Requiem

Okay so first of all; this story isn't part of the timeline I'm building. This is outside of that timeline because in that timeline Wally's parents were arrested when he was 11, before the team was formed. But key facts are the same, like birth dates, date of them becoming heroes and how Dick and Wally met etc. Secondly, the story, albeit it largely being implicated only, can get a bit graphic. So be warned about that.

Thirdly, and maybe most significant about this story is that I wanted to do a little experiment. Last year or so I asked my readers on my other account if they were still reading, and suddenly I got like a shitload of reviews. So I noticed a lot were not reviewing. And this isn't like accusatory or something, I'm guilty of it as well and you're certainly not obligated to like review. But I was curious to see how many people read my stories vs who reviewed it. So unlike all my other stories, I already finished this one. It's 11 chapters long and I've been working on this for like half a year or so xD. But here's the deal. If the last chapter hits 10 reviews, I will upload the next chapter ASAP. So if this gets 10 reviews while I'm asleep, I will upload the second chapter when I wake up. And once that chapter gets 10, I will update again. If not, I will just stick to weekly or so. So you won't have to wait too long.

So just to be clear, this story can get quite graphic, and will explore themes that can possibly upset people, be warned about that! Though I will not go into detail about it, it is largely implied. In Chapter 7 there will be a very short mention of it.

May 18th, 2011. 18:57

"Wally would you set the table?" Paula asks from the kitchen and Wally immediately stands up from the couch, grinning.

"On it!" He confirmed to Artemis' mother, quickly rushing around the house in Gotham to get the table set for dinner. He grinned as he put the plates on the table, looking around to see Paula rolling in with her wheelchair, looking at the table with satisfaction.

"Fast" She complimented, rolling over to the speedster with a direct gaze. "Be honest here Wally, did you eat anything beforehand?" She asks and Wally grins, scratching the back of his neck uneasily, tips of his ears burning with embarrassment. He knew what Paula meant with that question.

Ever since Artemis and Wally had gotten together on New Years Eve, Wally had visited Artemis' house numerous times, and eaten dinner with Paula. But being a speedster made eating dinner with normal people difficult, so he used to eat himself full before going to dinner so he wouldn't force Paula to mass-produce.

She found out eventually when Paula and Artemis joined Barry and Iris for dinner once, and Paula saw how much Wally actually ate for dinner, and still not be full. Ever since she has been trying to stop Wally's habit, without much success.

"Maybe a little" Wally pouts, the sentence was immediately met with a slap to his arm. "Ow, Paula!" He cried out in fake pain, gaping at her but Paula just glared at him. He knew it was all in good fun though, but man, she sure was scary when she tried to be.

"You know better than to eat before dinner, you know we would not be weirded out with your eating habits" Paula jokes and Wally smiles gently, looking up as Artemis walks into the room as well.

"I mean, she wouldn't" Artemis snorts, catching Wally's gaze whilst Wally could only look at Artemis carrying a large bowl of food. I on the other hand would, she silently added but the implication was crystal clear.

"You love me" Wally grins, zipping over to her to take the bowl from her hands.

"I'm starting to think you love my mom more than me" Artemis counters, allowing Wally to set the bowl on the table before sitting down. Wally just smiled, watching Paula roll herself over to the table as well before sitting down.

"You know me too well" Wally teases and Artemis glares at him for good measure. Paula just smiled contently, watching her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend, who has become more like a son to her as of late, bicker. Despite being in a relation, this bickering and stupid remarks didn't end.

And Paula was glad Artemis had found such a gentlemen like Wally. He had made her open up so much more without forcing her to be someone she wasn't, and Artemis had quieted Wally down to a manageable level without taking away who he was as well.

Still, Paula suspected there was something more going on with him than he let on.

May 18th, 2011. 22:53

"Do you need anything else Wally?" Paula asks with a low voice, wheeling into the room Jade and Artemis used to share before she was sent to prison, and looking at the speedster. The latter was busy making his bed for the night, surprisingly moving at normal speed.

"I'm good" He answers with a smile, glancing up at Paula for a second. "Thanks for letting me stay.. again" Wally adds sheepishly and Paula smiled brightly at the remark.

"You are always welcome Wally" She tells him. Only because she knows I won't do anything. Wally mentally smirks as he looks at Artemis. Two reasons for that actually; one, he wouldn't betray Paula's trust of letting both him and Artemis stay in the same room overnight, and two; he had no desire to go any ..further.

Not yet. Not now.

"I will leave you two alone" Paula says, turning around.

"Night" Wally greets Paula as she disappears, closing the door behind her and turning around. "I don't know about you, but I'm beat" Wally smiled, wrapping his arms around Artemis' waist and kissing her on the nose.

"Really?" Artemis challenged, tugging at the hem of his shirt but Wally stopped her gently, taking her wrists and putting it on his own chest instead, looking at the blonde with loving eyes.

"Really" He confirms, kissing her quickly again, this time on the mouth, before giving her a push towards the bed. Artemis just rolled her eyes, lifting the blanket and burying herself under. Wally looks at Artemis for a while, before turning around and crawling into Jade's old bed as well.

His dreams filled with nightmares of his dad.

May 21st, 2011. 22:15

"Guys, get a room" Dick laughed, throwing a pillow at them, which Artemis caught swiftly, before throwing it back at him.

"You have your own" Artemis shrugs, snuggling against Wally again. The trio was currently alone in the cave. M'gann and Superboy were both spending a few days at the farm of Superman's parents, and Kaldur was spending his free time in Atlantis, all three not expected to come home for at least a few more days.

So Robin felt no obligation to wear his disguise, and was currently sitting on one of the comfortable chairs in the living room, wearing a large shirt, Wally willingly let him borrow, and some boxers.

"You're just jealous dude" Wally snickers and Dick rolls his eyes.

"Of you?" He counters, pointing at the two with a smirk.

"That I had the balls to admit my love for my crush" Wally snickers, the implication to Dick's crush on Barbara all too evident. "But don't worry, we're already gone" He continues before he stands up, offering Artemis a hand, who accepted with an eyeroll before untangling her hands from the speedster.

"Just ask her out Dick, she's obviously head over heels for you" Artemis said as Wally already walked over to the hallway where the bedrooms were located, out of range so he wouldn't be able to hear the conversation. Dick huffs, bringing his knees closer to his chest.

"I'm only 14 Artemis, beating up criminals is something else than a relationship" He spoke slowly. "Besides, Babs and I are great friends." Artemis smirked, secretly touched by the 'problems' Dick was facing right now, it was rare for Dick to upset about something that wasn't related to his 'Robin' personna.

But that didn't mean Artemis wasn't going to stop herself from teasing him relentlessly.

"I was 15 when kid clutz kissed me, and last time I checked, Barbara is 15"

"And last time I checked I was 14, and Wally was 16" Dick retorts and Artemis snickers, shaking her head.

"In two months you won't, but whatever floats your boat Boy Wonder" Artemis says with a smile before turning around. "Night"

She watched him for a second, earning a softer 'goodnight' back before the Boy Wonder focused on the TV again.

She lingered for another second, but eventually walked away towards Wally's room.

May 22nd, 2011. 07:58

"Morning" Dick grinned as he saw Artemis walk into the room, rubbing her tired eyes as if she was trying to get rid of the sleep and the exhausted mood she was in right now. Artemis looks at him warily.

"I think you meant night" Artemis mutters, walking over to him and gratefully accepting the cup of tea he had already made for her. She muttered a barely audible thanks as she leaned against the counter, sipping the tea. Dick was sitting on the counters watching her, legs dangling over it and swinging back and forth slightly.

He was wearing some sweatpants and a hoodie, his hair messier than ever.

Artemis was still wearing her PJ's as well, hair as messy as Dick's hair but she didn't care, neither of them did. They were like one big family, they had grown into one over the course of the last year. The last thing she cared about was Dick seeing her fatigued face or her PJ's.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Artemis asks as she takes another sip, her mind clearing a bit already.

"Not really, I don't do '8 hours' anymore" Dick explains before grinning up at her. "So why couldn't you sleep? Too busy doing-"

"God, stop right there!" Artemis' face scrunches up at the implication. "I'm pretty sure this falls under the category of 'none of your business'" Artemis says, shaking her head with a sour expression on her face.

"Is he always fast?" Dick cackles, just teasing Artemis right now, because to be honest, she was easy to rile up sometimes.

"I am so glad I'm the youngest in the family" She mutters, looking right at him. "We didn't do anything, not now, not in the past" She cleared up, walking out of the kitchen and sitting down on the couch instead, wrapping both her hands around the mug. Dick jumps off the counter before he walks after her, plopping down on the same couch as her.

But not to tease her, because while he loved to tease his teammates, especially Artemis, he also knew when to stop and when it wasn't funny anymore. Which is why Artemis tolerated his teasing to a certain extent, or rather, why she didn't straight up kill him for asking her about her.. life with Wally.

There was a long silence, in which both busied themselves separately until Artemis scraped her throat.

"You're his best friend right?" Artemis asks and Dick frowns in confusion, Artemis knew they were so why would she ask? "I mean, he tells you everything right?"

"I hope so" Dick answers, still confused. Artemis sighs, bringing her legs onto the couch, one brought up to her chest and one underneath her.

"Why doesn't he want to.. take the next step?" Any other time Dick would've teased her about asking that question, but right now he was just concerned, and maybe slightly horrified as he was just a kid. And that showed on his face, as it scrunches up in disgust almost before he softens his expression again.

"To be honest, I've asked that as well" He admits, looking up at Artemis. "Don't get me wrong, despite him flirting with every female before you two were a thing, and his mostly inappropriate jokes.. he's a great guy" Dick answers and Artemis nods.

"I know" She whispers.

"I mean sure he's a klutz or can be an asshole, but he's loyal to a fault and he cares… Maybe he wants to wait, maybe he wants you to be sure or something" Dick shrugs, feeling almost uncomfortable with the topic. "I mean he's clean"

"Dick!" Artemis screeches. "How do you even..?" She stops herself, groaning in frustration and glaring at him. 'Don't even answer that'. Dick merely shrugs.

"I tried to talk to him about it but he just says he isn't ready yet, or that he doesn't feel the need to do it" Dick says but the tone in his voice made it all too clear what he was thinking, there was something else going on for him to refuse making out with Artemis.

May 25th, 2011. 13:15

"Wally?" Paula asks, opening the door a little more for the speedster. "Artemis is not home right now" She continues with a slight frown but Wally shakes his head slowly with a smile plastered on his face.

"I'm not here for her" He says and Paula nods, giving Wally room to come in. The speedster steps into the apartment, closing the door behind him with a soft click and following Paula into the room.

"I didn't miss another appointment did I?" Paula asks with an almost worried voice. At this Wally smiles at her.

"You didn't, that's not why I'm here" Wally assures her, sitting down on the couch as Paula wheels her wheelchair into the free space they had cleared out especially for her wheelchair. Ever since Artemis and Wally got together, Wally has been spending more and more time with Paula, building a close relationship with each other.

They were like mother and son right now. And Wally visited Paula many times without Artemis being there, he helped her with groceries if Artemis was on a mission or busy with school, and even took Paula to her check-ups at the hospital or other places she wanted to go a Wally already had his driving license, and most importantly a car.

But that wasn't why he was here.

"I wanted to ask you.. Arty and I have been together for a few months and I wanted to do something. I know she isn't a fan of dates but I still wanted to do something.." He explains and Paula's face clears up, confusion draining from her face and she gleams slightly.

"Wally that's very sweet of you" Paula comments and Wally grins sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Artemis doesn't like dates, she isn't like other girls" She continues and Wally nods.

"That's why I like her, but I'm sure thinking of something nice is a lot easier if she were" Wally chuckles and Paula smiles at him at the sentence, knowing all too well what Wally was hinting at. It was always a struggle to get something special for Artemis just because she didn't want it or anything special.

"Artemis has always been.. strong and independent after I was sent to prison" Paula spoke, smiling reassuringly as she felt the mood darken a bit. "Before the accident happened, and before my parents died, they used to take us to this restaurant near Portland. It was one of the few restaurants that was truly Vietnamese"

"And after.. everything you didn't go anymore?" Wally asks and Paula nods tiredly.

"She always loved it there, but after their death and my accident we couldn't go, and we were always there without Lawrence." Paula pinches the bridge of her nose, rubbing the tears away. "I am still on probation and not allowed to leave the state, but I am sure Artemis would love to go" She tells and Wally's expression softens.

"I can run you over if you want, or try Batman to make an exception to zeta you" Wally offers with a sly smile on his face but Paula shakes her head, looking up at him.

"I left my life of crime Wally, but I would love to go if I legally may" She smiles and Wally nods, standing up but Paula stops him. "Wally, can I ask something?"

Wally frowns lightly, sitting down again and nodding. "Of course, what is it?" Paula looks down, face filled with worry almost.

"I understand why you asked me for advice, this is about my own daughter. But this isn't the first time you asked for my advice" Paula says, looking up. "Why do you not go to your own mom for advice?" She asks and Wally winces, the movement too quick for Paula to even notice.

"I mean.. mom's not really.." He stops for a moment, scratching his neck. "She's just really different, she wouldn't understand. I mean they don't even know my secret. I guess it makes things a little harder" Wally tries to explain.

And it was true, his parents didn't know his secret. He wouldn't dare to let them know after everything they've done. He didn't trust them, they couldn't be trusted with so much information on the Justice League or the team. Because figuring out Wally was KF, would surely lead to more discoveries eventually.

It was also the excuse Wally had used to avoid Artemis meeting his parents. Both to avoid Artemis meeting horrible people, and to avoid Artemis discovering that he had horrible people as parents. Or worse, discover that his own parents hurt him. Ever since his birth, which made his mom permanently injured and ill, they had hated him.

And they took out that anger by hurting him.

And that was the reason he went to Paula for advice, not sometimes like Paula thought he did but every time. His own mother wouldn't help him. And Paula was more like a mother to him, had become more like a mother to him in these last few months, than Mary had ever been.

"But she is still your mother Wally" Paula says softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She loves you and she would be heartbroken to hear you coming to me for advice" Or relieved. Wally adds grimly but doesn't say it out loud, he wanted to avoid getting her suspicious, not make her suspicious.

He wanted to keep his father's hobby a secret rather than expose himself.

"You could also tell them, I know firsthand how such a secret can tear a family apart" Paula spoke but Wally shook his head slowly, feeling an underlying panic seep into his chest at the thought of even telling his parents, or have a normal conversation with them in the first place.

"No way, they would freak.. I can't tell them Paula" Wally tries to reason before smiling widely. "It's okay though, it's nice to be normal somewhere besides school"

"Wally you are the only teen hero whose parents doesn't know" Paula tries but Wally just places his hand on top of Paula's.

"Paula it's fine, I'm not ready to tell yet but that's okay, I don't need Kid Flash in my own house" He speaks softly and Paula smiles sadly.

"If you say so"

Definitely suspicious.

YJ

So hopefully you liked the first chapter! *Hug*