[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

[performance]

Okay. Okay.

[ He lifts his chin. NOT POUTING. This is a mature superhero discussion for mature superheroes.

Robin shoots Wally a tight but genuine smile. ]

Anyway. I get it. I'll keep doing the upstanding all-American hero thing and get intel for us. You just do what you gotta do. Follow your heart. Various other cliches.

[runningstart]

It's just important to me, dude. [Wally rests his chin in his hand, eating with a little less gusto.] I kinda wish you'd unregister with me, but that'd probably be a stupid move. [It also wouldn't be a Robin move, and it definitely wouldn't be a Batman move. Nope, this is 100% pure Kid Flash stupid.]

[performance]

I wish I could, KF.

[ And he means that. There's a reason he'd waited to register until it became clear that he was missing out on information if he didn't.

Robin bumps Wally's ankle again. ]

Just think of it as deep cover.

[runningstart]

[There's the glaring difference between them, huh? Robin waits to see if it's safe to register, then sticks with it. Wally registers on a whim because something plucks his heartstrings, then changes his mind because he doesn't like the way it stinks. Yeah, it's a damn good thing KF isn't the leader here.]

Be careful, okay? They could force you into something really shady. [Wally rolls up a pancake and dips it into his syrup pool.] And that's why I'll always go with you.

[performance]

Hah! When have I ever done anything I don't want to do?

[ The concern's somewhere between touching and patronizing, but Robin realizes he doesn't really mind, just this once. ]

[runningstart]

You seriously want an answer to that? 'Cause you do stuff you don't wanna do all the time. [Like whenever Bruce/Batman tells him to do stuff.

...now that he thinks about it,] So how did this go, anyway? [He nudges against Robin's no-longer-broken leg.]

[performance]

... You're being a real buzzkill right now.

[ Robin jabs a forkful of pancake in Wally's direction. ]

[runningstart]

I can pose the question in a more entertaining way. [Wally leans forward and bites the pancake off of Robin's fork. Yum.]

[performance]

[ Robin blinks, startled, and his insides do that quivery thing that he's really starting to get sick of. He'd think Wally was doing this on purpose, he really would, except for the fact that he's Wally. ]

[performance]

[ This is stupid.

This is really, really stupid.

So of course, he stabs another forkful of pancake and steers it across the table. ]

Vrrrrrrrrooom. Ktccchhh. This is your captain speaking. We're coming in for a landing. Over.

[runningstart]

Hey if you keep shoving things into my face, I'm going to keep eating them. And I'm not sharing any of mine with you, dude. [Wally grabs Robin's fork to steal his pancake bite before handing it back and licking up the syrup that dripped onto his glove.] Nice dodge, by the way. Your leg? Healed? Who, what, when, where and why.

[performance]

[ Wally's tongue is distracting and everything is the worst. Robin rubs at his eyes and slouches back in his seat, sighing long sufferingly. ]

Alfred, his new superpowers, a couple days after Colorado, our house, and... because having a broken leg really, really sucks?

[runningstart]

So you didn't have to tell Bats? That's good. [Unless Alfred told Bruce, in which case it's bad. Wally orders three more stacks of pancakes and two sides of bacon.]

[performance]

Not yet, anyway. If it comes up, I'll say something, but...

[ Robin shrugs and orders another orange juice. They're going to have to leave one hell of a tip. ]

[runningstart]

[Wally motions for another orange juice also.] Hey, I'm with you. What Batman doesn't know won't hurt him. Or you. Or anyone else involved.

[performance]

You know, it's weird, but once I got over the whole alternate universe thing, it was actually kind of freeing. Like if he approves of what I do, then great, but I don't need it the way I thought I did. I mean, I still want him to think the best of me, obviously, it's not like it doesn't matter, but... I don't know. I guess it's like... being pushed out of the nest. Finding independence I didn't know I was missing, or something.

[ That's... a lot of honesty. He needs that orange juice. ]

[runningstart]

[Wally nods, listening without staring, because this is how Robin does stuff and honestly it's all good to hear. Wally swallows his mouthful so he can say something meaningful and accepting.]

Was that bird metaphor on purpose? Or was that accidental? I really need to know.

[performance]

Honestly, it was sorta accidental but then I just figured: go with it!

[ JAZZHANDS. ]

[runningstart]

[Wally puts down his utensils to give Robin a polite golf clap. Well done sir.]

[performance]

These things just happen when you're a wordsmith. Me and Shakespeare, dude. We're like this.

[ He crosses his fingers. ]

[runningstart]

I think you mean a word butcher. You're more like a word butcher.

[performance]

True geniuses are never appreciated during their lifetime. But centuries from now, I'll be remembered for my contributions to the English language, and I'll totally be saying I told you so in heaven or Valhalla or wherever you go when you become one with the Force, and you'll be like, "as an atheist, this afterlife bothers me," and I'll have to punch you.

Also, the correct response was "more like a nerdsmith." I'm disappointed in you.

[runningstart]

[Wally's just been eating, grin growing more and more incredulous and crooked as Robin keeps going, waving his arms and talking more animatedly than Wally's seen for...wow. Since he showed up, actually.]

Is this, [he gestures at Robin with his fork in a vague circular motion meant to encompass all of him,] sugar rush from the syrup or battle rush from the fight?

[performance]

[ Robin continues, unruffled, spinning his fork airily. ]

Neither. Both? I don't know. Do you want me to analyze my good mood?

[runningstart]

Negatory, Captain, [Wally says as he steals one of Robin's sausage links.]