Building A Family
"Batman"
Kaldur, I see Cyborg finally fixed your communication center"
"Yes"
"Do you need something?"
Kaldur hesitates, not because he feared someone would overhear their conversation (they were currently speaking on Batman's private channel in his cave), but because of what he was about to do was a violation of Wally's trust, still….
"It's about Wally" the Atlantean finally says, "I'm worried about him"
Batman waits.
"During his disappearance, Wally stayed with me for two days; during his stay Wally told me he saw something that…frightened him…badly"
"Did he tell you what it was?"
Kaldur shakes his head, "No, but I suggest looking into it, when he left there was still fear in his eyes"
"I'll make note of it, and get back to you"
Kaldur gives a small smile before signing off, Batman stares at the black screen before pulling up the battle between Star Sapphire, John and Flash. He watches the fight, fast forwarding when he saw nothing amiss, he stops at the after battle interview. His eyes narrow when Flash trials off speaking and stares at something off camera, he changes the angle and presses the freeze frame button, his eyes suddenly widen and his running to his Batmobile, calling J'onzz in the process.
The apartment is dark, and they can hear the storm howling outside, the glow from John's ring gives them light, the living room shows no signs of anything wrong, the bedroom tells a different story. The mattress was flipped over, as was other furniture, on the wall was smeared blood. Wally wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"He's still here" says J'onzz, eyes glowing, "his mind is….troubled"
Batman narrows his eyes before turning to the closet; he goes over and opens it.
Wally is in the far back; his back was pressed against the wall, knees drawn up to the chest, his arms wrapped around his legs that were bent up to his chest and head pressed to his knees. He is naked and trembling, John curses.
The Dark Knight enters the closet and kneels down in front of the younger man.
"Wally" he says softly.
The body flinches and whimpers.
"Wally" he says again, "Wally, look at me"
Wally just flinches again.
"Wally" Bruce says once again, voice firm and gentle.
"Bruce" says J'onzz eyes still glowing.
Batman ignores him and continues speaking, "Wally, look at me"
There is a pause then Wally slowly looks up and at the other man, his eyes are puffy and red, Batman gives a small reassuring smile that slow fades when those eyes widen and the young man's breathing becomes rapid and harsh.
In a rare moment, the Dark Knight is wide-eyed and unsure of what to do.
Suddenly Wally's eyes rolls back and he falls forward, instinctively Batman catches him.
"I did try to warn you" J'onzz says when Batman looks at him, glowing eyes dimming. "do not worry, I merely put him to sleep"
"What—" John begins to say.
"As I said before" J'onzz interrupts, "his mind is troubled, everything is…jumbled"
"What do you mean by jumbled?" John asked as he watches Bruce cradle Wally close.
Here J'onzz hesitates; he can feel the rage boiling in the two men threatening to spill over, he knows that both John and Bruce can control their rage but this was one of those moments when that control snaps.
"J'onzz"
The Martian inwardly sighs before answering and hopes that the fact that Wally needs them will keep their emotions in check like it was doing for him.
"In his mind, all he sees is Rudolph"
When John exited the private medical room he was not surprised to see Superman, Shayera, and Diana waiting, he says nothing instead he leads them to another medical room that was empty, he locks the door and puts on the blacks for the viewing window for privacy.
"He's sleeping now, but it's bad" John pauses, he swallows then continues speaking, "really bad"
"John, please" Diana says, "just tell us"
"Rudolph" is all the Lantern says, it's all he needed to say.
There is cursing, mostly from Shayera, Diana gasps softly as she sinks down on the nearby medical bed. Clark's fist clenches and his jaw tightens.
"The nurses found evident of s-sexual assault" John continues on, he has to continue, because if he doesn't then he knows that he'll break down, whether in anger or tears he's not sure, "and a couple of bruises, there's also some kind of device on his wrist. We haven't determined what it is, but it doesn't come off"
"How's….How's Wally?" Clark asks.
"He…I…J'onzz says his mind is jumbled and that everything he sees is Rudolph. He was afraid of Bruce when we found him, J'onzz is trying….to be honest I don't know, I kind of went blank for a while"
"Can we see him?" Diana asks quietly from the bed.
John nods.
The four leave the room and makes they're way to Wally's, upon entering they find the room empty of doctors and nurses, Bruce was sitting in the chair that was placed as possible, his hand was clenching Wally's hand, scowl pulled off. J'onzz was sitting in the other chair on the other side of the bed, eyes glowing. Clark goes over and places a hand on the man's shoulder, while the others sit as close as possible to the bed.
"J'onzz" Bruce says after a moment, "he's trying to help Wally sort through his…thoughts"
Thoughts, was merely a polite word of saying trauma.
"That's the device?" Shayera states, indicating to the sliver metal bracelet on Wally's left wrist.
At a glance it would look like a normal bracelet, if it wasn't for the blinking lights.
Bruce nods.
"Do you think—?" said Diana
"Yes"
J'onzz's eyes stop glowing, he blinks and looks first at Wally then at the rest of his friends.
"I managed to calm and settle his mind, though I doubt it will do any good" the Manhunter said, "there is still…uneasiness surrounding him"
There is more fear and pain.
"All we can do now" J'onzz continues on, "is wait for Wally to wake up"
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