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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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I'd feel better if you were here. But, y'know. [KF coughs again, and there's a lull in conversation and the white background noise of movement as he reaches for his water and sips through the straw to wet his throat.]

Look, I'm...I won't lie to you. This'll probably happen again.

[ softly: ] I know. Comes with the whole "saving the world" thing. Can't be a hero if you're not in danger, like I can't really wow a crowd if they don't think I might miss my landing. Job hazards. I get it.

But can I just— is there anyone I can check with? A number I can call or someone I can text or a Justice League hotline for superheroes' significant others?

[KF's heart thumps painfully against his ribs. He hadn't considered the danger on Dick's end, doing his routine; it just hadn't entered his mind. Of course Dick could get hurt, just like his parents, and the only way KF would know is if he read the news the next day.]

I-

...I...have to talk to the Flash. If it was just about me...

Oh no, I don't mean— you don't have to! He doesn't even know me, I can't ask for something like that...

I'll make sure to leave a note, or instructions or something. So you can at least get a call.

... this is really morbid, huh?

Yeah it is. We live pretty weird lives, huh?

Wouldn't trade it for anything, though.

Sap. [But KF's voice is warm. He wouldn't trade it for anything either.]

Listen. 'm gonna go to sleep. Can I call you t'morrow?

You can call me anytime you want.

Sweet dreams, KF. And stay warm, okay?

[Kid Flash stumbles over the nickname, EKG beeping more rapidly as he swallows hard against a cough. Don't ruin it, don't ruin it.] You too. [......WHY WOULD DICK NEED TO STAY WARM] I mean uh, the dreams. You have good dreams. ...dreaming.

[ohgod] Okay bye. [HANGING UP NOW.]

[ Dick doesn't stop grinning for the rest of the night.

They call each other every day until Kid Flash is well enough to get back on his feet. The circus is finishing its tour up north, and there's late fall frost on the ground by the time Kid Flash makes it up to visit, and Dick is so glad to finally see him again that he launches himself into a hug the first chance he gets. ]

Hey, [ he laughs, his arms around KF's shoulders, ] did I get a little taller while you were gone, or did you shrink in the deep freeze?

Hey hey. No mentioning cold-related shrinkage. [YES HE WENT THERE

KF wraps his arms around Dick again though, holding him tight and closing his eyes as he presses his cheek to his temple. He's missed this. He's really missed this.]

Mmh. You don't need to breathe, right? [SQUEEZING TIGHTER]

[ squeaking a little. who needs lung capacity? ] Ha! If I have to pick, I'll take this. Man, you're so warm. Want a part time job as my personal space heater?

[ Dick nuzzles into the crook of Kid Flash's neck, his nose bumping up against the divot of his collarbone. ]

[KF snickers and his shoulders jump a little, though he clasps his hands behind Dick's back again.] Tickles. [One of the stagehands starts making kissy noises behind them and KF pulls back a little, though he drags Dick along with him.] Wanna head inside? We're a bigger attraction than the lions like this.

And here I thought you liked the attention.

[ But he's blushing faintly as he drags Wally to his trailer, because yeah, some things are just better done in private. ]

[Good thing Dick does, because the second they're inside Wally pulls him up into a kiss that he's reluctant to break to even talk.] Mmmmmissed you.

Apparently...

[ He laughs softly, resting his fingertips on KF's jawline. When they finally break apart by inches: ]

You know I had to resort to kissing my Kid Flash poster good night?

That bastard, [KF mutters against his lips, pressing his cheek into Dick's palm.] I swear he gets more action than I do.

[ He can't help grinning against the kiss, stroking the pads of his thumbs along the seam of Wally's cowl where it meets his skin, just over his cheekbones. ]

Jealous?

[KF pauses.

He takes Dick's hands in his own and lowers them, just a little, before reaching up and pulling off his goggles. He tosses them onto the bed, then reaches for Dick's hands again and places his fingers back on the edge of the cowl, guiding him to help lift it up, over his face and hair to hang at the back of his neck.

His face won't give anything away; without the uniform, he's just some nobody kid from the midwest.] I can't tell you my name, but... [He scrapes his teeth over his lip and smiles, nervous and hopeful at the same time. Does Dick want to know more about him than just the uniform? Or is it the thrill of dating Kid Flash that keeps him around?]

[ At first, he doesn't understand. Then, even as the cowl drops and his fingers push through KF's red, red hair, he can't believe it's really happening. To him. Kid Flash trusts him. His eyes go wide, and he stares, dumbstruck, at Kid Flash like he's seeing him for the first time. There really is a normal kid under there.

The cowl may not have hid a lot, but seeing his face — his whole face — the faint pink marks on his cheeks where the fabric lay, the messy flyaway tufts at his hairline, the way his freckles crowd his cheeks like constellations...

... Dick thinks he might be a little bit in love. ]

KF... You're gorgeous.

Heh, [KF coughs, face burning a brilliant red, grin wide and pleased. His hands slide down to rest on Dick's sides.] Yeah, I get that a lot. [no he does not]

[ Dick leans up on tiptoes, pressing a kiss to one of KF's cheeks, then the other. There's nothing, nothing he can say that can convey how much this means to him, how much he wants to be worthy of this kind of trust, this impossible honor. So instead... ]

... I want to make a star map of your freckles. Why don't they show them in the photos?

They're not photogenic, [KF murmurs, closing his eyes as Dick tugs his face down to kiss his cheeks.] Can we do dumb stuff together? Like play video games or watch a movie or read in the same room or something? I can bring my homework and do it here, it'll be so boring and normal.