[A/N: aaw you guys are so sweet in your reviews! Thank you so much for sticking with me and reading!]
Chapter 9: What to do...
*Central City *
The entire Cadmus incident ended with incident. Major incident. Supey met Superman, and that was quite the disaster, and Batman gave them an ear-full about following orders (Though Kid Flash gathered Robin got even more lectures later. Poor Birdie.) Heck, even Barry was steamed. "You should've called!" He kept saying, and then Iris agreed with him.
Uuugh. Dick sighed. He sat on a plush lay-z-boy chair in front of the television. Supey (he had no where to stay since Batman was still working on making "arrangements" so the Allen's decided to let him stay with them) sat to his right. In the other room, Iris was filing some news reports from that week (she can't always be cooking! This is the twenty-first century for aster's sake!)
Sighing once more, Dick propped his chin on palm and pouted. I haven't seen Sweety-Tweety since then... it's only been a couple days sure, but didn't Robby-chickadee practically, like, confess to me?
Superboy glanced over, noticing something was off with the raven-haired boy. Keep in mind, Superboy was used to Dick's moodiness after two days of living with him, but he seemed to be developing his own sense of humor so he chose the moment to comment.
"Mrs. Allen! Dick's having an emotion!"
Dick turned to glare at the super(sexy) clone Ack. No. You have to stop flirting with everyone! when Iris stepped into the room curiously, "Dick? What's wrong?" At the reassuring sound of Iris's loving voice, Dick instantly relaxed.
"Iris, what's it mean when someone doesn't like it when you flirt with other people?" Like Dick was going to keep this a secret, especially from Iris. Besides, if there was any chance he could turn Batboy into Batboyfriend, Dick was going to take that chance. Well... it really depends on the odds... if they're good odds then I'll take the chance, but otherwise I'll stick with being friends. I can live with being just friends – for now... Dick gave Supey a sidelong glance, especially if Sexy over there continues to hang with me. NO! STOP! BAD KID FLASH! I need to swear off flirting for Robin's sake. That's it! I'm going on a flirting hiatus!
"Well..." Iris tapped her finger to her chin ponderingly, a smile already gracing her kind face. "Doesn't that mean they like you?"
"Like? Or like?" Dick demanded eagerly, his blue eyes practically glowing.
"I would say like, if I had to guess, but it could depend. Who is it that wants your pick-up lines for themselves, my little flirt?" Iris beamed and leaned over to ruffle Dick's black hair until it looked even messier than before. Seriously, did that kid own a comb?
"Um... R-Robin." Dick's face heated up, even his ears blushing a scarlet to rival the Flash's suit.
"Oh!" Iris exclaimed, her grin increasing ten fold and her green eyes lighting up like the Fourth of July fireworks display three days ago.
"Iris something's wrong with Dick! He's all red-" Superboy began, his voice held just a sliver of panic, but his face remained stony. Giggling, Iris put a calming hand on Superboy's shoulder and shook her head gently.
"No, Dear, it's fine." She turned her face towards her adopted son, smiling knowingly, "Dick's just embarrassed."
Superboy furrowed his brow in confusion while Dick continued to sit, now fiddling with his baggy pajama pants. "Why?" Mini-Supes asked, deeply confused.
Iris stared a little wide-eyed for a second before recovering her composure and explaining, "Because Dick has a crush on Robin, and now, he knows Robin might have a crush on him back." Her gentle eyes gleamed with encouragement.
Again, Superboy furrowed his brow, "So both Dick and Robin more-than-like-but-not-quite-love each other?"
"Will you two stop talking about me like I'm not here." Dick exclaimed, more whiny than angry.
"I just wanted to figure it out..." Superboy grumbled as Iris's giggles heightened. "...wait... why is he mad that you 'flirted' with other people? Also, what's 'flirting'?"
Oh, Supey... maybe my flirting hiatus can wait until tomorrow.
*meanwhile in Gotham *
Wally sat at the top of the stairs in Wayne Manor, his hands at his sides and his knees out in front of him, his gaze focused on the main door without really watching. Occasionally, his fingers twitched or his knee started bouncing. The ginger wasn't even looking at an electronic device; he simply sat there anxiously, wracking his brain over a certain situation.
The scene replayed over and over in Wally's mind.
{Flashbacks or dreams will, from now on, be in these {} things}
{ "You're the best, Lovebird." Dick smiled cheerily. How dare he! How dare he stand there smiling like that and expect me to just take his meaningless flirts when I know he's just going to hit on the next hot girl/guy to wander by!
"Don't you start, Kid." Robin growled, "Don't you flirt with me like nothing happened, like everything's okay, like you didn't just hit on an evil clone."
"Supey's not evil..." What? What's that look on Dick's face? And he's defending Supey? WHY! We almost got killed and Dick can't just focus on ME?
"But he coulda been! It doesn't even matter, you flirt with everyone anyways, I mean seriously! What the hell?" It'd be fine if you just flirted with me like you used to.
Then Robin heard Dick whisper, "You've never had a problem with it before." Oh. Never had a problem? NEVER. HAD. A. PROBLEM? Is he really that blind? What about the first time we met Aqualad? What about that time I introduced you to Barbara? Don't tell me you didn't notice the debacle that was our first meeting with Speedy.
"What are you talking about?" The look on Kid Flash's face showed he hadn't expected Robin to hear that little comment, but he didn't care. Give him a break, he almost died, he had a right to get his feelings off his chest, "I've always hated it when you flirt with other people!" Stupid DICK How could you not realize... of f*ck. I just admitted – no, no. He won't notice. He won't notice because he never notices and-
"Yeah well! ... Other people?" Oh shit, oh shit. What did I do? I can't say it here. I can't tell him like this.
"...This is not the time to be talking about this! Mush!"}
Uuuurrnngh Wally groaned internally, his leg starting to bounce again. How could I let myself slip like that? And now there's only one option... well one most preferable option that's still not particularly pleasant...
As Wally sat on the stairs in distress, Alfred observed the young ward's state. The old man nodded to himself, knowing full well it was time to bring out the big guns: hot chocolate and snickerdoodles.
Wally looked up as the trusty ol' Wayne butler climbed the steps, holding a platter of delicious cookies and hot chocolate made from imported chocolate. If it'd been any other occassion, Wally would've taken the moment to revel in just how fabulously rich his adoptive father was. But, now was not the time.
"Is something the matter, Master Wallace?" Alfred asked kindly, setting the plate of cookies beside the boy.
"N-no. I'm fine. Everything's fine." Wally shrugged, his eyes lingering to his feet. Despite countless attempts by Wally to deceive the butler, Alfred could always tell when Wally was lying – he had the odd habit of twitching just his pinky fingers when he lied.
Wally calmed his urge to shift against Alfred's intense stare. He looked up at the kind gentleman with a sheepish grin. Alfred sighed, "Well, if you are sure Master Wallace..." The wise butler headed back down the stairs with a dignified grace that could only come with old age, he turned back over his shoulder, white eyebrow arcing above his light eyes, and said, "I do believe Master Bruce will return home soon, Master Wallace." He turned back, at the bottom of the stairs he commented as an after though, "Do enjoy the hot chocolate."
Alfred had been right (big surprise) and Bruce returned to his mansion shortly after Wally downed his hot chocolate and guiltily finished off the cookies. I'm gonna have to work that off... Eating too much is big fat no for Robin the Boy Wonder...
The vast, Wayne mansion doors opened as Bruce, his hair slicked back and wearing one of his glorious designer suits, strode in. As he busied himself loosening his tie in the front entrance mirror he asked his ward, "Wally, what are you doing there?"
"...Waiting for you," was Wally's awkward, forced, but truthful reply.
Cocking and eyebrow and slinging his blazer over a coat rack, Bruce turned to his adoptive son, "How come?"
Hoping to lighten Bruce's mood (he knew how the bigshot billionaire hated those stuffy Wayne Ind. meetings) Wally made a big goofy smile and with a high-pitched voice responded jestingly, "I missed you Daddy."
Bruce gave Wally a half-hearted glare, unable to hide his slight smirk. He strode up the stairs, only pausing for a second beside Wally before heading towards his room to take off that damn itchy tie. Hopping up to follow, Wally said, "Bruce! Bruce wait, um... I did really have something to talk about..."
"What is it, Wally?" Bruce's voice wasn't stern, or rather, no more stern than usual, it was simply preoccupied as the man tried to undo whatever fancy knot Alfred had tied to get the long piece of clothe to stay around his neck.
"Um... well... it's um..." How could he say it? How can I even begin to approach the subject of Dick... Bruce doesn't exactly like him. I guess I'll have to get him to say it first. "Have you arranged something for Superboy yet?"
"No, I'm working on it, for now, Superboy is staying with the Flash and his family. Is that all?"
"Um... not exactly, so Bruce, when are we gonna"
"Going to" Bruce corrected offhandedly. Wally paused a moment before continuing *Jeezus Bruce, you wouldn't think you were such a stickler for grammar just by looking at you.
"Err right. When are we going to, we as in Superboy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and I, meet up as a team?"
"Soon. When I get Superboy's living arrangements figured out." Bruce responded. He now entered his room, removing the tie forcefully and shoving it into a drawer. He turned his full attention to his adoptive son now. "Why." It was a question word not stated like a question.
But, Wally was used to it, "Um... just..." Wally could feel the blush in his cheeks, the sweat at the back of his neck, the quiver in his voice. He could barely look Bruce in the eye, "I was wondering if, since we'll be on a team, I could... I could tell Kid Flash..."
"No." Bruce's voice was definite, crushing. Suddenly, Wally's legs felt as though they'd turn to jelly under the weight of such immediate rejection.
"Y-you didn't even let me finish what I had to say!" Fortunately for Wally, his outburst seemed to give Bruce pause. Taking the silence as an opportunity, Wally continued his sentence with a little more confidence than before. (The confidence came solely from the adrenaline rush he felt just asking this of Bruce, and thinking about the outcome if the billionaire acceded), "I want to tell Kid Flash my identity."
"Wally, I told you-" Bruce began, but Wally shook his head fervently, the adrenaline still pumping. He could see it in his brain now – taking off his sunglasses or mask and seeing Dick through an unobstructed view for the first time. He wanted it so badly now, nothing could tear him away, not even Bruce. Through the rampant beating of his heart and his jelly limbs and quick breath, Wally realized this was the first time, save three days ago at the Hall of Justice, that he ever went against Bruce's (Batman's) direct orders.
"No Bruce, hear me out, please! Kid Flash can be reckless but he's just as dutiful as anyone else, he's just as loyal and compassionate and more honest than anyone I've ever met. I've known him for years now. I can understand not revealing my identity to him before, when we were both just sidekicks, but now we're going to be teammates. He should have earned the right to know by now, Bruce."
Fear struck through Wally's spine like lightning as Bruce remained silent for an exaggeratedly long time. Wally wasn't sure if the man was deeply considering what he'd said, or simply suppressing a rage.
Finally, the answer left Bruce's lips, "Fine."
"W-what?" Wally stood stalk still. For a moment he even thought his heart stopped from the shock.
"You can tell Kid Flash. But, just Kid Flash, and this does NOT give him permission to visit the manor. Understood?"
"YES SIR!" In his elation, Wally dared to hug Bruce before dashing towards his room excitedly, his daydreams immediately clouding his mind.
[A/N: Finally another chapter. Thank you guys so much for reading.
*I have a headcanon that part of why Robin does the whole fucking the English language is because it enrages Bruce. Alfred secretly thinks it's amusing though he'd never say that to Bruce's face.
I know Bruce is being a little neglecting towards Wally, he doesn't mean to be, it's just his first time being a Daddy and Wally's a handful in different ways than Dick.
Please review. I already wrote the next chapter so I'll upload it when I get three new reviews (cuz I'm a review whore)]