Chapter Text
A month into Dick being home, and getting settled, they started bringing up the idea of Dick seeing all his friends again. Dick should be more excited to meet them, to remember them, and he is excited, but he doesn't really remember them. It feels more like being in class that you only sorta studied for and you know the answer is somewhere in there, but you can't really remember it. That's how he constantly feels when his friends are mentioned. He's sure he loves them very much, he just can't remember.
They had agreed upon Dick meeting two people at a time. Just so that Dick wouldn't get overwhelmed or anything. The first who demanded to see him was Roy Harper, or rather, Will Harper. Along with Kaldur. The names sound familiar, and if he tries hard enough he can even see glimpses of their faces, but that gives him a headache, so he tries not to. Anyway, he does see them again.
"You scared the absolute shit out of us." Is the first thing Will says.
"Indeed, you gave us quite the fright. We are relieved to see you alive and well." Kaldur smiles.
"I'm glad to see you guys too." It's not a lie. A few memories do resurface. Exposure definitely helping in returning his lost memories. And he is happy to see them.
"Does that mean you actually remember us?" Will raises a brow.
"A little." Dick admits. "It's mostly fuzzy, but I remember being friends."
"I have faith your memories will return in time, my friend." Kaldur nods.
"I hope so. Exposure seems to help. It feels like I'm getting tons of new memories everyday." Dick says.
"Then we'll just have to keep pestering you until you remember us fully." Will promises. Then, a look of horror crossing Dick's face.
"No, Lian. I haven't seen her in two years. That's over half her life! She won't even remember me. Please tell me Jason isn't her favorite." Dick begs. Will bursts into laughter.
"Sorry, dude, but Jay is absolutely her favorite." Will shakes his head.
"Dammit! Why'd you have to join the Outlaws?" Dick mourns.
"She's still young and easily influenced. You have a shot." Will snorts.
"I'll just have to spoil her rotten." As if Jason hasn't already. "Oh, and you were thinking about proposing to- to-" Dick falters at the name. Who was it that Kaldur was dating?
"Wyynd." Kaldur offers with a grin.
"Right! I didn't miss the wedding did I?" Dick snaps his fingers.
"You did not. The wedding is set for this upcoming April." Kaldur reassures. It's currently September so there's plenty of time. "Although I'm sorry to tell you that you did miss M'gann and Connor's wedding a year ago."
They had trouble, Dick remembers, but he does remember them being engaged. Sorta. It's familiar at least. Thankfully their trip to Mars did not end up with Conner being caught in an explosion that caused him to disappear for a long time and believed dead because that would be poorly written and unnecessarily depressing. No one in their right mind would enjoy that. Right?
"Damn, being kidnapped and missing for two years really sets a person behind." Dick huffs. "Anything else I've really missed?"
"You're good on our end. I'm not sure anything too major went down with your family, but we wouldn't know the details. Not that it would be our place to say it anyway." At Will's words, Kaldur gives him an odd look. Interesting, but Dick won't pry for now. He's not sure he could handle much more anyway.
"Ok, so the first meeting of 'What is Dick?' has finally begun. Tim, if you would read off the list you have so far." Steph claps her hands.
Wally, Babs, Jason, Tim, Steph and Cass all decided to meet together. They know something is up with Dick, and that he's most likely not fully human. Wally sent a picture to Z of Dick's earrings and asked if it was la glamour charm like they suspected. She confirmed that it was one, specifically the one that went missing right before Dick came back into their lives.
"Talon-"
"You're not seriously still on that are you?" Jason interrupts. It's a more than likely a possibility, especially with the confirmation that the Court of Owls does exist. Well, did, since they're all dead now, but Jason can't resist the opportunity to mess with Tim. It's too easy.
"It's a likely theory!" Tim defends.
"It is, but we need all the options." Wally interferes. They need to focus.
"Fine." Tim scoffs then continues. "Talon, vampire, shapeshifter, alien, clone, other possible experimentations leading to body modification."
"We don't know enough to prove the Talon theory, but we have been subtly testing the other options." Babs says.
"He avoided the garlic when I asked Alfred to make a garlic based dinner. He made a portion specifically without garlic that Dick was quick to grab, so maybe Alfred found out." Tim wouldn't be surprised. It's rare that Alfred doesn't know something.
"He's always hated garlic." Babs and Wally say at the same time.
"Smart. He might've planned for this." Tim nods.
"I... don't think so." Wally gives Tim a concerned look.
"I've tried bringing him into the sun, he was not thrilled." Steph changes the subject.
"Maybe instead of burning him it just makes him uncomfortable? I mean, a lot of things get exaggerated." Jason suggests.
"Also, have you guys noticed the sunglasses? I tried them on once and they were dark. I could barely see a thing even when it was bright outside. He wears them every time it gets too bright." Tim adds.
"That and his adorable habit of lounging by the window when it's warm." Wally smiles. He loves his boyfriend and all his adorable habits.
"It makes sense his eyes would be sensitive to the light. Vampires hunt at night, so he would need exceptional night vision." Tim concludes.
"So the sun only hurts his sensitive eyes?" Jason asks.
"Probably. We really need to see him with the charm off." Wally scratches his head.
"You've spent the most time with him. Did you catch any glimpses?" Babs questions.
"I wish. He even showers with it on." Wally shakes his head.
"That's disgusting that you know that." Jason gags.
"What? It's not like we've done anything." Wally pouts.
"I don't want to hear about my brother's sex life." Tim groans.
"More like lack of one." Wally sighs.
"Not for lack of want on your part. We've all seen you ogling him once he's done with his workout." Steph teases.
"Can you blame me?" Wally blushes.
"I get it. We may have broken up and I still don't want to date him, but he is very good looking." Babs agrees.
"So what? You guys have a vampire kink?" Steph grins.
Babs rolls her eyes while Wally grows even more red at the prospect. Apparently Wally does have one. He seems to really like the idea. A lot.
"Anyway! Is there any other test we can run?" Tim desperately tries to change the subject.
"I gave Will a cross and that didn't affect Dick. Nor did the holy water we gave Kaldur." Jason shakes his head.
"Is there anything else that affects vampires?" Babs asks.
"A stake through the heart." Steph answers.
"That would kill anyone... a lot more effectively than a crowbar." Tim can't resist the jab just how Jason can't resist the urge to smack the back of Tim's head.
"Hey, only I can make those jokes." Jason glares. Of course, a fight begins.
"Stop, no one is killing anyone. Besides, we don't want to kill Dick. We want him alive." Wally says, suddenly worried.
"That too." Tim nods.
"We could still hit him with silver. Nowhere vital, just a good test." Everyone stares at Jason like he's an idiot.
"You're thinking of werewolves." Babs, bless her, doesn't talk to him like he's an idiot.
"Dumbass." Tim whispers. Of course, another fight ensues. This time, Wally doesn't interfere.
"I think we've covered all the vampire tests. What about shapeshifter?" Babs hops to the next possibility.
"I doubt it. Why would a shapeshifter pretend to be Dick, but also be completely different? Possible, but unlikely. Same with the clone theory. What's the point of making a clone then modifying it when you can just do it to the original? It's a waste of time and resources. The alien theory would also have to be shape shifter, but that runs into the same problem as shapeshifter. Of course it could just be someone with a glamour, but, again, shapeshifter issue. It's down to Talon or vampire." Tim reasons.
"We really don't know anything about Talons, so we can't have an actual debate over it. That being said, there are just as many things that align with what is known about vampires as there are that do not." Babs sighs.
"Do vampires have heart beats? Connor did verify that Dick has one. Eight beats per minute, but it's still beating." Steph tilts her head.
"Sounds like we can't tell the difference between facts and exaggerated rumors about vampires." Jason hums.
"So which one is it?" Wally asks.
"Cass, you're the best at reading people. What do you think?" Steph turns to Cass.
Cass thinks about it for a moment before saying, "Vampire."
That night, Wally stayed in the manor in Dick's room. When they're alone, Wally admits to what he knows.
"I know what you are." Wally begins. Dick freezes, so Wally carries on. "You're faster, stronger than you were. You're cold, and your heart doesn't beat normally. You avoid direct sunlight. You're a vampire."
Dick looks at him, pauses, blinks, then completely loses it. He's laughing so hard he's crying. He crumples to ground incapable doing anything but laughing. When he regains a semblance of control, he makes the mistake of looking at Wally. Seeing Wally's baffled face just sends him into another fit of laughter. It's a good thing he doesn't need to breathe, otherwise he would have died from lack of oxygen.
"I'm not- I'm not a vampire." Dick wheezes out.
"What? But you-" Wally is at a loss for words. Is he... disappointed that Dick isn't a vampire. Dick just laughs again.
"Oh my gosh! You wanted me to be a vampire! You're into it!" Dick pounds his fist against the floor, splintering it slightly. It's just too funny.
"I-I'm not! That- stop making fun of me!" Wally splutters, face bright red.
"That's so freaky. You think corpses are hot? Oh my gosh, maybe I should take off the glamour." Dick collapses onto the floor again. He loves his freaky boyfriend.
"Only if it's you!" Wally tries to defend.
"Oh my gosh. This is hilarious. You think your corpse of a boyfriend is hot." Dick trembles from keeping his laughter in.
"What?" Wally just looks even more confused.
"I'm a Talon, which is pretty close to a vampire. I still have a soul... I think." Dick wipes away his tears. He finds this far too funny to be self conscious, not even thinking twice about admitting it.
"So Tim was right. And you... look like a vampire?" Wally's blush has tampered down to a light coat on his cheeks. He's so into it.
"You're so weird. I love you." Dick shakes his head, still grinning. He slowly takes off his earrings, hands trembling from laughing so hard.
The sight in front of Wally is undoubtedly Dick. His naturally dark skin is paler with a grey hue to it. It's the eyes that really get Wally. They're a beautiful golden color and the longer Wally looks at it, the more he feels like he's looking into the eyes of a predator. The fact that they're trained on him... well, Wally really shouldn't be enjoying it as much as he is. Wally just plops down on the edge of Dick's bed, mesmerized by the sight.
"Oh my gosh, you do enjoy it. You're so red." Dick sits next to his boyfriend and pokes his cheek. "Didn't know corpses do it for you." That's the third time, he thinks, that Dick referred to himself as a corpse.
"You don't look like a corpse. Stop saying that. You look beautiful. Ethereal. You could probably snap my neck and I'd thank you for it." Ok, he probably shouldn't have admitted that part.
"I don't know who is more messed up here, you or me." Dick snorts.
"It's you. Of course I'm gonna love the way you look." Wally huffs. He really wants to kiss Dick. Is that allowed? It should be, as his boyfriend, but he doesn't know if it's legal to kiss such beauty. Is it allowed to even touch him?
"You're such a sap." Dick snickers.
"Can I kiss you?" Wally asks.
"Why wouldn't you be able to kiss me?" This might be the best day of Dick's life.
He definitely didn't think revealing the truth would go down like this. He expected Wally to break up with him when he learned that Dick was a monster. Even if, by some miracle, Wally still loved Dick, he didn't think the man would be attracted to him. Dick used to be incredibly handsome. A fact he was proud of. Something he would always make some sort of reference to, annoying his family with it. Then he got turned into this. He hated it. He hated the change. Just another reminder that he's not human and never will be, but Wally didn't react like that. It makes Dick think that maybe he isn't as terrible to look at as he thought. Then again, Wally is probably just a fluke. He's biased and clearly a freak on some level. Dick is grateful for it.
They've kissed multiple times since Dick has been back, but this one is different. Dick had been self conscious and afraid the previous times. Convinced that Wally wouldn't kiss him if he knew the truth. Now? He feels truly accepted. It feels real.
"I love you. I don't think I say it enough." Wally whispers once he pulls back slightly.
"You say it multiple times a day." Dick smiles, resting his forehead on Wally's.
"Still not enough." Wally hums.
"I love you too." Dick lets out a breathy laugh.
"So you've said." Wally closes his eyes, savoring the moment.
"Not nearly enough." Dick says. Wally wraps his arms around Dick and falls back so they're both lying on the bed facing each other.
"So, you're not a vampire, but you are similar to one. What is the situation?" Wally asks.
"Let's see, I think I'm technically dead. I really don't know how it works. I was definitely killed so that the process would work, but I was kinda revived by the electrum. I don't think vampires have heartbeats, but I do. Ok, it's slow, but it's still there. I don't have to eat or sleep. I actually can't sleep and I can only have certain foods. Not blood. I have no desire to drink any kind of blood. On that note, I don't really have blood. I have electrum in my veins, but that's not blood. Um, I heal faster than any speedster. I mean, I've been shot in the head before, had my limbs torn off, and I'm good to go in four hours tops. I also won't age. At all. It's not slowed like you, it just won't happen. Oh, and when I get cold my heart stops. It's more like I'm asleep than I'm dead. When I get warm again, I wake up. My regeneration is also inhibited when I'm asleep, so I could definitely die for good in that state. I could also die by a strong enough explosion, like blown to smithereens. Can't regenerate from that." He knows it's basically word vomit, but he doesn't know how much longer he can talk about this. It's easier with Wally, saying all of it, but he knows that if he loses his current courage, he won't come clean, and he wants to. He really wants to. It feels so good to just be honest with someone.
It's a good minute or so before Wally responds. "So when I'm all old and wrinkly you can be my hot trophy husband?"
"That's your take away on this?" Dick laughs. He knows he's said it a million times, but he loves Wally.
"Not my only one." Wally defends.
"Then what else?" Dick asks.
"Well I'm relieved that you're hard to kill. However, I'm very worried about the fact that your greatest weakness is a bit of a chill." Wally puts on a teasing smirk.
"Just don't take me to Alaska for a date." Dick rolls his eyes.
"Hold on, Tim said the members and talons were killed. How did you manage to survive?" Wally furrows his eyebrows, a mix of concern and confusion painted on his face.
"I wasn't going to kill myself." Dick says slowly. Guess that's how he admits to mass murder.
"Oh. Good. I was a bit worried that you... well, I was worried." Wally scratches his neck.
"I- were you worried that I was going to..." Dick can't say he never thought about it, but he also never planned to. He has things to live for. He wants to be around his family, around Wally. He wants his life back.
"A little. I know you've been through a lot and I'm not sure you're actually talking about it with anyone. I'm not sure you even have an outlet. I just... I love you, and I worry about you." Wally sighs before shifting so that he's pressed right against Dick, his head resting in the crook of Dick's neck. Wally's hands travel down Dick's arms until they're holding Dick's own. Dick brushes his thumb along Wally's knuckles.
"I'm not going anywhere. I definitely thought you'd be more upset over the whole mass murder thing." Dick shifts the subject. Weird how Dick's killing spree is the lighter subject.
"I'm concerned, but I bet you had your reasons. I don't know how good of a reason it was since you probably weren't in a good headspace, but you didn't do it just for fun. Plus, they were clearly evil and deserved it. Don't tell Batman I said that." Wally admits. What did Dick do to be blessed with Wally? Was he a saint in his past life? Whatever Dick did, he's very grateful for it.
"They found out Tim was investigating them. I overheard a member give another Talon orders to kill him. They knew Tim was Robin, too. I didn't have any memories of anyone other than the court at the time, but I knew I had to protect Tim. I couldn't let them kill him. I had no idea why, I don't even remember what I did next, but when I came to, I had neutralized all the Talons and was waiting for the members to leave the building. I killed everyone there and tracked down the remaining members and Talons and killed them too. I couldn't let anyone survive. If I did, Tim would be in danger." Dick runs his hand through Wally's hair. A month ago, he didn't even know he was missing out on this. Now? He can't stomach the thought of having all this taken away from him.
"See? You had a reason. And it was a good one." Wally mumbles into Dick's neck, drowsiness taking over. The Flashes, (apparently Wally now shares the name Flash with Barry) despite their bright personalities and kind natures, they're not as strict about not killing as Batman is. They won't kill unless absolutely necessary, but Dick knows they would kill and don't judge the heroes who do kill. They know that sometimes, you have to kill. That's something B could never understand. It's why Dick can't tell B what he did. Bruce had already waited so long to officially adopt him sometimes he wonders if Bruce actually wants him as a son. Dick knows that this piece of information would break whatever bond they had. Dick would be kicked out in an instant.
"Thank you for being so understanding. Now get some sleep Kid Sleepy." Dick chuckles and kisses Wally's forehead.
"Love you." Wally nuzzles his face into Dick's neck.
"Love you too."