Chapter 13

It's now Monday, January Third, twenty-eleven. The first day back at school. Dick is by the school pillars, resting against them, staring at the ground. Barbara, his childhood friend, approaches him to greet him, like she does every morning when she arrives at school. She sees the lost look on his face, the break in his eyes.

"Dick…?" Barbara asks, stepping to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Dick turns his head slowly to look at her. He looks tired, and pale. "I heard what happened over winter break, are you ok?" He looks back to the ground. "I'll take that as a no… I'm sorry I couldn't be there at the hospital. Dad was pretty busy since Batman was away."

"It's ok, Babs… I appreciate the thought…" Dick finally speaks. His voice is quiet, monotonous. Barbara looks at him with concern and worry, and sadness. Artemis arrives, walking to her group of friends and looks over at Dick. She looks concerned at him.

"What's wrong with him?" Artemis asks, trying not to blow her cover.

"I don't know. Rumor is some psycho tried to kill him, put him in the hospital. That's Gotham for ya." Artemis's friend says.

"No kidding…" She says softly. She walks over to the two freshmen, looking down at Dick. Dick looks up at her. "Hey… I'm sorry for what happened. I know we don't know each other, but I am sorry." She says, brows knit in concern. Dick manages a small smile. He takes a deep breath, tapping his cheeks, as if trying to wake himself up. He smiles more.

"Thanks, uh… Whatever your name is." Dick says.

"Artemis." She says, holding her hand out to him. He takes her hand.

"Dick." He replies.

"Dick?" Artemis asks, raising an eyebrow. "Interesting name."

"It's short for Richard, but I prefer Dick, tends to throw people off at first." He says, smiling playfully. The bell rings. "Well, see ya, Artemis." He waves and he leaves with Barbara. Barbara waves. She waves as well, and lowers her hand slowly, watching him leave. Her classmate friends walk to her and walk with her to class.

Throughout the day, people are coming by Dick's desk or his locker to give him presents, between candy, cards, flowers, toys, or maybe just a simple hug, mostly from girls. And he smiles, thanking every single one of them. He receives help with notes since he can't write right now. He's receiving a lot of attention from a lot of his classmates, which is a bit whelming, but he shows appreciation regardless, keeping up the whole "I'm the playful adorable one." Despite the frustration and pain he feels.

At Wally's school, he's listless, staring out the window, looking at the grey skies of winter. It's such a dreary day. Other classmates have heard he was in the hospital and offer condolences, wanting to know what happened, but he doesn't give any details, just that he was in the hospital. He can't blow his cover or that of his friends. He's been given a pass from gym class at least though thanks to a doctor's note that he can't do rigorous activity for a while. It's the same for Dick as well of course.

When both Wally and Dick get to their respective homes, they go to their rooms, curling up in bed. Wally stares out the window, seeing snow start falling. He remembers the day he met Robin…

-Flashback-

He and Flash were near Gotham when they saw Batman and Robin taking down some machination of the Penguin and are about to leave for home when The Flash brings Kid Flash to meet Batman.

"Hey B!" Flash says happily, skidding to a stop. Kid skidding beside him. "Got everything wrapped up here?"

"Obviously." Batman states bluntly.

"Cool! SoIwasintheneighborhoodandIdecidedtointroducemyprotégétoyouandyour-" Flash rambles on in fast speak.

"Flash. Stop." Batman says. "I can barely understand what you're saying."

"Oh, sorry, man." Flash apologizes. "I just wanted to introduce my new Protégé. Kid Flash." Flash states. KF is a bit shy, seeing the tall, brooding, dangerous-looking man dressed in black. Batman crosses his arms.

"What was it you said when I employed Robin? Child soldiers are wrong? How old is he, Flash? Twelve?" Batman questions.

"Thirteen! I just turned thirteen." KF says a bit excitedly and nervously.

"It… wasn't exactly my choice…" Flash says.

"I'm eleven!" Little Robin shouts, raising his hand happily. KF smiles, looking Robin up and down, finding him absolutely adorable. The shoes alone make him look like he's a little fairy boy.

"Staying warm in that?" Kid asks.

"Yep! My legs don't get cold easily. Or my arms. I just don't get cold really." Robin says. "Is your hair naturally red?" Robin asks, tilting his head in curiosity.

"Yep! All natural, including the freckles." KF states, gesturing to his face. Robin smiles widely.

"Red hair is so pretty! It looks like fire!" There's a bit of a strange grin on the boy's face when he mentions fire.

"You're a pyromaniac, got it." Kid teases. To sell it, Robin giggles a bit crazily, tapping his fingers together excitedly. Kid laughs. "You're weird."

"Takes weird to know weird, Kid." Robin comments. But he's immediately distracted as snow starts falling in front of their faces. The eyes of his mask widen and his mouth gaps in wonder. "It's snowing!" He bounces, giggling. "It's so pretty!"

"Never seen snow before?" Kid asks.

"I have, but not that often, I lived in a lot of snowless places before becoming Batman's partner. Oh…" Robin stops, looking up at Batman. "Sorry, did I say too much?"

"A little bit. Dial it back, Robin." Batman warns. Robin sighs a bit.

"Yes, sir." Robin says.

"We should be going before the Commissioner has my head about property damage." Batman states. "Pleasure to meet you, Kid Flash."

"Bye!" Kid says, waving. The two start walking to the Batmobile. The flakes of snow have gotten bigger and fall faster. Robin holds his hand out to catch the flakes, a big grin on his face. Robin turns and looks at Kid Flash.

"Bye!" He says happily and climbs in the car.

"So, what'd you think?" Flash asks as they drive away. Kid doesn't respond, stuck on the image of Robin enjoying the glittering flakes of snow.

"Huh?" He asks, then it registers. "Oh, they seem nice. I like Robin. He seems like a good kid. Batman's kinda scary…"

"He scares everybody… Come on! We should get you home, it is a school night." Flash says. With that, they speed off.

-End Flashback

"Did I… like him even back then…?" Wally thinks, closing his eyes, thinking of that one memory. The image of a boy with fluffy black hair, holding a gloved hand out to catch a tiny floof of snow, eyes wide in wonder. Though he couldn't see his eyes back then, knowing what they look like now, he can imagine they were sparkling in delight. He's always been easily amused and finds joy in the smallest things. There's a knock on Wally's door, his mom pokes her head in.

"Wally, I'm making breakfast for dinner." Mary says.

"Ok…" He says quietly. She sighs, stepping into the room. She steps up to his bed and sits down.

"Talk to me, baby… Please… What happened?" Mary asks. Wally shakes his head, curling up, hugging a squish-mellow to his chest. He got it when he was at the hospital, a present from his uncle as a get well present, a giant donut with a goofy face on it.

"I can't…" Wally says. "Cuz, you'll hate me too…"

"Baby… I could never hate you…" Mary says softly, grabbing his shoulders and pulls him up. He refuses to look her in the eye. She brushes a hand through his hair. "Look at me, Wally, please…" He sniffles, closing his eyes and lowering his head, sobbing. She hugs him tight. "Oh Wally…" She rubs his back. She adjusts herself to better embrace him.

"I messed up…" Wally mumbles. "I-I broke his heart…" He stutters between sobs. "I just love him so much and I-I was afraid I'd hurt him some other point down the line or he'd realize how much of a fuck-up I am I just couldn't take that pain!" He rambles.

"Sweetie…" She speaks softly, trailing off.

"I… figured… better leave now… before getting too invested, and we end up h-hurt worse…" Wally explains.

"You're talking about Dick, aren't you…?" She asks.

"Yea…" He answers, sniffling. She pulls away from him, holding his shoulders. He breathes in shakily and exhales just as shakily, he sniffles again, hiccupping. "A-Are you mad…?"

"Oh honey, of course not…" She says softly, brushing the side of his head with the back of her hand. "You have such a loving, vibrant heart… You want to do right by people… I've experienced my share of heartache and heartbreak, I've broken up with and been broken up with a number of people and it hurt every time… But I don't regret a single one of those relationships, because they all helped me grow as a person." She wipes her thumb under his eye to dry the tears, cupping his face. "But being afraid of that pain, or hurting someone else because of your fear… you won't learn anything… You have to fall before you can fly… If I let my past experiences stop me at every relationship, I would have never met your father… And you wouldn't be here…"

"Do you… ever regret being with Dad…? Settling with him and not… just… moving on…?" Wally asks.

"No. I love Rudy, and I love you. You're my whole world, both of you… I wouldn't change a thing." Mary says softly.

"H-He confessed to me…" Wally says softly. "I felt this… jolt in my heart the moment I heard him say 'I want to be with you…' A warmth spread across my chest… I… I wanted to make a move… But I felt so afraid… I just… I walked away… There he was… the boy I love so much… I'd give my life for, finally showing me the affection I longed for, even if I didn't realize I wanted it, and I turned him down… He screamed… He was in so much pain… But I didn't look back… I couldn't… Cuz then I'd want to turn right back around and hug him… kiss him…"

"Sounds like you thought you were doing the right thing… But Wally… you don't know if he could have been your happily ever after or not if you don't give it a try…" Mary says. She pulls him into a hug again. "You'll never know if you don't try…" He latches onto her, trembling, burying his face in her sweatered shoulder.

"It's too late…" Wally says. "The bridge is burned… h-he'll… Never…" Another sob escapes his throat.

"You don't know that…" Mary says, rubbing his back again. "Not unless you try… He might not go for it at first because he's hurting, but if the love is real, nothing can stop it." Wally pulls away from her this time, looking up at her. "There's my boy…" She brushes the side of his face once again.

"Do you…" He starts, sniffling. "Think I might still have a chance…?"

"I can't say… But again, you won't know unless you try. And if not, then… Let this be a lesson. You learn and grow from mistakes, Wally. That's a normal part of life." She says. Wally nods a little, taking a deep breath.

"I want to try…" He says, getting off the bed.

"Now?" She asks, but before receiving an answer, he has his shoes, coat, and is out the door faster than she can blink. He takes whatever steps necessary to get to Gotham the fastest. Through slush, sleet and snow, he sprints, not a care in the world of the cold. Just like on his birthday… It feels like forever by the time he makes it to Wayne Manor. He pounds on the door, then taps anxiously as he waits for the door to open. Alfred opens the door as expected.

"Is Dick home?" Wally asks.

"He is resting, Master Wallace. Come back another time." Alfred states, going to shut the door.

"I just want to pop in, check on him." He says, trying to get around the butler, but despite his elderly appearance, his reaction timing is so keen that he grabs Wally's arm and gently guides him back out the door.

"Another time, Master Wallace." Alfred states, his tone somewhat bitter. He shuts the door in Wally's face. His eyes are a bit wide from shock, but then they narrow, thinking of what he can do. He steps back, running around the house to where Dick's room would be.

"If the love is real, nothing can stop it…" Wally reminds himself of what his mom said. He breathes out sharply, preparing himself. He bolts, running up the side of the manor until he reaches the second floor. He's in the air for a moment before landing on the ledge. He waves his arm to balance himself, to keep himself from falling. He manages to stay up, sighing with relief.

He pushes on the window testing to see if it's unlocked, but it's not, which makes sense. Owl people are after him, best to keep things locked up tight. Makes his life harder though. He grabs out his wallet, finding an old gift card that is probably expired or empty, he slides it into the crack of the window and lifts it up to hit the lock, knowing it's a simple flip-lock. It gets stuck halfway up and he forced it up. It comes loose suddenly and nearly makes him fall over again. He manages to force himself forward and into the room, but he falls to the floor.

"Ow…" He mumbles. Dick sits up immediately when his window opens, grabbing his Bo Staff, but then recognizes the figure that's entered his room. Wally pushes himself back up and looks at Dick. "Hey." Wally whispers, waving. Dick opens his mouth to speak but has no words. "Shhh…" He hushes, speeding up to him and covering his mouth. He lifts Dick up in his arms and bolts out the window, jumping to the ground. Dick's eyes widen and he latches onto Wally. He lands on the ground just fine and bolts off away from the manor, going quite the distance before setting Dick down.

"You kidnapped me, again?!" Dick questions.

"Yep!" Wally says, smiling in pride.

"Well, I'm going back." Dick says, starting to head back for the manor.

"Wait!" Wally shouts after him, grabbing his arm. "I wanted to talk."

"Then talk to yourself!" Dick snaps coldly, tears forming in his stormy eyes. "And leave me alone…" He pulls his arm free and adjusts his jacket and continues walking.

"Hey…" Wally speeds up in front of him, standing in his way. "Look, I know I messed up-"

"Messed up?! You broke my heart, Wall!" Dick snaps again. "I thought you had feelings for me! What, did you just tell Kaldur a bunch of lies or something?!"

"No… I didn't, I swear!" Wally says. Dick tries to get around him, but Wally moves in the way just enough. "I do have feelings for you."

"Well, you have a real bad way of showing it…" Dick mutters. He steps back and bolts, going around into an alley. Wally groans loudly and runs after him, getting into the alley, but doesn't see Dick anywhere.

"Dick, please!" Wally shouts. "I was scared! But that doesn't justify what I did, I know that! I messed up so bad and I ruined the best thing that could have happened to me. I just… I didn't want to hurt you later on in the relationship! I didn't want to be hurt… But I am really really sorry and… I-I love you! I love you so much!" Wally admits, starting to tear up again. He doesn't hear anything. "I-I'm so… sorry…" He sinks to his knees, hands pressing into the cold concrete. Still no response, he clenches his fists. "I have no excuse… Nothing to justify why I did what I did… I know I hurt you… You didn't deserve that…"

Dick watches from the shadows, hearing how genuine Wally seems to feel. He can see Wally trembling. Dick sighs quietly, closing his eyes. Should he dare…? What if he's hurt again…? What if Wally losing more braincells and does something else to break Dick's heart?

"You don't have to forgive me… I… just… wanted you to know I'm sorry… And hoped that you would forgive me even though I don't deserve it… I'm still sorry…" Wally apologizes again, going quiet, except for soft, choked sobs. He bows his head, pressing it into the concrete before pushing himself back up, turning and sitting against the wall of the alley, he looks up to the snowy sky, more tears fall, and he starts sobbing again. "It's snowing… It's so pretty…" He mumbles, holding up his hand to catch a flake of snow. He watches as it quickly melts in his hand. "I couldn't see your eyes that day… but… I just know they were twinkling with delight… Your love of all the little things has always been so endearing… You're probably not even here anymore, and I'm probably just talking to myself…" He takes a shaky breath in. "The way you smile through even the hardest trials, always making jokes, always doing everything you can to make others happy… It can put a smile on anyone's face… Then the one time you wanted to be happy, I-I broke you…"

He sniffles, closing his hand and rests his head back. There's a silence in the air, no bustling of the town, no cars going by, it's like the world's stopped moving. He's about to close his eyes, to just rest, he hasn't properly eaten the past few days, but there's a noise, feet hitting the concrete. Wally perks up, looking down the alley, hoping to see Dick, but no… It's the Talon.