Poker Face | Bruce Wayne

forty

The doors to the Hall of Justice hissed open.

Meredith stepped into the expansive room that was aglow with the dim lights of various machines.

She knit her brows at the sight of most of the League members gathered around the long table, chattering animatedly.

"Oh my God, and the costumes?"

"I know! I couldn't believe it when I saw the cover— are we in the right timeline?"

"The costumes? Guys, c'mon. The laughter? The smiles? I agree with Barry, we are totally in a different universe."

"Totally a different universe! Oh, look! TMZ just released some new pictures, oh my God this is so rich—!"

As Meredith got closer to the table, she saw Hal showing his phone screen to each member, who excitedly added their own commentary.

She cleared her throat. "So, what's all the commotion about this time? Alien takeover again?"

Barry was the first to notice her, breaking into a grin. "Might as well be. We're talking about the photos from Bruce's party the other night— they're all over the news! Page Six, TMZ, Gotham Gazette. You name it, this man is on the cover of it."

Meredith bit back a mischievous grin. In their stupor, they all apparently forgot that, at least to their knowledge, she had "no idea" that Bruce Wayne was Batman. Time for a little fun, Meredith supposed.

She tilted her head in confusion, taking a sip of her coffee. "Why do you all care about what Bruce Wayne is doing?"

The conversation slowed to a dead halt as they realized their error.

"Oh." Barry's face went pale, eyes darting to his teammates for backup. "Well, we, uh—"

"We just like to keep up with the news," Victor finished.

She narrowed her eyes if only to keep herself from chuckling.

"Yeah!" Hal added. "And Bruce Wayne, I mean, wooh! Super hot, right?"

"Right!"

"Uh, right?"

"Ahuh..."

Arthur gave the rest of his team a strange look. "Um, I don't know about you all, but, ew."

Meredith finally let out a small laugh as she made her way to an empty seat next to Diana. "You're all terrible liars. I know who he is."

The table was silent.

Hal finally broke the ice. "And when you say, 'you know who he is,' that means...?"

"I know he's Batman."

Chuckles of relief washed over the group.

"Sorry." Hal grinned. "Just makin' sure we're all on the same page here."

"Really?" Barry asked astonishingly from across the table. "You finally figured it out?"

Meredith set her coffee down in front of her. "Took a little longer than my pride would like to admit, but yes."

"And... he is aware of this revelation?" Diana asked.

"He is."

Victor, for probably the first time since Meredith's known him, audibly laughed out loud. "No way. And how'd he take that?"

"Um—"

Meredith paused, thinking back to the kiss in his bedroom and the ring now sitting on her own nightstand.