How Can We

Chapter Twenty Seven

Wally was going to do it. He finally mustered up the courage and was going to go through with it and tell Artemis how he really felt. He was just going to walk up to her and proclaim his love for Artemis, although it wasn't love and they already had plans together. He figured he'd just casually insert it into the conversation and see how things went.

It was a half-***ed plan and he knew it.

Wally felt like he was backed into a corner. He wanted to tell Artemis in the hopes of her reciprocating his feelings but Wally knew it was a long shot. She has shown no signs of caring for him more than a friend and it seemed almost ridiculous that he wanted to risk all of that despite how far they've come.

Wally was hanging out with Artemis again today. They've made it a habit of having lunch together outside of the group since they all hung out in the mornings anyway. Artemis kept Wally updated on her situation, giving him essentially a play-by-play. She confided in him, telling him about her plans and worries.He did his best listening attentively and giving her advice whenever he could.

"So I managed to convince Roy to talk to Jade about seeing my mom."

"I heard it was more like blackmail." Wally interjected. Artemis narrowed her eyes at him for a second before continuing. Her look of annoyance was something he regularly encountered recently, it's lost its touch after the first couple of times.

"My mom is dying to meet Lian and see Jade, but she is so full of guilt that she doesn't know how to handle and I'm stuck in the middle. I don't want to keep lying to my mom and acting as a proxy between them. They need to work out their issues together, while I focus on our bigger problem." She sighed and put her head in between her hands.

Artemis had already told Wally about the pictures, freaking out and hyperventilating in the alley by their school. Wally did his best to console her, but there wasn't much to calm down a girl who's been told her abusive father was coming back.

"Still no solution?" Wally asked. He extends his hand for her, and she turned him down. She told him explicitly that she was flattered and turned down his offer to help. Wally couldn't help but perceive this as a sign of what was to come if he confessed his feelings for her.

"Nope." She shook her head and took a sip of her water, looking defeated.

"You'll figure something out." He told him. Hope was a powerful tool, there was a reason why most heros carried it.

"I know." The conversation fell to a lull at the moment. One part of Wally was screaming to take this chance, this opportunity and seize it by the ponytail. The other part, the more logical one, told him not to overwhelm her at this point. She had enough to worry about, without adding a pining friend to the mix.

And so the latter won out, leaving Wally feeling defeated and cowardly for restricting his feelings.

Although he found a way to quickly rectify that.

*

"I haven't seen much of you lately."

"I've been busy." Wally explained, his hand resting on the back of his neck.

"With Artemis, I know. You've been hogging up my best friend." Dick told the red head. "You guys have been growing closer since she finally found Jade."

"When did she tell you?" His question as more curious than accusatory.

"She didn't have to. She trusts you Wally, more than me it would seem." Dick sounded regretful and crestfallen. "I've been following the case on my own. I told her I was going to help her look into some things, and I know why you are here."

"Can you find him?"

"I already have." Dick showed Wally his laptop where there were several video camera surveillance images, with a man that had more than a striking resemblance to Artemis. Jade took after their mother, and Artemis more like her father.

"I found these a few days ago. I figured once Artemis wanted to look into Jade, her father was bound to pop back into the picture."

"You know about her father?"

"She didn't tell me and she didn't have to. I've recognized all the signs, and digging around a few old police reports certainly helped." Of course Dick hacked the GCPD. "Recently I've been trying to build a case against him which is much harder than it looks when he hasn't technically done anything yet. Artemis and her mother haven't filed a restraining order."

"Her family is afraid it would make things worse." Wally added.

"I tried to get her to accept Bruce's protection, but you know Artemis, too stubborn to accept help."

"She rejected me too." Wally admitted.

"I sense you're taking that on a more personal note." Dick closed the screen of his computer. "I take it you haven't told her about your crush on her. I still can't believe you thought we were dating." The raven-haired boy laughed.

"It's not funny!" Wally whined, crossing his arms over his chest like a little boy.

"Oh it is! And you can at least admit that it helped break you out of your denial. It'll probably take years for Artemis to come out of hers."

"Wait do you think she likes me back?" He asked hopefully.

"Dude, we are not having this conversation right now. That's an issue you have to work on on your own time. Besides if none of you have a straight answer to that question, either your heads are in the clouds or up your ***."

"Well that's a nice way of putting it."

"Just telling the truth." Dick shrugged nonchalantly.The friends exchanged a look and started laughing.

**

Wally wanted to find the perfect time to tell Artemis. He didn't want to do anything to cloud her judgement, and distract her from this trying time. Most importantly, he didn't want to be the reason she couldn't give her family 100%, they needed her more than he did.

Wally could wait a few more days or even weeks to tell her. He could wait, her other problems might not have enough time. Whatever happens he was going to be there for her, as a friend first. 

A/N: Really short chapter, I know. I didn't have much to write to Wally's chapter but a lot is going to happen in the next one. Also, I wanted to have this chapter done by tonight and ended up compromising on the length a bit. 

Anyway let me know what you guys thought. Don't you feel bad for Wally, my poor baby :( 

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