One-hundred and twenty.
That's how long he waited.
One hundred and twenty seconds. One hundred and twenty thousand milliseconds. Two whole minutes, and an eon for a speedster.
Wally waited and waited.
For something. Some sign that this was all just a dream.
He'd settle for anything at this moment. From a bullshit alternate universe excuse down to the good ole gotcha.
Anything would be better, than accepting this reality.
His mouth felt hot, the breath he had been holding started to suffocate his throat, his eyes were red, irritated from his constant rubbing.
He felt...tired.
Drained.
Defeated.
When the burning of his lungs started to humm in sync with the closing of his throat, he exhaled loudly.
Fuck.
Everything is shitty. Everything is fucked up.
His eyes shifted to the screen Tim had left up, the Justice League meeting still present. There was no sound, but Wally didn't need to hear it to know what was happening. People were yelling, some to Flash, some to others.
It was more than obvious the League was divided. It was more than obvious that while some trusted Flash and knew him well enough to know he would never, some just….. didn't.
At this Wally could only scowl.
Because how? Even if they barely knew him, even if they just joined. How could they think that he would ever do this?
Barry wouldn't kill a villain let alone thousands of civilians. How could they not know that?
His scowl only grew as one member banged on the table and pointed profusely at Flash.
Sergeant Steel. One of Wally's least favorite members. The man was always serious, his military background always-on display. He took professionalism to the heart and consistently found a way to criticize Kid Flash for his "immaturity".
Of course, he'd be leading this fucked up crusade.
"Oracle, anyway I can get access to the audio", Wally asked. He asked, but he wasn't too surprised when the ceiling hummed 'classified' and the screen blinked black.
Of course, Tim was allowed to look in the meeting and he wasn't.
Of fucking course.
Maybe it was the stupid setup, the League, the secrets, or just life in general but he snapped.
He growled, and without thinking threw the nearest object at the now blank screen.
His brand new stupid phone which apparently was damn near indestructible because it did not shatter.
The chairs, desk, and table he threw after it, however, did.
He's not sure how much time had passed, too busy steaming his own anger. But before he chuck the damn vase at the nearly demolished screen, a hand stopped him.
"My friend you need to calm down, lest you hurt yourself as much as you have the room", Aqualad said, while encompassing his water arms around Wally.
Wally scoffed, that whole sentence made no fucking sense.
My friend? Who the hell is Aqualad kidding? Granted he's probably the most polite person Wallys ever met and seriously they could easily be friends in another universe. But the fact is in this one, they weren't.
They were superheroes.
Young Justice members.
Teammates.
But not friends, Aqualad didn't even know Wally's real name.
And hurt himself? All he's been doing lately is hurting, he doubts this would make much a difference.
"Let go", he grumbled while trying to shake Aqualad off, but the Atlantean teen only held on longer.
Aqualad sighed, biting his tongue as he always did. Thinking through what he said before he could say it. Not because he's careless but because he's unsure. He's not sure if he should approach Kid Flash, he's not sure if he should ignore him either. He needs time, he always needs time to rightfully approach a situation.
This is Aqualad's biggest flaw, especially at this moment because Wally has little to no patience. And instead of waiting for whatever Aqualad was trying to say, Wally thrashed.
He thrashed and thrashed, hitting Aqualad left and right. Screaming 'Let me go' louder and louder as he did.
He thrashed against Aqualad, to the point of vibration. This only lasted for a second before Aqualad released him. The only sign it had even occurred was the slight blood that dripped from Wally's nose, the small burns on Aqualad's arms, and the frowns on both of their faces.
They were now a few feet apart but it felt like miles. Neither said anything, the only sounds were their slight breaths and even those seemed empty.
Aqualad paused, picked up the phone from the mess, and handed it back to Wally. "Robin worked hard on that, you shouldn't be careless with it".
Wally only shrugged, pocketing the phone but offering nothing else. He didn't want to talk, and he wished Aqualad would accept that, as he usually did.
Just his luck, he didn't.
"Kid Flash, you have….. changed recently", Aqualad said after a moment. When Wally didn't respond, he only continued. "These past few months you have been distant, sometimes not even showing up for team meetings. I asked you earlier to not do this-
"And I haven't" Wally interrupted, casually wiping his nose on his left sleeve as he did. It left an ugly stain that he normally would've complained about, but found at this moment he just couldn't.
His life was turning to literal shit, the stain was the last thing on his mind.
Aqualad paused yet again, giving Wally the most respectful of smiles before speaking once more."Yes, and while I appreciate your efforts. I realize it may have been the wrong approach. As the leader of the Young Justice I shouldn't make mistakes like this ".
Wally rolled his eyes and sighed. It's not that he doesn't like Aqualad, he does. Normally he'd be all for talking with the dude because honestly the most he knows about Aqualad is he's talks to fish and he eats fish.
Hell, the only reason Wally knows Kaldurs real name is because Dick told him.
But right now he just doesn't want to pretend.
He doesn't want to pretend he particularly cares about Aqualad's leadership skills.
He doesn't want to pretend that his life isn't currently going to shit.
He doesn't want to pretend for another second that everything is okay.
So instead he scoffed, loudly. Painted the most carefree smile on his face then sarcastically bit out. "Trust me dude your leadership skills are fine. Really you should join the boys and girls club! Swear you'll be a hit with the kiddos. They can brush your scales and everything".
He's hoping his tone as well as the numerous human references would be enough to dissuade Aqualad from continuing the conversation.
Kaldur always did hate speaking about issues he uneducated in.
"I don't have scales," Aqualad said pointedly. He then paused thoughtfully, he didn't exactly know how to word this. "I can see why you assumed so… but the subject of this conversation isn't my leadership skills. I..recognize when asking about your change behavior I simply asked for a solution and not the cause. That was my mistake, and I apologize for it".
Wait. What.
"We are not very familiar and I respect your privacy so I do not implore. However, I want to tell you, should you need to... should you want to confide in me. I would very much appreciate the sharing of your troubles."
This time Wally paused. Taking a shaking breath, for the first time that day he truly looked at Aqualad.
Aqualad dressed in his finest Atlantean attire, looking regal and princely and outworldly.
Aqualad the boy who could breathe underwater and create electric currents from his hands.
Aqualad- No Kaldur who had never looked so normal, so human in his life.
Wally bit his lip, a habit he had whenever he wanted to hold his tears.
He then smiled at Kaldur, a true smile. A Kid Flash smile.
Because fuck, did he need that. He knows they're not friends, they weren't. But the fact that somebody asked, the fact that Kaldur cared enough to ask. It meant everything to him in that moment.
He bit his lip a little harder.
He wants to tell Kaldur everything.
Harder.
He wants to tell him, he and Flash had nothing to do with the SME. How it hurt that some people think that they did. How he felt guilty for partying at Abby's during the blackout.
Harder.
He wants to tell him how much he misses Roy. How he wishes he didn't mess things up with Artemis. How he wishes he was at the cave more often.
Harder.
He wants to tell him about how life just really sucked right now. About his fear. His regret. His dad.
Harder.
He wants to….but he doesn't. He doesn't tell Kaldur a thing. Because how could he? Where would he start? What would he say? Who would Kaldur tell? Why would he even trouble him with it? How could anyone-
His teeth make a smacking noise as he removes them from his now bleeding lip. He rubs his tongue sheepishly over the bite before smiling back at Kaldur. " Thanks, man. I uh- it really means a lot. But it's nothing much ya know, just civvy life kicking my ass".
He smiles a bit more, hoping this would be enough. Praying this is enough to push Kaldur back but not away.
No, they're not friends….but maybe they could be.
Aqualad politely smiled and nodded. "I'm told from Nightwing civilian life is troubling, socially and educationally. Atlantis was similar in that aspect".
Wally smiled grateful for the purposeful subject change, "I heard Atlantis was a utopia. Every time Aquaman talks to Flash about it, he said how unlucky we were to be born here".
Aqualad shook his head as if a bit amused, " His Highness is very patriotic to the point of fault. Atlantis is a wonderful home but it is not paradise".
"If everyone from Atlantis dresses the way you dress I find that hard to believe", Wally teased while gesturing to the boy's clothing once more.
Seriously Kaldur, gold cufflinks in the shape of starfish. The Atlanteans must be loaded.
Aqualad actually had the nerve to look mildly embarrassed, " While we don't exactly have the same fashion as you do up here, I am not the standard. My friends back home say my clothing can be a bit... ostentatious, but that was because His Highness insisted I have proper clothing as his ward".
Wally cackled, no wonder Kaldur and Dick got along so great they were both cut from the same cloth.
Spoiled little rich boys!
"His Highness isn't here to dress you though" Wally teased once more.
Instantly Kaldur's face drops, a slight wine hits his throat. "Unfortunately not or he'd be departing to the U. N meeting as Atlantis representative instead".
Oh, so that's why Tim was leading the clean-up mission.
"That bad", Wally asked.
Aqualad himself nodded, " As I'm sure you know the SME is the world's most dangerous weapon. Banned in every region because of its potential destruction. And yet one was paired with a polar magnet. No one is prepared for what that means. I fear the worst and although I wish to assist the team, I simply can not".
"Why can't you? It's not like Aquaman can't meet the UN virtually".
Aqualad sighed, pausing a bit as if he wasn't sure he should continue. Then in the softest of voices, he whispered, " My people especially are a bit…..unsettled. They think of it as an attack from the surface. His highness is meeting with the council of the kingdom to remediate that...so in turn, I must meet with your people and articulate their- our concerns."
"Oh".
Yes, he knows lame reply but that was the only thing Wally could think of.
What else could he say?
Yeah man, I totally understand what it's like to represent your entire species? I totally understand how everything, your words, your clothes, your very being is a reflection of your people? I totally understand what it's like to basically be the spokesperson for your country at just sixteen?
Yeah right, Wally would never understand.
He could never understand that pressure. He's dumb enough to pretend he does.
But is he stupid, he does feel stupid. Sure they weren't friends but how had he never notice.
The forced smiles, the perfectly pressed robes, the careful way Kaldur always spoke.
How draining that must be.
"I'm sorry I must take my leave now if I am going to make the meeting in time. Farewell, my friend. And please be mindful of my earlier suggestion", Aqualad adds, as he swiftly moves back to the entrance.
He moves with the usual sense of grace Aqualad exudes but it still causes Wally to pause.
Maybe it's the guilt talking, maybe it's just Wally's own insecurities being projected, but he does see something else in Kaldurs step, something cold, and lonely.
Something that didn't belong there, and now that Wally's seen it, he can't truly ignore it.
"Wait uh- want some company"? Wally blurts out. Stupid, he knows.
Even though Kaldur may be lonely, he is prideful to a fault. Strong till he breaks. He would never accept such an offer.
Naturally, Wally expects Aqualad to object, shake his head politely, maybe even scoff a little.
Instead, Kaldur just smiled.