One Step at a Time

He's laughing.

We're standing here in front of the monkey cage in Central City Zoo and Dick's beside me laughing as the animals inside try to fling smelly poo at our fellow onlookers. It's devilish in nature but absolutely angelic to me and itt drives me completely insane. In the good way. And it's how I know I've made the right choice for our first date ever.

It's been about a month since "we" became official, but because of school and superhero stuff, I haven't had a chance to to ask him out on a porper date. So when I heard we had a day off-from school and superhero duties, I jumped on the opportunity like a madman. I didn't want it to be the typical dinner-and-a-movie kind of date either, but I was at a total loss at what to do. Then Uncle Barry came home one night with a pair of free tickets to the zoo and gave them to me, saying that he couldn't take Aunt Iris because they were busy and stuff like that. I tried to ask him who gave them to him but all he would say is "from an old friend."

So here we are, going from zone to zone looking at all the different kinds of animals-lions, bears, penguins- and making jokes and awed faces at every one. I thought he would've been bored coming to a small zoo like this since he's probably been to bigger and better ones. And being the blabber mouth I am, I had asked him about it while were were watching the zebras prance around their field with joy.

"It's true I've been to bigger ones that some would call better..." He'd looked up at me and smiled big and brightly. "But I've never been to one with you like this so it's the best one I've experienced in my life."

Which had made my day completely.

And everything was going perfect. Except every time I tried to touch him he'd dodge away from it. He didn't do it obviously, but slyly, as if he was trying not to hurt my feelings. If I wasn't paying attention I wouldn't have even noticed. But he did do it and it was annoying and I was going to get ot the bottom of it.

Now we were leaving the monkeys to their mischief and were heading over to the gigantic african elephants. When we reached the area we both leaned against the railing ofr leverage and I decided it was the perfect moment to strike.

"Dick?"

He turns his head and locks eyes with me. "Yeah?"

"Why do you keep avoiding me?" He flinches.

Bingo.

His electric blue eyes avoid my gaze, whipping back to the large creatures towering over us and fidgets with his hands. I take a moment to note how incredibly adorable that is before keeping on.

"Dick, answer me." He hesitates a moment longer but finally gives me my answer.

"I'm sorry, Wally. I don't really mean to, it's just a reflex."

Oh really?

"You didn't use to do it before."

"I know...it just popped up ever since we started dating. I know I let you at least give me fist bumps and high fives and bro hugs when we were just best friends but now...it means something more."

He's got a point.

"And it's not like I don't trust you but...you might take it further or I might without meaning to and it could turn into a whole big mess and I didn't want anything awkard to happen on our first date. Does that make any sense at all?"

Yes and no.

"Dick, look. I'm not going to do anything to you that you don't want me to, okay? And I'm not going to even try to take it too far. Well, at least not yet."

His pale cheeks start to turn the bright red shade of roses and I can't help myself from chuckling lightly from the sight.

"What I'm trying to say is, you get to set the pace. We'll take it one step at a time, alright?" He starts to nod but then gets pushed from behind by something long and huge and gray and starts to stumble. I find the exact same thing happening to me but because of my speedy reflexes, I recover faster and catch him in my arms as he trips into my chest. He's so light he barely makes me move from my spot and the warmth of his fingertips against my skin make me hold onto him tight.

The hell?

"You okay?" I ask him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But what was...?"

Phuuuuuoohhhh!!!

We both snap our heads up in the direction of the sound. There are two elephents looking down at us with their small, knowing eyes and heavy trunks halfway raised.  They almost seem to be smiling. So I smile back.

"Thanks, guys," I say. Dick looks back at me with an even darker blush and it makes him look so...adorable that I pull him just a little bit closer.

"One step at a time, right?" His tiny lips widen into a grin and then separate into a precious laugh as he rests his cheek softly against my chest.

"Yeah. One small step at a time."

--

I wake from my dream, blinking away the sleep and yawning with drowsiness. There's a warmth coming from something beside me under the covers. I turn and it's Dick, shirtless and snuggling against my side with my arm around his tiny, slim waist. His dark eyelashes flutter as his eyes open slowly and yawns as well when he looks at me.

"Hey," he says.

"Hey."

"Why are you smiling like that?"

I'm smiling? Oh. I guess I am.

"Just had a dream about our first date."

"You mean the one with the pervy elephants?"

"Yeah," I laugh. "that's the one."

"Good dream." He places an arm over my abs and snuggles even closer, letting out a long and peaceful sigh.

Amazing how he wouldn't even let me touch him 6 months ago.

"Thanks."

"For what?" I ask with curiosity.

"For taking it one step at a time."

I kiss the edge of his bare shoulder, peck the crook of his neck, and place my lips on the top of his head sweetly before settling my face against it and smiling into his soft, raven hair.

"You're welcome. Dick."

Because I am too.