Chapter 2: The Boy Who Was Special

Wally looked trough the window. He ignored the smell of blood on his body. He just looked, waiting for her to return. He would wait for ever it would take that long. For ever and ever. And even much longer.

His hand caressed the window, like it was the softest thing he ever felt. Everything hurt, but he didn't want to think about it. He heard the song he heard before. The song he heard on the radio when…

He bit on his lip.

When his parents got killed…

He hated the song, but it seemed to repeat over and over again in his mind. He could remember everything so clearly. But he didn't want to. It only made him sad. He looked to the streets.

Children waiting to feel good

He tried to ignore to sound. It was just a stupid song. But the lyrics, the sound… it just made him all think of it. He fought the tears away and wondered if she would come. May be she didn't want to.

Mad world, mad world

"Shut up!" he yelled at the radio, like it could hear him and cut of the music.

"Wally?" he heard as the door start to open.

"Roselyn!" his smile widened.

"I'm here" she said, but when she came inside, she didn't look at him.

She closed to door behind her, looking around.

"Somethin' wrong?" he asked.

"Uh, no" she said.

And than he noticed, the bruise on her cheek and he brought his hand to her cheek. He looked at her beautiful brown eyes, wondering why.

"Why do they do that to us?" he said, his voice soft because he was afraid he would start crying. "Why?"

"Because we're not like normal humans, Wally" she said as she took his hand and forced a smile, "we're different. We have powers they don't. And 'cause of that, they hate us. They want us death and do these things to us. We're not like them."

These words would hunt him down for ever, he knew it at the second he heard them. His eyes start to water and he couldn't hold it anymore. Tears flew like they never did before. It was the only time she heard him crying. He never cried. He learnt soon enough that crying only makes things worse. But some things are hopeless and this was one of them. He collapsed on the ground and buried his head in his arms. The cold ground sent shivers down his back, but it didn't matter. He felt so empty, so angry.

"That's not fair" he cried, barely loud enough to be heard.

Roselyn looked at him and felt how his heartbreaking crying, made her feel like she was going to die. What could she say? How could she explain to a boy of eleven-years old that life just was like that? How could she make all the wrong right?

I find it hard to take

"Why!" he yelled, his fist hitting the ground.

Would it matter what she could say? Would it change how he felt? Would it take the pain away? She knew it wouldn't.

"Don't ask why, Wally, It's stupid" she said, not knowing what else to do.

"I don't care!" he kept crying, nothing could make him stop, "I don't care about anything!"

She bit on her lip, trying not to cry. His pain was tearing her down, breaking her heart. She kneeled next to him, begging: "stop it Wally."

But he didn't, he couldn't. He just kept crying, kept hating this world. Why?! How could they ever done the things they've done. What could she say to a boy, who saw his own parents get killed, who got beaten up everyday, whose life kept going wrong? What could she possibly say?

Wally lifted up his head and she could simply feel the pain he felt. She could hear the thoughts rushing trough his mind. He was walking on an edge of a dark cliff and he was about to fall and never, never get up again. She could hear him asking why he should. He lost everything, his parents, his family and he was starting to lose his self. Without any words he begged her to keep him up, to answer that one question.

Why?

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I ever had

And than he broke. He broke down and every movement stopped. He lay there so motionless, she thought he died. It was that moment that she realised he did. Deep inside he died, completely shattered after years of fighting against it. He didn't cry anymore, he didn't yell, he didn't even move. Only the small, barely visible movement of his chest told her he was still alive.

"Don't give up, Wally" she begged him, "not now, not you..."

"Why not?" he said, his voice full of anger, "I've lost everything."

"Not true, Wally" she answered, looking at the boy, "you still have me."

For a single second he didn't move, but than he started to get up. His eyes were still full of tears and the saddest look she ever saw, but he smiled trough it all.

"You're right" he said, whipping the tears away, "I can't give up."

She could swear she shouted, but she only whispered: "don't ever give up… for me"

They looked at each other. No words could explain what they felt, so they didn't bother explaining. They just looked.

"Teach me to be normal" he asked her softly.

"What?" she said in disbelieve, "why?"

"You said they did like this because we're different. So let's be normal" he explained.

"You can't just…" she shook her head, "okay. I will."

Mad world, mad world

He dodged between the flames that Volcana fired at him. He heard some one screaming above him and he smiled. Volcana was distracted by the yelling for a second and a second was all he need.

Normal boys don't run.

He stood behind her, ready to launch his fist at the back of her head, but the words in his mind let him hesitate. She turned around and suddenly he felt the heat of flames right in his face. He screamed of pain and crashed on the ground.

Normal boys don't get up that fast.

His eyes widened. He got up, ignoring the pain he felt.

"Flash!" he heard above him and saw Shayera ready to charge in on Volcana.

He shook his head in a desperate attempt to get the voice out. Not now. He stood up and with a speed no one could match he charged in and knocked her on the ground.

Normal boys don't run that fast.

"Get out of my head" he whispered, punching Volcana on her face.

She kicked him and sent him several feet high, shooting flames in his direction. He was sure they were going to hit, but they didn't. Before the he crashed to the ground he felt some one grabbing his hand, keeping him above the ground. His eyes were still closed and he heard a voice: "are you alright?"

Normal boys don't do that, Wally. Won't you ever learn?

Suddenly his eyes shoot open again. Like the world was in slow motion he saw Volcana getting back up, grinning from ear to ear. Shayera couldn't see, 'cause her attention was only on Wally. He saw how Volcana fired her deadly flames to her.

"Shay!" he screamed, pushing her away, feeling the flames hitting his body.

The world snapped back to normal speed.

Shayera lift up her head and saw Flash standing before her, protecting her from the flames.

He's nuts, he'll die the thought made her gasping in disbelieve when he didn't move an inch. He stumbled a few steps back and she stood up, picking him up and flying high in the air.

"Stupid boy" she yelled, "why didn't you run!"

"The flames…" he said softly, "they would've hurt you… I won't… anyone… hurt you…"

The world faded to black and he gasped for air that wouldn't seem to come.

"Normal boys don't run" he added, trying to not fall asleep.

She stopped for a few seconds; completely surprised by the tone he said those words. Like he wasn't Wally anymore, but some one else who only felt pain.

"Hold on" was everything she could say, as she dropped him off on a rooftop.

"Now, don't do anything stupid, okay?" she added, to light up the situation a bit and saw how he forced a little smile.

"I'll try my best" he said.

"Great, Volcana and Grundy are not a problem at all to handle alone, okay?" she said, just to be sure.

He nodded a bit, but even that hurt.

She jumped of the building, flying towards Volcana, her mace ready to hit. But before she could reach the girl with the flame like hair, Grundy smashed her to the ground. Within a second, she was back on her feet.

Wally forced himself up, almost crawling to the edge of the roof. He looked over, watching the fight. Shayera really didn't have any trouble to handle those two. She smashed Grundy into the walls, causing it to break down on top of it. Like he expected, he just got up again and started beating Shayera up. She tried to defend herself with her mace, what was pretty much working. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Volcana getting up.

The world seemed like it was in slow motion.

He screamed to Shayera about Volcana, but he was sure she didn't hear. Without really knowing what he was doing, he forced himself up. Now standing on the edge of falling into the depth, he looked again at Volcana, who was about to fire. In a second he considered what was the fastest, running or jumping, and as he felt how his legs were hurt by just standing, he decided the second option. He didn't hesitate any longer and jumped of the roof, hoping this was the right thing to do.

Volcana stretched her arms out to a distracted Shayera, but just as she wanted to fire, she heard someone saying: "over here, lady!"

She turned around and saw only two feet hitting her face with such a strength she bounced to the ground, out of conscious. Although his fall was broken a bit, he felt to the ground as well. Pain shot trough his right leg and he grabbed his knee, pulling it against his body, trying not to cry. He tried to control his breath, but the flashes of pain rushing trough him made it just too hard. This was definitely not such a good idea after all.

"FLASH!" he heard a familiar voice screaming.

He heard footsteps running over to where he was lying. He opened his eyes and saw the most beautiful green eyes, looking concerned at him.

"Hold on" Shayera said, carefully helping him up.

The pain on his face was almost readable, dripping of every piece of his body and as he smiled, she couldn't feel the warmth she usually felt.

"Shayera to watchtower" she said, her voice more concerned than she wanted.

Her hand was wrapped around his waist, helping him up, because it didn't take a doctor to see his leg was broken.

"Shayera?" she heard Batman saying, "what's the problem?"

"Flash" was all she said, "the job is done, could you please transport us. Flash needs some serious help."

Without a word, she felt how they were transported to the watchtower. A few seconds later she saw the familiar walls. Flash collapsed on the ground and she could just prevent him for hitting the ground really hard.

"What happened?" Diana came rushing over, watching Flash lying on the ground.

"He jumped of a building" she said, her voice became almost angry, "because I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing! Volcana and Grundy, I was able to handle them alone! If I only…"

"It's not your fault" Diana said, "it was a stupid idea to jump of a building."

Not stupid Diana, just Wally…

"You're right" she said, "I'll bring him to the med bay."

You better get well soon, Wally, I won't forgive myself if you don't.

Shayera watched Wally sleeping. His face was so peaceful, no sign of the pain he must feel. His leg was broken on two places, his body suffered third degree burns and the fall broke several ribs too. But every time he was awake he never complained, he just laughed and made jokes. Like he always did, like nothing ever happened. And every time she tried to apologise he just laughed it away with another silly joke. She felt the tears coming back, without really knowing why it hurt so much. It was her fault, but that wasn't worth crying for, was it?

"Shayera?" she turned her head.

"Hi John" was all she said.

"Is he still sleeping?" he asked, walking to her and looking at Wally's unmasked face.

She nodded. She didn't want to talk, afraid she would start crying. She bit on her lip, watching Wally's peaceful, beautiful face.

"If I only…" she started.

"Don't blame yourself" John said, "it's not your fault. How were you supposed to know the kid would do something as stupid as jumping of a building of three levels high?"

"Four levels" she corrected, fighting the anger away.

"That's even more stupid. It's his own fault he's laying there like that now."

"Would youplease stop that" she asked her voice full of anger.

"Stop what?" John said, surprised by the sudden attack.

"Blaming him, saying he's stupid!" she almost yelled.

She stood up, every movement full of an indescribable anger, her eyes looking like she would simply explode. She was just so sick of it. Why didn't anyone see it? That Wally wasn't that stupid as he tried to be? That there was something more going on? Why did they keep blaming him!

First Diana, after her Supes did say something like that and now John! Why were they so stupid? She didn't even look at John anymore as she rushed trough the door. She almost ran over Batman, but she could stop just in time.

"Hi" she said shortly.

"How is he doing?" Batman asked before she could go further.

"He was sleeping" she said and after that she walked away quickly, but after a few steps she stopped and asked: "do you think he's stupid? For jumping of a bridge?"

"It wasn't the brightest idea" he started, "but the intentions were good. And after all: it is Flash."

A small smile crossed Shayera's lips.

"You're right" she was calmed down a bit and walked away.

As Batman reached the med bay, -not that he wanted to be there, of course- he saw Flash still sleeping and a confused John next to him. For a few seconds Batman stood there, watching them both and when he made sure everything was alright, he continued his way to wherever he wanted to go.

"Bats?" he heard a voice.

"What John?" he answered.

"You saw Shayera?"

"I did"

"Where was she going?"

"Her room" he said, even tough she didn't say that, he saw her walking in the right direction.

"Oh, did she say anything?" John said.

"Not really" Bats answered.

"Oh, okay" John said as he took off.

He walked to Shayera's room and hesitated a moment. He wondered if he said anything wrong. Slowly, like he didn't even want to he knocked on the door.

"What!" the familiar voice shouted.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"No" she answered.

"Can you at least tell me what I've done wrong?" John said.

"Nothing, just leave me alone" the answer came.

"Alright… If you want to talk about it, you'll find me" he said and after a few seconds he took off.

Shayera lay on her bed, watching the ceiling. Tears were rolling down her face, her stomach feeling like it was turned upside down and inside out. She could punch herself for acting like this. She never stayed mad at John and especially not for something so stupid. She was just so sick of it. No one seemed to understand Wally. He wasn't stupid, why didn't any one see? Or why did she? Why did it bother her so much?

Things were changing, in a speed she didn't like. Normally, she wouldn't care that much if Flash was hurt, even when it was her 'fault'. She would've been angry on herself, she would've come everyday to check up him, but not like this. She barely moved from his side, watching his face when he slept. She apologised more than she would ever do to some one else. She felt guiltier than ever before. Was it because it was such a stupid mistake?

No, she knew why. Because it was Wally. And that thought concerned her; made her feel like she was falling and falling and no one could ever catch her. Wally always seemed like a brother to her. That kind of friend you slam on his head after doing something stupid, but you're not really angry on. The kind of friend you could tell everything and laugh about it. That kind of friend she always wanted. It was just so stupid.

Why? Why did she have to screw things up? She was happy with John. She loved him. Right? She did, didn't she?

Great, now she wasn't even sure about that anymore. All because of Wally. How could she let things get this far? The thought Wally was something more than just a friend, hit her now harder than any time before.

What if she really… fell in love with him? What if she really did?

Tears started to roll more down her cheeks, making her pillow wet. As she thought of pillows, a small smile crossed her face. The memories of the pillow fight flood to her head, drowning her pain. But than the thought crossed her mind again. That one question she didn't want to answer. Did she love him? Did she fell in love with Wally West?

She stood up, whipping the tears of her face and walked trough her window. She didn't want to think about it anymore, so she rushed outside, almost running to the monitor.

"Isn't there any one to be saved?" she asked with more emotion she wanted.

Diana, sitting on the controls, turned her head and answered: "not really… Everything alright?"

"Not really" she answered.

"Want to talk about it?" Diana asked.

"Not really" she repeated.

"Okay" Diana knew asking further wouldn't help. "How was Wally doing?"

"I think so" she said. "You think it's his fault huh?"

"Not really" Diana said, "but jumping of a building just is stupid. Why?"

"Oh, nothing… It's just" she shut her mouth.

"Just?" Diana repeated.

"I should've been so blind to not see that attack of Volcana coming" she said.

"No, you couldn't know. You thought she was out of conscious, right?"

"I did" Shayera admitted.

"Than it's not your fault. It's nobody's fault, it was just an accident. He'll be running around again soon enough" she laughed a bit at the last one.

Shayera smiled a little, but wasn't really convinced.

"I just don't think he would jump for every one of a building" Diana added.

"What do you mean?" Shayera said, immediately on her guard.

"Nothing, I just think it's a fact" Diana said.

"Well, there's a lot of thing Bats wouldn't do for any of us, except for you" Shayera said with a little smile.

"That's not the point!" she said and they both start laughing.

After they stopped laughing, Shayera asked: "I'm going to check up Wally."

"Again?" Diana asked.

"May be he's awake now?" Shayera said, while leaving her.

Diana smiled and shook her head.

"So, you're not mad on me?" Shayera asked.

"No, if" Wally said, a grin on his face, "if you take me out for dinner when I can stand again."

"If that's everything" she said, but than a desperate look crossed her face. "What?! Taking you to dinner? I'm not that rich!"

"Revenge, my dear" and she felt a weird feeling on those last words.

"Shut up," she laughed.

"It doesn't even hurt that much, you know" he lied, but she didn't have to know that.

"But you with a broken leg is like Batman without his weird gadgets" she protested.

"That's not true" he said, "even if Bats wouldn't have these weird thingies he uses, he is still a smart guy who's pretty able to do some world-saving on his own. Without my super speed I can still do other things. I can take over your shifts or I could just lay here, doing nothing and thinking about you" he winked.

"You wouldn't really do that, do you?" a voice said.

Wally swallowed a bit loud and said: "just a joke, John."

"I hope so" John said, coming in, but his voice didn't make it sounds as scary as Wally thought I would've.

"How's it going?" he asked, standing next to Shayera.

"Pretty good" Wally grinned, "especially with the company"

"When will you be running again?"

"Doctor said about a week and a half" Wally answered.

"Wow, that's fast" John said.

"Well yeah, Fastest Man Alive" he remarked.

Shayera and Wally started laughing at the tone he said that one and the strange look John was giving them only made it worse.

"Uh, I'm going again and leave you two alone" he said, his voice sounding something between hurt and angry.

As he walked trough the doorway, they both started laughing even harder, even tough Shayera did feel bad about laughing about John's reaction. She just couldn't help it. Her eyes met Wally's and he made a whoops-looks-like-we-pissed-him-off gesture, she started laughing again.

They stopped laughing, Wally shocking a little after. He yawned and a look on the clock on the wall told Shayera it was getting really late.

"I might better go, so you can sleep a little" Shayera said, as she stood up.

The grin on Wally's face immediately disappeared. His eyes saddened and his shoulders lowered.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Uh, nothing" he tried a smile.

"Want me to stay?" she asked again.

"Only if you want to" he said, slowly looking at her.

"I want to" she smiled, "but you're sure you'll get enough sleep if I stay here?"

He nodded.

"I just don't like being alone" he said, something in his voice made her shudder.

"I already figured that out" she smiled again.

Don't worry, Wally, you'll never be alone anymore. I'll… I'll make sure you won't.

She took place on the edge of his bed, looking at his face. His red hair was spread on his pillows like flames on a white background. It was getting dark in the room, but she could still see his green eyes, like there was a light behind them.

"John wouldn't mind that you stay here, would he?" Wally finally spoke.

"I don't care" she said, "I wanna be here."

A smile crossed his lips and he pushed his self up, until their faces were only a few inches separate of each other. She could feel him breathing and it felt like the most wonderful thing she ever felt. A second later she felt his arms on her back and her head on his chest. It took her a few moments to realize he was hugging her. She closed her eyes. For a reason she couldn't name she didn't want him to let go, never ever again.

"Thank you, Shayera" he whispered in her hear, "I really…You're really a good friend."

I wish I could tell you Shay. But I'll never will. Trust me, I won't mess things up, like I usually do. This time, I will watch from the sideline. I won't rush in. I won't, I swear. I hope you get happy, Shay, I hope John loves you the way I want to. I hope he gives you all the love I'll never will.

He let her go, not saying a words anymore, afraid he would cry. He only looked at her green eyes, his heart beating so slow he never felt it beating before.

"You're a good friend, too" Shayera said, the moment almost causing her to be speechless.

But she couldn't be. She had to say something; she had to smile, to act normal. He would never love her. He was Wally, he did this with every one. He smiled to every girl, it was nothing special to him. And he said it, she was a good friend. But nothing more and she would never be.

Oh, God. That moment she felt it. She wanted to be something more. She wanted him to love her. She smiled to him and he smiled back.

"Do you believe in magic?" Wally suddenly asked.

"No, why?" she laughed a bit.

Because I just felt it.

"Oh, nothing really" Wally said, "just a question."

"Silly boy" she said, the smile on her face full of love.

He grinned and lay back at the pillow. He stared at the ceiling and was getting sleepy.

"Shay?"

"Huh?"

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Wally."

And after a few seconds, she listened to his breathing. She stood up, ready to leave, but something stopped her. She turned her head, watching him sleeping, listening to his slow breathing. She walked back to were she was sitting and took place again. Slowly she laid her head on the edge of his bed. She didn't want to leave anymore. But she would be gone before he knew. She couldn't let herself… Oh, damn it. She couldn't fight it anymore. It was too late to stop it now.

I think I just fell badly in love with you, Wallace West. And I'm so gonna make you pay for it.