Dick bit back a laugh at seeing how small Wally's shoulder looked with Bruce's large hand clamping it. The speedster opened his mouth to answer before he suddenly jerked his head to the left, staring past Tim's shoulder in concentration.
"Barry's coming"
Surely enough, the rooftop is yet again lightened up by colourful electricity - only this time, it was a vibrant yellow. Barry was at Jason's side in an instant and checking him much like how Bruce was doing before. Jason's head must've cleared because he just waved the older speedster off impatiently, clearly not thrilled about being treated like a little kid by another Justice League member.
"Sorry I couldn't come Bats. I got your message, but I was up at the watchtower and the zeta tubes were offline. I didn't want to take any chances by waiting so I called kid fla-" Barry turns as he's saying his last sentence and cuts off, eyes widening in horror as they land on Wally.
"WALLY?! What the heck are you- DON'T tell me YOU did it!"
Wally took a small step back in surprise, cringing at his uncle's outburst. Barry takes this as a sign to continue. "You know that you're under no circumstances EVER allowed to do this! What were you thinking?! What would you have done if you caught it from him!"
Wally narrows his eyes in confusion. "But you called through our comms and said Red Hood's been infected by the Anti-Life equation, you said I needed to go save him".
Barry looked more exasperated than ever. "No! I said Wallace needed to go save him! I meant Kid Flash!"
Dick could tell the younger speedster was trying to hold back a laugh. "...You know Wallace is on that off-world mission with half of the Titans right? They're not back until tomorrow. And you said Wally, not Wallace"
Barry's expression went blank as he stared at his smiling nephew, then he shook his head and sighed. "Sorry kid. It's been one heck of a week. I'll admit - I'm impressed. I never even taught you how to do it" He visibly relaxed and returned the younger's smile.
Wally beamed at the praise. "I told you I could do it! I was in Keystoneandigotyourcallandiwasnt
doinganythingandwhenihearditwasabatfamilymemberifreakedoutbecause-"
Wally's speed talk was interrupted by Tim clearing his throat, muttering something about Bart and cousins. The two speedsters looked surprised to see the Batfamily staring at them, as if they had forgotten they were there. Barry straightened up in an attempt to look professional again rather than a father talking to his son. "So. What was the source of the Virus this time?"
Bruce looked over to Tim, who took the hint and started to explain. "I was patrolling through here an hour ago when I saw that building on fire. When I went in to save civilians, I saw that all of them had been infected. Most were already dead so I was okay for a bit but it got out of control when they started to escape the building. I couldn't risk a spread so I called in the rest of the Batfamily. Batman and Robin took care of the building while Nightwing and I were holding off an infected who had somehow managed to get to the top of this tower. When Red Hood arrived, he killed it but got bitten in the process. Then Batman called you and … to be honest i'm not too sure what exactly happened after that"
The third Boy Wonder had a strange expression on his face as he looked at Jason then back at Wally. The red head blushed and looked away sheepishly, making his uncle laugh. "Speedsters can use their speed force energy to negate the Anti-Life equation. Found out the hard way when Iris was infected a few months ago. Until now, I'm the only one who's ever done it. It's not an easy thing to do anyways - you're supposed to have a strong bond with the person you're ...healing" he answered looking at Jason, then Wally curiously.
Damian raised a brow under his domino in interest. "You are immune to it?"
Barry shook his head. "No. Another reason we don't use this...ability often. We can easily become infected if something goes wrong, and that's the last thing the world needs. With Wally's speed, he'd probably be able to infect the whole world in a few seconds - Which is why he is never allowed to cure others" Barry finishes before giving his nephew a pointed look.
Dick let a smile slip. "So...you're telling me you can revert Darkseid's Anti-life equation with a simple kiss?". Unlike everyone else present, the acrobat wasn't afraid to address the elephant in the room (well, more like on the roof). 'Ability' his ass. It was a Kiss.
Wally's blush darkens as he makes eye contact with his best friend for the first time that night. He'd been so focused on Jason, Bruce and Barry that he'd completely missed the first Robin's presence - meaning that Dick just saw him kiss his younger brother. Awkward.
Barry's expression becomes playfully smug as he answers Dick's question. "I'd hardly call it simple. We have to slam into the infected without killing them in the process and overwhelm them with our positive speed force energy. Not any speedster can do it either, their connection to the speed force will have to be phenomenally strong for it to work. Last time I checked - a positive and a negative gives you a negative. Wally and I seem to be the only two that can do it so far".
The Bat boys all took in this information and let their confusion subside. Wally kissed Jason because he needed to surround him with his speed force energy. That...actually made sense.
When Bruce and Barry began talking more about the virus and theories about how it may have started in the building, Wally zipped over to Dick's side. "What's up Grayson? Long time no see". Dick returned the signature smirk. "Not much, unless you count that little show you put on for us a moment ago. I don't even remember the last time I saw you kiss someone". Wally's eyes gleamed with both mischief and charm. "Well unlike you, Mr Reputation, I don't kiss and tell". Dick chuckled and shook his head softly. Despite his flirty demeanour as a teenager, Wally was never one to brag about his sexual experiences. Dick on the other hand was...quite well known when it came to that stuff. He'd slept with well over half the superhero community, and it was definitely no secret.
Wally's expression shifted. "Feels like we haven't hung out in ages dude. Wanna catch up tomorrow?". Dick sighed and looked away. "Sorry Walls. I'm supposed to go to Titans Tower tomorrow and help Kori with a training session. Hey! You should come too! Roy's dropping in as well."
Wally raised a brow at the mention of his favourite archer. "Roy is willingly helping train a bunch of teenage superheroes for free? Well isn't that something. Just when I thought he couldn't surprise me anymore. Wait me?! What am I going to do there?".
Dick just rolls his eyes under the domino. "If you've already forgotten, there are two speedsters on the team. Which is concerning considering last time I checked, they were both related to you. Don't you think the fastest man alive could teach them a few things? Besides, speed isn't your only asset. You could help the Team with their combat skills - Weren't you trained by the wizened sage? One of the Greatest Kung Fu masters in China that technically trained you for 7 years but in reality, it was like 10 days? Plus all the stuff you learnt from Flash, and not to mention all the acrobatics I taught you! Which you're scarily good at by the way"
Wally laughed at Dick's mini rant. "Okay okay i'll come! I haven't seen Wallace in a while since he's gone off world. Besides, it'll be like old times. Maybe you and I could spar as a demo" He said with a wink. Dick grinned in interest. "We haven't sparred in ages. I think it'll be interesting to find out who would best who in combat". Wally grinned back, the glint of mischief back in his eyes. "Fair warning Grayson. My fighting style has changed since we were teenagers. And don't think i'm not going to use what you've taught me against you". Dick was about to reply with another smartass comment before Barry called out to Wally.
Wally's attention was back on his Uncle. "Well, since everything is taken care of here, wanna come over for dinner? Iris is making that basil gnocchi you love so much. Bart would love it if you came, the kid's been asking about you a lot recently. Iris and I would love it too, you haven't been over in a while"
Wally visibly lightens up in excitement at the offer. He'd been so busy in Keystone lately, he hadn't had much time to spend with his family. After tonight, a relaxing family dinner sounded perfect. As he was about to answer, Wally faltered and glanced over at Bruce with an uncertain look.
He didn't need to say anything, because Bruce gave him a small, understanding smile. The bat boys were once again borderline confused. Getting smiled at by THE Batman twice in the same hour? Not to mention the fact that the recipient was a meta (Bruce did NOT like Metas in Gotham). It didn't take a genius to figure out that Wally was definitely in Bruce's good books.
"Another time. Go with your family"
Wally returned Bruce's smile with a goofy grin before zipping over to his Uncle's side again. He made eye contact with Dick one last time before settling his gaze on Jason. The red head's blush did not go unnoticed as the two stared at each other. Wally broke the silence with a shy smile. "See ya". Next second, both he and Barry were gone, leaving a lingering trail of fading blue and yellow electricity.
"Guys. Seriously. I'm fine" Jason said, clearly starting to become annoyed at his brother's attempts to check him. Dick and Tim moved away, not wanting to further annoy Jason. It was a miracle he had even agreed to come down the cave and allow Bruce to run a blood test in the first place.
Jason would be lying if he said he completely hated how everyone was fussing over him. Part of him liked having all his siblings waiting in the med bay with him, even the little demon. The kid seemed to have a soft spot for him.
Dick was conversing with Tim, sending regular glances at Jason's freshly bandaged chest when he thought he wasn't looking. Damian was quietly staring through the glass window, watching Bruce analyse Jason's blood in the other room. Despite their histories, the four Robins had an unspoken bond. Even though some had strange ways of showing it, they all cared about each other.
Jason could still sense Dick's discomfort and wasn't sure what to do. Roy had told him all about Dick's reaction to his death and was surprised by how much it affected him. The room's atmosphere was so serious, so Jason decides humour is what they needed right now. "Dick". The Acrobat looked up at his brother expectantly. "Stop looking at me like that. I'm fine. Twinkle toes saved me" Jason said with a grin.
Dick looks surprised to see Jason joking around. He hardly ever let his guard down around them, and it eased the tension significantly. "Twinkle toes?"
Jason snickers. "Yeah, twinkle toes. He smiles a lot, runs a lot, he sparkles and he's small" The last statement made Dick laugh, melting all his previous discomfort away. "What do you mean he's small? He's a speedster! They're supposed to have slimmer figures. You know, stream lining and stuff". Jason laughed quietly. "Doesn't change the fact he's small. I'm still calling him Twinkle toes. How old is he anyways? The kid's stronger than he looks" Jason finishes while looking down at his wrist. The other three gave Jason a strange look. That had been the first time Jason had addressed what Wally had done since it happened, and he didn't seem weirded out by it at all. Damian's look was for a completely different reason. "You do realise West is older than you, don't you Todd?". That took Jason by surprise.
"You're kidding. He looks like an eighteen year old"
Tim smiled in amusement. "You're not very experienced with speedsters. They have decelerated aging. Wally's like 23 or something, but biologically he's probably close to your age". The nineteen year old raised his eyebrows in surprise. "He's older than Dick too? No wonder that kiss felt experienced".
Dick felt that strange feeling he felt before stir up again at the mention of their kiss. He pushed it down as quick as it came, telling himself it was just discomfort from seeing his best friend and younger brother do something so uncharacteristically intimate. "Experienced huh? That's a surprise. I thought Wally was shy when it came to that sort of thing. Besides, how does a three second kiss make someone experienced?"
Jason looked at Dick with a strange expression. "I mean, I know I was like half zombie at the time, but that kiss was a LOT longer than three seconds". Before Dick could disagree, Tim spoke up. "That makes sense. When Wally surrounded you with his speed force energy, it must've caused him to slip into relative time. Seeing as you two had some kind of connection in the moment, you must've slipped into it too"
They pondered this information in silence. Dick had been Wally's best friend for years, and he had never felt the speed force directly. Jason on the other hand had it running through him the second they met. While the rational part of him knew was the very reason why they met in the first place, another part of him was feeling that strange emotion again. Only this time, it felt stronger and more identifiable. Just like before, Dick pushed it down and ignored it.
Tim was watching Jason in interest. "Bart's mentioned speedsters can bring others into the speed force, but they hardly ever do. You're probably one of 3 people who've been taken in. What was it like?"
Jason makes no attempt to hide his surprise at what Tim said. "Oh. um. It was...strange? I don't really know how to explain it. I mean my mind was really foggy at first, but the main thing I remember is feeling good. Like, really good. As in happy…? And not just a little, it was like an overwhelming sense of rapture. Then when he pulled away-" Jason stopped as the medbay door opened abruptly.
"The analysis is done. Everything looks fine. The only thing out of the ordinary is your high level of oxytocin, but that's nothing to be concerned about. I presume it's a side effect". He didn't have to specify, they all knew what he was talking about. Jason's cheeks flushed in a blush. "That explains it" he muttered under his breath. "No wonder I feel so weird. I haven't had the urge to yell at any of you since I got here. That never happens"
Dinner was as delicious as ever, with Alfred making Dick's favourite dish of Pesto chicken curry and sticky rice. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Damian was telling Jason about his time with the Titans, while Tim and Dick talked about how things were going in Bludhaven. Bruce looked up from his plate to see Jason grinning at something Damian said. He still couldn't believe how close he had come from losing him again.
He remembered when Barry had told the rest of the JLA about this newfound ability at a meeting a few months ago, and how much he resented the idea of any speedster doing it ever again. The chance of them becoming infected themselves was too great of a risk to take. Had Wally become infected, the world wouldn't have stood a chance. Neither Clark nor Barry would've been able to catch up to him.
But Bruce didn't feel an ounce of regret of allowing the former Kid flash to save his son - and that's what worried him. He'd just risked the safety and future of the planet for one person, and he would do it all over again. He couldn't lose Jason again. He couldn't lose any of them.
"Hey Jason, us three are going to Titans Tower tomorrow. Wally and Roy are coming too. Did you want to tag along? Maybe you, me, Wally and Roy can hang out after" Dick suggested. Jason looked up from his plate and gave the 22 year old a surprised look. Dick had never invited him to the tower before. "Haven't seen Kori and Roy in a while," he admitted. "Sure. West is coming too? Remind me to thank him by the way. I just realized he saved my ass and i haven't even said a word to him yet" he snorted.
"Nightwing" a familiar voice greets Dick as he and his brothers approach the tower. He accepts the extended hand in his own and gives it a soft squeeze. "Starfire" he replies with a smile.
"It's been a while" Kori teased as she gave him an amorous look. Unlike most people, Dick Grayson was exceptionally good at remaining friends with all his exes, and more often than not, casual sex was a resulted outcome. "Hey Kori" Jason cut in. The Tamaranian's smile grew in joy when she found the source of the greeting. "Jason! You did not tell me you were coming! How have you been?"
The two continue their conversation as Kori leads them into the tower. Dick, Tim and Damian follow closely behind them, with the eldest eyeing the scene in front of him in mild fascination. Dick had always known that Roy, Jason and Kori were close. He had even heard about Jason and Kori's "fun times" during their outlaw days, but apparently he hadn't fully registered exactly how close until watching the two of them smoothly converse. As they entered the training room, Tim (the little detective) was watching his older brother with a knowing smirk. "I don't think you're the only Robin with a thing for powerful green-eyed redheads you know". Dick snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at his brother. "What?"
Tim just shrugged and walked over to Connor, who appeared to be struggling to keep up with what Bart was saying to him. Damian also left Dick's side to walk over to raven and blue beetle. As the acrobat thought over Tim's little comment, his cheeks flush at the truth in it. Of all the people Dick has ever dated, he would only say he's actually fallen in love with two of them - Babs and Kori. Barbara was no firebolt wielding Tamaranian princess, but she certainly had an intoxicating blend of confidence and charm to make up for it. Not to mention the fact that these two just happened to have green eyes and red hair. So, Dick has a type. Sue him.
It shouldn't have been a complete surprise to be honest, he'd kinda figured the red hair and green eyes combination was a turn on for him. The contrast of it beside his own raven locks and sapphire blue eyes just screamed 'perfect couple'. What was a surprise was that he apparently shared this attraction with his younger brother. Part of Dick felt he should have seen this coming, Jason and Kori had a history, and Jason also had some kind of fling with that amazon girl - Artemis of Bana-Mighdall. She was considered to be one of the fiercest warriors among the amazons. And most importantly, she had red hair and green eyes.
Dick's attention was brought back to the present when he felt a quick breeze and ticklish sensation on the right side of his body, where blue lightning was dancing dangerously close to him. "Gee Walls, one of these days you're going to fry me alive with that pretty electricity of yours". The words were out before he realised his mistake.
Oops, that was a stupid slip up. He wasn't supposed to give Wally the satisfaction of letting him know he found his electricity 'pretty'. That information was supposed to stay buried away in his head for eternity. Perfect. Now Wally's never going to live that one down.
The speedster only looked surprised for a second, before he cocked his head to the side and smiled smugly. "Nice try Grayson, but we both know your charms don't work on me. Your flirting isn't going to distract me from handing you your ass". Dick snorts playfully in return. "All right. Tell you what, let's have a bet".
Wally perks up in interest, "What kind of bet?"
"If you win, I have to do something for you, If I win, you have to do something for me". Wally eyed the acrobat carefully as he thought over the offer. "Alright. You're on. What's the 'something'?"
Dick bit his lip and narrowed his eyes in thought. "Could be anything. Winner tells the loser what he wants in a week. I'll have to think about what I want"
Before Wally could reply, two large arms grabbed him from behind, and pulled him against their owner's chest before lifting him off the ground with ease. Wally cried out in surprise and vanished out of the strong hold, appearing back at Dick's other side in an instant. Roy laughed at the reaction. "I can still sneak up on you, looks like nothing's changed". Before Wally can snap at Roy for scaring him, Jason comes over and leans his arm on Roy's shoulder. "Hey West"
Wally looked up at Jason in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
The second robin brushed his white streak off his forehead and raked his blue-green eyes up the speedster's lithe muscles, before resting them on his green orbs. "What? Can't a guy say thank you to the angel that saved his life?" he replied playfully. This time it was Dick's turn to laugh as he casually swung an arm around Wally's shoulders. "Angel? Don't be fooled by his act Jason. Wally's the worst of the worst - a devil that just looks like an angel. If only you knew half the things we've done as kids, like the time he helped me steal the Batmobile".
Wally gave Dick an unheated glare while Roy snickers at the memory of Oliver telling him about how angry Bruce had been with the two of them all those years ago. Jason was watching the speedster in both amusement and fascination. "You guys never mentioned he's got a naughty side. You're quite the package, aren't you?" he said with a wink.
Wally gave Jason a simpering smile, while the other two exchanged confused expressions. Was Jason…flirting with Wally?
Dick felt his hair fall out of place again as a gust of wind went by him, and with his arm still around the redhead's shoulders, he noticed it wasn't Wally who had moved. Bart was tugging at Wally's arm impatiently with a pouty expression. "Come on, you said you would help me with my lightning blasts last night! Lets go already!". The younger speedster dragged his cousin off to other side of the room before anyone else could blink.
They spent the next few hours training in groups. Dick was working with Tim, Damian, Jaime and Connor, Wally was working with Bart and Wallace and Starfire was working with raven and beast boy. Nobody seemed to mind that Roy and Jason were hanging in the back, still talking like they haven't seen each other in years.
When they came together again, Kori wanted everyone to use what they had learnt against someone from a different group. Wally and Dick smirk at each other from across the room as Kori informs them all that the leaders of each group will be sparring as a demonstration.
Conner patted Dick on the back in encouragement as he headed towards the centre of the ring, where he's ex-girlfriend is waiting for him. "The objective is simple. Immobilise your partner for 10 seconds. Ready?"
"Ready"
With Dick knowing everything there is to know about Kori's fighting style, their fight didn't last long at all. After a few minutes of dodging her energy blasts with ease, he flipped up to where she was hovering in the air and pulled her down as gravity defied him. He reflectively blocks an elbow sent for his nose as he wraps his strong arms around her shoulders and upper body, effectively trapping her against him. He could feel the warmth of her back against his chest as she struggled to break free from his grip. Just a few seconds longer….6…5…4…3…2…1
He released Kori from his grasp and flashed a victory grin towards his group. Dick wasn't the bragging type, but there was a satisfaction in defeating someone as powerful as Starfire. Kori waved Wally over as she headed towards back her group. The speedster rolled his shoulder and glanced back at his cousins as he walked towards Dick. "Watch and learn boys"
Dick eyed the smirking red head in amusement before positioning himself in the proper stance. 'This should be interesting'. He couldn't even remember the last time he and Wally sparred.
"Ready?" He asked. Wally narrows his eyes playfully in return. "Born ready"
Dick lunged forwards, only to be greeted with Wally's electricity tickling his nose. The escrima sticks in his hands vanished, just as Wally reappeared in front of him again. The former kid flash was eyeing Dick's favourite weapons in childlike curiosity as he activated the taser. "You have a thing for electricity Dick?"
Dick used this moment of distraction to swipe Wally's legs out from underneath him, and watched him perform a few graceful springs before landing back on his feet a few metres away, a move Dick had taught him years ago. Wally threw the escrima sticks aside and jumped up, much higher than what a non-meta could, before perfecting a 360 in mid-air to generate a ring of blue lightning around him. Dick watched in shock as he witnessed Wally grab the electricity and point it like Aquaman's trident at his chest. He'd never seen any speedster do that before. He had no time to move as the spear of electricity hit him below his collarbone, just as Wally landed back on the ground in front of him.
The tremendously painful shock Dick had expected when the lightning hit him never came. Instead, he felt the power of it energize his body for a second before it simmered down to a pleasant tickle. Wally was downright shocked. No one had ever been able to withstand his lightning attacks. They were powerful enough to shock even kryptonians, yet Dick – A mere human, was standing there as if it hadn't affected him at all.
Dick grinned as he took full advantage of Wally's state of disbelief. He dove at the speedster and knocked him back, trapping Wally between him and the floor. He pressed his hips against Wally's thinner ones as he pinned the red head's wrists tightly on either side of his head, before pressing his weight against the slightly smaller male to ensure he couldn't escape. This close, Dick smell Wally's sweet Strawberry shampoo. A scent he would always breathe in when Wally gave him piggybacks as a kid.
The acrobat stopped counting when he noticed Wally wasn't even trying to get out of his hold, triggering Dick to study him carefully. Did he knock him into the floor too hard? He didn't appear to be hurt. Dick felt his breathing hitch involuntarily as he studied the sight before him. Wally's green orbs eyes were wide as he looked up underneath long lashes, his pink lips were slightly parted and his cheeks were flushed.
Dick had never seen Wally like this before, so…still and exposed. Wally, who was so brash and impulsive – never able to stay in once place for too long and ALWAYS talking. Yet here he was, quietly lying underneath Dick without any attempts to push him off. Dick knew Wally could escape his hold before he could even blink, but he didn't. No, he was deliberately allowing Dick to pin him down. The only movement he felt from the speedster was when he untensed in Dick's grasp, and practically melted under his hold
Dick almost missed this act of submission as he took note of how cute Wally's freckles were – they were adorned across the tops of his cheeks and small button nose, reminding him of little constellations. The acrobat had completely forgotten Wally even had freckles until now, thinking that they had faded as he grew out of childhood. They stared at each other for what felt like forever, before a voice reminded him they weren't alone.
"Earth to Nightwing! It's been like a minute. You can let go now" Bart told him. Dick looked up too see the other two speedsters watching. The older one, Wallace, had his arms crossed as he glowered at Dick in a challenging manner. "You gonna get off him or what?"
The ebony released his best friend's wrists and quickly stood up before offering a hand to Wally, who accepted it and was lifted up with ease. He didn't fail to notice green eyes still watching him rather oddly. Bart zipped up to them and poked Wally's arm. "Wally, you okay?". Wally tore his eyes off his best friend to look down at his cousin. "Yeah…yeah no I'm fine". Dick took a moment to look around, and saw everyone in the room giving him a strange look. Apart from Wallace, his attention was on where Bart and Wally were. Dick starts to walk away when Kori comes over and Bart runs back to Wallace when Wally positions himself to start his round with Starfire.
Jason and Roy were both giving him identical looks when he comes over to them. "What the hell was that?!" Roy asked. Dick just shrugged and shook his head. "What was what?"
Jason snorted at his reply. "Why were you ignoring everyone when they were telling you the ten seconds were up? Those little runners over there looked like they were going to bite your head off if you stayed like that any longer" Dick's face burned in embarrassment as he side-glanced the two speedsters on the other side of the room. They weren't glaring at him anymore, but Wallace was eyeing him with an odd expression. He'd almost forgotten how protective speedsters were of each other. If you had to know one thing about the Flash family, it's that you NEVER mess with them. Family's everything to them, and the nicest ones are always the scariest when they're mad.
Roy scoffs impatiently. "I wasn't talking about that! I mean how on Earth were you not affected by that blast he threw at you? Last time I got hit with one of those, it felt like every cell in my body was on fire. Not even Kon is able to withstand it. So how the hell did you take it in the chest, then jump him straight after like it didn't even affect you?".
Dick looked from Roy to Jason as he contemplated this.
'Because it didn't'
"Ten seconds are up" Connor calls out, prompting Dick to look back to see Wally pinning Starfire front first to the floor. Even though Wally was smaller than most male heroes his age, he was still incredibly strong – something many of his opponents underestimate about him. The speedster let go of Kori and zipped over to Bart, where they started to discuss his victory excitedly. As Starfire begins to pair people up, Wallace appears next to Roy, looking at Dick curiously.
"How did you block Wally's attack?"
Dick raises his brow at Wallace's sudden interest, he'd seen the kid around and heard stuff about him from Wally, but they've never really talked before. He also knew Wally was extremely protective of him.
"Honestly, I have no idea. It didn't hurt at all, for a second I could feel the electricity surging through me, but then it subsided and it just felt t-"
"Ticklish" Wallace finished for him. He didn't look curious anymore. Instead he was looking at Dick with a hard and calculated look - studying him. The acrobat's surprise was clear on his face. "how did you..?"
"I only know of one other person that isn't affected by a speedster's electricity, Aunt Iris. She said the same thing - that it tickles her". Wallace bit his lip in thought and poked Dick on the forearm, allowing a spark to fly off his finger. Dick didn't even flinch as the ticklish feeling came and slowly subsided. Wallace then poked Roy, who jerked back with a cry. "SHIT! Dick, how the hell aren't you feeling that?"
The ebony looked down at his arm and then back at Wallace. "I…I don't know. I've never been hurt by it before". Wallace narrows his eyes slightly. "You two are close, aren't you? He talks about you a lot". Dick nods without hesitation. "we've known each other since we were kids. He's my best friend". The look Wallace was giving him becomes tainted in suspicion. "You know why Iris' immune? It cuz her and Barry are together. Best friends don't make the cut"
Dick feels his cheeks burn as Wallace stared at him accusingly, while Roy and Jason give him looks of disbelief. "Your fucking Wally too now? Geez Grayson. I mean, I know you have a type and all but he's like one of the hardest people to get in bed. How'd you do it anyways? Kyle's been trying to get into his pants all year, and Wally just keeps saying no"
Dick felt his entire face burn red as Wallace snaps his attention back to Roy, glaring at the archer. "Who's Kyle?".
Jason was looking at Roy in incredulity. "Kyle Rayner? Green lantern?". Roy nods in amusement as the three looked at him in disbelief. Dick had never met him personally, but he knew Roy and Wally were friends with him. Even Jason had teamed up with him before. "Does…Hal know?". Roy couldn't hold back his laugh at that.
"Definitely not. If he did, Rayner would be dead"
Dick felt himself feel nervous when he felt the heat of Wallace's glare back on him again. It became unbearably uncomfortable when all three of them had their eyes on him. "Wow. Guys, I know I have a…reputation and all, but even I have limits. Sleeping with him would be like sleeping with my brother" He replied, cringing when he made eye contact with Jason. "Besides, none of my Grayson charms work on him. He's completely immune"
"Who's completely immune?"
As if on cue, the green eyed speedster suddenly appeared at his cousin's side, joining the group again. "Grayson apparently, to your lightning attacks" Jason thankfully replies with. Wally looks back at Dick, and he could see faint traces of the look he had been giving him before. Dick wanted to talk to his best friend, but felt so pressured by all the other eyes around him. "Can we talk for a sec?"
In an instant, they're on the roof of Titans Tower. The view of San Francisco was astonishing from up there. "What's up?" Wally asked
Dick looked at his best friend for a moment, contemplating what he wanted to say. "Why aren't I affected by your lightning? I just took a gigantic bolt of it to the heart and...it just tickled. Wallace's electricity didn't hurt me either, but it hurt Roy".
Wally watched his closest friend for a moment, looking so uncharacteristically shy. Wally was NEVER shy, especially not around Dick. "When speedsters run too fast, there is a chance they're sucked into the speed force" Dick blinks in understanding. "The source of you powers?"
Wally nods and continues. "Yes. That's why us faster one need a point of focus, a lightning rod. When we feel ourselves getting pulled in, we focus on that one person – memories we share with them, our bond with them and most importantly, our love for them. Jay has Joan, and Barry has Iris. Their love for them is so strong, its allows them to break free again"
Dick watched wally carefully, as he let the words sink in. But Wally…didn't have a girlfriend. "Our lightning rod is the person we love the most, someone we have a very special connection to, someone we couldn't live without. The speed force can detect them. It knows who they are, and it's power can't be used against them. That's why both Joan and Iris aren't harmfully affected by our electricity"
Dick felt his heart beating anxiously in his ears. The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Who's your lightning rod?"
His best friend looked up, emerald eyes softening as he smiled at Dick hesitantly
"You are"
Notes:
Thank you so much for reading, I hoped you liked it! I would love to know what you think of it in the reviews 💕