Wally slept through the first, second and third ring of his alarm clock. The fourth woke him, and he promptly killed the obnoxious alarm. He needed his sleep.

…

He finally awoke at around two in the afternoon, threw on a fresh (or the best he could find on his floor) shirt, jeans, and headed downstairs to the kitchen. The kitchen had always been his favorite place. It was the home of food and this afternoon, parents. His parents seemed to have just woken as well.

"How was the Allen's party last night?" Wally began. His mom answered:

"Great, except Barry wasn't there, nor were you."

"Yeah, league business," Wally poured himself a bowl of cereal and sat next to his dad, who seemed to be on his third cup of coffee this morning… afternoon.

…

"I'm gonna go for a run," he announced when he'd finished his cereal. His mom raised an eyebrow as he raced out the door.

…

It was easy to see Gotham City as it approached on the horizon. As Wally ran closer, he could see the city in more detail through the smog. Gotham was Artemis and Dick's home. It defined them perfectly.

On the outside, all you could see was smog and mystery. As you grew nearer, as they trusted you, grew to like you, you saw the beautiful complexity, the anger and violence, the regrets and death, but there was a thriving, beautiful joy in the city, too. He loved how complex they were.

Running in Gotham was not a good idea, but Wally had figured that out years ago, when he first visited the Robin and THE Batman.

…

Mid-July in Gotham was comparable to mid-July in southern Texas. It felt like he was being roasted in a microwave.

"Why, are we, here?" Wally moaned. He was struggling to keep up with his mentor, as he did in even the most favorable weather.

"You," Barry said, pointing at Wally, "need to meet a colleague of mine," pointing at himself, "And, a colleague of yours." At Wally, again.

Wally liked the sound of that word, colleague.

…

Following a familiar route, he knew exactly how to get to Wayne Manor. He and Dick needed to talk.

…

The first few times Wally had visited Dick, or Robin as he was back then, they had never met up at the same place twice. The Gotham City Library. A diner with very good pie.

Months later, looking back at it, Wally realized there had already been trust, more than him complaining that Linda, a girl from his school didn't like him back; there was already trust.

…

Running past Gotham Academy, he saw a familiar figure in a thick, black coat, smug grin on his face, sunglasses on his eyes.

"Hey, K.F."