Facing Justice: II

So now we get Wally's side of the story. I made up a back-story for Wally which I imagine will be contradicted by canon, but I did want to have some sort of interesting idea of how Wally found out Dick's true name. I imagine all the kids are orphans; I doubt their parents would be okay with them just running off to get themselves killed. Special thanks to everyone who reviewed and made me feel so welcome to this wonderful new fandom, I am so appreciative to all of you! I am so excited for the new episode tonight!

So how did the other apprentices deal with their rightfully angry masters? Not well at all!

Wally West was quite sure he was the luckiest guy in the world. He had done the most idiotic thing possible and instead of dying, he had been rewarded with a special base and a team of his own. Of course, everyone had been shocked when Robin hadn't been picked as the leader, and that a girl had been asked to join, but Wally wasn't complaining. He was planning on enjoying his tropical home with every fiber of his being.

There would be girls in bikinis, long nights playing video games with Robin and three new friends to enjoy Mount Justice. He would be surfing and enjoying the hot sun, living in a home without worrying about hiding his true identity. In the fortress, he was a normal guy. He wasn't a weirdo with too many unexplained disappearances. Plus, being able to see Robin more was great, he was the best friend a guy could have.

Of course, he probably should have a talk with his uncle and apologize for not calling for help. Although Uncle Barry had been quiet on the issue, Wally knew his uncle's feelings had been hurt. They were a team and they were supposed to work together, and be honest with each other. Wally had broken that trust and he knew he would have to make good on it. His uncle had always been a soft touch and he knew that after a brief scolding, they'd have a good wrestling match. It was better than the punishment Robin would be facing. The Dark Knight may have been a legend, but he inspired a level of fear usually reserved for God Almighty. The training drills devised by the man were renowned for their ability to bring people to their knees.

He remembered all too well the punishments for the trouble he and Robin had gotten up to as kids. He still had nightmares about the time Batman and Flash had teamed up to make their lives miserable after the time they had stolen the bat-copter. Batman was technically Kid Flash's godfather of sorts, to serve as his mentor should something horrible happen to Uncle Barry. That thought was terrifying in multiple ways. The thought of losing Uncle Barry was world shattering, but the thought of Batman training him was enough to make him want to throw himself into the sun.

He brushed those depressing thoughts out of his head. Nothing was going to happen to his Uncle and everything was going to be fine. Still, there was no one with whom he would rather get into trouble than Robin…Dick Grayson. Over the last two years, the two had risked their lives together so many times and each time, they had lied that it would be the last. The two had a strong bond…based on shared secrets that could get them killed by a lot of people. Wally had been a hero only a few months when it happened. He still had the picture of the two of them, young apprentices who were still trying to figure out what their place in the world was.

Wally had just been training with the mysterious Robin in the underground cavern that served as their training facility and school. Usually, the Bat-apprentice had been eager to spar, enjoying decking other people but that day, he had been terrible. Usually fights ended with a wrestling match between the two apprentices, trying to kill each other. This time, it was almost too easy. "And again," Sensei Kairi snapped, clapping her hands and moving back. Wally was sweaty but eager to finish the match. Lunging forward, he snapped a swift punch at his opponent. Robin moved again to the side clumsily, his head barely in the fight. Wally slid into a roundhouse kick, trying to goad him into attacking back. Robin ducked but didn't respond. Wally was leaving himself completely open and Robin was usually all over any weakness. Something was definitely up.

"End!" Sensei said, clapping her hands. She looked irate with both of them. "Kid Flash, you require work on your defense. Do not taunt an opponent. I am disappointed to see you be so overconfident. You are dismissed." Her withering tone made the young speedster wish he had been less of a show off. He was lucky to get off without doing laps, he knew he deserved it.

Wally bowed deeply. "I apologize, Sensei," he answered obediently. He had only been trying to goad Robin on! He fled quickly, but could still overhear his opponent's tongue lashing as he walked off, grateful it wasn't him.

"And Robin, you are wasting my time and your opponent's time. If you can't concentrate, then remain in your room. Three hundred push-ups on your knuckles immediately." That was a harsh punishment, she sounded really angry.

Wally peaked over his shoulder as Robin's face fell at the criticism. "Yes, Sensei," he muttered, sounding angry and depressed and horribly familiar to something Wally felt. He knelt down and began to do his punishment, looking dejected and completely miserable. Wally wanted to stay with him, but he knew that would only make Robin feel worse. He wished he knew what was bothering his classmate, but knew it would mean a shouting match. Being a newly minted hero had taught him the value of privacy.

After a delicious, long, hot shower in the private changing room he enjoyed, Wally emerged to find his classmate sitting on the bench outside, head in his hands. "You okay?" Wally asked, as he whirled into his clothing. "You weren't up to kicking my butt today." He looked so pathetic; Wally wanted to throw something at him.

"I don't want to talk about it," Robin mumbled, still sounding really distracted. "I'm just hitting the showers and going to study." Anymore depressing and Robin would be the boy Storm and Thunder.

"Okay, but you're going to have to answer for it. Our mentors don't take kindly to failure," Wally said sympathetically. He had lazed off and could have paid a pretty heavy price himself. "And it's going to get boring if I keep kicking your butt all the time." If that didn't spur Robin to fight back, nothing would.

"I'm glad you find this funny, you red haired freak," Robin hissed. Usually, that would have resulted in a swift sparring match, but now it just seemed laughable. All right, perhaps humor wasn't the best approach. "I don't need you laughing at me."

Wally put his hands out in a gesture of surrender. "You might as well talk to me. It's not like I can tell anyone. It's just you and me. So...if you tell me, I'll never tell anyone. I promise. If I break it, may Batman deal with me." He couldn't think of a more horrible fate. "Come on, how bad could it be?"
"You wouldn't understand," Robin said angrily. "You have the Flash, your father. And you have someone who packs you lunches. Your life is normal." The fury in his voice revealed the source of the problem immediately.
"You don't have parents," Wally deduced. "You're an orphan. Today must be the anniversary of something important."

"How would you know?" Robin hissed, his hands shaking. "I studied poison, I can end you really easily." He was really angry now, but at least it had broken him out of his depression.

"If it makes you feel better, I know what you feel. My parents died two years ago in a car accident." He had never forgotten that horrible day, the day he had been sent to live with his aunt and uncle.

Robin looked pretty ashamed at that statement. "So you understand. It doesn't stop hurting," he said softly. "I keep waiting for them to come back and find me. And they won't." His hands shook at that. "And tomorrow's my birthday. My guardian kept asking me what I want. A new bike? A stereo? All I want is to feel better." It was the most personal thing Robin had ever said, as intensely private as all batty people tended to be.

Wally shook his head. "It doesn't ever stop hurting. If you are waiting for that, you'll wait forever. You just need to find reasons to be happy. My aunt and uncle make me happy and I know that they love me. So I'm not alone, even when I miss them." It was the first time he had ever talked about that since the dark day that his parents had passed away. It wasn't something he liked to discuss; he liked to pretend he was the happiest kid in the world.

Robin shook his head. "My guardian isn't exactly the touchy feely type. I'll get some cool present and a cake…but it's not the same. And it's not like I have friends here to have a normal party. At my old home, I'd have really amazing parties." He really looked dejected now. "They would have rocked."

"Well, why don't we sneak off and party together? We'll go out for pizza and get sick on doughnuts and do all the things normal kids do. We'll go to the amusement park and ride the biggest roller coaster. Just because we are heroes in training doesn't mean we don't deserve a day off."

"I don't think the mentors will approve. We're supposed to be training each other, not slacking off," Robin said, sounding like he was parroting Batman. Still, the grin had spread across his face, promising so much mischief.

"Don't worry, what's the worst Flash and Batman can do to us," Wally said lightly. "And don't answer that." Both mentors had a brilliant way of making punishments creative, cruel and usual without crossing the line into abuse. "It's worth it for you."

"You're…a good friend, Kid Flash," Robin said, giving him a rare but very happy smile. So, Robin could smile again. That was a good sign! "I appreciate it. Don't think it will make me go easy on you, but you're all right."

"Wally West," Wally said, pulling his mask off. "My name is Wallace Rudolph West and don't you forget it." It felt good to finally tell someone his secret, to have someone who he could tell anything else. "Now you can get me killed if I tell your secret."

Robin stared at him for a long moment before removing his mask as well. "Dick Grayson. You better forget it. No one else can ever know," he said, trying to be menacing. "Batman would kill me if he knew."

"Your secret's safe with me. I mean, you've told all the kids in hero school," Wally joked. "So…wait…your parents were…" Oh, he remembered that night very well. He had cried for hours. He didn't want to bring it up with Dick. "Does Bruce Wayne know about your little activities? Is he even conscious from all the alcohol?" he asked. He couldn't believe someone as uptight as Robin would have such a disgraceful guardian. Everyone knew who Bruce Wayne was, a drunken socialite who spent most of his days asleep and his nights partying in barely legal areas that he paid off so no one could find him. Dick Grayson had been adopted a few years ago and everyone knew it was a publicity stunt. Everyone knew that a boy deserved a proper family, but no one had the guts to say it to the wealthy billionaire. Wally wanted to hug him and kidnap him home to Aunt Iris and Uncle Barry for some loving care.

"Nah, he usually is too busy to notice what I am up to," Dick said placidly, changing the subject. "I'm pretty much on my own. Batman found and trained me and that is all I am going to discuss about my home life. It's fine, I have what I need. Batman makes sure I'm okay, and it's safest I stay with Bruce. I'm the famous little Dickie Grayson, heir to a hundred and fifty billion dollars. It's all worth it. So you know how my parents were murdered in front of my eyes." His fists balled up. "And now you know why I have to work so hard to get revenge. I'm going to make sure that no one ever gets orphaned like that again, because some sick psycho decides to cut the ropes."

Wally nodded. He wanted to hug his friend but he knew that wouldn't be appreciated. He had another way of making his friend laugh. "We should write a comic book together, the adventures of the Super Teens. You sound like Robin Hood or Zorro, defending the weak and innocent from evil," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

"I guess," Robin said, nodding. He was still lost in likely depressing thoughts. "But they're comic book characters and I'm real." The boy had no imagination at the moment and Wally decided he definitely needed some. Besides, Wally had been promised a sparring match and he would not leave without it.

"I'm Zorro, the Fox and I shall defend the peasants against the evil Imperialist Inquisitors," Wally said, affecting a thick Spanish accent, grabbing a saber from the corner. "I challenge you to a duel, for the love of the Lady Brownie." It was one of his favorite stories and he imagined himself as the next generation of heroes who fought evil behind a mask.

Robin stared at him. "You're insane," he said flatly, but the tiniest grin was hanging on the edge of his mouth. There was still some small kid-like part of him left in the grief and some fun was needed to help his inner child grow. "We're supposed to be studying for our chemistry test tomorrow. We don't; have time to fool around."

"You coward. You refuse to fight me?" Wally said, switching entirely to Spanish so this could turn into a lesson. "I spit on your honor." He even spat theatrically, trying to hold in his giggles.

'That's it. No one spits on my honor or anything else of mine. En garde," Robin said, pulling out his foil. He was actually smiling now!

"Touché," Wally returned, diving into the battle as the two students dueled up and down the changing room. "You will regret oppressing the peasants of California."

"Why am I the oppressor? I'm Robin, I'm the good guy," he retorted angrily, as the two raced around, deftly exchanging blows. "You're the red haired bandit."

"Fine. Call me what you want, but I'm still going to win," Wally teased, feinting and thrusting expertly. "You are so doomed!"

"Hey, no superpowers. This is a fair fight, skill against skill. I see one burst of speed and I'm putting gum in your hair," Robin said, laughing. This was so unlike training, but it was nice to see his friend goofing off.

"Hey, watch the hair. It drives the ladies crazy," Wally said, working on backing Robin into the corner. He was finally having some fun and seeing his friend smile again was worth it. They were true friends now!

"What ladies? Batgirl? She thinks you're a little kid and pats your head when you blush around her. You want to marry her, don't you?" Robin teased. He was really a different person now. It was amazing what a good prank could do.

"Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much," Wally teased. "Admit it, you like her more." Parry, thrust, keep going and try to find Robin's weakness.

"Shut up, Zero," Robin said, stung. Wally knew about his crush and he knew how much Robin hated to talk about it. Batgirl was an older girl and both boys were mad for her, a beautiful red haired mysterious beauty who patted them on the head and called them children. Wally had once stolen her bra and had nearly gotten his ears torn off by an irate Aunt Iris who had instructed him on the idea that stealing women's undergarments was not a good idea.

"That's Zorro," Wally retorted with a laugh. "Learn your literature. And I think she likes you too," he added, to soothe his friend's feelings. "We're going to have a test next Monday and I don't want you trying to copy off me!"

A sudden cough interrupted them. "So you two enjoy fooling around?" Batman said, giving them both his patented glare of doom. Still, a small look of gratitude from the Batman told Wally that his efforts had not been in vain. It hadn't felt that way six hours later, as they scrubbed the last of a cave with toothbrushes.

Life was good. No doubt about that. Strolling down the halls of his new home, he wasn't surprised to see Batman standing outside his office, staring at the door. "Batman, let me out!" a voice pleaded. "I said I was sorry, I will do better." Wally had heard a new appreciation for his beloved mentor who believed that corporal punishment was barbaric and that children needed freedom to grow. Uncle Barry was too laid back sometimes, and Wally often wanted to throw things at him. Yet when the mischief started, there were few people more understanding.

"Break yourself out, Robin. It is only five locks. I have a delicious dinner waiting for you when you do," Batman said, as Wally decided to try and tiptoe past him. Although he knew the Dark Knight had a small soft spot for him, he also knew the flipside was a generous dose of parental attention. Wally would have preferred the attention come from a heat seeking missile. As he walked past, he could feel the dark eyes settle on him. "I thought it best he practice," the uber-hero mused, giving him a searching glance. "Now that you all feel you're ready to fly alone, I am sure the training will get more rigorous."

Something about the word rigorous made Wally want to curl up in the fetal position and plead for mercy. "Yes, sir," he mumbled, wishing he could run away. He could outrun the man but he couldn't hide. He didn't know what else to say, he was quite cowed into silence.

"Batman, please let me out!" Robin was pleading through the door. "There are twelve locks and you are being completely unfair!" Trust Batman to make life even more difficult for his poor apprentice and lie about the locks.

Batman ignored the pleas for mercy and motioned for Wally to follow him away from the door. "That wasn't the attitude you had earlier. Going to Cadmus without authorization, talking back to your mentor, what changed to make you so obedient?" he asked, giving him a glare that made hardened criminals weep for mercy. "You were going to him to apologize? I thought you would have gone already to get your coal raking."

Wally nodded. "Yes sir," he whispered, bowing his head and staring at his shoes. He was trembling like a leaf, just as he had when he had been younger and sure that he would lose his mask because of his misbehavior. Why didn't he choose a different hallway, one away from the line of fire? "I mean, no sir." This was making absolutely no sense. "I mean I realized I went too far and going now to make things right.'

"Understatement of the year. You're lucky to be alive," Batman intoned, and Wally suddenly had an urge to blame it entirely on Aqualad who seemed big and strong enough to take the Bat glare without cringing in sheer terror. "I am aware of your uncle's unusual methods. What does he do when you are acting like an idiot with my apprentice?" he asked, his long gait eating up the hallway as Wally skipped along, trying to follow. "I seem to recall some form of alternative discussion." Batman never approved of a lenient approach to parenting, preferring shock and awe.

Wally's knees were threatening to give out from all the shaking as he stayed by Batman's side, his head bowed penitently. "My uncle and I have a drum circle, we air our grievances and leave with a renewed commitment to a better future," he managed to stammer. It sounded even lamer and almost bordered on insolence. No one was insolent to Batman and survived to live about it. "I will be apologizing to him profusely for not asking for his help." He really would!

Batman nodded and put his hand on Wally's shoulder. "You are Robin's best friend. Your mentor is my personal friend. I value both of you as positive contributions." It was one of the greatest compliments of his life. "Therefore, I will give you a warning. You and Robin ever commit such sheer stupidity again and I will drum you out. Personally." He loomed over, enormous and dark and frightening, like the almighty spirit of vengeance. "Am I understood?"

The menace in his voice made Wally literally tremble. "Yes, sir!" Wally whimpered in a high squeak, grateful that his mentor wouldn't allow too much pain and suffering to befall him. "Consider me Robin's new conscience." He didn't exactly know what drumming out meant, but he knew it would be painful and miserable and it wasn't wise to find out any more information.

"For your sake, it's good you understand me so well. And don't think your uncle will protect you. I'm your mission commander now," Batman said, twisting the terror knife just a half step more as he patted his shoulder. "Something to consider next time you and Robin has a bright idea."

"Are you scaring my little sidekick?" a wonderfully familiar voice asked, as Uncle Barry poked his head out of the door. "Come on, Bats, you're going to make him faint and then he's not going to be much use to us."

"Just preparing him for your drum circle. I hope you'll make him see the error of his eyes so I won't have to," Batman said, releasing him as Wally sped away to hide behind his uncle where it was safe and no one would be drilling him till he collapsed. It was embarrassing to admit he was hiding like a child, but it was better than staying under that glare.

"I will, don't worry. He's trembling like a jack rabbit, I think you have done my job for me," Uncle Barry said placidly, ruffling Wally's hair affectionately. "I appreciate the help but next time; leave some of the yelling for me, I haven't gotten a chance yet."

"He's tough; he can take it. In fact, he could use more of a lecture. I just softened him up for you," Batman said, before turning around and blocking a flying kick from Robin who had escaped the room and was launching a sneak attack on his mentor. Robin tumbled to the floor, still grinning madly. "And as for you, time for more training," he said, pulling his fallen apprentice to his feet and dragging him off. Wally dearly loved them both, but they were insane.

Uncle Barry was pulling him into his office as well, looking less than cheery. "I meant what I said before. You should have called," he said, motioning for Wally to grab a bean bag chair and sit down for what would likely be a long lecture. "That wasn't funny."

Robin had hinted to Batman's evil methods of interrogation many times. All Uncle Barry had to do was drop a metric ton of guilt on Wally's shoulders and the fastest boy alive felt horrible. "I know," he mumbled, realizing that he felt a lot worse now than he had when he was cowering from Batman's wrath.

Uncle Barry stood over him, looking unnaturally serious. "I was worried. When it exploded…I thought I lost you." The office was decorated just like Uncle Barry loved it, filled with lots of snacks and comfortable places to nap. It would be his favorite place, once he could get the weight of guilt off his shoulders.

"I'm sorry," Wally said, still reeling from that experience. He had no idea what had gotten into him, he had never been so openly defiant before. He blamed Robin entirely for this, he had been impulsive but it wasn't hard to get along with his mentor. It was Batman who was addicted to rules and Robin who was addicted to breaking them. He was just the speedster with a good sense of humor. Feeling his uncle standing above him, he suddenly felt really low. He could only imagine how frightened his uncle could be.

"Look, Wally, I get that you didn't like me treating you like a kid. And you're not, you're a young adult. But you should have called me. Iris would have killed me if anything happened to you," Barry said, putting his arm around his nephew. "Don't do it again."

"I won't," Wally said, glad that the lecture had been short and sweet. "Batman made sure of that," he added helplessly, meaning every word. "I swear, I used to be afraid of the boogeyman. And the boogeyman is afraid of Batman. I don't know how you can joke with him without your stomach churning."

"You get used to it. A little fear is good, seems to get messages through your thick skull," Uncle Barry teased, grabbing Wally into a headlock and applying a swift noogie. "You silly little goof, worrying me like that. I get any gray hairs and it's your fault!"

Wally giggled as he tried to escape. "No fair, you snuck up on me," he protested as his skull was given the massive knuckle workout. "You're messing up the hair, how am I supposed to get girls?" Attracting Miss Martian was a top priority after all! "Stop it; you're too old to act this way!"

"Just for that, you're getting tickle tortured," Uncle Barry said, attacking Wally's sides mercilessly. "You think Batman's the only one who knows how to administer pain?" he demanded playfully. "I am going to make you beg for mercy too! In fact, I'm going to make you say uncle!"

Wally groaned at the corny joke. Things were as they should be!

"My lord, master and king," Kaldur'ahm whispered, kneeling on the floor. He had to face up to what he had done, he had showed treason when he had disobeyed his monarch. He had been pardoned, but he still needed to discuss this. Inside his king's cold rooms, Kaldur'ahm always felt small and weak, the worthless orphan living on charity.

"Now I'm your king? Out there, you had no problem defying me," His Majesty said coldly, keeping his back turned to Kaldur'ahm. It was clear that the Mer-guard was in deep disgrace and it was well deserved. "Were I a crueler king, you would find yourself in chains for high treason for your behavior up there. Going against orders into Cadmus? You could have been killed! What would I have told my son?" It was a worthy question indeed.

Kaldur'ahm winced. He hated defying his king; he had been so honored when His Majesty had chosen him, a worthless orphan with no parents or parentage to become the protector of Prince Garth, the future king of Atlantis. Poor and hungry, he had been allowed to live in the palace like someone of actual importance. He had never forgotten falling to his knees before his future lord and being pulled up for a game of tag. Over the years, Prince Garth was not only his master, but Kaldur'ahm friend. "My king, I am grateful for your mercy." He truly was.

"Punishing you might be the only way to get through your head that you have no right to risk your life against orders. I have always treated you as a second son. How dare you disobey me?" the king demanded, slamming his hand on the table. "Perhaps a week in the dungeon would cool your head."

"I live to serve," Kaldur'ahm whispered. "If my service no longer pleases your majesty, relieve me from duty and allow me the shame of exile. " It would be miserable without his beloved undersea world, but the king was a man of justice and his word was absolute.

"Don't tempt me. How am I supposed to be a king when my son's future warrior master can't even obey me? Am I such a bad king?" the king snapped, sounding very put off. He could easily change his mind and have Kaldur'ahm sentenced to the caves for disobedience. "This isn't just about the hurt your loss would cause me. Garth would have not approved of this either. The thought of you nearly losing your life is most displeasing to me!"

"I apologize, my king. I meant no disrespect, I only wished to show you my worth," Kaldur'ahm whispered, refusing to back down. "My king has said that the true warrior is not afraid to defy his master in order to do what is right. I only seek to do what is right. And with all respect, my king, you know that Prince Garth would have been down there, beside me, fighting Cadmus. I am not the little orphan you found. I am a warrior in my own right who seeks to serve my king and prince with my life if needed. I cannot do that in a library." He was a servant; it was not his place to speak up in such a manner. Yet today, he had been made the leader and he would show his mettle.

His Majesty chuckled. "I concede that point, young one. My hot headed son would have been the first one down there and it is true, you are best being able to speak up to him. Otherwise, he'll never respect you," he said, motioning for Kaldur'ahm to rise. 'You are not just an orphan to me. You are my son's future guard, the great warrior who will protect the future king of Atlantis. You shouldn't doubt your value to me," he said, offering a hand. "I am pleased with your actions. I wish you luck in your new role as leader. It is a great honor for Atlantis and I know the team will benefit from the good judgement you have always shown. My only command is simple. Don't throw your life away."

Kaldur'ahm bowed deeply and clasped his mentor's hand. "I will spend it in your service." And in the service of justice. Things would be as they should.

AN-I included Aqualad as a bonus. It's shorter because his past was so shadowy, but I thought it was an interesting vignette. I have a new series planned, with two adventures of Robin and Kid Flash when they were kids.

Some previews?

1. Someone is going to get kidnapped.

2. Both boys will have to survive being forced into betraying each other.

So look forward to the next series "Knights of Justice" coming very soon. Also, it's my birthday this week so this is the present from me!