Spoilers for s2ep10 in the comments.

[peckish4action]

Well, now you know. Yeah, and we know.

I hope this makes things better.

Comments

[junkfoodmentor]

I just hope he remembers everything if he's physically fine after that.

[He runs a hand through his hair and sighs.]

You know we're in this together, right? I lied to them too.

[peckish4action]

Yeah, me too. Otherwise, we get them out as soon as she makes the call.

*whether he's on the team or not, if Artemis makes that call, he'll get her out. At the cost of going in her place, if he has to.*

There's a slight difference. They haven't been putting their lives in your hands, mission after mission, for months. Plus, there's enough evidence that you weren't exactly happy with any of it. So you don't have to be.

*looks down. Yes, he'll take all the responsibility, if he can. It's his fault. Which... doesn't mean that his heart didn't warm up when Wally said those words.*

But... thanks.

[junkfoodmentor]

Dude, we all let M'gann and everyone else think that Kaldur killed Artemis. It wasn't just you.

And just because I'm not exactly thrilled with what's going on doesn't mean I'm any less guilty.

[peckish4action]

But I'm the one who should've seen what she does and stopped her. It might have made a difference.

Wally, I... I'm sorry. I should have listened.

[junkfoodmentor]

Something like this was bound to happen. He killed Artemis, Dick. We had to know that people would be gunning for him even more after that. If it wasn't M'gann, it would have been one of the others eventually.

[Maybe they wouldn't have gone to the extent M'gann did, but this was an obvious possibility.]

Don't you think it's too late to be apologizing? There's no turning back now.

[peckish4action]

He wouldn't have been as defenseless, with anyone else, and I know he knows how to... not pull his punches but not go overboard, either.

*and that? Dick just. Sighs and looks down.*

[junkfoodmentor]

Still doesn't mean something couldn't have happened.

[He rubs the back of his neck and sighs. This thing is just one big mess.]

Nothing is ever going to be the same, is it?

[peckish4action]

No, just...

*deep sigh in return, and looking down.*

No. If we are very, very lucky and do things very, very right, it might end up as good, or better. But never the same.

[junkfoodmentor]

I was talking about us. All of us. I don't see how things could get better. I mean, M'gann blasted Kaldur because we let her think that he killed Artemis. Conner could have died when the cave blew up, and is going to blame himself for what M'gann did.

You guys keep saying you knew the risks, but what about everyone else? We're not just messing with our lives, Dick. We're dragging everyone down with us.

[Sigh] ...and who knows what Artemis will want after this is all over.

[peckish4action]

I think Artemis will want peace and a break from it all even more than before. *firm. Steady. This part, he's relatively positive about.*

*The rest...*

If... if M'gann can undo the damage, if she learns from it and Kaldur forgives her... *deep breath.*

I don't know, Wally. There are too many ifs, but if I have to believe in the possibility - and the avoidability - of the future Bart comes from, I have to believe that it can turn out better than 'all right,' too. Or I'll just...

*he'll just stop. And he can't afford that.*

[junkfoodmentor]

Going through stuff like this has a habit of changing people, you know. [Is she even still going to want to be with him after everything?]

And I know this isn't what you wanted, and I know that I'm not helping things. I just hate the thought of them blaming themselves for something the four of us did.

[While he doesn't condone M'gann's actions, he's not going to blame her either. Who knows what he would have wanted to do if he was in her situation.]

[peckish4action]

I know, Wally. But she believed it wasn't going to make a difference in how she felt about you, and I'll... trust her on that?

*Looks down, and nods.*

You are helping, though. So long as you're here and even when you're yelling at me... I'd probably botch things even worse, without the one other person who knows, this side of the enemy lines. One of two, now. Either way, I'd rather hear what you have to say than-- than know that I've screwed things up enough that even you would give up on me.