Wow, I suck. It has been WAY too long since I managed another chapter, but seriously, finals are a bitch. Anyway, as compensation for my horrendously long wait between chapters, this chapter is ridiculously action packed and seriously adorable. Hope you enjoy.
Umm, I noticed some basic mistakes, but they make the sentences stop flowing and sound weird so I fixed them. Sorry for the disappointment.
Chapter 9: Accidents; Dick's POV
"Have fun with that." Wally's voice taunted on the other end of the line.
"Augh, shut up." I grumbled, ready to actually roll my eyes the prospect that this could be anything but terrifying.
"No." he teased back. "Now get going, Dick."
I sighed, the phone falling onto the pillow, not that would hinder me hearing him any. "I can't even tell if you're teasing me or not."
Wally chuckled again on the other end. "I'm not teasing you, I was just honestly joking when I said it."
"And I told you I liked it." I countered, still stalling.
"Go talk to him, Dick, it's not going to get any easier if you keep stalling." Wow, Wally's actually being the voice of reason… but he's also not wrong.
"Alright, I'll see you at the cave." I replied to the silence.
"Yeah, I'll probably beat you there." Wally teased again, and it was appreciated because right now I was terrified out of my mind.
"I'll see you there then." I responded before ending the conversation. I stood up and walked out of my room to Bruce's office. Of course, the office space was nowhere near the bedrooms. Not that I could blame him. Though it was probably also Alfred's attempt to get him and his father to stop working. I knocked on the double doors, knowing he was in there.
It was good that Alfred opened the door because that meant I wouldn't have to have this conversation twice. "Ah Miss Rachel, come in, Master Bruce is almost finished with a Wayne Enterprise conference call."
Alfred wasn't trying to point out my genetic sex, but that was really all he could call me. Hopefully, that will change.
"Perhaps we could go over the minute details over an email, Rix clearly has something he would like to tell me." Bruce spoke so differently than Batman, but how he knew I didn't want to know.
"Of- of course Mr. Wayne." a woman's voice stuttered, then the line was dropped.
Bruce set the phone down, only then did he actually turn to look at me. "How are you Rix?" he questioned.
I shrugged. "Fine, I guess." Now or never. "I wanted to talk to you about something… important to me."
Bruce frowned. "If this is about the media-" I raised my hand to cut him off.
"Now, it's not, actually because of what I want to tell you, I'm glad we haven't yet." Bruce and Alfred didn't express any confusion or say any objections so I continued. "I want to change my name on my documentation."
"What were you thinking?" Bruce questioned, leaning on his elbows as if this conversation only know had his full attention.
"Richard." I said instantly. "Richard Johnathan, with an h."
"Do you want to remove Mary?" Bruce asked.
I gulped, not having thought of that. "No." I hadn't even realized I had spoken until I saw Bruce nod. Though, I was glad about my answer. Johnathan was for my Dad and for Johnny (if you read the YJ companion comics then you'll remember that the Flying Graysons were Mary, John and Dick, then his Aunt {unnamed} and Uncle Ricky and finally his older cousin Johnny. If not, check out this link .tv/young-justice-2011/chapter-6/fullit's the sixth issue but runs totally in time with the TV show. That site also has all of the comics if you want to read them.)
While Richard was for Uncle Ricky the one member of my family that, besides myself, had lived through the accident. Though he had been in a coma for two years when died. (His death was my bit, sorry.) Not to mention both of my parents had said that if I had been a boy that would've been my name.
(Not in a way that implies that they knew he was trans, but when your parents bring up what your name could've been… Does nobody else's parents do that? Hmm, awkwards. Anyway.)
"We'll get started on the paperwork this weekend, then we'll officially address the press about this situation." Bruce said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Thanks Bruce." I knew my cue to leave, so I took it. I hadn't even realized I wasn't the only person to leave the study until I saw Alfred walking beside me.
"Are you alright Mis-Master Richard?" he questioned, worry clear in his tone.
I smiled. "I'm great," which was true, now. "I'm just going to head to the Mountain."
"With Master Wallace I assume." he said, causing me to stop short.
Of course he knows. "Can you not tell Bruce?" I nearly begged.
He smiled. "Have a nice day Master Richard."
"Thank you Alfred."
Recognize: Robin; B-0-1
"Welcome, my friend." Kaldur's voice nearly caught me off guard. I'm just out of it today aren't I?
"Hey." I said, silently mourning the now lost alone time between Wally and I. Though I noticed M'gann and Superboy's presence, but not Wally's. "Is KF here?"
"He is not." Kaldur confirmed my suspicions. "He is the only one not here." Kaldur continued as the four of us headed down the hallway. Both Kaldur and I headed into the living room while M'gann and Conner went into the kitchen. She's probably making cookies. M'gann just barely beating the timer, proving my thoughts right she pulled out a batch of cookies.
"Baywatch is late, again?" Artemis questioned. "How does a guy with superspeed manage to never be on time for anything?"
"Compensation." I said simply, but my eyes glued on my phone, which I pulled out as I sat down on the couch. I was the late one, and when we hung up Wally sounded like he had his timeline totally figured out. I felt four sets of eyes on me. I look and see the curious looks of the team. "Flash and Wally could be anywhere in Central City in a heartbeat, and they can't draw attention to themselves." I explained, both Bruce and I knew that having to keep that habit up while in civies would sometimes cause it transfer from Barry Allen and Wally West to Flash and Kid Flash. Bruce kept his identities separate and I tried my best to do the same. It was hard, but I was managing. Wally my brain reminded me.
"I guess that could keep suspicion off of them." Conner spoke up, breaking the small silence.
"Turn on channel 6?" I asked Artemis, who didn't question it and changed the channel.
"This is Iris West-Allen reporting to you live, where the Flash and Kid Flash are battling the Rogues, who this time include Pied Piper, Captain Cold, Golden Glider and Heatwave." sure enough a red blur with gold streaks and a yellow blur with red streaks were fighting against the four aforementioned villains behind Iris.
I released a breath I did realize I was holding.
"Okay, that's a good excuse to be late." Artemis grumbled.
"The two speedsters caught the Rogues attempting to rob Central City Bank, the cash has been removed from the situation and now it seems like the Rogues are merely resisting arrest." Iris continued on screen. What she didn't see, and by no fault of her own but because she was turned to the camera rather than the fight, was Captain Cold taking aim at her.
Wally paused in his assault of Golden Glider, noticing Snart's aim. Something even Barry had yet to notice. He turned into his signature blur, pulling Iris out of the way, before the ice hit the camera and the footage broke off.
He's fine, you saw him fully leave the frame before the ice hit. Somehow, I couldn't find it in myself to believe my own brain.
Recognize: Flash; 0-4
Recognize: Kid Flash; B-0-3
"Wally!" I hadn't realized I had shouted it until I was halfway down the hallway. At that point I didn't care, I just continued down the hallway. In the Zeta Room, Wally leaned heavily on his uncle/father-figure. Though from what I could see, there wasn't any blood. "Wally?" I questioned, my worry that he was actually hurt keeping me from getting closer to him. "KF?" I questioned since he clearly didn't hear me the first time.
His bright green eyes found me and he smiled his typical bright smile, leaning a little less on Barry now.
"What happened after the video cut?" I asked- okay, it might've been more of a demand- Barry.
"Not much, the police used the distraction to capture the Rogues and from what I can tell Kid just hurt his knee and ankle." Barry explained.
I looked at wally quizzically, if that were true, he would have a slight limp and wouldn't be leaning on Barry, not to mention his eyes were half-lidded.
"Which then caused me to go through the wall of the restaurant off to the left of Aunt I." Wally continued, wincing heavily and his face turned down. Barry seemed mildly surprised that he said that. "He was going to find out anyway. It's better to tell him than to lie to him." Wally said, looking directly at Barry, well, mostly.
"So you have a concussion then too?" I already knew the answer. I had three different scenarios playing out in my head. All of them proving that Wally's brain was, minimally, jostled.
He nodded, then grimaced, his other hand moving to his temple. Before coming back to his side.
"Bring him to my room, third on the right, I'll go get Agent A." I instructed.
Barry nodded as I walked past him and to the Zeta Tube, changing the location to the Batcave.
Recognize: Robin; B-0-1 was called out as I exited the Tube in the Cave.
"Robin?" Bruce murmured, surprised. His cowl and cape were off, but he was working on something at the Batcave.
"I need to borrow Alfred." I dismissed his worry, running up the stairs to the Manor where Alfred was in the Kitchen.
"Master Richard?" he questioned.
"Can you bring the Medical Supplies to the Mountain?" I questioned quietly.
"Is something wrong Master Richard?" he continued the back-to-back question phase we were in, but his own worry showing through.
"It's Wally, he went through a wall after saving Iris from Captain Cold." I gave him the short version, barely keeping my body from shaking.
He grimaced, then nodded, silently telling me to wait for him at the Zeta Tube. I descended the stairs far less quickly than I ascended them. Bruce had turned from where he saw me nearly sprint up, now fully focused on the BatComputer again. I decided against saying something, and instead merely looking over his shoulder at what he was doing on the computer.
"What happened?" he finally asked, turning away from the mugging-turned-deadly that Commissioner Gordon had given last night. Apparently still looking for the pattern that we both thought there was.
"Head injury." I wrote him off, looking up the stairs for Alfred.
I could sense his frown, even with his back still to me for the most part. "Who?"
"Flashes." I replied, still looking past him.
"Barry has accelerated healing and Red Tornado is very knowledgeable in human medicinal practices." he countered.
"He can't treat a questionably damaging concussion." I replied emotionlessly, but even I could hear my impatience beginning to show.
"Are you ready Master Robin?" Alfred asked, now having his own black domino mask on.
Saved by the butler. I thought to myself, relieved. "Yes, are you Agent A?" confirming that the Zeta Tube was still set to Mount Justice.
"Yes." with that we walked in.
Recognize: Robin; B-0-1
Recognize: Agent A; A-0-0 (Totally made that up because Alfred's not on the list.)
Stepping out of the Zeta Tube, I saw the Team look rather curiously at Alfred, but they also didn't comment. "This way." I told him, undeterred as we began heading down the hallway. My brain working on autopilot.
The lights were dimmed, Wally sat on the edge of the bed. His head held in his hands- or rather his left one- his right arm hanging limply at his side.
"Master Wallace?" Alfred broached. Wally grimaced, but the movement confirmed that he heard him. There was one thing I hated feeling and the last time I felt it was when my parents fell, now I feeling useless all over again and it made me feel physically ill. "Master Robin, would you please help me in treating Master Wallace?"
Thankful for Alfred's borderline psychic nature, I joined him. When did Barry leave? I vaguely wondered, but set to helping with Wally's head instead.
"Take this, it should help." the aging butler offered softly. Wally cracked an eye open, putting the three pills in his mouth before slowly drinking them down. Even by my standards he was moving slowly, making me worry even more.
"Master Richard, could you have Master Wallace keep his head up?" Alfred asked lowly. I nodded, carefully placing my hands at his jawbone, my fingers going under his ears and carefully touching his hair. Keeping his head upright, since he was clearly not enjoying the movement.
"You alright?" I asked, keeping my voice low since he was noise sensitive right now.
He hummed and "mhm" quietly, though I could feel him keep his jaw slightly slacked so it wouldn't vibrate through his teeth and go back to his skull.
Alfred slowly wrapped the compression-silk around Wally's head. It would temporarily give him a headache, but after that it would do it's job. "What else is damaged?" he asked, just as quietly as me.
"I don't know, all I know is that he tripped, which jerked his knee and rolled his ankle." Which doesn't explain his arm. Alfred nodded and continued the last of the wrapping.
Wally's left hand moved, his fingers barely brushing his right collarbone. "I hit the wall with this, then my head." he muttered, his words slow and slightly slurred. Now I know what Alfred gave him, or his concussion is that bad. I sincerely hoped for the first.
"What type of wall?" Alfred asked, both he and I knew Central well enough to know where to look for the Flashes, it was Bruce that knew it nearly as well as Barry and Wally.
"Solid brick." he muttered, grimacing again. Yeah, I've done that, but not at 500 miles an hour.
"Master Richard, get the door please." Alfred asked, carefully releasing Wally I did as he told me, shutting it manually so it wouldn't slam nearly as loud.
"I'm going to get a different outfit for you Walls." I commented, before the door shut, realizing that for Alfred to truly help him it would be best to have him out of the Kid Flash uniform.
Stepping through then shutting the door I headed back down the hall.
"Robin." Kaldur's voice caught me off guard. Wow, I'm out of it.
"Hey Kaldur." I murmured, stopping beside him.
"Is everything alright?" he questioned, genuine care in his voice.
I glanced down the hall for a moment and saw Artemis, M'gann, M'gann, and Conner. "Gimme a sec, okay?" I asked.
Kaldur seemed to realize what I was doing. "Of course." he said, and the two of us walked in two separate directions.
I found a set of Wally's clothes already laid out, if I had to guess I would say it was Barry's doing. I headed back to my room, finding Alfred already having Wally's top pulled off his shoulders. Already wrapping his right shoulder. "Do you want me to send someone in to help?" I questioned, setting the clothes on the dresser.
"I've had to deal with Master Bruce in far worse condition, I can handle this." Alfred assured, giving me a smile that was probably accompanied by a soft look that was covered by the domino mask.
"Alright." I said but still stepped up to Wally, squeezing his left hand. "I'll see you later Wall-man."
"'kay Rob." he mumbled but sounded still very slurred. I then stepped out of the room and made my way back to the common room. I was unsurprised to see the rest of the Team waiting expectantly.
"Robin." M'gann breathed, clearly she had been getting worried. "We saw Flash-" she began, but I raised a hand.
She silenced herself. "I know, I saw them too." I told her, noticing that now that my plan was to tell them what was happening their tension was dropping. I also noticed that the leftmost couch spot was unused. I sat down, now beside Artemis, then M'gann, then Conner (who was on a separate chair), with Kaldur on my left.
"You are aware of what has occurred?" Kaldur questioned.
"Yeah." I muttered, souring as I remembered the extent of Wally's injuries. "He got both of them out of the way, but the ice got in front of him, then he tripped."
Artemis laughed, my head jerked to her in under an instant. I could feel the whiplash but I didn't care. "Only Baywatch could make us all think he actually hurt himself." she chuckled again.
My fist clenched so hard I could hear my knuckles pop.
"I can feel the pain flowing off him, Artemis." M'gann objected in her typical non-aggressive tone, but that didn't mean she was non-assertive.
"He runs at impressive speeds." Kaldur agreed. "Is he hurt?"
I nodded. "When he tripped, it wrenched his knee, pretty bad judging by his limp, he rolled his ankle too. Then hit a building." M'gann gasped. "He says he hit his right shoulder first, then his head."
"He's concussed." Conner realized.
I nodded again. "Pretty bad too. I tried speaking normally and he winced, not to mention only one light is on in my room, and it's all the way in the back. Agent A had me shut the door so he could open his eyes."
"He will heal." Kaldur prodded, a small tinge of worry escaping his normal even-toned voice.
I hesitated this time. "I don't know. He didn't just hit the building he went through the brick wall of the building."
"Flash can go through walls, I've seen it." Artemis objected, but I could tell she was only doing it halfheartedly this time.
"Wally's not the Flash!" I finally screamed, so angry I barely registered myself standing up. This way I was the only one who could look down at someone. "He… he can't vibrate his molecules, that's how Flash does it, but Wally can't."
"He crashed through a building." Conner restated, realizing what I was trying to say.
"Yeah." I managed as I sat (flopped) back down, all of my energy gone. No one spoke and as the time continued to pass silently I felt my energy return.
"Who's Agent A?" M'gann finally asked.
I looked up to her. "A friend." that was good enough for her, because she nodded and let it fall back into silence.
"Is he up for seeing anyone?" Artemis questioned.
I shook my head but didn't verbalize until I thought it through. "I've had a concussion that bad before. The only thing he'll want to do is sleep."
"Master Robin." Alfred's British accent caught my attention immediately.
I turned away the coffee table, to Alfred standing in the doorway to go back to the Zeta Tube Room. "How is he?"
"Asleep, sir." he assured. "He will need to take more medication in two hours, I shall work with Batman and the Flash to find the best way to help Master Wallace."
"Thank you." I said true meaning in my words.
"He will need observation." Alfred reminded as he left.
I turned back towards the Team, knowing what Kaldur was about to say. Ready to set up a schedule for Wally's observation. "I can handle it, just use the mind link to to tell me when Batman and/or Flash get here." I gave no room for an argument as I made my way back to my room. Opening the door, then shutting again, I found the far orange-yellow lamp light still the only thing lighting the room. Taking care to open and shut the door manually. "Hey, Wally." I whispered to the now civy wearing speedster.
He hummed but nothing else. His eyes still closed, but he was far more relaxed. I could see the wrapping just beyond his shirt collar and on his now shoeless right foot.
"Bruce and Barry are going to work with Alfred to find a way to help you." I told him, stopping only when I felt my knee nudge the bed. Goddammit, do you know how hard it is to maneuver in a dark room wearing sunglasses?
"Your sunglasses are still on." he sounded like he was nearly groaning at the end of that sentence. "Take 'em off." I didn't object, setting them and placing them on the bedside table.
"You can go back to sleep, I'm only here to wake you up every hour and whenever you need another dose of medication." I told him, going to walk to my chair, only to feel my hand get tugged on. He didn't say anything, but as his fingers threaded through mine I didn't need to ask. I backtracked and sat down by his head, but still left of the pillows. I wouldn't change it, I didn't care if he tried to rob Bruce and pay me with all of it. I liked him living and breathing, thank you. "Go back to sleep, Wallman." I murmured, my left fingers still threaded through his
Three hours into having to wake him every hour, and now at the point where he could sleep without grimacing at even the smallest of noises did the door open again. Sitting up straight I was actually rather surprised to see Roy in the doorway.
"Shut the door." I whispered, gesturing with my right hand to do it manually. He did, it didn't look like he had woken Wally.
"How is he?" he questioned, I was at least thankful that he remembered to quiet.
"My guess, miserable." I mumbled, watching as Roy picked up my desk chair and moved it to the side of the bed. His uniform still on, though his bow and quiver were silently being taken off as he set them down by the wall did I realize he was planning on staying. For a while if the fact that he put his feet up on the bed.
"Get some sleep, Dick." he all-but commanded, I glanced between the sleeping ginger and the still conscious one. Debating. How loud can I get without waking him?
I gave in at a single look. Damn him. "Fine, he needs to wake up in half an hour, and meds in an hour and a half."
"I'm up." Wally muttered, causing both of us to snap our attention to him. He barely moved, but pulled a pillow out from under his head with his left hand and practically hit me in the face with it. I didn't think he meant to do it, so I let it slide and laid down next to him.
"You'll still need meds." I reminded him, more for Roy than him. Wally didn't dignify me with a response, just threading his fingers through mine again. I wasn't even ashamed to admit that I passed out not too much later.
HA! I did it! Victory! Okay, this chapter was thirteen pages long. Anyway, the way that Roy, Dick and Wally were situated was based off this pin/Ae-wT7aoxBk0InumOMyTLXIHIt6X6-uDNs4WFBhppChrxGknlGvQMM8/ and Dick's comment about not being able to see was based off this pin/303359724877922700/ which would be funnier in the proper context, but it still applies. Thanks for waiting, tell me what you think! I love reading reviews