The Flash looked like someone had tazered him. Wally's parents still had on the priceless faces.

"I know it's sort of sudden," Wally stammered, "but I don't know what else to say. I've just known for a while that I felt this way, and I didn't want to keep it from you anymore."

Wally's mother recovered first. She actually seemed to be pleasantly surprised, a genuine grin mixing with the shock on her face. "That's so sweet, Wally. Really." She shrugged a bit. "Surprising, but I'm very happy for you, sweetheart. And I hope you're both very happy together."

"Thanks, mom," Wally laughed shakily, feeling tears prick his eyes. He'd been so scared that they'd all be angry. His mother pulled him into another hug, glancing between her son and Robin.

"You're both such sweet boys." Robin spotted tears in her eyes as well and his nervous heart softened. That kind of acceptance, that kindness, was extraordinary. She waved her hands and walked off, as if to brush attention off her tears as she searched for tissues.

When she was gone they noticed his father had gone stone still and white as a sheet. He stared at Wally. "You're sure about all this, son?"

Nervous but determined, Wally met his gaze. "I'm sure. I wouldn't do this if I wasn't."

His father's heavy look turned on Robin, who was like a deer in the headlights. His heart skipped a beat. What if he got mad, and tried to kill him? Could he hit Wally's dad? No way! What was he going to do then?! Robin swallowed. Just let him beat the snot out of him, or at least fend him off. "I can't believe it." But instead of fury, the man's whole face crumpled. "Jesus, Wally. My own son."

"Dad, I don't… I can't pretend like this is what you wanted for me," Wally said quickly. "I know it's not. But I'm happy this way. I swear, I…" His voice shriveled up in his throat as his father turned and walked out of the room without another word, shoulders hunched, hands in his pockets. Everyone held their breath as we listened to his footsteps fade up the steps. Wally's hand was shaking in Robin's. He looked at the floor angrily.

"Why didn't you say something before?" The Flash asked, still in shock.

"Dad is why." Wally replied. "I knew you'd tell him before I got up the courage to. Then he would hate me and think I'm a coward, too."

"Wally." Flash walked over, shaking his pupil's shoulder firmly. "Your personal life is your choice. I'm not going to ever tell you what to do with your heart. Your father is just upset - he couldn't hate you, not even for a second. That man loves you more than life itself." He bent to look him in the eye. "And you are not a coward. What you just did takes guts, Kid, and lots of them." Straightened up, he gave Robin a sheepish look. "This is a lot to take in for everyone."

"Robin?" Wally looked up at his friend guiltily. "I hate to bother you guys any more with me being around the Tower. But do you think maybe…?"

Robin shook his head. "You don't even have to ask. Stay as long as you need to, Wally. You're a Titan as far as we're concerned."

Relief washed over the young speedster. They shared a smile. "Thanks, Robs." He sighed. "So, you're not mad, Barry?"

"Like I said, your personal life is your business. At least I don't have to give you the talk now. I wouldn't have the slightest clue about where to even begin." Flash held up both his hands in surrender. They all laughed, mostly out of surprise, and Wally rubbed his eyes when tears started to blur them. His mother came back into the room with a tissue box in hand. She shared them with Wally and hugged him one more time, promising to talk to his father before he pulled his mask back on, ready to leave. Robin shook Flash's hand again.

"I'll keep an eye on him, don't worry."

"I know you will, kid. Take care. Both of you."

Wally took off, Robin in tow, and they vanished into the city together. When they got back to the tower it was almost dinner time. Everything stopped moving in the room they shared; Robin sat down on the bed to recover, while Wally sank down beside him with a heavy melancholy settled on his shoulders. "Don't worry," Robin said comfortingly. "Your dad is just overwhelmed. He'll come around."

The speedster wasn't convinced. "I don't know, Robs. I just… don't know."

A silence stretched between them that was like a divider. They looked away from each other. The longer it went on, the higher the wall between them became. Robin didn't know what to do. How did you comfort someone whose own father didn't want him to be gay, even if he was happy? What did he say? He didn't have parents, not anymore, and Bruce was miles away. Besides, his opinion didn't affect them. It was tough to relate to Wally right now. Robin got up from the bed slowly. "You must be starving. Come on, let's go make some dinner. It'll get your mind off things."

At first, Wally didn't respond, and Robin thought he was mad at him for even suggesting it. Then he just shrugged. "I don't want to eat," Wally murmured. Now he knew something was wrong. Wally? Not hungry? Robin tossed his gloves aside. Then he unclipped his belt and draped it over a chair, much to the other boy's surprise. "What are you doing?"

"I said I would make it up to you – bashing your knee." He kicked off his boots.

"You don't have to-" Wally stuttered as Robin took off his shirt. The 'R' on the chest crumpled where he dropped it. Shades of red flashed in Wally's cheeks as Robin's green leggings were kicked away.

"I want to." The boy wonder put his hands on his hips. "So?"

"S-So?" Wally was staring at the other boy's chest. "So you're really handsome. But I probably said that already." He forgot to blink. "Or… maybe I just imagined me saying it… in a very… compromising position..."

"This is a treat, not an offering." Wally nodded absently. "Wally. Hand me that shirt behind you." Wally continued to stare. "Wally. Wally?"

"You're right. This does make it up to me." Wally reached behind him without looking and handed Robin a red t-shirt. He continued to stare as the boy wonder pulled it on. "I can't even feel my knee anymore."