Title: My Mother's Worst Fear
Chapter: Three. How Long Will It Eat Away At Him?
Word Count: 2,920
Pairings: None. Strong KFxRobin Friendship, though.
Summary: Wally's mother is sick and it's all his fault. Can he hold up in the aftermath if he - the fastest boy alive - is too late to save her?
NOTE: This idea was not mine. However I did take this wonderful idea and ran with it. The original idea was created by JadeBrycin2116 in her story of Shattered Pieces of which I suggest you read because it's a wonderful story. I was given permission by JadeBrycin2116 to post this story.
Around three, Barry told Iris and Wally that he would need to find Batman and tell him that the speedster will be taking leave for a short while. He was out the door before they could say anything.
Iris turned to look at her nephew who sat at the island. He was staring at the plate of cookies in front of him. She didn't think he really saw the cookies.
"Wally, dear." She went around the island to wrap her arms around him. "Everything will be alright." She could only express a sigh of relief when he hugged her bad.
"Will it really get better?" Wally sounded horse against the silent of the kitchen.
Iris doesn't say anything and they sit there for a while as Wally starts to whisper how he wants his mother to hug him and how he wants to be back home with his father. Iris could only rock him back and forth as her nephew whispered over and over again.
It wasn't long for Iris before Wally pulled away. "I need to be go, Aunt Iris. I need to know something." Iris didn't even get to say anything before Wally ran off and she felt a cold hand grip her heart in worry. She couldn't even really grasp what just happen right away. When she did, she called her husband.
The Flash had gotten to Mountain Justice in record time after learning that Batman was currently speaking with the team over new training practices to help improve after the previous day's simulation. He stepped into the old conference room, with the teen's paying close attention to the Dark Knight and Black Canary who was explaining the finer details of the new training practices.
No one paid him mind at first, "Batman I need to talk to you concerning myself and Kid Flash." He now had the entire room's attention.
"What is it, Flash?"
Flash didn't plan on telling Batman everything, maybe not even enough to make a proper assessment but he wondered if he should be telling Batman and Wally's team. He opened his mouth to ask if Batman would mind stepping outside for a moment outside of Superboy's hearing when the computer announces Kid Flash's entrance.
Barry's face erupts into shock that the entire room can't help but notice. Flash didn't even pay them mind as he turned to see Wally running up towards the room. He ran passed Flash and stopped a few feet into the room. He looked terrible and it showed on his teammate's faces.
"Robin." He matched his green eyes to Robin's concealed ones. "I need to talk to you. And you might not like it, but" Wally couldn't stop the fact he was obvious choking up, "I-I really need to know."
"Wally, what are you…" Barry tried uneasily as he put a hand on Wally's shoulder. Wally didn't even seem to notice as he waited for Robin to answer. Robin looked to Batman for answers and when none came through, he turned to Flash and when an overwhelming feeling of worry came off of the speedster Robin turned to Wally. He knew just from looking at his friend that the worry was justified.
"You can ask me anything, KF. You know that."
Wally looked relieve, like he actually thought Robin would actually say no. "Not here."
Robin followed Wally out of the room and all the way across the mountain to Wally's room in the mountain. Robin recognized the sign of Wally wanting some place he recognized as safe. Even safer than just being among friends.
Wally turned around and shut the door behind them. He adjusted his shirt and paced around the room with Robin standing in the middle as he worked up the courage to ask what he wanted to. Robin took the opportunity to really take a look at his friend.
Wally West had bags beneath his eyes like he hadn't slept very well which given what Wally told Robin yesterday was likely of what happened. He didn't think he could sleep much either if Bruce keep telling him how sure he was that his little bird was going to die. Hair disheveled, hands shaking, and red eyes as if the speedster had been crying but that's not possible. Wally didn't cry. Then again, Robin thought, Wally didn't stand with his shoulders slouched or with his head tilted down either.
"Does it still hurt to think about them?" Wally's shaking and unhitched speak pattern broke Robin from his thoughts. However, it was the words themselves and not the way Wally asked that made Robin's heart quickened.
Did Wally really mean…? Sure, Wally had know of Robin's secret identity for a little over a year now and there was bound to be some curious questions still about Richard Grayson's life, but they both decided they would cross those bridges when they come not force them. Especially the bridges that involved his parents. Robin was sure that Wally understood that he'd go into greater detail about what happened and how he's dealt with it slowly over time…didn't he understand it hurt to bring up?
Robin couldn't help the scowl, but looking at his friend he was reminded that something had happened and his friend wasn't in his right state of mind. Maybe he needed this...and the two young heroes had always been there for each other before. This time was no different. "Sometimes. Most of the time, though? No." Robin pushed the words from his mouth. "Sure, I miss them, but I often find I need to celebrate their lives more and not grieve their deaths as much."
A look of – was that relief or fear? – cross Wally's face and Robin can't help but add the, "Why?" to his little story.
Wally's eyes never dropped from Robin's. He matched his gaze with everything he had. "My mom committed suicide and my dad's in jail for hitting me because it was my fault." It was quick but painful, the words and Robin saw Wally flinch.
Robin's eyes widen, his whole face fell into shock and disbelief before being shaken away by concern for his friend's mental health. "Wally…I'm so sorry." And Robin completely understood why Wally asked about his parents now. "I'm sorry, but KF it does get easier. It might not feel like it," Robin crossed the small distance between the two and laid a comforting hand on Wally's shoulder. "but it totally does. Having Bruce, the team, and you around helps."
Wally nodded knowing his friend wasn't lying to him and finding a small bit of comfort in that. Maybe things would get better.
They were silent for a moment, "My dad has a hearing in a few days…will you come with me?" Robin tried a slim smile as he agreed. "Wouldn't miss it."
Flash made sure to explain to Iris not to worry when she called, explaining Wally was at the Mountain with him. That they'd be home soon. Flash then lead Batman away from the rest of the team as Black Canary started to go into even finer details of the weeks planned training sessions as a distraction.
When Flash and Batman returned to the room, the team burst to life with questions but none of them was answered. Batman just told them they that Kid Flash would be on leave for a while longer than originally expected and for the team to head to the training room so that they could make up for the loss of member in combat from here on out.
"What about Robin?" M'gann questioned. "Will he be joining us in training today?"
As if summon, Robin walked through door followed by Wally. They both stepped around the two Leaguers, but only Robin continued further into the room. Wally stopped beside his uncle, almost leaning into him for comfort of family.
"Yes, I will." Robin shot a short glance to Batman and it was clear to them both that they both knew what was wrong, but neither said anything in front of the other teammates. When Wally was ready he could tell them. Robin would never force a secret out when he had so many of his own.
Flash took Wally home shortly after that where Iris fussed over Wally for running off like he did.
The Dynamic Duo arrived home earlier for a Sunday night, and sat down for the dinner Alfred had prepared. However, both were a bit uneasy over the news they were given several hours earlier by the pair of Central speedsters.
"Wally asked if I could go with him to his father's hearing." Dick's voice was soft as it broke the silence.
Bruce nodded approvingly. He heard that tone before. "Sounds like you've already made your decision."
"He's my best friend." Was all Dick answered with even though he didn't have to. Bruce understood where the two boys stood ever since Dick asked if he could tell Wally his real name. Bruce understood the bonds of friendship and trust. He also knew that Wally West – as careless, goofy, clumsy, and smart as he is – was a hero in every right. A young man that rightly deserved the trust given to him. It pained Bruce, Dick could tell, to see him in such distraught.
Two days later, Wally went to his father's hearing with Robin, dressed in civvies, on one side of him and his aunt and uncle on the other. The four of them sat in plastic chairs behind a wooden barrier. On the other side of that barrier there was the judge in his stand facing two rectangular tables. One of which sat Wally's father and his attorney and the other the prosecutor. The two responding officers, Alexander and Sanchez, also sat in the plastic chairs behind the barrier. They both greeted Wally when they came in.
Since, Ralph admitted to hitting Wally, the hearing was mainly to determine the sentence he would be receiving. While in the end it was up for the judge to decide the harming of a minor usually resulted with the minimal being two years with a fine.
For a short while the prosecutor, a tall woman by the name of Anne Willows, and Ralph's attorney, Paul Jackson, argued back and forth trying to peruse the judge to their side. Then after a ten minute recess the judge called both responding officers, Wally's father, and then Wally himself to talk before him.
Wally had stumbled all the way through his statement and started to cry near the end. As he returned to his seat, Ralph reached out to him before being stopped by his attorney. Wally sat back down, cleared his tears away as Robin rubbed his friend's back.
The attorney and prosecutor were given one last chance before the judge called for another recess before making his final decision.
Out in the hallway, Wally and Robin stood a short ways away from Wally's uncle and aunt. The two adults watched them with concern but stayed their distance.
"How are you holding up?" Robin asked gingerly, Wally's testimony playing over in his mind.
Wally shrugged with a grimace. He was getting better as the days went by, but with today's trail and tomorrow being Mary's funeral – in hopes that Ralph would be acquitted and be able to attend – Wally wasn't so sure if his progress would continue.
Sure most nights he didn't sleep more than three hours and more often than not he still felt numb or guilt over everything and break down into tears, but there was also small gaps of time where he would find himself with a small smile on his face as he thought about the team or there was that one night when he got a full seven hours of sleep and wake up refreshed. It was getting better, but it still hurt. Wally wasn't that hurt would every go away.
"It will get better." Robin stated unknowingly echoing Wally's uncle from that morning.
"I know." He didn't sound very convinced.
Gingerly, "Wally," Robin couldn't get Wally's testimony out of his head, "this isn't your fault. Your mother was ill."
Wally's head shot up, matching Robin's eyes before Wally turned away shame written on his face. How could Robin really believe that? And it was clear by the small glimpse of his face that Wally took that Robin did believe that.
"I know she was ill, Rob, but you can't really tell me this isn't my fault. She did this because of me. I was late, Rob, and she decided she couldn't live with the fact that I was dead."
"But you weren't dead. You were late." Robin took a step closer to his friend so they could talk with their voices a little lower, "Everyone is late once in a while, Wals. She was ill, the fact that she fixated on you was just bad luck. The same thing could have happen if she decided your dad's job at the plant would get him killed. She was ill. It wasn't your fault." Robin kept repeating the main points as fact hoping to get Wally to see them as such. If one keeps repeating something then there must be something behind it.
"Yet she focused on me. I knew what was happening, I knew to be home on time and yet I stayed late at the mountain that day. I knew better!" Wally hissed, finally meeting Robin's face again. "It was my fault."
"You knew she was ill, but you didn't know the extremes of that illness. This isn't your fault."
It must have been the repetition or maybe it was the firmness in which Robin stated his believe. Maybe it was Wally knowing deep down this really wasn't his fault or maybe Wally was just tired. More likely, considering Wally was a boy of science through and through he simply needed another possibility before discarding the only one he had. Whatever it actually was though, Wally broke. He threw his hands to the sides and barked loud enough to catch the attention of his guardians and the two officers talking with Barry and Iris, "Then whose fault is it?"
Robin took a deep breath. "No one's. It's no one's fault, KF. Sometimes things happen for no reason and that no one can stop from happening. This is just one of those times."
Slowly, a little unsure, and very heavily, Wally nodded.
Recess ended and everyone filed back into the room with Robin rubbing soothing circles onto his friend's back. Ralph, Paul, and Anne already sat at their tables. The room was eerily silent as the judge stood to stand.
"While the circumstances were extenuating the harm of a minor is inexcusable, Mister West." Ralph nodded solemnly as Iris grabbed onto Barry's hand for support. "I sentence thee to a year in prison with parole and a seven thousand dollar fine that will be used to pay for your wives funeral of which you are free to attend. Your sentence will begin this Friday. Report to Central City Court House at three o'clock then."
The prosecutor and attorney gathered their belongings shook hands and paid their respect to Ralph and Wally for their loss – Anne's was a little less forced when she spoke to Wally rather than Ralph. Ralph crossed the wooden barriers, and threw his arms around Wally embracing him.
"I'm so sorry, son." Ralph kept repeating into Wally's hair. Wally didn't say anything, simply hugged him back as if his life dependent on it. Suddenly, Ralph pulled away putting Wally at arm's distance. "I was wrong, you know, this isn't your fault. Your mother's death wasn't your fault."
Wally didn't even get a chance to respond before being brought into another hug.
Just after dinner with everyone settling into bed soon – it was deemed better for both West men to stay at the Allen household and Robin staying the single night so that he could attend the funeral tomorrow with Bruce flying in tomorrow morning to attend – Wally laid down on the pull out couch with Robin on the other side of him and Ralph in Iris' and Barry's spare bedroom.
Wally looked over to Robin, whose sunglasses were off, eyes closed and soundlessly sleeping. He wondered how long it took after everything with his own parents before he was able to sleep so peacefully. He also thought about how Robin and his father had taken every opportunity they could to tell him Mary's death wasn't his fault.
Robin was one of the smartest people he knew with Bruce and Uncle Barry taking the two leads if he was set so hard on something maybe he should take into consideration more. His father loved him, Wally knew that, and was a stubborn man that was not afraid to admit when he was wrong. He had blamed Wally in the heat of the incident but had amended such tale.
Maybe if they both believed something so fully then, maybe, just maybe, Wally should take a second look into it. Maybe – and Wally really hoped so – it wasn't his fault that his mother killed herself.
Wally hoped he would be able to remember this over the next few weeks. He knew they were going to be harder than anything he's ever faced but he had his father's support, his friends, and his family for support. Robin said it helped having those people around for him, Wally was sure it would help him too.
AN/ I think I may have rushed this ending. I'm not sure. Tell me what you think, please. Oh, and all my work is unbeta'ed so all errors are mine sadly.
