[Dick - 19; Wally - 21]

In a small apartment in a certain crime-ridden City, a bird was alone on a Saturday evening. Today was his day-off, a rare occurrence, that left the vigilante with nothing to do.

He left the team months ago and his relationship with Bruce was strained as ever. He had the option to play videogames, but every time he looked at them, his stomach dropped and his chest tightened. Watching a movie was a possibility too but doing so alone had no appeal for Dick.

So watching the news whilst eating cereal it is...

Again.

Sighing, he got up from the rough couch, stepping over a pile of papers for a case he still needs to look over and walked into his kitchen. Opening the cupboard, Dick was greeted with emptiness. He looked over to the sink, which was brimming with dirty dishes. Ugh.

He closed the cupboard when suddenly the doorbell rang. Dick tilted his head in confusion, he wasn't expecting anyone.

He slowly approached the door and looked through the peephole. His insides froze. His visitor was someone he yearned and yet hated to see at the moment.

Disgruntled, he opened the door to see Wally awkwardly stand there, fidgeting nervously with his fingers. "What do you want," Dick demanded. Just leave, please. I can't deal with this, not today.

The redhead stops fidgeting and looked at the other unimpressed. "Glad to know I'm as welcomed as ever." They both glared at each other before Wally sighed. "I'm not here to pick a fight with you."

Dick huffed. "Could've fooled me." He walked back to the kitchen, the door left open for Wally to come in. Hard to believe, once upon a time Wally had called this place home.

Tentatively, Wally took a step in and was taken aback by the state the place was in. It was clearly not taken care of. Wonder what else he didn't properly take care of, Wally sarcastically thought before following his b-... his former friend into the kitchen.

Walking into the room, Dick was washing the dishes, not hiding the fact of how tense he was. Wally couldn't decide if he was comforted that Dick was still trusting him enough to show it or hurt that he didn't even bother trying to hide it.

Wally sat down at the table wordlessly, back to fidgeting with his fingers, not sure how to break the silence.

A few minutes pass, neither making a move to say anything. With each second passing, Dick grew more and more frustrated until he couldn't take it anymore.

He sharply turned around and glared Wally down. "What do you want." Momentary startled, Wally cleared his throat.

"I... wanted to talk," he carefully started. "-about...us."

After a moment, Dick snorted. "There isn't much to talk about. We're done and that's it. No more best friends. No more boyfriends." He glared at the redhead. "The most we are, are allies. Nothing more." He slammed his hands on the table, making Wally flinch. Dick froze for a second but collected himself quickly. He didn't mean to get so emotional.

Wally noticed the other's action and felt sad a stab through his heart when he heard the hurt in Dick's words. Oh, how he regretted what he had said, what he would do to undo the damage he had caused his birdy.

"You're hurting, Dick. Don't even try to deny, I know you." Wally slowly got up from the chair, now on eye-level with the ebony. "I wanted to help you then and I want to help you now. I'm sorry for what I said, that was uncalled. The tension was high and things were said that we regretted after." He leaned over the table and placed his hands on Dick's. He gently smiled at him, putting all of his love and affection he had for the other.

The opposite of what he wanted happened. Dick flinched back from the touch and looked away from Wally's face. "I don't need help and I surely don't need ."

Wally's smile fell. "Why do you have to be like this? You're so stubborn, why can't you just accept that people to help you." Dick grimaced. This was going into dangerous territory, both wanted to avoid.

"Wally, look. Leave, please. I can't deal with this right now," Dick literary . Wally was oblivious to the turmoil of the other and scowled.

" can't deal with this?! Do you think I deal with this any better?" Wally asked incredulously. "The most important person in my life is slowly destroying himself and every time I try to help he's only pushing me away. Ever since I've known you, you were this unstoppable force, doing what you wanted and getting what you wanted because you would never stop, never give up. I used to admire that about you, but now I think that it's more like a curse than a gift."

"Look around us," Wally stretched his arms, motioning toward the dirty apartment. "You don't take care of yourself. You're pushing yourself, overworking yourself. You will only burn yourself out." Dick held his arms in a strong grip, mumbling to himself. "What?!"

Dick's head snapped up, his eyes piercing into Wally's. "I said, gET THE " Wally was speechless as Dick's temper was finally showing.

"You can't just come to my apartment and scold me about how I live life. Now get ! LEAVE!" Dick screamed, anger coursing through his body. How DARE he?!

Realizing his mistake, Wally surrendered and slowly walked out. He hesitated at the door, looking behind him. He saw Dick collapsed in a chair, his head in his hands, shaking. Guilt sat heavy in his stomach. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Quickly turning back, Wally walked out, softly closing the door behind himself.

So much for talking.

As he was walking down the streets of Bludhaven, a thought came to his mind. Wally tried to shake it off. It was a dark and depressing thought and he didn't want to hear it, but it persisted and it ate away at the last pieces of hope he had.

Maybe they're not meant to be.