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Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of golden eyes, golden hearts
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Published:
2023-03-29
Words:
1,262
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1/1
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25
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learning lines in the rain

Summary:

“I’m afraid of dying.” Robin said quietly.

“Oh,” Wally said softly. “Yeah, I get that.”

Or: Wally notices a lot about his best friend, and he'll always be there for him.

Notes:

Just a cute little one shot focusing on Wally and Dick :)) next part of the series will be when they start Young Justice!

I didn't know what to name this, so title is from "She's in Parties" by Bauhaus <3

Enjoy!!

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Robin tended to appear and disappear at the drop of a hat; even faster than Wally could, and he was the speedster in their group. It was startling at first, how one second you’d be talking to Robin and the next, you’d be conversing with air. One blink was all it took to lose sight of the Boy Wonder. But over time it became expected if a bit irritating at times.

Robin was easily Wally’s best friend. He was easy to talk to, was fun to be around, and he understood Wally in a way other people simply didn’t. He was quiet at times, speaking with fingerspelling or sign language (which Wally started to learn the moment he saw Robin first sign when they were hanging out), but he always made sure to be heard, and Wally always made sure to listen.

They had secrets. Of course, they did, being heroes and all. Wally knew that Robin’s identity wasn’t his only secret – though it was the only one Wally cared about, even if he’d never admit it – and Wally could tell that something ate at his friend every time they were together. Be it with Roy or Aqualad – any time they were out in the field, Robin seemed wary of something.

Sometimes it was the shadows, sometimes it was his Robin suit or the heroes around them.

(Wally noticed, several weeks ago, that Robin always seemed wary of himself.)

He was tempted to ask someone about it – more like ask Roy if Robin was okay because Roy seemed to know more than Wally did – but he didn’t like the thought of asking someone other than Robin about it. So when they met up again after a week of not seeing each other, Wally decided to ask.

He paused the game he and Robin were playing, fiddling with his controller before turning to the younger boy. Robin tilted his head curiously, frowning slightly.

“Uh, Rob,” Wally started, hesitated for a moment, and then cleared his throat. Robin made a slight clicking noise, the pitch speaking of confusion and concern. “I wanted to ask if you’re doing okay?”

Robin stared at him for a moment. “Why?” he asked, confused.

“I mean, the last team up we did, you seemed kinda…I don’t know, worried?” Wally fidgeted, unable to stop the way his fingertips vibrated against the controller. “I’ve noticed you like that a lot, so I just. You know. Worried.”

Robin looked away and Wally bit the inside of his cheek. Maybe he really should have just left it alone, Robin clearly wasn’t comfortable with the topic.

“I’m afraid of dying.” Robin said quietly as he placed the controller down.

“Oh,” Wally said softly. “Yeah, I get that.”

They’re all scared of dying, deep down. Wally knows that, but they’ve all accepted it despite the fear. Because they’re heroes, they’ll put their life on the line if it means they save people.

“No,” Robin made a frustrated noise, “No, it’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like?” Wally asked as gently as he could.

Robin opened and closed his mouth, pressing his lips together. He picked at his jeans, and then sighed softly. “I can’t die.” He said. His voice was quiet, barely a whisper. “Every time I die, I come back. I’m scared of coming back.”

Wally inhaled sharply. A part of him always assumed Robin was a meta; he knows all the rumors of Batman and Robin being metahumans or even aliens. But the ability to not die? The fact that Robin has died?

“I’m going to give you a hug.” Wally declared. He waited until Robin slumped over to him before wrapping his friend in a hug. “I can’t promise anything,” He knows promises aren’t meant to be made, not in their line of work, “But I’ll do anything to make sure you live, Robin.”

Robin shuddered, his fingertips digging into Wally’s shirt. “Okay,” Robin whispered brokenly, and Wally held onto him tighter.

 

 

The first time it happened, it’s when the sidekicks were placed on a mission together. Their mentors were taking down an operation, and were giving them the responsibility of taking down a smaller portion of it. This is them trusting them, Wally knew, and it would make or break their upcoming admission into the Justice League.

If they did this right, they’d be in within a few months. If they didn’t, they’d have to wait longer.

And the mission had been going fine. They didn’t exactly work great together, despite being friends. Robin disappeared at the blink of an eye, Speedy didn’t exactly enjoy following the lead, Aqualad tried to hold them together, but he too was used to working with someone who knew all his attacks. Wally was a bit all over the place, trying to follow Robin, Speedy, and Aqualad all at once.

The mission ends with Robin shot through the shoulder, taking a hit meant for Wally, and a broken nose. His blood bleeds black. Robin just wipes at the blood on his face, ushers them from the base, and it explodes behind them.

Their admission is set back a month, Batman informs them the next day. Green Arrow assures them it has nothing to do with the mission gone wrong – you did all you could, he says, there were unforeseen complications – but they all know it’s a lie.

Wally couldn’t care less. All he could think about was the way Robin launched himself at him, knocked him down and took a hit meant for him. He can’t get the way Robin hadn’t even reacted to the pain of getting his nose smashed in at their rough landing, or the way he didn’t even wince when he dug a bullet from his shoulder.

Robin couldn’t die. His wounds healed within seconds; by the time they met with Speedy and Aqualad, there hadn’t even been a scratch on Robin.

Wally understands what Robin was so afraid of, now.

“I told you I’m fine.” Robin said, exasperated.

“I know.” Wally replied weakly.

Robin looks at the screen. There’s sweat running down his face, and he used a towel wrapped around his shoulder to chase after it. Wally called him mid workout, and he’s been watching Robin flip around for the past twenty minutes. He still doesn’t know how Robin keeps those sunglasses perched on his nose as he soars through the air.

Robin frowned at him. “Wally, seriously.” He said. “Don’t worry. I’ve had worse.”

He’s had worse, Wally’s mind taunted, worse that ended up killing him.

“I’ll be better, next time.” Wally said.

Robin softened. “I know.”

 

 

The first time Wally ever sees Robin without his glasses is when they’re at Roy’s place. Wally had arrived before Robin had, and had been kicking Roy’s ass in Mario, when Robin slinked into the room with his usual cackle and shining gold eyes. Wally was transfixed.

“Ha!” Roy yelled, triumphant, as he won.

“Huh – hey!” Wally yelled, “No fair!”

“You snooze, you lose,” Roy taunted, “Sup Robbie!”

Robin’s eyes crinkled with his smile, but Wally couldn’t help but notice how he seemed nervous. “Dick,” he said, eyes shooting to meet Wally’s. He looked bashful. “My name is Dick.”

“Your eyes are really pretty,” Wally blurted out, and promptly buried his face in his hands.

Roy honest to God giggled, throwing an arm over Wally’s shoulder. Robin – Dick let out a pleased little chirp. When Wally peeked out from behind his fingers, Dick gave him a grin and signed Thank you. His eyes sparkled. Wally was so done for.

 

Notes:

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https://discord.gg/547pDVEzCp

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