Wally woke to a pounding headache and the urge to vomit.
He managed to keep his food down but his headache continued on, absolutely killing him. Not only that but Wally had no idea where he was.
He was in a park, obviously, but beyond that he was lost. Wally had been taught from a young age that if he ever became lost or got into trouble he should find someone in charge, like a police officer. Looking around his general area, Wally noticed that it was practically empty save for a few birds and some creepy old lady sitting on one of the park benches.
Where is everyone?
His head throbbed painfully, and he felt like he was forgetting something important. If only his vision would stop fading around the edges like that, then he might be able to remember!
His watch started beeping and he groaned when he saw the time.
7:15. Class started at 8:15 but Wally was too far away and didn't have any of his things with him. He suddenly jerked back. My bag! Where's my bag? Oh, man, all my notes are in there!
Could Wally's day get any worse?
...
The answer was yes, of course, because, after Wally found his way home, as he got ready for the day his phone rang the entire time. When he finally answered it, he received the shock of a lifetime.
The Flash, Fastest Man Alive, resident hero of Central City, and all-around good guy, was dead.
Apparently there was a fight between Flash and a villain that ended with Flash being blown to bits. Minus the bits, though. The Justice League took over the investigation but a few reporters heard that the only thing left over from the bomb was a bit of Flash's blood.
Wally felt sick as he continued his trek to school. It had been Dani who told him, a science buddy of Wally's, and also a fan of the Flash. She'd been upset at the news and so was Wally. The Flash was the best superhero around! Cooler than Superman— except Superman can fly and shoot lasers outta his eyes— and Batman—but Batman's got all those cool sidekicks and all his gadgets—cooler than Wonder—are you kidding me?—ok, maybe not Wonder Woman but still! Flash was a cool guy, why would anybody kill him?
His head still throbbed and his stomach felt like it was eating itself. Wally didn't know why; he'd eaten a huge breakfast that morning.
Every step towards his classes made him sick. This was a mistake. He should've stayed home, emailed his professors, and recuperated while trying to figure out why the hell he woke up in the park instead of at home.
Too late to turn back now. Wally was at the edge of campus grounds when he heard all the commotion. There were cheers and some boos and a lot of noise. Wally knew that combo like he knew the back of his hand.
Speeding up slightly, Wally made the next dozen steps before he was accosted by a police officer. The man was chubby and red-cheeked and angry.
"Are you Wallace West?" He practically spat at Wally.
He froze up for a moment, during which several more people approached him. He swallowed thickly, headache raging, and said: "Yes, sir."
The cop made to motion over other officers but another group reached him first.
The first was Superman, looking as dark and as intimidating as his bright-colored costume would allow while Wonder Woman and Batman stood by Wally's side. Green Lantern hovered behind Wally and he felt trapped between all these super powered beings.
Wally struggled to keep his heart under control but only succeeded in increasing it. Superman lessened his intimidation for a moment, looking concerned for Wally, before his face regained its hardness.
"You're coming with us, Mr. West," Batman growled darkly. Wally thought he knew fear before this, but what he'd experienced at the hands of his father was nothing compared to what he realized the League could do. Wally found himself wishing for Uncle Barry's guidance; Uncle Barry would know how to handle these guys.
Wally licked his dry lips and breathed shakily; he really didn't feel good. His vision was still doing that weird black-edges thing and it was seriously starting to freak him out. "Can I ask where we're going?"
Wally wanted to hit himself. He sounded like some scared little kid and Wally was already tired of it. He wanted to try again but Wonder Woman spoke before he could.
"Don't worry; you'll be back on Earth in no time, Mr. West."
You'll be back on Earth in no time? Am I going into space? Where the Justice League HQ is stationed? Ohmygod, this is the coolest!
Wally didn't dedicate much thought as to why he would at JL HQ, but he needn't worry as the others were doing plenty of that for him.
...
Clark couldn't help but pity the kid.
Sandwiched between Diana and Green Lantern, the kid's body stood out plainly. Too thin, too pale, and too loud. Way too loud. His heart thundered in his chest and his breaths rasped out of him painfully. His stomach growled and occasionally he whimpered, softly enough that only someone with super hearing could hear.
A glance towards Diana confirmed this. She heard the grumblings and whimpers but, unlike Clark, didn't care.
Another whimper, unnoticed and likely not one the kid wanted anyone to hear. He blushed when GL looked down on him and sneered.
Diana still did nothing.
Batman was flying the jet and Clark didn't know why he agreed to this. To sit inside the jet and watch a murderer fumble with the JL's attention.
Clark didn't want to feel anything for Flash's killer but Clark was beginning to think that maybe this kid didn't do it. Maybe he just forgets his things at museums while visiting.
It was just… hard. To picture this skinny kid taking down the Flash when he could barely walk without tripping over air. It was even harder to picture this kid in advanced analytical chemistry classes as the top student. Though maybe that wasn't such a stretch.
The kid, Wallace West, was 17 years old and a scholarship student at Central City's local college. He was the only child to Mary and Rudolph West and was later adopted by his aunt, Iris West-Allen, at 12 after a horrible accident at the Flash museum. The details were unclear and Batman was still trying to figure out exactly what went down that night but they had more pressing issues to deal with than the kids tragic backstory.
Clark refrained from looking at the kid—Wally—again and instead closed his eyes and thought of Flash and all of his stupid jokes.
...
Wally was struggling to keep all of the weird noises his body wanted to make under control but it was hard to do that when he could feel Superman burning a hole into his forehead.
Wally kept his head down and tried to calm down. His headache was gone now but his ears were ringing like hell. Like when Dani kept calling, calling, calling until he finally picked up to hear her shitty news about the Flash, their hero, and then he had to walk 2 miles with a raging headache and when would his ears stop with the ringing?!
Unbidden, he whimpered and Green Lantern glared at him. His heart stuttered at the look and he could feel his face burn from the humiliation of it all. Why was he being treated like this? Like some sort of criminal? Wally hadn't done anything wrong, he couldn't even remember the past week, so why was he even here, surrounded by angry superheroes who looked like they wanted to bash his head in?
Then he thought about it.
The Flash was dead. The Justice League took over the case. They went to the crime scene and probably found evidence of murder. Then they… came looking for Wally.
But that doesn't make any sense! I didn't kill the Flash! I was at the park all night and, and…
His protesting halted.
Yeah, I woke up at the park but who knows when I showed up there? I don't remember anything from last night so, is it possible…?
Wally shuddered and accidentally bumped Wonder Woman. He tensed up, waiting for a heavy blow or even a silent one form the Amazon warrior, but nothing happened. Looking up, Wally saw that Wonder Woman stayed still despite his bump and looked as though she hadn't moved since boarding the jet. He gave a sideways glance to Green Lantern and found his sneering face looking down on him. Wally blushed again and wanted to apologize but figured that would make things worse.
Everything's OK, Wally thought to himself.
Everything's gonna be OK.
...
AND SCENE!
Yep Wally's been taken in by the justice league and none of them are happy
Except for clark but really this dude feels for everyone OK he's got a bleeding heart and everyone knows it