You and I Got Something

Random Note: This has been a very very sucky week. Very. But I shall try to keep it separate from the writing. Oh, and I figured out why John is nuts. Someone, namely me, has been reading Johnny the Homicidal Maniac very late at night. If you've read it you understand…

And I'm glad everyone was so disturbed! That means I'm doing my job. So one more after this, give or take a chapter. I'll know by the time I get to the bottom.

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Chapter eleven
And I won't tell
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John got back to the tower to find things were slightly more active than they had been before. J'onn was back, as were Superman and Batman. If John was forced to go out on a limb he'd say Superman was probably cursing his luck and wondering why he was stuck with three of the most pessimistic members of the League all at once.

It wasn't that John didn't like Clark because he did, in that strange multiple personality disorder way they were all so fond of. And it was because he liked Clark, to a certain degree, that he didn't snap when the other man asked why Sinestro's head was bleeding.

Instead he just frowned and, temporarily dumping a half-conscious Sinestro on the ground, turned his attention to the Martian.

"Have you heard anything from Wally?"

J'onn shook his head. "No. He is…hidden from me. We had all returned at the same time and, upon finding you both missing, looked at the last few hours of tape. After seeing the footage Batman and I located I tried to find him, to see if he harmed, but thus far I have found nothing."

In a general sense being blocked from J'onn wasn't always a bad thing. Some of them had half-mastered mental blocking, there was always the possibility of being behind a psychic shield, or a person could just be unconscious. Or a person could be dead. So in a general sense…not bad.

Worst case scenario? Very bad.

"We hoped, after seeing you catch Sinestro, that you had him already." Batman added, glancing up from the monitors to fix a look on Sinestro that could only be described as dark. If he'd been awake he would have undoubtedly been very much afraid.

It was kind of a shame he was too out of it to notice. John nudged him and was rewarded with a quiet groan. Maybe he shouldn't have hit him so hard last time. Not that he could do anything about it now. Besides, if anyone asked he hadn't seen that billboard until it was much too late to possibly do anything about it.

"He hasn't been saying much." He was lying of course. Villains didn't like pain much, people like Harley Quinn aside, and tended to start begging for mercy pretty fast. And, considering that he hadn't really done anything, that kind of took the fun out of it.

He kicked him again.

No. He was wrong. Still fun. J'onn looked at him oddly but Batman remained as impassive as ever. If not a little pissed off.

Superman arched an eyebrow. "I think he has a concussion."

"Hardly." John snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. Then smirked. "More likely he has a fractured skull."

"John-"

"If you would like I could try to…extract the information." J'onn cut in before Superman could try to scold him. He'd probably say something about not tormenting the bad guys. John didn't particularly care. If he could banish people than John could smack people around.

Fair was fair after all. Or was it Fair was Foul…?(1)

It would probably be faster and a lot less messy. And if Wally was facing life or death it was by far the most logical and safe answer. He frowned. He'd kind of wanted to beat it out of him though. Not that Wally was right about the beating up informants thing, because he was very wrong. It was just that every so often there were exceptions to the rule.

Sinestro was an exception.

"You can still interrogate for other information." Batman supplied. John quirked an eyebrow. Was Bruce giving him permission to torture people? How…un-Bruce like. "He did still gold, money, and technology you realize. We need to find Flash now, but there's no reason to ask J'onn to find such trivial things."

Batman rationalized very well. A lot better than he ever did. Wally would have liked to see this. He had once said that the only difference between the moral and the immoral was that the moral rationalized their screwed up actions better. John was pretty sure he'd ripped it from a movie.

He nodded and stepped aside. He wasn't worried about Sinestro getting out, since he was still very heavily bound in wire. Still he was tempted to kick him in the head for good measure but for all he knew J'onn couldn't read his mind if he was totally knocked out.

And that would be bad.

J'onn crouched in front of Sinestro, eyeing the former-lantern carefully. Then he reached out, putting his hands on either side of Sinestro's head, and closed his eyes. John shook his head and walked over to Batman who was running a search over the planet.

"Found interesting footage?"

Batman glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Disturbing. Under normal circumstances I might ask what would possess you to make moves on Wally and not make sure all of the possible exits are locked."

"Temporary insanity." He wondered how long temporary insanity lasted anyway. He couldn't milk that forever. Besides, he was feeling strangely calm. "Is that your way of saying you approve?"

Bruce was a prick but he was fond enough of Wally. John never said it but he was pretty sure the younger man took some of Bruce's comments too seriously. He didn't treat him any differently than he treated anyone, with the exception of Diana.

Batman snorted then glanced over his shoulder to where the others were. "Any thoughts?"

"Beyond the fact I'd hate to be the one poking around in Sinestro's head?" He shook his head. "Not really. Well…someone might want to check on Gear. I'm thinking that kid is going to have some major issues; first Brainiac takes a holiday in his head and now Sinestro..."

"We all have issues." John just blinked at him. Batman smiled grimly. "I'll have Robin pay a visit to Dakota later this week."

John may have been tempted to say something about Batman trying to duck a bunch of high-school kids but forgot what exactly his thought was at the sound of a body colliding with the ground. He glanced over to see Sinestro more or less down for the count officially and J'onn holding his head in pain.

Or disgust.

Martian facial expressions were so hard to read.

With a final grimace he straightened up and walked away from Sinestro stiffly. John was half tempted to ask what he'd seen but at the same time he really didn't want to know. The Martian leaned over Batman's shoulder and changed the search. This time it was centered on the asteroid belt. That made a small amount of sense, since that's where the ruined ship had been and Sinestro really wasn't the most creative guy in the galaxy.

Kidnapping Wally aside. Taking loved ones hostage was in the book but he hadn't really thought to read that chapter. He didn't really like anyone that much. Wally just had a way of getting under people's skin and effectively ruining plans, otherwise he'd still just be the slightly annoying but tolerable guy who kept getting smacked with shrapnel. (And no, he was never letting that go.)

Nope, he had to become that guy who he actually didn't mind hanging out with to one of his closest friends to…whatever he was now. And then there was the plan ruining.

Like John's plan to feel things out between him and Wally before taking any action. Wally just…left himself open for mocking and John was never one to not rise to the occasion.

"We're getting a signal." Batman muttered, though it sounded more like a question than a statement. John leaned forward, expecting to see that they had found Wally. Instead it reported an incoming signal. Someone was seeking them out.

"Tell them we're busy and to leave a message at the beep." John suggested lightly. He heard Superman choke back a laugh in the background. Bruce, of course, ignored him. He hit the intercept command and then a slightly shaky image of Wally popped up.

Of course. He really should have seen that one coming. Wally wasn't exactly your normal person in trouble after all. He was Flash. He could take care of himself. Most of the time. It wasn't like John could tease him about this later or anything. Sinestro had gotten the drop on him and taken his lantern after all.

Best to chalk it up to mutual bad day and never speak of it again.

Wally looked a little worse for wear, pale with yet another cut on his head, but otherwise fine. He waved at them then frowned and smacked whatever he was looking at.

"I knew Electronics 101 would be useful. Sinestro should not leave holographic transmitters lying around."

"You're not dead." Batman said, frowning.

"Disappointed Bats?" A sardonic smile went along with this. "Anyone else hanging around? Maybe burning the midnight oil looking for me or something? This thing isn't a two-way."

"It's only nine in Central City." J'onn pointed out. Wally rolled his eyes.

"J'onn, man, that is not the point."

John arched an eyebrow. "You have a point?"

Wally flinched. It was small but visible nonetheless. John drew away, frowning. There was that rage again. He'd almost forgotten about that whole killing Sinestro thing. Distracted by the prospect of finding Wally. He'd actually let the fact Sinestro had done whatever he did wearing his image slip his mind. Wally probably wouldn't be eager to see or speak to him for a while.

Which was fine. He had other ways to occupy himself.

"I'll be in one of the holding cells."

"Was that John? You know...John?"

"I probed Sinestro's mind in an attempt to locate you-" If possible Wally became even paler that before. "And I'm sure that Lantern is Lantern and Sinestro is Sinestro."

Wally was silent for a few moments then he forced a smile. "So…I don't suppose there is a chance I could be…not here anymore?"

"I don't know. It's been quiet." Clark said while stepping up to take the place John had occupied. The other man had dragged Sinestro off, eyes taking on a slightly chilling gleam. Clark had looked tempted to follow but a look from John had changed his mind.

He was invulnerable but he wasn't suicidal. John was clearly not in his happy place.

"I'm sure whatever John has planned for Sinestro will be very noisy." J'onn had opted to sit once Wally's transmission had come in. Bruce would have asked how the Martian was, because he looked kind of sick, but he didn't want to know what was in Sinestro's mind. That was entirely too close to the psychotic (and according to John sick and twisted) mind for his liking.

He was already (allegedly) certifiable as it was.

Besides with all of his own personal crazies on the loose he couldn't afford to worry himself over anyone else's.

"Both John and Sinestro are there?" Wally looked torn between the urge to throw up and laugh. It was an interesting look for him.

Clark seemed to be considering that. "Sinestro is…here. How here John is has become a debatable topic."

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "We're debating?"

"Debatable?" This came from Wally.

J'onn sat back and closed his eyes. He looked like he had a headache. Did Martians get headaches? Did they have any aspirin left? "He's lucid."

Bruce refrained from pointing out that the Riddler was pretty lucid as well and instead started the transport process. "Don't move unless you want to risk losing limbs."

"That was comforting."

"I was going for factual."

Wally started to make a gesture but dissolved into a shower of atoms before it happened. A second later he appeared on the pad. He hurried off and up to where they were, not running at his usual speeds. He also seemed to be limping.

"You should probably go to the infirmary." Clark said, eyeing his progress.

"No!" Wally said quickly. Too quickly. Bruce turned and looked him over carefully. He looked worse in person, as in three seconds from collapse. Wally swallowed and looked away. "I just need a very long shower. And ice cream."

"I think we're out."

"Someone hates me." He reached up and pushed his hair out of his face, revealing a sticky looking gash across his temple. He winced when his finger's brushed it. "So."

"John's in one of the holding cells discussing things with Sinestro." He supplied turning back to the screen. He pulled up the security video, searching out the footage that had alerted J'onn and himself of the problem to begin with.

"I wasn't going to ask that." Wally muttered. He shifted his weight again. He was favoring one side over the other and he seemed oddly…coherent and subdued. Tired. "What're you doing?"

"Deleting footage."

"Can you do that?"

"This is my station. I can do whatever I want." This was, of course, true. He could do whatever he wanted. And did usually. He just didn't tell anybody what he was doing most of the time. He didn't want to flaunt his power. That would have been rude. "I didn't think you would mind. Besides, I'm sure John doesn't want anyone knowing Sinestro got the drop on him."

"Manly pride." Wally said with a solemn nod. Then a frown. "Forget I said that."

The computer spit of a disk. He picked it up then offered it to Wally who gazed at it warily before taking it. With that he calmly deleted everything and replaced it with a loop of Wally sleeping and John tossing paper basketballs into a basket. It was from a few months ago but what no one else knew.

"Infirmary?" Clark was about to descend into fully mother hen mode. It was amusing as long as it was aimed at someone other than Bruce who had enough problems with Alfred and Tim as it was.

Wally rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. See? This is me…fine. In fact, I'm so fine that I'm leaving now."

And he did. Clark glared after him then sighed and stalked off. Probably to pout. First John went off to take out his anger on people, and then Wally refused to listen to him…yes. He was probably pouting. Bruce made a mental note to taunt him later on.

He looked over a J'onn. "You feeling okay?"

The Martian shrugged a gesture he'd picked up from being around humans so long no doubt. Bruce didn't recall seeing him do it in the first few months they had worked together. "I haven't seen anything I haven't seen on your news channels before now."

He nodded slowly. "Scary isn't it?"

"Very."

Wally wandered down to the holding cells, much against his better judgment. Sinestro was down there and John was down there and his entire mind was screaming that was a very bad idea, even worse than racing Superman around the world, but here he was anyway.

He needed to ask John if Sinestro had said anything. His memory was still blessedly spotty and, while he had no plans to ask anyone to play fills in the blanks, he didn't want John knowing anything he didn't. Hell, he didn't want John knowing anything but he could only control what he could control.

He was about to ask the computer which cell Lantern was in when one of the doors slide open and a oddly cheerful looking John strode out, in his usual t-shirt and jeans. Then blinked at him. Before glancing back in the room. And then full attention was returned to him while putting his hands behind his back.

His mind was screaming again. This guy looked too happy to be John; he actually looked a little bit sadistic but was trying to hide it under calmness. John didn't try to hide things. Then again he'd never seen John being sadistic so he didn't actually have anything to compare this new sight to.

Either way his brain wasn't happy with this decision. It commanded him to run and hide in his room and not leave for a few months. His body agreed slightly; his palms were sweating and he wiped them on the front of his new jeans. He'd thrown the others in the garbage which meant they'd be burned soon.

That was a strangely comforting thought.

"You're getting better at rescuing yourself Kid."

"Do you know you have blood on your hands?" He could have smacked himself. He couldn't help but think that any minute John was going to fade into Sinestro and he'd be getting his ass kicked again.

Oddly enough it wasn't the ass kicking prospect that made him want to throw up again. Yeah, he was fine. Cue the eye rolling and less than discreet coughing in the background.

"Did you see me try to put them behind my back to hide them?"

"You should get cleaned up."

John shrugged then tilted his head off to the side. "You look…like shit."

He couldn't hold back a laugh. His mind stopped screaming, either giving up or agreeing that there was nothing to be worried about. Sinestro had been sickly sweet, mixed with flat out crazy, but he'd lacked the condescending tone of voice.

"You aren't exactly at your best either."

"I blame Static. I hate teenagers."

"You hate everyone."

"Discrimination is wrong." John said lightly. He started walking towards him but kept a deliberately slow pace. Giving him a chance to turn and run away screaming like a little girl no doubt. Wally had to say he appreciated the sentiment. Still his fight of flight instinct had kind of given up the ghost so it was kind of worthless. "Haven't you learned anything yet?"

"I learn…stuff." He shoved his hands into his pockets and coughed nervously. John nodded in his usual 'whatever you say' manner. Just ask him idiot. You don't even want to be around here. He really wanted to go to bed for the next five or six years, give or take a decade. Most likely give. "Did Sinestro say anything…interesting?"

"Yes." John leaned against the wall. "I now know that you think he's descended from goats. They don't even have goats on Korugar."

Wally frowned. "John-"

"Just because he said it doesn't make it true. If I tell you what he said you have to tell me if he's just saying stuff to make me stop kicking him." A small grin quirked his lips.

"You kicked him."

"It was fun."

"You kicked him."

"Repeatedly."

"You…I thought you said don't beat up people?"

John smirked again. "Batman said I could. Superman was against it but I think he's just a little bit afraid of me at the moment."

"Well you are green. Clark has a fear of green things." John nodded his agreement. He stared at the man who stared back. Finally he sighed. "You really aren't going to say anything."

"Sinestro has said a lot of things in the past hour. Why go over a bunch of stuff that probably isn't true and is better left forgotten?"

'He's giving me an out. Stupid…out giving bastard.' He swallowed again then did his best to shrug uncaringly and smile. "You have a point. So…"

"…yes?"

"You wanna watch a movie?"

John's eyebrow went up. "Do you?"

Wally shrugged. "I'm fine."

"Of course." A wry grin that almost had him blushing again. "Didn't ask that. You don't have to be around me. I promise I won't be offended. After all, I know my company is highly sought after in normal situations."

"I know your sanity is being questioned at the moment but don't actively prove them right." He paused for a moment then smiled. "It's more fun to leave them guessing."

John shook his head. "No one is guessing about you."

Wally decided not to dignify that with a response. Besides, it was true. "Movie?"

"If you want. Just let me call the Guardians and at least pretend that this was a perfectly routine thing."

He glanced over John's shoulder warily. "He's not-"

"Able to move? Of course not. I'm very thorough You don't stop until you hear the snap."

Wally just stared. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was very disturbed by that. At least he would have been disturbed if he knew how serious John was. It was hard to be sure sometimes.

"You just keep getting more and more frightening."

"It's an art form."

1. Macbeth quote. I thought it was a touch fitting, with the whole John impersonation thing.

2. Hate this chapter. It was…weird. Kicks the chapter But! I'm pretty sure there is one more and then we're all done. Until I get around to posting the other one. Which, just because I'm weird, already has two parts done. I don't write in order.

Hikari: Actually I think stress and needing to get laid are the same thing…and Wally's not going to be feeling too helpful for a while. We see a lot of GL and Flash in 'Heroes', and we'll see Static and Gear in 'Less than Guilty' which is a weird story that follows this one. And Wally and Richie have an interesting dynamic… What? Because they're my favorites? I'm not biased! Lies… And uh, Wally being traumatized VS Gear being tied up…I can see your priorities are in order.

Mechante: Yep, you are not allowed to comment. You killed people. I just traumatize. Seriously though, for some odd reason this story refuses to be serious. Just…refuses. It demands I be sarcastic and humorous. And, for the record, the morbid death fantasies aren't just mine. I've collected them from friends over the past two/three weeks. I have a whole stack, I just haven't worked them all in yet.

Kirke: Evil evil twisted man, actually… but the sentiment still stands. Heh. No, Sinestro and I aren't related, but I'd love to consult him on character torture. You know…future reference for when I finally get around to screwing with Dove…

Hols: I actually had a new chapter of Rumors ready last weekend. My account was frozen and…yeah. And you were disturbed? I was disturbed. I mean, I knew I was going to screw with Wally but that wrote itself. And then mocked me. It was terrible. And nope, Super Heroes can't be sane all the time… Wally has theories on that actually.

Cherre: Well…Gear's like sixteen so he isn't really a pedophile. John was just being snarky. And no…you can't kill me at all. Otherwise there will be no sequels. And you want the sequel don't you? Yes you do…

Cat: I didn't see it coming until…a month or so ago. I was watching this episode and there was Sinestro and he was all creepy and British (which makes no sense…) and I was like 'Wally Torture!' and…that's the story behind the story. Exciting, right? LOL.

Mars: Language! Tsk tsk…

Nameless: Gasp of horror Tenniegoth poetry and pompoms! That's just…cruel and unusual. 'WTfD' is actually slightly inspired by Austin Powers. My friend Chelle was watching it with me (Seth Green Marathon…) and she actually suggested that Dr. Evil needed one of those 'for dummies books'. To which I said 'World Takeover for Dummies? That would rock.' And there you are. Also exciting, I know… And 'The Alien' thing made me blink too when I went back. J'onn is the Martian, Supes is the Kryptontonian (which I'm sure I misspelled…) you'd think Sinestro would be…Korugarian or whatever. But he's not. Maybe because John doesn't like him? I had…plans when I first began this, but those went out the window during my 'break'. I wrote myself into a weird corner with the old plot and had to devise a new one and this one cropped up. So as of chapter seven, yes, this was the plan. …in a vague sort of way.