CHAPTER 42
Bart sat on Wally's couch anxiously, his heart was pounding a million miles a minute. Bart rubbed his hands together feeling how sweaty they were.
"Ugh" He wiped his palms on his jeans before looking up at a picture of the old team. Artemis, M'gann, Conner, Dick, Kaldur, Zatanna and Raquel. Next to it was a picture of Wally with Barry, Joan, Jay and Iris, a picture of Wally with his parents, Artemis and her mom, Artemis, Conner and Wally holding Brucely, Artemis kissing Zatanna's cheek and Dick taking a selfish while Wally holds him.
A moment later Wally exited his room fully dressed and showered.
"Alright Bart what did you want to talk about?" Wally asked him, Bart hesitated for a moment, he looked down and took a breath.
"Wow….okay usually I can't get you to stop talking, what's up?" Wally asked, taking a seat next to his cousin.
"A couple of days ago me and Jaime started dating and….well I feel like I forced him into it" Bart explained to Wally, who's face twisted in confusion.
"Wait, you and Jaime but you're only…..whatever wait what do you mean you forced him into it?" Wally asked him deciding that was the easiest thing to tackle at the moment.
"Not like force force but not too long ago he found out what the Blue Beetle of my era did to the world….he took it really hard and started acting weird around me eventually I confessed my feelings for him and I think he reciprocated but I don't know if it's real or if he's just doing it cause he feels guilty for something he didn't even do yet" Bart rubbed his thumbs together refusing to meet his cousin's stare. Wally let out an exasperated sigh.
"I gotta say kid that's alot to take in, maybe confessing so soon wasn't the best move" Wally started, his heart clenched seeing Bart's head fall.
"I know, it was a heat of the moment thing ya know?" Bart fell back on the couch covering his face with his hands.
"And now he's barely talking to me, he's acting really weird" Bart said, remembering Green Beetle fixing Jaime's scarab.
"Bart I'm going to tell you a story" Wally said, Bart raised an eyebrow.
"Is this gonna be one of those cryptic but super inspiring things?" Bart asked?
"It's gonna be a shut up and listen to your much older and wiser cousin thing" Wally glared pinching Bart's cheek, Bart pulled back swatting Wally's hand away.
"Dude" Bart glared rubbing his cheek.
"Years ago I did something impulsive that started my relationship with Dick we were in a mental training simulation created by Martian Manhunter but hijacked by Miss Martian….Me and Dick were on the mothership Artemis, Aqualad and Superboy were all gone. Dick's plan was to blow up the mothership's core and before he did I used my last moments to kiss him. When we woke up he tried to talk to me so I ran away and I avoided him" Wally smiled remembering the events of the past.
"Sounds like you were a total wuss" Bart laughed as Wally punched his arm a little too hard.
"Ouch! this is child abuse" Bart glared as he rubbed his arm.
"You don't even exist yet anyway stop interrupting the point of the story is I had to really think about why I kissed him if it was a spur of the moment thing or if I really….liked him" Wally scratched the back of his head as his freckled cheeks started turning red.
"So you think Jaime likes me?" Bart asked hope filling his heart.
"I don't know kid but I think you should give him time to figure it out or else you're just gonna force him into a situation neither of you are ready for" Wally wrapped in arm around Bart after seeing him look defeated.
"Got any chicken whizzies?" Bart grumbled.
"Tell you what, let's go get some lunch my treat" Wally offered, enjoying the way Bart's face lit up.
"That is so CRASH!" Bart hugged him tightly, Wally returned the hug closing his eyes and enjoying the moment.
HEADQUARTERS
Nightwing held up his engagement ring to the light a permanent smile forming over his lips. He admired the gold band, it shimmered in the light.
"So planning to tell anyone?" Dick turned around seeing Barbara standing in the doorway.
"Not yet, I think it's a bad time with M'gann just being abducted by Deathstroke and Tigress" Dick looked away fully aware that it was his fault this happened in the first place. Barbara placed a hand on his shoulder, a serious look crossing her face.
"Don't worry we'll get her back trust me" Barbara clenched her fist. Dick noticed the slight movement he let out a sigh taking a seat in the chair not too far from a computer on a table.
"Okay I know you're pissed at me too just let me have it, Conner already did" Dick noted.
"I could yell at you but honestly I can't say anything that hasn't been said already, you knew better you know better than anyone actions have consequences and the consequence was Kaldur's mind and if things go wrong M'gann's and Artemis' lives." That hurt to hear but it was the truth of the matter, he fucked up and he knew it.
"I thought you'd know better after what happened to Tula and Jason…..Dick I'm disappointed in you" Barbara closed her eyes seeing the distress in his face.
"Wipe that look off your face just think of a way to get them back...okay?" Babs walked out of the room leaving Dick sitting there to ponder.