A/N: Since you all have been great at reviewing recently, I figured I could give you another chapter earlier than anticipated. (aka, review if you want more). Warning, this fic is cute and fluffy. Little Wally? Necessary.

Alright, there've been different ages that Wally could have gotten his powers and become Kid Flash, so until the writers decide to let us know, it's kind of a mystery. That's why there are no specific ages mentioned, so pre-KF Wally can be however old you want. I've also read the Kid Flash might have dyed his hair brown in some comics. In the show, he obviously doesn't, so this can be a little explanation why.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice.

Summary: At a very early age, Wally came to the conclusion that not enough people in the world had red hair.


"Now try."

Wally nodded and whizzed away, a strange colored blur of dark jeans and the light, layered shirts that were in style these days. Within two seconds, he was back, having exited the house, ran all the way around it, and made his way back to the living room again. His feet were bare, as all of his normal shoes wore out while he ran.

And his hair was still bright red.

Barry Allen bit his lips as a reminder not to swear- heroes don't swear in front of their kid nephews- and sighed. "I give up. These dyes either aren't quick enough to apply on the fly or come out when you run. Sorry, kiddo, it's not going to happen."

Wally scowled back at him, his green eyes glittering dangerously. "Look, Uncle Barry, I'm not going to wear goggles and that hood-thing. It makes me look like a bug."

"It's called a cowl," the adult snapped quickly, "Not a hood. Cowls are much more dignified. And it does not make you look like a bug."

"It does too," Wally muttered. "Nobody's gonna respect a bug boy. Especially with those little things sticking up on the sides!"

"Those are lighting bolts! Lighting's my-our symbol!"

"They just make me look like I have antenna!" argued the boy. He looked down, thoroughly distressed, and muttered, "And what's wrong with my hair."

Barry sighed, quickly pulling the kid into a one arm hug, which he squirmed out of. "There's nothing wrong with your hair. It's great hair. Beautiful hair. Beautiful, bright red, recognizable hair. And it's called secret identity for a reason, squirt. You need the cowl."

Wally, for lack of a better word, pouted, even if he was a little old for that sort of thing. "Don't call me squirt! And I'm not going to wear the stupid hood."

"Wallace…"

The kid glared up at him for a few seconds before finally dropping his gaze and muttered "Fine," snatching his Kid Flash uniform off the couch next to where Barry was sitting.

Barry smiled and stood up. "Ata boy," he said, ruffling Wally's hair. His nephew scowled and brushed his hand away. "Tell your mom sorry for me that we got hair dye on the furniture."

Wally sighed and nodded. "If she gets mad, I'll make her call you."

Barry laughed. "Deal." He was about to say goodbye when he remembered. "Oh! This is for you." He pulled the gift out of his pocket and handed it to his nephew.

His eyes widened as he took it in. "A cell phone? For me?" Barry smiled at his reaction, which Wally took as an answer. "Sweet!" he seized it out of his uncle's hand, as if afraid someone would take it from him, before fully examining it. "Red? Isn't that kind of obvious?" he asked skeptically.

Barry laughed and went for Wally's hair again, which he ducked away from. "I couldn't resist," his uncle said. "I'll text you if there's an emergency."

"Wait," interrupted Wally, "What if it's during school?"

The adult sighed. "Then tell the teacher you gotta puke and run, kid. It's not that hard."

Wally's mouth dropped open. He looked up at his uncle in shock before his face broke into a grin. "I love my life," he said, beaming at the world.

Barry snorted. "And you'll grow to love the cowl too, kid."

"Do I have to-"

"Yes. Anyways, just for the heads' up, these phones are only temporarily. I asked Bats if he could work on some communicators for us, so they should be here soon. If nothing happens, I'll see you next Saturday. I've got a nice route planned out, a 200 mile little run-"

"Wait," his nephew interrupted, his face excited. "You know Batman?"

Barry sighed. "Yes, yes, I do know Batman. He's a lot scarier in person. In fact, downright terrifying at times."

"Can I meet him?"

The adult raised an eyebrow. "He wears a cowl."

Wally's look of wonder melted into a scowl so quickly it was almost comical. "Cowls are for old people."

"Hey!"

"Bye, Uncle Barry!"

Barry Allen sighed as he said goodbye, ruffled Wally's hair one last time, and sped off towards home. Having a sidekick wasn't that much work, no matter what he'd heard from Batman. The Dark Knight just took everything too seriously. Wally was a great kid.

Barry was a little nervous about calling Kid Flash to his first mission. It was nothing serious, but still, first mission with a sidekick. He'd have to make sure Wally was safe, but still looked capable to the people. Oh, yeah, he'd have to call out "Kid Flash" really loudly a couple times to make sure people got the name right. First mission. Today was the day.

Wally had shown up with the top of his cowl cut off, exposing his hair. Figures.

"What was that, dear?"

Barry Allen's eyes fluttered open at the sound of his wife's voice as she slid into bed next to him. "Nothing," he said at first, "Remembering. I think I was dreaming."

Iris West Allen nodded. "You did doze off a little."

Barry nodded, latching his arms around the waistband of his wife's nightdress and pulling her closer. He lay there for a few more seconds, before whispering in her ear. "I miss Wally."

Iris rolled over so she could hug him back and frowned. "He's still around."

"Not as much," Barry complained, "he's growing up."

"He just has his own team now, dear. That's all."

"Mm," he agreed, resting his forehead against hers. "Do you know what he asked me the other day?"

"What?"

"He asked me for a solo mission. It was just a small fire, over at that cupcake bakery, and he said, 'Uncle Barry, I can handle it. You don't have to go. No, seriously, don't stand up. You don't have to bother. I've got it covered.' Scariest moment of my life."

His wife snorted. "Sounds like a 15-year-old. What happened?"

"I went with him. Let him do most of the rescuing, but I still went. What happened to that little kid who zipped in here every day, asking if I could show him how do phase through a wall just one more time?"

"Are you talking about me?"

Barry Allen nearly jumped out of his skin as he sat up suddenly and twisted towards the doorway. "Wallace Rudolph West," he exclaimed, bringing a hand to his chest. "Next time you enter this house you are going to knock at the front door, and only after we say 'come in' will you do so."

His nephew frowned. "But you gave me a key!"

"That was for emergencies."

"Oh," he said, head drooping, "Sorry."

Iris sighed. "Wally, come back, he didn't mean to snap. He's just an old man who you nearly gave a heart attack."

Barry raised an eyebrow. "Who are you calling old? Wally, get over here. Why are you creeping around other people's houses in the middle of the night?"

Wally flashed a grin and entered the room a couple more paces. "I wasn't creeping," he answered. "I just wanted to let you know I'm back, in case you needed me. I haven't even gone home yet."

"Oh," Barry replied, "well, thanks, kiddo. How was the mission?"

His smile widened. "Great! Everything went smoothly for once. I did one move and totally tripped, like, a dozen guys at once. They went down like bowling pins."

"That's awesome," his uncle replied, noticing the small yawns that the boy kept letting escape him. Poor kid. "Now, I don't mean to keep you, but there is one thing you have to do for me."

"What?"

He opened his arms. "Hug for your favorite hero?"

Wally made a face. "Aw, Uncle Barry!"

"Aw, Wally!"

Iris laughed as Wally surrendered to the hug, and then kissed his aunt on the forehead. "Bye, Uncle Barry. Bye, Aunt Iris. I'll lock the door on my way out."

"And knock next time too!" Barry called out as Wally raced away. He sighed and lay back down.

"Do you think he'll knock?"

Barry smiled softly at his wife. "Doubt it." He kissed her before reaching back to his nightstand to turn of the light. "Hopefully he doesn't interrupt anything."