This story has been in my head for a while, actually from the moment I watched the episode (And I fell in love with it because it was Wally-centred.) And then a plot bunny attacked me and I just… I had to write it. So here is my new story, a different take on episode 20, Cold hearted.

Also, I named a lot of OC's in this story, otherwise it'd be so confusing. 'That woman' 'the blonde woman' etc. so bear with the names please.

YJ

November 11, 2010. 17: 57

"Take it, go!" Wally yells, arms quivering from strain and sweat dripping from under his cowl. Glass was digging into his skin and he felt numerous eyes on him. But he ignored it, he ignored his shaking arms, screaming in protest, and presented them the heart. The heart he protected, almost lost.

"Right, right" The surgeon said hastily, grabbing the heart from the young hero. He took a last, quick, glance at the speedster, debating whether to help him or save the queen. But the speedster had already decided for him, putting himself behind the queen.

So he nodded, and turned around to run off.

"Transplant team to OR two, stat!" He yelled, running off with the heart safely in his hands.

Wally groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as he balanced himself using his arms. All four of his limbs were trembling heavy and he felt glass digging into his skin on various places. Then, he felt his arms give in, and he felt himself nearing the ground fast, never able to comprehend it fully, blacking out before he could even touch the ground.

The last thing he heard were the disappearing footsteps of the surgeons.

YJ

Everyone seemed to be frozen as the young hero fell down, laying on the ground in such a vulnerable position. Sure, a hero had been hurt multiple times, injured countless times. And yet this was different. There had always been a villain to threaten them, or a teammate to protect them.

Now, they were all alone with a vulnerable and injured speedster. No threat, just him and civilians.

"Kid Flash!" One of the civilians called out, rushing over to the fallen hero. The woman, who was barely out of her teens skipped to a halt, falling onto her knees and hovering her hands over the ginger.

She gasped slightly, it wasn't uncommon to spot a hero nowadays, even less uncommon to spot the speedsters close by, or talk to them since they were pretty social. But this was probably the first time this had really happened.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, grimly noticing the blood that was seeping through his uniform. "Somebody get a doctor, he's hurt" She ordered, and only then people seemed to start moving again. Two people were running off in different directions, finding doctors like the woman, Sarah had ordered.

More people started to approach the fallen hero, all looking upon the young hero, a hero who looked so much more vulnerable, and so young actually in his current state.

Another woman slowly crouched down on the other side, reaching for KF's cowl with a determined expression on her face. The fabric felt weird, different than she'd expected but before she could peel the cowl off completely, a hand wrapped around her wrist.

"What are you doing?!" Sarah hissed, jerking the hand away from KF's face.

"Oh come on, this is probably a one-time situation. Don't tell me you're curious who he is" The woman, Ashley, replies while bringing her other arm up to the cowl again, hooking her thumb under the cowl and jostling the cowl enough to display some of Wally's freckles.

Sarah narrows her eyes, pulling the arm she was holding towards her, causing the woman to lose her balance.

"I am, but there's a reason he's wearing a disguise in the first place."

Without missing a beat, Sarah stands up, careful that she wasn't touching the speedster as she stepped over him. "He protected us countless times, risked his life to save others. And we have no right to expose him just because you -any of you- are curious."

"Lighten up a bit, we'll keep it a secret" A man suddenly spoke up, also walking up to the hero but not actually making a move on the cowl.

"You're risking his identity, most likely the rest of their identities, and our lives at the same time. So back off" A young woman, Abby, speaks up and Sarah shoots her a grateful look. The man who had just spoken glances at the two women for a moment before dashing to the fallen hero.

"Oh no you don't" Abby yells reaching out to stop him but her fingers merely brushed over the clothes on his back. But she quickly recovered and reached out again, this time with her fist. She hisses in pain as her knuckles connect with the man's face, sending him stumbling sidewards.

"You're sick, all of you! Look at him, he's a freaking teen risking his life almost every day and all you care about is knowing who's behind the mask" Abby grinds out while holding her now throbbing hand, giving the man another harsh push so he falls over.

"If you're not here to help him, then kindly fuck off" Sarah butts in, giving Ashley a rough shove as well. Ashley gave a last glance at the fallen hero but then turned around, deciding it wasn't worth the possible fight she'd get in.

"That was.. Intense" Abby whispers as she and Sarah kneel next to Kid Flash, both on another side so no one was able to reach for his cowl.

"Thanks for sticking up for me" Sarah returns and reaches out for KF again, lifting his head slightly. Her expression softens slightly, looking down at the cowl that was now slightly out of place due to the struggle. His freckles were still slightly visible but she quickly repositioned his cowl again.

Just in time, because the moment she did a doctor and a nurse came running in, two civilians following them.

"Out of the way please, make room" The nurse called out in a calmed tone, gesturing for everyone to scatter. A bed was wheeled next to Kid Flash and Sarah took a few steps back, letting the doctors do their work.

Ever since heroes started to arise more and more it became mandatory for doctors to at least know the basics about every superhero so they would be able to treat them in cases like this. So she knew that he was in good hands, but still….

"Poor kid" A bystander whispered as they quickly wheeled away the red haired hero.

YJ

November 12, 2010. 06:13 (Seattle)

Pain was the first thing that I registered, not the foreign room I was in, not the weird bed I was laying on, not my ripped costume so they could push needles into my skin, not even my uncle sitting right next to my bed and holding my hand tightly, looking at me with worrying eyes.

I took a deep but shuddering breath, willing the pain to go away. And much to my surprise, it dulled slightly and I opened my eyes to look at my uncle again.

"Hey kiddo" He whispered and I groaned slightly, shifting uneasily but it only caused the pain to flare up again. "Easy there, you got banged up pretty bad"

I nod weakly, admitting defeat and lying down again.

"What happened? Did the girl make it?"

At this a small smile appears on uncle Barry's face, though only his mouth was visible as he still had his cowl on. "She did" I gape at my uncle, feeling the familiar sense of pride blossoming up again.

"You saved an entire country kiddo, I'm proud" I beamed at him at the comment, laughing as Barry ruffled my hair affectionately before going serious again. Barry seems to catch on as he directs his hand towards my hand again, squeezing it slightly to give me comfort.

"Wait.. what happened after I passed out?" I ask, my arm quickly going up to touch the cowl that was still thankfully on my face. I hissed at the movement, feeling the stitches in both my arm and back pull at the moment. Uncle Barry put a comforting hand on my arm, placing it on the bed again.

Passing out in front of civilians equalled death nowadays. Ever since heroes started popping up more frequently a decade ago people started getting curious, wanting to know who was beneath the masks, and that only intensified when social media and protégés were introduced.

There were a lot of rumours out there. Relationships between heroes, going from rich billionaires (Which was dangerously close to the truth with a few heroes) to homeless people who wanted revenge on criminals. Even going as far as rumouring their relationships, like relationship relationship.

Oh, the articles about rumoured relationships were endless.

Point was, the civilians were curious. They wanted to know our identities. And passing out meant that the civilians would get the chance to still that curiosity.

"They weren't as curious as I thought they'd be" Uncle Barry says, before smiling reassuringly. "A few tried to take a look but from what I've heard others stood up for you. Man, girls sure know how to pack a punch, one of the guys left with a swollen eye"

For the first seconds, and throughout Barry's explanation I could only beam, knowing that civilians valued my identity, and the ultimately the identity of others, over their own curiosity. That they'd stand up for me instead of grasping the first opportunity to find out, an opportunity that was handed to them on a silver plate.

And that I wasn't exposed as Kid Flash.

I smirked after a while. "Hey, girls know how to punch." I defended, faking a cough and saying "Artemis", followed by another cough to emphasise it.

"Well your aunt would surely agree" Barry mutters, rubbing his arm with fake-hurt. I grin at the comment, knowing what uncle Barry was talking about. Barry and I may be speedsters, but in the house, aunt Iris was the boss. And nobody dared to disobey her orders.

"Speaking of which, she still has your birthday present" Barry suddenly changes the subject. "And I still owe you dinner somewhere" I laugh at the mention, somewhere. Which meant somewhere around the world. It was a tradition we came up with when I got my powers. On my, and Barry's birthday we'd run to a certain country of choice, and eat there.

Granted I didn't have my power very long yet and sure, I had probably visited most of the countries in Europe, and visited most of the states in America, but never really visited it, take time to look around in the cities and enjoy it like typical tourists.

"No offense Flash, but right now I just want to go home"

Barry laughs behind his cowl. "Kinda figured, can you stand?" He asks and I nod automatically, though when I try to lift myself again my arms immediately start to tremble again, and embarrassingly Barry has to help me up. And still I cannot support myself alone, legs quivering and pain shooting up my back, stitches tightening uncomfortably.

And while it was embarrassing, I was glad Barry was supporting me because otherwise I'd surely be on the ground right now.

"Don't be so hard on yourself" Barry says softly, obviously sensing the distress I was in.

I sigh, manoeuvring myself behind Barry. "Just get it over with, I wanna go home" I say and Barry squats slightly before helping me climb on his back. There was slight discomfort as I moved my arms, as well as a few stitches pulling again but I eventually managed to wrap my legs around his waist, and my arms around his neck.

Still, Flash hooked his arms under my knees so I wouldn't have to bear the whole weight myself, for which I was grateful.

I smile drowsily, leaning my cheek against Barry's back. "Tell them thanks.. the doctors" I mumble and Barry laughs light-heartedly at my comment before speeding down the hall.