Falling for Grayson : birdflash

Ch27: When I Knew

Artemis had asked me when I knew my true feelings. And what I told her was true, it was only three weeks before we broke up.

Yet she did not ask how I knew, perhaps believing I figured it out over time, that from enough small moments I realized my feelings for boys were more than mere liking or admiration.

Maybe she was right. Maybe in retrospect there were many moments my feelings for my best friend were romantic. But there was a moment, a moment when I knew I felt something more. Had it not been for the night of my birthday, maybe I'd still be lost.

* * *

Tonight's my birthday and Artemis still isn't back. She's already been gone for 18 days. The mission with Green Arrow and Black Canary must have hit a snag.

We lost communications three days ago — not unusual in our line of work. I wasn't worried, and I wasn't upset that she'd be missing my birthday either. It's not like she could pop out the Malcove rainforest 50,000 miles away for a slice of cake.

We were supposed to have a date night tonight. I'd already celebrated my birthday the night before with M'gann, Conner, and Dick, still hoping she'd be back. M'gann had baked two cakes, one to share, and one just for me. But tonight I was alone. Everyone else had patrol duties in the city. I waited until 6 o'clock, as if maybe, just maybe, she'd come waltzing through the door with a third cake in hand.

Maybe I could watch over the city with Dick. They'd be leaving in the ship any minute now.

I dashed to the hangar. Dick was talking with M'gann while Conner was slowly walking up the ramp into the ship.

"Hey!" I yelled across the hangar.

Dick looked over his shoulder and smiled before turning back. M'gann waved then floated into the ship. I sped over to Dick.

"I know I was supposed to have tonight off with Artemis, but seeing as she's not here, can I join you on patrol?"

"Nope."

"Uh excuse me?" I said in mock offence.

"Because I'm not going on patrol."

"What are you doing then?"

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm taking you out for your birthday, idiot."

I begrudgingly admit, my heart fluttered. "Did Red Tornado approve you taking the night off?"

"Since when did you care about scheduling?"

"So that's a no then..."

"M'gann's got my area covered tonight."

The mechanical clangs of the opening bay doors echoed across the hangar. The bio-ship floated effortlessly while we could hear the rising hush of the engine preparing for blast off. We waved to M'gann and Conner as the ship soared into the weary yellow sky. I jumped onto Dick's back and let my arms hang over his shoulders. He didn't react, only grabbing under my legs and accepting his fate.

"Where are we going tonight then?"

"It's a surprise," he replied, swaying back and forth.

"Okayyyyyyy but how much cash do I need to bring?"

"None."

"You paying for me? How sweet."

Dick turned his head, his nose almost touching mine. "Who says what we'll be doing requires money? We're just gonna be sitting in a ditch somewhere."

"Seriously though, do I need to wear a tux for a fancy restaurant or something athletic for climbing? Like I need to know."

He paused for a moment, as if giving real consideration to my question (for which he did not). "Wear that old, tattered blue hoody of yours."

"Seriously?"

"Yep."

"Wow... we really are just gonna be sitting in a ditch somewhere."

Dick dove into a roll, swinging me over his shoulder. He pinned my shoulders to the ground with his hands, straddling my hips. "Meet me in Garage B in half an hour."

"I let you do that, you know."

"Sure you did, Wal, sure you did..."

* * *

I entered the garage wearing my tattered blue hoody. Dick was kneeling, adjusting something on the back of his motorcycle. He was wearing black riding gear, the sharp lines and red details reminded me of his Robin costume, though without the cape and mask. He looked good.

I dashed up beside him with a gust of wind following behind. Dick jumped up in a fright.

"Don't scare me like that Wal!"

"Oops."

Dick planted a hand on my shoulder and rested his forehead in the crook of my neck. "Next time could you please waste the five seconds it takes to walk across the room?"

I wrapped my arms around his waist. "But then you wouldn't be in my arms now, would you?"

Dick looked up at me. "Careful now... I'm an expert in close-range combat."

"Try me."

I let go of his waist as he lightly pushed away. "Don't want to hurt you on your birthday... but tomorrow's a whole other story..."

I looked at the bike. A Neptune blue Adventura with canary yellow breaks, a gift from Bruce two month's prior. Dick's gotten into bikes ever since Bruce took us to watch the Grand Prix all the way in Verón — while staying at a five star hotel and eating at Michelin star restaurants every night. I do enjoy my best friend privileges.

"So where are we going?" I asked, staring at my warped reflection in the chrome of the front wheel.

"It's a surprise."

I looked back at Dick. "How am I supposed to run there if I don't know where I'm going."

"What part of 'surprise' do you not understand?"

"Well I can't run beside you at 100 miles per hour in civilian clothes — and I don't know how to drive yet."

"Should've taken Alfred up on those lessons then." I rolled my eyes. He grabbed my wrist and tugged me toward the back of the bike. "You'll be my passenger."

"As much as I like this bike, it's not exactly a comfortable ride. Couldn't we take a car?"

"Actually, no."

"So we're going somewhere with narrow roads..."

Dick grabbed my shoulders. "Stop trying to guess where we're going!"

"And what's in here?" I asked, pointing at what looked like a deformed backpack, "and why is it wrapped in a black tarp?"

"Supplies. And it's wrapped in a black tarp because, for the last time, where we're going IS A SURPRISE!"

"Okay, okay!" I relented, "...but where are we going?"

... to be continued

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Author:

Next chapter we'll find out when Wally knew he'd fallen for his best friend. Sooo this was part one of two. The first thing I wrote for all this was actually what will likely be the final paragraph of part two. Working in a chaotic order ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯.