The Sidekick Strike

Chapter Two

DISCLAIMER: They still aren't mine. And I'm still really, really sorry about continuity errors. I don't read comic books, except the Archie ones, but that really doesn't have anything to do with this story, does it? Just for the record, I did try to find out about Barry and Wally by checking out the Flash category on this site. I only found one story with Wally as Kid Flash. And that was in a BATMAN story! (rolls eyes) Well... here goes...

8:00 p.m. was the time of night when Bruce and Dick became Batman and Robin and went out onto the streets of Gotham to look for crime.

Usually.

Tonight was going to be different, even if Batman didn't know it yet.

"So," began Wally as he threw the ball back to Dick (okay, so they weren't supposed to be playing baseball in the Batcave, but then again, they weren't really supposed to be going on strike, either).

"So what?" said Dick.

"So are you gonna tell Bats we're striking or what?"

"Me!" Dick half-shouted, so startled that he almost dropped the ball. "I thought you were going to tell him!"

"Why me? He's your senior partner!"

Dick gulped, suddenly feeling a little nervous about telling Batman that he was on strike. And he was even more nervous about telling him why.

"Okay, but you have to tell Barry," Dick insisted.

Wally, too, felt a few butterflies fluttering around. But one thought of the little incident last night was enough to make him nod determinedly.

Ten minutes later, at eight o'clock sharp, Dick and Wally heard the footsteps of their senior partners, indicating that it was time to go looking for the Joker once again. The two boys glanced at each other, held up their crossed fingers, and went over to greet Bruce and Barry.

"Well, what are you two doing down here?" Barry asked in a friendly tone.

"And why aren't you dressed yet?" Bruce added, sounding a lot less friendly.

Dick and Wally exchanged glances, each motioning for the other to say something, until Dick finally managed to get out, "W-Well… we're not going tonight."

"Really," said Bruce, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Really."

"Why not?" Barry inquired. "You're feeling alright, aren't you?"

"We're fine, Uncle Barry," Wally assured him. Then, nudging Dick in the ribs, he muttered under his breath, "Tell 'em, Rob."

After shooting Wally an extremely annoyed look through his one good eye, Dick took a deep breath and explained that they were going on strike. It sounded a lot more ridiculous now that he had an audience over the age of twenty.

Sure enough…

"This whole thing is just ridiculous, Richard," Bruce scolded. "Now get into your costume and get in the car. We don't have time for games."

Taking another breath, Dick said somewhat-firmly, "I told you, Bruce. We're not going."

Barry took a moment to eye the pair, and then decided, "Bruce, I think they're serious."

He actually sounded a little worried at the thought of his nephew 'on strike', and Wally briefly considered saying that this was just another joke of his.

But then he changed his mind.

"Well, Wally can stay here and strike if he wants to, but Richard is coming with me. We'll discuss this after we've caught the Joker." Then, through gritted teeth, Bruce ground out in his most menacing voice, "Now get changed and get in the car."

But all that did was make Dick even angrier. Why was Bruce treating him like he was no better than some crook? He was his partner! He deserved a little respect! This was exactly what he was protesting against!

And so, with a quick shake of the head, Dick crossed his arms stubbornly and stayed right where he was.

"Fine. But Barry and I are leaving."

"Go ahead, then," Dick replied, turning his head away. He couldn't believe how stubborn Bruce was being about this. Surely even he could tell that he wasn't treating his partner any differently than he did his worst enemies!

He'll feel different about it in a few days. He'll see. He needs me. You just wait. He needs me…

-

Seven days. The longest seven days of Dick's life, and Bruce still hadn't even offered to discuss terms with him and Wally. Alfred had long since heard about the sidekick strike, and he supported the boys whole-heartedly. Yet still, Bruce and Barry had not relented. Perhaps they thought it was just a phase that their teens were going through, that it would end as quickly as Wally's voice had changed (Dick's had yet to do so, much to his own exasperation).

"Come on, man, it's been a week already!" Wally protested. He was following Dick around the Batcave, trying to convince him that the strike had been a stupid idea.

"Well, we can't give up now!" Dick insisted. "That'll show 'em that we're not serious, and everything will be the same as it was before!"

"But how long are we gonna have to keep this up, Rob? It's getting boring."

Even Dick had to admit that he missed his nightly ventures as the Boy Wonder. And he was getting so frustrated with this strike that if he didn't beat something up soon, he'd probably end up punching Wally. And, truth be told, it wouldn't take much from Wally to annoy Dick into doing that.

"Yeah, I know," Dick finally admitted in a soft tone.

There was a slight pause before Wally asked, "So what do we do?"

Before Dick could answer, Barry entered the Batcave. The boys looked up, half-hoping that he had finally come to his senses and was ready to talk. But no, he just walked straight past them as if he hadn't even noticed their presence (which he most certainly had) and headed for the changing room. Less than five seconds later, he came out again, in costume, and went over to the JL Transporter at the back of the Cave.

"Where ya going, Uncle Barry?" asked Wally, sounding almost shy about it.

"Watchtower," was the quick response. "Batman thinks he's got a lead on the Joker's whereabouts."

"He does?" Dick piped up.

"Yes."

And with that, Flash pushed a few buttons and vanished from sight.

"Holy kick-in-the-head," Dick moaned, heartbroken. Turning to his friend, he queried sadly, "You know what this means, dontcha Wally?"

"Yeah," the red-headed boy answered in an equally unhappy tone. "It means they really don't need us after all!"

Slumping into a chair, Dick continued to wonder aloud, "But how could this be? We were supposed to prove to them that they needed us."

"Instead, we just showed ourselves that we're nothin' but a couple of useless sidekicks," sighed Wally, sitting on the table next to the Batcomputer.

"Babs was right," concluded the despondent Boy Wonder. "We never should have gone on this stupid strike…"

Me: Yeah, okay, it was kind of short, but I made up for it by updating earlier. Next update should be today, just because I want this story completely posted before my cousin comes over. She arrives April 30th, and my family and I will be on vacation (New York, D.C., Disneyland...) until May 11th. So I'm trying to finish before the end of the month.

Dick: Hey, since when does Barry use the Batcave?

Me: Since it became convenient for my story. And don't worry, folks, it gets weirder in later chapters. The one after next is a real doozy... (snickers madly)

Dick: ...I don't think I'm going to like this...

Reviewer Replies

Zarz-Yay, first review! We're very glad to hear from you, and she's even happier to hear that she's done something right for a change. ;) Hope you continue to enjoy the story!

jubbilia2004-Panamint says you're welcome. And ifeverybody elsedidn't understand that review, yes, this is panamint's sister, who appreciated being mentioned in the 'Inspiration' in chapter one. :)

Yourperfectdisaster-Believe me, 'interesting' is NOT the word for it! XD

kokomocalifornia-Thank you. :)

Robin Knight-Well, thanks for the warm welcome! It's nice to know there are people out there who like this stuff.