2.
Wally paced back and forth impatiently on the rooftop of an old abandoned warehouse, trying to control his raging boredom. He hated stakeouts. Not just hated, he absolutely loathed the stupid things. They were so uncomfortable, and long, and boring, and just...why couldn't the Bats just do it? They seemed to love sitting still for hours on end, doing absolutely nothing, staring into the void and contemplating the blackness of their souls…
You're awfully quick to stereotype, a calm, teasing voice said in his mind.
Wally's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he remembered the mental link. Whatever, he huffed back at the bird. It's true.
You seriously think I like these things? Robin somehow mentally snorted. There's a difference between being used to something, and liking something, KF.
Enough, Aqualad's calm voice interrupted. We need to focus on the mission at hand. Team, report.
Nothing here, M'gann relayed.
Nothing here either, Artemis agreed.
No suspicious activity so far, Robin stated.
Nothing, Conner huffed.
Zip, zero, nada, Wally snapped. What's taking these guys so long? I'm so bored!
The dealers aren't due for another half hour, the Boy Wonder reminded him. We just came early because that incoming thunderstorm might have convinced the leader to move up the timeline.
Wally sighed in exasperation at the reminder, foot tapping rapidly against the roof. Whatever. Just as long as they're not late.
You never know with bad guys, Robin chimed chalantly. Maybe he decided to sleep in.
Dude, it's like, 3am.
My point exactly.
Wally face palmed, further irritated when he realized the gesture was completely lost to the Boy Wonder perched on a different rooftop further down the road. Sorry, forgot that you Bats are practically allergic to sleep. Let me guess, you hibernate in the winter, too? Should I get you berries and bugs to fatten you up for Christmas?
Kid, Aqualad interjected sharply. That is enough.
Wally immediately felt a surge of guilt at the ominous silence from the other side of the link. Whoops. Sorry, Rob.
No prob, came the quick reply. We're all tired.
"Understatement," Wally muttered aloud. He knew that this was still technically an early night for Robin, but he still felt grateful that the younger boy was trying to bridge the gap Wally almost drove a wedge through. Yeah. I was still a jerk, though.
Yeah, me too. Sorry, KF.
Sorry, Rob.
I'm sorrier.
No, I'm sorrier.
I'm the sorriest.
Well, I'm—
Okay, we get it, you're both saps, Artemis sighed. Now would it kill you to SHUT UP?!
A smirk played over Wally's features. New target acquired. How? he asked innocently. You can't shut up the human brain.
Well, you'd better learn how to quick, came the answering growl.
Telling a speedster to shut up is like telling them not to breathe, Robin commented.
And what a travesty that would be, Artemis snarked.
First of all, rude, archer chick, Wally griped. Second, Rob, I can't tell if that was meant to be bro-backup or add insult to injury.
Why not both? Robin tittered over Artemis' affronted, Archer chick?!
Breathing also happens to be unrelated to mental speech, Wally countered. So that argument is null and void.
To the contrary, Robin said, if you don't breathe, your brain don't work. Thus you can't think and eventually you die. Basic facts of anatomy.
Chuh, but I would still be able to think in the space between not breathing and dying, thank you very much.
Chuh, but not very coherently.
Since when has Wally ever been coherent?
A beat of stunned silence.
Dang, Superboy, Robin remarked. This is me high fiving you over the mental link right now.
High five? Artemis laughed. Please. Superboy, name any snack you want, it's on me.
Okay, I call foul, Wally whined. Who taught Supey sarcasm?
Wouldn't you like to know, speedy boy.
Wha—Artemis, that's not even clever!
And archer chick is better?
Wally spluttered. I—
Everyone, focus, Aqualad cut across. The perpetrators will be arriving any moment and we need to be ready when that happens.
A begrudging chorus of, Yes, Aqualad, Roger that, team leader, Okay, Mom, etc. echoed down the link.
Aqualad, being a bigger person than Wally, somehow did not comment on that last one.
The next few minutes passed in relative peace and quiet, broken only by the occasional car passing down some random street. Wally himself couldn't see the road leading up to the target warehouse—that was Robin and Superboy's station. It was everything Wally could do not to perk up at every hint of an engine, listening carefully only for the seemingly approaching car to continue on its path away from their location.
He sighed in resignation, nudging an errant piece of gravel with his toe, though careful not to kick it hard enough to clatter. He always got stuck in the out of the way, unseen corners for stakeouts. Something about an inability to keep still making him too much of a flight risk in the more visible vantage points.
Which…fair. But he didn't have to be happy about it.
He glared begrudgingly at the other end of the rooftop, knowing his roofmate Aqualad was crouched somewhere with a perfect view of the entrance. Strategically out of range for idle chit-chat.
Ah well. Guess he might as well get cozy for the next age till the action started and he was needed again.
The speedster popped one leg forward in a lunge, carefully easing down as far as he could go. Switch legs, repeat. He walked through a few more stretches, feeling the familiar tensing and easing of his muscles as he guided them through his usual prep routine.
There. Now no one could fault him for sitting down. And he did just that, propping his legs up on one of the shorter smoke stacks. Just for a minute. Adrenaline wouldn't let him fall asleep. Probably.
Silence. Waiting.
A quick chastise from Artemis for apparently managing to hum Smash Mouth's All Star through the mental link.
More waiting. More silence.
That is, until Wally felt a persistent, aching pressure on his mind, followed by a quick stabbing pain.
Ow! Wally exclaimed, bolting upright and gripping his forehead. M'gann, what was that?
I didn't do anything, the Martian protested. What happened?
Robin's signature cackle echoed over the mental link. Didn't think that would work. Anyway, red one!
Dude, Wally moaned. Not cool! We're on a stakeout.
Yeah, yeah, Robin said dismissively. Still got you. Score 2-0!
Both of you, KNOCK IT OFF! Artemis roared.
Bird and speedster flinched. Yes, ma'am!