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That night Dick dreamt of him again.
One of his regular dreams. They were racing through a city, hair whipping around, laughter drifting on the wind. Dick flew through the sky, swinging from building to building, knowing without a doubt, that he'd be there when he stopped. And sure enough, when he landed on a rooftop, he was there, grinning at him like he always did, asking if he wanted a rematch. Dick would joke back that he'd never catch him. He'd step forward, into Dick's space, asking if he was sure about that. Dick would tease back, asking if he was scared of a little competition. He'd laugh and say, "Never." Dick would grin, shoot his grapple and swing off, knowing that he was never far behind.
Then he'd wake up and remember that it wasn't real. That he wasn't there. That he was gone.
Wally. Kid Flash. Dick's best friend. His person. Who died while saving the world, had sacrificed himself for all of humanity. Gone.
The dreams were never nightmares, but they may as well have been upon waking. The painful, gaping hole in his chest where Wally should've been, the reminder he wasn't here anymore, the grief he still lived with after all this time…
The voice that was Bruce in his head wished he got nightmares instead. Maybe it'd be easier. The weak part of him wanted to keep seeing Wally in his dreams, since he couldn't in real life. The wanting felt dangerous, but Dick liked walking the edge too much.
Dick sat up and let his legs hang off the side of the bed, focusing on his breathing.
God, he missed Wally so much. His smile, his laugh, his hugs, his bad jokes, his brilliance. Dick missed him.
He shook his head and got up from his bed to get ready for the day, knowing that he wouldn't be getting any more sleep. (Or rather, not wanting to chance the dreams, not wanting to have to leave again when he woke up.)
It was a normal day: getting to the precinct, going through cases, stopping a few fist fights. The usual.
Near the end of his work day, Babs texted him telling him to visit the Manor after work. He frowned, wondering what she wanted, but didn't think too much of it. It wasn't so out of the ordinary for them to hang out there or work in the Cave some evenings.
After changing into comfier clothes at his apartment, he hopped on his bike and headed for the Manor.
He saw a few familiar vehicles already there as he pulled into the driveway. Jason's and Roy's bikes (probably visiting without Lian), your sedan, Steph's van, and who knew who else was there without a vehicle. He wondered if Alfred was wrangling everyone for their monthly family dinner and had put Babs on Dick-duty.
He went inside and it was surprisingly quiet. Any chaos must've been elsewhere: Jason and Roy probably down in the cave working on one of the Bat-bikes, Duke and Damian possibly still at after-school activities, Steph maybe up in her room doing homework for her Gotham U classes, Tim could've been working in the cave or out visiting Kon, Bart or Bernard, who knew?
He heard quiet voices in the living room and followed them. You were standing there, casually chatting with-
Dick froze. (Sure, he'd hallucinated Jason when he'd died but rarely ever- )
"Hey, Dick."
"Wally?" he croaked. His legs felt weak. Was this real? "What- How…?"
The room swayed and Dick wondered if he was going to faint. He needn't have worried though, the moment he felt like he might fall, there were strong arms around him, holding him as they sank to the floor together.
"Wally?" he breathed. He brought his hands up to touch the man's face, brush over all his freckles, feel as if he was actually there, actually alive.
"Hey, babe. You miss me?"
Dick let out a teary-eyed laugh at Wally's terrible amazing attempt at comfort. "You're here?"
Wally nodded, soft gaze never leaving Dick.
"How-?"
Wally gave an awkward smile. "Not quite sure myself. Got sucked into the Speed Force and eventually it spat me back out. Wasn't sure even what universe I'd ended up in or what time, but-"
"Four years. You're here, you're back, oh my god, I've missed you so much." Dick pressed his face into the crook of Wally's neck, not ashamed of the tears dampening his shirt. His limbs wrapped around Wally like an octopus. There was no way he was letting go now that he had him back.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for-"
"No!" Dick pulled back just enough to glare at his best friend. "It wasn't your fault, you saved the world, you have nothing to apologize for! I'm the one who-"
"No, you don't have anything to apologize for either," Wally said fiercely, tears sliding down his own cheeks. "I made my choice. There was nothing you could've done differently."
Dick shoved his nose back into the crook of Wally's neck and clutched him tightly.
"I missed you so much," Wally whispered. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
"You're here now." He squeezed him tighter but Wally didn't complain, holding him just as fiercely.
Wally let out a watery laugh. "Had some help."
Dick suddenly remembered they weren't alone in the room. He raised his head to find you trying to silently creep out of the room.
"I love you both, I truly do. Very happy for you, but that is my cue to leave and give you space. Happy reunion. Let me know if you need anything, I gotchu. Ok, love you both dearly. Bye!" You scampered the last few feet out of the room, shooting one last smile and nod at Dick.
Dick felt so grateful you knew him well enough to confirm that this was all real. He looked back at his best friend. There was so much he wanted to say, but now that Wally was here, alive, real, in front of him… his tongue felt stuck.
"Do you, uh, do you think we could just… nap? I'm feeling pretty tired." Wally gave him an exhausted smile.
"Of course, of course, c'mon." Dick was immediately up and tugging Wally to his feet. "Are you hungry? Have you eaten anything? Do you know the last time you ate?"
"Dick, sweetheart, I'm ok." Wally chuckled and squeezed his hand.
(Oh, how he'd missed that laugh.)
"I ate already, before I came. Pretty sure it was charged to Bruce's card."
Yeah, that sounded like something you'd do. Feeding people was practically your love language and you had minimal qualms against using B's money to spoil loved ones. Splurging on enough food to feed a speedster was nothing you would bat an eye at.
Dick was mostly reassured. "Ok, c'mon then."
Wally didn't let go of his hand as Dick led them to his room. (Would Wally even want to sleep in his room?)
"Here." He gestured with two hands towards the bed, dropping Wally's.
Dick didn't know what to say. There was so much bubbling up in his throat but couldn't let out, not yet, not when he just got Wally back. He couldn't risk losing him so soon. Because this time it really would be all Dick's fault.
"Coming?" Wally's words interrupted his spiralling train of thought.
He looked at Wally gesturing him over, holding the covers open for him. He shouldn't-
He crawled in next to his best friend.
"Is it-" Wally cleared his throat. "Can I hold you?" he asked quietly.
Dick shuffled closer. "Yeah."
Wally wrapped his arms around him and Dick buried his face in his chest, wanting to live in this moment forever, where his best friend was alive and here and holding him safe in his arms.
Tomorrow, there'd be time for figuring out how he got back, for letting the team know, Barry and Iris know. There'd be time for getting Wally caught up on things he'd missed, watching him eat through Alfred's pantry, for deciding whether to confess his feelings to his best friend. But tonight… he would lie here, wrapped in his arms, and treasure every second Wally was here with him.
If this was all he had, all he got… it'd be enough. He'd make it be enough.