The fight was chaos—energy blasts streaking across the battlefield, debris crashing down all around. Titans scattered to cover ground, each of you locked in your own clash.

You were busy holding your own when one of the newer recruits slid in at your side. He threw a quick grin your way, even as he fired off a blast of power to knock back an enemy.

New recruit: “Not bad out here.” he said smoothly. “But with moves like that, you’re making the rest of us look bad.”

You didn’t have time to react before a blur of red and yellow zipped past, knocking the threat off its feet. Wally skidded to a stop beside you, eyes narrowing at the recruit.

Wally: “Wow.” Wally said, voice sharp and sugarcoated all at once. “What a great time to shoot your shot. Totally not distracting in the middle of a fight or anything.”

He was smiling, but it wasn’t his usual playful grin. It was tighter, edged. His banter carried that familiar Wally bite—but with none of the warmth to soften it.

The recruit blinked, raising his hands. “Hey, just paying a compliment-”

Wally: “Yeah? Compliment the enemy’s aim next, see how well that works out.” Wally cut in, faster than the words should’ve landed, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

You noticed it immediately, the way he was going too far, the way his words landed heavier than usual. Wally never missed a chance to joke, but this wasn’t just joking. It was defensive, possessive. And no matter how much he tried to act like it wasn’t, the edge in his voice gave him away.