Work Text:
Barry was never one to judge Wally's friends. He strived to not be like Batman in that sense. Yet he couldn't help mourning what happened between Wally and the 1st Robin. They had been so close as kids, constantly hanging out (when Batman would allow it) getting ice cream or disappearing into Batman's cave (again the few times they were allowed).
Don't get Barry wrong. He was very glad Wally found Nightwing, the two were the best of friends. Though Barry couldn't really remember when they met. Nor could he remember what went wrong between Wally and Robin.
The thoughts had been nagging at him the past few days, since he saw the picture of them all. It was an old picture of the original Titans, Wally, Roy, Donna, Garth, and Robin Number 1. All of them were in suit, sprawled on the sofas. They were laughing at something Robin said, and Robin was animatedly grinning.
He had seen it in Wally's room at Titans Tower.
“Oh hey Uncle Barry.” Wally waves as Barry enters Titans Tower. Nightwing, who was sitting on the sofa with earbuds in, lifts a hand in greeting before going back to his phone. “What're you doing here?”
“I was actually looking for you,” Barry replies,
“Oh? Why? Did Bart try to do something again?” Wally smirks,
“No I just… something's been bothering me.. not not exactly bothering me..I just can't seem to remember and THAT is bothering me. Am I making sense?”
“Kinda?”
Barry lets out a sigh. “I was in your room to grab your phone for you a few days ago.”
“Yeah and?”
“And I saw that old picture you have, of all of the Teen Titans.”
“Oh you saw that? It's one of our favorite pictures. Right Wing?” Wally smiles, remembering when they were younger.
“Uh huh.” Nightwing mutters, not looking up from his phone. Why would it be Nightwing's favorite?
“What happened between you and Robin?” Barry asks, abandoning hesitation.
“Nothing happened between us.” Wally frowns,
“No but… you don't really talk to him anymore.” Barry replies,
“Yes I do.” Wally says, he glances at Dick who was still engrossed in his phone but was now typing furiously to someone.
“Wally, talking just for missions isn't what I'm talking about. You used to be friends with him.”
“I AM friends with him.” Wally argues,
“Wally seriously. Was it that bad? What happened between you two?” Barry frowns,
“Nothing happend between us!” Wally snaps, why was Barry talking as if he and Dick weren't talking anymore? Wally glances over to Dick again, his fingers had stilled and he was still on his phone.
“You didn't have a falling out or anything?”
“No? Where.. I just.. how did this even come up?" Wally asks,
"Well I saw the picture, then I saw him hanging out with Arsenal yesterday, and I remembered that you used to be friends with him too so I was just curious what happened." Barry shrugs,
"He's friends with both of us.." Wally has absolutely no clue whats going on. He looks to Dick for help but Dick is still engrossed in his phone. Who was he texting? Why wasn't he helping?
"What are you talking about? You and Red Hood aren't friends." Barry chuckles,
"No... no we aren't… what does Red Hood have anything to do with this?" Wally asks,
"Well you guys were like the best of friends." Barry replies,
Was Barry serious right now? Did he get a concussion when Wally wasn't paying attention?
“I was NEVER friends with Red Hood.” Wally says slowly.
“Yes you were Wally. You used to get ice cream with him whenever Batman would allow it.” Barry was starting to look irritable. Ice cream with Jason?
“Which Robin are you talking about?” Wally asks, because he's sure there must be some misunderstanding here.
“The 1st Robin.” Barry replies,
“Okay. Well I'm still friends with him. Wing back me up here.” Wally turns to Dick, who just pulls an earbud out and blinks at him owlishly.
“What?”
“Oh my god.” Wally turns back to Barry. Both of them miss the smirk on Dick's lips. “Look Barry I don't know what you're talking about but Rob and I are still friends.”
“You really didn't fight? Like not even a little?”
“Of course we fought a little! All friends fight!” Wally can hear the frustration in his voice. What was Barry talking about?
“Well if it's a minor dispute then why haven't you made up all these years?” Barry frowns,
“WE HAVE!” Wally shouts,
Barry opens his mouth to respond, when a set of footsteps echo in the room. Both of them turn to watch Batman enter. Since when does he announce his arrival? Wally thinks uneasily.
“Hey Dad. What're we having for dinner tonight?” Dick chirps, looking over to Bruce. Bruce doesn't break his stride, nor does he look over when he responds with “You're the detective, Robin, you tell me.”
Dick just chuckles in response. What was that?
“Who was Batman talking to? You?” Barry asks turning to Wally.
Wally has no words for that. Dick chokes on a laugh.
“Did you not clearly see him answer Nightwing?” Wally blinks incredulously.
“But why would Batman call him Robin though?” Barry asks quizzically. Wally looks at Barry, then glances back at Dick who was now watching him expectantly. Of course the asshole is just watching.
“Maybe because HE WAS ONE?!” Wally nearly shouts, patience tested.
Barry turns to Dick. “I didn't know you were Hood's little brother!”
Dick bursts out laughing, hunching forward as tears stream past his domino. Wally is so lost.
“He's not Hood's younger brother.” Batman appears,
Barry nearly has a heart attack, “When did you come back here?”
Wally has the same question.
“You're assuming I left.” Bruce replies, and.. was that amusement in his voice? Oh hell no. Was Bruce… was Bruce amused by this?
“You were here… THE WHOLE TIME?” Wally shrieks, over Dick's laughter.
“Wait I'm confused. He's not Hood's younger brother? But he was Robin? Or was he not Robin?”
“He's THE ROBIN. The 1ST ROBIN!” Wally snaps, exasperated with the fact that he had to spell it out.
“Wait.. WHAT?!” Barry blanches, sending Dick into another fit of laughter.
“You didn't know that?” Bruce asks with his ‘you’re a fucking moron’ voice.
“No I didn't know that!” Barry shouts, “So he's your kid?”
“OBVIOUSLY! Who did you think he was?!” Wally screeches,
“Just some guy, I don't know!” Barry yells back,
Dick collapses on the couch wheezing.
“Just some guy?” Bruce repeats and now Wally can definitely hear the suppressed laughter in his voice. Bruce was trying not to laugh. BATMAN was trying not to laugh. Barry was so screwed. Even Wally couldn't save him now.
“Well not just anyone but we all just kinda figured that… honestly I don't know what we were thinking. The only thing we all agreed on was that Red Hood was the first Robin.”
“Wait… wait hold on.” Dick coughs, straightening up on the sofa. He goes into another coughing fit, Bruce hands him a glass of water. Where did he get that? “What do you mean by ‘we all’?” Dick asks when he can breathe again.
“Like everyone.” Barry replies,
Everyone?
“Who is everyone?” Bruce asks, cautiously.
"You know.. younger heroes like Blue Beetle, or newer ones like Hawkgirl, and then of course Lantern, Arrow, Wonder Woman, Supes, and—"
"Woah woah woah. The rest of the Founders think this too?" Dick interrupts, he glances at Bruce. Bruce just clicks his tongue.
Oh lord. Wally thinks to himself. He could see the idea forming, synchronizing across Bruce and Dick's brains.
"Well yeah but I'll tell them. They'll freak out obviously but—"
"Don’t." Bruce interrupts,
"What?" Barry blinks,
"Don't tell them." Bruce repeats, "Not yet at least."
"Why?"
"Because we want to fuck with them of course." Dick grins evilly. Bruce smirks, a glint in his cowled gaze. Barry glances nervously at Wally.
“You're on your own for this one.” Wally shakes his head, but can't help the grin that spreads on his face. Dick and Bruce's shenanigans were always the best ones.