Years And Years (Birdflash)

Teacher

Dick knew the time would come when most of his friends leave for college. He always knew it. He's seen his friends submit college applications. He's attended several graduation ceremonies and parties. However, it doesn't quite seem to register fully with him until August.

The Titans are in the cave. Wally and Garth are paying air hockey, Donna and Lilith are sitting on the couch discussing Harry Potter and Dick is practicing his floor gymnastics. No missions, just making the most out of the last days of summer vacation left. There was a plan to go to the beach, which Garth was excited about (even though they had been to the beach several times over the summer), but it rained.

"So when are you back to school, Dick?" Donna asks. He's suddenly reminded that unlike everyone else in the cave, he's going back to high school for his senior year.

"Oh uh, first week of September," he replies, in a handstand position. He sighs, "It's just gonna be Heather and I this year."

"It's gonna be a weird change for all of us," Lilith says.

Wally wonders if now is a good time to tell Dick that he's planning on leaving the team. Unfortunately, that thought comes after the words leave his mouth. Dick flips back onto his feet.

"You what? Did I hear you right?"

Wally nods, "I...I want to try being normal. I'm gonna take a break from being Kid Flash. I've kinda outgrown the name now anyway. I'm eighteen."

Dick can't believe it. Wally's ditching the Titans- superhero life altogether - to be normal?

"Normal? Wally, you have superpowers, you can't just 'be normal.' None of us are normal. Not even me."

"Dick..." Donna warns. This could get ugly fast. Garth's head moves back and forth between the other two boys like he's watching tennis.

"I want to try to have some bit of normalcy. The kind I haven't had since I was a little kid. I...wouldn't expect you to understand," Wally says, not making eye contact with Dick. He's not telling them everything.

"Because I grew up in the circus? Because I'm bisexual? You know what's not normal-"

"Dick!" Donna shouts, preventing him from saying something he'll regret, "Stop this. You two are friends. Wally, I respect your decision, even if we will miss you."

Wally nods, "I'll...see you guys around."

He turns away and walks out of the cave, hands in his pockets. Wally walking means something isn't right.

"So...what's gonna happen to the Teen Titans?" Garth asks, "I'm going to be in Atlantis full time. I'm studying ancient Atlantean...things."

"That's not at all mysterious, Garth... But the point is, we're all going to be busy," Lilith adds.

"It's Dick's call. He's the leader."

They're all expecting him to make the mature decision.

Dick returns to Gotham, just in time to catch Barbara coming off her shift at the Gotham Public Library. She's been working there part-time during the summer. He greets her with a kiss on the cheek at the bottom of the marble steps. The golden light of the setting sun makes her red hair look even more beautiful.

"Hey, Dick. You okay?"

"Not really, no," he shakes his head, "The Teen Titans are done."

"Done?"

"I dissolved the team. Everyone is going to be too busy with college and shit to do missions."

"I'm sorry, Dick," Babs says. She looks at her shoes. Something's off.