AN:
So I feel like I've made the characters so old, Wally and Alana at 19 and Dick at 17ish...I am gonna go ahead and de-age them. So that it is in line with the Young Justine, I will now have Richard be 13 and Wally&Alana be 15. So just a heads up! Anyways, here we go with chapter 8. =^_^=
"Why can't you just be whelmed dude?" A loud growl followed the phrase as I attempted not to giggle. The two of them put together were rather hilarious. Especially when Wally was in the process of getting his butt handed to him by Dick in a video game.
Hiding the small grin behind a hand I tried not to laugh at the green eyed speedster as he growled and tried to snipe Dick on their Call of Duty game, only to get blown up. When he cried out in indignation and Dick cackled, I couldn't help but to burst into laughter.
And suddenly two sets of eyes were on me, Dick smirking and Wally's mouth wide open in surprise. Stiffening, mismatched eyes immediately ducked down as I curled into myself nervously. Was I supposed to stay silent and not make any noise?
"You bored yet 'Lana?" Wally chirped with a grin as he shifted to study me from where he sat on the floor. I was currently huddled up on the corner of the couch with a fuzzy blanket draped around me, shaking my head in a negative I offered the two of them a timid smile.
"No..no um..it's...it's good." Suddenly something, or rather someone, flipped over the back of the sofa and flopped down on the other end. The movement startled me so much I let out a choked squeak and nearly fell off the couch as I jumped. Dick held up his hands in surrender, holding perfectly still, and even though he had those dark glasses on I somehow knew he was sizing me up again. Swallowing nervously I glanced back down at my lap and played with my fingers.
"You know you can tell us what you're really thinking right?" Dick suddenly spoke up, his brows furrowing just the slightest bit before smoothing back out. Looking up sharply, I parted my lips to speak but paused.
"I...I am...telling you..the um...truth.." I managed after a second, anxiety pooling in my stomach again as it clenched rather painfully. Wally and Dick glanced at each other with an odd look, if I didn't know any better it was almost like the two of them were having a silent sarcastic moment. A frown pulled at my lips as Wally suddenly stood up.
"Okay! Snack break!" And suddenly he was blurring past us and in the kitchen. Dick suddenly snorted and leaned an arm over the back of the sofa and twisting just enough to look backward. The amusement on his features was easy to see as he sighed and suddenly tilted his head to look at me. I stiffened and found myself staring at my reflection in those pitch black lenses.
"So, Alana, Wally's told me a bit about you, but I'm curious-" I tensed up and felt my muscles clench taut as I tried not to hyperventilate. What does he want?! What do I do? What do I do withhim?
"Who's cooler, Batman or Flash?" I choked as I realized it was really a simple question. The cynical voice in the back of my head, the one that's kept me alive for far to long, suddenly piped up with a 'or is it?' that had me mentally face palming.
"Dude! So not cool, everyone knows Flash is better!" Wally retorted as he came back into the room with a sandwich hanging out of his mouth, a plate with a half a dozen more in his hands. Sauntering back into the room he set the plate down on the table and plopped down on the ground across from us. The table between Wally and the Dick and I.
Dick reached forward and snagged a sandwich and took a bite before pointedly getting into a debate with Wally over who would win in different scenarios. Hesitantly taking a half of a sandwich I nibbled on the corner and listened to them debate. Only halfway through really realizing how nice and entertaining it was to just...sit there with two kids and feel normal.
X * X * X *
It was two A.M. And I was the only one awake. Barry had gone out on patrol, Iris had come back at six P.M. And made a large dinner with Wally before heading to bed. Dick had headed off sometime around ten P.M. And then Wally eventually fell asleep on the couch.
Standing there in the middle of the living room I took in a shuddering breath and slowly moved forward. Walking heel to toe in order to be as quiet as possible, I reveled in the soft plush carpet that squished between my toes. Padding to the coffee table next to Wally's prone form, I picked up the bowl of chips next to his limp hand on the floor and snagged the soda bottles and cups.
Deftly I cleared the table and made sure to clean up any crumbs or sticky messes. Moving to the kitchen I quietly got the hot water running and lathered the dishes up with soap before scrubbing away. Everything else was thrown in the trash.
Humming quietly, I picked at a spot on a plate with my nails. The hot water feeling good to my cold hands as I sloshed soapy water in the sink, the baggy shirt sleeves pushed up to my elbows so as to not drench them. Partway through cleaning everything up I paused when I heard something. Freezing I turned off the water and dried my hands off on a rag. Glancing up nervously I didn't see anything unusual, but I could have sworn I heard someone move around.
Quelling the panic before it could fully start, I sucked in a breath and pressed the back of my left hand to my forehead and rested my right hand on the counter.
"Okay Alana, calm down...you're not crazy...it's probably Iris..yeah. It's Iris...that's all!" I rubbed my jaw nervously and pushed away from the counter to slowly slink back upstairs. Easing past the creaky floor boards and sticking to the base of the walls, I made it to the guest room and inched inside.
Slowly breathing out a sigh of relief I turned around only to squeal loudly. The window was open and the blankets were tossed to the floor. That wasn't what scared me...no...on the wall there was black marker in clear block prints.
I SEE YOU
Stumbling backwards, I nearly tripped over a fallen lamp as I slammed my back into the wall. Both hands came up and covered my mouth, lips trembling in fear I choked out a sob and quickly darted to the bathroom to grab a clothe. Snagging a bucket and putting hot soapy water into it I quickly began scrubbing at the wall. Tears welling up and slowly leaking down in little crystalline drops. Scrubbing as hard as I could, shoulders and arms screaming at me, I managed to get the marker off of the wall. Putting away the supplies and throwing the clothe in the washer, I found my way back to my room and began cleaning up.
"I...no one can can know...no one..." I mumbled it, stuttering in the middle of the sentence. After I righted the few small things that had been tossed around, I picked up the blanket and threw it on the bed. A soft thumping noise caught my attention, glancing down I paused seeing an envelope that fell to the ground. Swallowing around the large lump in my throat I picked up the envelope with shaky hands.
ALANA
Was written in that same blocky writing from before. Bottom lip trembling once more, I sniffed and heard a roaring in my ears as my blood pressure sky rocketed. Shakily ripping open the envelope I froze when I saw the words on the letter.
I'M COMING FOR YOU, ALANA.
RUN ALL YOU WANT, FAIR MAIDEN.
Collapsing down to the ground I choked out a sob of fear. Is this some sort of sick joke? The only person who ever called me 'fair maiden' was my... eyes widening in terror I felt my throat constrict as I gagged at the thought. Dad...dad is behind this.
If he had come for me, then I am doomed. The man was a bloodthirsty monster, an Irish mobster who was a total sociopath. He nearly killed me when I was a kid...it had to be him...he was the only one to call me 'Fair Maiden'. It was one of the translations of my name, Alana, from Irish Gaelic.
For a moment, for a sweet sweet moment I had thought I was safe. I had thought, somewhere deep in my heart and soul that maybe...just maybe...I'd be safe with in West-Allen household. Standing up, I looked around frantically and shuffled my fingers through my hair, perhaps I should run, that would be the best option!
Bright green eyes, fire engine red hair, a goofy grin and infection laughter flashed through my mind. Hesitating I let out a wounded animal like cry and collapsed to the ground. Fisting my hair, shoulders shaking with pained sobs I glanced up at the doorway and made my resolution. It was so tiresome fighting all the time by myself...just this once...didn't I deserve to feel safe? Swallowing anxiously, I picked up the letter and staggered downstairs.
Hesitating by the couch I made my decision and leaned down to push Wally's shoulder nervously. He groaned and swatted at my hand, twitching timidly I carefully did it again.
"Wally!" His name came out as a hiss between my teeth. Suddenly the young speedster sat up quickly with an unintelligent sound as he looked around. Suddenly his green eyes were on me and far more focused than they were before.
"Alana...wha-" I cut him off by lifting a hand. He immediately went silent and waited for what would happen next. Choking on my breath and blinking rapidly to clear the tears from my eyes I held out the letter in my hand.
"I didn't know what to do." Wally frowned and reached out to gently take it from me. Rubbing the sleep from his eye with one hand, he shook out the letter with his other. The silence stretched on to the point that it became painfully quiet, a loud ringing in my ears. Crinkling paper disturbed the silence suddenly causing me to jump and suddenly Wally was standing over me looking formidable.
Cowering backwards I began to rethink my decision to go to him when he suddenly placed his hands on my shoulders and spoke up. His normally happy go lucky voice was serious as his eyes hardened.
"Where did you find this?" I shivered at his tone, I really couldn't pin point what he was feeling at that moment. But it was nothing good surely if his expression was anything to go off of. Hesitating I lifted a shaking hand and pointed up.
"It it was on my floor. I I um..." Stammering I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to force myself to calm down to ease the stuttering. "I brought it to you...I thought you you could help." Suddenly wiry, yet strong arms were winding around me and gently pulling me into a concerned speedster.
"Thank you for telling me. We'll get this taken care of." The words were surprisingly reassuring as I found myself relaxing into him and breathing in his natural earthy aroma of mint and cut grass. A warm hand gently brushed my hair back from my face and for the first time in my life I felt...safe.
AN continued:
So here is another chapter and there is a bit of bonding between Wally and Alana. Dick is gonna be appearing hopefully more often with this new threat.
Let me know what ya'll think!
~D.R. Out
