Implied/referenced past child abuse

Spring 2008

"So, my wife wants me to bring you to dinner," Barry mentions as he and the Kid are booking Trickster in the police station.

"Uh, wouldn't that mean that you'd have to tell me your secret ID?" the Kid raises an eyebrow at Barry and Barry rubs the back of his head.

"Well, I've actually been wanting to do that for a while. I was hoping that you'd trust me too."

"Oh, no, wait, Flash, I totally trust you! Believe me, if Dad hadn't told me to wait until you were ready, I totally would have told you the first time we met!"

"Well, then we aughta get going so that I can take you home. Do you need to call someone?"

Kid Flash's brow furrows under his mask and he frowns, "I suppose that I better tell Dad that I'll be at your place for supper so he doesn't worry, yeah."

Barry slings an arm over Kid's shoulder and leads him out of the station, "You can call from my house if you'd like?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Kid grins. "You gonna lead the way?"

"Guess I'd better," Barry laughs and takes off at a speed that the Kid can follow. Kid is right behind him, and Barry circles the city twice before ending up in his backyard. Kid stops right beside him and looks over the house curiously.

"So. This is you?" Barry is pretty sure that the Kid isn't impressed with his single story blue collar house. Well, he could be impressed, but given that Kid's mentioned that his house has three floors and he owns lots of expensive toys, he thinks Kid is probably white collar and Barry is decidedly not.

"Yep," Barry leads Kid into the house, calling out, "Iris, I'm home and the Kid is with me!"

"I'm just setting the table, Barry," Iris calls back. Barry grins at the Kid and pulls back his cowl.

"My name is Barry Allen, and that's my wife, Iris." Barry leans against the island in the kitchen and the Kid fingers his own headgear nervously. "Don't worry, Kid, Iris won't say anything."

"I, uh, I know. I'm just," Kid sighs and looks at the door as Iris enters the kitchen from the dining room. "I'm just nervous."

"You don't have to be nervous, Kid," Iris smiles and the Kid cocks his head to the side, frowning as he studies her.

"Huh." Kid murmurs, "You... look familiar," he says softly.

"Well," Iris brushes a strand of red hair out of her face, "I'm a news anchor for GBS?" She offers.

"No, I mean, your smile. It's... I know that smile." Kid licks his lips and reaches up to his goggles, pulling them completely off, showing his bright green eyes, "And I think I have your eyes?" He sounds confused and Barry is too. How could the Kid have Iris' eyes? Iris hasn't ever been pregnant. But Barry has to admit that the Kid's eyes and Iris' eyes do match; the shape and curve, as well as the colour.

Before Iris can say anything else, the Kid whips off his mask, showing his full face. Iris stops breathing and the Kid bites his lip before speaking, "My name is Wally West."

"W-Wally?" The broken word comes from Iris and she sags, her knees going weak. Barry catches her easily and Iris can't stop staring, "But- Wally- he was declared a runaway two years ago when my sister-in-law died."

"Wait, your nephew Wally?" Barry blinks several times, eyes darting from his wife to his sidekick and back again.

"Who- who was your mother?" Barry helps Iris to one of the island stools and she sits. She puts her shaking hands on the counter but doesn't take her eyes off of Wally.

Wally steps closer, his face white, "Her name was Mary. I didn't run away, Father killed her driving drunk. He started hitting me. Velocity rescued me; took me to my Dad."

"Oh god," Iris surges to her feet and lunges at Wally, enfolding him in her arms, "Wally! Oh god, you're alive!" Wally's arms come up tentatively, hugging Iris back. "Oh Wally, I thought you were dead," Iris starts to cry, "I was so worried that I'd get a phone call from the police, oh god."

"It's okay Mrs. Flash, I'm okay," Wally pats her on the back gently, wide eyes staring at Barry as though asking silently for help. Apparently Wally isn't good with crying women. Well, Barry thinks, he'll learn.

Oh. A smile comes over Barry's face unconsciously, his sidekick is his nephew. That's... kinda awesome.