Wally's hands were shaking in faint blurs of speed as he waited for Artemis to arrive. He was seated in a window booth at their favorite coffee shop. Sat on the pleather cushion, leg shaking almost as bad as his hands, trying to sip casually from his cup of hot chocolate despite nearly sloshing it everywhere.

Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium…

A soft flumpf finally broke Wally's mental recitation of the periodic table. "Hey Wally."

"Artemis!" Wally exclaimed sloshing his cocoa towards his lap, he tapped into his speed, catching the majority of the droplets in the cup, setting it down as gently as he could.

"Smooth. Is this one mine?" Artemis pointed towards the black coffee.

"Easiest order of them all." He grinned, though it didn't reach his eyes. Artemis thanked her boyfriend, sitting down as the weight of the world increased. She knew what was happening.

She knew because she agreed.

"So, why the impromptu coffee date, fleet feet?"

Wally scratched nervously at his neck, head turning to glance out the window, edges blurring as he tapped into relative time before glancing up- green eyes deep and reluctant.

"You're such a cool person, Artemis."

"Thank you?." His hands fidgeted in his lap and Artemis took pity.

"Wally. Just let me do it, okay? It's like watching a baby deer hobble around."

Despite himself, Wally grinned leaning in with a "And you're so fawn-d of me, right?"

Artemis rolled her eyes but didn't bother to hide the grin stretching across her face.

"Yes. I am." Wally's smile flinched, eyes guilty.

"Artemis, I-"

"I said to let me do it, deer." He looked confused, head tilted to the side and certainly not helping her break up with him.

"We're just friends. We've been dating for a while and its been great getting to know you, Wally, it really has! I know that's why you called me here. And it's okay. It really is."

Wally sunk inward, shoulders slumping as his hand - now so very still- slowly traced the rim of his cup. He sighed. "Artie, I'm so sorry."

Artemis grabbed his hand, shaking it roughly until he looked up.

"Me, too." She stood, walking over to join him on his side of the booth.

"I do love you, Artie, honest. Just…" his hands traced each fold of her fingers. Artemis watched him, hand splayed open. His light eyelashes were always stupidly long. She'd often found herself upset over their length- jealous that this idiot boy got better lashes than she did. And then there were his freckles. They stood out today, a light redness on his cheeks telling her why he never responded to her texts last night- he was running. Chasing the sun for answers, thinking through this moment, trying to figure out his feelings.

How fun to know what every small detail means. How special to have gotten so close.

"I love you, too, Wally. But only as a friend." His hand closed around hers. She held on tight. Grey met green and she was startled to feel a tear slip down her face. Just as shocking was how intense his eyes were as he tracked its movement down.

She reached a hand out to his cheek.

"You're crying, Artie."

"So are you, doofus."

And he was. Green eyes bright with tears he seemed to be stubbornly refusing.

"Wally, we haven't acted much like a couple for weeks. We're good friends. And I think we both finally started to realize that now. It's mutual- so don't beat yourself up about it, okay?"

Glancing down, head bobbing in chagrined agreement, Wally squeezed her hand.

She squeezed back wiping her eyes and refusing to let go.

The two could have stayed like that for hours - and for Wally, it's possible they did. Hands loosely entwined, gazes distant but shoulders touching. They certainly looked like a couple right now. But the Flashes were really affectionate, like that. Wally explained it best he could once. It's one part a propensity for touch as a love language but the other part involves time and the way they get caught outside of it so often. The touch grounds them in the moment.

It's second nature to see Wally leaned against Conner or casually draped over Robin.

A rye thought crossed Artemis' mind and with a wet giggle she finally put a voice to it.

"So when are you gonna tell Dick?"

Any cuddling that might have been happening was over as Wally lurched away.

"Tell Dick what?"

Artemis laughed despite herself, "Oh my god, Kid Oblivious!"

Wally's face was bright red.

"No, he's my best friend-"

"Wally, we were dating for a year only to realize we're just friends. How hard is it for you to rationalize that you can be friends with someone but harbor feelings that are, y'know... a little too friendly?"

He froze- edges blurring again as he thought about what she said. Artemis elbowed him out of relative time laughing at the affronted look on his face.

"Oh my god, Artemis. This is a disaster."

"Yes, you are a bisexual disaster."

"Rude!"

She shrugged, smug grin in place. "Just being honest. I always have had to walk you to these sort of conclusions. Remember when you were gunning for M'gann?"

He grimaced, face going red again.

"Don't remind me, I was such a creep."

"Didn't you have a crush on Conner, too?"

"Yeah- honestly I think that's why I was so obnoxious about M'gann. Consciously, I hadn't realized I liked him so I ignored everything surrounding their relationship and just narrowed in on what was reasonably - whatever. I was stupid."

"Was?" This time Wally elbowed Artemis.

"Well, if there's one thing we need to decide on it's this."

"This what?"

"Us. We're staying friends, right?"

"Of course! I mean, it'd be like nothing had changed anyways."

Artemis rolled her eyes.

"That's one thing that needs to change."

Wally's eyes drew together, a confused, "What?" stammered out his mouth.

Artemis took a big gulp of her coffee, grey eyes maintaining eye contact all the while.

Setting her cup down and with immense resolve she replied, "You have no game, Wally West. And yet you plan to bag Richard goddamn Grayson himself? You're gonna need to try harder. Maybe start with properly romantic dates instead of binge watching the bachelor over heaps of takeout."

Wally stared at her.

"What? We just broke up but we're still friends. I want you to be happy."

The tears, which had disappeared from before, now fell freely down his face pulling her into his arms within seconds. Artemis melted into the hug with a speed only people close to a speedster can develop - inhaling deeply and reveling in his warmth.

She'll miss being this close, sure. But she knows they'll stay friends.

"You're a really cool person, Artemis. I wish we worked out."

"You are, too, Wally. I think I'm relieved to be single, actually."

'My game is that bad?"

"Yes but I always found it endearing so don't worry." Wally scowled at the drudges of his now cold chocolate.

"No, I mean I spent so long trying to prove myself to the team and then to you. When we first started dating it felt like I'd finally found myself but now? I realize I have a lot to discover after being on the team and all. I'm content to focus on myself, you know? Superheroing. College. Careers."

"That makes sense. I want you to be happy, too, Artie."

"So when are you gonna ask him out?"

"And people think I move fast!"

"It's the caffeine, now spill."

Sometimes life is odd. Sometimes what should be devastating is simply… right. And pushing towards something just because you thought it suited you, just because you thought it was right years ago- doesn't make it right now. Life is weird. End goals can still happen but sometimes it's not time to run towards them. Better views can be see from different angles within the same city. And friendship is an incredibly valid form of love. As powerful as any other.