Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The cave was silent.

It was driving Wally West crazy.

The reasoning behind it being so quiet though was driving the young man even more insane.

They were missing a member of their team.

There had been no update.

At this point the red head was ready to run to Gotham, despite being told not to about a million times. But when did he listen? Why was he listening now? Superman was standing in the room with them, along with several other members of the Justice league.

So much for trusting them.

Nobody could really blame them though, that was how Connor had come to the team. They had disobeyed orders. Disobeying orders seemed to be the one consistent thing that the team did well with.

“Kid, stop pacing.” Wally heard his uncle tell him and he turned toward him only to see the man shake his head. “Don’t glare at me. I did nothing. Batman will update us on the situation when he has a chance.”

“Pretty sure Batman is the reason Nightwing isn’t even here. He sends him on so many missions that it's impossible for him to get any rest. What if he’s injured or trapped, what if he just needs our help in general. He’s been through so much lately with losing Robin…”

Batman 002

Everyone’s attention turned toward the zeta tube, expecting another to follow.

Robin B13

Silence for a moment

Red Robin B20

Everyone froze, waiting for something else to happen

Batgirl B16

Spoiler B28

Black Bat B36

Then there was more silence. The group waited. Nothing. Wally stared at the zeta tube waiting for it to call out the name he was waiting for. The one specific person he wanted to see step out. He didn’t realize he had freaked out until Barry grabbed his shoulders and then held his face. “Wally. You with us?”

“Where is he? Where is Dick?” he asked softly. “He should have followed Batman in. He should have been…”

“Breathe kid. Breath.” He heard Barry tell him. “They have explained nothing yet. Let them explain. Why don’t you sit down.”

“I don’t want to sit down!” he yelled. “Where the hell is he Bruce!?” Wally yelled. “Where is he?” Wally was lucky that those in the room already knew Batman’s identity or else he would have been in a lot more trouble with everyone.

“He didn’t survive.” Bruce told them, not looking at Wally as he said the words.

Wally’s vision blurred as he stood in shock at the words. He heard muffling around him, people calling to him. He couldn’t focus though. He just wanted it to be a joke. He wanted Dick Grayson to jump out and say he was just kidding, their movie date was happening. That they were going to the next circus trip. That his little brothers were going to come over for a game night with them. That everything was fine.

“Wally.” Barry said, shaking him a bit. “Wally. Are you with us, kid.”

“I have to go find him.” He said and grabbed his coat from the couch.

“Wally, they have his body already. You don’t have to find him.” Barry told him, not letting go of his nephew, knowing that if he did, he would run.

“He’s not gone. I have to go find him.”

“West.” He heard and turned toward Jason Todd. Robin II in the system still. He never came to the cave. “It's the truth.” Those words hit Wally like cement.

“No. No, he's meeting us at the apartment for movie night. We canceled patrol, and he’s just… just some rest. That's all…” and then the tears started and Barry caught him. “He can’t be gone.”

The room was silent, Wally didn’t pay attention to the others though. His mind was racing. His partner was gone. His best friend. His everything.

Chapter Text

They were pissed.

Rightfully so too. It had been over a year since he had been presumed dead, Bruce confirming it. Now, Dick Grayson stood on the roof with his brothers, and a bruised jaw. He wasn’t supposed to be back yet, he was told to wait until Bruce confirmed his return, but he had gone radio silent and Dick’s mental health was dropping.

It was easy for him to pretend everything was okay. It was easy because he was a performer and he could put on a face for a couple hours, and deal with the mess of his life afterwards. He let his brothers yell at him until Robin, Damian Wayne, stepped in and stopped them.

“He doesn’t have time for you to berate and belittle him.” Damian told them. “I told him you two weren’t worth seeing. I told him West was a higher priority,”

That was when both Red Robin and Red Hood stopped in their tracks. They knew about Wally and his reaction, they had been there. Even a year later nobody had heard from Wally West unless he was fighting crime, his personal life had become a mystery to everyone except Barry Allen.

It had been a struggle for a while. The Flash family not speaking to Batman, they had been angry that they weren’t given a heads up about the situation, that they weren’t told in private so Wally had more time to prepare. They knew the two boys' relationship was more than just friendship, and Barry made sure Bruce knew how he felt and held him accountable for the actions that day. Everyone had been surprised when they saw The Flash yelling at Batman. Barry was fiercely protective of Wally.

“We’ll talk later.” Jason said and nodded to Tim, whose anger was still plastered on his face. Before Dick could protest Jason shook his head. “Later. West is going to want to see you. Don’t fuck it up.”

Truth was Dick didn’t know what he was going to say to Wally. The family was easier. They had grown up around Batman, they knew how he was, not that he had even gotten that far in any explanation to them. He was honestly more nervous about Wally’s reaction. He knew that he was going to have to face him sooner or later, but he figured dealing with his family first would give him a little more time.

But Wally had always been his family too.

“Richard.” He heard Damian, pulling him from his thoughts. “West lives in Central city now. I have already reprogrammed the zeta-tube to allow you to go there without it going through the justice league computers.

“Thanks kiddo.” Dick said, giving him a hug and holding him there for a moment. Damian had been the first he saw. He hadn’t expected Damian to be there, it was an accident that they had run into each other but one that made coming bac early even more worth it, even if he was going to have to deal with Bruce eventually. As he pulled awhile he kissed the top of Damian’s head. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Tt. Just make sure West isn’t mopy anymore. He looks pathetic.” Damian commented. “Maybe call if you will be there longer than expected.”

“I will.”

“Promise?”

“I promise Dami.”

—------------------------------------------

Dick Grayson would later admit that he stood outside far longer than he meant to. He hadn't been nervous like that in a very long time. In all honesty he was afraid. He was afraid Wally would hate him for what he did, because when it came down to it, leaving was one him, not telling anyone was on him. Sure Bruce had made it clear that that was how it needed to be, but he could have gone against the man.

Right?

That's what he told himself.

As he went to knock, the door opened and Dick froze. “I’m on my way Barry, I promise I won’t…” Wally looked up and froze, his uncle calling to him in his ear as he went silent. “Uncle Barry, I..” he paused. “I have to call you back..” he told him softly and hung up. “Please tell me you are real” Dick opened his mouth to say something but Wally stopped him. “Wait, just in case I am talking to myself my neighbors don’t need to see that, they already think I’m crazy, come inside.”

Dick nodded and followed him inside. As the door shut he turned to Wally who stood at a distance, looking at him incredulously. “I’m real.” He said simply, and it broke his heart as Wally’s expressions changed. He wasn’t sure what was happening with them. “I’m s..”

“Stop.” Wally said. “Did you really die.” he nodded. “Who knew you were alive?”

“Wally…”

“Who Dick?”

“Bruce. He was the only one.”

“I went to your funeral. I watched your brothers mourn you. I mourned you.” Wally said to him and stepped closer. “And you are telling me you did die, but you’ve also been alive. How long?”

“I was dead for less than five minutes, Lex Luthor resurrected me…”

“So then why. Why did all of us think you were dead?”

“Bruce said.”

“Of course it was Bruce!” Wally yelled.

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t..”

“No, no Dick this was not your fault. You are not like him. You would not have let us believe you were gone…”

“I didn’t want to, I tried. I tried to get him to agree to me telling you, and the family but he said that..” Dick stopped.

“The mission right? “ Wally asked, moving closer to Dick. “How did he convince you Rob?” he asked and Dick shook his head. “How?”

“We fought…” Dick said. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, please..” He stopped when he felt Wally hug him for the first time in over a year. His arms went around the other man and the room fell silent as tears spilt from both their eyes.

“I’m so happy you are alive.” Wally whispered. “I’m not angry with you.” he reassured him, knowing where Dicks mind was already. “We have a lot to talk about, but I’m glad you are back.”

“I’m glad I’m back too. I’m sorry I left.”

“We’ll talk about that later.”

The two held onto each other, falling into silence again.

Chapter Text

It had been a month since he had returned.

Dick Grayson had not returned to Gotham. He hadn’t put his Nightwing uniform on.

There had been very little contact with his family.

The night he had come to see Wally, Dick had not left, and Wally was fine with that.

Barry had showed up, worried about the phone call that hadn’t ended abruptly. He had found Wally and DIck on the couch wrapped up in a blanket together, the latter already asleep. Wally had given his uncle a small smile, laying his head down on Dicks, who had his on Wally’s shoulder. He shut his eyes, and his uncle had left quietly.

Wally had quickly gotten use to Dicks presence again. It was weird for a day or so, but then it was like he had never left. The atmosphere was different, them being away from Gotham. He caught dick out on their balcony a lot. Most of the time he would just stare into the distance, zoned out.

Their balcony.

Because that was what it was now, without even speaking about it. Their old ways had fallen back into place, like a puzzle piece that had been dismantled for a time. They still fit. Sometimes the piece took a moment to place, but they eventually found their way.

Like with the nightmares. They had been every night. Wally had been pulled from sleep to Dick thrashing around, yelling. It had been at least two weeks until they settled down. Dick didn’t talk about his time with Spyral, he refused, but from the way he slept, he could tell it had been rough for him.

There had been so many phone calls from other heroes. They had heard Nightwing was back and asked about him. What they didn’t understand was that it wasn't Nightwing who was there with him, It was Dick Grayson. Not once had Nightwing been brought up, not once had Dick even gone to the closet and looked at the uniform.

His brothers had brought over the essentials. Wally had discussions with Jason about how their oldest brother ewas doing. None of them brought up Bruce around Dick. Not after Wally had told them what happened. Dick had been willing to take his brothers anger toward him, but Wally wouldn’t have any of it. He made sure that they knew and if they still had a problem with it, they weren’t welcome in their home.

Needless to say they didn’t argue.

It took a little longer for Tim to come around, there had been previous anger in the teen, from when Bruce had been lost in time. Then the guilt had boiled up when he thought Dick was dead, so when he came back, the anger returned. They were working through it.

It was Damian who they saw most often. He often came around unannounced. Wally would watch the smile appear on Dicks face when the youngest Wayne walked into their apartment though, and it made his heart swell with happiness, because seeing that smile again, that real smile, was everything.

He saw it with little things. Things that happened between the two of them, and of course when Damian was over. But Wally knew when Dicks smile was forced. Like the time some of the team had come to visit. He could tell Dick was happy, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. Later when they spoke, he said he was just too tired to be around so many people.

It was like life had been sucked from the man he had grown to love.

Now a month later, things were even better. Roy Harper would come visit with Lian, sometimes M’gann and Connor would show up. Nobody showed up in large groups anymore. Nobody mentioned Batman.

That was why when Bruce Wayne showed up at the apartment, Wally West went into fight mode.

“I thought I made it clear you weren’t welcome here.”

“Wallace.”

“Don’t fucking Wallace me. I am not a damn child anymore Bruce, and neither is Dick. Do you even feel regret for what you did to him? Do you realize the damage you caused? You beat your son.”

“I am here to speak to him.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. I realize that is probably not a word you hear very often, but it won’t change. You are not stepping foot in our home. He will contact you when he is ready and it will be on his terms not yours.” Wally told him. “Is that clear?” He was met with silence. “I don’t speak bat so I’m going to need verbal confirmation that you understand Bruce, because this is the only time I’m going to be polite.”

“When he’s ready then.” Bruce said. “These are from Alfred.” he told him as he handed him a large container of cookies.

“You know Bruce. I know bad fathers. You aren’t a bad one. You just make poor decisions concerning your kids. I love your son. It destroyed me to think that he was gone forever, so now that he’s back, I’m not going to let anybody hurt him. He has my protection, even if he doesn’t need it. I hope he doesn’t need it from you, because I will fight for him without hesitation.”

“Good.”

Wally moved back inside and shut the door. When he turned around he saw Dick standing there. “How much did you hear?”

“You just stood up to Batman, for me.”

“No, that wasn’t Batman. That was Bruce Wayne, if that was Batman I would have shit myself.”

“Still. There aren’t too many people in this world that would do that.”

“Yeah well…” Wally started before he was cut off by Dick, who kissed him.

“Thank you.” Dick said. “And I love you too.”

Wally smiled as he watched his boyfriend walk toward the kitchen, flipping over the couch as if it were the most natural thing to do in the world. He could see the difference in him at that moment. The healing had at least begun, even if they had a long way to go.