Wally West
Blue Valley is an average town filled with average people living average lives and where everybody is exactly where they want to be. It has a small-town charm only found in Lifetime movies, where everybody knows your name and helps each other out when times are tough and of course… where everybody’s business is known by everybody.
Wally West was not an average girl.
And that was before she got the super-speed.
From the moment she was born she was an unexpected surprise, her parents would say she was a welcome one, but a surprise, nonetheless. After all they had been expecting a boy, with their nursery painted blue and name picked out to honor her dad’s grandpa, when she was handed over instead of a he well they weren’t expecting it.
They still kept the name though.
Much to her annoyance.
Even after that first surprise though she kept being different and she knew she was being different because despite her parents best efforts people talked. They talked about her. She didn’t know why, a six-year-old was not that interesting, but they did anyway. Even her parents talked about her, but at least they did it in hushed voices and behind closed doors. At least they loved her despite being something more than an average girl.
She was too smart for her own good.
A pain in the ass.
Annoying.
Loud.
Weird.
It’s not like she was all that different, sure, technically she had a boy’s name, but she was named after her grandpa who according to her dad was a great man and it’s not like she particularly looks boy-ish she was just young, and puberty tended to hit West’s later than usual. Maybe she was a bit of a smart aleck, but she just liked to talk and even though the tests her parents had her take said she was a bit of a genius she still felt much too stupid about everything that really mattered and wasn’t about science. The short hair didn’t help, but it wasn’t her fault, nobody wanted burnt hair no matter how long it used to be.
She was just Wally.
Most people tended to either be annoying and leave her alone, a few were kind of nice during class, but usually only wanted help with their work, she was fine with that, but then there were the assholes and those guys were persistent.
The shower in Blue Valley Middle shut off at a peter, rather than with a definitive end, the water dripped and dropped from the shower head as a student stepped out of the stall and wrapped herself in a fluffy pink and red towel. She sniffed her arm and grimaced at the faint smell still clinging to her skin. Walking out of the shower room and into the locker room she hummed something under her breath, but that stopped at the sight before her. A locker, her locker to be specific, open and lock dropped carelessly to the ground.
Her empty locker.
“No. Come on, no, no, no, nononono…”
Shifting the towel around her chest she hurried to the open locker, sandals slapping the ground loudly in the quiet and empty locker room. Maybe in some desperation induced hopefulness she hoped that she was just not seeing things right, that her clothes were still there, but no, sticking her hand in to the empty locker proved it to be just as empty as it was seen.
Slamming the locker closed she swore.
“Dammit, dammit… seriously…really… why me?!” muttering under her breath as she paced the locker room, back and forth, back and forth, she suddenly stopped and ran too rough hands through her hair head jerking as her fingers got stuck in some tangles, but uncaring of it as she crouched down and buried her head into her arms and knees and sighed.
She knew that everything that had happened today was too much of a coincidence, knew she should have waited till she got home to shower and change, but she stank and there was only so much a girl could take.
So, now she was clean, but she was also naked, at school, and with only a shitty towel to cover herself with.
No ‘teachers or adults’ in sight to ask for help.
Sighing she rubbed the back of her neck before finally coming to a decision and standing up. Slicking back her wet hair and glad it was short enough to do so, she adjusted her towel nodded to herself in determination and headed out of the locker room.
Just outside the locker room a group of preteens stood together and snickered as she walked out, girls whispering to each other and boys looking at her up and down with disgusting eyes and mean smiling mouths.
“I love your outfit, what is it little hobo-boy chic.”
“Oh no, Wallace, did you lose something?”
“You know it’s indecent to be out looking like you do, though… you always look like that.”
The faux concern in their voices, the barely held back snickering, the eyes that judged burned and itched at her. Flipping the girls off who ignored her even then and turned away to laugh at one another she shifted uncomfortably away from the grasping hands of the boys who hooted and hollered.
“Looking good West, you should dress like this every day!” the boy tried to swing an arm over her shoulder, slapping it away she stepped back and sneered, his brow twitched, and smirking eyes seemed to darken in anger that made her hands sweat grip her towel tighter.
Shrugging he stepped back his friend smacked his shoulder, “Oh come on it’s just a little joke between friends.”
Rolling her eyes, she looked over them eyes searching the girls first, “This isn’t funny,” pleading at them, “I need my clothes back. So, joke over give them back.”
There was no sympathy in their eyes.
“Aw, come on Wally, babe. You’ve never looked better how about a little turn and then you can have them back.”
They elbowed one another and nodded looking like eager hyenas spotting a lame gazelle in the wild. One smirked and tried to touch her hair, but she turned her head and stepped back again.
“Yeah, never knew you had legs like those, I heard you used to be in gymnastics how flexible are you?”
Wally had a second to regret her decision to walk out of the locker room, she should have waited them out, should have crawled out through the air ducts and run home even without anything, should have-
The other boys whistled, but now the girls had lost their amusement and stupidly enough, jealousy appeared on their faces, “Oh come off it John, no matter how naked she is an ugly girl, is still ugly.”
Wally straightened and turned to the girls again, “How about I get out of your sight, and you give me back my clothes.”
The girls were glaring at her and sneaking glances at the boys who ignored them keeping their wandering eyes on Wally. That seemed to be the clincher. The blonde rolled her eyes and held out her hand, a brunette handed her a bundle of clothes which she threw at Wally. Unfortunately, she only had two hands, and she didn’t trust the snickering boys with wandering eyes and twitching hands to not take the chance to rip her towel away, so her clothes tumbled to the ground underwear and bra on full display.
Cursing her ginger complexion, she kneeled down and gather her clothes, “Next time you should be more careful, don’t want to lose your clothes again.”
The blondes sing-songy voice echoed down the hall as the others walked away from her laughing like they told some great joke.
Maybe she was the joke.
She stayed crouching for a second taking a deep breath and waiting for her shaking hands to still. Biting the inside of her cheek she hugged her clothes close to her chest, the next breath she took was shaky almost sounding like she was going to cry, but when she stood up her face was clear of tears and her eyes were only the slightest bit shiny.
Rubbing her face, she hurried back to the locker room to change.
Hitting her head against the door she groaned.
The door had locked behind her.
What a joke.
[ . . . ⸎ . . . ]
“Your late.”
Kissing her moms cheek she sat down to eat lunch, “No, how was your day, no, how are you?”
Mary West raised her brow as she handed Wally her lunch, huffing out a breath she just grinned, “Sorry ma, I had to stay back because I needed to ask my teacher about some of the guidelines for participating in the science fair. Guess what?”
Leaning forward in her chair she grinned, her mom frowned but served her another slice of lasagna, “The science fair, isn’t that months away?”
“You know me ma, I don’t play about the science fair, but Ma~, come on, guess what!”
Whining as she shoveled the rest of her food in her mouth her mom served her another slice, “What is it?”
Wally’s glittered with enthusiasm, “The winner of the science fair gets an exclusive tour of Wayne Enterprises R&D department, I don’t know how we got Wayne money to sponsor some middle school in Nebraska, but it’s so totally awesome!”
Mary frowned and served her another slice, cupping her chin in concern, “Is there a branch near here that I haven’t heard of?”
Wally was practically vibrating in her seat, “That’s the best part! Wayne enterprises is paying for the whole thing, a four-day retreat type of deal with the flight and hotel included and with exclusive one on one time with their engineers and scientists! Can you believe that a whole four days in Gotham!”
“But only if you win.”
Mary raised a brow, and Wally froze and gave a sheepish grin rubbing the back of her neck, “Right, only if I win, but ma, I’m basically the only kid at school who is even interested in this kind of stuff-”
“That’s still no excuse to be arrogant.”
“I’m not being- I didn’t mean-”
“Finish your food Wally, and next time don’t be late coming home I was worried you were getting into trouble again, your not getting into trouble again are you? Your dad and I don’t want to be hearing about you getting into trouble, or even if you do manage to win, there is no way you’re going to Gotham.”
Wally froze for a second mouth agape as her mother turned her back on her, but just smiled weakly and nodded, “Yeah of course, I get it. I just stayed behind to talk to my teacher is all, no trouble.”
Mary turned around and shoveled the last slice of lasagna on Wally’s plate before sitting down at the table with her. Wally poked at the food with her fork, Mary frowned but then grinned leaning forward as if telling some big secret, “You wanna hear about the opossum we found the in the basement?”
Wally looked up, “Possum?”
Her mom nodded, “Yup, a momma too, had like eight little babies all hanging on her back, Gertrude thought the place was haunted because the sliding shelves kept being moved…”
They chit-chatted for the rest of the meal and after Wally was done she washed her dishes before her mom’s stern brow sent her on her way to finish her homework, even hard-ass Murphy’s stupid history paper. She was nearly done and was on that stupid paper, she was caught daydreaming and chewing on the end of her pen when a knock caught her by surprise. The door opened and she turned in her chair, “Why knock if your just gonna come in without waiting for an answer?”
Rudy grinned and caught her in a hug, kissing her forehead as he frowned at her, “I pay for the damn house shouldn’t I be able to go into any room I want. How was school kiddo? Have a good day? You eat already?”
Wally shrugged and her hand see-sawed, “I ate, ma’s lasagna was totally yum. School was bleh, but that’s school ya know, how was work? Jenkins spew on any other unsuspecting gingers today?”
Rudy chuckled and ruffled her hair, Wally whined and batted her dad’s hand away, “He did not, he looks like death warmed over, but he is no longer spewing. The A/C finally got fixed so I’ll no longer have mechanics up my ass about it.”
“Language!”
“Sorry Mary!”
Wally giggled as Rudy grimaced playfully, “Anyway I came to check on ya kid. Finish up your homework and your free to go.”
Pinching her cheek, he turned away and closed the door behind him, not even caring that her dad had pinched her cheek like she was a baby. Wally cheered and hurried back to her desk, she would finish this and finally be free. Hurrying through her last assignment pen nearly blurring as she used just the slightest bit of super speed before finally finishing. Pushing away from her desk she hurried around her room making sure it was clean and double-checked her work before stuffing it away in her backpack, finally she grinned and in a blur of speed she was dressed and ready to go.
“See ya ma, pops, I’ll be back later!”
“Stay safe Wally!”
“You better have cleaned up your room young lady!”
Speeding over to them she kissed her parents cheeks and waved goodbye as she took off like a shot.
[ . . . ⸎ . . . ]
Standing on the rooftop three heroes and their sidekicks waited, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Batman spoke to one another in quiet murmurs as the younger heroes were relegated to the side having their own conversations. Aqualad stood stoically, though his eyes seemed to watch the city below him in curiosity, Speedy was sitting on the ground languidly, checking his bow and quiver methodically, and Robin, though the youngest, walked along the edge of the roof with the easy confidence of someone who knew they wouldn’t fall.
“I had heard rumors that the Scarlett Speedster had a tendency of running late.”
Robin let out a bark of laughter that disquietingly echoed over the rooftop, Speedy seemed to roll his eyes, and Aqualad continued unbothered, “I did not think they were true.”
“Oh yeah, you both’ve never worked with Flash or his little yellow monster.”
“Monster?”
Aqualad looked questioning and Robin himself seemed interested, but in that way, where he knew more than he let on, with a knowing grin that never went away. Speedy gave a last check to his quiver before settling it back to his back and standing up, “Yeah, little brat is the most annoying, blabbermouth you’ll ever meet, stubborn, nosy, and loud.”
Aqualad frowned, “Do you not like Kid Flash?”
This also seemed to interest Robin, and Speedy grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck he finally seemed to slump over and sigh, “Nah. I do. Unfortunately, Kid tends to grow on you like mold.”
Robin tilted his head and peered at the archer like a curious cat or perhaps like a bird of prey scoping out a tasty morsel, Speedy didn’t let on how disconcerting it was, but shifted away nonetheless, “Can’t be that bad, heard he’s actually pretty well liked in Keystone and Central, then again it is Keystone and Central place is like rainbow happy land where the cops actually do their jobs and nobody tries to shoot you when you’re trying to save them.”
Speedy grimaced at the thought of police actually doing their jobs, “Kid isn’t bad, just…” he seemed to struggle to find the words, in the end he just shakes his head words coming out in a defeated and annoyed sigh, “overwhelming.”
Robin raised a brow, “Overwhelming?”
“That does not sound so terrible.”
“Yeah, you’d think so, at least until it’s pointed at ya-”
A breeze passed over the roof that had a special quality specific to the speedsters, a sort zing of static and energy, “Good evening gentlemen, sorry for the tardiness but a good hero has to make an entrance.” The Flash smiled confidently, he had a sort of quietness to him that was not the stoicism of Batman, or the charming debonair of Green Arrow.
He stood out, but had a sort of self-assured steadiness that made it seem intentional.
Kid Flash was decidedly not any of those things.
“Hey, hey, hey! How’s it hanging?! Oh man, oh man,” zipping around the gathered heroes he grinned a wide smile as the ginger speedster lifted their goggles, looking at the heroes with awe and glee, “it’s you guys! It’s really all of you, oh geez, the boss man said you’d be here, but honestly I thought it would be a blink, and you miss it kind of deal, which for me may seem like forever but even then it’s not enough, because holy jeez it’s really you guys!”
Bouncing in place he seemed to blink and realize something, the box in hand swinging open to the gathered heroes the two blondes bemused and the bat stoic and unchanging in expression as ever. This though did not seem to daunt the kid speedster.
“I brought donuts, because the boss man said we’d be meeting you guys and as midwestern hero one can never meet new people empty handed and like I know I’ve met Mr. Green Arrow before, but like he’s awesome enough to get donuts too, plus he gave me chili the last time we teamed up- oh!”
The Flash seemed a little apologetic, but mainly he looked at his side kick with the kind of what-can-you-do fondness a parent would look at their child. Amused and charmed, but acknowledging it was probably annoying for anyone not related to the child.
Green Arrow grins and ruffles the young speedsters hair, even though their response is pouting the box of treats is not closed, “I knew you’d appreciate my chili, ooh~ bear claws!”
“Your chili is awesome and never let anyone tell you otherwise!” Kid Flash’s defense was immediate and ardent, not shred of doubt in their green eyes.
Aquaman looked less than sure about that statement, but nods in thanks, “A sweet treat is most appreciated young hero, and very kind of you to offer.”
The king’s eyes light up as they pick up two maple bars, and Kid Flash beams, awkwardly bowing, “It’s no trouble, we are late ya know, not because of the donuts, but there was a fire, and then on the way we had to stop a mugging or three.”
Sheepishly Kid Flash offers the box to the last hero who seemed to peer at them with fathomless depths, white lenses unreadable and disquieting, finally after much silence and thought the bat chose a Boston cream filled donut which had the young speedster grinning and rocking on her toes.
“So cool…” was muttered under their breath.
The speedster seemed to notice the other sidekicks and the smile which was already wide on their face seemed to get even wider and he hurried to them, “It’s you guys! It’s really, really you guys, so awesome! Your Aqualad! And you!” Aqualad seemed a little shell shocked as the speedster let go of his hand which had been shaken almost super-speed levels, the ginger speedster turned to Robin and if even possible his eyes seemed to sparkle with even more delight, “You’re Robin! The Boy Wonder, partner to the Dark Knight, wow, you’re shorter than I thought you’d be! Have a donut!”
The box was pushed at them and Robin, which seemed to smirk and puff up deflated a bit at the short comment mouth turning into an annoyed pout.
Speedy reached for two jelly donuts, “I think you need to give them some room to catch all the word vomit you’ve thrown at them and to maybe respond- hey!”
Kid sped away from the archer tongue sticking out and box held away, “Nuh-uh, no way, none for you, you traitor!”
“I am not a traitor!”
“Traitor to your own kind!”
“Give me a donut! Sharing is caring!”
Speedy lunged at the speedster who shrieked and dodged hiding behind Robin who he offered a donut to, Robin took one amused smile growing on their face, “Aren’t I too short to hide behind?”
Kid Flash flushed red, “Aw come on I didn’t mean nothing bad by it, you know you could kick any of our asses if you wanted to. Please protect me from the traitor!”
“Traitor?”
Dodging the grabbing hands of the archer he skipped over to Aqualad’s side and offered him a donut, the boy looked at the boy with considering eyes, “I recommend the apple fritter, it’s double glazed.” it was said in a conspiratorial whisper, Aqualad met their eye and Kid winked cheekily, in the end he chose the apple fritter.
Tilting his head in question Kid Flash huffed out a haggard breath, “Speedy is a traitor to ginger kind, that damned Men-in-Tights extra didn’t want to dress up with me for Central’s Saint Paddy’s Day parade even though we were on a team up to stop Onomatopoeia and the Rogues, and it was on our turf! I mean who does that! So not cool!”
“I was not gonna dress up in green and look like some mini-Green Arrow, I’m not you!”
Kid Flash shrieked as they were caught around the waist and then held under the much taller ginger’s arm like they were a football. Going limp the archer held the smaller speedster like it was nothing and finally took the jelly filled donut with a grunt of victory.
“I was the only color the fabric came in, even the yellow took forever to be made!”
Pouting they held up the box as they let the rest of the donuts be devoured, assured that the speedster would no longer run, Speedy set them down.
Robin was giggling like a hyena behind his hand donut sneakily finished ages ago, and Aqualad had the sparkle in the eye only excessive sugar could give. Kid Flash sped away for a second or two and came back empty handed cardboard box thrown away.
Speedy caught them in a chokehold and noogied their head, “Such a goody-goody.”
“We’re all literally heroes! Leave the hair alone man!”
Spinning away and breaking the chokehold, they hide behind the closest person, Robin looked highly amused as the taller speedster held their shoulder as though he were a shield. Pointing at the archer who finished their jelly donut with a vicious relish, “Get him Robin, get him good!”
“Yeah, no.”
“Aw.”
“It’s time.”
The forbidding tone, the immediate reaction of those around them, there was only one voice who could produce it. Batman seemed to float as he walked towards the younger heroes, Robin tensed and straightened the easy-going grin shrunk into a confident smirk. Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Flash followed along easily, each serious in their own way. Aqualad straightened, taking an almost militant stance, Speedy’s languid posture became tense and aware, and Kid Flash stepped away from Robin and paid attention, but seemed unable to still completely as they rocked back and forth subtly on their feet.
“We’ll be taking point. Your job will be to gather information as we face them head on…”
Batman’s voice was no nonsense and intimidating, but hypnotic, monotone, but not boring, Kid leaned forward and tilted their head as if it helped them better process the information presented to him. Robin watched the speedster from the corner of his eye sporadically, though it wasn’t like anyone could tell, their expressions were honest and eyes serious though excitement could not be hidden.
“We will meet here in an hour. You will not engage if you can help it.”
Batman looked over every single one of them, Aqualad seemed to sand even taller, Speedy tenser, Robin widened his stance chin held high in confidence and Kid Flash grinned and gave a double thumbs up.
“In and out, quick and easy, knock on wood that I didn’t jinx it. We got it Batman, sir.” The speedster knocked on their head for luck.
Speedy groaned and held their head in despair, Aqualad let out a sigh, and Robin couldn’t help but laugh.
[ . . . ⸎ . . . ]
“Woah, this is some serious chemistry. Look here and here, they seem to be trying to combine the effects of this drug and this one, but make it longer lasting, and with worse side effects and an even stronger addiction.”
Robin’s pause was miniscule as his fingers glided over the keyboard, Kid Flash noticed, but continued speed reading over his shoulder before moving on to the notes around the room. Pictures already taken by Robin, Kid Flash started taking a closer look at them, tapping his chin, “This is weird though, what good drug ring wants to have longer lasting effects, the stronger addiction rate totally makes sense, but longer effects means more time between hits and more time between hits means less money and these effects… I mean I can see where they might have started, or I think I do, a type steroid maybe, euphoria and numbing are pretty typical, but the augmentation aspects-”
“It closely resembles venom.”
Snapping his fingers he grins goofily at Robin eyes sparking with victory as things connected in their mind, Robin watched them from he corner of their eye, “Bane, of course, that makes total sense, maybe their trying to muscle in with their super drug, but then again, who wants to deal with that guy…” muttering under their breath brows furrowed as they continued their line of thought out loud.
The door to the room opened and Kid tensed, crackling with energy, but calming as a yellow glove peeked through.
Robin frowned as he turned back to the computer as he waited for it to finish downloading, “You’re supposed to knock.”
“No time for your forty-step-super-secret knock Boy Wonder, it’s time to go.”
“What?! Why?!”
Speedy had a grimace on their face, soot was smeared on their cheek and Aqualad was close behind as he appeared in the doorway with a dour look water bearers in hand and tattoos glowing ominously.
“We gotta go now. While doing a perimeter check we came upon a bunch of goons heading out of here in a hurry and they said they’ve set this place to blow. We checked the closest location, and found a bomb, it’s rigged to blow if someone even gets close to them and it’ll start a chain reaction.”
Kid Flash hissed in sympathy vibrating, “Did you get those guys out?” Speedy grimaced but nodded, turning to Robin, “We need to go too Robin. We already took pictures of everything of note and-”
Robin had a grim look on his face, “You all head out I need to stay here and finish this download or else all of this will have been for nothing.”
“Can’t you do it remotely-”
“Surely such important information has back-ups elsewhere-”
“Enough!” Robin cut them off with a glare that would make Batman proud, the twelve-year-old though the youngest had a sort of confidence and stubbornness only seen in veteran heroes, considering that of those in the room he had the most experience it made sense.
“I already checked and there are no back-ups, and doing remotely would lead to the data becoming corrupted, either they were overconfident or more likely they didn’t want anyone getting their hands on this stuff if they couldn’t keep it to themselves. How long do we have till the bombs go off.”
Speedy grimaced, “15 minutes and counting. How long till it’s done?”
Robin turned back to the computer, “Eight.”
“Shit.”
They were in the basement levels it’d take them eight minutes to get out and they knew it, doing it in three would be impossible. The best thing would be for them to forfeit the computer data and hope to piece together what they could from the pictures taken, but Robin’s stubborn figure made it seem like that information would not be appreciated.
“We need to go now. We will explain to Batman the extenuating-”
“Don’t be stupid, this isn’t worth your life-”
“How likely is it that if we don’t end up carrying you out hogtied, and unconscious you’d sneak right back here to get that stick?”
Kid Flash looked serious, actually sober and straight faced, as he pointed at the Robin themed USB stick, Robin pressed his lips together and looked away, “I’ll find a way out of here on my own, you three on the other hand need to go now, no discussion. I’ll be fine.” Giving them an ever-confident smirk Robin turned away as if that was the end of the discussion.
Given his tense shoulders he knew it wasn’t
Speedy tensed, hands twitching and stance changing to something fighting ready, Aqualad looked indecisive looking between Speedy and Robin. He opened his mouth to say something, but a sigh of despair cut through the tension.
Speedy snapped his head to them and Aqualad stared in surprise, even Robin seemed unable to not peek over his shoulder at the speedster and his unexpected reaction.
Kid Flash was stretching, jumping up and down to warm up their legs as they seemed to focus, electricity sparked around them, “He’s right you two head out, we’ll handle things down here and meet you both up there in a bit.”
“What-”
“Are you both stupid-”
“You’re not staying down here, leave with them now or we’ll all be dead or worse in deep shit when Batman and the rest meet us at the meeting point.”
Kid Flash rolled his eyes, “Geez, faith much, I’m a speedster man, give me some credit I’ll wait down here with you and get us both out in a flash!”
Turning to the other two as she waves the boy away, pointing at them, “Now you two need to get out now, we wasted enough time and unlike me and Boy Wonder here you two aren’t getting a ride on the speedster express, well unless you want to I can take all three of us out no trouble at all.”
Glaring at each of them with a promise in his eyes that meant he was serious, Robin turned away lips pressed as if he could stare the download down into going faster.
“Are you sure my comrade?”
Kid Flash grinned at Aqualad a thumbs up given as easy as anything, “Absolutely-tootley my aquatic friend and after this we can totally go out and have a celebratory drink! Now turn that frown upside down and get the heck out of dodge have some faith, I am a hero ya know!”
Speedy stared seriously at Kid Flash and it felt like an eternity, but the ginger speedster met the gaze with a supremely confident one that didn’t look away.
“You have ten minutes and counting.” Tossing the timer at the speedster he caught it with ease and their grin widened.
Speedy glared at Robin who didn’t look away from the computer screen, “This better be worth it Boy Blunder because if you both end up dead or worse… I’ll bring you both back to beat the shit outta ya!”
Aqualad grabbed his shoulder and then with one last look the both of them started running.
Then there was silence.
Kid Flash set the timer on the computer desk the numbers counting down ominously…
9:48:04
.
9:47:09
..
9:46:06
“You’ve still got time to get out.”
“Buddy I’ve got all the time in the world, too bad I’m choosing to spend it down here, hey when we’re done here you wanna go and get a milkshake. There’s this sweet diner about five min- no wait if we go normal speed it’d be- wait we can probably go via zeta beam-”
“This is stupid, I can find my own way out of here, there is no reason for you to be here I can take care of myself. I was trained by Batman. There are contingencies in place-”
“Contingencies that don’t end up with you in an emergency room, because I’d be glad to hear them if that’s true.” Robin stayed silent, Kid Flash rolled his eyes, “Look man, I’m sticking to you like glue and when that is done downloading all you’ll have to worry about is one thing. Now get your head out of your ass because guess what Rob,” here Kid Flash leaned forward to emphasize, “you’re not alone and you’re not doing this by yourself. Sorry I’m not Batman, or the Flash, but I ain’t leaving you here alone.”
Slapping a heavy hand on the younger heroes back he grinned, “Now buck up and shut up and make sure that us risking our skin actually means something.”
The room fell silent as they both looked at the computer screen in dreadful anticipation, Kid Flash tapped their fingers against their bicep arms crossed as they rocked back and forth on the balls of their feet. Robin was utterly still except for the minute twitching of his fingers as he kept his hand close to the USB stick.
5:00:04
..
4:56:09
“What’s the one thing?”
“Hmm?”
“The one thing I have to worry about, you said I had one thing I have to worry about, well other than an imminent explosion that could kill or cripple me.”
.
4:40:06
Kid Flash blinked and then grinned.
Tilting his head he pulled his goggles over his eyes, “Ah yes, that. Well, it’s the eternal speedster dilemma…” Robin turned around to him fully and raised a brow, evident even under the mask, Kid Flash looked eminently amused green eyes sparkling jewels with humor that Robin couldn’t help but relax at, “cradle or piggyback?”
Robin froze.
Then suddenly his face burned as he looked away tucking his head into his shoulder as if to hide from judgement.
“Ugh…” it was a sound filled with despair and horrible embarrassment, and the dawning realization that he couldn’t get out of it.
Kid Flash cackled.
[ . . . ⸎ . . . ]
“I do not like having to abandon our comrades.”
“Yeah, well I don’t like it either, but I don’t know how quickly we could’ve taken Robin down and gotten out of there.”
“You do not think we could have overwhelmed him?”
“We definitely could have, but I also think he was ready for that, and a guy trained by the bat, is a guy who has something nasty up his sleeve to win. Kid’ll get him out, annoying as it is us getting out of the way was for the best, no matter what they say there’s no way Kid could have gotten all three of us out if we had wasted time on a fight.”
Aqualad frowned deeply as they reached the surface level and headed down the hallways to the outside of the building.
“I had heard Kid Flash was much slower than the Flash, are you sure they will be alright?”
Speedy guffawed as they reached the outside, “Dude, just ‘cuz Kid is slower than the Flash doesn’t mean they’re slow.”
[ . . . ⸎ . . . ]
4:01:04
..
4:00:09
.
4:00:06
..
4:00:04
.
“Alright everybody, remember to keep limbs you want intact tucked in tight, don’t scream in the speedster’s ear, and don’t scratch the merchandise, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”
..
4:00:01
.
Robin frowned as he mentally checked that everything was secure as he held onto the speedster’s back, “Enough with the jo-”
..
4:00:00
.
“kes.”
..
3:59:10
.
Red gloved hands held his legs tight. They leaned forward and then they were off, the world around them blurred and Robin instinctively tucked his head into the crook of the speedsters neck.
..
3:47:09
.
It was fast.
It was disconcerting, it was terrifying and exhilarating, it felt like lightning hitting you and passing through you without leaving any damage, it was a zing that tickled and tumbled the tummy as if he were letting go of the trapeze bar for the first time.
..
2:40:01
.
Robin was getting used to the speed now, overwhelming as it was, it was also like being in the eye of a storm. The calm surrounding him felt like he was taking a nice walk in particularly windy weather, the shifting muscles that played under him was soothing and trustworthy like nothing else was. He knew that the back he laid against was reliable because he could feel the strength of it, and it calmed him like nothing else.
..
2:02:04
.
Trying to look at his surroundings made him feel nauseous, and he closed his eyes and tucked his head back close to he speedsters neck. There was a rumbling that he couldn’t place, and it made him take a pause as he tried to figure out what it was.
It was…
It was laughter.
The actual sound of it was lost to him, but he knew laughter when he felt it.
He knew this kind of laughter, the laughter that came from doing something that you loved wholeheartedly, from doing something that exhilarated you, and surprised you, and that felt just right.
Like a second home.
..
1:35:01
.
It was kind of nice all things considered.
It was a bit annoying and irritating because he was still worried about the bomb and of course the speedster wouldn’t have a worry in the world. Even if they got caught in the tail-end of the explosion as long as they were enough of the way-out Kid Flash would survive and recover to peak condition.
Stupid healing factor.
Still, he couldn’t help but grin because yeah…
Super speed was awesome, and it felt like it.
Even flying with Superman wasn’t like this, a gentle and slow flight was okay, but go any faster than a slow run and he had to be cocooned in a red cape and not even enjoy the breeze on his face.
It just wasn’t safe.
But with a speedster…
It was like the world cocooned them, as long as you were close enough to a speedster, you could actually experience the run as if you were the one running at impossible speeds.
It was-
..
0:033:02
.
Then suddenly they were outside and standing beside Aqualad and Speedy.
“You guys check for any civilians?”
“Of course we’re not fucking amateurs.”
“It’s all clear Kid Flash.”
Lifting their goggles he grins at them, “Cool.” Turning to Robin as he set the boy down, slapping his shoulder in easy comradery, “What do you think? Not bad right!”
..
0:00:09
.
The explosion was, funnily enough, controlled and took care to not damage the surrounding buildings too much. Which was odd for bad guys, but no less a relief, the building itself though took absolute damage and crumbled to the ground in a way that left no doubt that either nothing, or very, very little could be salvaged from the ruins.
It framed the speedsters back, lighting the ginger hair like it was fire and Robin could hardly look away.
He grinned-
Smiled widely.
“It was awesome.”
[ . . . ⸎ . . . ]
After meeting up with their mentors, getting chewed out by them for taking unnecessary risks and then praised for getting the data that would have been lost forever had they left it in the building they were sent off to entertain themselves while the adults figured out whatever they needed to.
“Milkshakes!”
The four sidekicks sat at the diner unbothered by the stares they were getting, Aqualad stared at the drink-meal in quiet fascination, Speedy was demolishing his fries dipping them in his strawberry milkshake, Robin hummed in delight at the fruity pebble concoction that they had on their specialty menu.
“You disgust me.”
Speedy grinned widely, “Dipping french-fries into milkshakes is an American tradition, don’t be judgmental.”
Kid Flash grimaced, “Maybe if it was vanilla or chocolate, but strawberry is offensive.”
Flipping the other off Kid gasped in shock clutching their chest theatrically, “Speedy! Think of the children!”, Aqualad rolled his eyes subtly as he spooned a bit of the chocolate fudge concoction before him. He hummed in delight as he took another bite, then another, and another-
“You might wanna slow down, don’t wanna get a-”
Wincing and grunting in pain Aqualad held his head in pain, Speedy winced in sympathy, “brain freeze.”
Kid Flash leaned forward in concern, “It helps if you press your tongue to the roof of your mouth!”
Robin giggled as he shoveled another spoonful of his rainbow pebble atrocity.
The meal was spent in easy camaraderie that can only be developed in the heat of battle and near-death experiences, Speedy and Kid Flash sniped and teased each other, Aqualad asked questions to all three easily and was answered with patience and playful teasing and was plied by the speedster with some of the food they had ordered alongside their milkshake. Robin watched and was dragged into the conversation more often than not by one of the gingers, either with Kid Flash’s playful teasing, or Speedy’s more pointed jabs which nonetheless held a good-humored tone.
“Man, we gotta hang out more often! You guys are awesome, I can’t believe I only knew this guy’s ugly mug!”
“Who you calling ugly, ugly!”
Grabbing the speedster in a headlock Kid Flash shrieked and punched the older boys ribs as they were noogied with no escape. Aqualad smiled, it was small and soft, but it was there, Kid Flash stared in shock at the sight paying no mind to the ongoing noogied, “Woah! You should totally smile more!”
Escaping Speedy’s grasp the speedster hid behind Aqualad and stuck out his tongue at the archer, then their eyes sparkled in glee as they seemed to come to a conclusion, “We should totally convince our mentors to work together more often! I wanna hang out and go on missions with you guys!”
They had an almost whiny tone to their voice, and they held their clasped hands in front of them, Speedy stretched his arms and yawned, shrugging, “Green Arrow is always down to work with Flash, and he’s ‘jazzed’ about me making ‘friends’ my own age so he’d probably be down for it.”
Said nonchalantly and with the quotations emphasized the grin twitching at the corner of his mouth told a different story.
Kid Flash whooped and looked at the others.
Aqualad frowned, but then tilted his head in thought, “My king still has his… day job, but would be glad about my continued association with like-minded individuals. As long as it does not interfere with my duties I am free to spend my time how I like.”
Nearly vibrating now, the three sidekicks turn to their most mysterious compatriot, Kid Flash looked pleadingly at Robin. The boy wonder was silent, almost reluctantly he spoke, “I don’t know… Batman is… well, he works alone most of the time, other than with me, I don’t know about the whole convincing him to work with others deal. Gotham problems need to be solved in house.”
“Then just hanging out! If missions are too much of a thing, then hanging out in costume would be so totally cool! Come on, he can’t say no to friends… uh can he?”
Kid Flash sounded unsure, and Robin shrugged.
“I’ll get back to you on that.”
Pouting the speedster stared after Robin as he disappeared into the shadows with Batman after saying his goodbyes. Speedy ruffled their hair gave them a quick side hug, and Aqualad patted their shoulder.
Still Kid turned to them with a weaker grin than usual, waving to them as the speedster joined their mentor, “See ya guys! Let’s totally hangout sometime!”
They waved back and then just like that a red and yellow blur were gone in a flash.