MASK OR MENACE IC INBOX

[runningstart]

WALLY WEST
"You've reached the personal voice mail of the Wall-man. The honor is yours! Leave your deets, I'll holla back atcha."
[ BEEP. ]

KID FLASH
"This is the contact for Kid Flash. If it's an emergency, call Robin; he'll know where I am. Otherwise, leave your info and I'll get you back ASAP."
[ BEEP. ]


[ voice | text | email | action ]

( Please specify in tag subject line if the contact is for Wally West or Kid Flash! )

Comments

[performance]

[ This feels strange, but hey, Wally asked. And he's enjoying making him squirm. And anyway, it's not like either of them were a secret, right? ]

Okay. But remember, you asked, so don't get weird.

Time one, in the Cave, with Zee, on the cheek. And before you say it doesn't count, she tracked me down specifically for a kiss ambush.

[runningstart]

Wh-hat? You call that-

[KF shakes his churro at Robin.] You sweet, darling summer lamb. That does not count as making out with a girl. Not even in the same ballpark. Not even the same sport.

[performance]

Oh, KF. Poor, innocent, naive KF. That was just the appetizer. I haven't gotten to the main course.

[ Yeah, reservations gone. ]

[runningstart]

Well serve it up already dude. I'm starting to doubt you.

[performance]

If you insist...

[ You can get through this without blushing, Robin. You can totally do it. ]

The scene: handsome young bachelor Dick Grayson's 14th birthday party. Half the school was there, because you don't skip out on a Wayne Manor party, even if you're not invited. We were all playing spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven or whatever — the name doesn't matter. You know the rules. And me and Barbara — you know, my best friend from school? The one in computer club with me? Smart, funny, redhead?

She won. The prize: me.

So there we were, all alone in the dimly lit game closet. The lighting was soft, the music muffled in all the right ways. Ro. Mantic. [ haha yeah right he was totally panicking. ] Now, rules are rules, but I'm a gentleman. [ a hand on his heart. so sincere. ] So of course, I told her we didn't have to do anything. I'd respect that.

But our intrepid hero wins again, because KF, my friend: she wanted to do something. And do something we did.

[ And he's just gonna let that "something" hang in the air. ]

[runningstart]

You guys did not, [KF says, all hushed, just because like, sure, seven minutes in heaven isn't a big deal for him. He's totally made out with girls for longer, totally. Completely.

But Dick hadn't. Plus at his fourteenth birthday party? Fuckin' playboy. He's definitely a Bruce Wayne in the making.]

[performance]

We totally did. Apparently I'm a natural at it.

[runningstart]

Puh-lease! You can't be a natural at making out when you're fourteen!

[performance]

[ SO SMUG. ]

That's what being a natural means. Why is this so hard for you to believe?

[runningstart]

Because! [OF REASONS] For one, I'm older than you. If anybody here is a natural, it's me. [that makes so little sense ur in the negatives kiddo]

[performance]

Again, not how natural talent works. Look, it's all about being sensitive. You know? Listening to a girl, figuring out what she wants...

[ because he's an expert now ]

Which you are so not good at. For the record.

[runningstart]

I can figure out what a girl wants! I can listen! [wow no u cant kid]

[performance]

Yeaaah, not so much.

[ He swings his legs off the gargoyle. ]

You never asked M'gann any personal questions, you know? You never seemed like you cared about her. You see a girl you like and you turn into this guy I don't even know. Some pushy jock stereotype, telling girls how hot they are like that's what they wanna hear and they were just waiting for you to come tell them.

Not exactly sensitive.

[runningstart]

[KF's face grows hotter the more he hears, until he's standing up and throwing his half-eaten churro at Robin. Kind of hard.]

What the hell do you know about how much I liked M'gann?

[performance]

Ow! What the— that cost me a buck fifty! I'm not rich here, dude.

[ Scrubbing cinnamon off his cheek. He snorts, annoyed. ]

I didn't say you didn't like her. I know you liked her.

[runningstart]

And I don't think girls are just waiting around for me to show up. And I'm not a jock stereotype. I'm sorry not all of us can throw giant parties in our giant mansions and invite half the school over and expect the other half to show up just because.

[performance]

[ Because having everyone at your birthday party except for your real friends is great. He loves it. It's his favorite. ]

Yeah, poor Wally. He has to do it like that or Robin would swoop in and steal all the girls. It's not his fault.

Come on, dude.

[runningstart]

You know what? [KF lifts his hands, backing up a few steps.] I don't care. You can make out with every girl in this city and I wouldn't care at all. You can do whatever you like.

[He heads over to the edge of the roof and swings over to grab the rungs of the utility ladder.] And maybe I don't know how to deal with girls, but sometimes dude? You're a real jerk. [He slides down and out of sight. He's going home.]

[performance]

Wait— h-hey, wait!

[ Robin tries to chase him down, but the annoying thing about speedsters is that when they really want to disappear, not even he can catch them. ]