A Brand New Light

Chapter 4: A Brand New Look

Hal sighed as he watched Wally and Conner enter Central City High School. It had been a long while since the two speedsters had come to live with him and Conner, it now being September, so Conner and Wally were starting Junior year in high school. Conner had opened up a lot with the two energetic males around, and Hal was just glad there was someone to fix his screw ups. Wally's nightmares had disappeared again a few weeks after that fateful night that led both distressed speed demons to his front steps.

"Have a good day you two!" Hal yelled and waved, to see Wally and Conner wave back, Wally enthusiastic and Conner with a smirk and a half wave. Conner had really caught onto sarcasm, and used it like a weapon to boot. Hal smiled and drove back to the house. He was off for the day because Ferris Aircraft was undergoing some repairs for the next few weeks, ones he didn't cause, so he had the next few days off, and he was looking forward to them. He had been stretched thin between Coast City and Central City, Lantern duties in both, and work in Coast. Not to mention anytime the League needed him. He was looking forward to a great nap on the couch in the sunlight. Pulling up to the house, he didn't notice the blue prius in the drive, he just walked up and unlocked the door. Sighing happily and opening his eyes, his brain shut completely down.

"JESUS HAL!" The screech was followed by a whoosh of air and Hal found himself looking at his back lawn, and could hear pounding footsteps and slamming doors from inside. Hal took a moment to process what he had seen. He had definitely noticed a change in his best friend since his divorce from Iris, who was now married to a cop and had an adopted kid, and seemed much happier. He had caught Barry staring at Wonder Woman and Black Canary a lot, and while Barry knew that Dinah was taken, and Diana didn't have any feelings towards men at the moment, her crush on Batman long gone, he now knew why his friend had been staring at them. It wasn't because he found them attractive, which he probably did, but he was staring at their clothes. Turning and going inside the house, he made his way up the stairs and into the shared bedroom, he saw Barry sitting on the bed with a red face and hands folded between his knees, looking very much like a scolded child that got caught mid sex with a girl.

"Barry," Hal started only to stop when the blonde looked up with tears in his eyes.

"Come to make fun of me Hal?" He glared at the gorgeous Lantern. For a few months now, he had developed feelings for the brunette, something he felt was wrong, not because he was a man, but because he was his best friend. But he knew Hal would never look at him like that, he liked pretty women like Diana and Dinah, who's hips were flared, and supple breasts, and long legs, and thousands of other things that Barry just wasn't.

"Actually, I came to ask you to put it back on, I didn't really get to see you in it." Hal said as he stared at the roof and scratched his neck. He was hesitant about asking the upset blond, not afraid because he was a Green Lantern, they don't get scared, damn it, but he did and Barry looked at him like he was nuts.

"Why would I? It was just a stupid experiment anyway, no one was supposed to know, hell I don't even fully know why I did it." Barry said as he looked back down. Hal threw his hands up in defeat and backed away.

"Alright then, it's wiped from my mind, anyway what are you doing home? Don't you have work today?" Barry's face finally went back to a normal shade and he rubbed his eyes.

"No, not today, it's been slow this week. Thank god, I could use a break." Hal smiled and toed off his shoes and laid down on the bed.

"My thoughts exactly, join me for a nap?" Barry looked back at Hal with a raised eyebrow.

"I should get those reports ready for Batman, he'll want an update on Wally's and Conner's progress." Hal opened a brown eye and narrowed it, before snaking a green construct hand around Barry's waist and dragging him down on the bed.

"Nope, you have just been kidnapped for a nap and there is no way out of it. Give it up and surrender." Barry laughed and settled in next to the brunette.

"Alright, besides I can write them up tonight when the boys go to bed." Hal grinned before closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep.

Conner sighed, he didn't know anyone here and he didn't have Wally in many of his classes. And while Cadmus had programmed him to excel at English, Science, and Math, History was hard for him because he didn't understand the thought processes behind the leaders of things such as the Civil War. It was confusing, and as he picked up his lunch tray, he knew he'd have to ask either his Dad, Barry or Wally for help. As he mulled over the fact he was already calling Hal, Dad, he heard laughter on the other side of the cafeteria. Looking over he saw Wally covered in his lunch and a bunch of football players around him laughing.

"Hey West, or should I say Pig, we're doing you a favor. You don't need all that food, fatty, save some for the rest of us, would you?" Wally looked down with his face beet red and Conner growled, his strong grip cracking the plastic tray he was holding. Turning around he got back in line and paid for another lunch out of his allowance. Grabbing the second tray and ignoring the lunch lady's stare he grabbed a bunch of napkins and walked over to Wally. He plopped both trays in front of the red head and sat down beside him. Wally looked at him and frowned.

"Conner, I can't take your food, I can wait until we get to the base." Conner frowned as the reason Wally ate so much when he first came to the base finally dawned on him.

"Take it, you need it more than I do. And you know it." Conner took an apple and a milk from the trays. "Eat, this will hold me over until we get home." Wally smiled sadly and started to eat. Conner glared at the jocks across from the lunch room. Wally was pretty mych his little brother as of now, and he was going to make sure that no one hurt him.

Iris stepped into the alleyway, pulling her trench coat tight around her.

"Alright, I did what you asked no please leave me alone!" She yelled and a dark ominous chuckle answered her.

"Oh Iris, Iris why would I do that,? I have to make sure that there is no way, ever that you could get back together with Barry Allen. That way the mantle dies with him, and I can step into his shoes as the new Flash." Yellow booted feet stopped right in front of hers. "And if that means I have to threaten them both to make you comply, than so be it. After all, that adorable little nephew of yours falls for the birdie, and at this rate, Barry Allen will never love another female again, making sure no one inherits the speed force legacy. So make him hate you deeply Iris, make him loathe you, or I'll end them both right here and right now." The man sped away and Iris dropped to her knees, crying. If this was the only way she could save her broken family, then so be it.

Author's note: So you see I don't hate Iris West, I do like her character. It is just needed for the story. I am not an author that will bash a character just because I like a certain pairing, have some faith in me okay?