More Than Just A Prince

Tense Dinners

"Delicious Bruce," Barry commented as they ate.

"All Alfred's doing of course," Bruce responded. 

So far dinner had been tense. The seating arrangement in itself was causing issues. Bruce sat at one end with Barry at the other. Closest to Bruce on his left was Jason, Damian, Cassandra, and Dick. On his right was Cassandra then a blank seat. Then Stephanie and Wally. The goal was to get Stephanie and Wally close while still allowing Wally to sit beside King Barry. Bruce also wanted Dick sitting next to Barry, putting him right across from Wally, as Dick was the most charming and respectful of anyone at the table.

Stephanie and Wally hadn't spoken at all, resulting in some awkwardness on Barry's end of the table. Dick luckily was able to make up for it and take their minds off everything. 

"So Wally, have you ever been to Gotham before?" Dick asked, despite already knowing the answer, as Wally had never been to the area before with Barry.

"No," Wally replied, grateful for the conversation, "First time."

"Perhaps we should show you the city," Dick suggested, noticing Stephanie sigh in relief at "we".

"That sounds lovely actually," Wally replied, keeping his eyes on Dick's sharp ones.

It felt like a battle between them yet they were on the same side. Almost silently communicating the need to fill the table with conversation to make their respective fathers happy. By the time dinner was over Stephanie and Wally hadn't spoken at all, mainly due to Stephanie not even looking at him and Wally being much more interested in a conversation with Dick. Bruce and Barry must have also been silently communicating as they decided to both leave the dinner table to receded to their respective rooms, probably thinking Wally and Stephanie would get along with less pressure.

They were sort of right. Everyone let out a breath of relief as the two Kings were gone. "That was tense," Tim lamented.

"How old are you?" Dick asked bluntly.

"Twenty two," Wally replied then looked to Stephanie, "I'm guessing you are a bit younger than my father implied."

"Seventeen," Stephanie said to him. 

"And you?" Wally asked Dick.

"Twenty one," Dick replied.

A moment of silence passed before Jason spoke, "They must be fucking kidding themselves thinking you two are gonna get together. It's basically an arranged marriage. So outdated."

"It may seem strange but in many kingdoms this is still a frequent occurrence," Damian said shrugging, "I suggest you two at least become friends."