Chapter Text
Wally hasn’t exactly been subtle about his feelings for Dick. In fact, he had been so unsubtle about it, that Artemis figured it out before even he did.
It was an amicable breakup both because of his feelings for Dick and the fact that he was trapped in the Speed Force long enough for Artemis to move on and start dating Zatanna.
So, Wally has returned back to a life that has kept going without him and so much is different.
For one, Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris have kids. Two of them!
Bart has taken up the mantle of Kid Flash in his honor and doing a lot better than he had been the last time Wally saw him.
And Dick… Dick isn’t Robin anymore. Now someone named Tim is Robin and he’s Nightwing and Wally can’t imagine what could have made Dick give his name and colors to someone else.
Apparently he’s done it twice while Wally’s been away!
And Wally…
Look, he’s had a lot to catch up on and Uncle Barry has been particularly clingy since his return and it’s not like Dick has come to him so they just… haven’t gotten to see each other yet.
Wally doesn’t know why Dick wouldn’t come see him but a lot has changed in the years he’s been gone. Dick’s different than the boy he was when Wally, in his eyes, died. Wally can’t imagine what Dick had gone through in his absence.
But, after a long month of rehabilitation, healing and processing the changes that went on without him, Wally takes it upon himself to see Dick.
The run to Gotham is the longest run he’s gotten to do since coming back and it’s as exhilarating as it’s always been and the feeling of the world rushing past him gives him a sense of calm that he hasn’t been able to achieve holed up in Uncle Barry’s house.
As always, he gets a twinge of anxiety crossing the border into Gotham and rushes into an abandoned building to switch into civvies, knowing that the presumed dead Kid Flash showing up into Gotham will only cause more issues than he wants to deal with now and does a lap through the bustling streets just slightly faster than the average human trying to catch Nightwing.
Wally feels the air knocked out of his lungs as he catches sight of him.
He’s older now, that much is obvious, and the blue and black suit hugs him differently than his Robin gear ever did. He’s taller, though not as tall as Wally is now, and Wally’s heart swells at the knowledge that at least that hasn’t changed (and perhaps another reason he doesn’t acknowledge).
Wally is ready to run into Dick’s embrace but stops when he realizes that Dick isn’t alone.
Weeks bedridden, Wally spent most of his time reading up on everything he’s missed, and he recognizes the man immediately.
Red Hood. High level threat. Best known for putting the head honcho criminals’ heads into a duffel bag.
Wally freezes. Petrification courses through him, the fear that Dick is in danger urging him to run to him and protect him. The more logical part of Wally knows that Dick can handle himself and Wally’s interference will only throw Dick off and put him at danger.
That doesn’t stop him from lingering close by.
It’s only as he gets closer does he realize that the two don’t seem to be in any sort of standoff. They’re actually walking together, shoulder to shoulder, towards the Bat Burger.
“Are we there yet?” Red Hood asks.
“You can literally see the sign over there,” Dick replies dryly.
“But are we there yet?”
“You’ve lived here your entire life. You know we’re almost there.”
“Actually I didn’t live here my entire life—”
“Don’t you dare—”
“I actually lived and died here.”
Dick’s shoulders slump. “Hood, don’t joke about that.”
Hood holds out his hands. “Why not? It’s hilarious.”
Dick runs a hand over his face. “It’s shaving years off of my life is what it’s doing.”
“You know what shaved years off of my life?”
“Don’t—”
“Dying! Ba dum ts.”
“You’re such a hypocrite,” Dick says, pointing at Hood. “You call me lame when you literally say ba dum ts out loud.”
“What the fuck do you want from me? Do you want me to carry a tiny drum kit with me? Well, here’s a tiny violin. Womp womp.”
“You know, since you lived and died here, doesn’t that technically mean you did live your entire life here?”
“...shut the fuck up.”
Dick slings an arm around Hood’s shoulders and to Wally’s surprise, he lets him, melting into his touch and leaning into Dick’s side.
Who is Hood and how did he become so close to Dick?
Wally knows when Dick plays up the charm to people he doesn’t feel comfortable with and this isn’t that. Dick is completely at ease in the comfort of Hood, his smile soft and amused and completely, utterly relaxed.
Dick doesn’t relax easily. Wally was one of the few people who was able to get Dick to relax.
And somehow, a mass murderer with a penchant for decapitation is one of those people now.
Dick looks at Hood with an expression Wally can see is filled with love, fond with an understanding only built from years together.
Dick used to look at Wally like that.
Wally isn’t sure he still will.
Wally is ready to flee when suddenly, Hood’s head snaps to face him, the glowing white eyes of his mask meeting Wally’s.
Dick’s brows furrow with confusion and follow Hood’s line of sight and stills, lips parting with hope and hesitance.
As if he’s the speedster, Dick sprints to Wally and jumps into his embrace.
Wally hadn’t even realized he had spread his arms for Dick, just prepared to catch him and wrap him tight.
If not for the mask, Wally was sure his shirt would be damp with tears as Dick hiccups through his sobs, clinging to Wally with a deathgrip.
Wally doesn’t realize he’s crying too until he tastes the salt on his lips.
“You’re alright,” Wally says. “I’m here.”
It takes them a few moments to work through the tears and the ache they hadn’t realized consumed them without each other’s presence before pulling away and smiling at each other.
“You’re here,” Dick whispers, almost reverently.
“I’m here,” Wally says. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
Dick smiles tearily at him, brushing his bangs away from his eyes. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“I’m so sorry, Wally. It was my fault that you—”
“And I’m stopping you right there,” Wally says, putting his palm over Dick’s mouth. “It was not your fault and I know you’ve spent years blaming yourself but I do not blame you and I will not let you blame yourself anymore.”
“But—”
“Nope—”
“Wally, I—”
“Uh uh!”
Dick laughs. “Okay. We’ll work on it. Alright?”
“Fine,” Wally says.
Dick shakes his head, thumping it against Wally’s shoulder. “God, Walls. I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Well you’re gonna be wishing that you can get rid of me because now that I’ve got you back, I’m not leaving you alone.”
“I wasn’t alone when you were gone,” Dick says, picking up on what’s unspoken in Wally’s joking. “Not for long, anyways.”
Wally’s eyes drift towards Hood who has taken off his helmet and acquired a burger and soda during their reunion. He slurps loudly.
“Yeah,” Wally says, his smile tight. “I’m happy for you two.”
Dick’s brows pinch together, head tilting with confusion. “What do you mean?’
“He’s thinks we’re fucking,” Hood pipes in, chewing through a mouthful of burger.
Dick’s jaw drops, quickly morphing into disgust, gagging slightly as if the thought of that is revolting. “Ew. No, no, no. Why would you put that thought into my brain?!”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” Hood says, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “He’s the one who’s thinking it.”
“Why would you think that?!” Dick wails.
“You two just… fit,” Wally says.
“Don’t say that shit or it’ll get to his head,” Hood says.
Dick ignores Hood, attention fully on Wally. “Hood is my little brother.”
Wally’s brain goes to static, every interaction he’s seen being put into a new perspective. “...ooooh.”
Dick laughs, head throwing back and making Wally’s heart flutter. “Yeah, oh.”
“So you’re—”
“Not dating?”
“Or fucking!” Hood adds with a mouthful of half chewed fries.
Even with a domino, Wally can tell Dick is rolling his eyes. Dick takes Wally’s hands into his. “I’m not dating anyone.”
“Good,” Wally says, before he can stop himself.
Dick smirks. “Good, huh?”
“Ugh, barf,” Hood says. “Get a room.”
“What do you say?” Dick says salaciously. “You wanna find a room to continue this?”
“Please do,” Hood says. “Let me enjoy my dinner in peace.”
Dick flips him off, eyes still looking into Wally’s, and Hood throws a fry at Dick’s head which he catches and takes a bite with a cheeky grin.
This was not how Wally expected his night to go—
Dick feeds him the other half of his fry and Hood heaves dramatically.
—but he thinks it’s been a long time coming.