Hearing
Wow... just... Wow...
I didn't know KF of all people could just get under my skin like that. I mean, it's like we know everything about each other. And now, he even knows that I'm Dick Grayson. It's such a weird feeling, I don't know if it's positive or negative. But now, I'm starting to question what I know about Wally.
Sure, I know where he lives and have been to his house and all, but his house is usually where his uncle lives. I've never been to his home. But, my mind working fast and smart and all, I think that's related to why he comes to Mt. Justice with bruises that didn't come from missions.
It started with small things, things only I could've noticed (well, Batman too, but that's beside the point), like near-invisible cuts and bruises. But they've grown. Now they go in a thin line across his face, and he's so sad all the time, he's even getting M'gann down.
And just yesterday, I noticed him following me. Sure, he does that anyways, but now I see him every time I wake up or enter a different room. And he has this façade of... something, but it's not Wally. I'm actually getting worried. I told Kaldur this, but he says that I should confront him. He's right, because if this is something personal, than he would need to talk to his best friend, who is me.
So I decide to let Wally sleep on it, but then when I pass the Infirmary to go to my room, I see Wally bandaging himself across the abdomen, wincing rather loudly. I can't stand to see him like this, so I enter. I don't think he knew I was coming, and I grab his arm from behind very gently.
"GAAHH!" he yells, "Rob! W-What are you doing here?" he says, moving his left arm to scratch his neck, grinning stupidly and turning around. I get annoyed very quickly, but calm down for his sake.
"I wasn't very tired, so I decided to walk around. Now, what happened to you?" I say worriedly. I grab his left arm and see scars all over the forearm. "Where did you get these?" inspecting each one while I'm talking. He pulls his arm away, and sits on one of the beds. I sit on the left side of him.
"I didn't know what to do. I couldn't tell Barry about this, and it's not entirely his fault-"
"Whose fault Wally?" I say to him, staring at him through my sunglasses. He looks a bit uncomfortable, so I take off my glasses. Blue eyes meet green, desperately searching for an answer. He sighs, closes his eyes, and looks toward the ground.
"If I tell you, you have to promise that you will listen and psycho-analyze what I'm saying," he says. I nod slowly, waiting for him to begin. He sighs again.
"It all started when I was 5 years old," he starts, and through every word I hear misery and guilt. I didn't know that his father didn't like Barry. I didn't know that his mother yelled at him. But the worst thing of all was that I didn't know any of this was happening. I'm supposed to be his best friend, his bro, and confidant; I was supposed to know anything and everything that happened to Wally happened for a reason.
"and then the alcohol kicks in, and every night, I'm scared to step outside my room, because he is going to be downstairs, and he will get her, and then they'll start punching me and kicking me, and I can't do anything about it," he says, crying, no, sobbing.
Quickly, I hold him in his arms as he starts sobbing harder. I'm letting a few tears down myself. I mean, I didn't know he was abused. I would've done something about it. "Wally, why didn't you tell me sooner? Why haven't you told the Flash? This is child abuse, and you know that by law they can't treat you like this," I say, grabbing him gently by the shoulder and moving him so I could see his face.
"I can't," he simply says, "their my parents." I look at him softly by firmly.
"Just because they are your parents, doesn't mean that they have the right to do that to you. You are a great person, and you know that. You are way too smart for your own good, so you know that this is wrong," I finish, slightly sad that he would do this to himself.
"But I'm scared Dick," he nearly whispers, "what if they find me? They'll just take me away again, and I can't stand them anymore," he says, showing that I have gotten some sense into him. Slowly, I put him back in my arms.
"They won't find you, and if they do, I'll make sure that the whole Justice League goes after them," I say, pretty much getting mad at his parents. He tries to smile, but he just gets out of our hug. I miss the warmth he gave. He looks at me sadly, and mumbles something.
Fortunately, I heard. "Yes, we have to tell Flash. He's mentor and your uncle. Besides me, he's the first one you should have gone to for this," I say, getting off the bed. "If you want, you can stay in my room for the night," I tell him, half expecting him to say no.
But he doesn't. "Sure, might be able to actually go to sleep," he said cockily, getting off the bed. "All handsome dudes need their sleep," he says, yawning for effect. I just roll my eyes at him.
"Yeah, yeah, you're a real Prince Charming," I half-admit sarcastically, half truly. He is kind of cute when he's all tired. He just throws me over his shoulder, grabbing my sunglasses.
"And you know it," he says, despite my desperate attempts to get out of his arms. I have to say I kinda like it, but am still pretty annoyed that he does it so easily. Sometimes I wonder if he actually even listens to me...
But he knows that I'm always here for him. And he will take that for granted.
A/n: Angsty chapter is angsty. Write reviews to make Wally happy again in the next chapter (and me, but focus on Wally for now)
