Shouting.
Actual Shouting.
Wally woke up to actual shouting. No, not yelling or screaming but shouting. Talking at the highest volume. Like it was some competition to see who could be the loudest.
And Abigail was clearly winning.
"But that's so unfair"! She screeched as her butlers tried in vain to calm the petite blonde. She spun around dramatically, hands on her hips and irritation in her face. "How can he be so mean"!
On the screen of her sparkly cell phone was Chad. He didn't seem at all irritated by the noise, in fact, he appeared to agree with the bubbly blonde. " Your right Abs, but you know how it is. Father is concerned about the "current city situation", and with the statement your Dad just put out, I can't go out right now".
"But it's just a stupid power outage and Wally really needs us right now. Clints running late and Trix bailed-
Wait. Need them?
Why would he need them?
He stumbles, alcohol still heavy in his blood as his mind flashes a million memories a second.
Drinking with Abby.
Laughing with Abby.
Crying with Abby?
Oh….Roy.
He's not sure if it's the realization or the hangover but instantly Wally's face fell. His mouth was hot, stomach clutching, eyes teary.
His good friend Roy.
He tried to hunch but fell instead, and for the life of him he couldn't get up. His vision blurred and his throat was closing. He felt Abigail go next to him, he knew she was speaking to him. Trying to calm him down, but all he could hear was his dad's voice.
The arrowboy
To die so young
Don't most of yer little friends go boom
Fuck.
"Wally please your hyperventilating. You have to stop", Abigail said.
Wally tried to respond but found he couldn't. His heart was beating so fast, near meta fast. Almost Kid Flash fast and Abigail was close enough to notice. He needed to calm down.
He wants to calm down. He wants to forget.
He sobs instead, body racking as he gasps for air. Heart increasing.
Some people now surround him, and Wallys too busy trying to breathe to notice if the meta from earlier is present. One of them pulls Abigail from his side, a bulky person that towered over everyone else.
"Loser you're having a fucking anxiety attack... run your goddamn mouth." a voice said. Angry and irritated.
It's a voice Wally knows all too well and he seriously wished for once Clint would leave him the fuck alone.
He wants to yell at him, to scream every 'fuck you' his voice has to offer. But he can't because he barely breathe. And it's taking all of his energy to not vibrate through the floor.
No one says anything for a moment. The only sounds are Abigail's small huffs of air and Wally's quick ones.
Clint sighs. "West what's around you," he asked. He asked and Wally heard him but fuck he can't answer.
All he sees's is his fucking secrete identity seconds away from being exposed if he doesn't chill the fuck out.
All he sees is Roy. Crime-fighting, nacho cheese-eating, loud mouth and endearing.
His good friend Roy...who is gone.
He inhales. Bites his tongue as he looks for an appropriate answer.
"Floor" he spits out after a moment.
Clint responds immediately, "And".
Ugh, he almost groans. Why is Clint even talking to him? He almost doesn't respond but decides against it after Clint's growl. The last thing he needs is a fight right now.
He spots a vase. An ugly coral pink one with symbols he could probably pick out if his tears were not so heavy. He inhales again, this time still rushed but a bit slower. " Vase" he answers.
Clint finally lets go of Abby, pushing her into the arms of a butler so that he may walk closer to Wally. He stops in front of the freckled-faced boy and asks again. "And"
Wally hesitates, looking around for another answer. As he does this, breathing gets a little bit easier. His heart beats a little slower.
He inhales. Deep and controlled. Closing his eyes for a moment to open them clearly. He could see everything now.
Beauty queen Abigail, trembling, looking scared as a nameless butler held her back. Her phone in her hand, showing an equally upset Chad. Carmichael looking bored, uninterested, and busy. And Clint- who Wally knows hates him. Clint who has every reason to hate him. Clint who was waiting for an answer.
What does he see around him?
Regret.
Wally exhales, tired suddenly. "Thank you", he spits out. Embarrassed to the fullest.
Clint pushes his shoulder then, harsh and abrasive," Not what fucking I asked, what do you see shithead".
Wally inhales, again. Slowly, he's more irritated than anxious now. " Your ugly mug" he drawls out, half expecting Clint to lash out at him.
Clint doesn't. He doesn't laugh either though. Instead, he ignores Wally, brushing past the redhead to greet Abby.
She greets him first, running to him and jumping into his arms. "Clint that was amazing! You really calmed Wally down. Your amazing baby". She starts kissing him towards the end and Wally shuffles a bit as their make-out session gets explicit.
He should probably leave, right?
Carmichael left after all.
And they were getting pretty handsy.
Wally starts to shuffle to the door but the minute he reaches the doorknob Abigail plops her lips off of Clint and saunters over to the redhead.
"Wally you can't leave! I mean - we can still hang out and I don't think you should be alone" Abigail says as she grabs his arm and tries to pull him back into the room.
He shakes his arm off in pure habit and smiles a bit to reassure the blonde it's nothing personal. "Naah I've kinda been here a while, it's almost 5. My folks are probably worried."
Yeah, he knows, fat lie.
Almost as if she could sense this Abigail rolls her eyes, "Just tell them your staying over"
"Let the dork leave" Clint mumbles as he tries to catch her lips again.
She pushes against him, ready with her next rebuttal, but one look at Wally's puppy dog eyes makes her soften. Still, she purses her lips and sighs dramatically, " Oh come on not the eyes, that's my trick. It's unfair to use it against me. I have a patent and everything".
As if to prove her point she pursues her lips and sets her baby blues onto Wally.
He almost groans. If she didn't really patent it, she should. Abigail Caperson puppy dog pout was to die for.
Clint actually did groan. Huffing as he grabbed Wally by his shirt and placed him back in the room. "Fine dorks staying, just stop with the fuking eyes. Please".
Playfully rolling his own eyes Wally calmlys says, "I guess one more hour couldn't hurt".
She squeals! Loud enough that both boys wince. Just what had they agreed to?
From her phone, Chad bites out, "I'd just like to point out you can't patent a gesture and blondie here just played both of you".
Abigail grinned, "You're just jealous that you're stuck at home while we'll be drinking our hearts out".
Chad grumbles, "Maybe".
Wally can't help it, he lets out a small smile.
The next hours are filled with drinking Henny shots and slurping jello shots as Abby and Chad playfully argue with one another through facetime.
The next hours are playing drunk hide n seek in a mansion and getting lost as the hider.
The next hours are belly flops into a pool, popcorn food fights in a home theater, and cackles on a diamond-studded dance floor.
The next hours were the few moments that Wally allowed himself to forget. To be okay.
But then, Chad's father makes him hang up the phone around the same time drunk Abby falls asleep and Wally is left with nothing but his thoughts.
He walks to Abby's pool, not nearly as drunk as he wants to be. He watches his own reflection in the water and hears his father's voice again.
Yer said the arrowboy was runts age huh. Red hair too, women would have a fit. To die so young.
To die
He blinks, watches a tear fall into the pool, and sighs. He is calm, but he's not okay.
He wants more than anything for this to all be a dream.
A dream so he could wake up. A dream that closes to sleepovers at Oliver's, stakeouts at Bruce's, gorge sessions at Barry's.
He wishes he had spent more time with Roy. He wishes he didn't let school or his dad or life get in the way of his friendship.
He wishes so badly, this was all just a dream.
"Aye loser," Clint says as he walks up to the redhead. In his hands are two shot glasses filled to the brim in what one can only guess is alcohol. He hands one to Wally before murmuring, "Wouldn't have expected you to have a friend...but here's to him".
He takes a grand gulp of his own glass and sighs when Wally doesn't. Then in complete un Clint like fashion, he slumps his shoulders and whispers, "It gets easier".
Wally shudders, unsure if he should reply. Clint had avoided him these past few hours thoroughly. He didn't even try to find him during hide n seek, no matter how much Abigail begged. But on the other hand, Clint did help him with his anxiety attack earlier.
Maybe he could help him with this too.
Wally glances at him, "The grief"?
Clint shakes his head, pauses, and sits down beside Wally. "The regret. The feeling of waking up and remembering that person is no longer here. That you're missing not just moments you could have had but…..them. " He paused again and whispered almost as if he was telling a secret, "First days the worst. Hits ya like a fucking wide back but…...It's better to think of what you had 'stead of what you lost".
Wally nodded. For once tears were fogging his eyes but he could still see.
No, he wasn't okay. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to be.
He glanced back at Clint. His bully for so many years. Ironic isn't it? The one person he can't stand is the only other person who probably understands him right now.
Wally sniffled, closing his mouth a second to gather his thoughts. "I never". He paused, shuddered, and looked at Clint once more. "I never said sorry about what...what happened nine years ago-
"Stop", Clint rushed, voice cracking. "What happened back then….wasn't …..fuck. Look no matter how much I blamed you for the shit West ya know it wasn't-I know it wasn't your fault. So don't apologize for fucked up shit got it"
"Got it" Wally murmured.
Clint sighed again, almost as if he was embarrassed, " And just so we're clear, we're not fucking friends".
Wally smiled, "Yeah I know".
They stay there for a few more moments, drinking their glasses and enjoying the silence. When he finishes his glass, Wally leaves it by the edge of the pool and stretches his legs.
God, he was exhausted.
He doesn't bother telling Clint bye, but he does watch him. Wait for him to finish his own glass and enter the mansion once more.
It takes seventeen minutes to convince Carmichael he does not need a ride home. Six to find his shoes. Eight to eat his way to semi- sober and ten for Wally to figure out how exactly to get out of the labyrinth-like mansion.
Now finally at the front door, he sighs, taking in the crisp fresh air that the night brings.
He wanders over the gate and wonders just where he should go. Home was not an option. His chest still ached from his last encounter with Rudy. Though if he's being honest, he doesn't really feel like crashing at Uncles Barry's either.
He sighs. Maybe he should've stayed at Abigail's.
As he walks, it becomes more and more apparent that something is wrong. Central City is lit, the power is back on, but it's obvious that darkness had occurred.
Car accidents were littered left and right. Some cars are even embedded into buildings. Glass is broken, sidewalks cracked.
Central City has always been boisterous, people at every corner. Now it looked like a dead land. The only sign of life were the police who patrolled around and the reporters who scurried.
He stops at one and asks, "What happened".
The officer shrugs, " Blackout kid, worse one we've ever seen. Affected everything. Cars just suddenly stopped, planes too. We were lucky the damage wasn't too bad. Senator Caperson says citizens should stay inside for now till we can figure it out. You need a ride home".
A blackout? Affecting Cars?
Wally stops." What about Flash".
Again the officer shrugs, "Yeah, he was here with some other supers. They got all the injured and the criminals and left us with the mess. I guess the blackout affected some other cities so they had to check them out too. Look if you are scared to get in a car, I can walk ya home".
A blackout like this affecting multiple cities?
"Thanks but I've got it. Homes not too far" Wally bit out, sending a quick smile and an even quicker wave.
He started lightly jogging hoping the sickness in his stomach would go away.
Hours ago he was thankful for this supposed blackout. But it couldn't have been Uncle Barry or Batman.
They would never cause..this.
He looked around, trying hard not to imagine who cars these were. Whose blood this was.
He felt sick.
While he was drinking with Abby trying to forget Roy, this was happening.
How many people could he have saved?
He heaved, gripped his shirt, and rolled his eyes. Now was not the time to have another panic attack.
Calm down, Wallman.
Calm down.
He continued jogging until his body met with a worn-out phone booth. He was on the northern tip of Central city now, an area he knew all too well.
He can't take back the time he lost. The people he missed. But he was available now.
Kid Flash was here now.
Thanking God he always keeps one suit handy in the lining of his pocket. He quickly stepped into the phone booth and changed.
He spent the first few minutes cleaning up Central City. Trying his hardest to figure out which cars were saveable and which weren't. He then helped with buildings, sure he doesn't have super strength but speed did come in handy when it came to moving.
He visited the hospital. Helped the nurses with rounds. Read stories to the kids.
He couldn't repair everything. He couldn't save anything.
But these few moments of helping Central City eased his mind. Maybe he wasn't a complete failure.
He was helping Luigi fix the lining of his front window when his comm beeped three times. Cave code for come now.
He almost ignored it. He is suspended after all they cant be really asking for him. But then the comm beeped again, this time six times.
Cave code- urgent.
Sighing, he pushed a couple of buttons on his goggles and waited until he was illuminated in a glowing white light.
Recognize Kid Flash B-03
"KF dude!", Beastboy yelled. He was sitting in his favorite chair but for once he wasn't playing his beloved video game. Instead, he was slouched over watching the news.
Instantly Wally sped over mushing the green kids' curly hair, "BB its been three days but it feels like an internity ".
Beastboy smiled, Kid Flash was always such a fresh breath of air. "Yeah, dude! Missed ya, it literally sucks monkey balls to only play Kyle in speed crusher. M'gann just lets me win and Bumblebee left so I'm stuck with the trash basket and when I tell you he's no competition-".
"See if I play with you again greenie", a black-haired lantern grumbles as he enters the room. Instantly Wally remembers him, Hal's sidekick.
"Ion"?
Ion perks, "Hey Kid Quick! how's it going".
"Kid Flash", Wally sourly corrects, though in all honest he's not really mad. He feels refreshed, better somehow. More relaxed. He missed the Cave. He missed being Kid Flash.
Ion flushes,"Oh sorry, names are not my forte. You should've seen the mess I caused on Oa when I tried to re-name the Guardians. Wheeeeew, not a good time. Kilowog actually tried to kill me. Like legit slaughter".
Beastboy was the first to laugh at that. Wally soon joins him. He can't be serious.
"Did he try with his hands or his ring. Cause it only counts if he used his ring", Wally teases after a moment.
Beastboy laughs harder and Ion chuckles. Wally smiles hard. This is why he loves being Kid Flash. This is what he should be doing. This is what he should've done with Roy.
He blinks back tears and smiles again. He's not okay, but doesn't mean he won't be. Just when Wally had another joke lined up, a voice interrupts them.
"If you hyenas are finished, I didn't call you for comedy hour" Robin dryly saids from the hall.
Wally pauses. Oh yeah, he was called here.
He speeds over, intent on ruffling Tim's hair the same way he did Beastboys but pauses when he catches Tims frown.
Oh, fuck what did he do now?
"Your phone is off," Tim said. He said it like its fact. Like he had been calling it for a while now.
Shit.
Wally hangs his head, so not in the mood to be berated by an eleven-year-old. "I- kinda broke it".
Tim nods slowly in a 'duh obviously' kinda way and turns his head to the other two teens in the room. "We're going to be sending out teams for clean-up in a minute. Kid Flash handled Central City so you two are now relocated to Team B".
"Team B is which city again," Beastboy asked while picking his ear.
Tim sighs. Does anyone read his mission statements? "Team B is Star City. Go get suited up".
In a way that just screams Bruce, he gives neither boy another glance as he turns to Wally once more. "You and I need to talk".
Huh. Talk? Tim wants to talk? Now?
"Shouldn't we clean the cities first?" Wally asked. He asked but he wasn't at all surprised when Tim didn't answer him. Instead, Tim grabs the redheads arm and basically drags him into the nearest vacant room.
He doesn't say anything at first. Pushing buttons on his belt for a second, until a map comes on a screen.
It's a weird map. A circle? And Central City is in the center.
Tim doesn't bother acknowledging Wally's puzzled face, "The blackout started in Central City at approximately 11:03 a.m. You or Flash were speeding around Central at 10:59.
"Okay," Wally replied. Because what else is he supposed to say.
"It's not a normal blackout" Tim pressed.
Again Wally scrunched up his face. Just what is he getting at?
Tim sighs, "It's an SME KF. An SME in Central City? Where no villain has the brains to even obtain one. But its two top heroes are basically einsteins, with enhanced speed".
Wait. They can't possibly think he would?
"I would never" Wally nearly shouts.
He couldn't. He wouldn't.
Tim sighs again, and for the first time that day, Wally notices how tired he looks. "I know Wally, I'm just trying to paint the picture. A lot of the league doesn't know you and Flash as well as us. They're not happy that this happened".
"Well, neither are we" Wally buts in. They can't possibly think he would ever.
Tim doesn't respond to that either. Instead, he presses another button on his belt. Highlighting several cities on the screen.
"Over 3,000 inmates escaped Arkham. 350 in Metropolis. 600 in Star. 200 is Bludhaven. Computers were hacked, Labs raided. It looks ..strategic. The league still mad about Hawkgirls betrayal last summer. We've all seen heroes shift, cliques form. They're even more upset that Flash has no idea who could've done this. You being drunk doesn't exactly help" Tim adds.
"I'm buzzed, not drunk" Wally quickly rebuts.
Tim nods again, and hands Wally a mint before replying, " Sure, sure. Your issues aside".
"I don't have an issue" Wally interrupts.
Because he doesn't. He barely fucking drinks. Tim is being dramatic.
Tim pauses, "Okay, but we're talking about Flash and the SME right now".
Oh...yeah. The SME. Central City. The buildings. The blood.
"They're not blaming Flash are they," Wally asked.
They couldn't be blaming Barry, right. Barry wouldn't hurt a fly. They have to know that, right? Clearly some new villains in town. That's not his fault.
Tim presses a few more buttons on his belt until the screen shows the Justice League. They're seated around a large round table, some looking angry. Others looking paranoid.
Flash looks defeated.
"B's holding a meeting. Most don't think Flash did this but they don't understand how he has no leads. They also don't understand how he has no contact with his sidekick. They don't trust it." Tim shuffles, the unspoken "they don't trust you" hangs in the air like a bad stench.
Wally rubs his eyes. This can't be real.
Tim offers a small smile, "I don't know how its gonna go, but I thought I' de give you the heads up". He then reaches into the drawer next to him shucks a box at Wally. "Here, Waynetech's newest phone, I even encrypted some league stuff for you. You shouldn't be able to break this one. I made it klutz proof, case and all….I got to go, clean up mission starts in 10, and if I don't remind everyone it won't get done".
Wally nodded, this was a lot. But the world came first, he could process later. "What team am I on", he asked.
Tim frowns and looks back to the screen with the Justice League arguing.
Right. They don't trust it.
They don't trust Flash.
They don't trust him.
Wally rubs his eyes harder. This can't be real. Everything was going to shit and he can't understand why.
He rubs harder.
Why.
Harder.
Why.
Tim stands in the doorway. Pausing at his friend. He wanted to help Wally, but he can't. He's never been good at feelings. He couldn't even look at Dick yesterday after the Roys news broke.
He closes the door instead, leaving the redhead to his own thoughts, just as he had left Dick this morning.
Tim didn't know why this all was happening.
Jason, Roy, Melvot, Arkham, the Blackout. It doesn't make sense. He doesn't understand why.
But he will.
He pauses glances at the screen on his phone, a direct link to the phone he sent Wally.
He has to for their sake.
Okay! Chappie 14 is done. And wheeeeeew was it a lot. I'm sorry! Anyone ever had to get grounded from an anxiety attack before? Love that coping mechanism but also hate it. Writing Wallys gave me feelings that- ya know what not gonna expose myself lol.
Anyways our lovable speedster is back but life is just not letting up. Poor baby. The Roy trauma is real. Roy is like a brother to Wally, so I'm trying to convey how traumatizing that is for our little redhead. At the same time, Wally has this peachy keen outlook that lets him escape from time to time. I hope I conveyed that accurately. Also if you've ever lost someone and then you got to sleep then you wake up. You know that feeling, where you just can't believe it wasn't a dream. Yeah, that was this.
PS when yall see how its affecting Dick in the later chapters….dun dun dunnnnn.
Moving along. A lot happened here, much of it background movement. Many criminals escaped, due to this lucky blackout. Some will make an appearance soon. Some won't but it's still uber important to plot. So just know lots of baddies are around now. Also, I hinted at an incident between Clint and Wally in chapter 1, gave a little incite on what that was.
Barry. I hate to do it to ya, but I have to. The League is falling apart at the seams. Not really lol. But they have issues, serious trust issues. I hinted at this with the whole, people don't know each others secrete identity, slight clique, faction thing in earlier chapters. And I hope I showcased it properly here.
This SME is causing problems, any guesses on whos behind all of this.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading.
Review Responses.
Nightwing Gurl
Thank you so much for your kind review. I love writing Jinx! I almost made this a Jinx chapter but opted out last minute. I present to you a Wally chapter, not a happy one. But one. I'm glad you like it! Thanks again for reading.
grungekitty
Hi! I'm so glad your still reading. Often times I kinda lose some people. So it's great to see a reacurring name. Thank you for reading!
Falconress
Hello! Yeah, our boy does have it rough. These chapters weren't the happiest either, sorry! I'm glad you like the villains, I love writing about them! Yes, they stole batman's jet lol. No this is Jade from the Green Lantern comics but Cheshire will be making an appearance soon! Thanks for reading!
Nikki West
Hi! I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long. I love writing Jinx so I get so hype when you guys like her chapters! Thank you! Yes, Jinx was jealous! But she'll never admit it lol Your English was fine don't apologize! Thank you so much for reading !
Reynard Glory
Hi! Thank you so much! I'm glad you like Jinx. Hahaha no, Wally couldn't have a harem even if he tried. Still haven't decided the ending but I kinda have a limited 3 I go back and forth on. I like your discussion on the art of pretending! I'm very particular about my word choice so I'm glad you picked up on it! Its a title I felt encompass apart of each character. Jinx is definitely a major part of the story and is essential to the plot. While there is some romance blooming between Trixi and Wally, they don't know each other's true identities. Even if it did go the romantic way with Wally Jinx has her own ambitions that haven't even been explored yet. She is a villain for a reason, but I won't spoil. Thank you for reading!
Guest
Hello! Thank you so much for your kind review! I feel so honored! Like seriously that's amazing, there are so many great stories I can't believe you log in for mine lol. Yes! Kara is Supergirl and she is with the Chaos Club. But she doesn't remember anything. Her mind has been wiped. Will explore more later. Thanks for reading.
Thank you again to all who reviewed and read. Much love!