Aero *Completed Story*

Chapter 2

"You know the secrets I could never tell.
And when I'm quiet you break through my shell...
You pull me aside when something ain't right,
Talk with me now and into the night
Till it's alright again.
You're a true friend."

"How you doin?" Flash flirtingly smiled at the costumed female as he passed her in the hallway. "Want to get an iced mocha with me in the cafeteria, Maya?" He stopped in front of her and folded his arms across his chest, waiting for an answer. He winced when she opened her mouth, expecting to hear a firm rejection.

"That sounds nice." Maya replied cheerfully.

"Oh ok maybe another time then." Flash started to walk away rejected.

"Flash, I said yes, that sounds nice."

He turned around on his heel. "What? Oh. No girl has ever said yes yet. Wow ok. Let's go." He held his arm out for her to take and she gently put her arm in his and they walked to the cafeteria together, Flash having an extra bounce in his step.

As they walked into the cafeteria he caught Aero's eye and smiled brightly and flashed a thumbs up at her. Then he and Maya walked over to the drink area and Flash made her an iced mocha. When he finished he led her to the table Aero was sitting at and pulled a chair out so Maya could sit down.

"Aero, you know Maya right?"

"Yeah, I believe we met a few days ago after your first day here right?" Aero shook her hand uncomfortably then quickly pulled her arm back. Flash raised his left eyebrow at her questioningly.

Maya just nodded happily, not noticing the looks Aero and Flash were exchanging. "Maya has not only agreed to me giving her a tour of the Watchtower but also it seems we are both on duty tomorrow night, so we will be having dinner together."

Aero's stomach dropped when she heard that. Then she felt a dull pain in her head. She swallowed sharply. "Oh really?" she tried to sound happy but it ended up coming out sounding like she was being sarcastic. She coughed to try to cover up how mean she might have sounded.

Flash looked like he was getting a little irritated with her. So she quickly tried to excuse herself. "That sounds nice. Listen sorry to eat and run but I am not feeling very well. I will catch you guys later." She picked up her tray and headed out the door. Flash was in front of her in less than a second.

"What's up?"

"What do you mean?" She tried to look confused.

He stepped forward an inch so that she was the only one who could hear him. "We have been best friends for almost two years now, I can tell when something is up. Why were you being so curt back there?"

"Wow, did you learn a new word today?" Aero snapped at him.

"Cute. Seriously what's going on?" Flash was noticeably irritated now. Aero looked him in the eyes and she felt her stomach drop again. She felt bad for upsetting him so she reached up and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Nothing, sorry I just think I am coming down with something. I didn't mean to seem so short." She noticed his face softening. "I'm off duty in ten I think I'm just going to head home and get some rest. Have fun with Maya, she seems nice."

Flash smiled and wrapped his arms around Aero in a hug. "Alright, feel better. See you in a few days."

***

Aero popped her head into the cafeteria, scanned the room and sighed. She turned around quickly bumping into someone. She looked up to see a man wearing a blue shirt, with a red bandana around his neck and a white cowboy hat. Her eyes widened in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry."

"That's alright. What's your hurry little lady?" the Vigilante tipped his hat to her.

"I was just looking for someone."

"The Flash right?"

"How did you know?" Aero's eyebrows furrowed together.

"You two are inseparable. I think everyone 'round here knows you are best friends. But sorry little lady. I haven't seen him."

"I didn't know it was that obvious we were close." She blushed.

"No need to be embarrassed about it. It's nice to see you two are friends. Sometimes as heroes we focus too much on the job and not enough on anything else. I know more than a few of us who are too serious and don't let people get close to 'em. They could learn a thing or two from you. Well it was nice bumpin' into ya. I have to eat some grub before I head back to work." He tipped his hat again and walked into the cafeteria.

Aero's face brightened up. She stored that accidental meeting away in her memory, hoping to be able to get to know him better in the future. Her thoughts strayed back to the task at hand, finding Flash. The last few weeks she hadn't been able to see or talk to him much. And the times they had seen each other it was for only a few minutes because he always had somewhere to be. She was hoping since she knew he was on the schedule for today she and he would be able to catch up. After about twenty minutes of looking for him, she spotted his red costume coming out of the men's locker room. She walked toward him and called out his name. He looked her way and grinned.

"Hey stranger. Good timing. I just got back from fighting Mirror Master. I feel like we haven't seen each other in a while."

"I feel the same way." Aero sighed with relief. She hadn't been sure if he felt the same.

"Then it sounds like we have some catching up to do. Meet you at our spot in about 5?"

Aero nodded and headed away from Flash. She had a weird sensation from seeing him. She didn't know how to describe it. Her face started to feel a little warm and that feeling went all the way down to her toes. She put her hand on her cheek and it was a bit hot. She wondered if she was getting sick, but she didn't feel like she was. That thought was quickly replaced with one of joy as she walked up to the spot where Flash said to meet. Finally she was getting some real time with her best friend. She couldn't wait to catch up, hear about who he had fought and won, what pranks he might have pulled and what he had been so busy with.

Their spot was high up in the Watchtower. It was a walkway on one of the upper decks. Very few people used the walkway because most of the operations on the Watchtower were in the lower levels. This deck was just covered in windows so when you walked up there it felt like you were walking in the stars. It was peaceful and quiet, quite a change from the rest of the station.

Over the two years they had known each other and become friends, they would run and hide up here after pulling a prank on someone or go here when they just wanted to talk. It became a bit of a sanctuary for both of them, especially after a hard fight with a villain. During those times Flash and Aero would just sit with their backs up against the glass, not saying a word, just enjoying the silence and each other's company.

Flash ran up to meet her as soon as he was done with the debriefing. He got up there in about 2 seconds. He saw Aero standing with her face towards the glass, looking out at the stars. Her face looked peaceful. He decided he wanted to disrupt that. He walked up behind her very slowly and quietly with his arms out, ready to grab her.

"Stop before I hurt you. I have laser beams for eyes you know." She turned to face him. He looked a little dejected but happy.

"You are the only one who sees me coming. I missed that. And I miss playing tricks on people. I haven't done any since you and I convinced Cyborg that his language circuits were making him speak in only Hindi." He laughed to himself. "That had to be one of the best ones yet."

"Why haven't you been doing much, Prankster?" she said smirking at him.

Flash moved to stand next to her and sighed dreamily as he leaned his back against the glass window. "Aero, I think I'm in love."

"You say that with every girl you meet."

"I really mean it this time."

Aero's heart dropped into her chest. She started to take short breaths. Did she hear him right? "Really?" she asked timidly.

"Maya is wonderful. I have really gotten to know her well and we have been hanging out for a few weeks now. We even met and had dinner at this restaurant in Central City. She is just awesome. I really want you to get to know her too."

Aero didn't know what to say or let alone even think about the situation. She felt hurt and confused and her stomach started to hurt. Her head felt like it was reeling, but she heard herself say, "Um ok. That sounds good."

"Great. I want my best friend to like my girlfriend."

Girlfriend? A hundred different thoughts passed through Aero's head and she started to feel a headache coming on. "Flash I gotta go." She quickly walked away from him and felt her face getting hot again. She needed to get home, needed to lay down.