"Wally! Wally!"

Wally wasn't listening as he pushed the car forwards, the broken-down wreck looking like nothing more than a streak of colour as it sped down the highway. Less than five seconds later, when they reached small deserted area near the centre of the town, Wally came to a screeching halt.

"You know…" Jay emerged from the car, helping his shell-shocked wife Joan, out of the car, "… when I said that we desperately needed to get to this appointment on time, I didn't mean push the car after it broke down. I'm sure the recovery truck would have come on time."

"But this was so much quicker!"

"It's not all about being fast Wally."

When Wally just shrugged at him, Jay rolled his eyes and smiled fondly. "Stay here…" he gently ordered, "… Don't move, don't go anywhere, not even for a second. We'll be back soon."

Just before they left, Jay turned to his adoptive son again, "Wally…. I mean it. Stay. Here."

As they walked away, Wally had every intention of staying where he was…. Until he heard the frantic, panicked sounds coming from the local coffee shop. Curiously peeking inside, he spotted a server struggling with a tray full of cups and glasses and plates, seconds away from falling and ruining everything.

"Oh, here!" He exclaimed, rushing over and helping to support the tray, "Let me help you with that!"

He heard the server sigh happily in relief, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You're welcome!"

As soon as he saw him, the server visibly panicked. "I-It's you!" he exclaimed, before twisting around and wrenching the tray out of Wally's grasp, causing her to frown.

"Ummm…. Maybe I can help you?"

"No! No! I'm fine!"

"Are you sure, I mean- "

"- Yes! Completely fine! You can be on your way!"

"But- "

"- Now!"

As the barista glared at him, Wally slowly made his way out of the store… only to get hit in the head with a frisbee, a group of boys his own age rushing over.

"Hey!" Wally bent to pick it up, "Can I play?"

"Ummmm…" The leader stuttered, "… We'd love to invite you, but… we already have seven and we want to keep it even!"

"But… seven isn't- "

Before he could finish, the frisbee was snatched out of his hands and the group all raced away, their insults not quite as quiet as they hoped.

Freak.

Loser.

Dejectedly, Wally moved to head back to the car, only to hear the teenagers yelp again.

"WATCH OUT!"

Spinning around, he saw the frisbee heading straight for him again.

This was a way he could prove himself.

"I got it! I got it!"

Jumping up, Wally managed to catch the frisbee in his hand, only to realise that he was heading straight for the coffee shop and the poor server.

It was chaos.

With the speed that Wally managed to get up to, it wasn't just the server he took out, he was propelled right into the kitchen, where all the cups and plates were kept, the fragile porcelain shattering.

The commotion caught everyone's attention as a crowd gathered around the shop, including his adoptive parents, who had only just made their way back to the car.

"THAT IS IT!" The owner cried out, dragging Wally out of the store and throwing him to the ground, "THIS IS THE LAST STRAW GARRICK!"

"That boy is a menace!"

"He's too dangerous to be around normal people!"

Every word cut deep and Wally shrank back, closing his eyes so that he didn't have to look at anyone.

"He didn't mean any harm." Jay desperately tried to explain, "He's just a kid who… can't control his speed."

"I'm warning you Garrick! You keep that-that-that freak away from here!"

Wally flushed bright red in embarrassment, ducking his head as everyone agreed.

"Come on." Joan whispered in his ear, "Let's go home."

….

Wally didn't know how long he'd been sitting on this bench, staring out at the horizon… long enough for Jay to come out looking for him.

"Wally…" Jay sighed, "… You really shouldn't let the words they said back there get to you."

"But they're right!" Wally shot to his feet, "I am a freak! I try to fit in, I really do… but I can't." He sighed wearily, "Sometimes- sometimes I feel like I don't belong here… like I'm meant to be somewhere else."

Slowly, Hay made his way over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Wally, son- "

"- I know." Wally pulled away, "It doesn't make any sense."

Running away, Wally found himself on the edge of a cliff, staring out at the horizon. How often had he stood here, dreaming of a far-off place, where everyone was happy to see him, where the crowds cheered when they saw his face… where he was meant to be.

Today, more than any other day, he wanted that place to exist.

After the sun set in the sky, he raced home, only to see Jay and Joan waiting for him in the doorway.

"Wally, there's…" Jay sighed, "… there's something we've been meaning to tell you."

…..

"You found me?" Wally frowned, "So… where did I come from then?"

Joan headed over to the fireplace, picking up an ornate box and bring it over. When she opened it up, it revealed a golden medallion. "This was on you when we found you… it has the symbol of the Gods on it."

"The Gods?" Wally grabbed it and leapt to his feet, "That's it! Maybe they have the answers. The museum has an exhibit on Greek history at the moment. I'll go there and- " He paused, glancing back at Jay and Joan and wincing at the look of quiet acceptance on their faces, "- Jay. Joan… you guys are the best parents anyone could ever ask for but- but I need to know where I came from. Who I am, you know?"

Joan and Jay glanced at each other, before they smiled warmly at each other and nodded in agreement.

…..

The next morning, he was off, entering the museum just as the doors opened, instantly heading to the Greek exhibit. Led by an over-enthusiastic tour guide, the group entered a large chamber, where several statues lined the walls.

"On the right, you will see Hermes, the messenger God with his- "

Suddenly she stopped… in fact, everyone except Wally seemed to stop in their tracks. Wally zipped over to the tour guide and waved his hand in front of her eyes, frowning when she didn't even flinch.

In fact, were her eyes moving a little?

"Ummm… hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

Before he could say anything else, wind started to swirl around the room and the large torches that were next to the statue of Hermes suddenly lit up.

And the statue's eyes seemed to light up as well, fixing on a slightly stunned Wally.

"Wally?"

Wally wasn't ashamed to admit that he squealed a little bit as a giant stone hand reached out for him, much faster than he was able to get away. Gently, the hand grabbed him and lifted him into the air, until he was level with the statues face.

"WOW, IS THAT ANYWAY TO SAY HELLO TO YOUR UNCLE?"

Wally felt his jaw drop slightly, "U-Uncle?"

"YOU DOUBT ME?"

Wally was still in shock.

"LOOK HOW YOU'VE GROWN…" The statue examined Wally from head to toe, "… YOU LOOK SO MUCH LIKE IRIS."

"Wait, wait…" Wally frowned, "… if you're my Uncle, does that make me a God?"

"NO…. WELL YES AND NO."

"A God… a God!"

"YOU WANTED ANSWERS, AND I THINK YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THE TRUTH."

"So… what about my parents? And you? Didn't you want me?" Wally didn't really want to know the answer, but he had to ask.

"So, why did you leave me on Earth… didn't you want me?" Thor didn't really want to know the answer… just in case it was the wrong one.

"YOUR PARENTS COULDN'T LOOK AFTER YOU… AND YOUR AUNT AND I LOVED YOU DEARLY. BUT SOMEONE STOLE YOU FROM US AND TURNED YOU MORTAL! AND ONLY GODS CAN LIVE ON OLYMPICS."

"So… there's nothing you can do?"

"I CAN'T DO ANYTHING, NO, BUT YOU CAN!"

"Really?!" Wally was practically vibrating in excitement "What is it? I'll do anything!"

"WALLY, IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE A TRUE HERO ON EARTH, THEN YOUR GOD-HOOD WILL BE RESTORED."

"A true hero!" Wally then frowned, "How do I do that?"

"FIND THE YOUNG JUSTICE TEAM. THEY'LL HELP."

"…Who?" Wally waved his hands, "Never mind, I'll figure that out later."

The statue seemed amused by this, before shaking his head. "USUALLY BY THIS POINT, I'D BRING OUT A SIDEKICK, BUT HONESTLY WE DON'T HAVE ONE TO HAND. MAYBE IN THE FUTURE."

"Right…" Wally frowned, "… find the Young Justice team, become a hero and then I can join you on Mount Olympus."

"GOOD LUCK, AND MAY THE SPEEDFORCE BE WITH YOU."

"You're a Star Wars nerd?"

"OF COURSE."

Wally straightened up, a beam on his face, "I won't let you down… Uncle."

"I KNOW."

The fires went out and the statue was inanimate once more, as a blur left the museum.