capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

WHO: Dick and Wally.
WHERE: Titans Tower.
WHEN: Tuesday during the day.
WARNINGS: None.
SUMMARY: Dick goes back to the Tower to get his things, Wally's parked in front of his door.
FORMAT: Quicklog.

[He's not going back to the Cave and he's not going back to the Tower, which means he needs to find his own place. It wouldn't be the first time he's lived by himself, but it'd be the first time he does it while consciously cutting his links with Tim and Bruce.

He has fake IDs and... his tags. He kept them even though he's never used them, and now they're going to prove useful. He's never used them, after all, so he's got plenty of money in that attached bank account and will be able to manage for a long while. If he needs to, he'll get a job, eventually (only, if he's honest with himself, he knows either Tim or Bruce, or both, are going to start transferring him money).

He'll look for a place today, and in the meantime, he's stuck using a secondary house. It could be worse, but any Bat would have the right to drop by at any time, so it's very much temporary.

The only problem with this is that his things are still in his (old) room in the Tower, and he wants to get one of his bikes with him, which means he has to pass by the Titans headquarter to get all of this. And all the subtlety in the world isn't going to do much when there's a speedster camped in front of his room.

He just looks at Wally uncomfortably for a few seconds that last forever before turning his eyes away.]

I guess coming back to get my stuff was that predictable.

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[Wally had been and is truly happy to have Dick back but the way he had proceeded to push everyone away had rather put a damper on things. In hindsight, that really should have been expected - Bats and their brooding and blaming themselves for everything ever and all that - but he had hoped Dick would see sense.

Apparently not. But Wally could wait until Dick was ready to talk to him. A part of him does understand it after all.

At least, that patience lasted until he realized Dick would have to come back to get his stuff and the speedster had promptly decided to wait outside Dick's room.

The moment he sees Dick he's up on his feet and smiling a smile that is nothing but genuine.]

Yeah, you're losing your touch.

[He refrains a wince partially when he sees Wally smiling at him and all he can picture is the video his friend posted not that long ago, his shoulder bleeding from what he read later to be stab wounds. Two of them.

Somewhere, he should probably be grateful that he hadn't killed all of them, that most were... okay, now. It doesn't change how much he blames himself or tamper his guilt.]

I guess my heart's not into it. [He's... not returning Wally's smile.]

[Wally moves a little closer but keeps a somewhat respectable distance. As much as he wants to give Dick a hug or just a reassuring touch, he's not sure how Dick would react to it. It could either be reassuring as intended or off-putting.

He can't risk the latter in fear of driving Dick away even more right now so he keeps his hands to himself, respecting this 'personal space' thing for once and fiddles with the end of his hoodie's sleeve instead.]

It has been a crazy past few weeks. [The smile wavers and he stops fiddling for a moment to rub the back of his neck.]

I suppose I can't convince you to stay?

[Dick is really glad Wally's not all over him because... well, he knows him enough to guess he's currently stopping himself, and it would be off-putting right now. Dick doesn't feel like being loved and cuddled when he feels really shitty about himself.

And he knows he's disappointing Wally, which doesn't make him feel any better, but staying wouldn't help either.

He shakes his head and looks guilty, who would have thought.]

I'll give you my address, 'kay? When I have it.

[He licks his lips quickly that are getting dried in a record time.] I'm sorry. [About leaving, but mostly about stabbing him and not telling him about it even though he knew about his future.]

Okay. [Wally's smile is still there only it's infinitely more sadder now.

Of course, he still wants to make Dick stay but any attempt could just create a rift and he doesn't want that. Besides, distance makes the heart grow fonder or something, right?

The only way he can keep himself from pushing Dick to stay is to tell himself Dick will be back anyway.]

Don't be. [He replies firmly.]

[Dick's logic is that at some point, people will accept he won't be back and stop nagging him. Their logic might be colliding a little... Not that they need to know this.

He smiles a little, and it's very sad but at least it's a smile.] I don't think I'll stop being sorry that fast but -- thanks.

[He doesn't get Wally's reaction, but he has to admit that it's somewhat better than him yelling at him or ignoring him. He understands, because he didn't associate Tim with the Batman that was there or Gar with Animal Man, he doesn't think either of them need anyone's forgiveness, but it's always different when it's about you. And Dick is going to be cliché and have to forgive himself before he can accept that people don't owe him responsible.]

I sort of need to get to my room.

[Wally just can't understand why anyone would want to leave the Teen Titans. He can understand wanting to take a break and get away for a while but truly up and leaving the Titans altogether is beyond him. Maybe that's because he's biased as the Titans are his only home now. Although if Barry were to show up here Wally knows he wouldn't hesitate a second to go live with him...

But he'd still be a Titan.]

Well, try to. And no problem. [It may be sad but the fact Wally's finally getting a smile brightens him a little. It shows Dick isn't too beyond hope in Bat-brooding land.]

Oh, right. Sorry. [He steps aside so Dick can get to his room, perhaps a bit reluctantly.]

[This would have been easier if he hadn't met Wally on the way to his room, really. Now it feels wrong to reach for his door and open it, Wally still over him not telling him to stay, but still thinking it so very loudly.

He's not changing his mind over this, not at all, he's not even considering changing his mind, but he would have liked to be able to gather his things without one of his best friends being utterly disappointed a few meters away.]

Are you going to watch me get my things? [It's not aggressive or anything, but it's still obvious in his voice that Dick's not comfortable with this turn of events.] It can't be very interesting...

[Whether it was aggressive or not, to Wally it still translates as 'You're in the way' and he can't quite keep from flinching. And well, he probably is in the way. He looks down to the ground for a small moment, biting his lip and then looking back to Dick.]

Sorry, I'll leave you be. [He's already backing away from the room and turning to go down the hall but not before glancing back to Dick again.]

See you around. [He sincerely hopes leaving Dick alone will be the right choice.]

Yeah. See you. [It hurts to see Wally that way. Fuck. This sucks.

Dick sighs and starts going around his room to gather his stuff, mostly clothes, uniforms and weapons. Even though he knows all the other Robins dropped the name when they stopped being Batman's partner, he's not. He's the first one, the name is his, and he's going to be Robin -- only, solo.

He takes the frame with the tigers drawing that Wally gave him as if to also leave with it, but ends up leaving it on his bed.

When he has everything he needs, he takes a quick look outside the room in the corridor to be sure he won't be running into anyone else before going for the elevator and to the basement to leave on a bike.]