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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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[ Dick is a little wobbly on his feet, getting used to the change in velocity. He runs a hand through his hair, his cheeks warming up now that they're out of the wind, and he's glad it's dark out now.

Okay, so Wally definitely noticed. He's kicking himself a little — they'd been doing so well. ]

Told you to watch the road.

[In Dick's defense, Wally was inviting Dick on dates like all night long. So it's not entirely his fault.

Wally rests a hand on his hip and rubs the back of his neck with the other, feeling uncomfortable again. Shit. Why did that have to come back? Why did he have to seize up whenever his best friend h-hit on him? Or even didn't hit on him?

Wally rubs his face and smacks his hands against his cheeks. Amazingly enough, that doesn't help their red tinge fade.] Okay. I'm just gonna throw this out there, say yes or no, whatever, but I think I'm on the right track.

Why don't we just- y'know, kiss [oh god oh god] and just get the first one out of the way? Because it's just that. It's pretty much just that.

[ That's blunt.

Dick doesn't know why he feels weird about it. Is he waiting for the perfect moment? Some kind of fairy tale romance thing? That's so not him. It's not them. But then again, he'd been calculating the trajectory between his lips and Wally's for weeks now, just waiting for the right moment. Whatever that meant. ]

It makes sense. Logically. [ But there's something he isn't saying. ]

Oh god, don't get all logical on me, Dick. [And calling him that while he's in costume is a taboo but it's just he and Dick out here, nobody for miles and miles, not even the pinpricks of headlights in the distance to signal approaching vehicles. It seems like the perfect time and place to hash this out, except Wally is still nervous and he can tell Dick doesn't like the idea for whatever reason.] Seriously, are we waiting for something? Because I dunno, if it's gonna be this weird all the time maybe we should just...

[He can't even say it because he doesn't want that (and he didn't even know how badly he didn't want to break up with Dick until now), but he doesn't want to walk on eggshells for the rest of his life either. Maybe just one brief, humiliating smooch is all they need to muscle past this and be familiar again.]

No, look, you're right, it's— it's not like it's a big deal or anything, I just...

[ He's uncharacteristically nervous again, and he hates that it's being around Wally of all people that makes him feel like this. So maybe they should just get it out of the way. Maybe...

He rocks from his heels to the balls of his feet and back, anxious, a light breeze tugging at the corner of his cape. He looks away, far off in the distance down the highway, and when he finally gets his words out they come out all in a rush, like he's trying to get that part over with, too. ]

I guess I was just waiting for something special. Like I'd know the right time when I saw it. And it's cheesy and kinda naive, I know, but if I was gonna do it, I wanted to do it right.

[For just one second Wally has to touch his cheeks to make sure they're not literally on fire. Wally might cut to the chase with Robin, but Dick doesn't exactly hold back either. Maybe if they were both this honest with everyone else in their lives, they wouldn't have such a hard time.]

Look. [Wally sighs and looks away. He can't. He can't look Dick in the eye- mask, whatever, while he says this.] I get you. I want it to be- ...want it to mean something too. If you wanna hold off, that's cool with me. I'm just tired of not being able to do stuff with you.

[...RED]

Like, friend-stuff. I used to be able to just punch you or- y'know, anything. I'm just tired of being worried about it.

[ It's seeing Wally stressed out and anxious about this that pushes him to do it. This might be the scariest thing he's done since he can't remember when, but Wally's always made him braver. They're already close, but he takes a step closer, resting a hand against Wally's forearm. He wants it to be casual, but he knows it can't be. Not when they're both so jittery. Which is one more reason, right? He wants to be able to punch Wally and kiss him. Still keep all the best friend perks, just... plus whatever.

Deep breath. ]

Couldn't ask for a better night. And... [ even the tips of his giant ears are red ] I really do wanna kiss you. Just— one rule, okay?

[ He flashes Wally a grin that's more confident than he feels. ]

Mask comes off first.

[Why would his mouth go dry at the most inopportune times? Stupid mouth.]

Cool with me.

[He slips his fingers underneath the lip of his cowl and shoves it back past his hair to hang back like the hood of a sweatshirt. His goggles get pushed up into his bangs and he does it all one-handed because the other one, the one that Dick's touching has for some reason decided to seek out the edge of Dick's cape to hold on gently, just pinched there between his fingers.

He sniffs, glances down the roads to make sure they're not about to be flattened by a truck any time soon and flashes Robin a grin.]

So, you really wanna kiss me, huh? [That's more like it, that's more familiar, and sure all his organs are jumping up into hyper speed, running on a high-octane formula but shit, what's that matter, why's that important when Dick is looking at him like that and peeling off his mask and holding onto his wrist?]

[ And then the mask comes off and gets tucked away in his belt, pink marks around the edges where the spirit gum tugged at his skin. Distantly, somewhere beyond the rush of his pulse in his ears, he thinks: it's not a bad moment for this, out here alone under the stars. But mostly he's on edge in the best way, feeling like he does right before he takes a death-defying leap, except it's only Wally. ]

Like you don't want a piece of this, too. [ But it comes out softer and sweeter than he means for it to, and his fingers twitch where they're holding onto Wally's arm. ]

[Dick's got his number, like always. Wally does want to kiss Dick, has been thinking about it longer than he's comfortable admitting really. He'll never say it aloud because Dick would probably flip his ass off a building if he did, but Dick's cute, and that's a weird thing to finally admit aloud- er, silently. To himself.

Dick's got stunning blue eyes and pretty black hair, he's lithe and graceful and he browns like nobody's business in the sunlight. Even his too-big ears are cute. So when Dick peels off the mask and gives Wally that quiet look up through his dumb messy hair, so sue him, Wally's knees to a little weak.

He's the oldest. He should probably start it.

Wally takes a deep breath and steps closer. Even if Dick's been growing at a much faster rate than Wally has for these past few months, he's still a good seven inches taller than him. Dick has to tilt his face up to make eye contact, so Wally tilts his head down, and he leans closer and wow, he's almost there, he's really actually going to kiss a guy and it's Robin and that is all kinds of okay-]

[[ Wally, sweetheart? Are you there? ]]

[Wally groans and drops his head onto Robin's shoulder, screwing his eyes shut. She can't be serious.]

[[ Wally? ]]

[He straightens up, taps his comm and keys his mic back on.]

Mom! You're supposed to call my comm for emergencies only.

[[ I know that, but you left your phone at home. How else am I suppose to call you? ]]

[Wally tilts his head back and mouths 'oh my god' up at the sky as if praying for someone to save him. How embarrassing.]

...what is it Mom?

[[ Is your friend with you? Ask him if he's okay with roast beef for dinner. ]]

He's okay with roast beef.

[[ Did you ask him? I just want to make sure, I don't want him to force himself to eat something he doesn't like just to be polite. ]]

[Wally's face is buried in his hands when he asks Robin,] Do you like roast beef.

[ It figures that just when he'd gotten up the nerve, just when he'd convinced himself that this was the right moment or at least an okay moment, this would happen. Does anything ever go according to plan for them?

But Wally's utter despair while asking about dinner plans is— it's adorable, and suddenly the absurdity of the whole thing hits him and he can't stop giggling. Somehow, in between breaths, he manages to get out: ]

Y-yeah, I— snrk— I like roast beef.

[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.