To his credit, Bruce had a very high pain tolerance, but no matter how many anesthetics he received, he was just a normal baseline human and would need a while to heal.

That was why, at this moment, Clark was standing next to Bruce's bed in the aforementioned hospital wing, along with Wally and Doctor Mid-Nite. 

"Are you sure he'll be alright?" Wally asked Doctor Mid-Nite with a worried frown. 

"I'm right here, you know," muttered Bruce, though his voice was without venom. It was softer than usual, and the fact that it was directed at Wally made Clark feel off-balance.

Doctor Mid-Nite smiled. "He'll be fine, but I'd rather he stay here overnight for observation just to be safe." 

"See," said Bruce, looking up at Wally. "No need to fret. I'm fine."

"Knowing you, you'll take the first chance available to get out of bed and back to work." 

"I won't." Clark swore Bruce was pouting. It was... really weird. 

Wally patted Bruce's hand. "That's because I'm going to make sure you won't." Bruce glared at Wally, but there was a distinct lack of malice.

"That's unnecessary. I'll be fine."

"I'd rather know for sure you're getting the rest you need." Wally stared pointedly at Bruce. "Besides, It'll give me a chance to start that book Alfie leant me." Alfie?

"You know he probably hates that nickname."

Wally shrugged, sitting down in a chair next to Bruce's bed. "If he says something I'll stop."

"He won't."

"Fine, how about I call him Al?"

"That's worse."

The two were so utterly domestic, and it left Clark feeling as if a rug had been torn out from under him. Since when had the two been so close? Since when had Wally been spending time at the manor to the point that he had regular interactions with Alfred. Why was Bruce smiling so softly at Wally, like the redhead had hung all the stars in the void of the night sky. And why in god's name were they holding hands?

Clark's mouth moved faster than his impulse control.

"Are you two dating?"

The two stared at him, and Clark wished very hard that he could fly around the world and turn back time to before he said that.

"...What." 

Silence prevailed a few moments more.

"Are we dating?" Wally asked with a look more thoughtful than Clark had ever seen on his face. Bruce turned to look at Wally, though that did not lessen Clark's distinct sense that Bruce might just kill him. 

Now it was Wally's turn to get Clark and Bruce's incredulous looks, but he just shrugged them off like nothing. "It's a good question. Would you like to? Date, I mean?"

Bruce was quiet for a moment, and Clark could all but hear the cogs turning in the skull of the world's greatest detective, emotional inept extraordinaire. 

"Yes." And that was that. Clark felt distinctly like an intruder as he watched Wally lean down and press a kiss against Bruce's lips, a warm grin straining the speedster's cheeks. Even Bruce was smiling, albeit slightly.

Clark took the opportunity to make his escape.

[batflashweek]

So I finally decided to launch a batflash (BarryBruce) week,  mostly for myself  so I would have a bit of structure and deadline in my writing but I decided to make it official so that anybody could join

Any version of Batflash is welcome: comics, arrowverse, dceu. elsewolrds, dcamu +( dcau!wally/bruce is also accepted)

this event will be pretty lowkey,  you can do whatever you want:  fics, fanart, crafts, video edits, metas, manips, comic graphics, playlist, comic rec lists

you are under no obligation to do all the dates  nor do you have to post on the exact date

[galaxysupernaturalstuff]

Batflash Week Day 8 || All Along The Watchtower (Lucifer Version) [Free]

The last day! I enjoyed the week

[mattzerella-sticks]

Tales from the Future - Batflash Week Day 1: Wards & Didn’t Know They Were Dating

After a tough mission in the future with the Titans, Damian and Wally discovered something very shocking. They couldn't keep this information to themselves, though, and decided to tell their families - save the very people the information is about.

Will the group of Robins and Speedsters stay focused enough to come up with a plan or realize that the future isn't as bad as they're fearing?

Damian watches Jason casually stroll in through the window, one leg swinging in after the other with practiced aloofness. “Tch,” he scoffs, “nice of you to show up.”

“Buzz off, Bat Brat,” Jason says, squeezing in between Dick and Tim on the couch. “I was busy .”

“Who was busy?” Dick asks.

“Me, I just said -”

“No, who was busy,” he clarifies, leering at Jason. Groans erupt from across the room, Damian hiding his face in his hand. Duke huffs from the armchair, mirroring him.

A smack echoes, Dick cursing. Tim glares from the other side of the couch, frowning. “None of us want to hear about Jason’s sex life.”

“I don’t know,” Dick says, rubbing his head, “I could use a good laugh or two.”

Sighing, Wally steps behind Damian. He turns to face his friend. Wally looks unimpressed, a similar expression to the other speedster guests who joined them this afternoon. The older Wally sits on the other armchair across from Duke, closer to Dick. Bart vibrates around the room, not really staying in one place for too long. “Is this how every meeting starts?”

“No,” Damian admits, “sometimes we do more than slap the other.”

Wally’s eyebrow climbs further up his forehead.

“Okay, everyone, settle down,” Damian calls. His brothers quiet immediately, giving him their attention. “We didn’t assemble to tease Jason.”

“But it’s such a fun team building activity.”

“Fuck you, Bubble Butt.”

“How dare you -”

Another clap silences them again. “Do I have to separate you two?” Damian asks, glancing between the older Robins. They dart their gazes towards one another for a brief second before relenting, a white flag waving from their stations. “Good,” he continues, running his hands across his chest. Smooths invisible wrinkles on his charcoal black button-down. “Now we’ve gathered you all for a reason.”

“A very important reason,” Wally preempts Bart, the latter’s jaw hanging. Offhand comment still cocked in his chamber, pulled from the trigger. “That has to deal with Barry and Bruce.”

Their family sobers immediately at the mention of their respective elders. “Really?” Dick asks, “What is it?”

Damian and Wally glance between themselves, silently discussing who would start. Taking too long, Jason breaks their debate. “Someone just freakin ’ start already!”

Taking point, Damian clears his throat. “We’d finished a mission with Jon, saying our goodbyes to him and his team in the future…”

A mission to the future seemed too early for Damian’s ragtag team of Titans. He could barely get them to stop fighting each other to handle villains of this century, there was no telling how they’d fare against criminals with advanced and alien tech. Yet Jon came for him at an inopportune time. Bubble bursting in during a team meeting, popping out with his friend , Saturn Girl.

“Damian,” he panted, ash smudged across his face, “I need you.”

That was all the convincing needed. Except the moment he set a foot into the time bubble a gust of wind sped past and snatched his wrist.

Wally wouldn’t let Damian leave them, the others gathering round demanding to be brought along. Damian scowled, trying to figure out a quick enough argument to shut the idea down without offending them. Because he promised them he’d be kinder . Kindness cost him dearly, since Saturn Girl gave them a free pass by saying, “Of course you can come along.”

Carried into the time bubble by the incoming stampede, they squished together to travel to the 31st century. He squirmed between Crush and Roundhouse, annoying Wally given the timed puffs of air he breathed through his nose.

“You were tickling my chin,” Wally scoffs, “And it was taking too slow.”

“We were advancing 1000 years in a blink of an eye!” Damian cries, “There’s nothing slow about it -”

“Guys, focus!” Wally says, “What does this have to do with Barry and Bruce?”

“Well, when we got there it turns out this villain had taken control of their head quarters,” Wally says, ignoring his cousin.

A green, floating eyeball paraded around the Legion of Superheroes’ Clubhouse. Members with glowing, verdant gazes stalked the halls like zombies. Unfortunately they proved much more resourceful and smarter than their appearance.

An accidental sneeze from Roundhouse alerted their presence, and heroes descended upon them. Damian found himself holding off a wolf-man with his staff caught in his sharp jaws. When he flipped the beast off him, Damian saw the rest of his team separated and battling in their own small groups. And the eye, watching them. Waiting.

“Its owner entered with fanfare,” Damian tells them, “using this boy who shoots lightning for special effects.”

Tim yawns, “Why does this matter?”

“It does! Now, she entered…”

The Emerald Empress immediately captured Roundhouse with her Eye, trapping him in her spell like all the others. Saturn Girl shouted for them to retreat, falling back towards a secret tunnel. Except on their way Djinn snagged her ankle on a waiting hand, phased through the floor.

“Go!” she says, “I’ll be fine!”

Damian froze, only Wally’s fast reflexes pulling him out from falling debris dropped by a gravity manipulator. They left Djinn and Crush - the latter shoving past Emiko to help the other girl. Behind the shut door of the secret entrance Damian saw emerald light flash and his heart sank.

“This is why you should have stayed in the past,” Damian growled once they snuck far enough away, “Not even five minutes and we’ve already lost half the team!”

“We’ll save them, Damian,” Wally said, a steady calm to the raging storm brewing inside the smaller boy, “We always will.”

“Don’t see how,” Emiko added, the first few words since travelling to the future. “Her Eye looks kitted to the max. Coupled with the heroes she already has under her thrall and the ones we gave her… I don’t think we have much of a chance.”

Damian huffed, “Especially once she combines her Eye with Djinn’s magic -”

“Djinn?” Bart asks, “Who’s Djinn? You keep mentioning her.”

Flushing, Damian glances at the grandfather clock ticking ceaselessly in the lounge. “She’s a team member of ours… very powerful magic, one of our strongest assets, and -”

“Damian’s got a total crush on her.”

He whips his head to glare at Wally, the other boy standing nonplussed. Instead of a smirk, a harsh line cuts across his face. As if his words were more of a tiresome fact than rope to hang him with.

His brothers gladly string him up. Dick coos, “Aw, you’ve got a crush Damian?”

“Thank God,” Jason says, “Maybe you’ll finally get that stick out of your ass.”

“Does this mean we have to chaperone you?” Tim asks, “Because I don’t want to double date…”

Duke leans forward in his seat. “Are we going to ever meet her?”

Damian waves their comments away. “This isn’t about me. And for the record I don’t have a crush.”

Jason scoffs, “Sounds like what someone with a crush would say.”

“I don’t!”

“Jason knows what’s he’s talking ‘bout,” Dick nods, clapping Jason’s shoulder, “Guy’s king of unrequited crushes.”

He brushes Dick’s hand off him. “Fuck you, at least half of them were requited.”

“Sure, and I made it to fifth base with Harley Quinn…”

Bart zips over to Tim, whispering. “What’s fifth base?”

Tim shakes his head. “You don’t want to know.”

Wally pinches his brow, reclining into his armchair. “Can we please get back to the story?”

“I would be glad to,” Damian says, “if people would let me.” Given the floor once more, Damian carries on where he left off.

They regrouped. Jon led them in a motivational speech, every word and gesture oozing small town sensibility. His father would be proud. After he rallied the troops, Saturn Girl presented schematics of the Legion headquarters. Damian and Emiko poured over the holograms, planning their assault. Satisfied with a course of action, the group returned.

Although their plans strayed early on from the course they laid. A few heroes that Saturn Girl thought were off-planet appeared and forced them to separate. Damian and Jon fled down one hallway, followed by a barrage of shrapnel. Cosmic Boy, as Jon told him, barreled their way with a Lantern and an orange lizard-creature at his side.

Jon handled the flankers, Damian keeping Cosmic Boy occupied. With power over metal most of his arsenal was useless, and he dropped it so he wouldn’t be controlled. Instead Damian relied on his training, utilizing the environment to his advantage. Waiting for Leading Cosmic Boy into a narrow hallway, snaking around the metal he pulled. Pushing his reflexes to the limit, Damian dodged each swipe until Cosmic Boy trapped himself in a cage of wires and panels.

Unable to move, Damian rabbit punched him.

Jon dumped his attackers to the floor when Damian returned, and together they advanced to the main room. Regrouping with the others, they stormed where Emerald Empress hid.

More heroes awaited them, guarding their queen while she mixed the emerald energy from her eye with Djinn’s unique purple magic. This timeline’s Doctor Fate underneath like a scale, helping to balance the power.

Knocking away a ball boy into identical triplets, Damian noticed the colors mixing together hideously. Terribly foreboding, a chill shot through his spine. “We need to stop this!” he yelled, tumbling underneath lightning.

Wally wrapped up a talking raccoon and hurled him towards a green-skinned boy. Being the only one who heard Damian, he tracked his gaze to the makeshift throne. “Okay,” he said, “let’s stop this.”

“So?” Bart asks, “How’d you stop it?”

Damian pouts, crossing his arms. “He threw me.”

“What?”

“He threw men,” he repeats, “at the Emerald Empress.”

Wally nods, smiling. “While I dealt with Doctor Fate.”

With those two erased from the equation, it was only Djinn and the Emerald Eye. Their auras swirled in battle for dominance. When it looked like the green would overtake Djinn’s purple, her eyes flashed brilliantly violet and swept over the encroaching light like a tidal wave. Purple energy coursed through the Emerald Eye until it short-circuited and turned grey. It fell to the floor, powerless.

Spell broken, the others woke from their trances. Some moaned with pain while others blinked in confusion. Their friends, Crush and Roundhouse, staggered away from Saturn Girl and Jon while returning to their senses.

“You beat the villain, big whoop,” Jason says, “still don’t see what this has to do with Bats and Flash.”

Wally rolls his eyes. “After the fight, when we were saying our goodbyes to the team…”

Roundhouse bounced between Jon, Saturn Girl, Wally and him, drawing the Legionnaires attention towards him. Asked questions with blazing speed that surpassed their speedster. Jon led him away from the group, Saturn Girl at his side while explaining a few of the concepts to sate his curiosity.

Leaving Wally and Damian open for an ambush.

“Excuse me?” someone cleared their throat behind them, “I… I can’t believe you’re actually here…”

Startled, Damian brandished a bat-a-rang immediately and spun on his heel to attack. Before he could launch his weapon, though, Wally gripped his wrist in an iron vice. “Damian, no ,” he scolded, nodding towards the frightened teenager in front of them, “ friend .”

He glared at the speedster, unrelenting in his combat stance. Wally didn’t back down either.

The newcomer looked between them, nerves dying as each second ticked on by. “Uh… is he gonna put that down?”

“Yes.” “ No .”

Wally sighed, lowering Damian’s hand. “Sorry, we’re a little on edge…”

“Yeah, yeah,” the teen said, “Emerald Empress took a lot out of all of us… your team did a great job.”

Nodding, Damian used his silence to study the newcomer. Recognizes him from their previous battle as the one with lightning powers. If he hadn’t witnessed his powers in action the costume would telegraph immediately what he can do. Lightning bolts mean two things - and he didn’t rush away like any other speedster would when presented with danger. So that meant the only other option was electricity manipulation. “Who are you?”

“Oh, right, uh -” the teen chuckles awkwardly, scratching his head, “the name’s Garth - or, uh Lightning Lad.”

“Cool. I’m Wally, Kid Flash. And my trigger happy friend is Damian -”

“ Robin .”

“...I was getting to that.”

Garth beamed, “I know, I know! I… kinda know a lot about you, actually…”

A chill raced down Damian’s spine at the giddiness crackling across Garth’s face. Being trapped with a fanboy is not what he needed. Wally tensed as well, darting his gaze over in silent communication. However a different emotion flickered behind his eyes, telling Damian to suck up whatever outburst bubbled up inside him. He snapped his jaw shut. Agreeing to play nice only because he felt too tired to cause a scene.

“Hey,” Wally started, “it’s always great to meet a fan -”

“A huge fan,” Garth cut him off, “Like, you’re such an inspiration. I remember growing up, whenever a dust storm tore through our settlement and we’d be locked inside for days , my brother, sister and I would read up on all your classic adventures.” He turns to Damian, “Both of yours.”

“I’m surprised you had time to even read about his ,” Damian smirked, “ my adventures - that have passed and are yet to come - should have been enough entertainment.”

“...Actually you’re featured in a lot of Flash’s stories.”

Damian bristled again, not caring for how Wally’s chest puffed up. Only to deflate slightly, with a sigh. “Looks like I’ll never get rid of you,” he mumbled.

Scoffing, he rolls his eyes. “You’re lucky I still hang around you after all these years…”

Garth chuckled. “Oh, man… the banter is just like they said it’d be.” He bounced where he stood, sparks jumping off his shoulders. “I really can’t believe… you two. Some of the best teen heroes. You are part of the reason I am who I am today. I’ve met Superman and Jon already… all I’ll need for my life to be complete is to meet the originals and I’ll be set!”

“Originals?” Damian asked, “What are you talking about?”

“You know, your mentors. Batman and Flash ,” Garth continued, eyes glowing blue, “Those guys, I mean… Growing up where I’m from there were some pretty strict rules on how to live your life. If you didn’t fit the mold you’d be ignored and cast aside. My brother Mekt… being born without a twin… Anyway, Batman and Flash were in your face with who they were. When they came out they didn’t bat an eye -”

“What?”

Damian and Wally leaned forward with vested interest. “What?” Wally said again, “What do you mean, ‘came out’?”

“When they publicly announced they were dating?” Garth answered, “Well… it’s not like they had a choice, what with that picture in the Gotham Gazette but - hey, they didn’t deny it! That’s…” He stilled, finally noticing the expressions of the others. “You didn’t know? But aren’t you from… wait, what year are you from?”

“2019.”

Garth paled, stepping away from them. “Oh… oh frack . I - I shouldn’t have said that, should I?”

It didn’t matter. The future dropped upon them like a bombshell. Damian’s vision whited briefly until he blinked into awareness once more. Wally’s grip on his wrist tightened, reminding him that throughout the conversation he latched on like a vice. Wrenching free, the bat-a-rang fell with a clatter.

“Please,” Garth whispered urgently, “forget I said anything. Brainy’s all about not interfering with the timeline. If he finds out I outed them he’ll kill me… and that’d really hurt my chances with the guy.” He looked between them. “You don’t have any questions, do you?”

There were a million. Except Jon returned, telling them how it was time the Titans returned to the present. Herded into the time bubble, Wally and Damian didn’t say another word about what they learned. Waiting for the perfect moment to discuss it.

With others who deserved to know.

They watch their family process the information, breath held, waiting for a response.

Bart reacts first. He snorts, drawing all focus to him. A single laugh blossoms into a full-body heave until he tips over the couch, sprawling across Damian’s brothers’ laps. “That’s really funny guys,” he wheezes, “Seriously… amazing.”

Damian scowls. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s not true?”

“We were in the future, Bart,” Wally says, “How can it not be true?”

“Maybe it has to do with the fact that I’m from the future?” he says, “Because I’m Barry and Iris’s grandson . If they somehow didn’t end up together d’you think I’d still be here?”

“Then again,” Tim interrupts, “you are from a timeline that doesn’t exist anymore.”

Bart’s good mood shatters into a million pieces. Pouting, he glares at his friend. “Thanks for reminding me.”

Jason shifts under his heavy weight, rolling Bart off. “So,” he says after the heavy thud , “What are we gonna do?”

“Who says we have to do anything?” Duke says, “It sounds like them getting together is a good thing - hey !” He whacks the pillow thrown at him from its target, his face. Jason, the guilty culprit, looks remorseless. “What was that?”

“You were speaking crazy,” Jason tells him, “How can Bruce dating Barry be any good .”

Dick smirks, folding his arms across his chest. “Wow, Jason. Didn’t know you were a homophobe .”

“Fuck you, it’s not like that.”

“Then what is it?”

Jason sinks into the couch, mirroring his brother. “If Bruce really is gay, bi or… queer than… it’ll be another thing we have in common,” he whines, “The more that happens the sadder I get.”

“Wow,” Dick says, voice thick with emotion. He reaches across to squeeze Jason’s shoulder. “I can’t believe… you actually followed through whenever I told you to suck a dick. I’m proud of you.”

Slapping Dick off him, Jason bares his teeth in a growl. “Keep talking and I’ll show you how I beat Dick .”

“I’d like to see you try.”

Wally zooms from his seat and breaks the two apart, hands firm against their chests. “Knock it off you two, we’re getting distracted from the bigger picture… how to make sure this doesn’t happen.”

“You mean you don’t want to be brothers, Wall?”

He rolls his eyes at Dick’s artificially sweet expression. “Batman’s creepy enough without imagining him all domestic with Barry.”

“Or all sex-like ,” Jason adds, making every wrinkle in the room crease with agony.

Damian shakes the image from his mind, switching back onto the topic at hand. “Now we’ll have to be very careful so they won’t find out we’re on to them -”

“Which’ll be hard,” Tim adds, “they’re two of the best detectives in the world.”

“But they’re only two people,” Wally says, stepping closer to Damian, “we’re a team . Trade shifts - always knowing where they are. Making sure they’re not alone together.”

Wally raises a brow at his cousin. “I bet you want to tell Superman or Wonder Woman, too… have an inside operative during Justice League meetings.”

“...That could work.”

Duke stands with a shout, interrupting the planning. “This is crazy! If Bruce and Barry want to be together than why should we get in the way? It seems like the future’s pretty good when they’re a couple. Are we really gonna get in the way of that?”

His outburst brings an unexpected bout of clarity to Damian’s plans, parting the cloudy skies for sunshine to burst through. Reminded of Garth’s casual openness about himself and his reverence to Damian’s father, he winces.

Like dominoes everyone else sobers into quiet reflection. The energy fueling the crazy planning in the room deflates, letting everyone return to their senses. Damian feels the tightness of his bones over hearing the shocking news finally settle, as if coming to terms with the future.

Dick clears his throat, the first to break the silence. “But if they do get together,” he starts, waiting until he’s found every eye in the room before continuing, “... then Jason won’t be special anymore.”

“That’s it !”

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Bruce adjusts himself on the Batcave’s examination table, eyes fluttering shut as Barry runs careful fingers across his temple. When they stumble over the cut he hisses, a hand darting over to squeeze his.

“Sorry ‘bout that, babe,” Barry says, “that’s one well hidden wound.”

“It’s okay,” he says, “It’s my fault for letting Kite Man get the drop on me.” The mediocre villain swooped in and sliced open his cowl with the tail of his giant kite, catching the Dark Knight in a moment of weakness. If Barry hadn’t been at his side, he would have walked away with much worse.

“I’m surprised he got a few good swings in,” Barry says, dabbing at the cut with some peroxide, “You feeling okay?”

“I’ve… got a lot on my mind.”

Barry pauses, pulling away. Bruce cracks one eye open, frowning at the seriousness weighing on his lover’s shoulders.

“Nothing bad,” he continues, snaking his arms across Barry’s waist to bring him closer. Spreads his legs open so he can fit between them. He nuzzles at his chest, enjoying the frantic heartbeat that is normal for Barry Allen. “I… I’ve been thinking about us and… the future .”

“...Wanna elaborate on that so my mind won’t fill in the blanks?”

Bruce takes a steadying breath, the words rushing from his mouth afterwards. “I want to tell the boys about us.”

An eternity passes in a second, Bruce clinging tight to Barry’s body. Afraid the other man will vibrate free and out of his life. That never happens. Instead the opposite, Barry settles further into the moment. Tips Bruce’s head so he can see the beaming smile on his face.

“What brought this on?”

“I… I just think that we've been really good,” Bruce explains, hating how his nerves easily expose themselves in the tremble of his voice. “And I understood why you wanted to take this slow, in case things don’t work out. It wouldn’t be the first for either of us, to have a relationship fall apart. But everyday you stay by my side and I… I feel different. Better. Happier . And I think the same is true for you. We’re making each other better people. I love you and I love the person you inspire me to be… And I want my family to know.”

Barry offers a wet chuckle, hiding in Bruce’s hair. He kisses the cut he grazed earlier, a few tears trickling into it. Composing himself, Barry straightens in Bruce’s embrace. “I love you, too,” he says, “And if you want to tell your boys then… I want to tell the Flash family, too.”

“Really?”

“We should do it together, actually,” he continues, skin vibrating in excitement, “have some sort of family dinner!”

“They’ll immediately sense something’s up if we do that,” Bruce laughs, “You sure we can’t just call a meeting down here and… rip the band-aid off? In costume?”

Barry rolls his eyes. “Come on, it won’t be so bad. I mean what’s the worst that can happen?”

Bruce readies a response, only the clacking of Alfred’s heels interrupts him. His butler speeds over with anxious haste. “Master Bruce? Barry?”

“Yes Alfred?”

“It’s the boys.”

A headache tickles his head, adding to the pain already camping there. “Which boys.”

“All the boys,” he says, turning to Barry, “even your boys.”

“What?” Barry asks, “What are they doing here?”

“I don’t know, but a fight’s broken out!”

Barry tenses against Bruce. “A fight?”

Bruce, disappointed, sighs while sliding off the table. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. One moment I was in the kitchen readying dinner and the next I knew there were crashing sounds coming from the parlor. When I got there Duke had a speedster in a headlock, Dick and Wally were fighting, and Jason hung Damian off the chandelier… again .”

Frowning, Bruce fixes his cowl. He looks to Barry, “Looks like family dinner will have to wait.”

Barry shrugs, mirroring him. “I can hope. Besides… that wouldn’t have been very us , would it?” He slips his hand into Bruce’s waiting one, squeezing.

“No it wouldn’t,” Bruce agrees. “Now come on, we have a fight to break up.”

[eiswolfzero]

Chapter 4 of a Step Aside is done!

[anaer]

KYLEWALLY

ULTIMATE SHIP MEME!

Send in two (or more) names and I’ll fill all this out about the ship!

General:

Rate the Ship -   Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs

How long will they last? - Ahahaha, you think they last? You think they admit they are together? You think their fucking isn't just a dirty shameful secret that literally everyone knows about? That's why they last FOREVER. They're STUCK together and they HATE it.

How quickly did/will they fall in love? -  They do not "fall in love" because that would imply they LOVE each other which, gross, they HATE each other, first of all--

How was their first kiss? - EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND WALLY INSULTED KYLE AFTER.

Wedding:

Who proposed? -  100% definitely no proposing at ALL between these two. Marriage is the LAST thing they want, they can't even accept that they like each other, they are best friends who still think they hate each other. If they are getting married it is to STOP CRIME and it is probably not their idea, actually this is the fake marriage scenario of my dreams I love it. That, or they get accidental married by aliens. As happens.

Who is the best man/men? - Kyle decides Hal should be his best man, and Wally doesn't really want Hal to be his best man, but because Kyle decided that, now he HAS to say Hal should be HIS best man, and they get into a fist fight.

Who is the braid’s maid(s)? -  Donna, and Wally and Kyle spend all their time fighting over whose side she will stand on. It's fist fight part two. Kyle is like "we dated" and Wally is like THAT MAKES IT WORSE also I've known her since I was TWELVE, I LITERALLY made her forget she loved you that time I BROUGHT HER BACK INTO EXISTENCE FROM THE POWER OF MY FRIENDSHIP FOR HER. I love Donna MORE. And then they get into another fist fight.

Who did the most planning? - Kyle. Wally is like why can't we get married at the COURT HOUSE it is a FAKE WEDDING we are not REALLY getting married.

Who stressed the most? -  STILL KYLE.

How fancy was the ceremony? - Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big.

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? -  Um. Would it be rude to say Major Force, because...*cough*.

Sex:

Who is on top? -  Wally and Kyle fight for who bottoms. It's not who tops. Whoever tops is the loser. This is why Kyle tops, he's the bigger loser and mad about it. You think Wally wants to put effort into this?

Who is the one to instigate things? - Neither, that they'll ever admit to. But both of htem.

How healthy is their sex life? - Barely touch themselves let alone each other | 2 | 3 | 4 | Once a couple weeks, nothing overboard | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They are humping each other on the couch right now

How kinky are they? - Straight missionary with the lights off | 2 | 3 | 4 | Might try some butt stuff and toys | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Don’t go into the sex dungeon without a horse’s head

How long do they normally last? GONNA JUST REMIND EVERYONE ONE MORE TIME THAT WALLY ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LAST

Do they make sure each person gets an equal amount of orgasms? -  MUCH LIKE WITH BATFLASH, NO, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, WALLY IS RIDICULOUSLY SUPERHUMAN.

How rough are they in bed? - Softer than a butterfly on the back of a bunny | 2 | 3 | 4 | The bed’s shaking and squeaking every time | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Their dirty talk is so vulgar it’d make Dwayne Johnson blush. Also, the wall’s so weak it could collapse the next time they do it.

How much cuddling/snuggling do they do? - No touching after sex | 2 | 3 | 4 | A little spooning at night, or on the couch, but not in public | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They snuggle and kiss more often than a teen couple on their fifth date to a pillow factory.

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? -  Somehow, Kyle produces one, there are aliens involved and Wally doesn't want to know or ask.

How many children will they adopt? - None!! Wally and Kyle would NEVER commit to raising a child together, that would mean they are in a committed relationship which they are NOT and Kyle's weird alien baby is a freak of nature.

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? -  Wally.

Who is the stricter parent? - Strict?? These two???

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? - AGAIN THEY'RE SUPERHEROES, SUPERHEROES ARE ALL ABOUT NONSTOP DANGEROUS STUNTS. THERE IS ONLY ENCOURAGING KIDS TO DO DANGEROUS SHIT. THERE IS NO STOPPING THEM.

Who remembers to pack the lunch(es)? - Wally!! As if Kyle would remember to feed his weird ass alien baby. (According to Wally, at any rate.)

Who is the more loved parent? - Roy. It's not even Wally or Kyle, it is definitely Roy.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? Wally because he can be anywhere anytime as long as supervillains aren't causing trouble.

Who cried the most at graduation? -  Alien baby didn't go to school or graduate, but Kyle cried MUCH more when it left for space one day.

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? -  Kyle is a SPACE COP so. Wally.

Cooking: 

Who does the most cooking? -  Kyle. Wally only cooks if he has no other option.

Who is the most picky in their food choice? -  Kyle. Wally consumes literally anything in front of him.

Who does the grocery shopping? - Kyle. Do you think he would trust Wally?? To pick out the best food? Wally eats like he's a dumpster.

How often do they bake desserts? - Never.

Are they more of a meat lover or a salad eater? -  I still do not know how to answer this question.

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? - Wally. Not because he remembers their anniversary - he absolutely does not - but because he loves to eat and Kyle is like AH I SEE YOU REMEMBERED OUR ANNIVERSARY and Wally is like "...sure..."

Who is more likely to suggest going out? -  Neither. They don't want to admit they're together!! They're fake married with an alien baby and they STILL don't want to be seen together in public. Connor drags them out!!!

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidently while cooking? -  Also Kyle!!! Mainly because he's the one who cooks.

Chores: 

Who cleans the room? -  Wally. Kyle definitely lives in a pigsty, and Wally canonically does all the chores cuz he can do them super fast.

Who is really against chores? -  Kyle. ARTISTS DON'T DO CHORES (I say from personal experience)

Who cleans up after the pets? - DEFINITELY Kyle because they ONLY have a weird alien pet that Kyle found in space and Wally refuses to touch it.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? - Still Kyle!!

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? - Neither, really.

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? - Wally! Because he actually cleans.

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? -  Kyle. Once again, Wally is on that superspeed shit.

Who takes the dog out for a walk? - They 100% do not commit to owning a dog together, but Kyle is in charge of ALL weird alien duties so.

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? - Wally STILL decorates for EVERY holiday. Kyle tries to help but he goes too slow and they end up in another fist fight.

What are their goals for the relationship? - Not to murder each other. It's a work in progress.

Who is most likely to sleep till noon? - Kyle. As if artists go to bed at reasonable times of night!!!! (I say from personal experience)

Who plays the most pranks? -  They are EQUAL in their pranks. On each other. On other people. SO MANY PRANKS.

[forceoflegacy]

BatFlash Week: Parents didn’t die

In this au, Bruce and Barry decide to follow their dad’s footsteps and become doctors. They meet in med school and become study buddies

[imperiuswrecked]

Ok so update time since it has been ages since I did one of these:

Current and upcoming stuff I’m reading:

1. Rereading the Dresden Files before the new books drop, as well as reading the Dresden comics. Maybe rewatching the series for fun

2. Namor comic read through I will finish it so help me god

3. Books of Magic (new comics I am excited to start reading)

4. Must find time to read Constantine’s newer comics that I keep forgetting about

5. PeterFelicia comic reading

6.  Temeraire series, will be picking it up again even though I’m still on book one

Current ships that I am open to writing in the future

- Namor /: Pietro, T’challa, Doom, Betty Dean, Dorma, Emma, Jim Hammond

- Pietro /: Namor, Remy

- Doom /: Namor, Reed, Strange

- Kurt/Logan, Kurt/Ororo, Kurt/Ororo/Logan

- WizardBaron (Dresden/Marcone)

- BatFlash (Bruce/Wally)

Current fandom works in progress, releases and upcoming projects will be:

1. Namor Week; some comic edits and fics, as well as art I have commed for this event, set to start posting during Namor Week (april 24-30)

2. Short fics prompts from my inbox/comments, set to start posting after Namor Week by about a week or so. I will be dropping these fics over the course of the rest of the month (May 2020) so I will warn people before hand but either way; follow or blacklist my writing tag: #mim writes a thing

3. Updates to older fanfics that have been judging me for abandoning them, starting at the end of May 2020.

4. Fic planning for PeterFelicia week in August.

5. Invaders fanworks fest will be reworked into Invaders week, new dates for the event and info will be released as soon as I figure it out, but still set for a summer event.

6. Planning for a Quicksilver week to happen some time this year, details still need to be worked out.

Now pray for me and my relentless need to finish something I started even if it kills me. lmao. ALSO I SHOULD REALLY WORK ON MY ART MORE.

[teatitty]

when batflash week rolls around i BETTER see bruce/barry in the tags

[ao3feed-batflash]

by mattzerella_sticks

Zatanna had questions. Namely how Barry Allen could carry Batman bridal style and not be immediately destroyed.

With the encouragement of some eggnog, she sets out - with Diana - to figure out the mystery! Batman might have learned a few tricks from her family, but she picked up some things, too. And no amount of stubbornness will keep her from answers.

Day 6 of Batflash Week - Holidays and Justice League

Words: 1941, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Justice League Action (Cartoon)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Zatanna Zatara, Diana (Wonder Woman), Bruce Wayne, Barry Allen, Oliver Queen, Dinah Lance, Clark Kent, Patrick "Eel" O'Brian

Relationships: Barry Allen/Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne & Zatanna Zatara, Diana (Wonder Woman) & Zatanna Zatara

Additional Tags: Christmas, Christmas Party, Mistletoe, Oblivious Barry Allen, Embarrassed Bruce Wayne, Angry Zatanna, Grumpy Bruce Wayne, Misunderstandings, Public Kissing

[parhelios]

Batflash Week Day 3

November 5: On a mission/Spell

@batflashweek

mandatory ao3 link

Today was not going well for Wally, or the League as a whole, really. A certain fifth dimensional bastard who would not be named had gotten it into his head that a fun way to cause chaos in the League would be to swap their powers, which Wally immediately knew would suck ass for everyone. Especially whoever ended up with superspeed. And whoever got telepathy, for that matter.

So, when their powers were switched and Bruce collapsed to the ground, vibrations and a brand-new connection to the speedforce coursing through his body, Wally didn’t panic. Instead, he calmly (but quickly) made his way to Bruce, kneeling down to sit next to him.

Bruce was glowing with the speedforce, and Wally could feel it in the air, the hum of ozone and ambient static electricity that he had come to be familiar with.

“B, can you look at me?”

Painstakingly, in what, to anyone else would be the blink of an eye, Bruce turned his face towards Wally’s, though his eyes were unfocused.

Wally smiled warmly. “Good. A bit different in practice than theory, huh?” He kept his voice light, but it was much quieter than usual. Bruce probably wasn't having a good time when it came to his sensory experience, if Wally’s own first experience with the speedforce was anything to go by. With superspeed, you had the time to take in everything, every little detail, every sound and bit of ambient noise that you could physically take in, and for someone not yet used to that who was also unaware of how to settle back into a ‘normal’ frame of consciousness, it could be too much.

“I want to try something. Can you make a fist for me?” Bruce nodded, too fast for anyone not a speedster. In a flash, his clenched fists were in front of Wally.

“Relax,” he said, ghosting his fingers gently over the too-hot skin of Bruce’s fist, feeling the frantic vibration of his hands. “If you dig your nails in you’ll hurt yourself.”

Wally sighed as the tension in Bruce’s fists lessened, just a little. The tension in his shoulders did not go away, but it was good enough for now.

“I want you to name something you sense— short answers only— and when you name it, release a finger.” Wally placed his hands on the back of Bruce’s. “Start with sight.”

“Streetlights.”

“Smell?”

“Dust.”

“We’ll skip taste. What do you hear?”

“Caralarms.”

“And touch?”

“Mycape.”

For each thing he said, Bruce released a finger, his breathing growling imperceptibly slow, the vibrating lessening.

“From the top?

“Yoursuit. Tar. Your voice. Your hands on mine.” Slowly but surely, Bruce stopped vibrating, his hands still in Wally’s. He turned them over, lacing his fingers through Wally’s.

“Is this how you feel all the time?” Bruce’s voice was quiet as he stared down at where their fingers interlocked.

“At first, yeah. I had to make a conscious effort to slow myself down, and let me tell you, I didn't know any sort of grounding methods like that, so it was meltdowns and sensory overload every few minutes for a very long time. The only upside was that I could speed up to have them so no one would notice. Eventually I adjusted, and figured out ways to calm myself down. It was certainly a learning curve, though.” Wally laughed quietly.

“I’m sorry.”

“What is there to be sorry for? It’s not your fault.”

“I’m sorry that I couldn't be there to help you. You shouldn't have had to go through that alone.”

“B, you can't blame yourself for things that already happened.”

“Watch me.” Wally laughed at that, loud and genuine, something warm in his heart at the small smile that was evident on Bruce’s face.

Bruce leaned towards him, lifting his hand to gently touch Wally’s cheek. Wally leaned into the touch, sure that his face was about to burst with joy.

“May I—” Bruce started to say, but Wally cut him off.

“I think you already know my answer, Mr. World’s Greatest Detective.”

And Bruce kissed him, still smelling like ozone, skin still warm from vibration. Static electricity quite literally zapped him as Bruce gently placed his hand on Wally’s bicep.

It was a perfect kiss. Now they had a villain, or whatever Mr. Mxyzptlk was, to stop.

[batflashweek]

Today’s the Day

[galaxysupernaturalstuff]

Batflash Week Day 5 || Try [Pinning]!!! Read the description please

[poisonmurderthot]

Batflash Week: On a Mission

Just wanted to write something for my favorite rare pair!

Wally tightened his grip on the man’s ankles, “better give him what he wants.”

The thug scoffed, “please! You’re a pushover Flash! You’re not goin’ to do nothin’!”

Flash looked over to the dark figure behind him, “should I do it?” There was a small rustle of fabric and Flash nodded. “Alright then.” Flash immediately relaxed his hands and wrists and with a scream and wide eyes the thug that was previously dangling over the edge of the tallest building in Gotham was now free-falling in the air.

“Give him five seconds.” Batman said next to Flash as they watched the large man plummet to the sidewalk.

“Okay.” They watched the man get closer and closer to the ground before Wally suddenly stepped over the edge of the roof and chased after the man. He ran along the brick between the windows and caught up to the man who screamed in terror when he saw the red blur. “Should have just complied buddy!”

“FLASH PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET ME OUT OF HERE!”

Flash sighed but reached out and grabbed the man’s outstretched hand and pulled him in close. “Hold tight!” Flash transferred the man to his back and abruptly turned face and ran back up the building towards Batman. He made it back in record time and practically threw the thug back at Batman. The man stumbled and fell to his knees, shaking. “Back up Batman he might-“

Wally was cut off as a loud retching noise rang through the night as the man emptied his stomach. “He might puke.”

Bruce grimaced as he stepped away from the puke. “Tony, tell me about what Sionis is doing with those weapons in Central. Or Flash here takes you for a ride again.”

Tony tagged as he shook with fear. “Please no! I’ll tell you everything I know!”

Batman smirked, “that’s what I thought.”

Tony preceded to tell them everything he knew and after he was done flash nodded and raced off to Central to deal with Roman Sionis. Batman quickly put Tony in cuffs to take him back to the GCPD.

$$

Wally opened the door to the café as a hand ran through his hair. “Knock it off!”

“It was out of place.”

Wally giggled and grabbed the offending hand, “more like you prefer it messy.”

“It’s cute, like your freckles.”

“Oh Mr. Wayne, you’re such a flirt!” Wally kissed the back of Bruce’s hand as they walked up to the counter. The barista smiled at them and handed over their regular order. A black coffee for Bruce and a caramel mocha frappe for Wally. They came to the shop everyday after missions, particularly ones where Wally was needed in Gotham. It was a nice way for them to relax, plus a great way to cherish the new budding relationship they had.

[mattzerella-sticks]

#LikeYouBatWay, Day 4 of Batflash Week - Secret Relationship & High School/College

Barbara Gordon is a detective. She never lets herself get distracted from the clues. There's nothing more important than solving a mystery. Except every PI has their girl Friday, and in this case Barry fits the description.

After realizing her feelings for her friend are more than platonic, what will she do? Is there a chance that Barry might return her affections? Or does he not like her that way?

She'll just have to take the risk... but she won't be doing it alone.

During lunch the girls don’t always sit together, busy either with school clubs or other friends. But they set aside every Wednesday in their schedules to eat at the same table. All six of them would gather in their designated spot and catch up on what they missed. Diana introduced the idea after a whole week passed when the max occupancy of their group never went over three. They agreed that they needed one lunch where all that mattered were each other. And nothing save an emergency would distract any of them from enjoying it.

Barbara wouldn’t call her feelings an emergency, but she could barely focus on Kara complaining about their chemistry teacher as she pushed her food around. Especially when the mush took the shape of a lightning bolt. She rested her chin on her elbow and sighed dreamily, a sappy grin blossoming on her face.

“Babs!”

She startled, arms flapping dramatically as she fell back with a yelp. When Barbara recovered it was to five curious stares bearing down on her. “Yes?” she asked, as if she wasn’t sprawled on the floor.

“Are you okay?”

Barbara shot up, cheeks burning. “Am I okay? Who asks that kind of question - of course I’m okay do I look not okay? Because I’m not. I mean, I am - I’m okay…” Strangling her bat ears on her hoodie, Barbara nearly tore them off.

Zatanna laid a hand on her shoulder, smiling. “We were calling your name for a full minute but your mind was a million miles away.”

“Oh, yeah,” she tried playing it off, scoffing, “I was thinking about a project that I have due tomorrow, obviously. It’s… yeah…”

“Really?” Kara smirked, poking at Barbara’s plate, “does it have to do with electricity ?”

Barbara glared, smearing the lightning bolt. “No!”

“Because it’d make sense,” she continued, “why you were doodling lightning all throughout History - although the hearts? And inside them… Barbara Gordon plus Barry Allen -”

“Kara!” Barbara hissed, “Why were you looking at my notes?”

“You know I don’t pay attention in that class. When she mentioned we had a test coming up I’d hoped you’d written it down or something.”

About to launch into a lecture on vigilance, Barbara gets sidetracked by Zatanna squealing at her other side. “Barry Allen? You have a crush on Barry Allen?”

“Not so loud, Zee!” she whispered, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. Thankfully Barry didn’t, the senior joking around with Hal and Oliver a few tables away. He glanced over, though, and caught her staring. Barry smiled and waved, Barbara returning it albeit weaker. The crooked smile fell among the chorused cooing from her table.

“Barry’s one of the nicest guys in school,” Jessica said, “You’d be so cute together!”

“How did this happen?” Karen asked, “You weren’t acting like this the other day?”

Barbara bit her lip, cutting off her own excited squeals. “Okay,” she started, “well I was staying late at Sweet Justice, working on that stolen chemicals case remember?”

The others left, each having their own plans to attend to. Barbara didn’t mind, content to figure out the mystery. Especially since none of the others shared her passion for them. She noticed how their eyes glazed over at times, Kara almost always snapping and telling her to get to the point. Being alone meant she could piece the clues at her own pace.

However an hour in she needed a change in scenery and took her research from their base and up to the public space of Sweet Justice. Commandeering a table she told Barry to keep her floating in milkshakes until she was done. While Barbara pieced together more of the scene, the lynchpin tying the case together was lost to her. “What am I missing… What am I missing? ” she groaned, slumping onto the table.

That’s when Barry stopped by with her fifth milkshake. He leaned over Barbara and studied her notes. “This looks like too much work for extra credit,” he chuckled, “What seems to be the problem?”

Barbara sighed and sat up. “No it’s not extra credit I’m… trying to guess where this thief is going to strike next! I’m stressed and not even milkshakes are helping.” She still snatched it from his hand, because they aided in other ways besides mystery solving.

Barry smiled. “You want to maybe talk about it?”

“No, no,” she waved him off, “I wouldn’t want to bore you.”

“You kidding? I love mysteries!”

Barbara stopped slurping her drink. “You do?”

“Of course,” he nodded, sitting across from her, “To me, mysteries are like a kind of science. There’s testing theories, sifting through data, comparing samples…” Barry launched into a passionate explanation of forensics that Barbara tuned out. Instead she focused on the lightning crackling in Barry’s eyes, his beaming smile, and how he practically vibrated from excitement. These thoughts led her onto a path with one obvious conclusion.

Barry Allen was cute. From there she was doomed.

“We spent the entire night talking over the case,” she gushed, remembering it, “And because I had someone to talk with it helped me see a clue I glossed over by accident! It was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time.”

Kara rolled her eyes. “Of course you’d fall for a nerd .”

Barbara pouted at her friend, ready to launch into another lecture when she noticed the troubled expression marring Diana’s face. “Diana,” she said, “is something wrong?”

“Are you sure this is wise, Barbara?” she asked, “It’s a wondrous thing, these feelings of ‘the crush’. But you remember how I acted when… Steve … was around. Do you think this could interfere with our mission?”

“It won’t!” she promised, grinning, “because this won’t be a crush for long!”

Zatanna gasped, squeezing her arm. “You’re gonna ask him out?”

“In a way...”

Kara rolled her eyes. “It’s a yes or no question, Babs. Simple. Don’t try and complicate it any further.”

Barbara slammed her fork onto the table, fire burning behind her determined gaze. “I can’t ask him out! That’s too risky! But don’t worry, I have a plan. And it’s going to work.”

----------------------------------------------------

The next day Barbara shuffled into school defeated, dragging her backpack behind her. All the usual pep was replaced with a crushing, frustrated disappointment. She could only focus on the storm clouds hanging overhead, so she didn’t see the hand that shot out and dragged her backwards.

“You don’t know who you’re messing with -”

“Barbara, calm down,” Diana said, squeezing her arms, “it’s only us.”

Her friends gathered around her, each wearing their own best worried features. Zatanna’s pouty lips and Karen’s shining eyes were in fine company alongside Diana’s set jaw, Jessica’s drawn brows and Kara’s clenched fist.

Barbara preempts them all. “I’m fine.”

“That’s a lie if I ever saw one,” Jessica sighed, laying her hand over Diana’s on Barabara’s shoulder. “You can tell us Babs.”

“Or,” Kara said, “we can use Diana’s lasso on you.”

Diana rejected the idea immediately. “I don’t use my lasso on my allies… if I don’t have to.” She glanced at Barbara, “I don’t have to, do I?”

Unable to find a weak link their fencing, Barbara accepted her fate. “You don’t,” she said, slumping into a nearby desk, “I’m… I’m a little upset.”

“A little?” Karen said, “Barbara, we’ve never seen you frown for this long! What happened?”

She wrung her hands. “Remember how I told you all that I had this plan to deal with Barry and my feelings… well… it kinda, completely... fell apart on me.” Barbara squeaked the last part in a rush, hiding behind her fingers when done. After a beat of silence she looked between her fingers at her friends.

No one seemed too shocked.

“Really?”

“Well,” Diana rubbed her neck guiltily, “when you told us what it was we… didn’t think it would work.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me!”

“We didn’t want to burst your good mood,” Zatanna said, “and there was a chance it could have worked… a teeny-tiny, little chance .”

“It would  have worked!” Barbara shouted, “If the world would’ve stopped butting in at every possible moment !”

Diana guided her into her seat again. “Why don’t you tell us what happened. From the beginning?”

Steeling her nerves and gathering her courage, Barbara thought back to yesterday and began.

After school Barbara ran home to gather supplies for her plan. Knowing Barry liked mysteries, she decided to create one of her own. Leaving a clue for Barry to find, he would hurry over to the perfect location finding Barbara waiting for him in a surprise date. “It was so totally perfect,” Barbara sighed, “until…”

She set up the small picnic first, knowing there’d be no time after dropping off the note at Sweet Justice. However racing over on her scooter in high spirits, Barbara didn’t count on her location being the scene of some drama.

“I mean a park is Ivy’s stomping ground,” Kara said, “Should’ve thought of that when picking a place.”

“You beat her though, right?” Karen asked.

Barbara nodded. “With help from Barry.” He zipped in, already in costume, surprised to see Ivy there. “I tried to salvage it,” she continued, “while he was dealing with her I scrawled another note and dropped it where he could find it.”

And when he read it Barbara zipped away, picnic basket tucked under her arm.

Arriving at the new location she caught Barry in the middle of a heated battle with Giganta. “Go to the docks, there was a villain. Go to the zoo, another villain! Until finally I thought the park would work with Ivy gone. But then…”

The darkness made it difficult to see; Barbara wouldn’t let that stop her. She lit flashlights and shoved them into the ground around the blanket. Barry wouldn’t miss her. Panting, still in costume, Barbara didn’t realize anyone else could see her, too.

“My, my, my! Who has bright red hair, a face so fair, and a wit unmatched and rare?”

Her friends groaned. “The Riddler?” Zatanna scoffed, “I thought we sent that creep packing last month?”

“He must’ve escaped,” Barbara shrugged, “And given his M.O., when Barry showed up…”

“The true mastermind behind today’s villainy!” Barry cried, holding The Riddler up by his collar, “Of course it had to be you! No one else would have left those riddles just lying around!”

“What?” he asked, “I don’t - I don’t know what you’re talking about -”

“You’re going back to Gotham where you belong !” Barry said, punching once more and knocking him out. Shouldering the unconscious villain, he turned to a gaping Batgirl. “Thanks for the assist all day, Babs - I mean… Batgirl . We make a pretty good team!” She couldn’t answer him, too shocked to speak. “I’ve got this no problem, and you can get return to your… night picnic .”

Stepping over a stray flashlight, he caught sight of a sandwich she laid out in preparation. “Oh! Turkey pesto! I love those - you don’t mind…?” To him, her silence was answer enough. With his other hand he snatched the sandwich, thanked her, and ran off.

“And that’s what happened,” Barbara sighed, “My whole plan… ruined .”

She expected sympathy from her friends. Kara’s obnoxious laughter was anything but understanding. Barbara glared at her friend while she bent over.

“Oh, man,” she breathed, “how can the fastest man alive be so slow on the uptake . Ha!” Humor infectious, the others began giggling as well.

“Not you, too!”

“Sorry Babs,” Zatanna giggled, “it’s so… horrible .”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“That’s why we’re laughing!” Kara snorted, wiping a tear from her eye. Regaining composure, she returned to full height. “Okay, seriously though, what happened was a whole mess of bad luck.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” she said, crossing her arms.

“Oh Babs,” Jessica reached out to her again, “it was only a minor setback. Not a total failure -”

“It was though!” Barbara jumped up, “If it happened maybe once or twice it would have been a setback! Everything that went on yesterday was fate telling me it’s not supposed to be.”

“Don’t be silly, Barbara,” Diana said, “the Fates do not concern themselves too heavily with matters like this. I’m sure it was all really bad luck.”

She hid behind her hands once more, screaming into them. Barbara heard Karen whisper to Diana, “I don’t think she meant the actual Fates…”

Jessica dragged her into the light, squeezing her hands. “Look, you shouldn’t give up hope yet.”

“Hope?” Kara scoffed, “I thought you were the lantern of willpower?”

“Which is why,” she continued, “Babs shouldn’t give up. It was only one night. Maybe the next one won’t be so bad.”

“How can you be so sure?” Barbara asked her, “Who’s to say the same thing won’t happen again?”

“Because someone else will be fighting crime that night…”

----------------------------------------------------

Barbara pulled at her hoodie strings while walking side by side with Barry, tamping down the blush rising to her cheeks. Every so often they bumped into each other and she had to cut off the squeals rising in her throat.

“Y’know,” Barry started, “it was pretty empty in the museum tonight, not that I didn’t mind. Meant we didn’t have to wait to see the new exhibit. Usually, though, there are all sorts of crowds the first few days. Weird, right?”

She chuckled, swallowing around the clump of nerves in her throat. “Well we did go an hour before closing, so it’s not that weird...” He shrugged, agreeing with her cover.

When they entered the museum there were a lot of people still hanging around. An exhibit on a recently discovered pharaoh’s tomb from Egypt always drew interest. Especially since inside they discovered artifacts that looked alien in origin. Parts of a spaceship alongside strange cloaks adorned with metallic feathers meant that there was more about Prince Khufu and his wife Chayara researchers hadn’t realized.

It wasn’t only everyday civilians who were interested, either. As they made their way through the hall of magnets Barbara noticed a shadowy figure creep around a corner. Her heart fell into her stomach.

Luckily Barbara was prepared that time. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she stopped Barry, “wait for me?” He nodded, and Barbara snuck behind a plant to radio for her friends. While Karen slipped by without notice, Kara zipped through like a hurricane. Barry hadn’t seen, though, too preoccupied playing with some of the magnets on display. Everyone else did and quickly cleared the room.

It took careful coordinating and precision to ensure Barry remained unaware of the activity happening in the museum, but they managed to see the exhibit and avoid the villain. There were close calls, especially when examining a few of the hieroglyphics. The shadowy thief was right behind them, claws sharp and ready. Barbara snuck out a bat-a-rang only for Jessica to lock it in an emerald bird cage.

Now, far away from the museum, she hoped that was the end of any villainy for the day.

“Thanks again for inviting me,” Barry said, smiling at her, “it was a lot of fun.”

“Totally! I had fun, too! I mean, of course I’d have fun because you’re a pretty fun guy to hang around… not that I only think you’re that I mean - I mean you’re more than that! You’re…” she squeaked to an end, tugging the strings on her hood too far and causing her hood to pucker over her face. Quickly she tears it off, completely embarrassed.

Barry had moved on, obvious to her faux pas. He stood by a hot dog vendor staring at the contents. “You want a hot dog? My treat.”

“Sure!” Barbara stepped over, bouncing while the vendor made their hot dogs.

From out of the corner of her eye, however, she spotted a familiar silhouette charging towards them. Two lamp posts burst, glass shattering from uncontrolled lightning blasts. She glared, growling. “Livewire.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” she shoved him towards the cart, “I need to tie my shoe.” Kneeling she lit up her communicator again. “Anyone free to deal with Leslie? She’s inbound!”

No one answered her, but Barbara heard bushes rustle nearby. Diana jumped out and tackled Leslie out of the street and away from them. Zatanna whooshed after her, purple glitter trailing behind.

“I swear,” Barry huffed, hot dogs in hand, “I thought I heard -”

“Nothing! You heard nothing!” Barbara took her snack from him and dragged Barry away, arms looped together, “It’s so beautiful tonight, not a care in the world. No crime or anything, really! So there’s no reason to think of the quiet as anything suspicious, okay !”

“Okay?” Barry dug his heels in, stopping them, “Any reason we’re zipping by it?”

Barbara snorted, “Didn’t think you had any problem with going fast?”

“No, but usually I’m the one caught speeding,” he chuckled, “what’s got your engine revved?”

She ducked her gaze, shuddering a nervous breath. Barry watched her with an easy grin, not pressuring her any further than his simple question. Barbara drew upon the strength and courage she reserved for fighting crime into this moment, knowing that it’s perfect for revealing her feelings. Ignoring her nerves, Barbara turned to face him again. “Barry, I -��

“Oh, hold that thought.”

He shoved his hot dog into his mouth and pulled his phone out. Checking it over, Barry sighed and his smile melted into something softer. He sent a quick text and pocketed it again.

“So?” Barbara asked, “anyone important?” At the back of her mind a voice whispered something horrible that floated around like a gnat she couldn’t shake.

“Wha - oh, sorry,” Barry blushed, shrugging, “Um… look, I hate to cut and run…”

Barbara’s mood fell, her bubble burst. “What?” she whispered.

“I had fun today, really,” he said, “we should hang out more, outside of Sweet Justice and work , y’know? I’ll see you in school tomorrow!” Then he zipped away into the city, Barbara left behind in the dust. Her hot dog slid out of her bun, slapping the ground and condiments spraying everywhere. A tear forced its way onto her face and trailed down her cheek.

“Oh Barbara,” Jessica started from behind laying a hand on her shoulder, “I’m so-”

“Please,” she cut her off, “Don’t say it.”

“What a jerk though,” Kara scoffed, “All the hard work we went through to give him a great day - I crashed through Venus !”

“Kara,” Zatanna hissed, “stop making this about you! Can’t you see Babs is hurting!”

“Not as bad as Barry’ll be hurting,” she said, cracking her knuckles, “I say we corner him before school and -”

“No.”

“What?”

“No,” Babara said, hurt fading into steely determination, “because I’m not giving up. There’s nothing to feel sorry for yet.”

Jessica whooped, clapping. “That’s the spirt, Barbara!”

“May Aphrodite bless you on your quest for love,” Diana said.

Barbara waved at her friends, running, “Thanks for all your help girls. But now it’s time for Batgirl to take point!”

----------------------------------------------------

She found him on a rooftop, facing the shadows in his Flash costume. “Barry!” she yelled, “Barry!”

Barry startled, spinning his heel. “Batgirl,” he said, glancing behind him, “What are you doing here?”

“We didn’t finish our conversation,” Barbara huffed, stomping her way over, “You left .”

“I - I know,” he started, hands raised between them, “but we can do this tomorrow at school, can’t we?”

“No!” she said, “We can’t. Because I had a plan in place to tell you that I liked you but it didn’t work out and then I had another one and my friends helped me except you had to go and ruin it by running away just as I was about to confess the deepest secrets of my heart and - and - and…” Barbara puffed up her chest then slowly deflated.

Barry stared wide-eyed during her speech, mouth open.

It irked her. “Well? Are you gonna say something ?”

Jolted into action Barry’s cheeks burned to match the color of his costume. “Oh, well um - that’s real sweet Babs,” he said, scratching his neck, “I like you, too, but…”

He didn’t need to finish. “Oh.”

“I’m really sorry Babs -”

“No, no,” she stepped back, arms crossed, “it’s okay. I… I probably should’ve taken all that happened as a sign it wouldn’t work out.”

“No, no Babs,” Barry continued, hesitatingly reaching over to her, “don’t be so hard on yourself… it’s not what you think. I… I think you’re really cool and smart and - and I like how we both have similar interests and I’m probably as big a fan of Bats as you…”

“How is that supposed to make me feel better!” she asked, “You’re basically saying we’re perfect for each other except for one small thing -”

“I’m already dating someone!”

His outburst stilled her frantic mind. Barry froze, obvious to her that he didn’t mean to share that little piece of information with her. The irritation and annoyance waging war inside her cooled off into a reluctant disappointment. “Oh…”

“Yeah,” Barry said, “Babs, I… I think you’re amazing, and anyone would be lucky to be with you like that but… we’re perfect the way we are. As friends. And I hope this doesn’t come between us?”

Her heart softens at his plea; his words comforting to hear. “Of course,” she said, “But… if we’re friends, I don’t think we should keep secretsbetween us…”

He stiffened again, gulping. “I mean,” he rubbed at his neck, “some secrets are okay -”

“Please!” Barbara cut him off, “You can tell me. You already told me you were dating! Can you not tell me? Is it someone I know? Is it? Is it?”

Barry glanced behind him, “Well… kinda -”

“Who is it? Who is it, who is it, who is it, who is it ?”

“Batgirl.”

Her body shut down from shock. She recognized that voice, having heard it from listening in on frequent calls with her dad. From the shadows her hero emerged. “Batman!”

“Hello,” he said, smirking.

There was so much she wanted to say to him, but given the whirlwind of recent events and her confusion, she chose the first thing that crossed her mind. “I thought you’d be taller?”

His smirk fell into a frown, and instantly she shifted into overdrive to fix it. “Not that it’s bad I think I imagined you so tall because I’ve never actually seen you only heard about you and, well, my imagination went wild so you’re not too short. I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting to see you here I mean why are you here is there a villain you’re chasing? Do you need me to partner with you to chase them? Is that why you’re here, is it? Is it, is it, is it -”

“Batgirl,” Barry stopped her, looking particularly flustered, “he’s not here for any of that.”

“Then what would he be doing here! On this rooftop, at this time of night, hiding, with you…” The clues flew at her rapidly, from Batman’s expectant stare to Barry’s shaking hands and everything in between. “Oh my God…” she shouted, “you’re dating -”

Barry’s hand blanketed her mouth. “Please, it’s a secret for a reason.”

She pried his hand off of her. “Secret?” she asked, “Why would you…” Barbara gasped, glaring at Batman, “it’s because he’s older than you! Batman, how could you -”

“What?” Barry said, “No, Babs, he’s not - yes, he’s older, but by like two years .”

“Two years?” Barbara repeated, “What! How are so young ? I thought you’d be as old as my dad !”

Batman scoffed, scowl deepening. “I’m not that old.”

“Explain yourself!” she demanded, pointing at him. And when Barbara realized what she had done she softened her expression and added, “please?”

“No one would take Batboy seriously,” he said, “and technically I am a man. A young man.”

“That… makes sense,” Barbara said, “But this…” She gestured between them, asking without any words.

“It kinda came out of nowhere,” Barry admitted, “I was on my way home from a shift at Sweet Justice…”

Barry decided not to speed his way through the route like he normally did, slowing down  and enjoying the evening. “Like I thought we were going to do earlier,” Barry chuckled. As he crossed the street, however, he noticed a crawling vine and his attention was captured. Knowing it wasn’t a normal sight Barry changed into his costume and followed it.

“I was in town to capture Ivy,” Batman told her, “you remember, I told you this when you pretended to impersonate your father.”

“You knew that was me!”

“Of course I did. I’m Batman .”

“Anyway,” Barry rolled his eyes, “I stumbled on Ivy near the school and confronted her -”

“Just as I touched down, ready to haul her away.”

Their first meeting wasn’t perfect. Barry ran in front of one of Batman’s bat-a-rangs, getting frozen in the process. Batman didn’t realize Barry could create mini tornadoes and was blown away at one point. And throughout the battle they were fighting with each other.

“We didn’t get Ivy that night,” Batman said, “but… other things sort of fell into place...” He flashed a brief smile Barry’s way, causing the other boy to preen under the attention. Barbara cooed at the display. “But we’ve been keeping it under wraps.”

“Distance, secret identities,” Barry added, “it’s something neither of us had to deal with before, and we’re working through this in our own time…”

“So,” Batman continued, “can we trust you to keep this secret, Batgirl?”

There weren’t any doubts. “Of course you can. I’m honored you even told me about this.”

“Why wouldn’t I,” Batman said, advancing towards the rooftop, “Barry’s mentioned you before. That along with your outstanding track record in the field… you’re a great hero, Batgirl. You wear the bat well.” He held out a grappling hook, winking at Barry. “I’ll text you later.” Batman shot off into the night.

Batgirl watched him leave with stars in her eyes, floating. She was brought back to Earth by a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Hey,” Barry said, “are you sure you’re okay with this? With me not… well -”

“Are you kidding?” Batgirl shrieked, hugging him, “Batman said he likes what I’m doing. Batman! That’s better than any relationship!”

Jumping around with Barry in her arms would have made her dizzyingly happy. She was, but for reasons she didn’t expect.

Rejection never felt so sweet.