Fools in Love part 1
January 22nd Central City
Robin stood at complete attention behind Batman as the caped crusader worked at his computer; the large monitor showing many pictures of Dick Grayson, aka Robin, and Wally West. It was embarrassing to say the least. The media had a field day with it and the internet was flooded with pictures. The Dark Knight stared hard at the images and then sighed. Robin gulped, almost inaudibly.
"Dick…" He started, turning to face his partner, his ward—his son. "I really, sincerely hope I'm not going to find out about all your relationships through some second rate talk show…"
"Uh—" Robin stammered, fully prepared to defend himself but…
"I don't want to hear." …was cut off. Batman's voice was getting closer to the growl he used when interrogating underworld runners. "If I'm not mistaken we had a long, intensive conversation on how you weren't going to be in anymore relationships for the time being so you can concentrate on training and school as well as missions with the team…" He paused and looked back at the monitor for a second. "When did you even meet him?" He gestured toward a particularly embarrassing candid shot.
"Five days ago?" It came out as a question. He honestly wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a rhetorical question.
"Less than a week? Robin I—" He paused to remove his cowl. His face softens a bit. "Dick, I know it seems like I'm being unfairly hard on you but I'm only acting in your best interest…you hardly know anything about this kid and you have so much on your plate already—"'
"Batman—dad! Please…" Yeah, he was pulling the dad card, it always managed to pull at Bruce's heart strings. "His name is Wally and…I really like him. I want to give his a chance and make it work."
"Like your last relationship?" It's a low blow and Bruce knows it. Dick started it though.
"If I remember correctly, you set me up with that first date with that pompous douchebag after I met him in passing at some party I only attended because you said me public image "needed work"."
Bruce opened his mouth to present what he thought would be a valid argument but…
"And that's not all! How many times have you had relationships that you wanted to try and make work despite all the things you needed to do? Need I remind you of Selina? Vicky…Talia or even Dianna!" It was his turn to be cut off. He didn't like it but he supposed Richard had a point…a very good point actually. All those relationships taught Bruce some very valuable lessons and even though they didn't last he was thankful for them. He rubbed his chin with his forefinger and peered at the monitor and then back at Dick, who was still rambling.
"Okay, fine." Bruce said in a rather light tone. This caught Dick off guard slightly.
"What?" Dick paused in his ramblings.
"Your right Dick, I have no right to stop you from perusing any kind of relationship."
"Oh, uh…"
"So, as long as this doesn't distract you from you from your duty, I'm fine with it."
"O-oh?" Dick honestly thought it would be a tougher challenge than this. "Okay then…" They both stood there for a moment, staring at each other; Bruce in amusement and Dick in confusion.
"You can go, you know. We aren't going on patrol tonight. I have league business to attend to." Bruce pulled the cowl back over his face and turned back toward the computer and began clearing the screen of the pictures.
"Alright then…" Dick began walking back up toward the manner, casting one more curious glance at Batman over his shoulder before leaving the cave all together. A moment later Alfred entered the cave with a silver dish carrying freshly brewed tea.
"I just ran across Master Richard, he had the most perplexed expression. Would you happen to know the cause?"
"I'm letting him go out with the West kid." Bruce said as he typed.
"Is that so? I thought you were whole-heartedly against the idea, dating your colleague and all that."
"I was, but then I had an idea."
"Oh dear, I'm sure it won't be good for Master Richard."
Wally impatiently tapped his fingers against the tiled surface of the kitchen counter as he waited for dinner to finish cooking in the oven. He was partly irritated because Dick had not texted him back yet. He sighed and checked his phone.
"You know…it's only been two minutes since you texted him…" Barry looked at him as he entered the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water, catching his nephew obsessing.
"He's usually so fast with replying though…" He pouted slightly, even though he would never admit to that. Boys didn't pout after all.
"Alright Kiddo, I didn't wanna have this talk with you but I think it has to be done."
"Oh god…you're not gunna give me the birds and the bee's talk like aunt Iris are you?" Wally blanched.
Barry quirked an eyebrow. "Isn't it a bit too late for something like that?" He said while leaning against the counter.
"That's what I said!" He flailed his arms. The blond sighed.
"No…I wanted to talk to you about Richard." Wally blinked.
"What about him?" Barry took a deep breath.
"Don't you think that…how do I put this…this whole thing with him is a bit…" He paused to think while Wally eyed him curiously. "Don't you think it's a bad idea to go out with someone like him?"
Barry was terrible at this, talking to teenagers about this sort of thing.
"Someone like him? What do you mean?"
"You know…a celebutante? Aren't they all just stuck up brats?" There was a pause in the room, an awkward silence engulfed the room as Wally stared at Barry.
"He's not like that. I know I haven't known him for that long but I promise you Uncle Barry, he isn't like that. He's nice and he isn't full of himself and he doesn't like all the media attention. I mean he felt so bad when our pictures were put all over the internet…I really like him." A small but genuine smile played on the red head's lips and Barry knew that there was no talking his nephew out of this new relationship.
Barry sighed in defeat and gave the younger man an, "Alright Kiddo!" and ruffled his already messy red hair before walking out of the kitchen. Barry knew a lost cause when he saw one. Not a moment later his phone buzzed in his pocket. Now he had to break the news to Batman and hope for the best.
Barry watched the earth from the Watch Tower orbiting miles above the surface. He loved the view and gave him peace of mind. Like he could pause and take a breath, slow down for at least a minute or two. Right now he was the only one onboard the orbiting headquarters.
Recognized Batman, 02.
Now they were the only ones onboard.
"By the look on your face I'm assuming you didn't have any luck." The Dark Knight stated as he walked up to Flash.
"Not at all. How about on your end?"
"I stopped trying." He said simply. Barry quirked an eyebrow.
"You stopped trying? I wouldn't think Robin would take that much of a stand against you." He did, kind of surprising actually but that's beside the point. He gave me an idea. I'm going to allow them their relationship, I'm thinking of it as…a learning experience. One that I've also had to learn." The Dark Knight crossed his arms, covering the dark bat symbol on his chest as he stared down at the earth as Barry had been doing previously.
"What? Like, interoffice romances? Bruce you know it's not the same. They aren't the same—especially Robin. He isn't like you."
Batman "hmed" and continued to stare down. "You know…" Flash started again. "They could make this work."
"Dick Grayson and Wally West…probably. But Robin and Kid Flash…I doubt it."
"Oh Bruce…ever the optimist." He chuckled.
January 23rd 2011, Mt. Justice
Recognized Robin, B01
Artemis had been inspecting her arrows on the couch when she heard the announcement. She looked up and spotted the youngest of the team enter the mountain looking a bit more ruffled than usual. He paused slightly when he spotted her. They both nodded to each other and Robin continued on his way. She followed his movements as he passed, heading down the halls, probably to pester Kaldur about something. Robin had always confided in the Atlantean.
She shrugged and continued what she was doing but…
Recognize Kid Flash, B03
She sighed indignantly and began putting down her arrows as a red and yellow flash zoomed into the kitchen. She sat back and mentally prepared herself for the childish arguments to begin. When the whirlwind in the kitchen abruptly ended, leaving a mess as usual, Kid Flash skidded to a halt, snatched the remote and plopped down on the couch with a plate full of sandwiches. Artemis waited for the rude greeting or some other "clever" insult to be hurled her way but was greeted with a—
"Hey." He smiled at her.
-Well, that was unexpected. He flipped through the channels and munched on his food, getting bread crumbs everywhere—she would scold him about that later—but for now…
"Hi…" She said awkwardly, still waiting for the chaos that is their dynamic to start. Still nothing happened. "Alright! What's up with you!?" She stood up abruptly.
The speedster looked up at her curiously. "What do you mean?"
"You've been here for like, a minute and all you've said to me was "Hey", you usually lob insults my way like its tennis try outs."
"Wow Arty, I didn't know you lived for my insults." She rolled her eyes. "I'm just…in a really good mood."
"You finally get laid or something?" She sighs out as she made a grab for her quiver.
"Something like that." He said with a huge grin.
"Ugh, dude! Gross! I do not wanna hear about your sex life." Her face blanched.
It was Kid Flash's turn to roll his eyes. "Nothing like that blond-y! I just…got a new boyfriend." He said with an admittedly dopey smile as he stared ahead at nothing in particular.
"So instead of dealing with a bitchy Kid Flash, I get to deal with puppy love Kid Flash…joy. Looks like I'm movin' up in the world." She shook her head.
"Hey, why were we called her anyway? Is there a mission or something?"
"Dunno…" She said, not bothering to look up. "I haven't been told anything. Go ask Kaldur."
"I think I will!" He set down an empty plate and Artemis could swear she didn't remember him finishing all those sandwiches. He zoomed off toward the training room. She then realized that that was where Robin was heading. She thinks she should warn Aqualad…but then shrugs and goes back to tending her arrows. She has to stay entertained somehow.
Robin entered the training room and spots Kaldur staring intently at his water blades. Robin slips in and sneaks up behind the Atlantean in what should have been an ultra silent 'trained by Batman' stealth approach. "Is there something on your mind, Robin." He says smoothly.
Robin pauses and then sighs. "Either you're getting better at detecting ninjas or I'm slipping up…"
"I must admit, you are not moving as efficiently as you usually do. You're breathing slightly heavier as well. What is bothering you?"
"Civilian life trouble… I don't want to trouble you with it." He said, a sad tune in his voice and gave his long time friend a side long glance. Kaldur knew better than this façade, Robin would not have come to see him if he hadn't wanted to talk about it.
"It is no trouble. We are friends after all." He let the water dissipate in his hands.
"Well, over the weekend I kind of…got into a relationship with this guy. He's great any everything but…I just don't think it's a good idea. You know, with the whole super hero thing. I might just end up ignoring him. Especially when school starts back up in a few weeks. He's also the nicest guy I've ever met and I'm not sure…I might end up hurting him…"
"Well, I'm sure that—" Kaldur was cut off when the training room doors slid open abruptly and a streak of yellow and red zoomed up towards them.
"What's this, Little Chickadee has a boyfriend?" Wally's said as he stopped suddenly next to them.
"Kid Flash, this is a private—"
"I kinda feel sorry for the poor sucker, he's gatta deal with you pipsqueak." The Speedster reaches up to mess up Robins slicked back hair but his wrist is caught by a gloved hand. Before Kid Flash realizes it, Robin flipped him over his shoulder and right onto his back.
"Hey, you little!" Robin doesn't listen to his indignant cries and storms out of the training room muttering something along that lines of 'Kid Douche-bag'."What's got his tail feathers all ruffled?" He looks up to his Atlantean team mate who is looking down at him with a very disapproving frown. "What?"
"Aqua-lad, Artemis, Miss Martian, Superboy, Kid Flash and Robin report to the briefing room." Batman's gravelly voice emits from the PA system. Aqualad passes Wally by and out of the training room.
"What'd I do?" He asks no one in particular.
I'M BACK! Did you miss me? Because I missed you guys! Sorry for the lack of updates till now but I am trying to get back into the swing of writing because now I have an Original story I'm working on and a script that I have to complete but I have not forgotten my fanfictions!
I have however gotten more ideas for other fanfictions but I'm trying to concentrate on the two active ones I'm working on write now. So! As always, please review as it keeps me going and makes me want to write for you guys.
Also, this is the beginning of a new 4 part arc and after this chapter the dates will begin to jump forward in time. Next chapter will be set a few weeks from this chapters date. Just so no one gets confused I'm telling you now.
Also big thanks to my Beta TheWickedWizardOfOz, who has unfortunately quit writing but still Beta'ing.