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[ The audience goes wild as Haly's Traveling Circus begins its three-ring opening act extravaganza. The performers swarm the floor in a choreographed riot of colors and music, and Dick just knows he's gonna get lost in the crowd.

When's Jack gonna give in and let him have his own aerial act? The accident was five years ago. He's ready. He's got a routine worked out and everything. All he needs is a chance.

Not that he's ever gonna get one as long as he's stuck doing boring old handsprings through boring old flaming hoops all the way over in the third ring. Total baby stuff. He could do this in his sleep. He catches two juggling clubs mid-double-backflip, spins once more in midair, sticks the landing, and the crowd goes nuts. Okay, that felt pretty cool, maybe it was more impressive than he'd —

... Or maybe the elephant's stealing the show. Aw, come on, Zitka... ]

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You kinda look like cotton candy on a stick, dude. [But KF is still blushing and still grinning and he's charmed as hell.]

Is that so bad? Cotton candy is sweet. Also delicious.

[ He grabs the camera, glances once in the mirror — hair's good, face still sparkly — and grins at Kid Flash. ]

Ready to sweep me off my feet?

More like sweep you onto my back. C'mere. [KF holds his backpack out to Dick plaintively. Please put this on.]

[ Dick slides the backpack on, raising an eyebrow. ]

Sooo, no princess carry?

Not if I'm running around on mountains. Trust me, you don't want it either. [KF crouches so that Dick can climb up onto his back and hooks his hands under his thighs, descending the steps of his trailer and hiking him up.] Hmm...maybe move your arms? So instead of around my neck, there's one under my shoulder and the other over.

[ Dick adjusts his arms, hooking his hands together over the Flash symbol on KF's chest. His heartbeat's so fast. Is it always this fast...? ]

Better?

[Not this fast, but faster than average. It's this fast because he can feel Dick's heartbeat against his shoulderblade, picking up because of nerves or maybe in anticipation for his first high speed trip. Or-

KF adjusts his grip and starts off at a normal running pace.] Much better. Hang on tight. [And then he leans forward, digs his toes in and speeds up. They're off the fairgrounds and beside the highway in minutes, and they cover the seventy miles to the Rocky Mountain National Park in a fraction of time a car would.]

This is amazing! You're amazing!

[ Dick's mouth is close to Kid Flash's ear, but he still has to raise his voice to be heard over the air whipping past them. His cheeks are cold and his eyes sting a little from the wind, but he can't stop grinning as he watches the world fly by. ]

[KF's been called amazing before. He's been called incredible, a marvel, a hero, a godsend. He's definitely been called ugly things too, but the good by far outweighs the bad and he's gotten used to it. Thankfully not in a way that's gone to his head -mostly- but it doesn't make him boast or puff up or congratulate himself too hard anymore. It's just an observation; he's amazing because he's fast. Sure.

Except that when Dick says it, it's like his whole body becomes a livewire, or like he was just dropped into hot soda. Everything tingles, everything feels warm and his chest hitches as he grins and puts on a burst of speed for the last three miles. Nothing too fast, nothing to get them hurt, but they're skidding to a halt in the parkinglot of the park and KF is letting Dick down, eager to see his face.

...wow his hair is so fucked up] So I'm guessing you liked it.

[ Dick only wobbles for a moment as he finds his feet again, but his face is flushed and he's grinning. He hugs Wally's bicep with both arms, laughing like he's just ridden the best roller coaster in the world, which he guesses he kind of has. ]

I've never done anything like that before! Hahaha, my face is freezing — how stupid does my hair look? Oh my god, how fast were we going? You're so cool!

[ He pulls back, bouncing on his tiptoes, giddy and exhilarated. ]

[KF winds his other arm around Dick's shoulders when he hugs his elbow and he can't keep this idiotic smile off his face, he must look so dumb right now. But Dick keeps running his fingers through his hair and it keeps making it stick up more, and the wind must've ripped most of the glitter off because he's only sparkling a little bit, which is the most ridiculous thing KF's ever thought.

He turns Dick around to dig through the backpack while Dick yells something about so fast, oh my god, like a roller coaster and pulls out the camera, spinning him back around and leaning down to press their cheeks together and set the camera up in front of them.]

Date start selfie, look alive! [The flash blinds them both temporarily -the sun's long since set- and KF blinks away stars as he rewinds the camera only halfway before stowing it in the backpack again.] Heh heh heh. Your hair looks really stupid. Now you know what I deal with on a daily basis.

[ Dick's stomach does that stupid squirmy flip thing again when KF's cheek presses against his, and he thinks he might've blinked and he almost definitely made a completely ridiculous face, all startled and flustered and grinning, but... he loves it. He loves it. ]

... Yeah, but I like your stupid hair.

[ Dick reaches up to run his fingers through the tips of Kid Flash's sticky-uppy bangs. ]

[KF freezes.

KTHMP KTHMP KTHMPKTHMPKTHMP]

I- cool. [oh god his face feels so hot] Well, y'know, I do take painstaking care to make sure it's extra stupid every morning.

And here I thought it was all natural.

[ Dick's blushing too, from the tips of his ears to his nose to his neck, and the only thing that can salvage his dignity now is how dark it is. ]

Hey thanks. Jerk. [KF is grinning though, and -like an idiot- he takes Dick's hand as they hop over the very obvious "CLOSED" fence and start for the hiking paths.]

So. I've never been on any of these paths and I'm hoping at least one of them leads to like, some romantic mountaintop view or a waterfall or something, but in the case it doesn't and we're attacked and eaten by mountain lions or something, I just wanted to say thanks. For coming with me.

[ Dick squeezes KF's hand, looking sidelong at him through his eyelashes. ]

Don't worry. I'll save you. I'm great with cats.

[p-pretty eyes, is that a weird thing to think about a guy]

As good as you are with bears?

[ who knows but he's been wanting to kiss KF's dumb freckled cheek for way too long ]

Maybe even as good as I am with superheroes.

Getting jealous again. [KF tugs a little on Dick's hand as they climb over a set of boulders.] Jeez it's dark. Here, there's a flashlight in the bag. Turn around.

[ Dick turns, looking up through the pines as KF digs through the backpack. ]

Dude, before you turn that thing on... you've gotta check out the stars out here.

Huh? Stars where? [KF shakes the flashlight with an annoyed growl and bangs it against his hand a couple times. Damn piece of junk, he should've brought the yellow one...]

KF. Shh. Look.

[ Dick pivots to face him again, rests two fingers just under Kid Flash's chin, and tips his head up. ]

See? Pretty.

Wha-? [KF looks up and oh wow, there's a break in the trees. And the stars are so bright up here! He squints and he's pretty sure he can see the Milky Way, which is honestly one of the coolest things that's ever occurred to him.]

...whoa. Dude.

[ Dick looks up, the stars spread out above them, glittering and brighter than Dick's ever seen them in his life. He wishes he'd learned his constellations. But his eyes slip back down to Kid Flash's face. Man, he's really, really cute when he's all impressed like this... ]

Yeah. Gorgeous.

[ He mentally high-fives himself for that one. SMOOTH. ]

[TRY DORKY

Because the universe hates Dick Grayson or something, KF doesn't catch on. He just nods in agreement, staring up at the sky and tapping the flashlight against his leg until it flickers on and he glances down in surprise.]

Oh hey, lookit that. Works! Let's get this show on the road. Or hike on the trail, whatever.