Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! This chapter was giving me hell. I know how the last one works, but not this one.

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Four: Dinah Lance

Dick stared at the ceiling as Black Canary wrote down a few things on her clipboard. She'd started taking notes during sessions after Dick had vehemently protested being filmed in this room. He didn't mind. She wrote in code. Bruce wouldn't ask about it or look at the notes. He respected Dick's privacy.

"You seem troubled," by Black Canary, setting down her clipboard. She folded her hands together and rested her elbows on her knees.

"Huh?" said Dick. He looked at Black Canary, blinking behind his sunglasses. "Oh, uh. Just thinking about what Bruce and I talked about last night." He'd learned, long ago, that Black Canary knew their identities, even if few others did.

"Oh?" said Black Canary. "Would you like to share?"

Dick thought about it. He hadn't shared that particular part of himself with Black Canary. But she was pretty accepting – after all, Dick was pretty sure that something had gone on between Bruce and Oliver before Oliver started dating Black Canary. But he'd never gotten a straight answer out of Bruce. And she seemed the type to be accepting.

"I, uh, I told him I was gay," said Dick, fidgeting with his hands.

Black Canary blinked. "Oh."

"You're not surprised," said Dick. It wasn't a question.

Black Canary winced. "I'm sorry. I made the assumption based on your current relationship."

"Relationship?" echoed Dick. "I'm not in a relationship."

Black Canary blinked. "You're not?" There was a doubt in her eyes but not in her voice. Dick felt himself bristle.

"No, I'm not," he said, a little surprised at the sharpness in his voice. Then, "Who did you think…"

"Wally," said Black Canary, softly.

Dick stood up and walked toward the door.

"Dick," called Black Canary. "I'm sorry." He stopped, one hand on the door, well aware of the shaking in his shoulders.

"Look," he said in a low voice. "I get that I'm transparent, I do. If Bruce can figure it out, I imagine most people know my feelings about Wally." He closed his eyes to try and squeeze back the tears that wanted to fall. "But can we not mock Wally too?"

"Mock?" echoed Black Canary. "Why do you think we're mocking Wally? And you, for that matter." Ah, she'd picked up on that. Dick's lips twitched. A hidden tremble that concealed a scream he was terrified would break free.

"Mocking seems like the only option here," said Dick. He turned and leaned against the door, arms folded tightly across his chest to hide the trembling in his hands. "Wally's straight. Thinking he's not is just mocking how affectionate he is. He hugs everyone. He touches everyone. I'm not different. I'm not special. I'm his friend – his best friend, but I'm not…" He shook his head, lips pressed together tightly. "He's not…"

"Have you ever asked?" said Black Canary, her voice gentle.

"I don't have to," said Dick. "You've seen the way he talks about M'gann, the way he looks at Artemis. He's a flirt. Girls are always on his mind.'

"You flirted with Zatanna, for a while," said Black Canary.

Dick gritted his teeth and crossed the room again, sitting on the arm of the couch. "Yeah, to feel normal," said Dick. "I figured maybe… if I tried hard enough…" He didn't finish the sentence. The unsaid words hung between them.

"Oh, Dick," breathed Black Canary. And the pity in her voice had him on his feet again. He dragged them as he headed back toward the door. He couldn't do this. He didn't want to do this.

"I need to get back to Gotham," mumbled Dick to the door.

"You don't have to –" started Black Canary.

Dick cut her off. "I need to get back to Gotham." He left the room and headed toward the Zeta-Beams, pretending he didn't notice the way his vision blurred with every step.