A/N: So I have a lot of stories and I should be working on an outline for an essay that's due tomorrow but I wanna do some of this instead. It's currently 4:47 pm on 3/21/21 and I plan on this being a relatively short one shot so let's get this started!
Stupid CADMUS
Third Person POV
The Flash yelped loudly as CADMUS' Doctor Desmond jabbed a needle into his left ass cheek of all places. He turned around and glared at the oily haired man, snatching the empty needle and inspecting it before tossing it to the side. "What was that? What was in it?"
Desmond smiled with yellow and crooked teeth. "Oh, just something I've been working on. I doubt it'll actually work anyways so you'll be fine." The scarlet speedster snarled and swiftly punched the man in the face, knocking him unconscious. He swung the smelly scientist over his shoulder, grimacing at the slight pain he felt in his glutes. The Justice League had found out CADMUS was trying to perform experiments on people again, twenty eight citizens ranging from the age of ten to sixty all reported as missing. When the League had found the base and snuck inside, it was to find a morgue with a large pile of bodies in the corner. Flash had saved them all the trouble, zipping around to count them. Twenty eight bodies. All of them dead.
To say the Flash was livid was an understatement. He might've ditched his team to pursue any scientists he could find in the building, and Desmond had been the one he found first. He hadn't hesitated to pin the man to the wall and interrogate him. His rage induced impulse to run ahead had led to what was just described; Desmond silently grabbing a syringe filled with some kind of burgundy liquid and plunging it into the Flash's buttock.
Deciding to be on the safe side, the twenty two year old superhero grabbed the now emptied needle, tucking it into a small compartment on his left glove. He would've told the other six members of the League about it if they didn't treat him like a child all the time. Sure, he was younger than them by at least ten years, and yeah he didn't act very mature, but he was a hero. He'd been one for a long time. They always brushed him aside, never listening to what he had to say during meetings or even when having a genuine conversation with him. He knew they cared about him as he cared for them, but they didn't really see him as the hero he was. If he were more prone to telling them his identity then maybe they'd see he was not only a hero, but a skilled forensic scientist who had skipped four grades and had been solving murders for years. He had only been fourteen when he graduated high school, a feat that earned him a lot of praise as well as a lot of hate from his peers. He'd been eighteen when he got his bachelor's degree and joined the CCPD to follow in his Uncle Barry's footsteps. Not many knew Wally hadn't been the first Flash, but then again nobody knew who Wally was in the first place.
The red head tried not to sigh in exasperation as he adjusted the evil man slung over his shoulder. He continued his bitter thoughts as he raced down the halls, knocking out any goons he came across on his way back to the morgue. He hated being underestimated all the time and being seen as stupid. He hated being seen as impulsive when his brain moved faster than anyone else's. He always had multiple plans within a second or two, but to everyone else it appeared as though the scarlet speedster brashly ran into the heat of battle. He most never did. He was actually very hesitant, opting to look at things from all angles if he could. He'd always been overly cautious, but only Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris had known about that. They were gone now.
As Wally tossed the CADMUS scientist onto a metal table before his fellow League members, he reminded himself that the other superheroes would just lecture him about being childish for running off and getting himself injected with an unknown substance. He didn't need to be shoved down because he hadn't been as observant as usual. Instead he kept his tone clipped, preferring to get this over with sooner rather than later. "Here. One of the scientists that killed those people. I'm done." With that he ran out of the building. They didn't need him to stick around just to fill out a statement for the police when they came to arrest the bastards that had ruined so many lives.
As Wally reached the outskirts of Central City, he allowed his feet to slow down until eventually he had stopped and stood between a few dumpsters in an alleyway. Double and triple checking to make sure there were no cameras and nobody was around, the speedster changed out of his suit, stuffing it into his golden ring at super speed and exchanging it for his casual attire. He sighed in relief at the comfortable and loose jeans, run down and hole riddled tan Chuck Taylor's, a powder blue T-shirt and unbuttoned white dress shirt. He ran his long thin fingers through thick wavy red hair, taking his phone out and looking through his messages as he casually stepped out onto the sidewalk and blended in with the other pedestrians.
It took him over half an hour to walk to the Central City Police Department. Despite what many thought, the redhead enjoyed taking life slow sometimes to enjoy the simple things. He smiled at Terry as he walked in, the woman offering a smile back from behind her desk. "I thought you were out with friends today, Wally?"
He waved her off with a soft smile. "Yeah, but stuff came up and so I left. Figured I'd come in early to get back to work on the Johnson case."
"How's it going?" She seemed genuinely curious as she leaned over, propping one of her hands on her cheek.
"The chief thinks it's a suicide but I'm positive it wasn't. There wasn't anything nearby for him to kick out from under his feet after being hung. It doesn't make sense. I found a brunette hair approximately three inches long on the inside of his shirt though, and seeing as he has buzzed blonde hair that doesn't add up. I've gotta let Detectives Burkhart and Harris take over from here, but at least we know that it was most likely not actually suicide."
Terry looked awed. "I still don't get how you figure this stuff out. Anyways, my shift ends in a few minutes so I'd better finish this paperwork for a new officer coming in next week. I'll see you later Wally!"
He smiled and waved as he strolled off, walking up to the second story and sliding open the metal door leading into the forensic lab. He smiled at Anne despite her being engrossed with something on her microscope. "Hey Anne! How's the analysis on that footprint coming along? Figure out what was mixed in with the mud yet?"
"It's snake venom. It matches what the detectives figured out over in the morgue; black mamba."
"Assassin?" He plopped into his chair, allowing it to spin a few times as he shimmied across the room to the blonde.
"That's what I'm thinking." She sighed and sat back in her chair, raising an eyebrow at the folded arms on the back of the spinning chair. His chin was propped on his forearms and he blinked at her, emerald staring into hazel. "So how's the Johnson case?"
"Nothing new yet. You already know that though." He groaned, scratching at his behind as he stared off into space. "Terry asked me about it but I think she's just really bored sitting at her desk by her lonesome."
Anne scoffed. "Terry's never lonely. You ever notice she gets picked up by a new guy almost every evening? There's a reason for that."
"Ah, yeah. But I wasn't talking about that kind of lonely. I was saying she just doesn't have anyone to talk to. You ever talk to her?" He wheeled himself to his desk, scrolling through his old computer with his mouse. The clicking noise filled the air as Wally reorganized his archives with a focus only his coworkers at the CCPD got to see.
The woman roller her eyes behind her clear rimmed glasses. "Not if I don't have to. Carrying a conversation with her is awful. Her IQ is probably less than 100."
Wally narrowed his eyes at his screen, fingers momentarily hovering over the mouse. "You can be smart without having a high intellect. She could very well be a certified genius and we wouldn't know. Or maybe she's incredibly street smart."
"Okay, Wally. Whatever you say." He sighed, returning his attention to reorganizing his work into complete, in progress, and waiting for feedback. He and Anne got on well enough when it came to work and simple talk most of the time, but if the blonde scientist believed someone else to be less knowledgeable than herself she'd shun them like they were dirt beneath her feet. It irked Wally to no end.
He scratched again at where he'd been shot earlier and frowned, remembering the syringe tucked into his pocket. Anne would be leaving in a few minutes, and he could investigate once she was gone. He continued to reorganize his files until his desktop was clean and pristine once more, everything caught up to date. The League would be shocked if they saw how responsible the Flash really was. The corners of his lips turned upwards with mirth, pulling up a tab on google to play solitaire. He'd finished a few rounds and moved on to sudoku when Anne stood up, tugging on a long tan coat and covering her black pencil skirt. "I'll be in on Thursday. You?"
He shrugged. "Nah, Eli's working with you remember?" Anne grimaced and Wally laughed at her expression. "Hey, he's not that bad. He just falls asleep sometimes in the middle of an investigation. He told us already he's an awful insomniac and work is a comfortable environment for him. Let the poor dude sleep while he can."
"Wally, he lied about that."
"..."
Anne sighed, running her hand across the bridge of her nose. "I'm leaving now. Bye, Wally."
"Bye Anne! See you next time I see you!" She looked like she was trying to frown but the small smirk she struggled to hide said she found the redhead's words entertaining enough. She walked out the door and after a few seconds to make sure she was really gone Wally got to work.
He spent hours looking at the little droplets of red still smooshed in the now cut open syringe, but there hadn't been much left. Desmond had done a good job in making sure it all entered his system.
Wally scratched at his lower back for the millionth time that evening wondering if he were allergic to whatever had been jabbed into him.
He sighed, elbows on his desk and hands fisting his hair. "It just doesn't make sense. I can usually identify this kinda stuff no problem, but..." But he didn't specialize in the work Desmond did. Given enough time and he could probably get there within a few months, but he didn't want to be anything closely similar to the abomination that was the CADMUS scientist. "Stupid CADMUS. Stupid Desmond. Stupid shot and stupid itch!" He growled in his throat, a noise that might've been a bit too animalistic for his liking. Wally was too itchy and tired though to notice.
As soon as his shift was over, he was turning the lights out and walking out the door. He felt a bit dizzy, a headache forming and his nose stuffy. Wally hadn't been sick since he was a boy. Having super speed tended to burn off any infections before they had the chance to spread and cause damage.
Now though?
When he reached his apartment, he closed the door with his foot and collapsed face first onto his bed, groaning in exhaustion. He lived between Keystone and Central, meaning the apartment complex was less than exemplary but good enough for minimum wage workers. Wally had money of course, but he lived by himself and saw no reason to leave as of yet. Plus he spent most of his checks on food nowadays. A growing speedster had to eat, after all.
Feeling itchy and icky and all around like crap, the green eyed man stood up and dragged himself to the bathroom, stripping and stepping into the shower. He let the hot water seep through his pores as he slowly slid down the wall, knees to his chest and water making his hair fall into his eyes. He was so tired. It didn't make any sense! He itched again, and despite the exhaustion taking over his muddled mind, he realized he hadn't been itching at the spot he'd been injected.
Wally was itching at the base of his spine.
.o0.0o.
He woke up cold and shaking, wondering why he was sweating so much. He blearily looked up and frowned at the still running shower head that sent freezing water cascading over his freckled form. He shook his hair out a bit, struggling up onto his feet and turning the nozzle off. Wally grabbed his towel, drying off and yanking on some navy blue boxers. He plopped onto the couch, scratching a bit at his hair and staring blankly at the TV. He felt off, like way off.
The remainder of the night was spent with the speedster watching with unseeing eyes as Lazy Town played on the screen.
It wasn't until the sun streamed through his apartment's small window did he finally snap out of it. He looked down at his lap, frowning with confusion. Something was definitely in that shot, something that was making him feel sick. His headache was a full blown migraine now, and he hissed at the golden rays hitting his sensitive eyes. He tumbled over to his bed, crawling under the sheets and making sure he was completely encased in darkness before lightly dozing again.
A loud buzzing next to his face had his eyes shooting open and scrunching his face up in displeasure. Things felt so confusing. He hurt. Why did he hurt again? He couldn't remember. Wally stared at the little blinking red light next to him and groaned, shoving the comm into his ear. "Hello?"
"Flash, you're needed on the Watchtower immediately."
"I gotta m'graine Batsy, lemme 'lone." He took it out and turned it off, ignoring the little light still beeping by his face. He turned onto his other side and allowed his lids to shut again.
.o0.0o.
Batman wasn't a fool. He knew when things were about to change, and it usually all came to him in the form of his instincts. This time, they were screaming at him that Flash was not okay. The scarlet clad hero had never been sick in the three years he'd worked with him. Flash had once told him it was because of his high body temperature and the speed of his metabolism. "Strong immune system," he'd said with a cocky smirk. Bruce had almost thrown a Batarang at the young hero's yellow boot in his annoyance.
He knew when Flash had brought back Desmond that something was off. Flash had been angry, sure, but the way his mouth was twisted up was reminiscent of the few times Flash had been fearful. What had the unsanitary scientist done to the speedster to have left him looking queasy of all things?
It just didn't sit well with the Dark Knight.
He sighed, leaning away from the large computer in the cave. Alfred came down with a plate of sandwiches and cup of steaming tea. "Master Bruce, I do believe it is time for a break."
The black clad man offered a soft smile and nod of appreciation. "Thank you, Alfred." Flash was a talker, so he'd probably complain about what was really going on with him eventually.
.o0.0o.
Wally groaned as he sat up, rubbing at his forehead. It was already almost three in the afternoon, a few messages on his phone and his burner making him grimace. He was lucky he didn't work today. He winced as he stood up, hands flying to his spine and popping it as much as possible. When he got to his low back he yelped and jumped in the air from the fire hot pain searing there. He walked to the bathroom, ignoring the way his lower back throbbed as he moved. He hissed as he slowly pulled his pants down, brows furrowing at the sight that greeted him in the mirror. His skin was red and inflamed, some of it flaking away like a sunburn. It was strange, that's for sure. When Wally went to touch it again he had to brace himself on the bathroom sink as white hot pain coursed up his spine.
"Okay, I really need to figure out what's wrong with me." The redhead took his time to get ready, wrapping a thin layer of gauze around his waist to protect his burning lower back from the friction his suit would create. He needed to patrol and since he didn't need to be at the CCPD why not?
He got to run around for a little over two hours, stopping petty thefts and robbers in alleys before his comm went off. "Superman to Flash."
"I'm here. What's up?" He took a bite of his burrito, swinging his feet over the side of one of the taller buildings in Central.
"Batman said you weren't feeling well yesterday. Are you alright?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah I'm good. Sorry, I just really wasn't feeling too great. It was just a headache."
"But you never get headaches."
"I've gotten headaches before!" Granted, most of them were from concussions or the Top messing with his perception.
"Okay, well if you're sure you're feeling alright then GL and Hawkgirl have a mission in Canada they'd like help with."
"Beam me up then, Scotty!" There was a quick noise on the other side of the comm before light flooded the area, Flash smiling as he stood up and walked over to the Kryptonian. He did his best to hide his pain as he walked. "So what's up?"
"John and Shayera need help with a large hostage situation in Vancouver. Your speed would be incredibly helpful."
"Gotcha. They can fill me in on the rest when I get there. Here, hold this for me." He shoved the other half of his burrito into the Boy Scout's hand and ran to the pad, saluting. Superman rolled his brilliant blue eyes and tapped a few buttons, the speedster disappearing in white lights once more.
The hostage situation actually wasn't too bad. There was a huge auction going on and a multitude of men had taken over the mansion it was being held at. While Shayera and John were confident they could beat the men, they didn't want to risk accidentally getting a hostage shot. That's where Wally came in. He had disarmed the men within moments, going back in for round two and knocking them out. The amateurs didn't know what hit them. Literally.
He skidded to a stop, hands on his hips as he smiled widely. "So, what were you two doing together? Decide to go on a date?"
Their faces both turned a beet red as they protested. Wally just cackled, offering a small wave and running off. He was halfway back to Central when a violent spasm of pain emitted from his back and caused him to stumble, feet flying in the air and making his body skip across the asphalt road like a stone on water. The scarlet speedster could feel his wounds already healing, but his back...
He whimpered on his hands and knees, crawling off the road and into the giant cornfield so as to remain hidden. He didn't need any passerby seeing Flash in pain in the middle of Idaho.
A scream escaped his mouth as something tore. Wally vaguely registered it as the sound of skin ripping open. Something wet and sticky stained his suit and he turned around, gasping for breath at the large splotch of blood on his lower back between his glutes. There was a small lump there. Not a good sign.
Wally didn't take his time getting home after that. He ran through the states as quickly as he could, sighing in relief as he bolted into his apartment and locked the door behind him. His suit was off within seconds, green eyes filled with tears. While Wally had been hurt far worse before, the pain had always ebbed away due to his impeccable healing. This pain wasn't going away though. When he got to the bathroom and looked into the mirror he almost fainted on the spot.
Bright orange hair that matched the color on his head was clumped at the base of his spine, a small lump no longer than his top thumb joint sitting comfortably between his pale cheeks. He groaned, tossing his head back in irritation. "This is so wrong on so many levels. What is this, a hairy chode for my ass?!" He bit his lip, looking in the mirror as if it would hold the answers he needed. "Okay, what do you know? Desmond experiments on people, but what does he do?" He narrowed his eyes, pursing his lips. "Okay, you work from two to ten tomorrow. Access the files the department has on Desmond and see what you can figure out. If nothing is there then go to the Watchtower and see if they have anything. There has to be something." He sighed, rubbing at his face with a large calloused hand. At least he had a plan of action now.
He took a deep breath, grabbing the first aid kit out from under the cupboard and cleaning the bloodied mess that was his lower back, wincing at the light burn. He wrapped it in gauze afterwards, laying down on his side to watch TV with a tired expression.
He finally drifted off in the middle of the newest Supernatural episode, Dean crawling out of a hole in the ground on the screen with trees blown wide around him.
.o0.0o.
The next day was excruciating. Wally was up at noon, his back still throbbing but feeling a bit better. His mouth hurt though, and his headache was back full force. Even his hands seemed overly sensitive which made absolutely no sense. He scrubbed at his eyes as he walked to work, trying to ignore the way the light was too bright and everything was too loud. Stupid headache.
He got to work on time, waving to Terry and clambering his way up to the forensic lab. He was the only one working that shift, so he spent his time working on a case that had been left for him yesterday. Wally ignored the different aches in his body, instead focusing as much as he could on his job. His dinner consisted of a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese from a small deli down the street, a large sprite helping to fill his always starving gut a bit more.
By the time his shift was over, his mouth felt like when he'd had his wisdom teeth removed and his headache made the whole room ring as if sonic sound waves were bouncing off the walls. His ass hurt from sitting on it all day, that furry thing making staying in an office chair for hours on end more difficult than usual. While he hurt, Wally couldn't just not patrol the city. He wrapped gauze tightly around his waist again, hissing at the pain from his little nub being smooshed when it was obviously trying to heal. The scarlet clad hero looked in the mirror, forcing a smile on his face and running out into the night.
To be honest, he hadn't expected to run into the Green Lantern while fighting with Heatwave. The flying man had easily encased the Rogue in a bubble of energy and shaken him up, knocking him unconscious. Flash had raised an eyebrow despite knowing his friend wouldn't be able to see it. "GL? Whatcha doin' here?"
The man gnawed on his bottom lip before motioning his head at a nearby building. "Can we talk somewhere private?"
Oh no. Had they figured it out? Did they know his identity? Did they know about the nub thingy? Did they know what it was? Could they get rid of it? Were they angry at him? Did he do something wrong? Was he being kicked off the tea-
"Hotshot? You good there?"
Wally blinked, looking at John and nodding. He zipped over to his favorite skyscraper, feet already dangling off the edge as Green Lantern flew towards him and perched himself at his side. "So what're you doing in Central? Come to visit me?" He tossed a big grin John's way, earning an eye roll.
"Actually, I wanted... well, I..."
"Just spit it out already." Wally didn't like waiting for bad news and he was sure that's what this was.
"I found a job here in Central." Wally gaped and John continued on. "I know this is your city, and I understand if you don't want me to be here but I need this and-"
"Dude that's awesome!"
"Really?" He sat up with hope shimmering in his glowing gaze.
Flash nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! We could totally patrol together and hang out more! Besides, Central could always use another hero."
Green Lantern smiled softly, clapping the red speedster on his shoulder. "Thanks, Hotshot. It means a lot to me."
"Hey, as long as we can hang out sometime then I'm totally fine with it."
"Out of costume?"
Wally glanced at John, taking a moment to look at the eager expression on his face. "...maybe."
John absolutely beamed and Wally returned the gesture.
.o0.0o.
The thing hadn't stopped growing.
Wally whined at what he now realized was a tail growing from his tail bone. "Seriously? What is this bullshit, a fanfiction? I don't need to be turned into a furry." That would explain the headaches though. His fingers and toes hurt because of his strengthening nails. His eyes and sinuses had been giving a headache because of his new and advanced senses. He could feel small soft things growing out of the top of his head. "I still think it's dumb I'm gonna basically have four ears," he grumbled as he tugged a baseball cap onto his head. He ran his tongue over his now longer canines, frowning in the mirror. He was lucky his pupils were only slightly distorted, seeing as he was now partly that of a feline.
Yes, five days after the shot in his ass was how long it took Wally to figure out he was somehow given cat features. He didn't know how he'd hide a tail in his skin tight suit.
He groaned, wrapping the now five inch long tail tightly to his waist, the new appendage twitching at the restraint. He really hated that he was having such a hard time with this, but he hated the fact that this had happened in the first place even more. He was a speedster, not a cat! Sure, his senses helped with his agility and he was a lot faster now, but still!
He opened the door to the CCPD, bag slung over his shoulder as he walked towards the front desk. Terry was talking to a tall man in a long coat, his back to Wally. The redhead leaned onto the desk, earning a smile from the brunette woman. "Wally! You're here just in time! Patty called in sick and our newest officer needs a tour. You wouldn't mind, would you?"
He shrugged, leaning back. "Nah, I can do it. We'll need to stop by the lab so I can set my stuff down so as long as he doesn't mind." Wally turned to look into the dark eyes peering at him and the speedster nearly keeled over in shock. He recognized that dark chocolate skin, the strong and muscular build hiding beneath his oversized coat. John nodded at Wally, smiling kindly.
"I don't mind at all. I'm John Stewart. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Wally blinked before offering his own hand, a fake smile spread across his face. "Wally West, lead forensic scientist for the CCPD. It's nice to meet you too. Come along and follow me and I'll show ya around." They trudged up the stairs, Wally's mind racing as he yanked the metal sliding door open and set his stuff down at his desk. He was on his own again in the lab, and despite what he told John a few nights ago he needed to talk to him now. He crossed his arms, lips pursed as he raised an eyebrow. John's face scrunched in confusion.
"Uh, did I do something?"
Wally's gaze intensified. "When I said you could stay in my city and we could hang out, I didn't think you meant like this."
John blinked a few times before his eyes widened comically and he gaped. "Fla-"
"Yup. Didn't know you were gonna work for the CCPD though." He logged onto his computer, looking through his emails as John moved closer. "So you're an officer?"
He nodded, staring at Wally with a new interest. "Yeah. Was in the military before, figured being a cop couldn't be too different."
Wally cast him a skeptical look but didn't say anything as he looked over another email, typing out a reply and sending it. "They're definitely different but there are similarities. I didn't think you'd want to get a job though since you're always out."
John frowned, his face unnaturally close to Wally's own as he looked him over without his suit on for the first time. "Central City's got really lenient hours since there are so many officers. I'll be off more than I'll be working." John looked around the lab before turning his attention back to the freckled man. "So, you work here?"
"Yup."
"What do you do?"
Wally stopped typing, giving John a deadpanned look. "What do you think I do?"
"File boy?"
Wally rolled his eyes, about to fire back when the Chief tore into the room. "West! I'm glad you're working today. We need our top scientist for a case ASAP."
Wally stood up, grabbing a paperboy bag and running out after his boss, John following behind. "Got it. Got any idea what happened?"
"Robbers dressed in black just shot up a convenience store. Two dead, three in critical condition. Get over there within ten minutes." Wally gave a firm nod and took off out the door, John hesitating for a moment before following. Wally ran down the sidewalk, avoiding people with an accuracy John hadn't expected from his companion. The Lantern was panting heavily as he struggled to keep up.
"Fl-Wally! Wait up!" Wally slowed down enough for the man to catch up, the two resuming their run. "So... what... happ...ening?"
"Murder. I need to look things over to see if there's anything I can use to help the case move faster." They slowed to a stop at the sight of yellow tape surrounding a small corner store, Wally walking up and nodding to a few of the officers. "Sue, Antonio."
"Hey West. We're glad you're the one working today." He smiled and nodded, bending over and slipping beneath the tape. "I'm sorry sir, but you can't enter. This is a crime scene."
Wally frowned before smiling a bit. "Oh don't worry about him. He's the new officer and was with me when I was called over. He's fine, Sue."
"If you say so..."
John scrambled over, furrowing his brows as Wally walked through the bloodied scene with confidence. He tugged on a pair of gloves and little booties for his shoes, John doing the same when offered the items. The ex marine grimaced at the bloodied bodies being bagged up while Wally crouched down, eyes narrowed. He turned to one of the officers and gnawed on his lip. "Any cameras?"
The man shook his head. "None."
"Do we know what gun was used?" A shake of the head and Wally nodded. "The CCPD coroner can look that over when he receives the bodies." His fingers gently touched the ground, looking intently at some dried and faint footsteps scudded on the grey tile floor. "There were three of them, all men if the shoe size is any indicator. 14 Doc Marton, 12 Justin's, and 11.5 Adidas. Small mud stains from all three, meaning they wore those shoes somewhere muddied beforehand." He scratched at one of the footprints, bringing it to his nose and grimacing. "Manure. If I had to take a guess, I'd say three men ranging from 5'10 to 6'4 who work for a poor income farmer or are farmers themselves. Check for any struggling farmers who own cows on the outskirts of the city. That should help identify our murderers."
The officer nodded, smiling in relief. "Thanks West. I don't know what we'd do without you helping on these cases."
Wally stood up, taking his gloves off. "Nah, you'd all be fine. Anne and Eli are great forensic scientists too." He grabbed a plastic bag and a small scraping tool from his bag, bending over and putting some of the dried mud into it. "I'll take this back to the lab and see if there's anything specific about it that will narrow it down more for you. I should have something by the end of tomorrow."
"You know you're the best we've got," the officer said with a wide grin. "Thanks again, kid."
"No problem, Officer Jordan. Good luck with the rest of your shift!" John stared in shock as Wally walked away, Jordan laughing at the newest recruit's reaction.
"Smart kid, ain't he?" John nodded.
"How old is he?"
"Only twenty two. Graduated high school when he was fourteen and been working for us since he was eighteen. He's our resident genius. We're lucky to have him and that he didn't pursue a higher paying job when he totally could. I'm Officer Gray Jordan, but most just call me Jordan."
John shook the man's hand, blinking out of his shock. "I'm John Stewart. Pleasure to meet you, sir, but I really must be going." He took off after Wally, red hair sticking out from beneath his backwards baseball cap. "What the hell was that?"
Wally looked up from his phone, raising an eyebrow. John realized how young his supposed best friend actually was. "My job. Now hurry it up, I still need to show you around the department then get back to work."
"Why didn't you tell us how smart you are?"
Wally shrugged. "Being underestimated tends to work out better in my favor. Besides, none of you ever listen to what I have to say. You all think I'm just jokes and giggles, that I'm impulsive."
"But you are, aren't you?"
Wally stopped walking, John stumbling a bit before catching himself. Wally's jaw was clenched, fury radiating in his stance. John rarely saw that look on the speedster's face. Seeing it out of the suit was far scarier. "No, I'm not. People expect me to be dumb and impulsive, so I make jokes and flirt and act like I'm living off five brain cells. In reality my brain is moving so fast that I've got a multitude of plans and ideas formed within seconds, strategies that would take out the bad guys a lot faster than we usually do. But none of you listen to me. None of you believe me to be smart enough to actually make a difference. I'm just your errand boy." Wally squared his shoulders, resuming his brisk pace. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a case to solve."
"Wally, I'm sorry!" John walked by his side, eyes filled with remorse and guilt. "None of us knew how smart you are. Did you seriously graduate when you were just fourteen?"
Wally cast his friend a side glance. "The work was too easy for me, so I decided to take AP classes. I was still bored so my teachers just kept bumping me up until I was out of high school and in college. That stuff was a little less boring but still easy."
John nodded. "Well I think that's impressive."
"Most do."
The man frowned. "Hotshot, I swear we never meant to hurt you."
Wally sighed as he walked into the CCPD, trailing up to the lab. "Yeah, I know that. It's just frustrating sometimes, ya know? I've got ideas too, but none of you ever listen. And when I get the chance to talk, all of you act like it's shocking I can think for myself. It pisses me off."
John rubbed his neck as Wally set his things down. "Well I'm sorry that I never listened. I promise that from now on I'll do my best to hear what you have to say." Wally looked skeptical and John smiled. "I promise."
A large grin spread across the speedster's face and he walked out of the lab. "Good! Then let me show you around. What time does your shift end?"
"Seven."
"Mine ends at eight. If you wanna pick something up and bring it back here or meet up somewhere then we can go out to dinner and talk. It's obvious we need to."
John smiled. "Alright, what's good around here?"
"Big Belly Burger is just down the road. I'll meet you there once my shift is over and we can go to my apartment if you'd like. I don't wanna talk about everything out in the open, ya know?"
John nodded. "Big Belly Burger it is then. I'll see you a little after eight."
Wally gave him a thumbs up and put some pep in his step, showing his best friend around with a gusto he'd been lacking all afternoon. He said hello to pretty much everyone he passed by, smiling and laughing and talking enthusiastically. Half an hour later and the duo separated to get to work.
Overall the day went well. Wally and John had ordered their food and began their walk to the slums of Central City. John frowned. "Where do you live?"
"A small apartment between Keystone and Central. It's not in the greatest of areas and isn't the nicest place to live, but with my metabolism most of my paycheck goes towards food. I have to be responsible about how I spend my money."
John frowned. "That's rough. I have some cash that-"
"No! I can take care of myself. I've been doing it since I was fourteen, and I'm still doing it. I'll be fine on my own." Wally sped up his pace, the duo finally coming to a stop on the second floor of a rundown apartment complex. The redhead opened the door, allowing John to go in first before closing the door behind them. It was a small space with a kitchen, a spot for the couch and TV, a bathroom, and a bedroom that barely had enough space to walk around the actual bed itself. "I know it's not much, but it's home."
They sat at the table and began eating, John grimacing at the speedster's eating habits. "So why don't you tell the rest of the League about how smart you are? You could probably be on par with Batman's intellect."
Wally scoffed. "I don't need them getting on my case about any of that. I'm sure you'll already treat me differently on the field because of my knowledge and age. The League would treat me differently too."
John remained silent for a few minutes as they ate. "Why did you tell me who you were today?"
"Because you're my best friend and I'm all alone. My aunt and uncle died a good while back and they're the only family I had left. I didn't have friends because of how young I was and I didn't know any other superheroes until the League was made. You're literally the only friend I have, both in and out of costume. I haven't been able to trust someone like that in a long time."
"So you told me because you trust me?"
Wally nodded. "There's one more thing I have to tell you about. It's kind of something that happened recently and I've been freaking out about it. It's irreversible though, trust me. I've analyzed the last of what that stuff was and I can't re-engineer it to fix what's already started."
"Flash? What's wrong?" John looked at the concerned expression on the redhead's face.
"It was when I ran off during the CADMUS operation last week. I found Desmond, but I was just so angry and... he may have... injected me with an experimental blood sample."
"He what?!" John's eyes were wide with shock and Wally shook his hands frantically.
"No, no it's okay! I mean it's not really, but it's not too bad!"
"What. Did. He. Do."
Wally went to run a hand through his hair, grimacing at the hat and taking it off. He ruffled his hair, the orange locks sticking up wildly. "Don't freak out." He lowered his pants and boxers a little bit, and John shot up at the gauze wrapped tightly around Wally's waist. "Hey, it's okay!" He began unwrapping it, sighing in relief when it was removed. "It was just to keep this damned thing in place." He turned around and a short red furry striped tail poked out, wiggling a little since it was still so short. John stared with unblinking eyes. "...John? Buddy?"
He looked into the green eyes of his best friend and frowned. "You have a tail."
"It's still growing. So are the ears." He pointed at the top of his head and the space cop could vaguely make out small triangular ears sticking up. "The enhanced senses already kicked in and my teeth and nails are way sharper, so I've gotta file my nails a lot. Doesn't help much since I've got super speed but whatever." He looked at John with an intense stare and the large man noticed how his pupils weren't perfectly round, as if they were slightly slitted like a cat's. "You can't tell the League about this. I'm telling you this because I trust you. I don't want the others thinking I'm some kind of freak."
"They wouldn't-"
"But they will." He crossed his arms before he began to pace, his short tail whipping around with his movements. "I theorized that Desmond was working on a serum to enhance a human's senses and durability. He used feline DNA, but the people he kidnapped didn't heal nearly as fast as I do, so they most likely died from their wounds. For me, I'm healing at an almost normal pace. Even my healing can't go as fast as usual. I think that's the only reason why my body isn't shutting down. The cat DNA fused with my own. I already checked in the lab earlier, so I can't reverse it. My point is that telling the League about a tail and some ears isn't going to make a difference. Let them keep believing me to be the idiot little brother of the team. It's easier for everyone that way."
John pursed his lips but nodded. "If that's what you want to do then I won't question it. This is your choice, not mine." He smiled softly and Wally offered one of his own. "Besides, you trusted me with this. I can't exactly turn my back on my best friend, now can I?"
The redhead absolutely beamed at his fellow hero as they finished eating together.
.o0.0o.
His tail had doubled its length after another week, and Wally had gotten to the point where he had to bind it around his waist so people wouldn't see the lump on his back when he wore his Flash suit. It was still slightly visible, but only if you really looked hard and knew it was there in the first place. John said it looked fine before they'd gone in for one of the League meetings and Wally had nodded, nerves flooding his system.
He'd been immensely pleased when the meeting had passed without incident.
The two friends had actually discussed living arrangements and decided that since John was off world a lot but now had a steady income, he could live with Wally. At first John had protested his friend's offer, but after a hefty argument he resigned to what the redhead said. It was hard to say no when the young man's larger ears were pinned against the top of his head and his short tail kept lashing all over the place. He really looked like a humanoid tabby and while John would never admit it, he thought Wally looked absolutely adorable with his furry new appendages. He just looked so cuddly!
Wally and John had grown even closer since the Flash's identity and everything else with it was revealed, and they hung out even more than they did before. Wally even helped set the Lantern up on a date with Shayera. It was scheduled for that night at Jitters, a small coffee shop Wally was obsessed with.
The twenty two year old rushed around the ex marine, fixing his outfit up as best he could. "It's not a super fancy café or anything, but it's not in the slums either. Most of the customers are reporters or lawyers or have jobs where they're required to dress formally. A nice dark green silk dress shirt and black slacks should look good with your dress shoes. They're that deep brown color I told you to go get, right?"
John nodded as Wally finished tucking in the bill of his friend's shirt, taking a few steps back and nodding in satisfaction. He looked in the mirror, mildly impressed with the speedster's fashion choice. For someone who ran around in red spandex most of the time, he was shockingly color coordinated and had an impeccable taste. "How did you even know this would look good on me?"
Wally rolled his eyes as if the answer were obvious, his triangular cat ears flicking in annoyance. "Well you have to first decide what palette you want to go with. You could either go entirely dark, entirely light, or a mix of both. You have to be careful if you go all one direction though or the colors could clash. For you I chose some earthy hues that would compliment your skin tone. You'd look best in cooler tones like greens, blues, silvers and purples. I have a cooler skin tone as well, but I like red so I have to be careful what I coordinate it with. Another tip; if you ever wear a light shirt, wear dark pants. The same goes the other way with a dart top and light bottoms. Having a good equilibrium will help keep you fashionable."
John blinked a few times. "Okay... thanks for the tip, Wally."
He smiled widely, his sharp canines on display. "Anytime. Now let's get going. I'll be sitting in the back of the café so if you need me I'll be there for you." He tugged on a navy blue beanie that went well with his black jeans and bright red hoodie. He looked like a teenager if John were being honest. It still shocked him how young the scarlet speedster was.
They got to Jitters a solid fifteen minutes early, Wally walking in and sitting down so if Shayera was early she wouldn't see the two going in together. Of course the beautiful woman arrived two or three minutes after John had settled down, dressed in jeans, a beige blouse, and a long black cardigan that concealed her wings. She smiled softly at John, and Wally did his best not to stare at the two easily flustered lovers. He always found new couples to be humorous, especially since they most always got confused over such simple things. He turned his attention back to the iced chai tea and chocolate croissant sitting before him, computer opened on his latest case at work. He frowned at his sharpened nails, disappointed that they'd grown back so sharp after he just cut them before leaving for Jitters. He looked up at the two Leaguers sitting across the room from him, his now enhanced hearing easily picking up what they were saying. He'd brought earbuds for a reason though, and listening to Shayera ask John about work as a cop was more than bland enough for him to turn on some Pink!. The night went smoothly, and when John and Shayera left he made sure to wait a few minutes before leaving and making his way back home.
It was well into the night did John return, a warm smile curving his lips. He raised an eyebrow at the redhead sitting on the couch with his tongue sticking out in concentration as he sewed a pair of his boxers. "Wally? What're you doing?"
He shrugged, green gaze filled with determination. "If I'm stuck with a tail then I don't want to be uncomfortable all the time. I cut a hole in most of my boxers and am just sewing the edges up so they don't rip in the dryer. At least this way I can wrap my tail around my waist outside my undies and bandage them that way instead of directly against my skin." John nodded in understanding, smirking a little at the way Wally's tabby ears twitched. "So how'd the date go? I don't think you even needed me there, dude."
"It went really well." He took his coat off, plopping onto the couch next to the freckled young man. "We already plan on having another date next week if we can."
"That's great! How long have you two been together again?"
John shrugged. "Six and a half months. I'm really happy with her, Walls."
Wally looked up from his sewing, eyes crinkling in the corners as he smiled. "I know. You two are perfect for each other." They sat on the couch in a comfortable silence, Wally meticulously sewing and John watching an old hockey game.
.o0.0o.
Wally pursed his lips as his tail flicked back and forth. John was sitting on the couch reading the paper while the younger of the two stared at himself in the mirror. Over the past month his feline attributes had become more prominent, his tail now down to his knees and his canines and nails sharper. His ears were already done, primarily a bright burnt orange color with a few darker and lighter stripes thrown in the mix. His tail was similarly colored, and he actually had a few small stripes on his back and sides now as well. John kept joking that the speedster was a little dumpster tabby, always being pouty and throwing hissy fits. Wally vehemently protested that, of course.
He let loose another growl as his tail flicked away from him again. The redhead took a deep breath, trying to relax and focus on the feeling of his tail, of wrapping it around his waist snug and secure. He needed to learn to control his tail's movements. It didn't have a mind of its own and Wally sure as hell wasn't gonna get caught all because his newest appendage felt the need to twitch.
Of course that's exactly what his tail decided to do for the millionth time that afternoon. With an angry shriek of indignation, Wally tugged at his hair and stormed out of the bathroom. John looked up and snickered at the ears pinned against Wally's head and his tail violently thrashing around behind him. "You okay Hotshot? You were in there for a solid twenty minutes."
"No, I'm not okay!" He began to pace, hands flying around to emphasize his distress. "Every time I try to make my tail do something, it just freaks out and spazzes everywhere! I can't even wrap it around my waist without having to wrestle it into place and secure it with gauze! I mean I have to wrap it up anyways to hide it but still!" He turned accusing eyes on John, pupils dilated into slits. "Did you know that Superman confronted me the other day during monitor duty and said I'd gained weight? I had to say I was just adding on a few pounds in muscle because obviously with all the gauze I wrap around my waist to keep it from looking lumpy it makes me look less like a Dorito and more like a flat board! I've lost my shape!"
John quirked an eyebrow. "Dorito? Like the chip?"
"Exactly like the chip! Most swimmers and runners have broad shoulders and a slimmer waist, giving them what most call a Dorito shape. I like being a Dorito! I don't wanna be a-a-a SunChip!" He began to pace again, and John just took a deep breath. He really was best friends with a child.
"Wally, you're fine. I doubt Superman was calling you fat."
"He was implying I was fat?!" He tugged at his hair, his tail puffed up in distress. "He thinks I'm fat?!"
This conversation wasn't going well at all. "No, he-"
"Okay, that's it! Let's just cut this damned thing off!"
"What?!" John scrambled after the speedster zipping into the kitchen and taking out a butcher knife. He placed his bright tail on the table, the end of it wriggling desperately like it knew what was about to happen. "Wally, no! Stop that!"
"It shouldn't be here anyways!" He held the meat cleaver high in the air and John quickly made a construct around the speedster's fist and knife.
"Wally, I need you to think for a moment here!"
"I'm always thinking!"
"Well obviously not clearly!" Wally outright snarled at John, his tail still thrashing angrily. "Listen Hotshot, getting rid of the tail isn't going to solve anything. You'll still have the ears, still have the nails, still have the teeth and eyes and all that jazz. For all you know, chopping your tail off could just make it regrow! Don't cause yourself extra pain by making a mistake you know you'll regret."
The anger seemed to fade away a little, Wally's pupils slowly returning to a more normal and rounded out size. He lowered his arm, letting his tail go and not noticing how it hung limply behind him. "You're right. I'm sorry. I just... I snapped. It's so hard because I don't understand how any of this is supposed to work. I don't get it." Tears filled his eyes and John approached his friend with a concerned gaze. In all the time he'd known him, the Lantern had never seen Wally cry. He was mostly cheerful, though on rare occasions he'd get a little gloomy. While hesitant, John knew that the speedster was one who took comfort in physical contact, and so he opened his arms wide and wrapped them tightly around the redhead. Wally stiffened in surprise for all of a second before relaxing and clinging tightly to John, sobbing heavily into his chest.
"You're not alone Hotshot. I'm your best friend. I'll be with you the whole time."
.o0.0o.
The next few months went well, what with Wally finally getting the hang of his newer features. His tail had stopped growing once it hit the floor, easily being three and a half feet or so. While the red headed twenty two year old had changed a little and become more instinctive, he was still himself and still loved being the Flash and hanging out with the League. John and Shayera were still going strong, though they'd gotten into a few spats recently.
It made sense when she betrayed the League two weeks later and the Thanagarians invaded Earth.
That left the six other members of the Justice League where they were now; stuck in a small clothing store hiding from Thanagarian soldiers patrolling the streets. Wally frowned at Batman when he suggested they reveal their identities. Sure, Wally trusted them all, but he was still scared they would reject him. With his feline features added on top, he felt like even more of a freak then he did before. John must've been able to tell the poor kid was having an internal freak out because he gingerly nudged him in the shoulder and gave a small nod.
Wally sighed, rubbing lightly at his forehead. "I still don't like it, but I understand."
Batman nodded, pointing between the three Leaguers who had yet to reveal themselves. "Clark Kent. Wally West. Bruce Wayne." He tugged his black cowl off, revealing raven hair and cerulean eyes. Wally gasped at him for a moment in shock; he honestly hadn't been expecting a billionaire playboy to be hiding under there. Superman grabbed a pair of glasses from a nearby shelf and placed them delicately on the bridge of his nose, already tugging on a large jacket and some pants. Wally shuffled his feet, looking down at the ground. "What is it Flash." Of course Batman would demand and already know there was a problem.
"I-" He cut himself off, staring down at his toes. John rolled his eyes and slapped Wally lightly on the back of the head, earning a small shriek from the speedster.
"Around eight months ago when we raided CADMUS, Wally got himself injected with an experimental blood sample by one of the whackos there and thinks we're all gonna freak out about it."
"What."
Wally's shoulders shrunk up into his neck and he bit his lip. "Desmond managed to inject something into my system. It permanently altered my DNA. There's no way to reverse it."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Superman- now dressed as Clark- looked hurt. "Do you not trust us?"
"No, I do! I just... I didn't want to be seen as more of a freak than I already am."
Diana frowned. "You are not a freak, Flash. I don't understand why you believe we would treat you differently."
J'onn scrunched his brows in confusion. "I thought that your tail was simply part of your speed. I apologize for have not realized sooner."
That caught the others off guard. Bruce narrowed his eyes and Wally took a deep breath before removing his cowl, his ears pinned flat against his head. He refused to look up and see their horrified gazes.
Instead, Diana walked over and ruffled his hair. He looked up at her in shock, and she smiled at him kindly. "Red hair. It suits you."
"You think?" He beamed a smile back at her, and when he received a nod he removed his suit and replaced it with clothes he had stored in his ring within a second. He tugged a dark green beanie on and finished pulling on his navy blue button up over his white shirt when he noticed the startled expressions everyone (including John) wore. He frowned, looking down at his attire. "What? Is there something wrong with my clothes?"
John laughed and shook his head. "Nah, I just didn't realize you always had some with you Hotshot."
Wally blinked a few times before laughing. "Well of course I do! My ring is a pocket dimension that my uncle and I built years ago. I've got half my closet stored in here!" His smile fell and he glared at it. "Although I'm pretty sure I lost my favorite pair of socks in there..."
"How old are you?" Clark stared on with concern and Wally scowled.
"I'm twenty two, and before you say anything about me being young and all that bullshit, I'm not. I graduated high school when I was fourteen and have a good paying job. I've been in the hero business before I was even a teen, so don't treat me any differently. Please." The last bit was a silent plea to just let the subject be. Clark frowned but nodded in understanding.
"Fourteen? Is that not young for someone to graduate?" Bruce smirked at Diana and nodded.
"Wallace is a genius. He acts like he doesn't understand what's happening most of the time so people underestimate him. His strategies though are very well thought out and usually efficient."
Wally blinked in shock and pointed at the Dark Knight. "You knew?"
Everyone saw the slight up tilt of his lips as Bruce easily declared "I'm Batman. I know everything."
Wally pouted while John laughed at his friend and pat him on the shoulder. He was still sulking as they left the shop in civilian clothing.
.o0.0o.
It was after the invasion did things settle down. The other Leaguers often took their cowls off when on the Watchtower since secrecy amongst one another was unnecessary. John moved into a room there and Wally put a few of his things in his own room, adding a bright Flash insignia on the front of the door. He smiled proudly at it, tail sticking out of his sweats and swinging side to side in his joy. It was nice to be able to walk around outside of his small apartment without having to hide himself in large clothes and a hat.
"I see you're adjusting well."
Wally looked at Shayera, a false smile of bravado on her face. Wally smiled back, hugging her. "I'm gonna miss you, you know."
She held him tightly against her, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'll miss you too, little brother. I'm sorry for all that I've done, and now I must make amends. I will fix the havoc I have wreaked upon Earth and the League."
"You don't have to go," he muttered softly.
"But I do."
Tears prickled his eyes and rolled down his freckled cheeks. "You'll come back?"
She nodded against his shoulder. "I promise."
He chuckled, backing away and quickly wiping at his eyes. Shayera wiper her own before giving a determined nod and walking away, leaving Wally on his own. While things were still tense between most of the Leaguers, the speedster felt at peace for the first time in a while. Him and John were still best friends, Shayera and him were still brother and sister, and the rest of the League no longer treated him like an ignorant idiot. They knew what he did for a living now, knew he was a talented and strong minded forensic scientist. He was often asked for help on battle strategies and the other members would actually listen to what he had to say. Things were definitely different than what they had been like before, but things had changed for the better.
Wally smiled widely as he zipped down the halls, his tail trailing behind him. Maybe things weren't as bad as he had originally thought.
A/N: I know that the ending is kinda lame, but I've had this story in my docs for ages and I wanted to post another Wally centric story so here it is! I've got a lot of other Wally based stories I'm working on, as well as some Teen Wolf and follow up chapters on older stories I never got around to finishing. I'm going to be having surgery in two weeks and think that I'll have a lot of free time on my hands while I recover, so hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more of me soon. Thank you for reading this and please review if you can! I love to hear from you all.
Love, sKaEtrgrL