Chapter Nine: Freeze
Early morning sun reached out its long thing finger through Wally's window, lightly feathering the entire room in dappled light and tugging at his eyelids, forcing them open. He tugged his eyes open at the insistence of the day, immediately seeing the white ceiling and the few light green glow-in-the-dark stars that had survived his younger years. Birds sang wistfully outside, slowly beckoning the day to begin with their woven tapestry of music. The noises of traffic were just starting in the distance, he could hear Aunt Iris beginning to shuffle around the kitchen, and then the familiar sound of the coffee pot spitting out its dark concoction into the awaiting glass pitcher. Smells of cooking eggs and baking pancakes wafted into the air dreamily, and he could just taste the sugary flavor of the syrup he would drench them in. It was so normal. His hands unconsciously grabbed at his sheets as he tested to see if they were real, to see if all of it was real. His mind began to reel as he thought back to yesterday. Yesterday, when he had woken to the sound of grinding gears and gasping superhero teens, teens who turned out to be his best friends, his team. Then the hunger, the speed, and the darkness he had fallen into after experiencing them both. Batman and Flash, single arrows, blonde archers, young ninjas, mean fathers, broken bikes, webbed hands, noticeable gills, fast movies, worried aunts, meta-human uncles-had it all been real? Had he really done and witnessed all of that? Had he broken the sound barrier? Had he met the Flash? Was he a hero? Or, was he just the Wally he remembered? Maybe he had dreamed it all up, and now that it was gone, so was Kid Flash, the sidekick that never was. But then his stomach roared in that impossible way and let go of that thought. It was real. It had to have happened because no dream could be that intense or that realistic. The smell of cooking danced through the room again, and Wally found the will to untangle himself from the warm sheets and fling himself onto the much colder floor. Once he was up though, he was up. He threw open a closet, grabbing a washed-out red tee-shirt with a faded lightning bolt printed on its chest, knowing Barry would get a kick out of it. Then he slipped on some jeans and half heartedly brushed at his mop of red hair before he dashed out of the room and down the stairs, taking care to not go into the mad dash that his body whined for.
He thumped into the kitchen, and noticed how average everything looked. Aunt Iris was standing diligently over the over, somehow managing to already be put together in a nice pencil skirt and blouse though it was seven thirty in the morning, Uncle Barry was at the table, pawing through a paper and sipping at a cup of decaffeinated coffee, and from the sound of the news station was drifting in from the television in the living room. No one would suspect that Barry Allen was the Flash. No one would ever guess that this man calmly reading a paper could run faster than light itself at any given moment. And surely no one would ever fathom the possibility that Iris Allen could give the Flash's secret identity, not one person would even think to ask. They just acted so normal. Wally wouldn't have even questioned it, had he not been informed of his uncle's true occupation…if he hadn't lived it.
"Wally!" Aunt Iris exclaimed, noticing the teen had found his way into the kitchen. She wiped her hands on a small towel hanging from the stove and then grabbed the teen in her arms, dragging him into a welcoming hug that once again made his face turn a slightly dark shade of blue before she released him.
"Morning," Wally said, returning the smile before his eyes flickered over to the eggs and pancakes.
"I bet you're starving!" Iris remarked, "Barry told me about how your food situations on the training exercise, about how they had to pump nutrients into you!" She continued, grabbing a plate and beginning to assemble a mound off eggs, "Which reminds me-what were you thinking? Not restocking you cupboards?" she scolded, though Wally had no idea what she was talking about.
"Sorry…And what cupboards?" Wally asked, but he was only half-way paying attention as a nice skyscraper of pancakes was starting to rise from the foundation of eggs.
"Oh, right." She murmured, but she regained her placement once again, not willing to break stride in the important lecture, "The compartments on your costume's wrists!" she informed him, "Just enough space for a candy bar! How hard is it to put a candy bar in there, Wally?" she asked, getting out the syrup, "I mean, you walk by a gas station everyday!" she pointed out, shaking her head.
"Sorry, Aunt Iris. Promise I'll run by there today sometime and grab one." Wally said solemnly, and then smiled widely when the heaping plate was shoved at him. It was a very impressive display, and to Wally it would qualify as a piece of art.
He took a huge fork full of the meal and began to shove it into his mouth.
"So, what's going on today?" Wally asked in between mouthfuls of food, gulping down the few stray chews that hadn't quite been finished yet while he spoke.
"It's just like usual, Wally." Barry commented, getting up and folding the paper, "Except that you're not going to school, of course."
Wally grinned, "I'm not?" he asked excitedly.
"No, you'll be staying here with Iris, and when I come home from work I'll take you back to the Mountain." Barry explained.
Wally's face fell, "You're the Flash and…you're going to work?"
Barry nodded, "It pays the bills. Running around in spandex doesn't." he said lightheartedly.
Wally crossed his arms, "What about patrol? When do you fit that in?"
"Lunch breaks" Barry explained in passing before glancing at the wall clock. He walked over to Iris, throwing both arms around her waist and planting a small kiss on her cheek.
"Work starts in thirty minutes, and it takes me twenty five to get over by car. Don't want to be late!" he said, letting go of Iris and then ruffling Wally's hair.
"Hasn't stopped you before!" Iris called playfully as Barry grabbed his keys.
"Old habits die hard," Barry replied brightly, and then he was gone and the sound of the garage door opening filled the house.
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Wally was sure that even in normal speed the day was passing slowly.
"Aunt Iris?" Wally asked, pushing the white door that lead to the office slightly ajar. From the outside, he could hear the sounds of occasional keys clicking before a rampant and angry torrent of rapid clicks that would be followed by small reprieves of silence that would shortly begin again with small monotonous clicks, starting the cycle once again. He peeked in the room to see Iris seated firmly in her chair, pulled all the way up to a petite hardwood desk with a laptop set on it. All around her sheets of paper were messily stacked or, in other and far more common places, simply strewn about and littering the desk and the floor. Iris had her eyes locked on the computer screen with a determined edge in her eyes, but a confident smile to match seemed to be just out of reach, and instead she displayed a faltered tilt in her lips. She bit down on her bottom lip slightly, and Wally cleared his throat, "Aunt Iris?"
Iris blinked, as though shocked, and then looked around the room in bewilderment until her eyes fell on Wally, noticing her nephew for the first time.
"Oh!" she gasped, clearly embarrassed , "Wally! Sorry, didn't see you there, honey!" she apologized warmly, "Are you feeling all right?"
Wally nodded, "Yeah, just a little bored. What are you working on?" he asked, looking for something to preoccupy him. Iris was a journalist, after all. Surely in a city as big as Central something had to be going on, and in that case, Iris would know by extension.
Iris flicked her eyes towards the monitor and frowned.
"I wish I was working on anything. Picture News is really starting to get popular, and people are expecting stories." Iris explained, but then her shoulder sagged slightly, "But there's nothing to write about. No committee meetings until next week, no elections coming up, and they assigned Steven to the new zoning laws issue." Iris continued, "Usually I have the Flash to fall back on, but there hasn't been a robbery since last week's, and I already reported that."
Wally nodded, frowning.
"Ouch, sorry Aunt Iris." Wally tried to sympathize.
Iris turned her eyes on Wally, "Thank you, Wally." She said before she laughed, "I just feel horrible admitting that I wish Captain Cold or someone would commit a crime."
"Well, it'd certainly be more exciting than this." Wally mumbled, and Iris sent him a look of apology.
"Sorry you can't go to school today, Wally."
"I promise I wouldn't tell anyone! Besides, no one would believe me if I did!" Wally said. Besides, how would being a side kick even come up in a conversation?
Iris nodded understandably, "We just wouldn't want to risk it right now. That would be a mess, wouldn't it?" she asked, shaking her head at the thought.
Wally groaned, "Well, is there something I can do?" he asked, suddenly hopeful.
Iris sucked in her breath, thinking.
"Well, I don't think so…" she trailed, biting her lip thoughtfully.
"What about what you were talking about earlier? My 'cupboard' thingies?" Wally asked brightly, thinking of something to do.
Aunt Iris was taken by surprise by her nephews sudden enthusiasm and she nodded.
"Yes, I did say something about them at breakfast, why?" she wondered.
"I could run by the gas station and pick up something for them! It's right down the street!"
Iris gave Wally a hard look, "Barry said that Batman specifically instructed him that you were not to use you powers. At all." She reminded him gently, a flash of worry in her crossing her face.
"I meant that as in just going by there. Please?" Wally added. Iris leaned back in her chair and away from the demanding keyboard and expectant screen. Her expression clouded with worry and silent debate.
"Please Aunt Iris!" Wally begged, "You always let me!" he reminded her. When her expression remained the same his eyes widened.
"This is because I can't remember being Flash Junior isn't it?" he asked.
"Kid Flash," Iris corrected automatically, and Wally blushed, his cheeks almost as red as his hair.
"Well, whatever," he grumbled, "And anyway, I'm still fifteen! I still remember how to get there and to cross the street!" he protested. Sure, he didn't remember zipping along at the speed of light, but he could still go to the gas station. He was still Wally, fifteen year old Wally.
Iris instantly felt bad, keeping Wally cooped up in the house, but she still had her worries.
"What if you use your speed?" she asked and Wally gave her a look.
"I can't even remember how to really use it, Aunt Iris." He said, shrugging, "But if I won't use it at all, promise! I'm just looking for something to do, and this should kill some time."
"Fine," the journalist gave in. Wally had a point, and he really did need to restock, lest another starvation episode happen during another mission.
Wally grinned wildly, "Thanks, Aunt Iris!" he said with gratitude walking over to his aunt and surrounding her a bear hug, "Be back soon!"
Iris laughed and nodded, "Please do!" she called after him as he turned to leave, and then thought of something.
"Oh, and Wally! Tell me how much gas is when you get back!"
"I will!" Wally hollored, and then he trotted down the hall. Iris heard the front door open and close, leaving the house feeling empty. She turned back to her equally empty word document and sighed, her fingers hovering expectantly over the keys. What to write?
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The gas station was a popular one, if there ever could be a popular gas station. It had a bright blue roof that acted like a beacon to nearly empty tanks and also was frequently used by Wally and his friends as a meeting place. Besides from gas, the place sold the cheapest sodas in town, hot dogs that could rival just about anything, and pizza that put Domino's to shame. In fact, the place was so popular that if one were to say that they wanted to meet at the gas station, everyone automatically assumed that Stop&Go was where you were referring to. The little establishment was wedged into the city on a corner that was only a few blocks from Wally's house and the redhead could get their practically with his eyes closed, if he didn't have to pass exactly two fairly bus streets to get there.
Wally pushed open the glass doors of the gas station, and was immediately by the smell of greasy food and cleanser. A wispy women with brown hair was leaning against the bright blue counters, her small frame just barely peeking over the register. Recognizing her, Wally smiled at her, and waved.
"Hey, Bethany!" he called over to her before he walked causally into walked into a small aisle that had rows of candy on the shelves.
"Hey, Wally! Are you meeting James or anyone?" Bethany asked. She was a year above Wally and had run track with some of his friends. She had applied for a job at Stop&Go, and gotten it. Now she was just as much a part of the scenery as the gas pumps, it seemed. It'd be sad to see her go when she got applied for her dream job as the news anchor-everyone liked Bethany.
Wally grabbed three candy bars from the shelves, one for each 'cupboard' and then one for the way home. Then he took the hand full over to the counter and placed each one down the slick blue surface.
"No, just this today." Wally told her, pulling a wallet out from his pocket.
"Well, chocolate's just as good." Bethany replied, and started to ring it up.
"I suppose." Wally said smiling, and then looked around. It was weird more people weren't at the station, usually at least five or six people were wandering around the aisles by now. Instead, it was just him and the girl who worked here.
"Sure is empty today." Wally commented as the second candy bar was slid under the price checker.
"Aw, it's always this way in the middle of the day. You're just here after school usually." Bethany said casually, "By the way, why aren't you in school?" she asked, but it wasn't said interrogatingly, just curiously.
"It's a long story." Wally laughed, "But I have Iris's and Barry's permission." He told assuredly.
"Okay," she chuckled, "Now, that'll be four dollars and eighty three cents." She informed him brightly and he nodded as he bent down to retrieve his wallet from his pant pocket.
Just as he looked down, a chilling scream pierced the air like an archer's arrow, and Wally shot his head up to see Bethany pointing at the door frantically, a never ending shriek of surprise, fear and disbelief pouring desperately from her mouth. Wally whipped his head to the side, his eyes flying to in the direction of the girl's manically wavering finger.
"Hello, kids." A voice said. It was thick and raspy, and for some reason it was familiar to Wally even though he couldn't place it. But when his eyes landed on the voices owner, he knew exactly who it was.
"Oh my god!" Bethany wailed, "You're Captain Cold!" her eyes growing wide as he lifted up the weapon that had given him his name.
"Yes I am," he growled, "And don't make faces like that," he chided the girl, "It might freeze that way." He threatened, giving the gun a gentle shake.
The worker immediately shut her mouth, her eyes glued to the gun as though already frozen.
"Now," he said, completely ignoring Wally, "Be a good little brat and open the register."
The girl gulped and opened the register as told, a soft and cheerful ring escaping it and seeming very out of place. As she did so, Cold walked up and seemed to take notice of the redhead for the first time. He narrowed his eyes menacingly.
"Get out of the way!" he ordered, and Wally paled "Well?" the Captain demanded forcefully before he whipped the barrel of his gun to Wally's face.
"Move right now or I'll freeze to that spot forever." The villain said through the back of his throat.
Wally stared down the darkened barrel of the gun and swallowed hard, torn between to impulses that seemed to rack him. The first one was sensible, and it was to move and then duck out of the back and try to call the police. However, there was a second and far more powerful urge that was stupid and completely suicidal.
"Are you seriously robbing a gas station?" Wally asked, his voice coming out far more confident than the rather terrified teen felt.
The comment seemed to throw the man off balance, and his gun wavered a bit.
"Excuse me?" he said, an almost primal rumble in his throat. His finger tightened around the trigger.
Wally couldn't believe he hadn't moved. He still could. But his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own.
"What?" Wally questioned sadly, "Can big bad Captain Cold not take on a bank?" Wally asked, wanting to kick himself. Or whatever it was that lived inside his head and told him to be an idiot.
Suddenly he saw Bethany duck out the front door through the corner of his eyes, and he smiled, almost dizzy with relief as she began to yell, "I'm calling the police!"
The villain growled at Wally, not even turning to face his disappeared captive. The man looked so angry he could kill someone, and Wally realized with a sinking feeling that he was the only one in the general vicinity. With a roar of sheer anger, Cold shoved his weapon closer to Wally's face. Wally noted with horror as the man's finger tightened around the trigger.
"So long, Squirt." Captain Cold hissed.
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Author's Mailbag:
Chain of Fate: Thanks! *sigh* Over protectiveness is SO much more fun to write than I'd thought it'd be. And I totally based some of her freak out on my own mom, so rest assured you're not alone! Thanks for the encouragement! LOL
Litra: I could too! Thanks! For both the review and the congratulations!
CK4eva: WHOA! THE ENERGY IN YOUR MESSAGE IS NOW BEING TURNED INTO THE NEXT EARTH-FRIENDLY POWER SOURCE. Thank you! You have not only reviewed and loved Iris, but are now responsible for a considerable rise in green energy! By the way, aside from his horrible parenting skills, Superman is amazing!
KaliAnn: Thanks!
GhostDog401: LOL, thanks! Now, as another reviewer pointed out, I did get the idea from Crisis On Two Earths (Youtube it if you haven't seen it-It's amazing). But I'm glad you liked the line! :D
JenelleL: Iris is like writing for the universal stereotyped mom, so nearly any emotion is possible when it concerns Barry and Wally. Instant fluff and instant Mother Hen gold. Thanks for noticing the length! These are the longest chapters I've ever written! And any time! Everyone needs someone to plug their brain back in every once in a while!
Rowanfall: Yes, I got the from Crisis On Two Earths! I love it and so it had to be hinted at at least once! Thanks for noticing! LOL, you forgot to put in By the by! This time you were number 7. Getting closer!
Scarlet Mist: Whoo! Angst five! And it's okay to go fangirl! I'm glad you liked Iris's reaction!
Irenerb: Bam! Update!
Adoglover5: Totally agree with you on hugs! I've been in a few myself, and it's really nice until you start to turn a lovely shade sapphire! LOL! And hmm, I can actually see the Flash doing some of those…but not necessarily in a car! :D And I agree, the best way to show how much you like a character is to torture said character mercilessly! As long as they don't die, it's fair game! I sound like such a hirrible person…
Black Licorice Addict: And somewhere, Batman twitched his lip, turned to Robin and said, "I am always right, never forget that."
Carry99: Thank you!
Bat-dove: I will willingly and proudly admit that I suffer from OPOWS!
A Random Reader: ME NIETHER!
Karma Killer: SO many compliments! Thanks so much! I hope you continue to enjoy this!
DayDreamingofyou: Well, aren't I all flattered? Thank you so much! This made my day!
Mara jade chase: Thanks for replying! Especially by phone!
xxHeadInTheStarsxx: Aaaaaand…twist! LOL! :D
