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[So this...whatever they had going on, it's complicated. That's what Wally tells himself when their teammates give he and Robin weird looks, when Batman seems like he's glaring even though Wally can't tell the difference between a stare and a glare from old Bats, when his uncle's hand rests on his back and Wally thinks they just have to know.

But he's not ashamed. He's just- he doesn't know how to explain it yet. Parents first. Everyone else second.

They finally got the okay for Robin to spend the night at Wally's, which is a rare occurrence indeed. Unfortunately, Wally's parents aren't home so it's become very awkward. Usually they just hang out, do the same thing they always do with the occasional bout of discomfort but without parents? Well. Wally's not under the delusion that anything's going to happen -they haven't even kissed yet- but it's still- it's weird. It's like back in middle school when he went up to Sandy Hartford's room and he thought they were boyfriend and girlfriend, but apparently you have to clear that with the other person first.

It was. It's weird. Because now he's looking at Dick like he looked at Sandy, and his stomach is in knots like it was with Sandy, but it's different because it's more and that just makes it weirder.]

...Mom just went shopping, there's probably like...Cheetos or something downstairs.

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[Wally casually gives Robin the finger as he taps his comm again.]

Yeah Mom, he's okay with it. ...okay. Sure, fine. We're on our way back.

[He keys off his comm completely and gives Dick a Look. His face is never going to go back to its normal color. He's going to be red as a tomato until his dying day.]

So...guess we're gonna have to look for that perfect moment some other time, huh?

Maybe.

[ But enough of the unbearable tension is gone that, between fits of giggles, he bounces lightly up onto his tiptoes and kisses Wally high on the cheek before he can think twice about it. ]

[Wally blinks before sending Dick a soft, relieved half-smile. His cheeks can't get any redder, but hey.] I guess that'll do.

[He turns and crouches to let Dick climb back onto his back and turns to make his way back toward Central. They're kind of far out, they didn't resolve anything and he's starting to get hungry, but all things considered?

Yeah.

He's fucking spectacular.]

[ Dick feels better, too, and he can't seem to wipe the giddy grin off his face as he holds tight to Wally. It's not resolved, and they'll still have to cross the actually kissing for real bridge sooner or later (he really, really hopes it's sooner) but for now, at least? Some of the tension is gone, and they can just be Dick-and-Wally again. ]

[Somehow the comfort level has changed, even if it's not as drastic as either of them would hope. Wally and Dick don't get a chance to be alone until after his parents have gone to sleep and the two of them are downstairs, trying to keep their voices quiet as they play a versus match in the newest space alien first person shooter and Robin is again leaving Wally in his dust in the level.]

Dude- dude! Where was that gun dropped? I didn't know they put the launcher on this level. [Wally stretches a leg across the couch to shove his socked foot in Robin's face and against his chest and distract him. He is not above cheating to win.]

Hey hey hey— hey! Ugh, dude, gross!

[ Dick squirms and tries to shove Wally's stupid smelly speedster foot out of the way with his elbow, sliding halfway over the arm of the couch and trying not to take his eyes off the TV. It's probably comforting that even though he wants to kiss Wally pretty much all the time, things are still normal enough between them that he kind of wants to beat him up a little right now, too. ]

All's fair in love and war, [Wally cackles as he proceeds to use a warp tunnel to teleport across the map.] No screenwatching, that's cheating. [WOW WALLY WHAT DO YOU CALL WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WITH YOUR FEET?]

So not feeling the love here!

[ Well, whatever, two can play at that game. Dick's legs are shorter but he has serious precision kicking skills. ]

Dude- Ow! What the hell, are you trying to dislocate my knee?! [This would be so cute and romantic if they both weren't being so violent about it. Boys.

Wally's probably not going to win this match though. Which sucks. He almost never wins.]

You started it!

[ But if they keep squawking they're gonna wake up Wally's parents. At least Dick's having to seriously buttonmash to keep up, though. ]

[The door upstairs creaks open and Wally immediately stills and falls silent, poised with that heart-pounding fear of a child who has woken up his father for the third time on a night when he goes into work early the next morning.

Rudy apparently thinks the warning was enough, because the door closes again a moment later without the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. Wally breathes out a sigh of relief, then shoves Robin's side with his toes.]

Stop waking up my dad, Rob.

[ Dick shoves back, but way gentler this time. Good houseguest instincts are deeply ingrained in him, after all, and upsetting authority figures is one thing but upsetting parents— ]

Play nice, then.

No. This is my house, I always let you win when we're at your place. [no wally dick just always wins because he's better than you

Wally spreads out on the couch and throws his legs across Dick's lap, getting comfortable as the new map loads.] Wanna play co-op?

[ Dick adjusts to it, resting his forearms on Wally's shins and getting comfy. Which only makes him think back to their almost-kiss, and then he's wondering if maybe they should put the controllers aside and try it once more, but...

Maybe that'd be making it weird again. ]

Co-op sounds good.

[Maybe Robin would feel less self-conscious about it if he knew that Wally was thinking the exact same thing, sneaking glances whenever Robin's attention is elsewhere, crossing his ankles and being as obnoxious as possible to distract him from the fact that it feels like his molecules are vibrating.]

I wanna be point. I'm awesome at point. [Wally scrolls through the selections, glancing over at Robin to see how the changing light and color plays off his face.]

[ Normally Dick would tease, but sometimes it's more fun to just let Wally have his way and see if he gets flustered all on his own. Either that or he's going mushy, but— no, let's blame the first thing. He shoots Wally a playful glance, meeting his obnoxious fidgeting halfway and grabbing at his ankles. ]

Your house. You pick.

[ And he drums his fingers against Wally's calf as he waits. ]

[It's just his stupid ankles but Wally still feels his belly do that swooping thing it was doing right when they almost kissed. Maybe it's because it's familiar, or whatever, he doesn't know.

Wally suddenly vaults up and slips his legs off of Robin's lap.] I'm gonna get some Coke. Want any?

[ The suddenness is surprising, but for a moment, Dick wonders if he's done something wrong. Gotten too cozy or made it too obvious, or— but no, that's ridiculous. It's Wally. Right? ]

Sure, if you're up.

[no no, wally's got it all planned out

He stands up, leans just right over Dick and he's gonna do it, he'll kiss Dick back. He's been thinking about it since the run home. It feels uneven, him being the only one to get kissed, and even if they can't make it...y'know, further than that, he can at least do this.

So he's gonna kiss Dick back. Right on the cheek. He's gonna do it.

...and then he gets nervous, moves too fast and bangs his nose into the side of Dick's face.]

Gah-! Ow!

[ Dick squawks a little in surprise, recoiling and blinking wide-eyed at Wally. A flush spreads across his cheeks and the tips of his ears, his heart pounding again. ]

Did you just— Are you okay?

[NO HIS PRIDE IS MORTALLY WOUNDED.

Wally's fine but he uses the excuse of a wounded nose to cover his face and hide his shame. WOW. THAT WAS EXTRA SILKY SMOOTH, WEST.]

...fine...

[Wally drops his hands and sighs, slumping back on the couch.] Just...y'know, trying to put the moves on you. [And failing miserably.]

[ Dick freezes, only going redder. It's... weirdly endearing, how earnest Wally is about it compared to the front he always puts on around girls. But at the same time, Wally failing at this puts Dick on the spot to pick up the slack, and he's not at all sure what to do.

At last, he settles for honesty. ]

We're really bad at this, aren't we?

Excuse you, I'm usually pretty damn good at this. I'm just off my game tonight. [Wally shoves himself up. He really does still want something to drink, but instead of leaving Dick there on the couch alone he takes the other boy's hand to pull him up. And then doesn't let go.] C'mon, I'm thirsty.

[ Dick gets to his feet, and then he's left holding Wally's hand, which... okay, it isn't even remotely the first time that's happened, but it's maybe the first time it's been actual handholding instead of... whatever. His heart flutters embarrassingly, and he gives Wally's hand a brief squeeze. ]

Then I shall accompany you to the kitchen.

[It is kind of embarrassing, but they're both sort of reaching the critical mass point of humiliation where it just doesn't even matter anymore. So Wally squeezes Dick's hand back, and even though it's kind of a pain to open the soda and get glasses down and everything with just one hand, he doesn't let go. Even when their hands get kinda sweaty, he doesn't let go. Even when Dick's hand keeps bumping against his leg- actually, that's not bad. Not a reason to let go.

They stay in the kitchen for a while, the glow of the TV illuminating the livingroom beyond, their fingers linked and their arms brushing and swapping stories about school. It's normal, it's the same, but there's just that element of more that Wally hadn't even known he'd wanted. He rubs his thumb up and down Dick's, glances down at him before reaching over and taking off Dick's sunglasses, quiet and slow.]