Getting to know you

New stories to learn

When Dick woke up, and found himself in a new place, he promptly panicked. How did he get here, where was he, who was holding him? Dick squirmed out of the other person's grip and pressed himself against a wall, head swiveling around. Only when he discovered Wally did he calm down.

Wally managed to get Dick to relax, to calm down fully. Dick crawled into Wally's lap and went limp, letting Wally hold him. "What did He do to you, Dickie? What made you panic so bad?" Dick nuzzled into Wally's neck. "Do you want the whole story?" Wally nodded.

"When I was eight, He came to the circus. H-He claimed he could give us protection, in exchange for money. My Tati and Uncle Haley said no, and He promised them they would regret it. I was watching from the side, under the bleachers.

"That night, we were set to perform. Me, Mami, Tati, we were the Flying Graysons. We pulled stunts few dared to do. I was supposed to go out last that night. It was supposed to be my debut.

"But the lines snapped. He'd put acid on the lines before the show. Mami and Tati fell to their deaths." Dick was crying at this point. Wally gently shushed him. "It's ok, Dick. He won't hurt you again."

"That's not all. After the p-police arrived, He took me. Beat me, drugged me, lock me in small spaces for weeks at a time, little food, little water. After six months of that, He sold me to the C-Court. He ruined my life. He took everything from me." Dick cried harder, burying his head into Wally's chest.

Wally curled around Dick. Zucco had done those things to him? How did Dick ever have a smile on his face? How did Dick survive in this line of work, knowing innocents were killed every day? "I will never let Him touch you again. Not one hair on your head. If He even thinks if trying to do all that stuff to you, I swear He will wake up breathing through a tube." Wally whispered.

Dick grabbed Wally's hand, leaning into the speedster's embrace. "It's why I can't stand Him. He did all the awful t-things to me, a-and I never understood why. Why me? Why anyone?" Wally shook his head. "I don't know. I just don't know."

The two stayed like that for about an hour. Holding each other, comforting the other. Wally ran his fingers through Dick's hair, kissing his forehead. Wally was never letting Zucco touch Dick again. Not in a million years.

"So, when Markus used the drugs, that's why you got so scared. It reminded you of him." Wally whispered. Dick nodded. "I can barely stand hearing His name. Seeing him, getting close to Him? It just makes it worse. I can't be around Him, Wally. It's too much. I'm working on what happened with Markus. But with Him? I can never get over that."

"Don't worry about Him. He's not getting anywhere near you. Thank you for telling me this. I know it took a lot." Wally whispered. "You're my boyfriend, Wally. I would trust you with anything." Dick whispered back. He may have secrets, he may have a bad past, but he could always trust in Wally to listen to the stories he had to tell.