Author's Note: And that's it folks, the end of Sneakers. Took a lot longer than I wanted, but it got done! Thank you to everyone who reviewed and left encouragement along the way. You guys are the reason I finished this fic. If you want, please leave a review letting me know how you liked the end of the fic! Cheers!

Six: Dick Grayson & Wally West

Today's the day, thought Wally as he straightened his shirt for the third time. Today he was going to tell Dick how he felt. He'd spent weeks building up to this moment – gathering the courage, planning the day, ensuring that everyone else was out of the Cave without making it seem obvious, and now all his plans were finally coming to fruition.

And he even had the door coded to his bio-signature so that if it all went to hell, he could just sprint back to Keystone and pretend nothing ever happened.

Yup. Nothing to worry about. Not at all.

Wally padded through the Cave as slowly as he could make himself, which was probably still a little faster than most people. He wasn't sure where Dick would be – whether that was in the kitchen, or the training room, or his bedroom.

He started with the bedroom, but there was no answer. The door was unlocked, but when Wally looked in, no one was there. He frowned and headed off again. Dick wasn't in the living room, or the kitchen, or the two training rooms, or the showers – thank god, that would have been awkward – or anywhere else that Wally could think of.

With a sigh, he headed for the door. Maybe, in his haste to ensure everyone else would be gone today, he hadn't bothered to find out if Dick would be here today.

It seemed likely. He was kind of scatter-brained like that.

He headed outside, walking across the grass with his hands stuffed in his pockets and his head hanging low. He'd tried, so very, very hard, to set this all up. But it had all backfired on him. Maybe Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris were wrong. Maybe it wasn't something he should do. Maybe he should just go back to being in denial until it all…

A small stone hit him in the side of the head. Wally rubbed at the spot and turned to follow its trajectory. There, sitting on an outcropping of rocks in the mountain face, maybe twenty feet up, was Dick.

Wally caught himself smiling. The tension slid out of his shoulders and every inch of him seemed to relax. Despite his fear over what he wanted to say, the sight of Dick made everything seem… inconsequential.

Yeah, Uncle Barry was right.

He had it bad.

Wally zipped up the outcropping, using his speed to scale up to Dick in a matter of seconds before dropping down beside him. The climb had cut up his hands a bit, but already those marks were fading, leaving him to wipe off thin trails of blood onto his dark jeans. It didn't stain.

Probably for the best, Aunt Iris would have had his head.

"Where is everyone?" asked Dick.

Wally shrugged, perfectly casual. This part he'd rehearsed enough. "Zatanna and Raquel are on a date in Happy Harbour, M'gann and Conner went dirt bike riding with some of their friends from school, and Artemis is out doing… something with Kaldur and Roy." Wally shrugged. "I didn't ask."

"Huh," said Dick, after a moment. He leaned back on his hands, sunglasses perched perfectly on his face. Even with no one else around, he still wore them. It was a Bat rule, and while Wally understood it, he didn't like it.

He liked Dick's eyes. And he so rarely got to see them.

"So, what're you doing up here?" asked Wally, rubbing the back on his neck.

Dick shrugged and lifted one hand to gesture out at the ocean. It was a clear, bright day. The wind blew lightly at Wally's hair and shirt, the smell of salt drifting on the air, and the reflection of the light made it hard to stare straight on at the ocean.

"I like the view," said Dick. He stared out at the water and Wally stared at him.

"Yeah, same," said Wally. Dick looked at him, raising an eyebrow, and Wally looked away. His fingers inched toward one of Dick's hands – slow, hesitant. He wondered if this was worth it. If he could actually do it. If he was willing to put almost four years of friendship on the line for this.

"Can I ask you something?" asked Dick. He sat up straight and wrapped his arms around his raised knees. Loose, but still protective. Wally retracted his hand. He'd been so close.

Wally nodded, leaning back and flashing a smile at Dick. "Sure," he said, simply.

Dick worried his lower lip. Even with the sunglasses, Wally could tell that Dick wasn't looking at him. Could tell Dick was, rather pointedly, not looking at him.

"Dick?" asked Wally, after a minute of silence.

Dick shook his head. "It's nothing. Forget it."

"You sure?" Wally's voice was soft, a little hopeful.

Another bout of silence. Then, "It's just… Zatanna told me that M'gann told her something about you."

Wally blinked, trying to follow the train of thought. "Oh?"

"She said…" Dick was blushing. His cheeks red and his ears pinking. The flush crept across his neck. "She said that you… that you and I…" He shook his head, trailing off again. Tensed shoulders, bit lip, gaze away from Wally.

And Wally knew that look. Because it was one his window had reflected many a night in Keystone City.

He reached out and rested his hand atop one of Dick's, which were on top of his knees. "Maybe she's right," said Wally, softly.

Dick stared at him. Stared at their joined us. He swallowed. Pressed his lips tightly together. "You're sure?" he asked.

Wally nodded. "I'm tired of being in denial."

With his free hand, Dick reached up and slowly removed his sunglasses. His eyes, bright, blue, and shimmering with worry, stared at Wally.

"I'm tired of hating myself," said Dick. The words were soft, a confession. An edge of frustration lined them.

Wally reached up with his other hand and brushed Dick's bangs from his face. "You have no reason to hate yourself."

"I hide," said Dick, bitterly.

"I wouldn't make you," said Wally. "I'd shout it from the rooftops, if you'd let me."

Dick stared at him, hopeful. "Really?"

"Really," said Wally.

There was a few long seconds where neither one said or did anything. Where they simply stared at each other and wondered. Then, very softly, Wally said, "Can I…?" His gaze flicked to Dick's lips. Dick nodded.

"Please," he whispered.

Wally leaned in and Dick met him halfway. Their breath ghosting each other's lips and their bodies inching closer and closer. There was a brief moment of hesitation, and then their lips were meeting in their first kiss.

It was soft. It was warm. It was everything Wally had hoped for. And he held it as long as he dared before pulling back to rest his forehead on Dick's.

Dick stared at him. Wally grinned. Slowly, a smile spread across Dick's face.

"Wow," breathed Dick.

"Wow," agreed Wally. Both of them laughed, soft and sweet. "So, uh, you wanna do that again?"

"Yeah," said Dick, snaking a hand around the back of Wally's neck. "Yeah, I do. But, um, what are we, then?"

Wally gave it a moment's thought. "Boyfriends?" he asked.

With a widening smile, Dick nodded. "Boyfriends," he agreed, and he kissed Wally again.

When they pulled back, it was to Wally's growling stomach. "So, uh," said Wally, sheepish. "How about you and I go get lunch, boyfriend?"

"Sure," said Dick. Not bothering with his sunglasses as he stood up. "My treat." And he took Wally's hand as Wally stood. They didn't let go the entire way into Happy Harbour, Dick's sunglasses forgot on the outcropping alongside their doubts.