entitled: back again
summary: Dick pretty much expected the punch. Wally was predictable that way. —WallyArtemis. Canon.
rating: K+
disclaimer: I do not own.
note1: SPOILERS, kind of. Set after season 2, episode 7: Depths.

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The house was empty.

The fact that Artemis wasn't there with him—it was killing him.

The fact that Artemis was with the enemy, that every moment was dangerous for her and that she was never able to let her guard down—it was eating away at him.

Wally wanted to go clear his mind. He wanted to go to some place familiar.

But he couldn't go to Mount Justice.

It seemed that Dick had done a pretty good job at making everyone believe Artemis was dead. If Wally went there, he would only be reminded that she was gone. They wouldn't look at him the same. They would make Artemis's leaving feel very real.

To go to Mount Justice would be walking into a nightmare.

To stay at home was to be tormented by the fact that he had let her go.

He should have tried harder to make her stay. He should have stepped up.

But he only proved himself to be a coward. Too afraid to fall back into that life where you risked losing something important, every day.

And now, all he could do was be scared for her.

What would he do if he lost her?

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Dick pretty much expected the punch. Wally was predictable that way.

It was early morning and Dick was checking on suspicious activity in the area. It was announced that 'Kid Flash' had arrived and Dick only had to turn slightly to said approaching individual before he was punched squarely in the jaw. Dick flew back a few feet.

It was good that Wally was still primarily in shape.

M'gann gasped in the background; she had come to call Dick to breakfast. Wally was breathing heavily—angry, frustrated, exhausted. He had probably ran a few laps around the city before coming. Dick slowly rose up, dusting himself off and preparing for another attack.

All in all, he deserved it.

Who was he to take away the person his best friend loves? Who was he to send her on a mission that put her life on the line every waking second? Who was he to make that kind of decision?

As Wally charged for another punch, he was held back by Conner who had come out to check on the noise.

Wally struggled but didn't say anything. Dick stood grimly—silently—in place. They both were tied down by the weight of the secret mission. They couldn't jeopardize it—not even for their friendship.

The members that shuffled into the command hall stood awkwardly. They assumed that Wally was angry because Dick had not been able to save Artemis.

But being there, at Mount Justice with everyone, Wally finally understood.

He was angry because he could never be like Dick.

He didn't have the courage; he didn't have the strength.

He will always be a sidekick.

Wally stopped fighting—it was hopeless anyway—and Conner cautiously let go.

Before the others could say anything—about Artemis being gone—Wally left.

It was all too much for him.

He was going insane.

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Wally ran.

He had no destination.

He didn't know how long he had been running.

But when he finally stopped, he was there.

Again.

At Mount Justice, where it all began.

And he decided that it would be here, that he would wait for Artemis.

And when it came time for her extraction, he would step up, and he would go to her.

And once he had her safely in his arms again, he would never let her go.

He would keep her beside him forever.

"I'm back."

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note2: I just can't imagine Wally not coming back. (And I really, really want him to be back.)