[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

[performance]

[ Dick hesitates, but not for long. Just sighs, too tired to protest. He's told more uncomfortable truths tonight, anyway. ]

Don't laugh, okay? But I slipped.

[runningstart]

[Wally drops the knife. Thankfully it doesn't go far since he was spreading peanut butter, but still.] You slipped?

[He'd been expecting something like...geez, he didn't even know. "Tony Zucco is here" or "this Batman is crazy and pushed me off a building" but...slipped? Slipped?

Geez. ...he must really be out of it.]

[performance]

I know, okay? I know.

[ He sighs again, burying his face in his arms. ]

It's been a really rough few weeks. I guess... this was probably my wakeup call.

[runningstart]

You telling me. [Slipped. Robin!

Wally finishes the sandwich and drops it on a plate, slides it across the counter to Robin.]

Dude, if part of why you're freaking out is because I'm fighting with Artemis, don't...don't worry about it. We kind of... [He shrugs a shoulder. He doesn't like the idea of anyone getting involved in that but Robin is acting leader, so he should probably listen to the guy.] We're working on it. I'm- I'll talk to her. I promise. I'll work things out.

And- seriously, don't lose your head over Ba- Bruce. He didn't forget you, man, he's just not yours. [wally realizes that still sounds pretty shitty] Which isn't good, yeah, but it's not like yours doesn't exist. So if he approves of you, disapproves, whatever, it doesn't matter. It's his problem. You're you, and you're good enough for Batman and everyone else, while we're on the topic. [Wally offers Robin a weary smile.] So screw his opinions. Even if they're good. They don't matter.

[performance]

[ Dick hears the slide of the plate and looks up, blue eyes blinking at the sandwich before he realizes: that's for him. He takes the plate, fidgeting with the sandwich as he listens to Wally's advice. It's not until he hears you're good enough that he finally takes a bite, swallowing around a sudden lump threatening in his throat. ]

Yeah. Yeah, okay.

[ He still doesn't know what to say about Bruce, but at least he actually feels like he has a team again. Maybe tonight really was what he needed. For the first time in weeks, he's actually... kind of relaxed. Which is bizarre. ]

... sorry I've been a pain these last few weeks. It's just... a lot. Guess I kinda started cracking under the pressure.

I shouldn't have lectured you.

[runningstart]

[Wally shrugs uneasily. He can't say it's fine or okay, because he really didn't like it but it's not like it's a dealbreaker for him. If it was, he'd have run off on Barry long ago.]

Dude, if you don't want to be leader, I could give it a shot. [No way in a frosty hell would that ever work, and they both know it. Wally starts putting together a second sandwich for himself.]

[performance]

[ Dick just laughs tiredly, because yeah, no chance. ]

I just... I gotta figure out how to balance it, you know? I mean... being a leader and being me.

[ He shrugs, licking some stray jelly off his thumb. ]

... I like being your friend a lot more than I like being your boss.

[runningstart]

You and me both, dude. But I dunno if that's possible. [Wally glances up at Robin. That near-constant thrum of he likes me, he likes me is finally starting to quiet, because it's so normal for them and maybe Robin wasn't completely serious when he said it. Maybe he was just...y'know, saying he could date Wally. If they wanted to. Maybe that's what he meant.]

I mean, Kaldur's our friend but he's still...y'know, Kaldur. He's kind of still our boss. I wouldn't be with him like I am with you.

[performance]

Yeah. That's kind of what I'm afraid of.

[ Dick looks back down at his sandwich, still mostly uneaten on his plate. ]

I mean... I know we all have to make sacrifices. But I... I don't want to lose this. Us. You know?

[ That's... too many emotions. Too much sincerity. He clears his throat. ]

... so, that sucks.

[runningstart]

[Yeah. They can still be best friends. Everything's gonna be fine.]

Hey, I did say the circus was still an option. So if nothing else, we'd better think of a name for our act.

[performance]

Hah!

[ Some of the tension melts away, and he grins. Goofing around — that's normal. ]

So it's gonna be a duo act, huh?

[runningstart]

We could bring everybody else, I guess. Although if I have to be like, Derek Danger or something I'll probably cry.

[performance]

No, you and I, we deserve something special. With less alliteration. That was genuinely terrible.

[runningstart]

I like how you say that like you weren't the one who came up with it. [Four layers is probably enough for now. Anything more and he won't be able to fit it into his mouth.]

[performance]

Some of my best ideas are terrible, dude. You should know that better than anyone.

[ A few weeks ago, he could barely talk about this. Now, even with everything that's happened tonight — or maybe because of it — he can actually kind of joke about it. ]

[runningstart]

No, your best ideas are usually just crazy. [But he's grinning, and he's happy and Wally's just glad to see that spark hasn't gone out of him.]

[performance]

Dude, was that a compliment?

[runningstart]

Only when everything works out and I don't end up looking stupid. [Ah yes this sandwich is acceptable. Time to devour this also.]

[performance]

Everything never works out.

[ But he's being nice, because he doesn't say a word about Wally looking stupid. ]

this is what you have a crush on robin

[runningstart]

I'm fine with 85% of everything working out. Otherwise it's just crazy, not good-crazy. [He wolfs the sandwich down in four disgusting bites. Wow. Immediately starts fixing another.]

DREAMY SIGH

[performance]

[ Ugh. Gross. GROSS. It's weird that he missed that, right? It's totally weird. Is that lurch in his stomach from nausea or feelings? ]

I'll strive for good-crazy. And making you look awesome, instead of stupid.

[runningstart]

[yeah it's p. weird u missed that also it's probably nausea]

Thanks. As my exclusive publicist and president of my alternate-Earth fanclub, that should be at the forefront of your mind at all times.

[performance]

[ Robin's pretty weird in general, so anything's possible. ]

Should I start following you around with confetti and pom-poms?

[runningstart]

No no, keep it subtle. You can start by building me a fansite.

[performance]

Careful. You might regret saying that.