KID FLASH/WALLY WEST

The world is burning. And Wally runs just fast enough to believe he avoids it.

When Wally thinks of his life, he thinks in shades. Blurs of color that he sped by.

There is a starting point – one he does not really remember, and then there is the moment he began running.

And oh god she's gone.

He cares far too much. It is an acute pain, imagining not seeing her again, not seeing any of them again. It is one thing to fling himself at danger and another to watch all those around him disappear into it.

But it's not real.

He's faster than this, this fake pain.

When Wally runs, everything slows down and with the tips of his fingers he can touch everyone before they blink.

But Artemis has always somehow been one step ahead of him.

Wally's feet are frozen. His heart stutters, his lungs compress.

Where Artemis was, is now dust. Obliterated. There are now thousands of specks of Artemis intermingling with his oxygen supply.

Breathing in Artemis. Breathing out Wally. Bits and pieces of her drift in the wind, scraping against his teeth, washing his tongue and burning down his throat.

Until there's nothing left but rage and anger and something he can't quite describe, but's it's hollow and cold.

Then Wally can move again.

He forgets, so it's not imagination, not play and she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

Like Alice down the hole to Wonderland.

Atoms spread out in the arctic air, immortalized in the patterns of snow.

Suddenly, this is Wally's reality. Because he was late, late, late...

Robin is his best friend.

And they died together. Like Romeo and Juliet – but, that's for girl's - so, more like Achilles and Patroclus. Great warriors in great battles dying great deaths causing everyone great sorrow.

But not for great reasons.

Because Wally remembers, now, and it's not real. And all those feeling aren't either. Wally is a scientist to the bitter end. And oh how bitter it tastes.

So his "extreme reaction" isn't real And his denial isn't real. (There's nothing to deny he tells himself.) And this is logical and this is true and this is science. Because a simulation, by definition, is a mere imitation. (Sometimes he looks at his Uncle and feels like an imitation himself.)

Wally wakes up third and watches as Robin rises from his slumber, his eyes following the upward movement of his torso. Then gazes at Artemis as she lies there - waiting. He hears M'gann's sobs, but all he can see now is Artemis. Artemis in one piece (not pieces). All he can hear is Artemis breathing. Breathe in Artemis. Breathe out Artemis. Wally doesn't believe in magic, but he chants hope over and over in his mind like some great, mystic spell. Hoping that as long as he keeps saying it, she will continue to be there.

She wakes up and no one really speaks.

And for one moment Wally believes.

Wally sees her legs give out and before anyone can move he is there – grabbing her as if his life depended on it. For a second he thinks it does. She doesn't push away and he doesn't let go.

Batman debriefs them and they all walk away.

M'gann is guided out of the room by her Uncle and Superboy hesitates before following.

Aqualad ambles slowly, almost painfully, outside the room – burdened by the weight of a wold that never was.

Artemis looks him in the eye, and jerks her head away immediately. Wally wonders what she saw.

Robin jabs him in the stomach and grins a see you later (not goodbye this time).

His eyes follow the team as they exit into the zeta tubes.

Which are transporters – not disintegrators.

This, of course, doesn't stop him from stutter stepping as Artemis walks through.

Later, maybe Wally practices more. (Hoping he's never late again) Maybe he watches everyone more. Listens more.

And, so what, if he moves a little closer to Artemis during meetings, and follows her a little closer during missions. ("Ow – watch where you're stepping Twinkle Toes" )

Because Wally West will run - like he always has - as soon as he figures out which direction to go.