"Abused patience turns to fury." -Thomas Fuller
Softness was a delicate touch of innocent sunshine glowing across warmed skin; supposed to be pure, light, untainted, never unforgivably cold or callous. Not deeply jaded with edges like steel razors that seep poison into childlike veins, or rough boned that become brittle and break over time. No, life for a new soul needed endless support and love, and the cruelty of sinful touches should have never scarred these once clean bodies because a single bruise of malevolence was equated with an eternity of burdening shame. The guilt burning in the minds of those affected by tales of unspeakable woe continued to fester, unwillingly stunting the joyful ways a youth should see the world. And for them no prayers were answered as the eyes of millions batted away from their ailing presence, leaving these forgotten hearts to flicker into an abyss of utter darkness; their candles of hope dying out like leaves in the winter.
It was snowing, flurries flying by passing the colossal windows at the tower were like white shooting stars hailing from the clouds. It was nice, relaxing almost. Kid Flash took another long sip of his hot chocolate made by the Herald savoring the smooth richness and creamy finish of his delectable beverage. Licking the remnants off his lips he sunk further down on the couch, his ginger hair falling loosely onto his brow. He had to hand it to the guy, despite his leader being some interdimensional traveler, Mal really nailed making the best comfort foods. Anything from pizza to exotic meats, the teleporter could easily recreate any dish. And maybe that was why everyone in Titans Central secretly established him as their motherly figure, but Wally was pretty sure that Mal already figured that out. After all he was the one who babysat Jericho all the time, and that kid had like no filter.
In the background the news was quietly rambling; mostly about the blizzard but also briefly mentioning any local disturbances. The speedster sighed in contentment as he kicked his legs up onto the ottoman in front of him. Crime was practically non-existent because of the weather, and any villain who tried their luck to scheme were instantly dealt with by one of Herald's instant portal traps. Those suckers didn't even stand a chance.
A tuft of blond appeared in the corner of Kid Flash's vision and soon he was bombarded by the small cuddly form of Jericho, his own personal younger brother/the only titan he was not allowed to expose modern day slang too.
Joey curled into his side like a kitten, wrapping frail arms around his waist, while nuzzling those thick curls of his into his chest.
Wally smiled as he ruffled the addicting adorable fluff ball, "Hey there Jeri-Berry, whatcha up too?"
Jericho gazed up at him with those enchantingly illuminated emerald eyes of his before grinning mischievously and signing.
'Can't I snuggle with my favorite big bro?'
Auburn eyebrows rose as Kid Flash snorted, "I'm your favorite?"
Joey giggled silently as he poked Wally's nose, his cheeks flushing with silly titters as the older teen jokingly pretended to attempt to bite off the offending digits.
'Yeah, but don't tell Spotty. He hates being ranked second.'
"Alright, I won't let him know," The redhead waggled his brows, "Unless I have too."
Jericho lightly whacked the speedster's shoulders and Kid let out a short laugh as he gestured his surrender.
"Jeez! Just kidding Baby Roo!" Wally chuckled watching the pouting cheeks of Joey begin to deflate, "I won't spill, okie dokes?"
Nodding happily the younger boy dove back into his torso, curling up like a lackadaisical squirrel as the two of them turned their attention to dazzling snow swirling outside.
After a moment of gentle silence an unexpected bump caused the teen to turn his attention downwards to where a now sleeping Jericho lay snoozing on his lap. Wally huffed slightly as he pulled the tiny titan higher onto his thighs, almost swaddling the other in his embrace. He never had any siblings before and now living with a whole bunch of teens, well it was special to him. Closing his eyes he began to drift off his mind full of thoughts rampaging like the storm blowing by.
A hero, huh? Who would've thought he'd make it here. Definitely not himself, starting off as a beat up kid slaving away at the hands off his dad, to now being seen as a beacon of hope? It was a miracle Wally even made it this far. His brows furrowed as his thinking distorted to the past. No, he wasn't going to go there. Not anymore. He was Kid Flash now, and those memories of his childhood were nothing to him. Don't look back, just keep running. Keep running. Running. Run.
A sudden weight on top of his head jolted his eyes wide open, and Wally was met with the concerned stare of beautiful pink gems.
"You were having a nightmare." Jinx bluntly stated as she wiped some beads of sweat off of his forehead, her hand effortlessly moving with pristine grace. The girl's willowy frame was uncannily tightly bundled over with a heavy shawl as she sat on the ottoman in front of him.
"And you almost woke up the baby."
Instantly Kid's sight dropped to the breathing mass of golden locks still draped over him. Right, Jericho was still here.
"Anything you wanna say, Fleet Feet?" Jenna asked, her lips pressed as she glanced deeper into his soul with unwavering eyes.
Blinking, Wally rapidly tried to reply only to stumble over his words. He wasn't ready yet to tell Jinx, to tell anyone about what happened to him. It wasn't the right moment, or maybe it'll never be? Would they treat him differently? Would they think he was weak? His dad did. Dad always said he was pathetic and useless.
His thoughts began to convolute themselves into knots as his tongue tied-ness caused worried lines to appear on Jinx's face.
"Uhh no but yeah-I mean… maybe?"
"Maybe?" Jenna repeated incredulously.
With a perturbed face his girlfriend grasped his free hand and leaned in barely speaking above a whisper.
"Wally are you okay?" She squeezed his palm securely between her own as her steady gaze never broke away from his.
Swallowing hard Kid Flash gave her a shaky smile, "I'm fine Jinxie babe."
"Are you sure-"
The noiseless yawn of Jericho stretching himself awake drew the conversation to a halt as both quickly washed away the tension from their expressions.
"Look who finally woke up?" Jenna calmly said as she cupped Joey's plump cheeks, brushing their noses together, "It's our Goldie Locks!"
Rubbing his tired jeweled eyes the youngest of the team gave a cheerful but droopy grin as he rolled off of Wally's legs.
"You were sure cozy on me JoJo," Kid Flash forced out as he patted the drowsy boy on the back, Jericho gave him a sheepish look before scrutinizing his gaze between the two teens. Reading the atmosphere the boy decided it was best to leave the love birds to their own private discussion.
Sliding off the couch and plopping two purple boots on to the floor Jericho gave Jinx a tight hug before hobbling away with a friendly wave goodbye.
'Off to find Mally! He promised me blueberry muffins!'
"Alrighty then. See you later Baby Roo!"
"Bye Joey-bug!"
Watching the third wheel vanish out the doors the remaining titans both let out long exhales.
"He probably knows something's up, doesn't he?" Wally muttered as he brought his focus back onto Jenna.
Jinx agreed with a nod of her own, "Yeah. Yeah he probably does. He's a complete cutie with all that innocent charm, but he will literally figure out everything."
Scooting right next to Kid, Jinx rested her head onto his shoulder.
"Now are you gonna tell me what's eating you? Because you usually don't have nightmares in broad daylight."
The ginger haired boy felt his body tense up, his hands now fiddling with his gloves and the anxiety began to surf throughout his blood streams like an adrenaline junkie.
"I don't think I can really talk about it, at least not yet." Wally answered, his twiddling now blurring as his superspeed kicked in subconsciously, "It's just that I don't feel ready. Like I can't right now. I'm sorry… please don't be mad?"
His mouth went dry as he waited for Jenna's reply.
She wouldn't break up with him, right? Just because he couldn't tell her? It wasn't like he was trying to lie to her. It was just too painful still because it was too recent, too much, too embarrassing, too shameful-
A peaceful tap brought a stunned silence to his mind space. Her touch was soft, just what his yearning heart needed; softness. Wally felt his lungs empty, the constricting chains unlocking.
"I'm not mad," Jinx murmured, "It's okay if you're not ready. You don't have to make yourself do something you don't want to."
"But I-"
"Shh," She brought one of her fingers gingerly to his lips before stroking the side of his face with a sincere look across her face, "I'm sorry if I made you feel like you had to say something, that's on me, not you. And whenever you're ready I'll be here to listen, okay? Don't be sorry for letting me know how you felt. It's important that we don't rush each other."
Jenna lifted his chin as she kissed him tenderly.
"I love you, Wally."
Pulling her in for a longer kiss, their foreheads now pressed against each other, Kid mumbled with half lidded eyes.
"Love you too, Jenna."
Before the two could continue their serenade a burst of flames shattered the moment causing once heat filled love to turn into cold surprise as the resident pyrokinetic invaded with a screeching declaration.
"What do you mean I'm the SECOND favorite?!"
"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME HOT SPOT?!"