Totally feeling the aster today!
Robin: Really! That is totally whelming.
KF: Knock it off, dude! Don't encourage him, FS.
Aw, but encouragement leads to stuff blowing up! Especially with you guys.
YJ: HEY!
Now then, let'sa!
STARTO!
"Your parents?" The murmur was quiet, but even Robin could hear their leader's low murmur through the noise of the festival. He watched as Wally nodded, and turned to the red-head as he slumped against the smaller boy.
"I...I had to tell them. Not everything, but at least they'd understand. I...I miss them." Drip. Artemis frowned when he started to cry, and Robin held up a rag and wiped at the red cheeks, frowning more when he realised the red-head wouldn't be stopping anytime soon. He was used to Bruce's icy disposition, but Wally was more adapted to being doted on. He wiped at the tears until the red-head took the rag, smiling dryly.
"You're gonna rub my skin off, dude." Robin stuck his tongue out, which Wally did as well, which dissolved into a mirror match, which ended when Artemis kicked them both in the ankles.
"Let's just enjoy the festival. Wally." Reki had returned, her arms laden with prizes and sweets. She pulled off the piece of funnel cake and chewed the part still in her mouth. "Go and be with your parents. I'm sure that they miss you as well. Besides, we may never get this chance again to scope out your reactions."
Wally stared at her stunned, then smiled. "If I wasn't sure that you'd throw all that stuff at me, I'd hug you." She 'hmph!'-ed at him.
"Like hell. This stuff is more expensive than your life, kiddo." He ducked away as she reached out to smack him, and a few moments later he was sitting in a Ferris cage with his parents, leaning on his mother's shoulder dozing lightly. She rubbed his head, smoothing and un-smoothing the scarlet locks.
"Oh, you definitely qualify as a real 'red' head now. Though I have to say, it's a prettier color than carrot orange." Wally might've snickered, may have yawned, might have done something, but at the moment he was only really aware of his mom's arm wrapped around his waist, and his dad's hand, calloused from working all his life, scratching his head.
"So instead, he's more a tomato now, huh?" That earned him enough of a pout-glare to make Rudolph throw his back and chortle. Though he had to admit, the insult was weak, it was a jab at normalcy. Wally just yawned, his fangs glinting in the light filtering into the small cage. The sounds of the festival filtered in through the fencing on the cage, joyous yelling, laughter, and the smell of fried things and caramel apples accompanying it. The moment was quiet, peaceful, and wonderfully-
BOOM!
Dammit.
Wally looked out the window, watching as the corner of a building crumbled and fell onto the festival below. The hair on the back of his neck raised and shivered with the familiar sense of energy. 'RHAPSODY!' Wally got up- and froze, turning around to face his parents. He couldn't leave them, he justy couldn't, after all, when would he ever see them again? He was started back by the feeling of his mom petting his hair again.
"Honey, you're still a good boy. Good boys help people. Here." Mary pulled out a scrap of red material, and tied it around Wally's face. "I figured if Zorro can pull this look off, you can too. Go get 'em hon." He smiled, hugging his mother, and turned to his dad. They shared a look, one that conveyed how worried Rudolph was, but also it seemed to say 'Don't-screw-up-or-get-hurt'.
"...See ya." Wally kicked open the door, and waited til the breeze picked up to jump. His jacket came off, his wings extended, and his tail lashed at the air. He was gliding from a higher altitude, but he felt weightless as he soared on the wind, hearing the excited shrieks from below. He rode the current over to the building, only to nearly be knocked out of the air as a dark shape shot out of the rubble.
'Rhapsody?' It was a dark figure, gray-black hair, black wings, and a robe-like dress. 'Not Rhapsody. Who is this person?' The figure turned around, and Wally got a better look at them. Long sideburns that floated in the air almost hypnotically, green eyes that seemed to pierce through him, and pale skin. Just like him.
"Who are you?" He shouted, to which the boy responded by dive-bombing at him. Wally shrilled, toppling over when the boy's arm went out and struck his shoulder. As they collided, he heard the other whisper.
"Rhapsody has contacted you. Why?" Wally had no time to ponder this, as he fell through the air. His wings flapped uselessly, and his claws snatched at open air.
'Crap...' Screams rose up through the air, and without warning Wally felt something snap. He twisted, bent his legs, and suddenly his wings grew. They doubled in size, and he got his baring before his feet met the ground, the asphalt cracking nearly five feet around him. The other boy dived at him again, but hurled himself back when Wally's fists filled with fire. He held up the flames, juggled them a bit, then began tossing the orbs at the other.
"Why are you attacking me, dude?" The red-head yelled, watching in horror as a deflected fireball lit a mask stand on fire. He growled, letting the flames die out. "I gotta lead this fight away from the civilians. I need a good fight zone." He glanced around, before his eyes settled on a partially constructed Lex Corp skyscraper. He took off towards it with his speed, staring ahead when the whispers started up around him.
'Is that Kid Flash?'
'No, someone else. This guy's a vampire or something!'
'Mommy, why does that boy have a tail?'
'Sweetie don't look at him, just follow me home.'
Home.
Where he should be, with his friends and his parents. Uncle Barry, Aunt Iris, everyone...Because of Rhapsody, he had that snatched away; and now this guy was trying to kill him? Why? Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT! He put on another burst of speed as he raced on, trying desperately to block out the whispers and jeers, when-
"You can just tune them out, y'know? Or maybe you haven't developed fully. Either way, I will be the victor of this battle." Twisting around, Wally had only a second to realize the other boy was flying right beside him, before a well-placed round-house kick flung him straight into the skeletal building structure. He groaned as the world spun around him, when the sound of air being blown against him snapped him out of his daze. He looked up to see the other, a cool impassive look on his face. "How weak. You lack even the simplest of fighting manners, and even less control over your powers. Rhapsody probably meant for you to be a distraction, a weapon set free to wreck havoc on the humans." He landed, the robe swirling about his waist in a wind that seemed only real to the two of them. "Know my name, creature. I am Keigo Frasel, of the Frasel family of Vatannia. I intend to exterminate your master, Rhapsody Belvadine, and rid the world of his family's presence. And now..." He held his hands together, and what looked like a five pointed dagger appeared in them. "I intend to destroy his creation."
No... Wally was paralyzed in fear, staring at the instrument of his demise. The sunlight glinted off the metal tips almost pretty-like, like a glass flower. He was aware of his team running around the corner, and crying out in shock as they took in the sight of him on his knees, the dagger pointed at his throat, and Keigo staring him down. He'd never see them again in a few moments. He'd never see his parents. Or Uncle Barry. Or Aunt Iris. He'd...He was...going to die. His eyes fell closed, and a single tear squeezed out.
"May heaven have mercy on your soul, creation." Keigo hissed the word like it was a curse, and raised the knife high. Wally felt his body go numb, a last second reaction to keep him from truly experiencing death. He'd read about it, but to think he'd experience it first-hand...
'So, are you giving up?' His eyes popped open, and he looked over to see Izumi, leaning against the steel support beam. His pink and purple eyes gleamed at the red-head, as though he was laughing at him. 'You're just going to let him end you? Aren't you a hero? If it was me I'd go out kicking and screaming. Guess they really lowered their standards in the Justice League, didn't they?" The goading was enough for Wally to flare up in anger, and he seemed to disconnect from his body, watching as his hand shot out and gripped Keigo's wrist. He then flung the other high into the sky, not even pausing as his friends rushed over and asked him if he was okay. He took to the air, his extended wings big enough to allow him flight now. Keigo barely had time to recover, pulling himself upright, before Wally appeared behind him, glowering and growling. Keigo froze, feeling the hostility rolling off the red-head in waves, and dared to look behind him as Wally let the flames ignite in his hand, holding it parallel to his face.
"Payback time, bitch." He dove at Keigo, punching the other in the gut with the fireball. They fell to the ground, where they separated, snarling like dogs. Robin and the others watched slack-jawed as Wally fought viciously, attacking with punches, kicking, and fire, before the Boy Wonder noticed Izumi. He ran over, staring at the boy suspiciously, before opening his mouth.
"Yes, I am an aquaintance of Keigo. No, I have fighting interests at all. Why yes, I do have telepathy, and am very aware of how annoying this is." He smiled as Robin's mouth closed in annoyance. "No, I really don't think you need to voice your opinions about this. No, Keigo won't end up killing your friend. Yes, I'm still aware that you're frustrated by my non-chalantness on this matter. Why no, I'm having fun speaking one-sidedly with you." He frowned. "Well, no need to bring my mom into this, now. Pipsqueaku."
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Oh christ, they're here? I should've known who Rhapsody was when I saw him. He really did a number on me this time." Reki muttered as she watched the encounter, from behind a building. She had heard the explosions, but had figured Young Justice could handle it, before she felt familiar energy signiatures in the area. She tore off a chunk of cotton candy and stuffed it in her mouth as she began to go through her bag, looking for something. A few moments later she pulled out a purple and orange bar, twisting it in several directions until it was a smooth, coin shape with holes. She swallowed the sugary lump in her mouth, before she blew into the end, creating a low-pitched flute-like noise. Keigo and Wally clutched their ears, screaming in pain until they both passed out. Izumi darted towards Keigo, holding the vampire gently in his arms, as Wally was pulled against Robin, who brushed a streak of dried blood from the Incubus' mouth.
She stepped into view, summoning a bubble around Izumi and Keigo to keep them from fleeing. She turned to the others, who stared at her in worry and concern. "Well, I think this just got a whole lot more complicated." She popped another piece of cotton candy in her mouth, mulling as she chewed. 'A lot more.'
READ AND REVIEW!~ Sorry it's been a while. GIR, my computer, has joined the great tech yard in the sky, and I am waiting until my birthday to get a new one. I'm updating from my old man's computer now, but I'll try to keep my updates regular, okay? Bear with me, the funeral was very sad.
