Prompt Post - Part Ten
I am REALLY, REALLY SORRY about taking so long, guys, and about not being around much recently. I've been busier than I have in a while, and it just kept slipping my mind between uni applications and volunteering and all sorts- for some reason I thought we were much further off a new post.
If there is anything I haven't responded to, as of now, I'm ( Read more... )
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When Dick rode his bike to the west side of Gotham, the transreceiver he had taken from the Cave began to respond. Of course, the main terminal had located the target to the city, so Dick had known where to head with the still-unresponsive short-distance receiver.
He’d had to leave in a hurry to make sure that his target didn’t vanish before he got there. Of course, the transmitter was working in the first place only because the other had stayed in the same place for a while, so it was unlikely he would take off all of a sudden. It was also unlikely that anyone would beat Dick to his target, since he had hacked the digital targeting program on the main computer. Bruce wouldn’t suspect it for at least long enough for Dick to reach the source of the transmission and then vanish along with it.
The signal grew stronger as Dick neared his target and the youth slowed his motorcycle down slightly to make sure he wouldn’t pass by what he was looking for. Dick knew that part of the reason he was in such a hurry was his own greed for the person he was pursuing. The desire to see the other again was so strong; he couldn’t stand the thought of someone else beating him to it.
The receiver was blinking more frequently as the distance decreased. It would be mere hours before Bruce noticed he was gone. Dick knew Bruce, so he also knew he would need to get rid of his bike and find another means of transportation to use when he moved on. He would also need to dispose of the transmitter he was following to avoid detection by it in the future.
There. Dick’s bike swerved into a stop and the raven-haired youth jumped off the vehicle in a fluid movement that sent him landing right in front of the nook behind a kiosk. There was a rusted car parked there, that had probably been red at some point, and behind it Dick found who he was looking for.
“Run out of juice?” Dick spoke softly and got a bleary blink from green eyes in return. He had to admit, it was pretty smart of Wally to get out of sight when he felt himself nearing collapse. But Dick was still going to give his friend a stern talking-to for letting himself get into such a bad shape. After he’d helped the other recuperate of course.
“Were you coming to see me?” Dick placed a hand on Wally’s cheek and smiled when the other’s gaze cleared into a fond look as the redhead nodded.
“I just wanted to take a peek,” Wally’s voice was weak, but the speedster still managed to sound sheepish. “I didn’t realize how…tired I was.”
“Let’s get you out of here.” Dick stood up and glanced around. The only useful things nearby were his motorcycle and the rust red car. Dick frowned in thought as he observed the car; it didn’t look particularly banged up or anything, so the boy thought he might be able to get it running. Getting inside the car would be easy enough; working with Batman often meant forcing one's way into crime scenes and so this wouldn't be the first time Dick had dug through the insides of a locked car.
"That doesn't look exactly legal." Dick looked up from the wires he was sorting through to see Wally leaning against the open door of the car, giving him a disapproving look. "I just needed to catch my breath; I can keep myself upright now," Wally glanced towards the direction where Dick had left his cycle. "We can take your bike."
"No," Dick insisted as he pulled out a small blade to cut through the wires he'd picked out. "The big guy can track it."
"So you aren't taking me back..." Wally smiled when Dick turned to glare at the other for the doubt. "You do realize that hotwiring a car is way different from hacking a computer, right?"
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The car whirred to life and Dick released his grip on the wires. A moment later, just as Dick had expected, the door he'd unlocked was opened and Wally climbed inside. Dick's bag was tossed to the backseat and Wally settled down into the passenger's seat.
"What next?" Wally asked when Dick straightened in the driver's seat. Wordlessly, Dick flipped on the small lamp and beckoned Wally closer with his hand.
"Next, we locate that tracer you've been tagged with." Dick didn't recognize the clothes Wally was wearing; they were ill-fitting and most likely had been obtained after he'd run away. So those wouldn't have the tracer. That left either Wally's backpack or his body. "Have you showered?"
"What kind of a question is that?" Wally snapped, a tad defensively, even as he handed his bag over to Dick. When Dick merely looked at the other expectantly, the redhead huffed and replied: "Whenever I've been able to."
"Did you notice anything stuck to your skin, a suspiciously persistent smudge or a bump in your head?" Dick started to feel out the seams of Wally's bag even as he made his question and waited for Wally's response. Hitting a spot where the strings of the seams were frayed, Dick stuck his blade in between the fold of fabric and pulled out a small machine. That he dropped into the ash can to have a look at later.
"I checked for those myself," Wally answered and Dick looked up at the other. "I noticed some of my hairs were matter together way back in Ivy Town. There was a tiny tracer in the gunk but it was washed down the train easily enough."
Dick passed his friend his bag back and quirked a pleased smile at him, who responded with a small grin of his own. The bag was tossed in the backseat to join Dick's bag while Dick picked up the previously discarded tracer from the ashtray. Disabling the tracer would buy them some time; it was better to let Bruce think that the computer just wasn't picking the signal up for a while longer than let him discover it and know it had been found.
The end of Dick's blade was only barely thin enough to fit between the layers of the tracer, but Dick managed it and the two halves came apart, the top part dropping to Dick's lap. Dick observed the micro circuitry in front of him and tried to see which parts were most vital for sending a signal. He picked out a couple of pieces, which he pried off with his knife, dropping the remains back into the ashtray along with the other shell half that had fallen into Dick's lap. He'd get rid of the scraps somewhere else rather than the place where Bruce would find his bike. Bruce would certainly search the area and would find anything they might leave behind.
"That takes care of that," Dick said and took a hold of the steering wheel with one hand and gripped the hand brake with the other. The youth shot a glance at the gas meter. "Okay, there's enough juice for several miles. We'll find a motel outside of town where we can spend the night and then continue by bus."
"So this guy will never get his or her car back?" There was heavy disapproval in Wally's tone and Dick didn't think the other would let up on this matter. "I'd be okay with stealing it if we were planning on returning it but if you're going to take it out of the city who knows if it'll end up back with the real owner."
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"Besides." The car seemed to accelerate slowly, but it didn't start slowing down again after Dick got the speed up. "This thing's barely functioning. I'm sure its insurance is worth more than the ride itself." Dick kept an eye on the speedometer and nodded when the speed didn't start diminishing, glancing over to Wally and awaiting a response.
Only, the redhead was leaning back in his seat and was breathing deeply, obviously asleep. Dick smiled fondly at his friend before making sure both of their seatbelts were secure. With that the car turned onto a main street and Dick started to press down the accelerator again. It wouldn't take them long to reach Gotham city limits even with the old car.
Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, Dick allowed his right hand to move over to the passenger's seat and sink into Wally's hair. It wasn't exactly clean and it was damp with general moisture as well as sweat, and it had become shaggy from the inch or so length it had gained while Wally had been on the run. But despite all these things, Dick still found pleasure in the act of touching Wally's hair, because it was Wally, returned to him and now completely his. Dick allowed a serene smile to grace his lips. Apparently Wally was his sixteenth birthday present. The smile widened. It was just what he had been wishing for.
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Author's Notes: It was actually pretty easy to decide what would make Wally risk discovery; an important day for Dick. So he came over to see his best friend on his birthday. It was also a good chance to drop the timeframe for this story, since I'm going to feel slightly better about all the upcoming subject matters with the characters a bit older.
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THE FILL IS HERE!
And it's great!
It is very obvious when you think about it. Wally's priorities are very clear. There are quite a few days important to Dick, and his birthday would be the one where Wally might want to see him, instead of him needing his best friend during the anniversary of his parents' death, or their birthdays. It's so in character for Wally to be tired and worn out from running on empty, and in no condition to be arguing against Dick's methods when Dick is getting them out and away, but still to be disapproving of doing something wrong. Dick is the more practical and realistic one, and while being protective sometimes includes protecting Wally from harsh realities (I'd imagine that when the necessary killings begin, Dick will perform the deed himself as often as possible, to spare Wally from it as much as he can), sometimes it also includes pointing out the realities to him. Dick may be DC's poster boy for hope and justice, but his priorities are also straight, and directly opposite Bruce's. Friends and family first, justice second.
Besides, he's right. They're two teenage boys, one not even legal yet, on the run with almost everything against them and nothing in their pockets save a head start and whatever money Dick brought with him (which could, admittedly, be a lot - he is filthy rich and he can afford to take as much as cash as he wants; Bruce can't trace it. They could last on that for a long while, if they spend wisely.). They can't choose to be irrevocably good all the time now.
I love how Dick is a little proud of Wally for knowing by now to check for tracers, and for knowing that Dick would find him if he stood still long enough. And how he didn't try to run, because he trusts Dick enough. He's not even worried that Dick will hate him for what he's done. Dick is being so... gentle with him, but he's not treating him like he's fragile either. It's just... so lovely.
Would it be greedy to ask for more already?
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Author anon, I don't know what to say. I've been checking daily and today is my lucky day. Funny, because I just came back from a midterm and I found this! This lovely fill that you carefully crafted. I thank you so much. So far, it's everything I imagined. I love the feel of the story already and the pace is perfect. You jumped right into the aftermath and you made every little detail important. Because it is. Dick visiting Wally when it's his important day? Priceless. I can totally see Dick doing that and it shows how much he's willing to risk a a day, his day, for something big like running away with Wally. It just makes me squeal on the inside! You played it well too. It's subtle and somewhat calming. Like the way Dick pets Wally's hair and the ending where he smiles and believes that wally was his birthday present. Those little moments show added to the fact that Dick is risking it all, shows how much he cares for Wally. Overprotect ftw. : )
Once more, I thank author!anon for starting this and I can't wait for more. Please keep up the good work. : )
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