[closed] a welcome reprieve from emotional agony

[performance]

WHO: DICK GRAYSON (codename birdbrain) and WALLY WEST (codename kidiot)
WHERE: Maurtia Falls, PA
WHEN: July 31st, NIGHTTIME
WHAT: Crimefighting and shenanigans.
WARNINGS: Nerds.

[ July had been a mess, but at least it's almost over. To celebrate that fact (and his newly-healed leg, and his friends' safe return home, and hopefully the end of everything awful for at least a little while) Robin had invited-slash-dragged Kid Flash out on patrol, just the two of them, somewhere far away from Heropa.

Huge, dark clouds hang heavy in the sky. There's no storm yet, but the air feels like lightning. Or maybe it's just the two of them— ]

Check it out!

[ Robin whoops as he leaps the gap between buildings, executing a neat (if completely pointless) midair somersault. ]

Comments

[runningstart]

[Wally grins. I impressed him. Like it's as easy as that- of course, it probably is as easy as that for Robin, and that solid stone of dread that had been sinking into his stomach vanishes. He'd been worried about suggesting a move considering the fact that all his friends would have to find new jobs, just because he hates Florida.]

Dude.

That's so cool. Dude, we're gonna be working at the same place! I mean, probably on separate floors but still!

[performance]

[ It's nice seeing Wally this happy after Colorado. Plus, his enthusiasm always has a way of sweeping Robin right up in its wake. ]

Yeah, but we can totally commute together! Man, that sounds so mature. Oh man, and we can hang out at lunch, and I can come bug you when I'm on breaks... he said I get a workstation. A workstation!

[runningstart]

A workstation? What, like your own desk you can put stuff on and a desktop with a background you can personalize? Duuuude. [The waitress brings them their drinks and silverware, and Wally starts tearing up the paper napkin ring.] We can stand around the water cooler and talk about what was on Dateline last night, and how the economy is all messed up.

[performance]

[ Robin almost chokes on his orange juice, laughing. ]

Snk— haha! I'm gonna get one of those motivational cat posters. And by one I mean five.

[runningstart]

That's disgusting, [Wally says with obvious joy.

They trade off stereotypical office tropes -"I'm gonna get a mini putting green." "I'm gonna get one of those momentum pendulum ball things!"- until their food comes, and then a lot of Wally's attention is occupied with seeing how many pancakes he can stuff into his mouth at once.]

So- like, yeah. We should all move. SB and Artemis too.

[performance]

[ That gives him pause. He stabs a bite of pancake, a faint, thoughtful frown on his face. He doesn't mind, exactly, but maybe Wally's forgetting... ]

... So I'd be Robin at home.

[runningstart]

[YUP. He forgot.] Oh. Right. [He even pauses eating for a moment.] Yeah, I guess that's...not an option.

[It's just so weird; Wally's used to Robin just being...him that he forgets that sometimes Dick has to pretend to be two different people.]

[performance]

Well, I mean...

[ Having Superboy and Artemis closer would be nice. And it's not like he can't do it. But it'll be hard. It'll be really hard if he's holding down a job. A job he's sharing with Wally, who'd be living with him, but he'll have to pretend they're going, coincidentally, to two separate places at the same time. Ugh, just the logistics... ]

... Look, it's not out of the question. If it's important to you, I'll make it work. Glue my sunglasses to my face or something.

[runningstart]

Dude, what? No. I mean- yeah, it'd be cool for us to all live together, but if it's not gonna work out then it's not gonna work out. [Wally stabs a chunk of pancakes and shoves it into his mouth.] Who got th' job wi' Stark? [Robin or Dick?]

[performance]

The other guy.

[ Robin leans back in the booth, feet swinging back and forth slowly. ]

[runningstart]

Really? [It shouldn't be as surprising to Wally as it is. Maybe because he doesn't often get to hang out with Robin when he's playing Dick.] Yeah. I guess- yeah, that's gonna be hard to hide.

[Wally shrugs.] Don't worry about it then dude. It's no big, really.

[performance]

[ But Wally looks so sad. It's like Robin just cancelled Christmas and his birthday and Thanksgiving all at once. It's not fair, and it's actually kind of annoying, but that doesn't make the awful squirming in Robin's stomach go away. Why does he have to like this dork so much? ]

I said I'd make it work, didn't I? If— if you wanna live with them and they wanna live with you or us or whatever, then— I'll figure something out.

[ He bumps his foot into Wally's shin, a little harder this time. Ugh. Be happy. ]

[runningstart]

Look, you don't have to adjust for me or- for crying out loud, I can run around the world in a day. I don't need us all to live together. [Wally kicks Robin under the table a little, scowling at him.]

[performance]

Dude, I'm trying to be nice here, don't— gah!

[ Robin kicks right back. MATURE. ]

[runningstart]

Hey- stop it! [Wally slouches down in the booth to kick at Robin beneath the table.]

[performance]

You stop it first!

[ DOUBLE LEG KICKING ]

[runningstart]

[Wally squawks and grabs Robin's ankle, yanking him down beneath the table. The waitress hovers nearby, torn between breaking them up and just steering clear of what is very clearly two powered imPort teenagers squabbling in her booth.

Finally the owner seems to take enough offense to stick his head out of the kitchen and yell at the both of them to knock it off or get kicked out, so Wally straightens up, scowling in Robin's direction.]

I don't need you to baby me, jerk. If we can't do it then we can't do it. I'm fine with it.

[performance]

[ Robin sniffs, all affronted on behalf of his dignity as he crawls back up onto the seat. He sits up straight and adjusts his hair, the tips of his ears going faintly pink as he tries to pretend that didn't just happen. (It was cool until they got yelled at by a stranger.) ]

... Fine. So do you wanna try and get an apartment or what?

[ Like it's no big deal or anything, obviously. He wonders if he knows anyone who would sign a lease for them. ]

[runningstart]

What, and pay for it? Why not just stick with the military housing? I think there's one near where Starktech is. [Pause.] Unless. [He glances around before leaning forward and whispering.] Unless you wanna Unregister.

[performance]

[ His eyes go wide, and he looks off toward the rest of the almost-empty restaurant before turning back to Wally, and just as quietly: ]

Dude, no. I just figured you didn't like the whole roommate thing, so—

[ wait. ]

Do you?

[runningstart]

[Wally dumps syrup onto his second plate of pancakes, tapping his fork against his napkin, agitated. He keeps his voice low.]

There's a reason we don't get involved in political issues back home, right? And I don't trust these people. I don't like working for them even in name, dude. It...feels wrong. For me.

[performance]

[ Robin's quiet for a moment, tracing aimless patterns in the syrup with the tine of his fork. ]

... I won't stop you.

[ No judgment. He gets it. ]

[runningstart]

I'd still follow you guys on missions. [Wally grins crookedly.] Not getting rid of me that easy. I'll just have to dodge officers so I don't get busted. But...I can't do it, dude. I don't do the spy thing anyway, I'd just be in your way.

[performance]

[ Now it's Robin's turn to look dejected. ]

You're never in the way, dude. I know I complain a lot, but you're not.

[runningstart]

Dude, I know, I'm not saying I am, I just- Ugh. [Wally stabs at a pancake.] I'll still go with you on missions. And we'll still be living together. I'll just have a different word on my wrist, that's all.