Now, I know that I'm not the only one wishing that the show had more Wally/Roy bro moments, so here's a chapter for the red-head bromance fans out there! Hope you enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN YOUNG JUSTICE, BUT ROY WOULD BE A REGULAR TEAM MEMBER IF I DID! EVEN HOBO ROY WOULD BE WELCOME!
It Made Me Happy
"Hey Uncle Barry? Where are we going?" the young boy said, fidgeting slightly next to the blonde haired man.
The man turned to look at the child beside him and ruffled his hair in an affectionate gesture. The boy batted his hand away and attempted to flatten his now dishevelled hair, but grinned at him nonetheless.
"I'm just going to meet a couple of guys I work with and then I'll be free to take you out for pizza. How does that sound?" Barry Allen questioned his young companion.
The red-haired boy responded with an even wider grin and a thumbs up.
"10-4," he said enthusiastically.
Barry Allen threw his head back and laughed at the kid's response.
The boy seemed overjoyed to get that kind of reaction from his 'uncle' and almost started to laugh himself.
"But you've got to promise not to tell your Aunt Iris, ok Wally?" Barry requested, a mischievous smile tugging on his lips.
He held out his pinky finger to the young boy, who eventually joined it with his own.
"Ok!" Wally West agreed enthusiastically, sealing the deal with a pinky swear.
The two strode through downtown Central, Wally in particular with a spring in his step as he went. Barry had to admit that he hadn't been particularly pleased when Iris had to head into work at short notice and had left Wally in his care, but now he had gotten used to having the kid around he was beginning to enjoy it.
But then Green Arrow had called him out of the blue, requesting a rendezvous at Central Plaza, and he really had no choice but to bring the kid along. Well, at least they'd all be in their civvies.
There was no way Wally would ever find out that he was the Flash.
Barry noted that they were nearing the rendezvous and called Wally back to his side. A few yards away he saw Oliver Queen sitting on a table outside a small café. Oliver seemed to notice him at around the same time and gestured him over. Barry inclined his head to Wally, a sign for him to follow and the young boy complied, sauntering behind him like a hyperactive shadow.
'At least the kid will have company' he thought to himself as he saw a familiar red headed boy seated around the same table as Green Arrow. A familiar boy, who as usual, seemed completely annoyed at being dragged around by his mentor.
Barry raised a hand to greet the two and headed over to the table, Wally now walking shyly in his shadow, grasping tightly onto the back of Barry's shirt.
The two made their way over to the table, where they were immediately gestured to take a seat by the blonde haired and bearded man. Barry took a seat opposite his friend, patting the seat next to him, instructing Wally to take the offered seat. The young boy complied and sat down, but he looked uncomfortable in the presence of the strangers, even though he had been bouncing around without a care in the world mere minutes before. Barry ruffled his hair affectionately, trying his best to make Wally feel more at ease. The child merely blushed.
"Olly, Roy," Barry acknowledged the two before him, nodding his head in greeting.
"Long time no see Barry. Who's the kid?" Oliver Queen questioned curiously, fingers unconsciously running over his blonde beard.
Barry grinned his usual grin and clamped a strong hand on the ten-year old redhead's shoulder.
"This is Wally West. He's Iris' nephew. We're hanging out for the day while she ties up some loose ends at work," Barry explained to them.
" Nice to meet you, kid," Olly said, while his protégé merely sniffed arrogantly at the boy's presence.
Wally nodded in response, his cheeks burning bright red at being addressed by the stranger.
"This won't take long, okay kiddo. How about we head to the Flash museum after pizza?" Barry suggested casually, well aware that the boy was a big fan.
At this Wally's eyes practically sparkled and he immediately sat upright in his seat, grin wide on his face.
"Really?! Awesome!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, now suddenly alive with passion once more.
Barry laughed at the young boy's response, a swell of pride in his gut as he was given such a big compliment. He always had liked to meet his fans after all, even if they had no idea he was actually the Flash.
Oliver Queen, in the meantime, leant over in his chair and clasped a hand to Wally's shoulder, his own smile tugging at his lips.
"Kid, you shouldn't be so hung up on the Flash. You should idolize Green Arrow," he said advisedly, his green eyes glittering with mischief.
Roy Harper rolled his eyes at the comment, crossed his arms, but said nothing. While Wally merely stared in confusion at the 'advice' he had been given.
"Who's Green Arrow?" he asked innocently, obviously perplexed.
Olly looked at the boy with a disappointed look, his lips practically pouting, while Barry held back a snigger. Before Olly could answer the question, his sidekick was kind enough to give his own opinion on who exactly Green Arrow was.
"Some dork who goes around fighting crime," the hot-headed twelve-year-old replied spitefully, smirk dangling off his lips.
Barry resisted the urge to snort as he saw Olly's face fall from his sidekick's harsh words. But was surprised when Wally's rather quiet voice piped up from nowhere.
"But he beats up the baddies right? That's cool."
Oliver Queen's face broke out in a warm and obviously pleased expression, and he unconsciously puffed out his chest slightly. He leaned closer to Barry, a hand covering the side of his mouth as though he was keeping a secret from Roy, who sat right next to him.
"Hey Barry, want to swap kids? I'll give you Roy and I'll take li'l red under my wing," Olly suggested, his words spoken in such a tone that it was hard to tell whether he was joking or not.
Wally, hearing the words emerge from Olly's mouth, hid himself behind Barry's shoulder and stared at Green Arrow's young sidekick, who merely shrugged his shoulder with a blank look on his face; as though he was used to hearing such things.
Barry gave a short laugh and landed a comforting hand on his young companion, as though to assure him that he wouldn't actually swap him with the other red-head.
"Uh no. Don't think Iris would appreciate me trading off her nephew," he stated simply, amusement alight in his blue eyes.
"I'm game. I can't imagine that you'd be a worse adoptive father," Roy's voice added from out of nowhere.
"See! He's not cute at all!" Olly exclaimed, gesturing a hand to point at his adopted son, who merely rolled his eyes.
Wally was surprised that the other red-head's eyes hadn't fallen from their sockets yet, seeing as they were doing so much rolling around at his father's expense. But he couldn't help but laugh at the exchange between the two, and found himself suddenly wishing that he and his own father could have such a close relationship. Because it was obvious that Olly and Roy were close. They were father and son after all. He suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy. Those two had such a close relationship, even though they weren't related by blood, so why was it so hard for his own father, his own flesh and blood, to show him the same affection.
"..lly."
All of a sudden, Wally became aware that Barry had been calling his name and he jumped from his thoughts back to reality. He gave an apologetic smile towards his guardian for the day, and fidgeted around in his seat.
"Sorry, uncle Barry. What did you say?" he asked shyly, his face reddening from embarrassment.
Barry looked at the boy, a worried expression on his face.
"You okay kiddo?" he asked in a concerned voice, his eyes never leaving Wally's face for a second.
Hearing the worried tone in his older companion's face, Wally immediately shook the negative thoughts from his head. He didn't like worrying people.
"Sorry. I'm fine. Just excited to go to the museum later," he lied convincingly.
Barry seemed less than persuaded by his words but didn't say anything. He flashed a comforting smile Wally's way, which the boy replicated seconds later.
"Me and Olly here thought it would be good if you and Roy went for a little walk while we talk about work. Don't want you to be bored by boring adult talk."
Wally seemed to consider Barry's thoughts and immediately read between the lines. He wasn't stupid after all. Barry and his friend obviously didn't want Wally to hear the conversation between them, which was fine with him. He was curious now of course, but that didn't mean it was any of his business. That said, he wasn't particularly pleased with being tossed aside and being forced to pair up with the sombre preteen across from him.
And Roy didn't look pleased either. He glared at Olly, his eyes boring into the side of the bearded man's face.
"I didn't let you drag me along just so I could end up babysitting some kid," he argued angrily, brows knitted in frustration.
"Roy," Olly said simply, his voice stern.
It seemed it was all that needed to be said, as Roy sighed in annoyance and stood up from his seat. He gestured his head for Wally to follow behind him.
"Come on shorty."
Wally bit back a retort to being called shorty and made to follow the older red-head. He looked back at Barry once while he ran to catch up with Roy, his expression nervous. But a smile from Barry was all it took to make him feel better, feel braver, as he set off with the strange boy he had just met a few minutes before.
"Have fun kiddo," he heard Barry yell towards his retreating back.
And despite his initial shyness, his anxiety, Wally West did just that.
~oOo~
A sixteen year old Wally West lay haphazardly on his older friends bed, hands supporting the back of his head. An empty pizza box lay next to him on the bed, the snack that he had devoured minutes before.
Roy Harper sat on the floor of his bedroom, his back leaning against the bed. The bed Wally had casually taken over. As usual.
"Hey Roy?" Wally's cheerful voice suddenly rang out, "Do you remember when we first met? I had been spending the day with uncle Barry, and we met up with you and uncle Olly at that café."
Roy, eyes closed, nearly smiled at the memories of that day. Nearly.
"Yeah. I remember. Those were the good old days. Back then I could barely get a word out of you…and now I cant shut you up," Roy answered acerbically.
Wally laughed at his best friend's response and suddenly threw himself into a seated position on Roy's bed, sending a shockwave of vibrations against the older red-head's back, and sending the empty pizza box flying. Roy caught it as it fell towards the ground, not even needing to open an eye to see where it was.
"Ha ha. You're hilarious. Anyway, do you remember what you said to me that day?" Wally asked vaguely.
Roy knew that he had said a lot of things to the ten-year old Wally that day, most of them a little frosty. But he instinctively knew exactly what Wally meant, but it was a little embarrassing to say it out loud now. Roy's face reddened slightly and Wally noted how his eyebrow twitched.
"I told you, to stick with me. That I would be your family instead of your parents," Roy eventually said, his voice strangely quiet.
The blush spread to his ears. He tried his hardest to hide it from Wally when the younger teenager flung himself on the ground next to him. Wally looked small when Roy turned to look at him. He had huddled his legs close to his chest, his arms draped across his knees. His head leaned against his arms, sending his red hair flicking each and every way.
"Roy," Wally started, his voice eerily quiet for him.
"Yeah, Wally?"
Before answering, Wally hid his face in his arms. His answer came out muffled, but Roy heard every word.
"That made me really happy."
Roy extended a hand and ruffled the younger teenagers hair in an oddly affectionate gesture.
"It was meant to," was all he said, his hand still trailing softly through his best friend's flame coloured hair.
END
Ta-duh! I really love writing bromance fics between Wally and Roy, plus there's more Wally/Barry moments here too. Not to mention an appearance by another of my favourite characters: Green Arrow, who is almost as much of a loveable goofball as Barry. I always did view Roy as the adult in their partnership for some reason lol. For some reason I like to think that Barry and Olly meet up and go for drinks or something, and end up in a brag-off about their sidekicks XD
I'd like to thank those of you who have reviewed/ followed or favourited this series already, since it gave me a huge ego burst! But I need you guys to keep reviewing for me! Show me the love for Wally!
In the meantime, stay cool guys!
H59
