[CLOSED]

[performance]

WHO: Dick, Artemis, and Wally
WHERE: Downtown Heropa.
WHEN: 7/12, nighttime.
WHAT: Robin's emotional turmoil culiminates in the world's stupidest injury. Stupid teenage dramatics to follow.
WARNINGS: References to a broken bone? And probably yelling.

[ It's 10:20 PM, and it's finally stopped raining that particular variety of Florida rain that's not so much like a drizzle as like the sky's just up and poured a bucket of water on your head. It's wet and it's too warm and there's still lightning flashing off in the distance, and Robin's just made the stupidest mistake of his career.

Okay, so no one realistically-fake-died, and nothing exploded. Which is a plus, considering his track record. But breaking a leg in a fall from a third story roof has to be — without any hyperbole — the most embarrassing thing he's done in his entire life.

He could make a lot of excuses: he's not used to the weather, the railing was slick, he hadn't checked his equipment, the terrain's unfamiliar, he's distracted and emotionally compromised. He doesn't have his team. Every single one is terrible, even if they're all true.

For several excruciating minutes, while he waits for the painkillers to work their magic, Robin debates his options. An ambulance would attract attention. He's pretty sure he couldn't hobble all the way to the hospital like this, even if there was one within the city limits. Maybe the ground will swallow him up right along with his shame and he won't have to admit that any of this ever happened.

It doesn't.

Out of reasonable options, he sends off a text with his coordinates to Artemis, who, logically, is the person on their team most likely to know how to deal with injuries:
SOS.
Achey breaky leg.
Please don't ask.

And moments later, a text to Wally with the same coordinates:
Need a ride to the hospital.
If you're not married to SB's couch now.
Faster is better.



It takes a minute for him to realize the gravity of his possible mistake. If they find a way to fight over this, too... well, maybe yelling makes bones knit faster. ]

Comments

[real_archer]

[Artemis just stares at him, uncomprehending and unimpressed. Is this something new he's going to blame her for or has he just come up with a new way to blame her for the same old things?]

What.

[runningstart]

[Surprisingly, no.]

In the alley, when I was running at you. You didn't get out of the way. You didn't even flinch.

[real_archer]

[She'd forgotten about that. Frankly, it hadn't seemed important at the time.]

You weren't going to hit me. What's the problem?

[runningstart]

[Something clenches up in Wally's chest. Wally doesn't know if he hates it or not.]

Nothing. No problem.

[He scuffs his heel against the ground again.]

[real_archer]

.... Well, that's new.

[Suddenly, Artemis can't sit still anymore. She gets up, dropping the towel on her chair.]

I'm gonna see if there's coffee or something... you want anything?

[runningstart]

M'fine, [KF mumbles, lacing his fingers together over his stomach and slumping down further in his chair. He has a lot to think about.

He's still sitting that way when she comes back too, which is pretty rare for him. Even thirty minutes is usually too long, so twenty usually at least has him fidgeting in his seat. He hasn't moved an inch though, even when Artemis settles in a chair nearby with a cup of coffee that is probably even worse than it smells.]

...back at the school, I didn't think you were the mole. I wasn't gonna say that. Didn't even consider it.

[real_archer]

[She looks at him over her coffee cup for a long moment. The coffee is just as terrible as he suspects but this is actually her third cup.]

... I didn't really think you did.

[It would be easier if he did. At least then she could stand up and say "you're wrong" with her head held high.]

But... thanks. For saying it now. I guess.

[runningstart]

[KF sighs and tilts his head back, resting it on the back of the chair and staring up at the ceiling. Ugh. Ugh.]

I didn't mean what I said on the ship, either.

[real_archer]

[Artemis stares down at the tile between her boots.]

... I did. [She takes a deep, shaky breath.] I mean, I meant what I said about it not being about you. I just... didn't mean it like I said it.

[Well, that was nice and confusing. Artemis frowns at the floor, annoyed with herself. Why is she even bringing this up if she can't actually explain it? Her hands clench into fists.]

Ugh, I wish I could just make you understand...

[performance]

[ So that's a good time for both their communicators to go off, right? ]

SOS
CAN'T CHECK PUPILS FOR CONCUSSION WITH MASK ON
BACK ME UP!!! :(

[runningstart]

[Wally's about to pry further when his comm buzzes, which is probably good for him considering how well it went the last time he tried to dig an explanation out of Artemis.

...except that's not good.]

Oh boy. [KF jumps up -Artemis must've gotten the message too because she follows- and they ignore the protests of the receptionist -and the way she picks up the phone to call security- and burst through the double doors into the ER examination rooms.

Robin's not far, second door on the left and when they arrive the doctor also threatens to call security. Wally tries to explain-]

It's a secret ID, which becomes significantly less secret when you see his face-

[-but the doctor won't take no for an answer, he has to make sure Robin doesn't have a concussion, also threatens to call security. So finally Wally snatches the pen light from his hand and snaps,] I'll check.

[So. Looks like Artemis knows that Wally knows Robin's secret ID.

The doctor takes some convincing too, but when KF demonstrates that he knows how to properly check for a concussion (one tends to hit their head a lot when they run at top speeds and slam into things) the doctor finally gives in and agrees to let Wally check. Robin must've given him a hell of a time for that before they got in there.]

[real_archer]

[Artemis sprints down the hall after Kid Flash--no one is supposed to see Robin's face. No. One.

... Except apparently it's okay for Kid Flash.

Artemis's mouth becomes a tight line, her expression stoic. Once Kid Flash has proven himself, she she pushes the doctor and nurses out the door without a word and stands on the other side, arms crossed like a bouncer.]

[performance]

Jeez, you guys...

[ He tries to sound tough, like he's embarrassed by all the fuss they're making, but his voice is shaky and, yeah, he's touched. Even if his secret is a little bit compromised now. Funny, but it's not the secret he's worried about — just whether or not Artemis is gonna be mad at him.

Okay. Okay, he'll deal with that later. Right now he just wants out of here, so carefully, he peels his mask back, letting Wally check his pupils. He's fine. ]

See? I'm okay. Didn't land on my head.

[ And he pats the back of Wally's hand, soft and awkward and not terribly reassuring. ]

[runningstart]

I know you're fine, I just promised I'd do this so I'm doing it. [Wally flicks the penlight in and out of Robin's eyes, has him follow his finger. He doesn't say much, still lost in thought from talking to Artemis and wondering what was going to happen between all three of them now that Artemis knows that he knows Robin's secret ID.

...oh. He should probably not just stand here stupidly in front of Robin.]

-uh, yeah. As expected, you're fine. I'll go get the doc.

[performance]

Wait—

[ He grabs Wally's wrist before he can leave. He knows Artemis is just outside, and he doesn't want to keep anything else from her tonight, and this isn't the apology or the thanks Wally deserves, but, for now: ]

... Thanks for having my back. Again.

[runningstart]

[Wally pauses, glancing back at Robin and it's weird to see him in uniform without his mask. Like he's a civilian playing dress-up, or a kid on Halloween. It's uncomfortably surreal.]

It's fine, we can operate on a barter system. Just have my back some other time. [Flippantly-delivered lines always make uncomfortable situations more comfortable. He glances at the door and lowers his voice.] Sorry for...y'know. [She knows now. She might be pissed about it, or worse; she might be just plain hurt.]

[performance]

Mmm.

[ Robin slumps, lowering his face into his hands. ]

That's not how she deserved to find out, that's all. [ He's not mad at Wally, even if it could have been handled more gracefully. (How, he doesn't know, but that's not the point.) It's just — she was never mad at him, even when Wally had been, and... now that's probably over, too. ]

[runningstart]

[Wally looks at Robin; he makes a pretty sad sight, still kind of waterlogged with his mask off, cape hanging limply from a nearby IV stand and leg casted and propped up in a chair while it sets.]

She'll be okay.

[It's too close to what he said in the alley, even if his tone's completely different. He hurries to amend it.]

She knows it's not personal. You just- [It's not about you, Wally.

And now he gets it. Finally, he gets it.] -uh, just talk to her, I mean. She'll be okay with it. She's...good at forgiving people.

[performance]

[ Robin gives Wally a long, long look. He's torn between being glad that they made up or talked or don't hate each other anymore, at least, whatever Wally's trying hard not to say, and just... flatly, tiredly jealous again that now he's the one who's out of the loop.

... He should be grateful. He'll try to be, when he's feeling less pathetic. ]

You can go get the doctor.

[ He slides his mask back on. ]

[runningstart]

[There's that weird tone in Robin's voice again, the one he's not used to hearing and it makes Wally scowl. He remembers their conversation they had in the rain and hey, now's as good a time as any to conclude it.]

Okay, what is going on with you? Is this really just about you feeling guilty?

[performance]

... I don't know what you're talking about.

[runningstart]

Oh no you don't, I'm the king of not knowing what someone else is talking about. [Wally drags over the doctor's stool and puts it right in front of Robin, folding his arms and staring. It might be unfair of him, but Robin has a broken leg and can't escape this room without going through Wally, and with Artemis outside nobody is going to be coming in until they go get her.

Rob's gonna explain himself or he's going to live the rest of his life in this hospital room.]

[performance]

[ You certainly are, Wally.

Robin stares back at him, affronted and disbelieving, his pulse slowly elevating as he realizes he's well and truly stuck. ]

You're— you're really doing this here? Now?

[runningstart]

If your leg hurts, I can get you more painkillers. They're right over there. [Wally stares right back at him, knowing full well that Robin's leg can't possibly hurt too bad.]

[performance]

My leg's fine. Look, it's nothing, okay? It's just— this stupid thing I'm going through, and I have to deal with it myself, because—

[ He lets out a shaky exhale, his fingers flexing and unflexing with nothing else to fidget with. ]

... because it isn't fair to anyone else. So I can handle this.