AN: It's a bit shorter than the previous ones but it makes up for it by being one of the most emotional chapters.
I love the 2nd season of Young Justice but I often wonder how much amazing character development we missed because of the time skip. This is one of the moments I would have really liked to see.
18. Wally
Wally was exhausted when they reached Central City. Dick had grown quite a lot since they had started the Team – even though he was still the smallest. Not that Wally would ever admit his weakness. Dick smirked knowingly.
Wally zipped into the kitchen to get food. When he returned, Dick strained to walk up the stairs to Wally's room. The speedster opened his mouth.
"Don't even think about it", Dick had lost his cheerful demeanor.
He was in full Bat-mode. Wally sighed internally and waited for Dick to make it up the stairs. It was always exhausting when his bro was like this. And his mood had been increasingly sour in the last few months.
They finally reached Wally's room. (It had taken an eternity.) Dick wiped the sweat from his forehead. But he didn't sit down. Instead, he paced around the room ranting to Wally about the new kid. Tim. How he wanted to be Robin. How he had disregarded Dick's warnings. How he had insisted on becoming Robin anyway.
Wally laid on his bed munching on his chocolate bar. Damn. Nothing soured Dick's mood more than a new stray showing up on Bruce's doorstep. He had been like this for weeks after Jason had shown up.
Dick had some real abandonment issues. And Bruce wasn't helping with his shit. Not that Wally would ever dare to say this to his friend.
Dick stopped talking and just paced around. He had long discarded his crutches. His temper was stronger than the pain.
Wally felt like he needed to say something: "Tim sounds determined."
Dick tore at his hair: "He's nice but he's so damn stubborn. He doesn't take a no for an answer even if it kills him."
"Reminds me of someone."
Dick glared at Wally: "I was never this irresponsible."
But the speedster wasn't easy to intimidate. After years of Batglares he had grown a thick skin. Wally just frowned.
"OK. Fine. I had my moments", Dick said, "But it wasn't like you didn't go along."
Wally grinned - because of course he had. Coating Artemis' arrows in itching powder had been one of the tamer things they had done.
"You like him", Wally said.
Dick halted and hung his head in defeat: "I do. That's why I don't want him to be hurt. But I won't be able to stop him. Probably not even Bruce. I'm only there to make sure the fallout is contained."
"Spoken like a true big brother", Wally smiled.
"He's not a part of the family."
"Yet."
"Bruce doesn't want him in the manor."
"You know B. He can't resist a stray."
Dick's shoulders tensed: "The League won't let him. Bruce will never be allowed to train another kid."
Wally bit his lip. Dick made it seem simple. But the League was divided and many were still on the side of the Bat or undecided. If Tim managed to convince Bruce to train him, there was a possibility that the League would allow it.
"Dude, you should sit down. Your legs-"
Dick snapped: "I'm fine. It's almost healed."
Wally shrunk back. Dick's outbursts could be terrifying.
"I'm sorry, Walls", he ran his hand through his hair and sat on the bed.
"So what is the plan?"
"Wait 'till I'm healed. Go back to Blüdhaven. Ignore Bruce."
Didn't sound like a good plan.
"Remember when I advised you to leave the manor? I don't think it was good advice."
"So you want me to stay with him?"
"No. But I know you, Rob. And I know that you have the tendency to isolate yourself."
"What else am I supposed to do?"
Wally pondered. It would be a sacrifice but Dick needed him right now. Artemis would understand. Hopefully.
"I wanted to leave the house anyway – or the nest", he couldn't resist throwing in a bird metaphor, "And being flat mates with my bro doesn't sound too bad."
Dick seemed at a loss for words. They sat there in silence for a while. Dick pondered. Wally tried to discern the emotions on his face but Dick hid them behind a blank gaze. He had done it more often in the last few months. Wally found it increasingly difficult to get through to him. It was terrifying to watch. There was a strong possibility that Dick could break under all this emotional weight.
Dick put his hand on Wally's shoulder. The former Robin halted and composed himself: "I appreciate it. But I know that you wanted to move in with Arty."
Wally sighed: "We can wait. We have all the time in the world."
"We don't. We could die on every mission."
"Ever the optimist, Rob", Wally's stomach clenched.
Now was the time to tell Dick about his and Arty's plans. His tongue felt heavy.
"I wanted to tell you differently but now is the time. Artemis and me want to leave the team."
The second time Wally had made Dick speechless tonight. The speedster expected his friend to become angry but instead he just nodded in a mechanic way. It seemed like Dick was disassociating.
Wally had foreseen this possibility. He had been the only person left for Dick to confide in. Bruce had screwed up and Alfred was too attached to his surrogate son. The butler loved Dick like family but he would never leave Bruce's side.
Only Wally was left. And he had considered staying on the team just to support Dick through his hard times. But Dick was right. Their job was dangerous and they could die on every mission. Wally wanted to have some security and peace. Artemis felt the same. They had promised each other to hang up the capes. Maybe they would never be able to stop if they didn't now.
Wally wanted Dick to be happy. But he couldn't put his whole life on hold for the sake of his best friend.
"What? No protests?"
"It's your decision. And I've seen it for a while now. You've already checked out. You have different priorities now."
Wally frowned.
"I don't mean it in a bad way", Dick folded his hands in his lap, "When the team fought Bruce in Arkham and he threw you into the cell, Artemis followed. She didn't consider that you were not in mortal danger and that the team needed her help more. You were her first priority. It's the behavior of a person who has already made peace with the mission. Someone who wants to move on."
Wally hadn't known that Artemis had reacted this way. It created a warmth inside him. Artemis really was his dream girl. How had he gotten so lucky?
"I think I feel the same way", Wally lowered his gaze.
"There's no shame in that", Dick was beaming, "You're at peace, Wally. That's great."
Wally smiled. It felt good. Having talked about it, made it real.
He bit his lip: "I know you're in a bad place right now and it's a bad time to leave-"
"Don't", Dick evaded his gaze, "It will always be a bad time. And I'll be fine. Circus kid. Remember?"
"You know you can still talk to me? I may be out of the hero life but I'm not out of your life."
"I know."
Wally felt torn. He knew that Dick wouldn't open up to him anymore after Wally had left the Team. The former Robin wouldn't want to burden Wally with his problems.
"Still gonna miss you though", Dick said.
"You better. Everyone wants a piece of the Wallman in their lives", Wally tried to lighten the mood.
Dick laid back on the bed and looked at the ceiling. Wally's smile faltered. He hoped that Dick would find someone else to confide in. He doubted it.
