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Nightwing gazed down at familiar green eyes in confusion. Wally sat on the ground in front of the Titans with his signature bright, unassuming smile. His hands bound behind him and the inverse colors of his usual suit - mostly a deep silver with bright red accents - were the only indicators that this wasn’t just Wally sitting on the floor being “a funny little guy” as Dick would call him sometimes.
“So what do you want to do with this imposter?” Donna asked as she tightened the lasso around Wally’s midsection. He grunted but kept his lips zipped tight. The eerie smile didn’t leave his face and neither did his gaze from Nightwing.
Domino masked eyes narrowed down at the speedster as he rolled out his shoulder. The previous fight with this Wally was oddly annoying. It was all the moves Nightwing was used to when the two heroes regularly sparred, but with a hint of brutality that he nor the other Titan members were prepared for. Well, perhaps when Mirror Master and Abra Kadabra pushed Wally through a magic-fied pane of glass and out popped this Wally, they should’ve been all tipped off on what had happened.
And no, it wasn’t just a funny costume change, Gar.
The other Titans were brainstorming, but Dick couldn’t bring himself to contribute to the conversation. His attention was solely on Wally. This fake Wally that is. A devious smile was on his lips and his eyes flicked from face to face in amusement but they would always land back on Dick curiously and with a mischievous glint. He looked annoyingly at ease - like he wasn’t tied up and about to be detained. Probably because he wasn’t really. Dick knew his Wally could faze through almost any solid object - Donna’s magical lasso being no exception.
So that begged the question: why was he pretending to be trapped? Why continue to just sit on the ground like some petulant child?
Dick just had to keep an eye on him because he was dangerous. Yeah, that was it. Just because he was dangerous. There was no other reason whatsoever. Especially not because it was intriguing seeing his boyfriend in such an outfit that did wonders for his striking hair and made his eyes pop. It wasn’t because that smirk was alluring and that face was so damn kissable and Dick just wanted to run his fingers through that windswept hair.
Nope. He wasn’t thinking any of that at all. He was just cautiously staring at this imposter Wally and his beautiful hair, face, lips, body, and smile…
Yup.
In the midst of Dick’s mental battle, emerald eyes shifted back to his after the umpteenth time of examining the others. The speedster’s smirk grew and Dick noticed this version of Wally had slightly sharper canines. Why was that so cute?
With an impish sneer, Wally sent Dick a wink.
Dick snorted. He playfully stuck out his tongue and his eyes crinkled in a small smile.
Dick gasped. He slammed a hand over his mouth and looked away. But the action and noise caught the attention of everyone - the Titans and the faker Wally.
“What is it?” Garth asked.
Almost comically, Dick cleared his throat and flailed his arms a bit - totally and completely nonchalant - and squeaked, “N-nothing!”
His teammates gave him an odd look but went back to their conversation. “As I was saying,” Roy continued, “those two-bit rouges escaped, so some of us should go after ‘em-”
Gods, why did I do that?! he screamed to himself. He wasn’t thinking! He was definitely not thinking! It was just so natural! Dick and Wally flirted all the time. It was a habit - a bad habit they couldn’t shake no matter how much the Titans groaned and scolded them. Maybe this is what they were talking about. Maybe all those lectures were to warn him of this exact moment. The moment where he was accidentally playful with a villain version of his boyfriend. Was this karma? This felt like karma.
Wally gave a low whistle followed by a concerningly manic chuckle from his spot on the ground. Some attention flitted towards him but those green eyes were locked onto blue ones. “Didn’t know this version of Nightwing didn’t have a sick up his ass. I can already tell you’re gonna be fun.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dick said with narrowed eyes. He tried to keep his tone serious but it felt wrong. It felt off to be so formal and hostile with someone you’ve mutually swapped spit with - multiple times (that day).
“My Nightwing - love of my life don’t get me wrong - is a bit of a sticker. A work-a-holic if you will. I try to get him to relax sometimes but he never takes the bait. I’m a pretty charming guy, you’d think I’d be able to crack that nut. But no dice. Never any dice. But you! This Nightwing has a sense of humor and I already fucking love that. You already look so alike - hm, maybe your ass is a bit bigger. Say, how about you - mmph!”
“Alright, that is enough out of you,” Raven monotony said. Her dark power active and strapped around Wally’s mouth like a muzzle.
“Nightwing are you alright?” Gar asked as he looked at Dick’s blushing red face.
He took a controlled breath and said firmly, “I’m fine.”
He was, in fact, not fine.
That was a lot of information to take in all at once. He was used to Wally’s usual word vomit, but that was just too much. The idea that this villain Wally and an alternate version of himself were also a couple was surprising. Dick was surprised they got that information out of him so easily - no prying needed.
But it unlocked so many unanswered questions in his mind. Were he and Wally both villains? Was it just Wally? What did his alternate version of himself think of Wally’s alignment? Was his Wally in the faker’s dimension, world, or whatever you want to call it?! Was Wally captured just like this one?! There were so many questions floating around his mind, yet the one that stood out was: did this Wally prefer him over his double? Why? Just because he flirted back once?! Why was this Wally’s standards so low?
His thought process was cut short with Donna getting everyone back on track, “Ooookay. Thank you, Raven. As I said, Roy, Gar, Nightwing, and Garth will apprehend the rogue, while Raven and I will detain Flash.”
Wally made an odd face behind the gag and mumbled something that no one could make out. Dick could take a stab in the dark as to what he was grumbling about, but that wasn’t what was on Dick’s mind.
Leave Wally? That should be fine, right? He shouldn’t be feeling his pulse quicken in panic. He shouldn’t be nervously glancing at the speedster. He trusted his teammates. He knew they would be able to handle him. But there was something pulling at his core. There was a desire, a warning, a something telling him to not leave this Wally’s side. He trusted his teammates, but perhaps it was he didn’t trust this Wally. Yeah, that had to be it. Dick just didn’t trust him. He had to keep an eye on this imposter. That was definitely it.
“I’ll take care of him, Donna,” he interjected.
She quirked a brow. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. This may be a weird version of him, but he’s still Wally. And I’m the best equipped at taking down speedsters on this team.”
“Mmmh-hmmm?” Wally hummed as he suggestively raised his own brow.
Dick didn’t even have to look down to give him a kick. It wasn’t hard - more playful than anything - but the speedster’s chuckles were silenced with a small grunt. Unconvinced, (because she could easily apprehend Wally with her hand tied behind her back too) Donna gave Dick a wary look.
“I’ll be fine. Really,” Dick insisted as he held out his hand. He gave her a small smile that he knew she was weak for but it was hardly needed as she reluctantly handed Dick her lasso.
“Anything goes wrong and you’ll comm us, right?”
“Of course.”
With one last unsure hum, she turned and joined the other Titans as they strategized on where to search for Abra Kadabra and Mirror Master. Dick knew they could handle it - just like he knew he could handle this Wally all by himself.
“Hey, Raven,” Dick whispered. The girl was looking pointedly at the other group but her attention was snapped back towards him. “You should go with them.”
“What?” she said, barely a tone shift in her voice but he recognized the surprise. “But what about him?”
Dick rolled his eyes as she made a disgusted wave towards the sitting speedster. “Don’t worry. I can handle him. Besides, I know you want some payback for what Abra Kadabra did to you last time. Trust me, I get it.”
He gave her a sincere smile and a curt nod towards the other Titans. He projected nothing but confidence and trust as he gazed down at her. She needed to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that he had this. And he did! He could do this! He was just restraining Wally. They didn’t need two people to do that. Dick could do that all on his own. He knew. Totally! He just had to project that to Raven as well.
She eyed him with emotionless, calculating eyes, but in the end, her hand extended from her cloak and the muzzle vanished. Wally groaned and stretched out his jaw as Raven muttered, “If you say so.”
She then flew over to the rest of their teammates as they departed - plan in tow.
They had this. They would be fine.
He had this. He would be fine.
Right?
“So, Beautiful, we heading back to your place?” the imposter Wally said as he suggestively did a few awkward body rolls from his seated position.
“Yeah, babe! It’s just going to be just you, me, and a cell-holding block! It’ll be soooo romantic!” Dick teased with a forced smile. But the facade dropped quickly as he yanked the faker to his feet. Expression deadpan, he pushed Wally toward Titan’s Tower.
The speedster chuckled but complied as he sauntered forward. He turned his head back and chuckled, “Ya know, it’d be a lot faster if I just ran us there, darlin’.”
“And let you out of those constraints so you can run halfway around the world before I take a breath? Not a chance schmoopsie poo.”
Wally threw his head back and cackled. Against his better judgment, Dick couldn’t help the small smile crack onto his face as well. He hated how easy it was to banter back and forth with this Wally. Like it was his Wally.
Ugh, he needed to get a grip!
“You’re fun, Nightwing!” the imposter continued, “My Nightwing is such a stick in the mud. It’s rough trying to pretend we hate each other’s guts around the bosses. It’s especially hard after I’ve fucked him into the mattress the night before, am I right?”
“Don’t be gross.”
“Fine, I’ll spare the hypothetical children’s virtue. But on the topic of handsome speedsters, how’s this world’s version of me? Your - what did that bitch call me, Flash? Is that his hErO name? Flash? That sounds so fuckin’ childish, but I’m not gonna judge. Well, too harshly that is. So is he also the funniest man alive or is he no killer all filler, if you know what I mean? Also, this world’s version of me better be tapping that! You’re a catch! If he isn’t then he’s blind ‘cause I wasn’t kidding about your ass. Immaculate! Oh, right! The children! I’ll stop talking about how hot you are, but Beautiful you should really know you are. Other me better count his fuckin’ lucky stars.”
Dick let him run his mouth for a bit until the speedster finally took a break to breathe. He rolled his eyes fondly.
“Thank you for sparing the children - I’m sure their theoretical parents would be grateful. Our world’s version of you is called Flash. I’m sure your ViLlAiN name is just as stupid to me, so don’t feel too special. He is incredibly funny and charming and yes we are dating. Happily so, in fact, so you better not try anything unless you want a face full of speedster fist, yeah?”
Dick kept walking nonchalantly - eyes on the ever closer destination - but he almost missed the wide-eyed gape the imposter gave him. He looked at Dick like he popped off his head and started juggling with it. He’s sure his original head is on his shoulders, and he wasn’t that fantastic at juggling, so what was wrong?
He raised a brow at the speedster. “What?”
“It’s… no one’s ever really been able to keep up with my ‘speedster talk’...” the imposter Wally muttered in wonder.
“Really?”
“Ye-yeah. Even my Nightwing would yell at me to slow down all the time.”
Dick shrugged. “I guess I’m just used to it. Flash would always talk really fast when he gets excited or nervous. It’s cute. After years of hearing him babble, it becomes easier to understand, I guess.”
Wally had an unreadable expression on his face. Dick could see confusion, awe, and something else he couldn’t place but it was a nasty look that almost looked like a pout. Dick simply shrugged again and gave the imposter a smile. He was proud to be one of the few non-speedsters who could understand conversations running at sonic speeds. Maybe he was showing off a bit for this Wally. He doesn't know. But that look of wonder was worth it in Dick’s book.
The rest of the walk was silent after that. Dick didn’t quite know what he did to break this Wally’s brain, but he was happy for it. A compliant villain speedster was rare and Dick wasn’t one to bite a hand that feeds him.
Once at Titan’s Tower, he disarmed the building and guided Wally in. He meant to be rougher, but the hand on the silver-clad back was soft. He didn’t mean to be so nice, but when they made eye contact Dick offered a small smile instead of the scowl he should’ve given him. He meant to be aloof, but he guided Wally around the tower with patience and warmth.
God, what was wrong with him?
He guessed it didn’t matter which Wally it was - he would always have a soft spot for him.
Once they were at the detaining center and at the cell specifically designed to hold speedsters (with how often they encountered them the particular holding block was necessary), Dick opened the door and expected Wally to walk right in. Of course the imposter froze and simply stood there - staring off into space.
After a moment, Wally turned to look at Dick, determination in those stunning green eyes, and said, “Come back with me.”
Dick blinked.
“What?”
“Or let me stay here. Either one works for me.”
Lasso still tight in his grip, his fist tightened over the rope. He shook his head and flailed his arms slightly. “I repeat, what?”
“You get me. You get me so damn much it’s honestly terrifying. It is terrifying. But it’s nice. It’s so goddamn weird how nice it is. It should be unnerving because you are essentially a stranger, yet you know me so well. I could… I could get used to it. And I feel like I already have. This. You and me. It already feels so natural. You feel it too, right? You gotta feel it too. It can't just be me!
“You should come back with me to my world. You should stay by my side! I mean, we already have good chemistry. Or, like I said, I could stay here! Hell, I might be stuck here permanently so I might as well get comfy. And I’m not talking about in a cell. I mean, fuck it, I’d be willing to turn sides as long as I’m able to run. I can be persuaded. Especially if the one persuading me has those big, beautiful baby blues. So, how about it, Nightwing?”
Dick’s jaw dropped. He closed it. Thought for a moment. Opened his mouth again. Then closed it.
What? What?! What on earth was this Wally thinking? Was he serious? He couldn’t be serious! Could he?
At a loss for words, Dick said the only thing that definitively came to his mind.
“No.”
Wally reeled back. “Wha - come on, Beautiful. We can-”
“No.”
Wally scoffed, “Really? Just no? Not even gonna give me an explanation?”
“What explanation is there to give? Wally, uh no, whoever you are - you’re not my Wally.”
“But I can be! Remember, you don’t know how I got here. Not exactly! And neither do I. Who knows if the Scooby-Doo gang back there can catch those yahoos? Who knows if those yahoos can even send me back! It sucks, and is mildly terrifying. But, hey, if I’m with you, Beautiful, I don’t mind being stuck here for eternity. I can be your Wally.”
That made Dick pause.
He had a point. He had a fucking good point. Not about replacing his Wally but about how he got here. About how to send him back. About getting his Wally back. It made him gnaw at his lip in worry. The thought of never seeing his boyfriend again was terrifying. The thought of never holding him was horrible. The thought of never talking to him was hellish. The thought of never loving him felt impossible.
He shook his head. No. His team would prevail! They would!
Wouldn’t they?
There was no guarantee. Nothing in this moment was guaranteed except for… well except for this Wally in front of him.
“You…” Dick stammered to find the right words - to shoot down those horrible, terrifying thoughts. “They’re going to catch Mirror Master and Abra Kadabra and send you home -”
“You don’t know that!” Wally insisted. He had turned and was facing Dick head-on. His eyes were earnest. Fear and determination laced together in an odd web within those pools of emerald. A gaze that looked far too similar to his Wally. His Wally. This Wally. It was getting too confusing. Before him now was just Wally, wasn’t it?
“Come on, ‘Wing.”
Wally took a step closer.
“I’m here. I’m right here and I’m real.”
Wally took another step closer.
“I’m not a what-if or a maybe!”
Wally was right in front of him.
“And I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Eyes were locked on one another until Wally’s eyes gazed ever so slightly down. Dick couldn’t resist and he looked down at Wally’s lips too. God, why was Wally so damn gorgeous and smart and charismatic and gorgeous?
He didn’t know who leaned in first, but before he knew it, they were kissing. They were kissing and it felt like coming home. It felt like unwinding after a long day of patrolling. It felt like everything was right in the world. He could get lost in the feeling - he has gotten lost in the feeling many times before. The soft yet firm of lips pressed together was so wonderfully familiar, and he missed the feeling. He missed it so much even though he kissed his boyfriend good morning not a few hours ago. He missed it even though he gave Wally a kiss right before the mission. But before he could feel himself floating from the ground, the world snapped back. Wally pulled away and took his addicting warmth with him.
“Wha -” Dick stammered before his eyes fluttered open.
Lightning flickered and danced in his vision. A gust of wind and then there was a sudden plop of rope on the ground. Wally groaned as he stretched out his muscles. His spine let out a few pleasing pops as squeezed his eyes shut in satisfaction.
Wally’s powers. Wally was stretching. What were they doing before? Wait, why was Wally wearing silver? Wait, wasn’t Dick holding something?Wait!
“Wait a second!” Dick called. He stepped forward and tried to grab at the speedster, but it was in vain.
With a shock of lightning, Wally zipped out of reach. “Sorry, babe. Like, really sorry. But I can’t stand being trapped like that. Trapped in any way, you know what I mean?”
Dick’s eyes narrowed in fury and his jaw clenched so hard he feared his teeth would shatter. “Son of a bitch,” he growled under his breath as he unsheathed his Escrima sticks.
“Come on, baby. No need for name-calling,” Wally teased as he offered Dick an ugly sneer.
He bit his tongue. The imposter didn’t deserve the witty banter anymore - not after deceiving him like that. With a twirl of one of his sticks, electricity crackled to life in a spray of blue sparks.
Wally hummed in disappointment, “Hm. Suit yourself, Beautiful.” Then he dashed forward.
Dick wasn’t lying when he said he was probably the most equipped to handle this doppelganger. He’s had the most experience fighting speedsters outside of that small speedy community. He’s been sparring with Wally since they were kids and he kept all his skills sharp all the time. It was easy to dodge the imposter’s attacks because they were Wally’s. They were practiced between them. It was easy to absorb hits and deal them back just as hard. They used each other as practice punching bags often enough. It was easy to predict where he would strike next. They would make it a game when they sparred over a hundred times.
Dick was practically playing with this faker. His growl turned to a cocky smile as he held his own, and Wally’s grin turned to a scowl as he realized he couldn’t end this fight as quickly as he wanted.
Lighting struck against his skin dangerously as Wally panted - eyes narrowed and pissed. Dick, on the other hand, twirled his escrima sticks tauntingly and stood tall and proud.
“Come on, baby. Is that all you got? I haven’t even broken a sweat!” he teased.
“Fuck you,” Wally huffed, “How dare you know me so fuckin’ well. You think you know me and you think you can BEAT ME? You fuckin’ dare get cocky now? I’m the super-powered one here, bitch! Don’t forget that!” he roared as lightning struck and made the ground quake.
Dick didn’t have super speed but he could feel time slow around him. He could see Wally dart towards him with lighting on his heels. He could see the lightning curl around his clenched fist that was aimed right at his face. He could see it all coming. If Dick had enough time to close his eyes and brace, he would. But he couldn’t. He could only watch as the inevitable came at him in slow motion.
Yet he was too slow to stop the inevitable, deadly impact.
But amongst Wally’s high speeds, a streak of red whizzed by Dick’s vision. Before Wally could hit him, he was suddenly - in a blink of an eye - he was propelled back.
Time snapped back to normal and Dick’s breath was knocked out of him even though not a hair on his head was touched. Wally was flung back and shattered through the far wall with a BAAM.
In front of him, shielding Dick, was Wally.
His Wally!
It was Wally in his beautiful red uniformed glory! It was Wally with lightning dancing around him and practically vibrating in anger as he eyed the other speedster who was trying to collect himself.
Body still facing the faker, Wally turned his head and gave his boyfriend a smile. “Hey, Beautiful. Sorry I’m late.”
Dick couldn’t help but chuckle, “Not late at all, babe. Right on time, actually, as always. But, I totally had that, I’ll have you know.”
“Heh, yeah no, of course,” Wally laughed. Oh, and that laugh was somehow so wonderfully different from the imposter’s. “Sorry for ruining your big moment.”
“What the hell?!”
Both heads turned towards the doppelganger as he stumbled from beneath the rubble.
“How the hell are you back already?!”
Wally gave the faker a quirked brow. “Oh come on, really, man? When you’ve traveled through the speedforce enough times it’s like slipping in to ask the neighbors for some sugar. What, you can’t do that?”
“The fuck?!” he gaped, “You just go into the speedforce?! How the hell is that possible?!”
“Eeeh, guess you’re just not fast enough. Don’t worry. Soon you’ll be back in your world where you’ll be the second fastest speedster that’s ever graced that earth!”
With a burst of wind, both Wally’s were back in the fray. Punches and kicks were thrown but Dick could hardly track it all. He just pushed himself to the wall and did his best to dodge any stray lightning strikes. But before Dick could truly be worried for his boyfriend, the red blur grabbed silver and threw him into the holding cell. With impossibly fast fingers, the closing code was inputted and the door slammed shut with a cursing imposter speedster trapped within it.
His teeth were bared and his fists slammed helplessly against the thick plexiglass. Dick couldn’t hear the faker and even the lightning was muted as he tried to zip around the small cell. But it was designed too small for any speedster to really pick up the needed speed.
“Phew! That was almost a workout!” Wally taunted as he settled next to Dick’s side. He gave a smug smirk towards the doppelganger which just made him rage behind the glass more but Wally didn’t seem to give a damn.
That fight, that whole debacle, was settled within seconds. It was just… Wally was just…
“Wow,” Dick breathed.
“Impressed?” Wally said as he threw an arm around his boyfriend and pulled him in close.
“I mean, kinda? How can I not be?”
Wally snorted. “Eh, it was nothing. Like a regular Tuesday, if we’re bein’ honest.”
“Just take the compliment with some grace, babe,” Dick said endearingly as he lightly elbowed Wally’s side but quickly followed it up with a firm kiss to his boyfriend’s cheek. Wally chuckled but they fell into an odd silence as they watched the feral speedster try to claw out of his cage.
“I missed you,” Dick whispered as he leaned into his boyfriend’s side.
“I missed you too,” Wally answered easily. He placed a firm kiss on Dick’s forehead and squeezed him impossibly closer.
Another lapse of silence. A silence that was welcome. A silence that Dick just wanted to soak in with his boyfriend now firmly back at his side. He really did miss him. He missed his Wally so much even if he was only gone for a few hours - if that. Now that the doppelganger was behind bars Dick had time to evaluate how different the two speedsters were. Even if they were the same person but from different worlds, they were so contrasting it was obvious. Like two sides of the same coin. Both had that cocky side, but the faker felt more cruel while Wally always felt warm. While the other was pushy, his Wally was patient. While that faker was vulgar, his Wally was romantic. They were so different. How could Dick ever confuse the two? How could Dick - ever in his mind - think the two were the same. He didn’t before. He had a clear differentiation in his mind before… before they…
“Um. Just to let you know,” Dick mused, “that Wally kissed me right before you showed up.”
There was a pause.
“I’m gonna kill ‘em.”