Hi everyone! Wow updates two days in a row...this is crazy. Oh my goodness Salvage was the best episode ever. I just can't...I have too many feels. Although I honestly think the episode was so well done with Spitfire that when I finally stop grinning like an idiot I'll have to think of a way to write a piece about the episode but till then more older spitfire. This time Wally's perspective – much deeper the pieces I usually write about him too.
Well I was amazed with the number of reviews I received for last chapter so I think I will be writing more interactions between our favorite couple and the adorable Lian. You all are so supportive and I just can't thank you enough. You guys pay me way too many compliments and it's just so overwhelming. But let's thank the reviewers for taking their time to review.
emmaseasshore: Thank you for the kind review!
Samian: As always it is a pleasure to hear from you. I hope your exams are going well. I will try to make some one-shots about the other characters but I always have challenges getting into the head of other characters. Feel free to message me anytime we have such exciting conversations.
Melissa Black13: Thank you for the review. I know it's challenging to write them but they really bring a smile to my face.
SusurroSilencioso27: Thank you! I'm so glad you like how I wrote the characters!
IronicVeghead: I know he's so adorable.
j9162: Do not wait any longer. The next chapter has arrived.
honeylove90: Smiles, thanks for the review.
PikaGirl-AAML: I will be using one of your prompts in the next one shot thank you for your patience. Your prompts are amazing and insightful and I can't wait to write them. Thank you for your support and all the compliments.
Keepmovingforward2: Thank you for the review! Got to love Lian and her cuteness.
fixati0ns: That's a huge a compliment! Favorite author wow! Just blushing.
rogue42197: Wow you reviewed all the chapters in one sitting. Thank you for the reviews!
Hooloovooshift-Speedster: Mmmm chocolate frosting in a freezer nothing sweeter. Thank you for your kind review!
My Own Mayday Parade: I can't believe I beat out a warm shower after a horrible day that is like the ultimate compliment. Thank you so much! I'm blushing! And it's a huge compliment for you say I write the best mature spitfire that is really something to aspire to.
Lady Imara: Thank you for the review!
emeralds and topaz: Thank you. It wasn't entirely perfect but you made my day with your review!
randommonkeyz998: Germany was okay but lots of work for the conference. Huge conference, articles to write, and lots of information to collect but overall a fantastic trip. I love season two (now that I've seen Salvage is anything more perfect than that spitfire moment?) I agree Linda just does not belong in the universe of Young Justice long live spitfire! :)
ColossalRay: I know I found the error later. Feel free to point out all of my mistakes I need to learn from them :). I'm glad you enjoyed the one shot.
Irenerb: Thank you so much!
Thanks to silent reviewers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or its characters.
Keeping the Children Safe
When Wally had first gotten his powers (after blowing himself up) he had never considered how his parents felt about the situation. Sure, they had been furious and livid, they had grounded him for a year and practically confiscated every form of technology he owned that postdated the book. The most dangerous chemical substance he was allowed to handle was soap. But as he had laid in that hospital bed bandaged and broken while they yelled at him and his mother cried all Wally could think about was a) the fact he was alive and b) that he might just get superspeed like Uncle Barry and that childish joy outweighed any of the consequences or repercussions of his actions because he was going to quite possibly be a superhero.
Wally in that utter state of bliss had failed to notice the terrified worry in his mother's eyes, the downcast look on his father's face, and the utter look of horror that situated itself in Barry's irises (and never really left.) Iris was nothing but supportive but tense and flustered as she hovered outside the hospital room hands interlocked with Barry's. But Wally didn't notice any of these things because he was so utterly fixated on being like the Flash.
In his naivety Wally couldn't understand why his parents had banned his Uncle from seeing him for over six months and why his Uncle didn't protest. He also couldn't comprehend why it took so long for Barry to agree to let Wally be his sidekick – he began helping him control his powers over a year before he was able to don the Kid Flash suit and that was only after great persistence and pestering on Wally's part. Wally was impatient and hard headed and just wanted to be part of the action so desperately that none of these occurrences registered with him – at least not until the same thing happened to him.
Wally had been unbelievingly disappointed when his son did not have superspeed. The fact of the matter was that although he and Artemis were retired from heroing and were only called in for the occasional apocalypse, Wally had always wanted to have his son take up the Kid Flash mantle – not that Bart was doing a horrible job as Impulse but it was his lineage too and he wanted someone with his blood to wear the yellow and red uniform. Then there was all the training exercises he had devised in his head, the fortified play pen he had built, and the Flash jumper he had bought for the little tyke. His imagination had dabbled just a little too far. It was a hard thing to swallow when it was discovered that his son was not a meta-human.
Artemis would never voice it but he knew she loved that their son was normal albeit trained in all forms of martial arts but otherwise relatively normal. He didn't hate her for being relieved. He understood that his wife wanted a normal life for their child, one which she had never been privileged to.
But for once he understood how his must have father felt.
There was nothing more devastating to his self-esteem than the fact that his own son idolized his second uncle more than his own father. It wasn't that his son didn't love him but there was something a bit disarming about coming home to see your own flesh and blood excitedly pointing at the TV screen screaming that The Flash had saved the day again instead of rushing into your arms to give you a hug. Sure, the exuberant child knew he had superspeed and had once been a hero but that wasn't the same as being a hero in present time.
Wally wondered somedays if this was how his father had felt all those years ago when Wally had to own ever piece of Flash merchandise he could get his hands on – it was like competing with a jock when you were the class nerd and he knew how that battle ended.
Artemis was surprisingly understanding, she had always had a knack for sensing when he was unhappy, but that wasn't enough to alleviate the fact that he was competing with his uncle for his own son's affections. God he regretted so many things – how had his father been so understanding playing second fiddle to a superhero? He eventually got up the courage to ask him at one of the impromptu family gatherings.
"I didn't love you more than Barry."
"What?"
"I may have wanted to be the Flash but you were always my dad."
"I know that, Wallace," laughed Rudolph his smile not quite reaching his eyes, "But he was your hero." Wally hadn't been able to swallow that lump for the rest of the evening.
It had been stupid nostalgia that had caused him to pull out the old notes about the Flash experiment. He'd just been thumbing through the sticky, scribbled loose leaf papers and maybe somehow he had gotten distracted by something – but he should have known that this would happen. This was his son after all – if he really wanted something nothing would stop him.
When Wally had gotten the phone call that his house was on fire and his son had duplicated the Flash experiment he had gripped the steering wheel so tight he was scared his knuckles would burst out from his skin and he wanted nothing more than to ditch his car and run home. Why did there have to be traffic when he could break the sound barrier in his sneakers? When he'd finally pulled up in front of his smoking house he saw that Artemis stood in the driveway the palm of her hand pressed so hard against her mouth that he was worried she would suffocate, her other hand was fisted into her arm nails digging into the fabric of her jacket as she stared at the house and the gurney the paramedics were pulling from it. His hand didn't even make it to her shoulder before she exploded screeching at him in a mixture of Vietnamese and English,
"You fucking idiot. Don't touch me!" He was about to retort that she leaves her arrows and bow around all the time and, true, it's not the same as dangerous chemicals and lab notes on how to blow yourself up but everything is relative. However, her scathing glare shut him up because this isn't the place to be arguing about who has the more dangerous superhero equipment.
That's when he saw her. His mom. Who had consequently been babysitting when the house had blown up. It's the look in her eyes that threw him. She was sitting on the steps of the ambulance arms around herself just staring at the house biting her lip so hard he swore it would bleed. When he approached her Mary's eyes turned to him seeing but not really and she muttered,
"Not again." He couldn't move. He was paralyzed on the spot, even after Artemis and Mary have piled into the ambulance to accompany his son to the hospital Artemis made a point to sneer at him,
"He can walk." Wally wondered what it would take for Artemis to forgive him.
He stared at the blanket his eight-year-old son was under. He was terrified. He knew the statistics. Only 15% chance of survival from the Flash experiment and if he believed in God he'd be praying to him for saving his son's life because what were the odds that there would be three successful Flash experiments performed by inept scientists (children) with unstable chemicals.
Artemis is standing beside the bed composed of hard worry lines that etch themselves around the corners of her eyes and a statuesque frown. She'll never tell him but she's shaken and hurting. She had placed a comforting hand on his mother's shoulder as the woman looked forlornly at her only grandson. Barry had shown up soon after and hovered around the door apprehensively until Wally sighed and went out into the hallway.
"Outside," Wally stated stuffing his hands in his pockets. Barry nodded following silently until they're both sitting on a bench outside the hospital.
"How?"
"I left the notes out in the open. I was so stupid! I should have known this would happen!" His Uncle gently patted his shoulder.
"Boys will be boys, Wally."
"Did you see the way they looked at me? They're never going to forgive me," he sighed placing his head in his hands, "Artemis is going to kill me."
"They'll forgive you," stated Barry, "All you can give them is time." Wally paused to consider this. He'd never thought about what him becoming a speedester had meant for Uncle Barry either.
All of a sudden he was assaulted with the memory of Barry's shock when he had been informed that Wally had duplicated the experiment and he could remember not seeing his Uncle for a long time despite his persistent nattering for him to visit.
"You weren't allowed to see me," he questioned, "Were you?"
"No. It took a very longtime for your parents to even let me in the house again. The feeling of fear never really goes away." Wally focused on his hands willing the nightmare to end.
"I'm not sure I wanted to be there either," confessed Barry, "It was too much. You were so young to have that weight placed upon your shoulders." Wally's eyes were trained on the ground as he considered this. He was selfish. He only did the things he wanted.
"Now I've done it do my own son," he snipped bitterly.
Barry laughed, "You didn't hand him the chemicals did you?"
"No but I might have well have! I knew how much," his voice petered off, "How much he wanted to be like you."
"Like father like son." Wally grimaced. "He'll have to start training," stated Barry, "If he gets speed." Wally nodded mutely,
"When do you want to start?"
"Me?" exclaimed Barry then his voice took on a hint of humor, "I've already got one of my own. Isn't it sort of your job as a father to train him?"
"But," he protested wildly, "I'm not a hero!" Barry just raised an eyebrow and smiled at him wisely.
"Wally the most heroic thing you've ever done is give up your mantle to be with your family. Your son may not get it now but he will." Wally frowned not saying anything as Barry stood up to return to the hospital, "Just calm down Kid everything will be okay."
His son had been thrilled when his powers kicked in – not so thrilled with his teacher constantly asking why the Flash couldn't train him.
"But dad," whined the boy, "You're retired."
"Not so retired that I can't teach you some epic moves," stated Wally, "Besides I still help the Justice League out."
"That's not fair!" the child protested.
"Listen to me," sighed Wally kneeling down beside his son, "Not everything is fair. That's just the way it is. I may not be a hero anymore but I have a lot of experience and skills to teach you. You better listen too because I say when you're ready for the big time." The disgruntled groan was enough to know that something of what he had said had penetrated his son's thick skull.
It took three months for the house to be back in livable condition and during that time not only did he have to stay with his very worried, overprotective parents who thought their grandson should be tied down he also had to contend with a pissed off Artemis. Those three months was the longest he had ever gone without her support, body, and voice since he was sixteen and it hurt. True, she still talked to him and she didn't leave the room when he sat down but it was with a frigid civility that she tolerated him and Wally had never felt so alone. So when they had moved back in and Artemis had invited him into their bedroom he was more than willing to oblige.
"Baywatch we have to talk."
"I know. I screwed up Artemis. I know that it's my fault our son is now racing around the world fighting psychotic killers and I'm sorry!"
"I'm pregnant." Wally just gaped at her stunned for a good minute and half before he managed to squeak,
"What?"
"God," she shook her head, "Why do I have to love an impossible moron like you? You know I'm pregnant, with child, eating for two?"
"But how? We haven't had sex since before the house exploded."
"I'm a little over three months pregnant, Kid Dumb."
"Wow looking good," he blurted because really if he couldn't tell when she was already entering her second trimester than there was a very good chance nobody else knew.
"Wally you have to start acting responsible."
"Responsible," sputtered Wally indignantly, "I am responsible! I agree that I left the notes out accidentally but it's not like I told him to recreate the experiment! And you are no better," he pointed an accusatory finger at her, "You leave your arrows and bow out after training all the time!"
"But I'm not stupid enough to leave them unattended!"
"I can't believe you! The first night we're back together and you're already at my throat!" Artemis stormed across the room gripping his forearms harshly and glaring into his eyes,
"He almost died Wally. That's a big deal and I'm not okay with that. You left the notes out and you have the chemicals in the house for work but I won't be able to handle it if my children are ever put at risk again." Artemis looked like she was about to cry and like usual Wally had no idea what to do. Tentatively he reached out and rested a palm against her stomach imagining the life growing inside there.
"I messed up."
"You did," she stated firmly before her voice gentled. "I know you wanted him to be a speedester."
"Not like this."
"I know," she paused staring at a stain on his shirt, "I know he'll be okay because you'll teach him everything. Just don't overdo it."
"Flattery will get you everywhere," he joked.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," she riposted as she pulled him into a hug. Wally hummed appreciatively tightening his hold on Artemis's waist.
"Artemis I promise I won't let anything happen to our children." Artemis sighed pulling away slowly – her fingers tips gently trailing over his arm she wove their fingers together and she tugged him back toward the bed.
"You can't make that kind of promise, Wally, it's not possible to protect them all the time." They both lay down and Artemis curled into his side and both parties breathed out in contentment after being apart for so long.
"I'll put a padlock on the cabinet with the chemicals."
"Good," she yawned.
"I'll train him to the best damn speedester on the planet."
"Wouldn't expect any less Baywatch."
"I'll be the best father in the history of the world."
"Sure," she snorted sleepily, "How about you just try for just kick-ass dad?"
"He doesn't think I'm a hero," his voice quivered. But she abruptly smacked him – eyes closed.
"Wally, he'll figure it out eventually. He's just slow on the uptake; like you. But in the meantime," she cracked on eye open, "You're my hero and," she placed his hands on her abdomen, "you're this little guy's hero. Now go to sleep."
"Really I'm your hero Arty," he crooned.
"Would you like to be reacquainted with the couch, Wall-man?" Wally just smiled pulling his wife closer and decided there was nowhere else he'd rather be.
Please review. :)
