Vaguely, Wally was aware of the disgusted expressions of his captors as he annihilated his plate of fries and third sandwich. Normally all the attention would unnerve him, but right then he couldn't be bothered.

As it turned out, there was a buffet. The only thing that had kept him from shoving aside all the trainees to get to the front was Roy's hand firmly gripping his shoulder. But once he got there, he was unstoppable.

"Mmiss izz sho GOOHD!" He munched out.

Garfield- who had joined them when they arrived- laughed while Connor shoved his half-eaten plate towards the kid, looking disturbed as Wally immediately pounced on it. "I've… lost my appetite."

Megan shrugged with an awkward smile. "The kitchen does their best! I'll be sure to let them know how much their food is appreciated later." Wally nodded enthusiastically at this idea, chewing viciously against the tough texture of cooked meat.

Raquel, who had joined up with them after retrieving her backpack, gave Roy a side eye. "I mean… did you forget to feed him?"

"What? No! I didn't forget." Roy cringed away as Wally shoved handfuls of food into his mouth like it was air. "Kid, this is embarrassing. Slow the hell down before you make yourself sick."

"Nohf." He was keeping himself from going quickfast, but since the food was endless, he wasn't going to risk not getting as much as he could. Fuel was fuel.

Besides, it was funny how gross they thought it was. Well, except for Gar.

"I've never seen someone eat like that." Garfield, unlike the elder members, was gleefully passing his food over to Wally- had even gone as far to grab seconds on his behalf.

Wally decided that Gar was an okay guy. Anyone who kept the free food coming was someone worth knowing.

"Wow. So I guess you were going slow that first night to be polite?"

The familiar (and very unwelcome) voice made Wally choke briefly while Garfield made a weird squeaking noise across the table. Fighting back tears, he coughed so he could swallow the last of the food down. Wally finally looked over his shoulder with a glare. "You."

Nightwing smirked, not at all put off. "Me." Punk that he was, even after his Justice friends made room for him- and with grace Wally was not jealous of- he sat next to Wally. "Wow, quite the spread you have here." His hand snaked out towards the few surviving fries- pushing the younger boy slightly to the side- only for Wally to smack it away. The assassin yelped, drawing his hand back and shaking it just a touch dramatically. "Okay! Not for me, then."

"Nope." Wally agreed, then shoved the remaining fries in his mouth and chewed obnoxiously to get his point across. Garfield's eyes looked ready to pop out of his head at the blatant rejection towards one of the coolest guys he knew.

The other table member's expressions ranged from confusion to suppressed laughs. Megan, finding her voice, glanced around where Nightwing had come from. "Is Barb with you?"

"Mission." Nightwing deflected. "But she'll be back in a day or so. So what'd I miss with training?"

What kind of mission? Wally wondered, as the voices started to speak over him about the bell debacle. It made him feel a little queasy about what the lady who looked so much like his mom was doing- so much so that he slowed his chewing. Maybe she was just picking up, like, cool gadgets or something. She was so nice, surely she wouldn't- hurting other people just didn't seem…

Barbara had said he would not have to kill, but that didn't mean she was exempt. Moreover, that didn't mean she'd say no if it was asked of her. If she chose to.

"Hey Wally?"

The red head startled, eyes focusing in on the green eyes across from him. "Uh- sorry, what?"

Garfield gave him a disarming smile. "I'm gonna go say hi to my friends over there." He jerked his thumb towards the far wall near the windows. "Do you wanna come? I'd bet they'd love to meet you!"

Perking up, Wally felt himself genuinely considering it before Connor cut in. "Sorry short stack- he's gonna hang with us for now. He'll catch up with you later."

Garfield looked confused, eyes darting between the two before stepping away. "O-Oh, yeah. Okay then." His voice cracked, unsure. After an encouraging grin from his sister, he moved towards the expecting table. "I'll see you in a bit, Wally!"

As Gar reached his friends, Wally turned to glare at the muscle boy, biting viciously into his third chicken wrap. He didn't know why it stung to be told to stay- it's not like he wanted to meet them or something. He didn't care about some gang members. Garfield was okay, sure. And if they could hang out more, maybe they could be fr-

They're not your friends. Wally berated himself, giving a halfhearted munch on someone's remaining hamburger while the conversation resumed around him. People are only friends, enemies, or targets. A member of the Justice Gang is never going to be a friend. Gar was nice, sure, but he was naï if Wally told him everything, the teen would side with him. But he'd just as likely let it keep happening, the way Meghan was nice to him but didn't stop Nightwing (bless her beautiful, almost perfect heart. It's a tough position, he can forgive her this). And yeah, they had treated him better than the man who drove him to Gotham in the first place- but that didn't make them good.

Len settled down in the chair next to him, passing over a granola bar he had brought with. Wally had noticed the first month that was how Len approached him; he always brought something that Wally would want to eat.

To be fair, it really did help their weird relationship.

"So kid, whatta ya notice?"

They had gone out to a nearby strip mall, sitting in the middle of an ebbing and flowing crowd.

Wally glanced around him. "Um, a bunch of normal people? People who want to shop?"

"There's no such thing as normal." Len gruffed, fingers twitching for a can of beer that he didn't have. "There's friends, enemies, and targets. How do you tell who's who?" He caught Wally's look and sneered. "Don't get mouthy, it's a real question. Look around, who would qualify as a target for Kid Flash?"

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Wally looked back out to the crowd. He had been very nervous at first going back out in public, but Len had been adamant about him reintegrating. As long as the Rogue was with him, Wally could handle it. He knew Len would protect him.

Focusing back on the task at hand, he scanned until he found someone near a pretzel stand. "That lady in the big sun hat?" Len gave him a look that prompted him to continue. "She, uh, is really distracted by whatever conversation she's having." Which was true, someone on the other end of the line was getting an earful from her. "Her clothes are nice, new. Her jewelry looks expensive, and her purse isn't sealed shut- she's loosely holding it."

Len grunted, accepting the answer. "Now who's your enemy."

"The security guard." Wally glanced briefly towards the uniformed man milling near the fountain but didn't give his full attention. "And probably that nosey looking old couple who've been staring at you."

Len smirked at that, but otherwise didn't react. "And your friends? How can you tell who's a friend?"

"You can't." Came the glib reply before he could stop himself. Wally hunkered down, embarrassed for having admitted that (he'd learned the hard way not to trust people), but the older rogue merely 'hmm'ed at the response.

"Wasn't a trick question; who can you rely on Wally?"

No one. He wanted to spout again, but held his tongue, seriously thinking about it for Len's sake. After a long minute, he looked back up to Len, who seemed surprisingly patient. "I don't know about anyone here, but…"

He took a breath.

"The people who show they care about me- look out for me. Those are my friends."

Len stayed solemn for a moment before a rare smile etched across his features. He ruffled Wally's hair, who squawked indignantly. "Knew you had it in you, Kid."

Looking back on it, maybe there were aspects to these 'justice' weirdos that made them okay.

Maybe.

After all, Len and his team did bad things too. He had been a part of several of their heists towards the end. They didn't make him- he'd wanted to! They'd looked out for him, taught him a bit more how to control his quickfast tendencies so he wouldn't be caught out. So he could smoothly blend in, gathering what he needed without much fuss. They performed several robberies and held a few unlucky bystanders hostage for sure. But they'd never ended a life, never killed.

(Not until Wally…)

Even though his stomach growled aggressively for more, he pushed the remaining plate away. Feigning exhaustion (he wasn't tired, really), he let his head rest between his arms, letting the sounds of the cafeteria wash over him. Apparently, food had lifted everyone's spirits, and most of the trainees were loudly comparing notes about what had gone down. He could tell some were mumbling darkly about him and Gar, but most were just flaunting their injuries with others. A bit further off, he could hear the young teen himself, chatting away excitedly about the next phase of training.

If Wally did not know intrinsically that this place was filled with con artists and criminals, he'd argue that the Justice Gang almost seemed… normal…

Wearily, he let his eyes slowly fall closed, pretending sleep. Because he wasn't tired, obviously. It was the largest amount of food he'd had in so long, but that didn't mean he was sleepy.

No sir.

Not one bit…

"Hey, so did he just fall asleep on us?"

Nightwing turned away from the incredulous conversation he was having with Meghan (Wally stole all the bells? And then he gave one to Garfield?!), to see Roy was right- he wasn't faking it this time, breathes coming out in soft huffs that made him look way cuter than he was. "Huh, guess he had a big day."

Conner snorted. "I'll say."

"I think he managed to even impress Red." Meghan agreed, keeping her voice soft. "He's such a sweetheart! It's hard to believe he's such a capable candidate."

Roy snorted at that, but also lowered his voice- leaving Dick feeling a little flummoxed. (Meghan made sense, she's always been a softy. But Roy? What's up with this kid?) "Sweetheart's pushing it. But he definitely acts tougher than he is." He turned a glare on Nightwing, which was typical. "You really know how to pick 'em, chief. Next time warn me about the nightmares."

Meghan let out a sound of sympathy, while Raquel raised her eyebrow towards the archer.

"How can you expect a kid from Gotham streets to not have nightmares?" Dick countered, already planning to interrogate him more later.

"With a brain like his, he can't have been homeless that long." Raquel pointed out, having already filled Nightwing in about Wally's new side job.

Well, you don't have to live on the streets to be homeless. The elder thought back to what they knew so far, what they assumed so far:

The kid had been fine, living with parents like any other oblivious citizen.

But something happened. Something with the parent's work went south, resulting in their all but confirmed deaths.

Wally, for whatever reason, knows information that connected him to the LIGHT. And whether he realized it or not, what he knew was enough for them to send some of their best after him.

He wanted to avoid his past guardian at all costs, and has already done several stints working with criminals in minor capacities.

Somehow, that fell apart (though Dick would have intel by the evening about what could have caused the kid to flee towards Gotham), and Wally's been alone ever since.

A year and a half of his life was gone, and while most of that time he wasn't homeless, Dick could only assume that's how it felt. That's how it had been for him when his parents died, no matter how well Bruce and Alfred had looked after him.

He started slightly as the small body next to him fell to the side, now slightly snuggled against him. He blinked down, unsure of what to do with the sudden closeness of the kid who held so much animosity against him.

"Yeah, he does that." Roy intoned, fighting a smirk.

Nightwing shrugged, adjusting the kid so the smaller form could relax more against him. "Wish he'd warm up this easily when he's awake."

"Oh, give him time." Meghan had a sweet smile on her face. "He just thinks he has to be tough. But I know a softie when I see one."

"Gar wouldn't have made it without him." Connor acknowledged, glancing over to Meghan's little brother at the far table. "I'm sure it wasn't entirely altruistic, but that's not something you'd see the rest of this group doing."

Grayson stiffened slightly when the smaller body burrowed closer, seeking warmth. He glared toward Roy- who was clearly enjoying his dilemma. Carefully, he raised a hand to settle over the small set of shoulders, feeling the kid soften more under the extra heat. Dang. Why couldn't he have been this sweet from the start?

To be fair, Dick had botched their first introduction. Second introduction?

"Are you really gonna make him a runner?" Raquel asked, resting her head against her chin. "I mean, I'm sure he's sneaky and whatever; obviously a great klepto, but…" She gestured towards his figure, "He's so… tiny."

"Well, it was Barbara's idea, to be honest." Nightwing murmured, trying not to let his voice startle the quiet figure next to him. He was honestly starting to be soothed by the steady breaths from the little body. "Wally's still a flight risk. But if we can integrate him with the team more, get him to warm up… we're hoping he can shed some understanding on what the LIGHT has planned."

They all grew more solemn at that. They'd lost several operatives already to that terrorist organization- and while they'd managed to not succumb the way so many other groups had to the LIGHT's power, their enemy always seemed one step ahead.

With any luck, a tiny pick pocket could change that.

"If him and Garfield make it through the tests, they'll probably join the 'titan's team." Meghan put in, glancing over to where her brother was laughing it up with the newer members. "Red over sees them, and there's no one better for keeping an eye on a flight risk than him."

Nightwing 'hmm'ed thoughtfully, carefully running a hand over the soft orange strands. "We've talked about it actually. We'll see how he does first."

"…You're gonna have to wake him up." Connor pointed out.

Grayson jerked his hand away from the small form, shaking his head emphatically. "Nu uh. I try to wake him and I'll get bit. I'm not losing fingers to a ten-year-old."

"He's ten?"

"How old did you think he was?"

"Never mind that." Roy waved them off, eyes glinting. "I got this. Don't move Nightwing."

"HEY KALDUR."

Wally startled awake (he had not been dozing, just relaxing his eyes!)to see Roy beaming at someone on the far side of the room- weirdly pleased with himself. The rest of the table also looked over expectantly. He appeared to be waving over- oh, that guy. The pirate dude, right?

Terrific.

He tried to subtly wipe the spit and crumbs from his face, then scooted meaningfully to the right when he realized at some point he had slightly leaned into Nightwing. (It didn't look like anyone noticed, thank goodness.)

Kaldur looked perplexed by the warm greeting, but didn't voice his concerns. He nodded at the other members in greeting, before standing at attention and gazing directly at Nightjerk. "Sir, there's something I need you to see- about that attack from a few days ago."

Nightwing tensed next to Wally, but his voice came off breezily. "Sure thing, Kal. Why don't we go to my office for this?" Giving the runaway another patronizing pat on the back, he rose to leave. "I'll see you guys-"

Before he could finish, an alarm sounded, not a furious blare, but the tone loud and ominous enough to make Wally feel on edge. The gang members rose quickly from their seats, looking around tensely as concerned murmurs grew. Wally shook off Nightwing's had as it came down on his shoulder, hunching forward as his heart-rate spiked. What's going on?

The room seemed to grow more restless, a few senior members directing people calmly towards the exits. Garfield's group were still hesitating on the far end of the room, trying to figure out what was happening. The Kevlar gloved hand fell on his shoulder again, nudging him away from the table. "Roy, get Wally out of here." Not sure what else to do, Wally followed the motion, feeling his heart rate drum steadily louder in his ears as the group moved.

Something's going to happen.

Even as the thought struck him- another member burst through the door, shoving people aside frantically. "Get away from the windows! Get down!"

The panic in his voice triggered Wally, and the sudden chaotic room slowed to an almost still setting. Breathing heavy, Wally's eyes took in the drinks spilling in slow motion, the feet suspended midair, mouths opened in a yell as all faces stayed trapped in a look of panic. Get out! You need to get out!

A sound, slow and creeping, started to echo. Wally turned, wondering how something was getting through in the quickfast, when he saw the progressive glow from outside, the slow bending and cracking of windows and building. Oh no.

Fire. Fire that was moving even while nothing else could- was licking through the once firm barriers, towards the fleeing recruits-

He'd ever seen an explosion while the world was slow.

Get out, get out before you're caught in it! He moved from out of Nightwing's grip, looking around for the best exit- the safest spot-

Looking up, feeling everything slow further as his panic grew, he saw Nightwing's gaze slowly move to where Wally's missing presence was- features highlighting in the expanding glow. Roy was bringing his bow up, arrow halfway strung. Connor was in the process of throwing himself over Meghan, who's liquid brown eyes were wide, hand extended back to where Garfield-

Gar was there- too close, already his body was being picked up by the shockwave, debris and shrapnel heading towards his suspended form.

No.

He wasn't a friend, he didn't matter.

No.

Wally had to protect himself- protect his mission.

NO!

His heart started to pound, panic making it hard to concentrate, and the flames steadily drew closer as he lost focus. He had just enough time to race forward, leaping up and pushing the bigger body of the teen away from the explosion as heat wrapped around them both. He pulled Gar by his shirt, breaths coming short and fast as he watched the world start to speed up again. Not yet, don't lose focus yet- gotta get to safety! He managed to push them both into an alcove near the middle of the room, putting himself between the teen and the fire as the roar overwhelmed him and their world exploded. The screams of the frightened members and burst of heat fell over his skin quickly-

In a matter of moments, it was over.

Wally's ears were ringing, and his vision was hard to focus as he watched the crowd flee, reaching for fallen bodies or calling for help. He saw a majority of the explosion had somehow been contained from a polymer arrow that Roy had released; encapsulating most of the debris. Meghan's scream for Gar was terrifying- Connor racing towards where they had last seen him.

Gar, who was still below him, looked at Wally in dazed confusion. "Are you okay?" Wally tried to ask, but he couldn't hear his own voice to know if he said it right. Gar blinked at him, perhaps going into shock. Worried, Wally felt for his pulse before discarding the necessity, instead looking for any injuries. They were jostled as people tried to continue fleeing. "Get up." He tried to say. "We gotta move." He looked back to the table where Meghan was, thinking to at least try to call her to get her brother, and froze.

Nightwing was staring at him, eyes wide even as the room grew heavy with smoke and chaos. The explosion hadn't shaken him- violence didn't surprise a violent man. Yet he stood there, almost dumbfounded. Roy appeared to speak to him, but it didn't garner any response- the criminal just kept staring him down with that terrifying gaze.

Wally felt his stomach drop, realizing his mistake. No no no nonono-

There had been no time- he hadn't thought of anything beyond needing to get away, helping Gar-

Nightwing had seen him go quickfast.

And we're officially half way through the story.