Thirty Days (A Birdflash Fanfiction)

Day 23: Arguing

Wally had hoped Bruce could talk some sense into Dick about putting himself in danger almost 24/7 after he was wounded severely enough that the Blüdhaven Police Department actually called to let them know he'd been hospitalised. But, of course, Dick could be even more stubborn than the Bat himself when he put his mind to it.

He discharged himself from the hospital as soon as he could get away with it and was back out flying as Nightwing within days. Every time Wally saw him, the stitched-up gunshot wound on his shoulder had opened up again, even after Alfred had patched it up for him maybe half a dozen times by this point.

"You're risking your identity," Wally finally worked up the nerve to say one night when they were alone in his apartment in Central City. Alfred was busy, so it had fallen to him to stitch Dick back together this time. "Blockbuster's got his eye on you, and on the BPD. What are the odds of two people having the exact same injury at the exact same time?"

Dick took a moment to process what he'd said; he had been watching one of those wanted criminal TV shows that encouraged viewers to call in with tips. He'd already solved three of their cases for them, and the phone was sitting loosely in his free hand. He blinked tiredly a few times, and Wally's words finally seemed to sink in.

"Blockbuster's got better things to do than pay attention to a rookie cop," he replied.

"You don't even need to be there anymore," Wally shot back, finishing off the final stitch. "You got rid of the crooked cops. Job done. There's no reason for you be sticking around and risking yourself like this."

"I got shot, Wally," Dick snapped. "I get shot as Nightwing all the time but I don't see you telling me to give that up."

"You're free to fight however you want as Nightwing." Wally set his tools aside. "You have to limit yourself as a cop. Would you have gotten shot if Nightwing was in the same situation?"

"I don't know," Dick replied. "It doesn't matter."

"Like hell it doesn't."

Dick pulled his shirt back on, jerking away when Wally moved to help him. "Look, I can't just drop everything and abandon the force in the middle of a staffing crisis. We lost two-thirds of our officers and it's going to take time to train enough replacements. They need me. I'm not leaving until I'm good and ready. Even Bruce understands that."

"But you are planning to leave?"

"Eventually." Dick's voice flattened, and it was hard to tell if he was lying or trying not to sound upset about it.

"And how long is eventually?"

Dick reached for his duffel bag; he had been planning to stay over tonight, but that seemed unlikely to happen now. Wally put his hand on top of Dick's before he could lift the bag. Dick jerked his hand away.

"As long as it damn well needs to be."

"Will it be before you make another dangerous mistake?" Wally fired back. "Would you have gotten shot if you'd been getting enough sleep? I don't know how you keep going when you're running on nothing, but it's going to catch up to you eventually. And you might not be able to walk away from it next time."

"I already told you I'm leaving the force," Dick said curtly. "What more do you want from me?"

Wally's fist met the wall. "I want you to take care of yourself for once in your life!"

"I'm not a child, Wally," Dick retorted.

"Oh, yeah? Well, you're sure as hell acting like one!" Wally picked up Dick's bag and shoved it at him, making him stumble back a few steps. "You don't want to listen to me? Fine. Go. I don't know why I thought you'd actually listen to a thing I'm saying. You never have before."

"Oh, come on. That's not fair."

"Blockbuster has it out for Nightwing. He has it out for the BPD now that you've chipped away his influence there. I'm trying to look out for you, and you just won't listen."

"You don't know the city like I do," Dick replied.

"Maybe not, but I know you. You'll just keep throwing yourself at Blockbuster until one of you ends up in pieces. And from the looks of things, it's going to be you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Wally. Really appreciate it."

"And what if he figures out your identity? What if he comes after you at home? Or the people you care about? How many people could end up getting caught in the crossfire?"

"We've been over this already. He's not going to find out who I am." Dick slung his bag over his good shoulder. "I'm leaving now, just like you wanted. And I'm going to get Blockbuster out of Blüdhaven even if it kills me."

As he watched Dick storm out, Wally couldn't help but think what he said would come true in the worst way imaginable.