One: Turn the Tables

Now, Robin realizes that he should have placed the cave under higher security. With all the members and mentors of Young Justice busy, Mount Justice had been left empty for a lengthy period of time. Robin should have known that this ample opportunity for trespass would've been taken advantage of by some villainous being. It's the boy wonder's blunder and he knows it.

Robin approaches Kid Flash's room with caution. The shrieking death-moans that radiate outward from behind the door could belong to any number of foul beasts. Robin doesn't know if the culprits are harpies, chimaeras, or mutated dolphins, but he does know that he must be prepared for anything. Nothing making that noise could be harmless.

The caped figure rounds the corner with a birdarang at the ready. He steels his nerves and takes a heavy breath. Robin knocks the door down with a booted foot. At his entrance, a flame-headed beast falls backwards and squeals. Robin ignores the stupid flame-headed one and throws his birdarang at the louder monster to keep it from scratching his eardrums further. The beast dies with one last sputtering screech and explodes into a thousand confetti pieces.

Robin, now victorious, finds himself thinking clearer without the racket of the monster. In this state of clarity, Robin notices that the flame-headed monster who is still writhing on the floor beneath a flurry of monster remains is, in fact, Wally West. With a quick inspection of the remains, Robin deduces that the vanquished monster was a classic restored turntable...his classic restored turntable.

He squats beside the flame-headed boy and offers a helping hand up. Wally accepts the assist but, to his dismay, finds Robin's hand retracted half way up the return to his two feet. He tumbles backwards again and falls on his backside with a crash.

"What was that for, Rob?" he asks, rubbing his sore spots. Robin, shaking his head, restrains the other boy by planting one foot atop Wally's chest. He raises an eyebrow.

"Really? Bro, I know you can be dense sometimes, but no...there's no way you don't know why I am angry. Not after you just broke my new turntable. A turntable that I only let you borrow after a week of constant nagging may I add," Robin bemoans.

Wally pushes away the leg that pins him down to the floor and stands up. Wally turns, brushing shards of broken records and pieces of the turntable from his clothing, and faces his friend.

"To be technical, it wasn't completely broken until you threw that birdarang bomb at it," Wally says. Robin scoffs at his friend's diversion of the blame.

"So, by your reasoning, it isn't your fault but my fault because I blew it up for shit and giggles? Is that it Wally? I just really like destroying new and expensive toys of mine without any fathomable reason, right?" Robin says. His voice is disturbingly reserved and mismatches his haughty words. Wally hastily backtracks.

"No, of course not. It's all my fault, Rob." The redhead sighs and rubs his neck awkwardly. "Look, bro, I'm sorry. Okay? I didn't mean to make it..."

"Cry for mercy?" Robin suggests.

"Yeah. I just thought. I don't know. I thought maybe if a sped up song sounds really funny.. like a chipmunk.. then a record might sound even cooler super-sped up. But then it just hurt my ears and wouldn't slow down after I got it started and..."

"-then I entered the scene," Robin finishes. He looks around Wally's room and grabs a relatively clean shirt and pair of gym pants from Wally's messy closet. He starts changing out of his costume. He'd rather have this conversation as himself. Besides, the domino mask just gets in the way of staring Wally down. Wally watches Dick pull off his shirt. Dick senses the eyes on his body.

"You were saying?" he prompts. Wally's eyes flash back to Dick's face. With a shrug, he starts zooming around, collecting the broken pieces scattered around the room.

"I should have got the record player under control before you got here," Wally whispers as he momentarily slows down. Dick slits his ice blue eyes.

"Why? So you could pretend you had no idea how it happened when you gave it back?" he asks his friend. The speedster stops cleaning the room. Wally, trying to communicate his seriousness, places one hand on each of Dick's shoulders. He locks eyes with the shorter boy.

"Rob...Dick, I swear I would never do that." Dick tilts his head. "I would never do that again I mean. At least, not for something so big. This isn't exactly the same as that time you were eleven and I caught your cape on fire," Wally says.

"You do realize that's the first time you've admitted to having done that?" Dick playfully punches the ginger in the arm.

"I'm trying to apologize here! Quit interrupting or you'll ruin my concentration," Wally jokes. Dick snickers. "Okay, so, where was I?"

"After the denial but before the real butt kissing."

"Right." Wally contorts his face into a wrinkly mess. His face begins to match the color of his hair.

"What are you doing? Dude, stop that," Dick shouts.

"I'm going to shed tears for you here. I can totally do it on command. Just hold on a second."

"I know it's the thought that counts, but, Wally, really not whelming." Dick pulls each of Wally's paws from his shoulders. He pinches Wally's cheek. Wally's face returns to its normal expression and the ruddy color fades from all areas besides the three small marks left behind from Dick's fingernails.

"Ow, that hurt." Wally pats his pinched skin.

"Well, seeing you make that face hurt me even more," Dick counters. Wally rolls his eyes. He zooms away and when he returns the entire floor is free from the misplaced articles of clothing and exploded scraps of record equipment. Dick notes the suddenly groaning hinges of the closet door with weary eyes.

Wally returns in front of his friend and places the neatly folded Robin outfit in his open arms.

"I know I'm a moron sometimes and I know I should treat the stuff you let me borrow better. I just want to make you not mad at me anymore. I can't stand it when we're fighting." Wally stops talking and returns his hands to the petite boy's shoulders. "Dick, I will do whatever it takes to make this up for you," he promises.

Dick squints as he inspects the older boy's green eyes for dishonesty. He only finds sincerity.

"Okay," he relents. "But you said anything, right?" Wally gulps and laughs nervously.

"Please tell me you aren't going to make me regret this, bro?" he asks. Dick gives his trademark titter and a biting grin. Wally fakes confidence. "Fine, whatever. I can take it."

Dick taps his chin as if thinking hard about Wally's punishment. He slows his tapping to a stop but leaves his finger again his chin.

"Wally, I know what you're going to do for me." He drawls each word out deliberately slow. Wally winces and anxiously crushes Dick's shoulders with his still clinging hands.

"Me. You. Concert. Saturday. 9:00PM sharp. It's a date," the teen says briskly as he slides out from under Wally's tense hold on his upper body. Dick collects his folded Robin uniform, places a set of sunglasses on his nose, and strolls out the door.

A/N: This may be a five plus one. I mean, that was my idea originally, but the rest hasn't been flowing right so I make it a three plus one or something.