Avoiding Past And Future

(89) Cold Hearted 1

November 11

The party was in as full of a swing as it could be. Though the festiveness was trying to drown it out, the air still hung thick with lingering tension. Especially in the birthday boy himself. Though she had promised, Selina hadn't given him a clear answer on if they were coming or not.

Just another forgotten promise. At this rate he might as well start another collection.

Maybe it was because of the intense weather, at least so he hoped.

He had been ecstatic when aunt Iris announced the school closures on the morning news. It wasn't often that snow fell enough to shut things down so it felt like a birthday miracle to happen today of all days.

Taking a bit of free time to himself, he walked around in the snow just to take in the day's vibes and hang out in his neighborhood for those rare occasions he had time for it. The squeaking crunch under his boots driving away everything he didn't want to think about. Hell, he even joined some kids playing outside for just long enough before the timer on his phone went off. He had almost immediately rushed over to Mount Justice after.

The Zeta did shut down right after he arrived, weather taking a turn for the worse as safety protocols kicked in. Not that it bothered him too much, he was hoping to spend most of his day here anyway. Worst case he'd just ask M'gann to give him a lift home, no biggie.

His not-so-surprise party was still a go, at least, but with a few missing. Most of the mentors were there, as well as a few of the older League members Wally had known for years. It's not every day the kids they watched grow up turned 16 after all.

But that still didn't take away from the sting that was Robin's absence.

It hurt them all. The lack of actual contact with their friend, if they could even still call him that, left its mark on everybody regretting their previous actions. Some were spared that pain, having been on the right side from the start, but most didn't have that grace.

Wally sat in front of the couch, the cakes the team had bought for him sitting untouched. He had refused to light the candles, refused to let anybody touch them or even sing for him, until Robin showed up.

Birthdays were their thing after all. In all of their 4 years of friendship, they had always been at the other's celebration. Always. Privileges of being Robin's only friend before the neurotic secrecy started, sure, but it was still something they vowed to always do between just the two of them. Well...and Roy, he knew too, but he wasn't part of their secret friendship deal. It would have been great to see the guy show up too, but the whole Watchtower and team thing really forced some distance between them.

Plus, Roy was an adult now. He probably had adult things to do that were more important than a silly birthday party. The text he got at ass o'clock earlier meant just as much as him showing up in person.

Glassy jade eyes lingered over the doorway to the Zeta bay. Stomach churning and cramping all the same as he squeezed his thumb in his fist as hard as he could. Willing both the tears and nausea to stay at bay, Wally schooled his expression as Barry walked over. Putting on a forced smile, he looked up at Barry's somewhat concealed saddened look.

"Hey, kid." He said gently, hand cupping Wally's shoulder as he sat down behind his nephew. "Don't you want a slice of your cake?" He prodded gently as conversations around them buzzed on.

Right, there was cake standing on the kitchen table. At this point he didn't even know how long it had already been sitting out, how long until it would start going bad. But, he couldn't bring himself to start the real celebration. Cutting the cake was more than just slicing food, more than what he could handle today of all days without the one person he had missed so much the past month.