Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Nightwing… Nightwing!” Robin laughed as he leaned against the counter in the Mount. Justice bathroom next to his brother. “You look fine. Besides, it’s not like you guys are dating or anything.”

Nightwing’s eyes widened from behind his mask as he froze with his hands just inches away from his mullet. Blush rose to his umber cheeks, turning them russet, as he cleared his throat and slowly lowered his hands. “Right, right.” He took a moment to compose himself then reached over and ruffled Robin’s hair with a smirk. “C’mon Little Wing, we’ve got a party to prepare.”

“Hey-! Stop that Dickwad!” Robin fussed as he swatted Nightwing’s hand away and fixed his own hair. Nightwing simply just left with a laugh as Robin scowled at him and muttered half-hearted threats. Less than a minute later Robin followed after him and the duo made their way back to the main part of the cave where the rest of the Team was setting up for the surprise party that Wally had oh-so-subtly hinted at wanting for the past month, just like he did every year.

Laughter came from the kitchen area as M’gann and Artemis were on baking duty and Superboy begrudgingly helped them out. Flash could be seen zipping around as he put up last minute decorations- why speedsters always insisted on doing things last second Nightwing never understood- and Zatanna helped out with her magic.

Together Nightwing and Robin made their way over to where Rocket, Troia and Aqualad were gathering together all the presents and attempting to, poorly, hide them underneath the coffee table. “Hey guys,” Nightwing grinned, though every nerve in his body was screaming for things to just hurry up, for Kid Flash to get here already so he could stop feeling so goddamn nervous.

He knew it was stupid too, they’d known each other for four years and their two year anniversary was just a week ago (though if you asked Wally he’d say it was adorable how nervous he got), so there was no reason for him to be this stressed out over a birthday party. But he’d been the one in charge of planning this year so anything and everything that could possibly go wrong had already run through his head a million times and snowballed into him having a panic attack in the bathroom less than half an hour ago. One which he desperately tried to play off as him just stressing over his appearance when Robin came to check on him.

“Hey, Nightwing,” Troia glanced up at him with a smile as she pushed the last of the presents past the tablecloth that was covered in print saying Happy Birthday in bold, capital, rainbow colored letters. “Is there anything else you need us to do?”

“No, I think that’s everything,” Nightwing glanced around the cave one last time and nodded before looking back at the others. “It’s all been covered.”

“Then we have done well,” Kaldur smiled as he stood up straight, followed by the two girls. “Things have gone far better than they did last year.”

“Last year?” Robin raised an eyebrow as he glanced up at his brother. “What happened last year?”

“Let’s just say that it was a disaster, heavy on–”

“Recognized: Flamebird B-0-3.” Nightwing cut himself off mid sentence as he turned around so quickly that even the Flash himself was surprised. Down the hall from the direction of the zeta tubes came Wally, only he wasn’t wearing his usual Kid Flash suit. Instead of his yellow and red combo he had on one nearly identical to his stealth suit, though it was much more form fitting as the fabric clung to his body almost like a second skin (and god had his two years on testosterone made a difference). However, before anyone truly got the chance to take in his new appearance, Nightwing was already across the room and jumping into Wally’s- Flamebird’s– arms as Flamebird spun him around with a laugh.

“God, I so want to kiss you right now,” Nightwing whispered as Flamebird lowered him back down to his feet, although his arms remained around his neck as he gave him a warm smile, his back turned towards the rest of the party guests.

“Maybe later,” Flamebird chuckled quietly as he pressed a quick kiss to Nightwing’s cheek, so quick that the only other person in the room able to register it was Flash. “Hey, Boy Wonder.”

“You changed your suit!” Nightwing laughed as he pulled back just enough to properly take in Flamebird’s new appearance. “And- and your designation! It’s–”

“Flamebird, yup.” A lopsided grin pulled at Flamebird’s lips as Nightwing’s eyes met his, the fondness in them shining through his white out lenses. “Afterall I’m not a kid anymore and Flash was already taken.”

Artemis cleared her throat from where she was in the kitchen, causing Flamebird to pull his hands away from Nightwing’s hips as they both turned to face her. “Happy birthday, Wally. Care to share the birthday boy with the rest of us, Nightwing?”

“Maybe,” Nightwing giggled as he slipped his hand into Flamebird’s and led him over to where the others- minus the trio in the kitchen who were currently pulling a cake out of the oven- had gathered in the lounge area. “C’mon Wals, we got Flash and Zee to put up Spider-Man themed decorations!”

“We?” Flamebird laughed as he followed after him. “Why do I feel like that was completely your idea, ‘Wing?”

“It was,” Robin sighed and the others nodded in agreement.

“Jaybird!” Flamebird ruffled his hair with his free hand, to Robin’s squawking protest, before wrapping an arm around him and pulling him close. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”

“Batman sent me,” Robin shrugged as he fixed his hair, though he made no attempt to break free from Flamebird’s side hug. “Something about ‘team bonding’.”

Soon the other Atlanteans, Tempest and Aquagirl, arrived and things were finally in full swing. By the time the cakes, yes cakes, he was a speedster afterall, had cooled off and been iced they’d all taken up seats upon the floor and couches. Nightwing, however, stood behind Flamebird with his arms draped over his shoulders and his chin rested atop his head as he watched his friends talk. M’gann floated the cakes in and set them on the table as Zatanna used her magic to light the candles.

Once M’gann was situated next to Superboy, Nightwing moved his hands to Flamebird’s shoulders as he bent down and whispered next to his ear, “Make a wish, ma moitié.” His warm breath tickled as it ghosted across Flamebird’s skin, sending a shiver down his spine as his cheeks gained a tint of pink to them. The slightest of smirks pulled at the corner of Nightwing’s mouth as he straightened his back out and gently nudged Flamebird’s shoulders forward. “Well, what are you waiting for? Make a wish, birthday boy.”

Flamebird shook his head and blinked his eyes as he rid himself of his dazed state, clearing his throat. “Right, right.” Both Robin and Flash were visibly holding back laughter as Flamebird leaned forward and closed his eyes, blowing out the candles on each cake. When he opened his eyes all the flames were out and a smirk of his own spread across his lips. “I guess this means my wish will come true.”

“We’ll see,” Nightwing snorted.

Two hours later Dick found himself shoved against the wall as Wally bit at his neck, sucking at the skin as his own hands grabbed the back of Wally’s shoulders. “Shit– wish come true huh?” His chuckle turned to a gasp as Wally’s hands made their way down to his hips, squeezing his sides as he pinned him to the wall.

“Oh shut up,” Wally murmured as he nibbled his way upwards and sucked at the spot right below the corner of his jaw. “As I recall you were the one saying you wanted to kiss me.”

Desperately one of Dick’s hands moved up and grabbed at Wally’s hair, glad that his cowl had already been pulled back as his own mask had been disregarded the moment they’d gotten into Wally’s room, quickly followed by a pair of lips crashing down on top of his. A moan escaped him as Wally’s leg between his pressed forward and he attempted to thrust his hips, chasing after the sensation that shot through him, only to groan as Wally held him in place with a taunting laugh.

“What’s the matter Baby?” Wally cooed almost mockingly as he pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes as he cocked his head to the side and a frustrated whimper came from Dick at the sudden loss of contact. “Can’t handle a little teasing?”

“Wally you’re gonna be the death of me,” Dick whined as he dropped his head forward and Wally chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of his hair. “Do you even know how good you look in your new suit?”

“Oh, I’m aware.” Wally smirked as he put a hand under Dick’s chin and lifted his head back up. “And I did it just for you, Baby.”

“Fuck…” Dick gulped as his eyes trailed downwards and then back up again as his hand on Wally’s shoulder moved to rest on his ass. “All this… for me?”

“Mhm,” Wally laughed as he pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Why, is something wrong?”

“Wals, how the hell am I supposed to focus while we’re on a mission?!”

Wally let out a full blown cackle as he buried his face in Dick’s shoulder before kissing the side of his neck. “Babe… how do you think I felt when you first put on your Nightwing suit?”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” Wally hummed as he started nipping at his skin again. “You’ll get used to it Babe, I promise.”

A while later, as they were tangled in sheets, Dick rolled onto his side and cupped Wally’s cheek with a soft smile. His fingers traced over the freckles on the side of Wally’s pale face as he looked into his emerald green eyes as though he were one of the stars in the sky. “Happy Birthday, Wally.”

“Thanks, Babe,” Wally smiled back at him just the same as he reached up and brushed a few stray curls out of Dick’s face. There was a gentleness to his touch as he moved to cup his cheek and he simply looked back into his sapphire eyes as silence fell over them. No words needed to be said as having each other felt like enough, but also as though one wrong move could ruin the fragile perfection of such a moment. There was a raw intimacy to all, to be able to be so open without speaking, to lay naked- though covered by sheets- with someone they trusted so dearly and not have to worry about a thing.

“Your eyes are really pretty,” Dick spoke quietly as a soft giggle followed his words.

“So are yours,” Wally sighed, and the room lapsed back into silence.

It was terrifying, but exciting. In the four years they'd known each other they'd never quite had a moment like this as their busy lives and chatty nature kept them in constant motion. But this, this forced them to take the time to truly get to know and understand who the other was in their most vulnerable state as they searched the depths of each other's souls. At the end of it all the ugly truths of their deepest fears were laid out as clear as day and neither of them could deny just how similar they truly were at the core of it all.

All either of them really wanted was to be loved for who they are and not just their bodies. While their reasoning may differ, be it the way Wally so often felt at odds with his own physical attributes or how Dick still couldn't quite scrub his mind clean of the way it felt to have his boundaries violated, it was impossible for either of them to say that they didn't trust the other completely upon this realization. Here, in this moment, even without a single word uttered, they shared the silent promise to never take advantage of the other no matter the circumstances.

Eventually, though they couldn’t say for sure who did it first, they leaned closer and the distance between them disappeared as their lips connected in a soft kiss and their eyes slipped shut. There was a pure innocence to it in all its peaceful bliss as moonlight shone in through the window and across the two lovers, casting their bodies in a soft glow. Remnants of sweat and saliva mixed with the sweetness of their love as a soft humming resonated inside of their chests.

Slowly they pulled apart as the need for air caught up to them and they wore matching grins as they opened their eyes into one another. “I love you, so much,” Wally laughed breathlessly as he brushed his thumb along Dick’s cheek.

“I love you too,” Dick laughed as well. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to the palm of Wally’s hand, all whilst maintaining eye contact before they both burst into a fit of giggles. Wally wrapped his other arm around Dick and pressed his hand between his shoulder blades, pulling him close as he rolled onto his back. The younger teen buried his face in Wally’s bare upper chest as he struggled to stifle his laughter before ultimately giving up and pressing a trail of kisses along his body and neck before connecting their lips again.

There was still a delicateness to it as their lips moved as one and Wally’s hand on his cheek slipped around into his messy black curls. His other hand trailed sparks down his spine and rested on the small of his back just above where the sheets rested across their bodies. The tips of his fingers drew feather light circles on his bare skin as Dick carefully moved to straddle him, breaking off the kiss as his eyes flicked open. “Is… is this okay?”

“Yes, Dick, it’s okay,” Wally chuckled as he pulled his head closer and pecked his lips. “I’ve got nothing against having a lap full of my naked boyfriend.”

Dick snorted as his nose scrunched up briefly, though he couldn’t hide the smile that was creeping onto his face as his eyes twinkled and his cheeks gained a warmth to them. “Well… I don’t mind having my naked boyfriend under me, either.”

“Well then,” Wally’s eyebrows shot up for just a second. “I guess we’re in the clear then, aren’t we?”

“Mhm,” Dick hummed as he leaned forward the rest of the way, cupping both of Wally’s cheeks, and pressed their lips together as he closed his eyes once more. “Perfectly clear.”