Under the mask.
GRRR. This was done WAY back, however my computer is a dick and decided to erase 8 damn pages. Then my family and I went on vacay, so no computer to redo the chappie. SO new chappie for you, and it's a second copy...I have no clue if it's anything like my original, or maybe if it's better?... Enjoy! ^_^
MIM199 ~ Demand and you shall receive ^_^ Hope you like it!
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He should have known better. Of course sleep wouldn't happen. But it wasn't the ebony eyes plaguing his dreams, no it was just the heat...That's it.
Scrubbing his tired eyes, Wally crossed one of the busier streets of Central City. It was fairly late, about midnight, but people still ran about going to cafe's, into different buildings and hotels. No matter the time, it seemed his city continued on its way.
He smiled at a young girl curled in her fathers arms as he an his wife passed him by going to a taxi. Another couple made their way hand in hand down the street; no destination in mind, just each others company.
It seemed that tonight was out to torture him. As it was he'd seen more couples then on a normal basis, along with that were the young women, flirting and smiling to him; Yet when he went to say something back, maybe throw in some charm, black eyes and a pretty face came into his vision and any thought of someone else fled his mind.
Walking down a less busy side walk, Wally realized that without actually thinking about it, he was going to his favorite little cafe down by '23rd Street'. Well he supposed Frank would be pleased. He loved when Wally went to the cafe simply because of how much Wally loved to eat. It wasn't his fault he had a high metabolism, it was the speed damnit.
Picking his head up from watching his seemingly interesting shoes, Wally's breath caught. Rich chocolate hair bounced lightly as a woman, only feet away, walked down the street. Rushing forward, he placed a quick hand on her shoulder. Startled the woman turned, shining bright green eyes at him.
" Yes?" She asked, voice far to high.
"I...Uh..heh, sorry ma'am I thought you were someone else." Wally said, smiling but on the inside he hurt. Hurt because he'd gotten hopes up to find a girl in a city of thousands, hurt that she could have stolen his heart so easily. It wasn't fair, this hurt.
She smiled sweetly, her bright pink lips shining with to much gloss. " Oh, well since you can't find your friend would you like to join me for a drink?"
Wally shook his head, " No thanks" and left before she could say another word.
Wally groaned inwardly. Great now he was imagining things? Was everything going to remind him of her? Breath taking eyes, rose lips, rich chocolate hair with perfect tanned skin all there to taint his mind and make his heart ache. Maybe he just needed a break. A vacation away from his fair city where he could find some sexy little dame to take his mind off her.
Seeing happy couples, Wally couldn't help but sigh. They were cute, made him feel warm like the first time Annie had kissed him in junior high. However, as cute as they were he yearned for his own.
He didn't want another fling, he wanted something.
Getting to the old chipped green door, he went in side seeing a familiar face.
" Wally, my boy!" It was Frank in all his glory. The plump man with his grey hair and five o'clock shadow came over, wiping his hands on his apron. " What brings you here at this time, huh?"
"Just couldn't sleep, Frank. Bring me my regular wouldja?" Wally mumbled, slumping into his favorite bar stool with a slight groan.
" Course" Said the old man before he was off, talking to the people in the cafe as he went.
Wally smiled at the old coot of a man. He was flirting with an older woman, showing off his moves as he poured her a drink. Shaking his head, Wally let out a chuckle when the woman's husband came out, glaring at Frank who shrugged, going into the back kitchen.
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Wally stared at his coffee cup, not sure whether to be thankful for the fragrant drink or truly hate it for upping his energy. Less energy meant less thought process and less thought process meant less thinking about the dark eyed mystery woman named, Scarlet.
Not that he was thinking about her. Nope... No he was thinking about rainbows, and butterflies, flying unicorns and saving cats from...From trees!
His head hit the table rather hard causing it to shake slightly and his coffee cup to wobble. " Cats and rainbows?...You're losing it Wally" He groaned, slouching into his arms so only a fire tuff of hair poked out.
" Frank!" He yelled out, face still buried in his arms. " Refill!...P-Please." He added with a stutter. There was no need to be rude just because he was miserable.
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"Yea sure you don't want me to wash it? I could throw it in the back or-...Uh, Something!" Frank yelled out, holding the old green door open into the cooler night air.
" No! It's fine!" Wally yelled back, scrubbing the soon to be stain on his jacket. His favorite jacket no less! Walking down the far less crowed side walk, Wally was going home. The night had sucked royally. Not only was everything around him a distraction but a bumbling oaf just had to knock into him causing his night to only worsen.
He'd been drinking another cup when a man, not watching where he was going, bashed into his back, causing his coffee to go everywhere. Everywhere. Wally, in his grumpy state, had snapped, if only a little at the man who in turn had said it wasn't his fault. His fault!
No, it wasn't the mans fault. Course not. It wasn't like he had been staring at the pretty blondes behind causing him to back RIGHT into Wally.
Totally not his fault.
So now, stained jacket in one hand and napkins in the other, Wally was heading for his little safe haven of an apartment. He was finally tired, despite all the coffee he had downed. It wore off quickly anyways, so a few cups would only last him the walk home.
The night had chilled considerably. So now, stained and all, Wally threw his jacket on all the while grumbling at the large brown stain right on the front of his left side; covering his heart.
Picking his head up from his jacket, something caught his eye. There, just turning the corning was a young woman. Time seemed to be on his side for now because it slowed, just enough for him to see what he'd secretly been hoping for.
Ebony eyes flashed brightly in his direction before her head turned, facing where she was going with a slight frown. However, it was enough. Wally had seen the eyes he'd been dreaming of. The ones that had stolen his breath away the first time he'd had the opportunity to gaze at them.
Snapping out of his daze, seeing as she'd turned that said corner, Wally took off after her retreating form.
Around the corner, Wally's heart stopped. She was gone! No where in sight. Searching frantically he turned this way and that. There was a few alley's just down she could have turned, there were also rows...and rows of houses she could have turned into. But then a park. Going on his gut feeling Wally dashed into the dark park, finding the trail lit by street lamps. Walking at a slow pace so he wouldn't miss anything Wally followed the long winding path. Hearing light humming Wally stopped.
There, now sitting on a bench was Scarlet.
She was dressed in a pale grey tank top and black, baggy half pants the sinched just below her knees. Her rich, chocolate colored hair was tucked behind her ears, while her bangs swooped across her face. Up close, Wally noticed it was shorter then he first thought; her hair just barely reached past her ears. To his amusement, her converse sneakers were tied together and tossed over the back of the bench.
Wally, feet away from her, froze not sure really what he could say or even do. Deciding to just wing it, Wally stepped forward till he was walking up behind the bench. 'Here goes nothing' " Hey" He said smiling." Mind if I sit?"
Her head snapped in his direction quickly, a frown marrying her features and Wally decided right then that he never wanted to see another frown on her pretty face again. Slight recognition swam threw her eyes but it was gone in a matter of seconds. She looked him up and down once, frown still firmly in place. " Go ahead " She deadpanned, turning her attention back the page of her note book in hand. A pencil was scribbling across the page as she drew what ever she was looking at.
Realizing she was not going to give anything more of a conversation and that, yes indeed,she was ignoring him, Wally decided to just sit down. Least it wasn't a crappy bench. Some of the parks had the most uncomfortable metal benches; this one however,was at least wood and still had all it's paint.
Looking over at Scarlet, Wally gazed at her picture she was still working away at. " Wow" He murmured, " You're really good." It was the very scene ahead of them. A dark scene with the trail and one of the street lamps. A park bench was hidden deep with in the more bushy area and there was even an owl in a higher tree.
Looking up, Wally indeed saw said owl. Huh, how'd he miss that?
She looked up at him, studying his face again. "...Thanks, been doing this for a while"
Wally nodded. It looked like it. Her lines were precise but still very soft.
She flipped the page, starting a new picture. She uncrossed her legs as she switched positions. Wally let out a small laugh, "Why aren't you wearing your shoes?"
Startled she glanced at him. " I wear my shoes out quickly. Better to save a pair and just walk bare footed." Realizing she was talking far more then she wished to the red head, she looked back down at her page. Apparently he wasn't taken back by her behavior or tone for he hummed slightly to himself almost in agreement?
She frowned. She should be at home, packing up, taking down accupiment, phoning the new or at least soon to be new owner of the company. She should phone him soon, see if they could set up a meeting for her brothers company; see what would happen to it and all that it stood for.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Taken back from her thoughts again Scarlet glanced at the red headed man. " Pardon?" She asked, really not sure if she heard correctly. Normally she was unreadable. She wore her frown firmly with a straight face. People left her alone and that was the way she liked it.
Wally smiled and sarlet caught herself staring. " Wanna talk about it. You look..Upset? heh, maybe a little flustered."
Scarlet tilted her head, deep in thought. " But I don't know you, Red." She said, a hint of sarcasm ringing in her voice.
" Wally, Wally West" He said smiling, then realized he was sounding like an idiot. Not that she seemed to notice. Her dark eyes seemed to be off, more distracted then he would have perceived them.
Blood, a lot of it, Wally thought, all clinging to her form as the boy in her arms is torn away from her and into a body bag. Medics trying to help but all pushed away.
Blinking Wally realized she was staring at him with a raised eye brow. " Sorry?" He said, seeing as he'd missed something she'd said.
A snort of laughter left her but it wasn't of humor. " Said my name is Scarlet" She tugged on her shirt and he could see the goose bumps lining over her tanned arms.
" Here", he said, " Take my jacket" Offering it to her. She looked at him like he was about to do something horrible before she turned away, looking back at her note pad.
"No thanks." She whispered, hugging one arm around her own form as her left hand continued to sketch out her picture.
" You sure?" Wally pressed on, " I mean it's getting kind of cold and-"
She sighed, head dropping. " Look, I . Don't . Want. Your. Jacket... Understand?" Her ebony eyes stared intently at him making sure her message came across. Wally gave a nervous smile which seemed to lighten her mood oddly enough. It wasn't his fault! Let someone else stare at a glare that could rival the bats and see if they didn't become nervous.
" I had a family member pass" She said. Wally, a little taken back from being lost in his thoughts, wasn't even sure if she'd spoken.
" My...My brother." She said, voice monotone and a little far away.
Scarlet wasn't even sure why she was telling this to a complete stranger. Maybe because she needed to just get it off her chest? Ease her pain. Besides, the guy was just sitting there and he seemed to want to talk...Well guess he was getting his wish.
" I'm sorry for your loss. Scarlet" Wally said, placing a hand on her shoulder. Scarlet tensed, pushing his hand off.
" His name was Jack. Called 'im Bean though. Old nick...Nickname. God he had to be the best little brother. And the-the worst part? He was my last bit of real family." Scarlet's shoulders had sagged now, seeming to be weighted down by the pressure of the world.
Her Bro? Wally thought, and her little brother at that? No wonder she was so torn up.
She was back to her drawing, pencil flying over the page. " And frankly I have no clue what to do any more. He was always there, ya know?...Mind passing me that coal?"
Wally blinked at the change in subject but looked for what she asked. Under his feet sat her supplies. More paper, different colored pencils, a few pens, and different colored and sized erasers. Reaching blindly for said coal he picked up a dark pencil, handing it to her.
She blinked cocking her head to the side as if to study the pencil. "That's a B6, I need a-...Never mind." She shook her head, and Wally could have sworn he'd seen a smile or at least a smirk. She reached under neath and grabbed a ...Well, a piece of coal.
She placed it to the paper and again set off.
He just watched, fascinated at how she could draw like that and be so far off in her own thoughts; ridding her self of her physical form to take her mind into memory lane.
" Yea know" He said, interrupting her thoughts once again. " I know it's hard now and you're not going to feel it now, or any-anytime soon...But it gets easier. The pain wont always be here, and you'll be able to see the good in the time you had. Instead of just the pain of loosing him."
Scarlet stared at him. Their eyes meeting each other as ebony met emerald. She gave a faint smile; however small it was the meaning to it was still there. Standing she collected her things, putting her supplies in an old looking green jean bag. Her note pad still in hand, she tore the last picture she was working on out. Giving a nod she layed the picture down where she once sat, face down.
Wally watched her and was just a little scared that she was leaving. As if to confirm his assumption she turned and stared walking away.
" Thanks, West" She called over her shoulder, bare feet making no sound as she walked away from Wally and out of the park. Panicked, he grabbed his jacket and the picture she'd left and dashed after her.
" Scar, wait!" Wally yelled, catching up to her with ease. He was a speedster after all. She stopped turning to face him with that same scowling face she'd worn before.
" Listen, " Wally started, rubbing the back of his neck. " Uh, if you ever want to hang out again or like...Just talk? Or maybe go for coffee...?" he mumbled the end, his shoulders slouching slightly at his own jumbled words.
Scarlet arched a perfect brow. " West...Are you asking for my number?"
If Wally didn't know any better he would have sworn she took lessons from Batman. The glare, the arched brow, blunt statements, and her tone. Though to himself, she was far more beautiful, her dark eyes out shined his blue and her voice! That smokey, whiskey snapped voice that could bring any man to his knees...
Shaking his head Wally smiled." Uh...yeah" Again with the eye brow and now a slanted hip. Wow he wasn't doing very well was he? " Or how bout I give you mine!" He said, reaching into his pocket and digging out a receipt. He grabbed a pen from his pocket and scribbled down his number. Holding it out Wally couldn't help but smile. She was surpressing the urge to smile at him, her straight face cracking into a, however small, soft smile at his antics.
She took it from his hand, bowing her head at Wally before turning to walk away. " Good night, West" She said, almost softly.
Wally watched her walk away; her Bag on one shoulder, shoes on the other. A light breeze making her hair blow this way and that.
The breeze made the picture still clutched in his hands to move, which brought to his attention that he'd never actually looked at it. Bringing the white and black smudge page up to his face his eyes widened in surprise.
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Everyone just carries a pen in their pocket for random moments XD
That's all yea get :P. I'm tired. So? What did she draw? Will she even call or will poor Wally be left guessing? Why am I asking you? Cuz I want to know your thoughts! Ugh, this kinda went all over for me. I'd write it at different times instead of my usually just sit and go at it for hours. What do you think of dear Scarlet?
Tho I do have to say this is gonna get better :3. Juuuust sayin ;)
Thanx for all the favs, author favs, alerts and all! But pleeeeeeease review? That's why I update ^_^