AN: I have put this story on AO3, it has the same name, under the penname Twi_Wulfrun. If you would rather read it there, go for it. For everyone else, I will continue to post here
Chapter 11
It's gotten late, after food, watching some movies, the Team is just talking, the league has already left, with the exception of Bruce of course since it is his house. Roy mostly has stayed out of the conversations, and really so has Conner. Wally's fallen asleep.
"So, you guys want to stay the night? We have plenty of spare rooms." Dick asks. "I think Wally's already down for the count." He looks at his best friend who is curled up on the other end of the couch with a pillow.
"Sure." Conner says quietly, not really caring, but everyone's been kind of scared to go back to the Cave ever since the whole Talon incident. They don't know if he'll be back or if he'll bring friends, just one of those knife wielding lunatics is bad, but a whole slew of them? They could barely handle one, which is really saying something. The man even got away, leaving three of their teammates badly injured to the point they needed hospitalization…
"I'd love to!" M'gann says, in her usual cheerful tone.
"Yea, I guess I could crash here." Artemis says.
"Count me in." Aqualad agrees.
"I'd rather not be at the Cave alone, so I'll stay here." Zatanna says. Everyone looks at Roy.
"What?" He questions.
"Well? Are you staying?" Dick asks. Roy doesn't say anything at first, but seeing all his friends' expecting faces…
"Fine, I'll stay too." He says.
"Great!" Dick remarks happily. "I never really had a sleepover before."
"Why not?" Artemis asks.
"You're nice to be around, so…" M'gann comments. Dick shrugs.
"I never really made friends before. I'd make friends, but none that were really all that close. Roy was actually one of my first friends. Another is named Barbara, but she never comes over..." Dick explains. Roy glances over. "Then it was Wally, then Kaldur. The four of us were inseparable, but we never had a sleepover."
"How come?" Zatanna asks.
"Secret identities and whatnot. I wasn't allowed to reveal who I was. And bringing them here would obviously reveal who I was. And we just never stayed at each other's homes either, too risky." Dick explains. "Honestly I feel like I missed out on a piece of childhood, but I probably shouldn't complain, my life's a whole lot more interesting. I don't think I could ever have a mundane life. Going to school is about as mundane as it gets around here."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with the mundane, I don't want to stop being a hero yet, but one day I hope to go to college, get married, start a family." Artemis says. "I wouldn't want to bring my family into all this hero stuff."
"I get that. If I ever had kids, I don't think I could raise them in this." Dick says. "I'm grateful to Batman for doing what he could for me, if I didn't become Robin, I don't know where I'd be… But this life isn't for everyone and I would want my kids to make that choice for themselves, as much as it would terrify me."
"You'd make a great dad, Dick." Zatanna says. "But you still have a lot of years before you have to worry about that."
"Oh yea, I'm still trying to get through school. I skipped a grade so I'm a freshman in high school. I prefer high school over middle school, but man is high school different." Dick explains.
"I feel you there." Artemis comments. "I started at this new school this year since it looks better on a college application. But my first day, some weird kid came up and took a picture with me."
"Sounds pretty weird." Dick says. "Bet you'll laugh about it someday." Artemis's eyes widen as she realizes, but she can't say anything about it. Dick smiles widely. Everyone looks between each other, confused.
"I'm going to bed." Artemis says, standing up and leaving the room. Zatanna gets up.
"I'll join you." She offers, following. They start heading to the stairs.
"Guest rooms are on the left!" Dick shouts after them.
"What did you do…?" Kaldur questions.
"Nothing at all." Dick answers, smiling sweet and innocently.
"Uh-huh…" Kaldur mutters. Dick's smile falls a bit, looking toward the window for a moment, then back at everyone else.
"I'm glad you're all here, it's helping life get back to normal…" Dick says, he gently rubs his chest.
"I think that's something we can all appreciate right now." Kaldur says. Dick nods in agreement. He hears Wally whimpering in his sleep so he stands up, looking at him and moving to sit on the floor in front of him. Wally's eyelids are twitching and he's very tensed up. Dick shakes his arm.
"Wally…" Dick says softly, but he doesn't wake up, too caught up in his bad dreams. That's when Dick starts singing softly, some song in a different language, stroking the side of Wally's head to help sooth him. It doesn't take long for Wally to calm down, lightly opening his eyes as he hears Dick singing. He looks a bit confused.
"Wr you tryin' to cast a spell or something…?" Wally asks.
"You wouldn't wake up, so I thought the best thing was to soothe you instead. You seemed to be having a bad dream." Dick says, looking a bit concerned. "Do you remember it?" Wally stares a moment, seeming lost in thought, but then shakes his head.
"No…" He answers. Dick nods in understanding.
"What language was that?" Kaldur asks. Dick turns his head to look at him.
"Romani." Dick answers, smiling, he turns his whole body, sitting on the ground. "It was a lullaby my mom used to sing to me when I'd have nightmares or couldn't sleep."
"That's really sweet." M'gann says.
"Why Romanian of all languages?" Roy asks.
"Not Romanian, Romani." Dick corrects. "It's a common misconception, but the Romani aren't from Romania."
"Oh… Sorry." Roy apologizes.
"No worries, like I said, it's common." He explains. "But there are a number of Romani people in Romania, they're just not Romanian. The Romani are sort of all over the place in Europe, but they're originally from India. Often known as Gypsies to a lot of people, but that's not entirely right either, at least according to my research. I didn't get to learn too much about our heritage before she died, but I at least remember her lullabies."
"You are Romani?" Kaldur asks.
"I'm half Romani, I just don't look it too much. Genetics are weird…" Dick answers.
"That they are." Kaldur states. Dick smiles widely.
"Family isn't necessarily what defines you, blood or not, who you are is what matters, but it's kind of nice learning where your blood comes from, what factors led you into being. What caused you to exist." Dick says.
"I know what caused me to exist…" Conner mutters, clenching his fists. "And that I'm not wanted…"
"Conner, you are wanted. I want you." M'gann says telepathically, placing a hand over his. He sighs.
"You know what I mean…" He says back.
"Some aren't wanted by those related to them unfortunately… and that can cause so much pain… Especially when you had no choice in being here." Dick states. "But that's where your true family comes into play. True family is the bonds that go beyond bloodline. And I love the family we've made." Conner sighs and smiles a little.
"Yea… I love it too." Conner says. He moves his hand in such a way so as to hold M'gann's.
"Are we not going to mention the fact Dick can sing?" Wally questions. To freak him out, Dick sings a high note. "The fuck, dude?! Since when could you sing!?"
"I would sing with my mom all the time, she and my cousin taught me to sing. Vocal control, pitch, all that." Dick says.
"That's amazing, man!" Wally comments. Dick smiles in such a way that his eyes close, he soon relaxes.
"I'm sure you could sing too if you really practiced." Dick says. "Mom always said everyone can sing, they just have to learn how."
"Yea, no…" Wally disagrees. Dick shrugs, standing up and stretching.
"Suit yourself, I'm off to bed. Only rules, no cooking in the kitchen, Alfred is very particular who's allowed to cook." Dick says, turning and starts heading for the stairs.
"Night, Dick!" M'gann says.
"Goodnight!" Dick waves, heading up the stairs. Wally sits up more, watching him leave. Part of him wants to follow, but he hesitates. Comes so close that he even turns so his feet are on the ground. Wally sighs through his nose and looks down, arms resting on his legs.
"Are you ok?" Kaldur asks.
"I don't know…" Wally says. "I don't know how I feel…"
"About what?" Kaldur asks more.
"About Dick…" Wally answers. "Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, he's my ride or die, my best friend. But do I love him because he's my best friend, or is it because of something else?"
"I can't answer that, but maybe you owe it to yourself to figure that out for sure." Kaldur states. Wally bows his head, running his fingers through his hair, keeping his head there.
"I'm scared… If I figure out that I do have romantic feelings for him, but he doesn't share those same feelings, I could ruin my relationship with him, the bond I have with him is too important… I can't lose him…"
"You've been saying that a lot lately." Roy comments. "Ok, worst case scenario, you stop being friends, but if that's the case, then maybe you weren't good enough friends to begin with."
"Best case scenario…?" Wally asks.
"You gain a partner, someone you can love with all your being." Kaldur states.
"And what if I do tell him and he agrees to it only out of obligation because he doesn't want to upset me? I don't want to tie him down if I'm not the one he wants… I see how he looks at Zatanna, it's how I looked at M'gann when I had a crush on her!" Wally freaks out, looking up at Conner and M'gann, putting his hands up. "I don't anymore, I promise. I'm no homewrecker."
"Good." Conner mutters. Wally puts his arms down and sighs.
"And part of me likes Artemis… I don't know who I want to be with more… And Artemis likes me… Maybe it'd be better if I was with her, it'd be easier…"
"But if you're not fully committed to her, that'll only hurt her." M'gann says. "I know you don't want that."
"Of course not…" Wally agrees. "I don't want to hurt anybody, especially like that… I don't think I could bear that pain if it happened to me…"
"I wish there was more I could say to help you." Kaldur says. "I've struggled with my own love life, believed I had a soulmate, but she was taken right out of my hands without my notice… I know that pain at least, and I don't want to see you go through that. If you don't confess how you feel to Robin, you'll lose that chance."
"But if I do and he doesn't feel the same, he may either feel obligated or just outright refuse… Either way, someone will be in pain…" Wally says. Conner groans.
"We're just going in circles with you." Conner snaps. "Either tell him or don't, and face the repercussions either way. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, man."
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Roy agrees. Wally huffs.
"I'll figure it out." He says, standing up. "I'm for bed." He turns and starts walking out of the living room. He walks down the hall, stopping at a door and opens it, peeking inside, knowing where Dick's room is since he's been at the manor before. Dick is lying in bed, seeming to already be asleep, he cuddles his stuffed elephant. One of the strongest, most badass members of crime fighting that has no powers is still basically a child… It makes Wally smile a bit, seeing how adorable and innocent he looks. He can't let anything ruin that, not even himself. He sighs and steps in, shutting the door. He walks to the other side of Dick's bed, taking his flannel off, kicking off his shoes, and pulls back the blanket, lying down beside his best friend, facing the opposite way. Thankfully the bed is big enough to fit them both. Could even fit a couple more members of the team. And it doesn't take Wally long to fall asleep either.
Shortly, everyone else goes to bed, with M'gann and Conner sharing a room, Roy and Kaldur take separate rooms. Through the night, nothing happens. And in the morning, Alfred comes around to wake everyone for breakfast. Today's the day, December Thirtieth. The Justice League will be accepting its new members following a speech by Superman himself. Alfred makes sure everyone has a good breakfast before they go to Washington DC. Before leaving however… Dick approaches Bruce in his study.
"Bruce. I had a thought." Dick starts.
"That's terrifying." Bruce states plainly, then looks up at Dick, smirking.
"Not as terrifying as yours." Dick teases back. Bruce nods his head in agreement and sets his paperwork and pen aside, giving Dick his full attention. "So… I know you're worried that something will happen to me if I leave the manor, I mean, for good reason considering last time I ended up in the hospital…"
"Ok?" Bruce shows that he's listening. Dick sighs.
"I want to go to DC, to be with the others and welcome the new league members, meet our new teammate. Both times I was attacked by the Court of Owls, I wasn't Robin. So maybe if I am Robin, nothing will happen. Or at the very least I'll have my utility belt for once and be able to better defend myself." Bruce sighs, leaning back in his chair.
"You make a valid point, and really, with most everyone being gone, I would be concerned about you being here at the Manor on your own without me nearby. Alfred is capable of protecting you, I know that, you're capable of protecting yourself as well, but there is such a thing as safety in number." Bruce explains. "So, I agree. You can come with us to the Hall of Justice." Dick's eyes light up with joy and relief. "Just don't go off doing your usual shenanigans with the team, ok?"
"… No promises on that front, B." Dick says, smiling mischievously, turning, and leaving quickly before Bruce can change his mind. Bruce simply sighs again, shaking his head and returning to his paperwork. Dick goes to the others that are in the living room, everyone ready to leave to get their gear and head to DC. "Guess who got the ok to come to DC!"
"That's great!" M'gann says happily.
"Good, it wouldn't be the same without you." Wally remarks. Dick smiles widely. Everyone basically takes off for home or home equivalent to get their gear and will meet up with everyone in DC. Artemis is the last to leave as she lives the closest and wanted to talk to Dick alone.
"Hey…" Artemis starts. Dick looks to her in curiosity. "You are the boy aren't you…? At school? Who took the picture?"
"Yea… I couldn't resist. I recognized you and I figured one day we would learn our secret identities and laugh about it." Dick explains. "I didn't think it'd be so soon, but I'm glad you guys finally know who I am. It's at least one burden off my shoulders."
"So… You know who I am…?" Artemis asks.
"Yea, and I know what your family's done. But you should know that their actions and choices don't define who you are. What matters is what you do, what you choose. I have full faith in you. You just have to have it in yourself." Dick explains, smiling up at her. Artemis smiles and hugs him.
"Thank you… For believing in me… Sometimes, I struggle to believe in myself…" Artemis admits. Dick hugs her back.
"Everyone does, but you're strong enough to fight for your own way." Dick says. The two separate.
"Well, I better get home and get ready. We have a big day ahead of us." Artemis says. Dick nods.
"Be safe getting home, sis." Dick says, calling her sis as a means of affection. It catches her by surprise, but she smiles, ruffling his hair.
"You be safe too, bro." She states teasingly and leaves. Dick watches her leave and then goes to get ready himself.
Everyone arrives just before nine, eastern standard time. The sidekicks enter the Hall of Justice to watch the speech and wait for the new League members to come through. Everyone meets Rocket, aka Raquel, and introductions are made with everyone.
Over the course of the next two days, that being the thirtieth and the thirty-first, most everything goes off the same as in Earth-16, a few minor changes in dialogue that aren't exactly noteworthy. The biggest change is after everything is said and done, and the League is free of the Light's control, what happens after that?
AN: Since no one voted on the pole, I decided not to rewrite episode 25/26. Thank you everyone who's been reading this story. Have a pleasant weekend!