Archive of Our Own

The Titans responded to a call about a threat colluding in the rocky Gobi Desert of Mongolia and northern China. During this time of year, the desert lay covered in snow and ice, it's typically harsh terrain only worsened by the conditions. The mission started well; the team located the enemy base easily—almost too easily. Few guards stood watch, and they fell swiftly.

When the team entered the base, a makeshift structure of fabric and poles, an eerie silence filled the space. The place appeared empty and still... until a bomb exploded, throwing the team in different directions, followed by a hailstorm of bullets.

Disoriented and wounded from the blast, Wally grabbed a collapsed Nightwing and sped off behind a large rocky outcropping. Separated from the rest of the team and unsure of their location, Wally looked down at his teammate in his arms, assessing the situation and the damage to Dick.

Wally stared at Dick—his teammate, his best friend—unconscious and injured, and focused on one thought: ensuring his safety.

His eyes scanned Dick’s frame as the icy wind whipped around them, a chill running through Wally as blood from Dick’s wounds seeped into the red of his gloves. Despite the injuries, Dick continued breathing, and Wally hoped unconsciousness stemmed from the blast rather than anything worse.

Dick’s eyes began to flutter open. His head throbbed, and the world spun.

"W-Wally?" he groaned, his voice cracking as he tried to comprehend the situation. His vision slowly returned. "What hap—" A small cough interrupted him, pain flaring in his chest—not excruciating, but noticeable.

"Shh—don't talk, don't move," Wally interrupted. "The base exploded, and we were thrown. They started shooting, and you were lying there, knocked out. I don't know where the rest of the team is." Wally gently set Dick on the ground.

Dick nodded, leaning back. Weakness and vulnerability washed over him, feelings he despised. He brought a gloved, shaky hand to his head, pulling it back to reveal blood on the black fabric. A head injury. He looked at Wally. "You didn’t get hit, did you?"

"No. I’m trying to figure out if you were," Wally replied, inspecting for bullet wounds. A few rips in Dick's Nightwing suit appeared superficial until Wally’s gaze reached Dick’s left thigh. A gunshot wound stood out, dangerously close to the femoral artery. "Jesus—"

Dick’s body tensed. "My... my leg..." He struggled to view his thigh under the dark blue fabric of his suit. "That... can’t be good," he murmured, his hand trembling as it pressed against the gaping tear.

"Definitely not—stop moving," Wally ordered, removing Dick's belt and cinching it around his thigh above the wound.

The belt’s pressure wrung a gasp from Dick as he leaned back, shutting his eyes tightly. His heavy breathing and occasional grunts of pain broke the silence. After a few moments, he opened his eyes and looked at the makeshift tourniquet.

"It’s... stopping the bleeding?" he asked, hopeful.

"Hard to tell," Wally admitted, blood covering the area. He pressed down on Dick’s hip, applying pressure to the artery.

Dick gritted his teeth, biting back a scream. It hurts—a sign of life, right? His breath remained ragged. "We need to find the others. We’re sitting ducks behind this rock."

"How are you going anywhere like this?" Wally retorted, frustrated by Dick’s stubbornness.

Dick sighed. Wally had a point. "Help me up. I’ll walk—or limp, I guess." Dick extended a gloved hand.

"No way. I’m not letting you bleed out on my watch." Wally dismissed the hand.

Dick rolled his eyes, frustrated. "What am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait for the enemy to find me, alone and wounded?"

"Alone?" Wally asked.

Dick whipped his head around, eyes narrowing. "You’re not staying here with me."

"The hell I’m not," Wally snapped back.

Dick sighed again. "You need to find the team. I’ll be fine here, I just... need to catch my breath. I’m fine, truly."

Wally saw through the lie. Dick looked anything but fine. It was a miracle he wasn’t already in shock.

Dick’s laboured breathing betrayed his words. "Wally, go find the others. I can handle myself. You’ll move faster without me."

"I’m not leaving you. We have trackers—they’ll find us both soon." Wally’s tone carried finality, leaving no room for argument. They were lost in enemy territory, both injured, one critically.

Dick frowned, realizing he couldn’t win. He leaned his head against the cold rock and shut his eyes. "Can’t believe I’ve been reduced to the damsel in distress..."

Wally laughed lightly. "It’s okay, you’ve always been a good damsel," he teased. "Just be glad your knight is here."

Dick groaned, glancing at Wally. "Lucky me," he muttered sarcastically, laying back to stare at the cold sky. "...Thanks for staying with me, Walls. Seriously."

"Don’t mention it." Wally shifted, letting Dick’s head rest in his lap instead of on the rock.

Dick sighed softly, appreciating the gesture. His messy hair stuck to his sweat-beaded forehead. "So... we just wait now, huh?"

"Wait... and make sure you don’t get worse," Wally replied, sighing.

"Oh, is that all? I was hoping for something more exciting," Dick joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Wally laughed, though it felt forced. "I think we’ve had our fill of excitement on this mission."

Dick winced, shifting slightly. "I hope the others are okay... What do you think they’re doing?"

"Hopefully better off than you," Wally joked, though concern lingered in his voice.

"Oh, very funny. I’m just wounded, not on my deathbed," he responded, though his tone was sarcastic, not bitter.

Wally didn't like thinking about that, the very real possibility that if nobody found them soon that... Dick could die.

Dick noticed the uneasy look on Wally’s face and frowned. "I’m not gonna die, Walls. Don’t look so sad. Seriously."

"Yea- yea, I know, of course," Wally replied, trying to convince himself. "I just don’t like seeing you... like this..."

He let out a long sigh, shifting very slightly again. "Hey… it’s alright. I’ll live, I promise you. I’m too stubborn to die." He attempted a small smile, though it was a little pained.

"Hah- stubborn... always too goddamn stubborn for your own good-" Wally laughed. "Man, I can't believe you wanted me to help you get up and walk a few minutes ago-"

Dick rolled his eyes. "Hey, I’m allowed to be overly dramatic sometimes! Sue me."

"Hah-! Sometimes? I wish it was only sometimes," Wally laughed lightly.

Dick mock-gasped, putting a hand over his own chest. "You wound me, Wally. After all, we’ve been through, all the times I’ve saved your ass…"

"Looks like it's my turn to save you, hm?" Wally smiled warmly down at Dick.

Dick smiled fondly. It was kind of funny, really. Despite all their banter, it always seemed like they were constantly saving each other. Dick was the first to admit that he’d be dead several times over were it not for Wally’s help. "Yeah, I guess it is…" he responded in a soft tone.

Silence fell between the two of them once again. The sounds of the harsh, snowy wind were all that could be heard. Dick closed his eyes, taking a deep inhale. "...So… how do you like the Gobi Desert so far?"

They sat in the desolate desert, the cold winds beating against them. "Sucks ass-" Wally laughed.

Dick laughed lightly. "I know right? Terrible scenery… lousy hospitality… no room service…"

"Bet we just came in the wrong season-" Wally offered jokingly.

Dick chuckled. "Yeah, next time we have to fight some terrorist in Mongolia, we’ll have to schedule it in summer or something. Much friendlier weather."

Wally nodded his head in agreement, "So I've heard, doesn't rain bullets in July."

"I’d say! Plus, better views. Better tans-" Dick winced after attempting a small, half-joking movement. He shut his eyes tight and gritted his teeth for several moments. The pain in his leg subsided after a bit, and he let out a huff. "God- I feel like I’ve been run over by a cement truck."

"Yea, well you're not looking too hot either-" Wally admitted, the bloodied man certainly looked as though he'd been through it at the moment.

Dick nodded, closing his eyes again. He let out a soft sigh. "I think I’d do anything for a healing factor right now. Super speed, super strength… no, thank you. Healing factor? I’d sell a kidney for that…"

"And I bet you it would grow back after," Wally replied in jest.

Dick laughed a bit, which caused him to wince again. "...Ow, okay, no more laughing. I surrender, please have mercy…"

Wally laughed, "Yikes- should have let someone else grab you then."

Dick chuckled again but immediately regretted it. He groaned, shutting his eyes tight again. "...Ow. Ow, ow, stop making me laugh, jerk…"

"Sorry- sorry-" Wally sounded genuinely concerned now.

"It's alright, I'm alright," Dick insisted, his voice a whisper, "but please, for the love of God, stop making jokes that are actually funny for once, okay?"

"I'll try- just for you," Wally smiled softly.

He gave a weak smile in return. Despite his joking, Dick was genuinely glad to have Wally with him. "...Thanks… you’re a good friend." He mumbled, his eyes slowly shutting.

"Hey-! No- you can't fall asleep..." Wally insisted, knowing it wasn’t safe or a good sign for Dick to fall asleep in his current situation.

Dick’s eyes fluttered back open. "How… How am I supposed to stay awake? I’m exhausted-"

"Hungry?" Wally asked.

Dick was, actually, starving, even. "Are you suggesting dinner in the snow?" He asked, a hint of a smirk on his lips.

"No, but I always carry a few of these-" Wally fished a high-calorie protein bar from... somewhere.

Dick grinned and let out a small huff of laughter. Of course, Wally always had food on him. "Of course you do. You’re like a bottomless pit. You got anything to drink, too?"

"What do you think this is? A restaurant?" Wally retorted jokingly, opening the bar and bringing it to Dick's mouth.

"No, if it was a restaurant I would have ordered a better meal..." he quipped before taking a bite. He chewed and swallowed, pausing before continuing. "You're lucky I'm starving, or I'd take offence to you feeding me like I'm a baby bird-"

"Yeah well I don't want you lifting a finger, keep that blood flow to a minimum please-" Wally laughed.

Dick rolled his eyes, smiling faintly. "You’re seriously babying me. I get that I’m in a bad way, not at my best, but I’m not that bad..." Though the truth was he was in a lot of pain, his muscles aching with just the slightest movement, he was just too stubborn to admit it. Dick didn't like being treated like he was weak or incapable, and Wally was definitely making him feel like that…

Wally huffed, "Just shut up and let me take care of you for once."

Dick rolled his eyes again, but he didn’t argue, simply letting his head fall back down into Wally’s lap with a soft sigh. He knew he didn’t have enough energy to win an argument with Wally. "You’re just lucky I need you, ya know," he mumbled, referring to his injured status.

"Oh like you don't normally~," Wally said, moving some strands of hair away from Dick's forehead wound to see it better.

Dick huffed and closed his eyes, letting out another small sigh. He hated that Wally was right. He needed Wally by his side. More than he cared to admit. The thought of needing someone was an uncomfortable one. Despite his friendly and outgoing nature, Dick Grayson was a fiercely independent man, and the thought of relying on another person to keep him alive made him uneasy. Yet, here he was, completely at Wally’s mercy. Relying on him completely.

He tried to rationalize the situation. He was injured, yes, and very badly at that. His current state was no place to be his usual hyper-independent self. It was a necessary evil—him needing Wally—and he wasn’t completely useless. He could still talk, he could still fight somewhat if necessary, and he could still think and make decisions. Besides, Wally was his best friend. If it was going to be anyone, it should be Wally.

Plus... Dick didn’t hate this, really. Sitting like this, with his head in Wally’s lap... it was nice, in a way. Relaxing. He’d never say anything to that effect out loud, of course. His big ego could never tolerate that. But he did secretly enjoy this sort of physical touch.

Wally’s cool fingers brushed more hair back from his forehead. Dick sighed, his eyes fluttering closed. He knew he was safe with Wally. Wally wouldn’t let him die. He would take care of him. He would get them through this. That was just who Wally was. He allowed the feeling of comfort to wash over him, closing his eyes and burying his head in Wally’s lap. There was no use in fighting it. He was tired and cold and in pain. He needed this—he needed some of Wally’s warmth and comfort…

Wally was just so... warm. Dick suddenly wondered if Wally’s super speed made his body run at a higher temperature on average. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched, he supposed, it had the same effect on his metabolism. It didn't matter, really. No matter the reason, Wally's body was warm, and Dick was cold. He found himself shifting even closer to Wally, burying his head further into his lap.

Wally's fingers paused for only a moment before continuing to run through Dick's messy black hair. The gentle, comforting motion made Dick shiver involuntarily.

Feeling Dick shiver against him, Wally quietly asked, "Doing ok...?" It was kind of a stupid question given the situation, but he knew Dick would know what he meant.

Dick grumbled slightly, not opening his eyes. "Cold..." he complained, shifting closer to Wally once again.

"Oh, man... I'm sorry-" Wally said, sounding so genuinely disappointed that he couldn't somehow change the weather or do anything more to make Dick warmer.

Dick let out a faint huff of half-delirious laughter. "It's alright, Walls," he reassured, "Not your fault..." He smiled faintly. "You're plenty warm enough..."

"I am, huh?" Wally asked, shifting slightly with Dick laying

"Mmhm..." Dick mumbled, burying his head again. "Your lap is more comfortable than it has any right to be."

"Hey now~ Not the first time I've heard that~" Wally smiled.

Dick grinned, giving Wally a half-delirious smile. "Oh, really? I’m not surprised. You’ve probably got a ton of girls begging to sit on your lap..."

"Oh shut up" Wally laughed, "You're entirely correct~" he said jokingly.

Dick laughed quietly, feeling himself finally begin to relax. "Damned cocky speedster...", he mumbled jokingly.

Though he wasn’t lying in the slightest. Wally was an attractive man- and he had no lack of admirers. Dick knew that all too well. He’d lost count of the amount of times he’d had to listen to women pining over the ginger.

It wasn’t that Dick was jealous. It was more like he just… didn’t understand. Sure, Wally was attractive, charismatic, and charming in his own right, but he was also a massive dork with a big ass mouth. And he could be so damn childish... So who the hell was swooning over him? Why did women seem to fall head over heels for him, every time? Dick just didn’t get it. He couldn’t understand why anyone would be attracted to Wally West...

…Except maybe he did, and just wouldn’t admit it. For all of Wally’s irritating habits, all of his stupid jokes and his annoying attitude, he did have a certain appeal to him. He could be quite charming, and he certainly wasn’t hard on the eyes. And sometimes… sometimes, he was actually pretty damn cute-

Dick gave himself a mental slap. He wasn’t going there. Not right now. It was Wally, for Christ’s sake. His childhood friend, the guy he knew practically better than he knew himself. Wally the speedster, Wally the ginger, Wally his best friend and partner in crime-fighting.

Dick was not going to have… those sorts of thoughts about Wally West...

He was cold, tired, and injured. His brain obviously wasn’t fully awake. That was the only explanation for the ridiculous thoughts his foggy mind was coming up with-

"God damn it-" Wally huffed out, breaking Dick out of his thoughts.

Dick’s eyes opened, his brain rebooting itself after being snapped from his thoughts. He looked up at Wally in confusion. "What? What’s wrong?"

"Just feels like we've been here for fucking ever-" Wally sighed, running a hand over his face wearily.

Dick let out a hum in agreement. "Yeah, I know..." he mumbled. "Seems like we’ve been in the damn snow for a week already... but it’s only been, what? A couple of hours?"

"Not even an hour yet," Wally huffed out.

Dick groaned, burying his head in Wally’s lap again. "That’s even worse. I’ve been freezing my ass off for less than an hour? Feels like a lot longer..." He glanced up at Wally again, catching his expression. "Hey... you alright, man? You look tired..." Dick asked. The speedster did look exhausted. He had to be starving, too. Dick knew his high metabolism was kicking in extra hard right now.

"I'm fine- more worried about you anyways..." Wally replied, his concern evident.

Dick huffed, knowing he wasn’t telling the full truth. "Yeah, I’m sure. You’re probably wasting away right now with how fast your metabolism is working. How long has it been since you ate?"

"A while, don't worry about it..." Wally leant back against the large rock they were behind.

Dick narrowed his eyes, not buying it. "Wally, I know you. You can’t go more than twelve hours without stuffing your face with food…" he mumbled.

"Rude little patient..." Wally laughed out a bit tiredly.

Dick rolled his eyes but smiled anyway. "I’m not being rude, I’m stating a fact. I’m surprised you haven’t eaten the snow by now for the hell of it."

Wally chuckled at that, it wasn't too far off, "It does look kind of tasty... hah~ like a big snow cone, right?"

Dick laughs at that image. "You’re ridiculous. You’re supposed to wait for the syrup before you eat the snow…" he quipped back jokingly.

"I know... not yummy I guess-" Wally sighed and resigned himself to his spot, trying to get a bit more comfortable.

Dick hummed, watching him. He almost felt bad for Wally- almost. He knew Wally would never show an ounce of weakness when it came to him. He would insist on staying strong for Dick’s benefit. But Dick could see the tiredness in his expression, and hear the slight weakness in his voice. He was tired and hungry, and Dick knew it. But Dick also knew that Wally would never admit it openly.

Still, Dick couldn’t just sit there and let him suffer. He sat up a little bit, lifting his head from Wally’s lap. "Hey," he said, "Come here. Let’s switch places."

"W-what? No, you stay put- stop moving around." Wally said firmly.

Dick huffed. Of course, they were going to argue about this. "Fine, I'll stay lying down. But at least let me move. I need to lean on something other than your legs. You're not a pillow, Walls."

"Hey! I'm... comfy-" Wally protested.

"Yeah, so much that you were just sighing about how long we’ve been sitting here." Dick rolled his eyes, "Now quit your arguing and come here-" He grabbed Wally’s arm, trying to pull him closer.

They moved into a position where Dick was laying atop Wally's chest, both of them on the ground.

Dick shifted until he was comfortable, letting out a content sigh. This was nicer than just the lap- this was more of a hug. He closed his eyes again, resting his head on Wally’s chest. He could hear the speedster’s heartbeat, drumming against his ear. It was calming, almost… "See? More comfortable, huh?" He mumbled teasingly.

"Yea- a bit…" Wally admitted.

Dick grinned faintly- he’d won their little argument. But he wasn’t gloating, he already seemed half asleep.

He was comfortable and warm, cuddled up against his best friend’s chest and listening to his heartbeat. He closed his eyes, sighing faintly.
He could feel the rise and fall of Wally’s chest as he breathed. He could feel Wally’s strong arms holding him, his hands gripping him gently and keeping him close…

He hadn’t been this comfortable in a long time. He was half-delirious and exhausted, both from his injury and the cold. He wasn’t thinking straight in the slightest. He nuzzled closer to Wally subconsciously, wanting to feel more of his body against his own, wanting more warmth in the cold snowstorm. His brain felt fuzzy, his mind was cloudy. All he could really focus on was Wally. He breathed in, taking in Wally’s scent. It was nice. It was a little musky and spicy, and maybe a bit sweaty, but it was strangely pleasant and comforting. It was Wally’s scent, and he liked it. He shifted, burying his head into Wally’s neck. He could feel the speedster’s skin on his own, feel the warmth of Wally’s body as he held him tightly.

He was suddenly very aware of Wally’s arms around his abdomen, feeling every point of contact where their bodies were pressed together. He liked it almost too much. He suddenly stiffened. The realization of the position he’d gotten both him and Wally into sank in. They were pressed together, lying on the cold snowy ground, holding each other close. He’d just snuggled up to his best friend, practically cuddling him.

What the hell was he doing…? His face flushed in embarrassment, and he cursed himself mentally. He’d been acting so goddamn weird, what was wrong with him? This was Wally, his best friend- there was no need to act so weird about this. It was just for warmth, right? Just to conserve body heat. He slowly raised his head, peeking up at Wally’s face. He expected the speedster to be looking at him with confusion or even annoyance.
Instead, he saw the opposite. Wally wasn’t annoyed. He didn’t look uncomfortable. Actually… he looked pretty damn calm. Like he was enjoying the close contact. He felt a small blush creep up his own face as his eyes met Wally’s. Those familiar green eyes were fixed on him, not in a creepy way, but intently, curiously. He couldn’t quite read the expression in the speedster’s gaze.

"Feeling ok?" Wally asked when Dick’s gaze met his.

Dick felt his breath catch in his throat. Dammit, that look in Wally’s eyes was doing things to him. Making him feel even more flustered and confused. "Y-yeah. Yeah, I’m fine…" he muttered, his cheeks flushed. Why was he feeling like this? Why was his stomach churning and why was his heart beating so damn loudly? He was fine, they were just cuddled up together to stay warm, there was no other reason for it.

"Good- let me know if that changes… don’t want to lose you" Wally mumbled.

Dick’s heart fluttered at that. That stupid, sappy, dorky ginger always had to say the right thing, didn’t he? He let out a huff of quiet laughter. "You’re a dork, Wally." He mumbled, his words lacking any real malice.

"Yes, maybe I am~" Wally hummed gently.

Dick was suddenly very aware of Wally’s fingers, which were tracing slow, random patterns on the small of his back. It was an innocent, unconscious action, but it was sending tingles up his spine, giving him shivers that he wasn’t sure were entirely related to the cold. Dick had to physically hold himself back from letting out a sigh. It felt so nice, Wally’s hand tracing his skin, caressing his back so casually like it was no big deal. It was distracting, damn it. The action wasn’t anything special, of course. Wally wasn’t trying to do anything, he probably didn’t even realize he was doing it, it was just his natural speedster fidgeting. But in Dick’s cold, exhausted, delirious brain, the action had an entirely different effect.

His heart was pounding, and even his ears felt warm. He could feel the ghost of Wally’s fingertips on his skin, he could feel Wally’s chest shifting under him with every breath, he could feel the heat of the speedster’s body against his own… It was overwhelming. He was suddenly very aware of how small the space was between them, how their bodies were completely pressed together, with barely any room to pull back. It should’ve made him uncomfortable, it should’ve made him feel vulnerable and trapped, but it didn’t. Instead, it did the exact opposite. He found himself shifting, almost subconsciously, moving even closer to Wally, burrowing into his body. Wally was so damn warm… it felt good, being this close to him. Too good, actually-

He tried to stop himself from doing it again, from pressing further into Wally’s body like some sort of clingy animal, but it was too late. He’d already done it, moving even closer, snuggling up against Wally’s body as much as he possibly could. His instincts were in control now, and everything else was fuzzy, blurry, and a little too hot. He felt Wally’s breath hitch for a moment when he pressed against him, the speedster’s fingers hesitating in their motion against his back for a beat before continuing. It was a subtle reaction, but Dick picked up on it, and his stomach fluttered again with that strange, hot feeling. He nuzzled his face into Wally’s neck, seeking more of that comforting, warm heat. It was like he was desperate and borderline pathetic.

"You’re really cold huh?" Wally questioned Dick, feeling the closeness himself.

Dick nodded, his head still buried against Wally’s neck. He wasn’t exactly thinking things through, so his reply was simple, muffled. "Mhm…" mumbled into Wally’s skin.

"It’s ok… am I even a bit warm? I can’t tell-" Wally asked.

Dick nodded again, mumbling a slightly sarcastic reply into the speedster’s neck. "You’re like a damn furnace…"

"Good- stay close then-" Wally replied, and he held Dick against him firmly.

He wasn’t going to complain about that. He liked being close to Wally, he liked feeling the speedster holding him. Dick unconsciously pressed himself even closer to Wally’s body. He was practically clinging to him now, wrapping his arms around Wally’s waist and holding him like a teddy bear.

"Don’t move, you’ll bleed more-" Wally urged him.

Dick let out a quiet huff, but he knew Wally was right. Dammit… He tried to stay still, his body craving any kind of movement, even shifting just minutely. However, he stilled himself against Wally’s body, burying his head against his neck again and shutting his eyes.

"You had me so worried- when I grabbed you and you were unconscious…" Wally started to speak, mostly to keep himself awake.

Dick grimaced faintly. He felt terrible for worrying Wally like that… "I’m sorry…" he mumbled quietly, his voice slightly muffled by the skin of Wally’s neck.

"Not your fault- don’t apologize for being injured-" Wally dismissed.

Dick let out a breath, his warm breath against Wally’s skin sending a shiver down the speedster’s spine. "I know, but still… you’re always worrying about me…" he trailed off, almost mumbling. His mind was hazy and he was starting to get tired again.

"Wouldn’t have to worry if you took better care of yourself… you’re always doing the most- putting everyone else first-" Wally scolded lightly, he knew this wasn’t the time or place to lecture Dick about anything but he couldn’t help it.

Dick would’ve argued, but Wally was right. He always had such a bad habit of pushing himself beyond his limits, trying to save everyone, to help everyone he cared about… Instead of arguing like he would’ve done normally, he just stayed silent for a moment, then huffed quietly. "Shut up…" he mumbled. Although, he didn’t really mean it. He didn’t want Wally to shut up, he wanted him to keep talking. He liked hearing the speedster’s voice, he liked feeling the gentle vibrations against his cheek as Wally spoke, the warmth of the air as Wally’s breath washed over his ear.

"I was just scared- I’m still a bit scared… that you’re not going to be ok" Wally admitted quietly.

Dick’s heart suddenly ached. Damn it, why did Wally always have to be so goddamn caring? "I’m going to be fine, I always am…" he mumbled, trying to reassure not only Wally but himself as well.

"You won’t be someday… and that terrifies me…" Wally whispered.

Dick’s heart ached again. He knew Wally was right. "Don’t think that way…" he mumbled, burying his face further into Wally’s neck, trying to shut out that line of thought, even though he knew deep down that it was true.

Wally held Dick closer, just a bit tighter, "Can’t help it, don’t know what I’m gonna do-"

Dick didn’t know what to say to that. How could he argue? There was no telling how he’d meet his end one day. Maybe he’d get lucky, he’d get old and pass away in his sleep someday… or maybe he’d die in battle, sacrificing his life to save the world. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and just stayed silent, pressing himself closer to Wally.

"Who am I going to have when you're gone...?" Wally sighed, the question more to the universe than to Dick.

That question tugged at Dick’s heart, even more so than the original. He never wanted to think about the future, he never wanted to think about Wally being alone… Quietly, he muttered a response, his voice a little shaky. "You won’t be alone… I won’t let you be alone…"

The words slipped out of his mouth before he even realized what he’d said. It was a promise, a promise to Wally that he wouldn’t leave the speedster alone no matter what. It was a selfish promise, a selfish thing to say. He didn’t even know if he could keep it- with his line of work, he could die at any time, and he could leave Wally behind alone. He would do everything in his power to ensure that Wally wasn’t alone if he died, but he wasn’t sure if that would be good enough. Dick gently brought a hand up to touch Wally's cheek, just trying to reassure the man that things were going to be ok.

Wally unconsciously leaned into Dick's touch. They had been on plenty of missions together, even ones like this where one of them had been injured- but they'd always had help right there... not this time. There they were, the two of them, alone. Somewhere in the snowy Gobi Desert, separated from their team, trying to find comfort in each other while they waited for help.

It hurt Dick’s heart to see how vulnerable Wally was right now. Wally was normally this loud, confident, comforting person, he was the person Dick went to for support or to vent… but now, it was the other way around. He gently stroked his thumb over Wally’s cheek, feeling the heat of the speedster’s skin against his own. "It’s going to be ok," he muttered quietly, his voice soft. "We’re going to make it. I promise."

"I won't forgive myself if you don't-" Wally said, trying not to let the words escape his mouth but it was too late.

Dick felt his heart ache even more at that statement. "It wouldn’t be your fault," he mumbled, his voice quiet but firm. "If I die, it won’t be your fault- and I don’t want you blaming yourself for it."

"I just want to carry you home- to bring you somewhere safe... but God I don't know where that is here. I feel so useless... I want to do more for you..." Wally replied, whining almost.

Dick’s hand migrated from Wally’s cheek to his hair, gently running his fingers through the speedster's ginger locks.

"You’re doing everything you can… and I’m safe right here in your arms." He muttered quietly, shifting his position for a moment and burying his face against Wally’s chest instead of his neck.

Wally nodded slightly, agreeing with the statement. He wanted to be that for Dick, safety, right now and always.

Dick fell silent for a moment, letting his eyes slip shut and his fingers continue to thread idly through Wally’s hair. "You’re my best friend, you know that, right?" He mumbled faintly, still not lifting his exhausted, aching body from where he was lying on Wally.

"Course I know that, what other idiot would put up with you so much?" Wally laughed gently.

"You’re annoying as hell, you know that?" Dick replied with a huff. He wouldn’t admit it, but the sound of Wally’s laughter still sent a little flutter of happiness through his chest.

Yea well, I get to annoy you, since you're my best friend and all~" Wally smirked.

"You’re lucky I like having you around," Dick retorted. His fingers continued to gently play with Wally’s hair, twisting the strands between his fingers and tracing patterns against the speedster’s scalp.

"Well somebody has to put up with all your complaining," Wally teased lightly.

Dick actually let out a little chuckle at that. "My complaining? Who’s the one who’s always whining about being bored? Or hungry? Or sleepy?" He fired back jokingly.

Wally sighed happily, enjoying the change in conversation, "All very reasonable issues-"

"They’re not issues, you’re just a spoiled brat," Dick teased, his fingers continuing to comb through the speedster’s soft ginger hair.

"What can I say? I'm used to a certain lifestyle" Wally mused.

"You mean, a lifestyle of complaining until someone gives in and gives you what you want?" Dick teased again. "And I wonder who gives in the most often…"

Wally hummed softly, "You... definitely you-"

The words made Dick roll his eyes, but he didn’t deny it. Of course, he was the one who gave in the most. It was damn near impossible to say no to Wally.

"I’m just too nice, that’s the problem," he mumbled, still combing his fingers through Wally’s hair. He’d probably keep playing with Wally’s hair like that forever if the speedster would let him- and he’d be lying if he said he wouldn’t enjoy it.

Wally couldn't disagree with that, nobody would- Dick was really too nice, especially for his own good. "Yea... a peach-" He replied softly.

That drew a quiet huff from Dick. "A peach? Really?" He muttered, gently tugging on a handful of Wally’s ginger hair.

"Mm- hey-" Wally let out a disgruntled sound. "Be gentle-" The pout that spread across Wally’s face was almost comical. It was too easy to rile him up…

"Don’t call me a peach then," Dick grumbled, but he complied with Wally’s instructions and was gentle with his handling of the speedster’s hair.

"It was supposed to be a compliment-" Wally huffed, though he knew that wasn't entirely truthful.

"Yeah, sure it was," Dick muttered with a small eye roll. He was being sarcastic, but he was secretly kind of happy that Wally called him a peach. It definitely made him feel all fluttery inside.

"They're... sweet-" Wally tried to defend his comment, he wasn't sure if Dick was actually upset or not by the statement. He didn't mean anything bad by it.

Dick’s heart did a stupid little fluttery thing when Wally tried to defend his statement. His hand paused in its stroking motion for a moment, before picking it back up again to keep playing with Wally’s hair.

"Yeah, and I’ve been told they have a nice shape too…" he muttered, trying to play it off with a joke without making it obvious how much the compliment had flustered him.

Wally barked out a bit of laughter at that statement, though he didn’t comment on it.

Dick’s cheeks felt a little hot by the time he’d finished speaking. Why had he said that? Why did the dumbest things always slip out of his mouth when he was around Wally? He tried to distract himself from the embarrassment of that statement- and the stupid little fluttery feeling in his chest- by continuing to comb his fingers through the speedster’s ginger locks.

The movement was becoming automatic at this point, his fingers moving subconsciously to run through Wally’s hair and gently rake through the strands. It was almost soothing, especially paired with the feeling of Wally’s breath hitting his skin every time the speedster spoke. "You sure you’re not bored right now?" Dick decided to tease, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Oh I’m bored out of my fucking skull-" Wally let out a light sigh, "but it could be worse"

"How could this be worse?" Dick countered, rolling his eyes jokingly. "We’re stuck in the Gobi Desert- probably going to freeze our asses off- and nobody knows where we are. How could it be worse than that?"

"Might not be with you-" Wally said, practically instantly.

This time, Dick’s reaction was a bit more obvious than normal. He stiffened for just a moment, his breath catching in his throat and that stupid, fluttery feeling in his chest returning with full force.

"Y-yeah…" he mumbled quietly, his hand stilling again. "You’ve got a point…" He honestly found himself silently agreeing with that statement. Being stranded somewhere like the desert probably would feel like hell- but at least he had Wally. Having Wally nearby, keeping him warm and providing a distraction from the aching, cold injuries and cuts on his body made this situation considerably less miserable. His hand began moving again, gently running through Wally’s hair. "You’re good to have around in a situation like this…" he mumbled quietly, his voice surprisingly soft.

"Oh, not all the time~" Wally replied, knowing that wasn’t what Dick meant but wanting to be a bit of a jerk anyways.

Wally’s indignant response made Dick huff out a chuckle. "Not all the time…" he agreed, his hand in the speedster’s hair pulling gently in retaliation.

"Mm-!" Wally let out a grunt at the tug of his hair. "You’re going to leave me with bald spots-" he shot at Dick.

"Good," Dick huffed in response, his hand still messing up Wally’s hair even as the speedster continued to complain. "Then you won’t be so annoyingly good-looking-"

The words had come out of his mouth before he even fully registered what he was saying, and before he could even hope to stop himself. Dick didn’t even let himself pause to process what he’d just said. He just continued to run his fingers idly through Wally’s hair as if he hadn’t just called his best friend ‘good-looking.’

"Hey now~ I’ve got more to offer than just my stunning good looks!" Wally quipped back, clearly having taken the comment as some insulting joke.

The fact that Wally didn’t catch his blunder- and seemingly just took his comment as a joke- should have made Dick feel relieved. Instead, he felt just a little bit disappointed for some reason.

"Of course you do, Wally," he replied with a scoff, rolling his eyes. "It’s not like you’ve also got an annoying personality."

"It’s called charming- thank you-" Wally refuted.

"Your whole shtick is just being an annoying little prick-" Dick retorted, but he didn’t bother hiding the fond tone in his voice. At this point, it was hard to deny how endeared to the speedster he was.

Wally smiled at that, "Seems to work out well for me~"

Dick found himself struggling not to smile at that. He let out a huff, gently tugging Wally’s hair again before responding. "Yeah, yeah, yeah- you’ve got the whole world wrapped around your finger, you charming bastard-"

His words were clearly teasing, but at the same time,e they held a bit of truth. The guy had a point, after all, Dick himself was wrapped around Wally’s finger, and he was practically powerless to stop it.

"Well I’m glad you know it-!" Wally let out a slight laugh.

"You’re insufferable, you know that, right?" Dick muttered, trying to sound annoyed, but the small smile on his lips betrayed him.

"And yet you suffer, almost voluntarily I’d say~" Wally teased.

Dick knew that the comment was true- if he had a choice, he didn’t think he’d choose to stop hanging out with Wally. Unfortunately, he couldn’t exactly tell the guy that- so he just scoffed and tugged the speedster’s hair a little harder in response. "Shut up. I’m only tolerating you for warmth right now."

Wally hummed softly, knowing Dick was only joking he smiled, "Always glad to be useful..."

"It’s nice that you can finally pull your weight for once," Dick teased, his fingers massaging against Wally’s scalp gently.

At that, Wally squeezed Dick a bit tighter.

Dick let out a sound at the action, a sound that was dangerously close to a squeak. He had to bite the inside of his lip to keep his voice from rising or any other silly noises from slipping out of his mouth. "Hey-!" He protested weakly, trying to sound annoyed.

"You're such a dick~," Wally said playfully, knowing it was something Dick had heard a million times over.

"And you’re a jerk," he muttered back with a small huff, his hand ruffling up Wally’s hair once again in retaliation. Though there was no heat in the words, there was plenty of fondness and- goddammit there was that little fluttery feeling in his chest again. "Why am I even friends with you, again…?" He asked with a huff, trying to keep his voice nonchalant as the feeling in his chest was only growing stronger.

"Hmm... you probably ran out of options," Wally chuckled.

That earned Wally another not-so-gentle tug of his hair, but Dick couldn’t stop the corners of his own lips from twitching upwards. "There were options?" He responded sarcastically. "I had options, and I picked you? I really must have been out of my mind…."

Wally didn't protest the harsh tug this time, simply allowing Dick to do as he pleased. "Absolutely... luck must have been on my side back then..."

The fact that Wally wasn’t protesting like usual was a little distracting for some reason. He’d just kind of… allowed himself to be tugged around by his hair without any fight. Dick tried to ignore the way it made his heart flutter. "If anyone’s lucky, it’s me," he mumbled quietly, his hand unconsciously continuing to thread through the speedster’s copper locks.

"Oh shut up, if you start getting sappy I'll get worried and think you're really gonna crap out and die on me-" Wally chuckled dryly.

Dick felt like he almost choked on his own breath at that- and the worst part was that it wasn’t even the joke itself that had him struggling to breathe suddenly. It was the thought of him dying- right then and there. In Wally’s arms. The idea made that damn stupid fluttering in his rib cage worse, and it suddenly seemed like it was very difficult to breathe.

"Yeah… yeah I’ll try to hold off on the sappy stuff until I’m properly healed," Dick finally managed to choke out.

Wally simply wrapped his arms around Dick a bit tighter.

His breath caught in his throat again. The gentle but firm hold of Wally’s arms was… doing things to him. Making his insides feel all fluttery and weak, and his heart beat fast and hard against his ribcage. He tried to force himself to just focus on the fact that it was just Wally, his best friend. The hold was friendly, and it was just for comfort. But Dick’s heart refused to listen to that logic…

"I'm glad you did though- pick me... or get stuck with me.. doesn't really matter as long as we're together," Wally mumbled a bit softly.

The gentle, soft tone of Wally’s voice was only serving to make Dick’s heart continue to race. He silently, mentally cursed it, as well as himself. This was stupid, this was so stupid- "Me too…" he managed to choke out, trying to sound somewhat normal, and failing miserably.

Dick could hardly focus on anything at this point except for the way Wally’s soft breath was hitting his skin, causing goosebumps to rise. He swallowed the lump in his throat, trying and probably failing to push the stupidly mushy thoughts from his mind. "You’re a pain in my ass sometimes, Walls… but I’m glad I chose you…"

Wally nodded, and he let out a somewhat emotionally pained sigh. All this waiting, all this talking... It was really making them both think pretty deeply about their relationship.

Dick swallowed hard, trying to calm the erratic thudding of his heart. Wally was right… The talking was making him think. Think about how warm and comforting Wally’s arms were… and how the speedster was always there for him, even in shitty situations like this. And he’d do anything to make sure Dick was safe, even at his own expense. The thought only caused the stupid, fluttery feeling to get worse.

That touch felt like fire on Wally's skin, he moved a hand up to Dick's on his face, almost holding it there. "I'm okay... just hope someone comes for us soon..."

It took a great deal of effort for Dick to refrain from visibly reacting to the gentle touch of Wally’s hand against his own. "They will," he said with as much confidence as he could scrounge up. "J-just takes a while to find us in a big desert, I guess…" he added weakly.

He could tell that both of them were starting to get a little anxious- even though he was starting to run out of ways to distract himself. Dick’s eyes darted around for something else they could talk about… something else that would keep the conversation going and- hopefully- prevent him from staring stupidly into those gorgeous, emerald eyes. His eyes landed on the sky, the darkening blue, and some stars now starting to pop out against the background.

Dick tried to focus on the sky to distract himself, and he found himself unconsciously tugging the speedster’s hair to get his attention. "The night sky looks nice…" he mumbled quietly.

"Mhm... pretty..." Wally agreed softly. He knew Dick loved stargazing, and loved the night sky. It's not like he didn't understand why. The sky could be beautiful, but sometimes he had found Dick just laying on top of the Titan's tower watching the stars for hours. Being here, with Dick, well, it was hard for him to tear his eyes away from his friend for long enough to acknowledge the sky above them.

Dick hummed in agreement, his eyes flickering between the speedster’s face and the sky. He’d always liked spending nights stargazing. It was relaxing, even- being outside, the only light the stars and moon, the silence- or near silence- and the peacefulness… all except for one thing. When Dick was alone, stargazing didn’t seem all that special or interesting. But now, when he was sitting with Wally, looking up at the sky… the experience was much more relaxing… and even a little bit romantic.

He silently chastised himself for the thought- it was stupid, really. This wasn’t anything romantic, they were just stranded in the desert, freezing their asses off, and clinging to each other for warmth. But even so, Dick found that if he tried hard enough, he could almost pretend- at least in his mind- that it was a date… He quickly shoved those thoughts away, though. Dick didn’t think it was fair to imagine something so stupid so intensely. Something that would never happen. But even as he tried to shove the thoughts away, more stupid ones popped into his head. Thoughts about how nice it would be, to be able to lean in and touch his lips to Wally’s… or to reach out and hold his hand… or to lay in Wally’s arms every night, and see him every single morning when he woke up… His heart practically ached a bit at the thought, it would be a nice dream, but it wasn’t ever going to happen.

"Do you have a favourite-?" Wally asked, pointing up at the sky.

The question helped snap Dick out of his stupid, wishful thinking, and for that he was thankful. The question was simple, but it took him a second to respond. He had to try and think back, to find the answer to something he hadn’t really thought about for a long time. Eventually, he pointed up at a small cluster of 5 stars. "That one… Delphinus…"

The word left his tongue a bit softer than intended, more quietly… he could feel Wally shift in his arms and could tell the speedster was studying the cluster of stars he’d pointed to.

"Why that one…?" Wally mumbled, sounding like there was a hint of curiosity in his voice, maybe even a hint of teasing.

Dick could feel Wally’s eyes on him, and he swallowed hard. He tried to keep his voice even and normal, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to do that with how his heart was thudding against his chest. "My family used to go stargazing all the time… no matter where we went the stars would always be in the sky," he said quietly, his own eye never leaving that small cluster of stars. "I always liked that constellation… Delphinus…I-… I’m not sure exactly why, but I always found it prettiest… it just feels… good, to look at it…" he mumbled.

He could feel Wally staring, studying him. It wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling- usually, he loved being the object of the speedster’s attention… but right now, it made him feel a little anxious and- a lot more stupid and vulnerable.

"Mhm..." Wally hummed softly, silently appreciating Dick's words. It felt like they had been out there in the snowy desert for hours, but it had only been maybe an hour and a half still- they would be found... soon.

An hour and a half… and yet it felt like an eternity. His heart was fluttering wildly, and every time he looked into Wally’s eyes, the butterflies in his stomach only seemed to grow more violent. Dick’s heart couldn’t take it- the way Wally looked at him, and how close their faces were it was making his head spin, and making it unbelievably hard to focus on anything at all.

It would be so easy to just lean in… and close the distance between them… and kiss Wally- The thought made his breath catch- and brought a pang of shame with it. He should not be thinking like this… he wasn’t allowed to think like this… He silently cursed under his breath, trying- again- to ignore the stupid and unrealistic thoughts.

"Still feeling ok? Your leg-" Wally paused and his eyes flicked down, "Not bleeding too much anymore?"

Dick had honestly mostly forgotten about the wound in his leg until Wally pointed it out again… He quickly shifted and looked down to check on the injury. "No more bleeding… just hurts like hell," he mumbled.

Wally rubbed his hand along Dick's back absentmindedly, "I’m sorry..."

Dick felt his breath catch in his throat as Wally’s hand rubbed against his back. The gentle touch sent tingles down his spine. He tried to ignore the way it made his heart flutter, and he shook his head at the speedster’s apology. "Not your fault…." He was quick to say, his voice soft.

"I know- still don't like that you're all banged up" Wally huffed.

Dick hummed under his breath, a little amused by the grumpy tone the speedster had. "It’s fine, Wally… I’ve had worse," he said with a huff of laughter, trying to sound reassuring.

"Doesn't make it alright" Wally mumbled.

Dick hummed in response, not quite sure what else to say. On one hand, Wally was right… but at the same time, it wasn’t his fault that Dick had this stupid injury, and the whole thing was really just an unavoidable accident… Dick felt bad, seeing Wally look so down… and knowing that Wally partially blamed himself for his injury. And, the speedster was stubbornly, unshakably, protective when it came to Dick and his health.

He tried to think of something- anything- that might take Wally’s mind off things. Dick knew that reassurance wouldn’t work on the speedster, at least not well… so the next best thing was a distraction.

"Hey, Wally…" He mumbled. He couldn’t quite keep himself from sounding a little nervous, and there was a part of him that hoped the speedster wouldn’t notice."Can I ask you something stupid…?" He asked, trying to sound- again- as normal and casual as possible.

"You always do," Wally chuckled softly.

Dick rolled his eyes, unable to keep from smiling a little bit at Wally’s answer. It was true, really, he DID always ask stupid things, but Wally didn’t have to make it so obvious. "Shut up," He huffed in fake annoyance. There was a moment of hesitation, as Dick tried to find the courage to ask the question in his head. "You’re not gonna laugh at me…?" He asked warily.

Wally laughed quietly, "I might, no promises~"

Dick playfully huffed again, pouting his lip out at the speedster in mock-offense. "You know what? I’m not saying anything, you’re too critical and mean-" he mumbled, turning his face away- mostly in an attempt to hide the amused look on his face.

"Awe~ no, come on..." Wally tried to encourage Dick.

Dick tried his best to keep from smiling- which was made MUCH harder by the whine that left Wally’s throat- he was weak for that pleading tone in the speedster’s voice, and they both knew it. He took another moment to steady his heart, which was stuttering wildly, before turning back to face Wally. He had to force himself to focus on Wally’s eyes, instead of his soft-looking lips. "…you’re gonna laugh…" he mumbled quietly. He was only just barely able to keep the pout off his face now.

"That's okay... make me laugh Grayson," Wally smiled at him sincerely.

Dick tried to fight off a small scowl, still pouty about Wally’s teasing. It was honestly unfair, the speedster’s grins were so disarming, and Dick felt his will to be annoyed melt away. "Stupid… " he muttered, before trying to think of a way to phrase his question.

He was quiet for a second, studying the speedster’s face as he thought it over, trying to avoid looking at Wally’s eyes, or worse, at the lips framed by a small smile. He inhaled a short breath of air, before asking, quietly and somewhat nervously. "Do you believe in soulmates…?"

"Hmm..." Wally thought about it for a moment before he replied, "Don't know- maybe a part of me wants to"

Dick nodded, trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. A part of him felt like he’d been expecting that answer, but it still didn’t make the pang of disappointment hurt any less, which was stupid. Why should it matter that Wally didn’t believe in soulmates? He told himself that, but it didn’t keep his heart from aching miserably.

"Why not?" Dick mumbled. He could feel another question on the tip of his tongue- one that he absolutely refused to ask... because it would probably hurt like hell to know the answer.

"Well I don't know... maybe I will once I meet mine? Hm?" Wally thought out loud.

Dick had to fight to hide any visible reaction to Wally’s words, trying not to let them affect him. ‘Once I meet mine.’ There were several ways to interpret that, and Dick really didn’t want to get his hopes up. It was stupid to even hope, but the words sounded like they implied something, hopeful.

Dick tried to tell himself that it was just his stupid, wishful thinking. Wally was probably talking about a girl, and ‘soulmate’ was just another name for ‘the one.’ He had to keep reminding himself of that because otherwise, he might foolishly believe that it had anything to do with him… and then he’d just screw himself over.

He was quiet for a few moments, studying the constellations in the sky so he didn’t have to look at Wally directly. His heart was beating so fast he was sure that the speedster- sitting right next to him- had to have been able to hear it. He swallowed hard. "Yeah… I guess that makes sense…" His voice was so quiet he almost wondered if Wally could hear him at all.

"I take it you do?" Wally asked in return.

Dick hummed in response, feeling his heart practically aching in his chest. The question brought up thoughts in his head, stupid dreams, and unrealistic images… but he ignored them. "Yeah…" he mumbled. His heart was thudding wildly in his chest- so loudly he was surprised the speedster couldn’t hear it. "I do..."

"That's nice I guess..." Wally hummed softly.

Dick hummed again in response, trying and mostly failing to get a grip on himself. His thoughts were racing a thousand miles an hour, trying desperately not to think about how badly he wanted ‘soulmate’ to mean Wally. It was stupid and pointless, he knew it, but he couldn’t stop his brain from wandering to that image.

Dick was quiet for a few seconds, before speaking up again. His voice came out quieter than intended. "But it’s kind of stupid I guess…" he mumbled awkwardly, not really knowing what to say. "I mean… how do you even know if you’ve found your soulmate-?"

"It's not stupid... but it's hard for me to think about- I can hardly even think about dating with the kind of life we live let alone something like a soulmate-" Wally admitted, sounding a bit sad.

Wally wasn’t wrong, dating was a headache enough without including their chaotic, superhero life. And soulmates? Soulmates… that was so idealistic it wasn’t even funny. And it was unrealistic even for Dick, as much as he wanted to believe in the idea.

Dick hummed softly under his breath, knowing that Wally was right- but that didn’t make it hurt any less. "Yeah… I get what you mean…" he mumbled. Another quiet moment of awkwardness passed, before Dick spoke up again, trying to push that stupid wish out of his head. "It’s a nice thought, though, right?" He asked, forcing his voice to stay even while saying the words.

"Mhm... nice thought... I hope you find yours anyhow-" Wally sighed.

Dick was quiet in response- trying to make it seem as casual as possible. The words stung- both because they were another reminder of how stupid his unrealistic dreams were, and because- part of him, stupidly- desperately wanted them to be a reassurance that Dick could be Wally’s ‘soulmate’…which in reality, was about as probable as the chances of snow in hell.

He tried to ignore his heart twisting in his chest, and the sudden, painful pang of disappointment and forced himself to respond. "Thanks," he mumbled, "I hope the same for you…" Dick wasn’t sure that he meant it- the words felt like bile in his mouth- it was so stupid, but his heart wanted to be selfish.

Wally gasped out a weak laugh, "Not sure that's in the cards for me Dick-"

The statement made Dick’s heart ache. He hated that Wally almost sounded like he’d already given up. It sounded so… jaded. Cynical. It made Dick angry- to hear his best friend sound so resigned and hopeless about finding a chance at happiness and romance in the future. Dick didn’t like hearing Wally- who he knew was one of the most loving, compassionate, and overall sweetest people ever- sounded like he thought he didn’t deserve to be happy- like he was doomed to be lonely for the rest of his life.

"That’s bullshit," Dick blurted- the words coming out before he could even think about them. He was immediately worried… he hadn’t meant to sound so angry…"That’s bullshit, Wally-" he cursed again, his tone gentling just barely. "You don’t have to resign yourself to being alone just because you work to help people- that’s stupid-"

Wally huffed, "That's not why-"

Dick turned his head to look at Wally, confusion on his face. "Then why-?" He asked, his voice still sounding more frustrated than he meant it to be.

"I just... we both know what it's like to lose people- before they're ready to go... and I don't- don't want to be that for someone else..." Wally said quietly.

Dick felt his heart break hearing the words. He heard the sadness in Wally’s tone. "I know that, but-" he tried to protest- but the words died on his tongue. He knew Wally was right… knew that they’d both lost and would both keep losing the people they loved. And despite how much he hated to accept it- Wally had a point… but it still hurt.

Dick was quiet for a few minutes, knowing that Wally’s point was valid, but still hurting. It seemed unfair. He knew first-hand how dangerous their work was- the constant threats, the possibility of never waking up… It hurt to think about, both because he knew Wally was right, but also because Dick really didn’t want him to be right.

"But… why does that mean you have to be alone…?" Dick mumbled, sounding more defeated than he meant to. He knew he sounded whiny, and that he probably sounded like a little kid throwing a tantrum, but he pushed those thoughts away.

"I'm not alone- right?" Wally replied, willing a small and weak smile onto his face.

The statement seemed so pitiful, and the smile looked so strained… and Dick’s heart broke. He hated how sad Wally sounded, hated knowing that he was trying to convince himself that he’d be okay without a relationship. Dick let out an almost scoff, before replying in a frustrated mutter. "You know what I mean, Walls."

A short sigh left Wally, "Yeah I do- but honestly I'm fine with how things are right now..."

The response made Dick’s chest ache even more. Of course, Wally would say that- he would say that because that’s what Wally always did. He always tried to convince everyone that he was fine, no matter what. It frustrated Dick to no end. He loved Wally so much, but it drove him crazy to know that the speedster would pretend to be okay when he clearly wasn’t.

Dick’s voice was strained when he responded, frustrated and upset. "You… shut up, Wally…" He knew how annoyed he sounded, his words coming out harsher than he meant them to. Dick didn’t want to hear that, didn’t want to hear Wally pretend that he was okay when everything in him screamed out that he wasn’t.

"It's not like you're seeing anyone either-" Wally argued, a bit frustrated with the conversation.

The response made Dick flinch, and his heart ached more. Wally was right and he hated that fact. Dick wasn’t seeing anyone either- but that only made it hurt more. He wouldn’t even try to deny that fact, but he didn’t mean to keep it that way. He wanted something- someone- but he wasn’t even attempting to find it. "That’s not fair-" he protested weakly, the words sounding pathetic even to his own ears.

"Yes- it is-" Wally replied immediately.

The quick response annoyed Dick. "No it isn’t-" he protested, frustration and annoyance clear in his tone. Dick wasn’t sure what he was even arguing about- he knew that Wally was right, but it still hurt. He was being selfish, and he knew it. But it hurt that they were both resigned to being alone, it hurt knowing that Wally was giving up on something that Dick, stupidly, still hoped for.

Dick was silent for a few minutes, knowing that he was acting like an idiot. He didn’t want to sound so angry, but he couldn’t help it… knowing that Wally’s stubborn pride was holding him back.

A heavy sigh left Dick’s mouth as he spoke up again. "Just… why do you do that…?" His voice was quiet and frustrated. "Why do you have to pretend like you don’t want anything? Why do you gotta act like it doesn’t bother you? I know it does…"

Wally was quiet for a while, "Dick... I'm just trying to be happy-" the words came from Wally's mouth like a plea to stop asking.

The words made Dick’s heart ache. Of course, Wally would say that, of course, he was ‘just trying to be happy… but that answer was just as painful as any other. Dick’s anger faded away into something quieter, something sadder. "I know you are, Wally…" he mumbled, "and I want you to be happy. I want you to be okay… I just hate it when you act like everything’s fine… when it’s obviously not…"

"Just be quiet- just lay here with me..." Wally whispered softly, his hold on Dick tightening once again.

Dick’s breath caught in his chest, his heart fluttering at the words. He hated how his heart ached- how Wally’s words sent his head spinning like a goddamn hurricane of emotions. He was desperate for a response. Just being here with Wally like this- it was enough, it had to be enough… but he wanted so much more. He hated how selfish he was.

Dick nodded, "Okay…" his voice coming out softer than before. He let himself lean into Wally, his heart rate faster than normal. He kept his gaze focused on the stars, but all his other senses were focused on Wally. The smell of him, his presence next to Dick, the feeling of Wally’s arms wrapped around him, their chests pressed against each other… It made Dick’s head spin. It was stupid- they were just friends, and even if there was a chance that it meant something more, which it clearly didn’t… they were both heroes, and it would never work out between them.

Dick stayed quiet for a while, fighting with the thoughts inside his head, even while he let himself snuggle into Wally more. He was quiet when he spoke up again, his voice so very soft as he murmured another question without really thinking, "Walls…?"

"Hmm?" Wally responded.

The hum made Dick’s heartache all over again. He was quiet for a minute, debating whether or not he should ask what was on his mind. It was probably stupid. It was definitely stupid. Dick took a breath- praying that Wally wouldn’t be able to tell how flustered he was. "Does this… " he said, trying to seem casual. "Does this mean anything to you?"

"Does what-?" Wally asked, sounding genuinely confused about Dick's question.

Dick’s heart hurt- it wasn’t really a surprise that Wally wasn’t picking up on what he meant- Wally was an idiot when it came to emotional stuff half the time… But it still hurt. "This…" he mumbled. "Us… you holding me like this…"

"You're cold- I'm warm-" Wally said simply.

Dick sighed, trying to will his own heart to stop beating so wildly, to stop fluttering like a stupid teenager having a crush. Hearing the words hurt, he knew that’s what this was to Wally- casual, not meaning anything more than friendly comfort- but it hurt all the same. Dick stayed quiet for a moment, before responding in a quiet voice. "…yeah… right. Of course."

Wally could tell there was something more to the question Dick had asked, he needed to know, "Why..?"

The word made Dick’s heart sting even more. Why, he asked. Dick was quiet for a few more seconds, knowing that he was being stupid- that he was acting like a lovesick idiot and that Wally wouldn’t feel the same way and that it was all just wishful thinking. He tried to bite back a response, but the words came, pouring out like water from a faucet that had broken. "It doesn’t… mean anything? Just a friendly thing, right?"

Wally whispered out his answer, sensing a tension building, "That's what we are, friends, best friends..."

Dick’s heart broke hearing the words. He knew that’s what they were, of course, he did… but it still hurt. Dick’s eyes squeezed shut, trying to force down the pain his heart was feeling- knowing that what he was feeling for Wally was one-sided. He tried to will his response to sound casual, to sound normal and not like he was a lovesick moron. "Right…" he replied quietly. "…best friends."

"Not happy with my friendship?" Wally asked, trying to lighten the mood.

The response made Dick’s heart ache even more. He knew Wally was trying to lighten the mood, but the question stung, knowing the answer was more complicated than the speedster realized. "That’s not it-" he protested, trying to keep his tone from betraying how he felt. "…I am… I love being your friend- it’s just…" He trailed off, going quiet.

Dick didn’t want to say exactly what he was feeling, he didn’t want to admit how selfish he was- but he couldn’t stop the words from spilling out of him. "…It’s just I wish it could be more sometimes, that’s all… and it’s stupid, I know it’s stupid, but-"

"More-?" Wally sounded a bit taken aback.

Dick flinched, hating himself hearing the surprise in Wally’s voice. But he couldn’t back out now- he’d already said too much, he couldn’t take back his words, and he definitely couldn’t pretend he didn’t mean them. He tried to keep his voice steady, but it still sounded shaky when he spoke, so very small and pathetic. "Y- yeah… more…"

Wally sounded a bit hesitant as he asked, "What does that mean?"

Dick’s heart was beating so fast it felt like it was gonna burst. He cursed himself for even letting himself say this- this wasn’t something he should be admitting. He knew Wally didn’t feel the same way… and yet he couldn’t stop his stupid, hopeful, little heart from wanting more.

Dick’s breath was unsteady, and he didn’t bother keeping the desperation out of his voice as he answered. "I’m… I’m in love with you. That’s what it means."

Wally froze, his arms still wrapped around Dick as they lay on the snowy ground together. His mind was spinning. "I love you too- you mean a lot to me-" Wally replied, but it clearly wasn't a romantic confession.

Dick’s heart felt like it just shrivelled up and died. Of course. Of course, that’s how Wally interpreted it. Of course, he didn’t feel the same way. Dick forced back the tears that were starting to well up in his eyes, desperately trying to will the emotions in his gut to go away. His voice was smaller than he meant it to be when he responded, so hopelessly in love and hurting and stupid, "Not… the same way I mean it…"

"I don't... understand-" Wally admitted quietly.

Dick cursed himself, knowing that of course, Wally didn’t understand. The speedster was being his dumb, oblivious, oblivious self, and Dick loved him all the more for it. It still hurt though. It took all of his strength to push away the emotions- trying to keep his voice steady as he spoke again, trying to say what he needed to say. "You’re an idiot, y’know that?" He mumbled, his tone strained. "I mean… I’m in love with you, dumbass… in love. Like… romantically…"

"That's stupid-" was the first thing that Wally said in response.

Dick’s chest ached, his heart stung like it’d just been stabbed. The words felt like a slap in the face. He wanted to be angry- but all he could feel was hurt. His voice was quiet when he spoke, a bit shaky as he spoke again. "Why? Because I’m stupid enough to be in love with my best friend, and I know you’ll never feel the same way?"

Wally grumbled slightly at that, "No- pick someone better-"

Dick let out a quiet, bitter laugh, the sound choked off by his own heartache. "Like who? Who’s better than you, Wally?" He tried to keep his voice from breaking, his eyes stinging as he spoke. "Give me one person who’s more smart and dorky and funny and handsome and caring than you…"

"Shut up you're making me feel weird..." Wally huffed softly.

Dick laughed again, but this time it was an actual, quiet laugh. Is he making Wally feel weird? Dick chuckled at the thought. "Oh, I’m making you feel weird?" He mumbled, his tone still a bit strained. "Sorry for having feelings and making you uncomfortable…"

"Dick... I care about you- more than most people I know, more than I probably should- but you're... I-" Wally sighed, exasperated, "can't I just focus on getting you back safe?"

Dick’s heart ached. Wally cared about him- he knew that already. Wally had never tried to hide how much he cared about him- but all that did was make the fact that the speedster didn’t love him all the more painful. Dick tried to keep his voice steady as he replied. "Yeah… yeah, you care about me, I know that. I know you care about me… but I… I need to know if you care about me in the same way I care about you…"

Wally mumbled quietly, "Doesn't matter if I do or not-"

The words made Dick’s heart hurt all over again. He hated how dismissive Wally sounded- like whether or not he had romantic feelings for Dick didn’t matter. He knew that to Wally- they were best friends, brothers, partners, all of that, but not romantic. And that hurt so badly. "Of course it matters-" he protested softly. "Of course, it matters… It… it matters to me."

"I want to tell you what you want to hear... a part of me wants to be that for you-" Wally admitted, his voice strained.

Dick’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly on fire with hope. His thoughts were racing a million miles an hour, the possibility that Wally might feel the same way stirring up an entirely different storm of emotions inside him. Dick’s voice was so impossibly quiet when he spoke, his tone trembling with nerves. "Part of you…?"

"The stupid part-" Wally laughed out dryly.

Dick, again, felt pained. Those words as he heard them from Wally- the closest person to him in the entire world- hearing him call himself stupid just for the possibility that he might feel the same way was like a punch to the gut. Still, it also gave Dick that stupid, hopeful, spark- knowing that something was there, even if it was a small possibility. Dick pushed past the pain, his heart beating impossibly fast. "And… and the smart part of you…?"

"Knows that you should be with someone else..." Wally sighed quietly.

The words were like a stab to the heart. Dick’s shoulders sagged, any hope that he’d felt a moment before withering away into nothing. He had to bite back the urge to sob, hating the way his heart ached, and the way Wally was rejecting him again. His voice was quiet, small, and very desperately in love. "Why not you…?"

"Dick- I get it, I'm a nice guy, your best friend... pretty decent looking- but... I'm a mess, a huge mess and you know that. I want to love you and care for you and... make you feel all of the nice things you deserve but I'm not good at it, at any of that, relationship stuff-" Wally rambled on about his shortcomings, about why he wouldn’t make a good match for Dick.

Dick’s heart stung and ached and felt like it might explode. A mess. That’s how Wally saw himself- a mess that wasn’t good at anything ‘relationship.’ Dick knew that already- he knew Wally had always been afraid of commitment. And he knew that Wally didn’t think he was good enough for him... even though it wasn’t true. He bit back another sob, trying to keep his heart from breaking even more than it already was. "You’re not a mess…" he protested weakly.

"Shhh... please don't cry- Dick you can't afford to lose any more fluids and we don't have water so at least be practical-" Wally insisted.

Dick squeezed his eyes shut again, trying desperately to force back the tears. He knew Wally was thinking of his survival first, trying to prioritize Dick’s needs and make sure he stayed healthy, but it still hurt, having to push away his emotions in an effort to keep a level head. Dick bit back another wave of tears, his voice strained as he spoke again. "Right… right, I… I can’t cry, I… I’m sorry…"

"I'm sorry- I... love you too- you know I do, right?" Wally rushed out.

A part of Dick wanted to cry out in joy at hearing the words- but another part of him knew that Wally was being sympathetic, trying to placate him after rejecting him. He was trying to comfort him, that was the only reason he was saying that Dick knew that, and it made his heart hurt all over again. Dick nodded slightly, letting out a shaky breath. "I know you do... I… I know you do…"

Wally rubbed Dick's back gently, "I'm sorry we're here- God knows where- and you're stuck with a dumbass like me-" His voice was sincere and tinged with guilt.

Dick let out a quiet laugh that he couldn’t stop from sounding strained. Hearing Wally calling himself a dumbass again made Dick’s heart ache. Part of him wanted to call Wally a dumbass right back and tell him what an idiot he was for not realizing how in love with him he was.

He tried to keep any signs of his sadness out of his voice when he spoke, he didn’t want to make Wally feel bad, even though he kind of was. "Yeah, well… it doesn’t suck that you’re here."

Wally nodded softly, "I know... I'm... glad I can be here for you-"

Dick’s heart ached, hearing the words. ‘Glad I can be here for you…’ Those definitely didn’t sound like romantic confessions, they sounded like something a best friend would say. Dick couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment that stirred back up, but he tried not to let it show as he replied. "Me too. I… I’m glad you’re here..."

"Dick... did you mean it?" Wally asked, his voice a bit lighter, a bit curious.

The words stunned Dick, surprised to hear the question. Dick knew what Wally meant, of course. He was asking if Dick really was in love with him. The words made his heart both freeze and burn all at the same time. He knew that he would have to admit to his feelings, just to get it out there… and that meant getting rejected, again.

Dick’s voice was small when he did reply, quiet and choked. "Y-yeah… yeah, I… I meant it…"

"Mmm..." Wally hummed thoughtfully. Wally wanted to say it back, to tell Dick that he loved him the same way, but he didn't feel like he deserved to say those words to a man that he had always seen as... special. Dick was special to him, and he didn't want to risk what they had.

The sound of Wally’s hum made Dick’s heart ache for an entirely different reason, now. Wally was seriously contemplating it- Dick could tell that much. He was mulling over what he’d said. Of course, Wally wouldn’t just say it back right away- the thought that it would be that easy hadn’t even crossed Dick’s mind. He was probably trying to come up with a way to turn him down kindly, or tell him that the only way they could be together was platonically…

"Why-?" Wally asked breathlessly.

The question surprised Dick- he’d been expecting anything but that. Why was he in love with Wally? Dick was sure that the answer was stupidly obvious, but he wanted to give a better answer than just ‘because you’re nice, and smart and handsome and caring…’ He had to take another deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady as he replied. "I… I guess it just… it just happened… It's you. I’m… I’m in love with you…"

"Just happened..." Wally repeated.

Dick nodded slightly, feeling strangely vulnerable, just laying out his feelings so bluntly. "Yeah… yeah… it just… it just happened, I don’t know… it just felt like the most natural thing in the world…"

"It does- doesn't it...?" Wally sighed softly.

The fact that Wally agreed with him made hope flare up again, like a tiny, delicate flame in his chest. Dick let out a shaky breath, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. "You… you think so too?"

"Sometimes..." Wally uttered, barely audible.

That response filled Dick with a new wave of worry. ‘Sometimes…’ What was that supposed to mean? Dick’s heart was racing again, his mind going a million miles an hour as he tried to figure out what to do or say. "Just… just sometimes?" He questioned, needing further clarification.

"When I let myself think of a life more than I have. Sometimes I think about us, our friendship... all those good times... and I can't help but want more of them- more... something more-" Wally admitted, he felt selfish for saying this. He didn’t want to confront the fact that sometimes Wally did want more than what he had, what they had together.

To Dick, the words were like a breath of fresh air, a hopeful spark that sent his heart skipping several beats, reigniting that faint, fragile flame of hope. Dick wanted to grab the spark, to protect it and let it grow. He wanted to believe that Wally could feel more and that he was just denying himself what he wanted. His voice was quiet as he replied. "You want… more…?"

Wally didn't answer, he instead just brought a hand up into Dick's hair and pulled his head in closer to his neck. Dick immediately understood the silent message the gesture relayed. He let out a quiet exhale, his pulse racing as he pressed his face into the crook of Wally’s neck, taking in as much comfort as he could. It wasn’t a direct confession of love, but it wasn’t necessarily rejecting him, either. He didn’t know how to take it, but he didn’t care. He’d gladly take that small bit of physical contact.

Dick stayed like that for a long while, letting time pass as he relished in the warmth that being held by Wally provided him. He was scared to move, afraid that if he shifted, or even breathed in a way that he thought was too loud, it would disturb the moment, and force Wally to shove him away.

Wally never did shove him away. He stayed completely still, his hand still woven into Dick’s hair, holding his head gently as they sat together. The feeling of his fingers in Dick’s hair was like a small heaven, sending tingles down his spine and warming his heart.

"Just... just be okay- just make it out of this with me and... we'll figure it all out" Wally whispered softly.

Dick nodded slightly, still held against Wally’s neck. He’d been trying so hard to keep from breaking down again, and hearing Wally say that was almost enough to cause tears to well up in his eyes again. He managed to keep himself from full-blown sobbing as he spoke. "You promise…? You promise we can… we can figure it out?"

Wally tried to comfort Dick, "I promise- everything... it's going to be okay... as long as we're together, right?"

Dick nodded again, almost burying his face completely in Wally’s neck. The words were like a soothing balm on his heart, a reassurance that they would get out of there and that everything really would be okay. Dick’s voice was quiet, but firm as he replied. “Right… we’ll be just fine, as long as we’re together…”

Dick tried to keep a hold of the feeling, of the hope that the words provided him. Wally was here, and he was with him, and everything would be fine. He took another breath, savouring every second he was in Wally’s arms. The minutes seemed to pass by, Dick’s body was tired but his mind was still racing. Dick wanted to be close to him like this forever, wanted to feel his arms around him, and his fingers in his hair. He wanted to stay just like this…

Within minutes, they could see him. Victor, of course, the red light... waves of relief washed over Wally as he drew nearer. “Our hero-!” Wally yelled out, trying to make sure that Cyborg wouldn’t miss them. He knew that they would be fine, that Dick would get home safely now, his wounds would be treated, and that… their relationship too... would be fine.