runningstart | MASK OR MENACE IC INBOX

[ It's obvious (to Dick, at least) that Wally isn't totally okay. There's a shadow in his eyes when he pushes back his cowl, even if he's trying not to let it show, and Dick wonders if there's more to it than just him. He'd scanned the news reports when he'd gotten back, to see if he'd missed anything big, another Bulgaria, but... nothing.

That doesn't mean Wally didn't have his own stuff to deal with, though. ]

About a week? I see what you meant about New Years, by the way. Wow.

[ Which could, and does, mean so many things. He'll just... let that lie, maybe. ]

And yeah. Just got here. Wanted to bug you first.

[ Because you're special, okay? ]

[If Wally goes a little red at that, he's got nobody to blame but himself. And Robin. He can always blame Robin for stuff because it's totally always Robin's fault. This is another thing he missed; being someone's favorite. Bart loves him but he also loves Barry. Jaime has roughly twenty billion friends.

Robin? Wally can always count on Robin to like him the best, and he likes Robin the best in return. It's reassuring and confidence-boosting and safe to know that there's someone around who loves you the best, practically unconditionally, and he just- Without his parents or his aunt and uncle, and with Bart acting so strange, and all this shit going on with Thawne and everything-

Wally just bites his lip and grabs Robin again, not caring that he's gross and probably making a moron out of himself.] Dude. I missed you so much. [He screws his eyes shut, wrapped around Robin like some mustard-colored octopus.]

[ Wow. Okay. He didn't expect that, but he's definitely not going to complain. Not when he's just gotten back from his own crazy week, and not when he knows how lonely Wally must have been. Dick lets out a quiet little huff, wrapping his arms around Wally and patting his back a few times before just settling into the hug. All right. This is happening. ]

You didn't do anything dumb this time, did you?

[ But it comes out all quiet and fond, still teasing, but less sharp than usual. Because if he had — well. Dick gets it. He really, really does. And it's kind of nice (in a way he'll never, ever admit) to have someone who'd be dumb just for him. ]

Only 'cause I didn't have the energy to, [Wally says against Robin's hair. Dick's patting his back like he's soothing a little kid and maybe Wally would be embarrassed if he wasn't so damn relieved.]

The Shade cooked me some weird french dinner this time, though. No fighting. [oh yeah he's hanging out with his rogues now] I ate guac with ice cream and tortilla chips. With Barry. Unrelated to the Shade.

I went on a psychology date with Jaime's girlfriend. And I met my internet wife in person for the first time. [none of these things are stupid]

Edited 2015-07-16 07:16 (UTC)

[ None of them are stupid, and all of them definitely make sense.

They're well past the point of embarrassment now, Dick would gladly tell him. Haven't they practically done everything together at this point? Doesn't Wally know pretty much everything there is to know about him? Even, yes, the very embarrassing stuff. ]

Wow. Careful. You'll make me jealous. Except I have two girlfriends now? Or zero. I guess I should clarify that.

[ Dick tugs himself back from Wally's grip, just a little, just enough to pull him towards the sofa. That's a lot more comfortable than whatever the heck this is. ]

C'mon. Let's sit on the couch and do whatever cool guys like us do when they don't want to admit they're snuggling.

It's not snuggling, [Wally agrees, letting go so they can flop onto the couch and shove against each other's sides.] It's uhhhh...rough housing.

Wait. Who's the second girlfriend? I know about Zatanna...

[ Is it still roughhousing when Dick throws his legs over Wally's lap and shoves himself under his arm? Yes. Let's go with yes. ]

Barbara. She kissed me at my birthday party.

[ Which feels like so long ago, but also just a month ago, and man, everything's confusing. ]

Not like it matters here anyway, right? And, I mean, it's no internet wife.

Barb- The commissioner's daughter? [Wally whistles, adjusting his weight and arm so they're both comfortable.] Dude. That's way better than an internet wife, we're not even official. Although she is hot.

Does she have a crush on you?

[ Dick laughs, ducking his head a little, the tips of his ears going pink. ]

I — maybe? I guess so. I mean, it was her idea. The kissing thing. [ SO SMOOTH, THIS ONE. For a genius, he's not too bright. ]

... I need to get better at followup.

Tell me you at least called her. [Maybe Robin didn't. Wally hopes he did, he mentions Barbara sometimes. She seems pretty cool. ...although having a relationship with someone who only knows your civilian identity could get. Complicated.]

It's probably good that I didn't. I mean—

[ He wiggles closer against Wally's side, just glad for the contact. He'd gone from everything that had happened back home on New Year's to being Ported in, being flooded with a year's worth of memories from this world... and he still hasn't slept. He needs whatever it is they're calling snuggles now. ]

It'd be complicated for a lot of reasons. And I mean... having someone back home would be hard, right? If you met someone here.

[ He misses Artemis a lot, but he wonders if Wally misses her more. Or... differently, anyway. ]

[Yeah, Wally wouldn't admit it but he needs this rough housing, horsing around, whatever also. Bart leaving had been really bad, but then Robin had blipped out and if anyone asked, Wally doesn't remember much of the past couple weeks. Like he wasn't really awake for it or something.]

Yeah... [Kid worries at his bottom lip. He misses Artemis; he misses that exasperated way she'd yell his name when he was purposefully annoying her. He misses that sharp grin she'd throw in his direction whenever they took out some lackey and he missed how she'd throw herself down next to him on the couch and pretend like it was just coincidence that he was there the same time she was there.

More than missing her though, because he missed Superboy and Kaldur and Zatanna and Rocket too, more than that he regrets not knowing if they could have something good before showing up here. Making out with a girl post-victory doesn't really make a relationship; even he's not dumb enough to think that it does. Sure, they'd been getting along a lot better, and he'd finally figured out that sometimes when his heart pounded around her it wasn't because they were fighting, but it still- He just doesn't know what it means.

-ah. He's been quiet for a while.] -I mean. Yeah. The whole...dimension-hopping and acute memory loss probably don't make it any less complicated. Or whatever.

[ Sometimes, Dick can read Wally like a book, and sometimes he just doesn't know what he's thinking at all. He glances up at his best friend's face, the little worried line he gets between his eyebrows that Dick has to resist poking with his finger and teasing him about... he wishes he could just read minds, sometimes. ]

We're probably stuck here for the long haul, anyway. And dude, I—

[ He fidgets again, getting more comfortable, and fighting a sudden impulse to grab Wally's hand for reasons he can't quite articulate to himself. ]

If you're going to be stuck here for four years or whatever, like some of the people here? I'm glad you're not doing it without me.

[its called boyfeelings robin
that's the compulsion you are trying to name]

...but you hate it here. [Wally shouldn't go down this road; he might have to explain himself. Explain why he wants to stay, why he wants to check and see if Robin will stay. If- if he tells Robin, and they find a way to stay but not a way to keep him alive, would he...?] You should be able to go home whenever you want. I mean I want you here, but. Not. ...y'know.

Come on. I know that.

[ Robin settles for resting his cheek against Wally's shoulder, shutting his eyes. He thinks about a year in this place, all the things he's learned, all the things he regrets and all the things he doesn't. He thinks about Gotham, and wonders what his life would be like (will be like?) after a year there.

It's not just Wally. He's a different person now than he will be when he meets Bart and Gar in his future. He might never get to know Cass at all. So many little things, just like that, but when he stacks them up it equals a whole second life he'll have to give up. Every person he's met, every way he's different from the person he's been told he'll become. He doesn't know what he wants. Everything's so complicated now. ]

Don't say dumb stuff like that, okay, Walls? [ His voice is small, but determined. ] You'd never ditch me like that. And besides, the noble sacrifice thing is...

[ Robin blows out a soft sigh through his nose, turning his face into Wally's shoulder. ]

It's really corny.

[Right, this is definitely into cuddling territory, but it kind of occurs to Wally distantly that he doesn't fucking care anymore. He doesn't care about giving Robin "the wrong idea," he doesn't care if someone walks in and sees them like this, he doesn't care.

God, why did he care in the first place? Robin is his best friend.

So when Robin shoves closer, Wally lifts his chin to set it atop Robin's hair, sighing through his nose. The noble sacrifice thing is really corny. Yeah. It's corny as shit.]

Yeah. You're right. It's stupid. [Wally works his jaw to nudge Robin a little bit.] Sorry. I want you to stick around long as I'm here, okay? Official best friend request.

[ It's definitely cuddling, but if Wally doesn't care, Dick doesn't care. Wally knows how he felt (or feels, or whatever, he's not thinking about it for as long as he can and the outcome's the same either way). And Dick knows it doesn't mean anything except exactly what he wants it to mean right now, which is: I'm here.

He's not the one who launched right into a hug, anyway. Jeez. ]

It's okay. We're all a little stupid sometimes. [ Dick thumps Wally's knee gently with a fist. ] Official best friend agreement. If you're staying, I'm staying.

[ As much as he can promise it, anyway. ]

[Wally tries not to think about how relieved that makes him feel, and he's pretty sure he keeps his voice from shaking. Mostly. He coughs after it to pretend like he just had something stuck in his throat.]

Cool. Then. Verbal agreement, right here. Day and time whatever, legally binding. If you go back without me then you have to pay me reparations.

[ Lucky for Wally, Dick just assumes he's still shaken up from their touching reunion, and for once decides not to make fun of him. ]

Oh yeah? What kind of reparations?

Expensive ones. A bajillion trillion dollars.

Oh, so pocket change.

You sicken me Grayson, you truly do.

I know that's Wally code for "I'm so glad you're my ever-lovin' sugar daddy."

[ He reaches up to pat Wally's cheek. ]

I'm gonna need like 200% more sugar before I ever consider calling you 'daddy.'

Also you should get taller than me first.

Size is just a number, baby.

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