This chapter contains:

Spoilers: Season 1 and 2

Random Lyrics from: Take Me by Papa Roach

Pairings: Spitfire, Chalant, Wally and Ace bonding, Bart and Jamie friendship (can be viewed as Bluepulse if anybody wants it to be) along with Artemis, Dick and Wally friendship.

Important Extra Notes: So here we go, this is the chapter that leads up to the big explosion that is going to be chapter eight. We learn something about Aeron, more about Operation Blackout, Wally learns about Ace and so, so much more. Thank you guys for all of the support and to answer the guest reviewer that asked about how Jason didn't know Dick was 'dead'—Jason was keeping tabs on the bat family to make sure nothing major happened, he wasn't watching intensely enough to learn of his death. He had just noticed he wasn't patrolling Blüdhaven as Nightwing in a few months and went to ask Ace about it; figuring he could get answers by threating a kid. But that obviously turned out different . . . anyway I hope that answers your question! :) Also guys please do take into account the very high warnings for sexual scenes and disturbing matter in this chapter.

This chapter is rated teen for some language, places of violence, romance scenes, tiny mention of someone 'killing themselves', high sexual scenarios in the start of the chapter (it takes place in Wally's mind so of course he would think like so but anyway, I warned you) and some very disturbing matter (start and end listed below).


(!) WARNING FOR DISTURBING MATTER (!)

There is a part in this chapter where Aeron has an episode and it is far worse than his others—some very disturbing things are listed. It is mostly mention of blood, gore and dismembered limbs. If this makes you squeamish feel free to skip it (I wrote it and I got grossed out) as the start and end are as follows:

Start— 'Aeron swatted at the empty air behind him, avoiding the eyes of the giggling girl that stared at him from the corner of the room.'

End— 'The entire way to Dick's apartment was silent, excluding the animals growing from far away at something that had awoken them and Wally's snappy attitude towards his girlfriend.'


Translation Notes:

Spanish:

Amigo — friend


take me and let me in


It started out as a dream.

A dream that took the beauty that was Artemis and turned her into something more. Her curves were enlightened, hip bones gallant against her darker skin, lips plump and a loose shade of red, stormy eyes wide with love—lust really, considering it was Wally's dream—cheeks perfectly smooth, slim body arching towards him, and mouth open shortly as his calloused hands caused a moan to escape her throat.

It went through the actions of a Valentine's Day that could've been if Wally hadn't forgotten the holiday five years in a row; the dream version of himself more alert and caring—the two things Wally could only strive for in real life. First, it started out with a calm chirping of birds in the morning; his fingers drawing different shapes on the uncovered skin near her hips. He woke her up with a gentle kiss afterwards and a husky, drowsy mutter of 'Happy Valentine's Day' before they headed to the shower together.

Afterwards, breakfast and then an uneventful day of kissing and cuddling by the light of the many violent R rated movies (by Artemis' choice) and light, corny comedy PG-13 rated movies (by request of Wally) filtering through the living room television.

The day faded into night as Wally dug through his closet to find the suit Uncle Barry used for his wedding day, putting it on and finding that it was one size too big but still made him look as classy as needed. Artemis put on a short fitted purple dress that cut off at her knees, the top dipping down in a V-neck fashion. The night went on with Wally taking his girlfriend to dinner and then bringing her to a hotel room that was filled with white rose petals (her secret favorite) and expensive bottles of red wine sitting patiently on the nightstand next to the bed; two polished, empty glasses just waiting to be used.

That's what led up to this moment in time; Wally topless and boxers half on (he was pretty sure Barry's suit was lost someone half on the edge of the king sized bed and half off) with Artemis' stunning dress crumpled on the floor a few feet away. His hands were slowly grazing her thigh, trailing lower and lower—her lips pressing kisses to his upper chest and neck in a matter like as if she needed him.

"Babe," he grunted, groaning when her hand brushed the hem of his boxers, teasing him.

The next thing he knew, her lips were by his ear. "Wally," she murmured, voice lost in the mist of Wally struggling to pull her as close as he could so he had something to hold against him.

"Artemis, I fucking love you."

A raspy chuckle echoed back, her hands somehow moving so her fingernails were digging into his back. The red scars left behind would just be a blissful reminder for later. "Wally wake up." He found her lips and buckled under the intoxicating thing that was her.

Anything revolving around her was gorgeous in Wally's mind.

"Dude wake up!"

A sharp hiss caused Wally's eyes to snap open as he scrambled to sit up on his own, seeing blankets twirled around his waist. He frantically looked to his left and then to his right for Artemis, because the dream felt so damn real, only to find Dick standing there; face bloody from a nasty looking cut near his eyebrow and bruises lining his chin.

Wally struggled with grabbing a pillow and covering the throbbing lower half of him, willing it to go away as he rubbed at his eyes and turned on the light sitting on the nightstand next to him.

"Dick? What in the hell happened to you?" There were a million other thoughts swimming around Wally's mind in that moment (like why in the hell his dream couldn't actually be real) but he settled on asking the one that seemed most important for that moment.

Dick was in his Nightwing suit and his domino mask lay cracked next to the lamp, eyes frantic. There was also a smirk painted on his lips behind the blood, one that Wally could barely see in the yellowish glow of the lightbulb.

"I think the better question is about what your dream was. Are you really that sex deprived that you dreamt about getting laid?" Wally scowled, running a hurried hand through his hair.

"Glad to know your humor is still intact and for your information—you woke me up before I could get laid. One hell of a best friend you are."

Dick scoffed, attempting to wipe off some of the wet blood off his face with one of his gloved hands, "Don't be coming on to me now since you are still—"

"Can you make fun of me later and for now tell me what in the hell happened to your face?"

Dick instantly got focused again and the seriousness took over his entire face, eyes attentive. "Aeron and I got into a disagreement. Probably wasn't wise of me to go up against a strengthened speedster superhuman on my own."

"Why?"

He was only going to attempt getting out of his warm, comfy bed to try and throw on a shirt if something serious was going on. If this was another one of Dick's stupid late night pranks, Wally was sure to kill him instead. He sighed, grabbing his domino mask and inspecting the crooked crack that hung there to avoid having to look at Wally.

"Artemis found us Wally. She found us." It escaped his mouth in a whisper, mouth cracked in a half alive smile and Wally looked at his friend in chronic disbelief.

"Artemis," the toothy grin that followed was enough to cause Dick's heart to leap happily but the look was gone once Wally put the shattered pieces together, "where is she?" Dick placed the mask over his eyes, securing it only to find Wally pushing him out of the way to grab a shirt from his closet.

"Wally I need you to stay calm, we'll get her back I promise."

The rooms in the abandoned building used to be offices and Aeron did a half-ass job in converting them; leaving grey walls, stingy bed that was only a mattress on the floor, small closet that was smaller than the room itself as it held a few ripped shirts and other different outfits for whatever mission Aeron would send them on, a single barred window and door that only opened with the correct fingerprint of the person whose room it was. Dick figured it was like that because all of the years the two had tried to escape, the fact that Aeron knew they planned it from sneaking into each other's rooms.

They would get punished for it horribly but he never found out how they could get into each other's rooms (Dick had a fake fingerprint from Wally hidden on the pinky finger of his glove while Wally had Dick's fingerprint on a fake skin piece in his nightstand drawer).

The small matter of the room seemed to be lost on Wally as he flipped around and trapped Dick against the wall, eyes ablaze with a hateful anger. "Aeron has her?" his voice was a growl, lips tugged in what looked like a snarl as his one hand squeezed into a white-painted fist at his side.

Dick took his friend by the shoulders and shoved him back, "While I was on patrol I went over and checked that hill Aeron is always going on about 'being a vantage point for us to get discovered' and I saw someone there. I-I went up behind them and grabbed her and I was about to snap her neck so Aeron didn't kill me for allowing someone to find us but then I realized it was her. I let go and she turned around and it was Artemis Wally, it was her. She searched for us and she found us! So then we hugged but before I could even get t-t—to talk to her Aeron was there and trying to get her. I fought, damn it man I fought like hell to make sure he couldn't get her but he was able to knock me out."

The fire in Wally's eyes didn't change, instead they seemed to flare in more ire. "So she's dead."

Dick shook his head, pissed with how his friend was acting. He knew this was killing him on the inside, to have missed getting to see his true love after four years, but it only should've given him more incentive to help him try to find her before Aeron truly did put a bullet in her skull.

"She isn't dead Wally! Stop being so pissed off with me because the matter of this is that we need to find her before Aeron decides he doesn't need her and actually kills her!" Wally's bare chest heaved in and out as the man took uneven breaths but without any other words he turned and tugged a shirt off one of the colored hangers and tossed it over his body. He grabbed a black duffel bag from the bottom of his closet and Dick sent him a worried look. "Dude, what are you doing?"

Wally didn't turn as he zoomed around the room, loading the rest of his bag with the things he treasured before leaving the room and returning with a dark blue duffel bag that now sat next to his; packed with all of the things Dick held close to him from his room. The speedster grabbed ahold of both bags and turned towards Dick, "We are getting Artemis and getting the hell out of here."

Dick couldn't help but grin, moving forward and placing a hand on Wally's shoulder. "That's the best idea you've had in years man,"

Wally nodded, "I'm going to go and drop these at your apartment while you find out where Artemis—"

"Aeron probably has her in B4, the room we both know and love. If he wants to keep her around for leverage, that's where he would start. You drop off our stuff and then come back her and stay hidden. I'll signal you after I scope out the place so we can save her alright?"

"See you on the other side man," Wally answered before taking off, bags in tow as he ran to Dick's apartment. The latter laughed shortly, cracking his knuckles before running out the door and heading to the room where he hoped Artemis was being held.


don't break me and shut me out


It was easy getting into Dick's old apartment and leaving the bags on top of the couch, Brucely turning his head and running towards his master with a happy bark and slobbering tongue. He tackled Wally to the floor, paws rolling onto Wally's shoulders as he licked every inch of his face; the man laughing loudly at the sudden happiness the dog was showing.

"H-Hey boy, chill out! I'm sorry I left you for so long boy but I'm coming back."

He ran his fingers through the dog's grey hairs, revising in the fact that he could pet the dog and hug him. It had been so long and frankly, Wally was too wrapped up in saying a long overdue hello to Brucely to try and piece together why exactly Dick's apartment was so spotless and alive with energy. He rubs Brucely's favorite spot behind his ears but freezes when a voice comes from where the start of the hallway would be.

"Who are you?" The voice was young, like a little boy's and Wally shoved the dog off him so he could scurry to his feet only to see in fact a young boy standing across from him. He scratched the back of his neck, chuckling nervously.

He wasn't good with kids, what in the hell was he going to say?

What if a new family lived here? No, he thought, Artemis would never do that. Right?

"What are you doing here?" Okay that probably wasn't the best thing to leave Wally's mouth but it was the only thing that came to him so that's what he went with.

The kid looked baffled by Wally's statement, "My momma and I live here."

Shit, Wally's mind deadpanned, if this kid's mom found him—let's just say he didn't want to die again. "Where's your mom at now, kid?" he asked slowly, hoping she wasn't there but that seemed unlikely because the kid looked to be only three.

The boy moved a step closer to where Wally was standing, "She's out running an errand. My Uncle Arrow is keeping a watch from the roof, he says that if he sees any bad guys he'll put an arrow right through them so they can't get to me."

Good old Oliver with his uncensored threats—wait the kid knew Oliver? The kid knew Green Arrow? The kid had called him an uncle, but Oliver didn't have anyone that could—"What's your mom's name kid?"

Wally didn't have time to process the fact that he had gotten faster over the years, fast and silent enough to have been able to sneak right past Oliver's watchful eye. He made a metal note that later on, after all of this shit was sorted out, he would have to brag about it and see how much he could piss the older man off.

The kid took another step closer and that's when Wally saw the red and yellow Flash pajamas he was sleeping in.

What in the hell?

"Artemis Crock but I don't know who my daddy is . . . my name is Ace." Just like that, in the frail voice of this kid, Wally's world broke.

Artemis had hooked up with someone and left him out to dry? The anger was bold in his features, face red and veins intrepid. All common sense flew out the window; after all they had been through, she went and messed around with some guy once his casket was lowered into a bare grave?

Wally realized that he still hadn't answered the boy and he was spilt half and half.

"Uh my name's Wally. I gotta go can you not tell Arrow that I was here?" Ace nodded, confused but somewhere inside of him a part of him trusted this strange man. He went to turn and run out the door when Ace was suddenly at his side, grabbing his hand. Wally turned back and looked at Ace, lips in a firm line. "What's the matter kid?" he questioned gruffly—itching to get out of there and do a few laps around Blüdhaven before heading back to the warehouse to save Artemis.

"Are you gonna bring my daddy back Mister Wally?"

Wally sends the kid what he hopes is a reassuring grin to cover up the other emotions that plagued him. "Yeah, yeah sure kid. I'll bring him back just stick tight okay?" He answers before shaking off Ace's hand and running out the door, a burst of air hitting Ace in the face as the man seemingly disappeared from his very eyes.

"Wow that was so cool." Ace muttered, lips in an enthusiastic beam. "I hope my daddy is that cool!"


i lit my pain on fire


The world is muffled in her ears as she blinks a few times to try and connect her senses, gasping when she remembers what had happened. Her eyes snap open and she tries to move, only to find that she was stuck. Her heart starts to hammer, breathing shallow as she looks around and sees that she is surrounded by four white walls with the wall in front of her holding one way glass in place with how she was sitting.

A single light hangs above her, the rest of the room dark. Artemis looked down and saw that she was seated in a metal chair that was bolted to the floor, her hands restrained by black leather restrains around her wrists along with the same thing over her ankles. A final strap rested over her upper stomach, just above her bellybutton.

Her eyes sting for some odd reason and she remembers the fight between the creepy man and Dick . . . and with a heavy heart she remembers the sound of bone crunching from one of them. The bloodied face of Dick is burned into her memory too and she just hopes nothing bad had happened to him.

"About time you woke up Miss Crock."

It sounds like the voice is coming from a speaker located somewhere in the dark room and a low growl emits from her throat. "Who the hell are you and what did you do to Dick?" The man laughs and his voice is affected by the hissing in the speaker, making him sound like a mutated version of a hyena.

"Richard? I don't know where he went off to but I know that I have you and that is enough to complete Operation Blackout."

Artemis struggled against the restrains, tugging and pulling in a meager attempt at escape. "What in the hell are you talking about?"

Before she knew it, Aeron was in front of her and she held her breath at the sight of his face. The smile looked painted on, lips stretched and yellowed teeth showing. He was like a deranged Cheshire cat, dare she say it.

"My name is Aeron Hyades sweet dear and soon the world will answer to me because of the weapons I own." Artemis didn't answer, instead staring daggers. "Wallace and Richard are by far my most successful experiments. I mean, this, this started out as an simple ideal back when I was a teenager—to find a way to make people feel how I feel every damn day of my life. And, and now it is a reality." He muttered, pacing in front of Artemis and she felt pleasure in seeing the limp as he walked, glad that it wasn't Dick who had broken a bone (she would have to applaud the guy later).

"What are you—"

Rapidly he was directly in her face, hand grabbing at her chin. "Four years I took these two men and turned them into soldiers! Mentally I broke them down and built them back up with no hope left. Physically I turned them into brutes, men of no weakness. When all of you gave up I took them in like my own sons to avenge my mother."

Artemis scoffed, "You must be one hell of a momma's boy then."

He let go of her chin with a snarl, "My mother died in a fire when I was little. The police covered it up, saying it was a 'gas leak' but I knew it was the work of a gang boss because my father didn't pay up for that month. I may have been little but I wasn't stupid," he spat, shaking his head, "so when I was sixteen I found that man, Marcus that son of a bitch, I found him and tortured him—I allowed him to feel the pain my mother felt as the flames licked her skin, as they ate her alive. The police couldn't even identify his body when I was done with him."

Just jump my dear. Find a ledge and fall so we can be reunited. I'm so lonely Ron.

Aeron swatted at the empty air behind him, avoiding the eyes of the giggling girl that stared at him from the corner of the room. He didn't want to see those red eyes he knew all too well. Instead, he fought to continue talking as if nothing had happened at all.

"From then on I started my search for men that I could break down and build back up but other the years no one was strong enough to handle it. Until I laid my eyes on Richard and Wallace. They were perfect; one could travel at the speed of light while the other was trained by The Dark Knight—who else would be able to rival those two? I had to have them."

The little girl across the room giggled madly, face disorientating and stretching as blood coated hands reached out to him.

"Ronnie!" she called, attempting to hobble towards him as his mother snickered from inside his head. Aeron's eyes trained uneasily on the bloody stump that was supposed to be her left leg.

You could've saved her Ron. If only you hadn't killed her.

"S-Shup up M-Mother," he stuttered, voice low as Artemis glanced at the man uncertainly. It was already bad enough she was trapped in a room with a creepy man—she didn't need any add-ons . . . like the guy turning out to be crazy.

As much as she wanted to point that fact out she bit her tongue and kept quiet, not wanting to die by a psycho with a crimson knife.

Aeron staggered backwards as the little girl drew closer to him, a line of blood following her from the severed leg still sitting in the corner. "G-Get a-away from m-me A-Angel." Artemis watched as Aeron backed himself into a corner, fear bold in his eyes and hands outstretched wearily.

She gasped inaudibly when she felt a touch of cold on her arm and turned to see Dick crouched there, his gloved hands carefully undoing the restrains. He sent her a stern look that signaled her to not say anything and then her eyes focused on the shadowed figure standing watch behind him. Wally. Her eyes pricked with unshed tears and she would've laughed happily if she could've.

He was so handsome to her after being gone for so long. She had missed him.

She should've lived, you should've been the one to be kicked in the head and killed! A disgrace, a disgusting thing you are—you aren't even human anymore are you?

Aeron covered his ears at his mother's sneering voice as the little girl flickered, her hand reaching for his foot. "Ronnie! Ronnie, come play with me!" The girl yelled in a singsong voice and it was abruptly thundering in his ears, rocking his very being.

"N-No," he muttered, pushing himself backwards.

Artemis watched Aeron's terrified movements and she couldn't hold in the question any longer.

"What's happening to him?" she whispered as Dick was working on pulling out the last restrain for her chest and without meeting her eyes he answered softly.

"One of his episodes. There's something mentally wrong with him, that much Wally and I put together, but we still aren't sure of what exactly it is."

With a final tug Artemis was free and vaulting herself towards Wally who caught her with a gentle pair of arms. She buried her head as far into his chest as it would go, "Wally," He chuckled and the rage simmering inside of him actually dampened a little, part of it fizzing out completely.

"Hey beautiful. I've missed you."

Dick put a hand on Artemis' shoulder, breaking apart their emotional moment. "Guys. We gotta go, now." With two nods answering him, the three left the room—leaving Aeron to his own personal demons.

I hope she kills you dear, because if she kills you I can let the demons biting at my ankles attack you instead!

Aeron cringed as a shaking finger touched his foot, blood dripping onto his knee. He wanted to close his eyes and not look but something was preventing him from doing so, his eyes gawking at the little girl in front of him.

She looked horrifying up close; her teeth crooked and chipped in some places, forehead homing a large gash, cheeks hallowed out like a skeleton, lips cracked, ears chopped off, nose half slaughtered and eyes that bore into his very soul.

He was trembling so bad that he couldn't speak, it was too hard to form any types of words that weren't meaningless stutters and then the girl grinned and he felt his world spin because he was hit with the memory that he did this to her.

She could've been such a striking girl, she could've been the one to find the cure to cancer but instead she was dead and haunting him—reminding him.

"Play with me Ronnie! Come on, I saved the dinosaur toy for you!"

Then she lifted her burnt fingertips to show a dismembered hand that wasn't her own in her hands and he screamed so loud the few lone animals in the woods turned their heads to stare at the warehouse.

Go on Ron. Play with your sister. She saved your dinosaur toy dear.

"No!" but Aeron's shout of protest was drowned out by the little girl's laughter and before long blood was oozing from the walls and bug-ridden bodies were covering the floors around him.


and i watched it all burn down


The entire way to Dick's apartment was silent, excluding the animals growing from far away at something that had awoken them and Wally's snappy attitude towards his girlfriend. Three blocks away from the apartment Artemis turned to Dick ad told him to go on ahead and that they would catch up before facing Wally.

Artemis finally decided to confront Wally on his harsh attitude, stopping him with a vice grip on his shoulder and cold eyes. "What is your issue?"

Wally avoids looking at her, pulling his arm from her hold. "Nothing."

"Wally, you might've been gone for four years but hell if I don't know when you're lying." He stayed quiet for a moment and then turned away from her slowly so he didn't have to look at her when he spoke.

"You have a kid Artemis. You had someone else's kid," and her heart feels like it's shattering, mind clouding with unattached thoughts of 'oh no' and 'he doesn't understand'; "you had someone else's kid after we promised to be together forever."

Wally knows he's not acting right but his emotions had been ran raw in the past few hours; between the sensual dream, Dick telling him Aeron had her, finding the kid in the apartment (her apartment now), saving her and now confronting her. His feelings felt like they had been through a meat grinder—like as if they had been shredded to tiny pieces and then thrown into the grind again. Wally doesn't turn to face her because he knows if he sees her face of whatever feeling is present there that he'll lose it again and he really doesn't want to add 'breaking down and crying' to the list.

"Wally," she treated her words like they were sour, distasteful in her mouth, "there's so much you've missed."

He grits a fist at his side and can feel her gaze burning into his back.

"Like you fucking another man? Forgetting about me?"

Artemis scoffs, "You have the story completely wrong Wally. Everyone thought you were dead. We all searched everywhere for you two and found nothing." He clenches his jaw and can feel his blood pressure rise at the anger of thinking about another man's hands on Artemis' body, the two in bed tangled within each other—

"You didn't search enough then!" Wally flips around and his nose is nearly pressing in hers. He didn't realize how close they were. "Dick and I, we've been forced to do unthinkable things these past years and you guys gave up on us. We were crying for help underwater and no one heard!" Artemis stays quiet and her arms are crossed and he hates the look in her eyes. He hates how he forgot the different looks his own spitfire could have.

"Wally."

"But I guess you were too busy fucking someone else in bed to hear huh babe?"

He was like a loose cannon, words flying, rage peeking and steam flowing from his ears. Artemis didn't seem fazed by his words, for what Wally had no idea why, instead reaching out and putting a soft hand in place over his clenched fist. "His name is Wallace Barry Crock and he isn't someone else's kid."

Wally's eyes lost all ire aimed towards her and he seemed to visually shrink in his spot, her gentle touch the only thing keeping him grounded.

"W-What? Wal—W-Wallace? Artemis, what in the h—hell?"

The words that had come out so easily before were now getting caught in his throat, drowning in his stomach before they could leave him in flowing sentences. There was a knot in his gut and his heart was probably hammering so fast it could've rivaled Uncle Barry's speed on a good day. The corner of her lips twitched up in a faded smile, her thumb stroking the back skin of his hand.

"He's not someone else's kid babe," she whispered and Wally, God—he could feel the world closing in around him, shards of his life falling to the ground and splitting into a trillion pieces of broken glass; "his nickname is Ace and he's our little boy."

Her grip on his hand tightened as he tried to stagger backwards and she held onto him so that he wouldn't fall over his own two feet. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, Artemis reaching out and grabbing his other hand to steady him.

"H-H—How?" he muttered, eyes locking with hers and searching for a flicker of something and Artemis exhaled and prayed that he didn't put his head together and say he wanted nothing to do with Ace. She believed that would be the only thing she wouldn't be able to forgive—if he turned his back on her and left her as a single mother. But Wally . . . Wally wouldn't do that right? He cared about her too much to leave her for another however many years?

"The night you snuck into the apartment to grab that damn helmet, we didn't use protection remember?" She saw his eyes flash in remembrance, a dash of realization.

"I-I thought you were on the pill." Artemis couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head.

"Wally I pissed at you and we were on an unsaid break. Why in the hell would I be on the pill if you didn't want anything to do with me?"

Wally stared at Artemis with a serious expression on his face but then a laugh left him and Artemis smiled because she hadn't heard him laugh in so long—she had forgotten how beautiful it was. How intoxicating it was to her senses. "Jesus babe," he murmured, holding onto her hands and pulling her body closer to his; "when was he born?"

"April 14th. He's three and he's just like you."

Wally smiled, "I could tell. I uh ran into him when I was dropping off our bags at the apartment. He talked about an 'Uncle Arrow' and that's what . . . I'm sorry Art. I didn't mean any of what I said."

He pulled her closer, their bodies pressed against one another's and Wally's lower region was faintly aware of how close to his dream this was—only with a few extra roadblocks. Artemis moved her hands so they were resting on his chest as Wally's snaked around her waist in return. "You didn't know."

He sighed, "Yeah I didn't know and I made crazy assumptions. I'm sorry."

Her lips brushed against his for a millisecond, enough to make him want more. "It's fine Wally, it's okay."

It went silent for a moment, the two lost in contemplating each other in the dim light of the room. Then without warning a large grin split across his face and he picked his girlfriend up, twirling her around a few times before dropping her back on the ground with her hands still holding tight onto his shirt for dear life. "What the hell Wally?" She questioned, slapping him playfully on the shoulder a causing him to chuckle. There was an excited gleam in his eyes that set her off-guard. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He laughed again, "Artemis, we have a kid. We got a little baby boy!"

The excitement was coming off him in waves was outstanding and Artemis wondered how many years it would take him to turn into a drowsy parent like she was now. "Well as soon as we fix this shit with your head, you can take full babysitting duty so I can get the four years of rest I deserve." He leaned in and gave her a short kiss, grinning all the while.

"Of course babe, anything you want for four whole years I swear. I love you Artemis."

She looked into his eyes and saw the loving look of his that she had missed so damn much for all those years, her heart melting. "I love you too Wally."

They hugged for a moment before Wally pulled back, arms still wrapped around her, and his speedster ways of being hyperactive appeared through his movements.

He was so happy and it warmed Artemis' heart.

"Tell me about our kid babe, I have a feeling I have a lot to catch up on."


now i'm dancing in the ashes


Artemis is too lost in her mind to even notice that Wally and she had made it to the apartment, his arm lowering from her shoulders to prod her side. "Babe?" She met his concerned eyes with a failed attempt of hiding her emotions.

"What?"

His fingers grazed softly against the skin of her arm as he moved out of the way so she could see the complex apartment building looming in front of them. "We're here." She nodded hazily, going to move but Wally adjusting his body so that he blocked her from going anywhere. "What's eating at you Artemis?" His fingers trail all over the exposed skin of her body, causing zigzags of warmth to shoot through her veins when she sighs and looks up to him.

"I just can't," she pauses and take another breath, forcing her breathing to match the flutter of his touch; "get past how Aeron acted. It was like he was talking to someone else that was in the room with him."

Wally looked grim, his lips tugged downwards and orbs hardened. "There's something wrong with him, something messed up in his brain. Dick and I tried to figure it out one week but even while he spied on him and I took notes and crunched numbers we came up with nothing. Doesn't help that any medical history has been wiped from the international servers. Dick checked everywhere."

"Does he see things?" Wally went soundless at that, actually unsure of the answer.

"I think so. Sometimes he'll scream at someone he calls Mother to be quiet. Today, well today I'm not sure who he was yelling at. It uh, it never got that bad before."

She can sense that he's uncomfortable talking about the man, anxious at the thought of his time there. So Artemis simply nods and then takes his hand and pulls him with her the rest of the way to the apartment. They both stay silent as they head up the creaky stairs and only when they are facing the closed door does Wally speak in a hushed whisper. "He's in there isn't he?"

Artemis nods, swallowing the dry lump in her throat. She didn't know how Ace would react, she only clung onto the hope that he would be excited more than anything else.

"Yeah. He is."

Wally exhales slowly to slow his racing heart before reaching for the doorknob and turning it, the green door squeaking loudly as it swung open. Three sets of eyes turned to look back at the two and the low hum of chatter between the two adults inside of the room ceased effortlessly.


and there's no one else around


Wally entered the room slowly, eyes locked on the little boy who was hiding behind Oliver's leg—eyes locked on the little boy who was his son. Artemis closed the door with a calm thud, trailing mutely behind Wally as Oliver's eyes flickered from one to another.

Dick stood next to the older man, arms crossed and domino mask ditched on the kitchen counter behind them. Wally advances far enough into the room so that he's only feet away from where the three are standing, looking around once before crouching down and holding out a hand towards Ace.

He smiled sheepishly, "Um, kid?" he questioned coarsely, Dick holding in the laugh that threatened to leave him. Laughing would just ruin the moment . . . even as small as it was. Ace inched out from around Oliver's leg, one hand still catching the green material of his pants.

"Yeah?" Wally smiled gently at Ace's miniature voice, rubbing at the back of his neck.

"I uh, I brought your daddy back." Artemis held her breath, fingernails digging into the skin of her crossed arms. Ace slowly left the safety of Oliver's pant leg, walking over to where Wally sat crouched on the floor.

"You did?" Wally watched his son's feet shuffle towards him, small and hesitant.

"Yeah bud. I made a promise, didn't I?"

Ace stopped moving once he was close enough to Wally, his arm brushing against Wally's leg as he nodded. "Yeah, Momma told me that promises are always meant to be kept."

Artemis smiled, Dick chuckling a little as Oliver watched with pride. He wouldn't want any other kid to be his, even if Ace was part of one smartass speedster that got on his nerves. Wally cleared his throat, grabbing one of Ace's tiny hands in his own. He was so small.

"Listen, I know your expecting some type of big buff guy with an angry face who stumbles in here and pulls you into a huge hug, which I can understand after being gone for your entire life, but that isn't what's gonna happen. No big tough guy just me and I'm sorry if you were expecting somebody better than me because I know I look like a scrawny guy who nobody could love but your momma loves me with all of heart and even though I don't know you as well as she does I love you just the same kid and—"

He grunted suddenly, Ace plowing into him and straightforwardly stopping Wally's meaningless bumbling.

The little boy wrapped his arms tight around Wally's neck, squeezing lovingly as he buried his face into the man's shoulder; some tears even finding their way down his cheeks. Wally kept his arms out in shock for a second more before finally understanding that Ace was his and that he loved him before deliberately wrapping his arms around his son's back—holding firmly.

Nobody spoke as father and son embraced for the first time, holding on to each other like as if it was their lifeline. That silence lasted a full minute before Ace sniffed and pulled back slightly, still in his father's hold, and speaking.

"I missed you Daddy," Wally chuckled, his body rumbling with the sound and reassuring Ace that any monsters weren't going to get him from the closest and that he would be okay.

"I've missed you too kiddo. You don't know how much I've missed you."

It stung his heart, the words he spoke, but that was alright. He might've missed out on the first three years of his son being in the world but he wasn't going to miss out on anymore.

He wouldn't leave his family.

Never again.


'cause I wanna be a part of something


Artemis puts Ace to bed after Wally and he share stories for another hour, the three gathering in the living room so that the full story of where they had been for four years could be told. Oliver had headed home after pulling both boys into a tight hug and whispering 'I'm glad you're both back' in their ears and making the three swear that they would be at Mount Justice first thing in the morning so they could explain their story all over again to everyone there (he told them he would contact the Young Justice Team and Justice League about their arrival and set up a meeting for first thing in the morning).

With a final hug and fatherly kiss to Artemis' cheek he was gone, the ivy suit and himself blending into the night colors and disappearing.

Dick and Wally sat next to each other on the couch while Artemis perched herself on the new armchair that sat facing the television off to the right, twisting her body so that her two friends were in her vision. She was the first to speak, exhaling to prepare herself for whatever they were about to tell her.

She knew it wasn't going to be pretty, just a gut feeling. "Ready?"


this is just a story of a broken soul


"After torturing us for however long, I don't know it felt like we had been there for ages, he put a knife in each of us." Dick started, pulling up his shirt almost all the way to show a faded pink scar about a meter wide that curved around the marred skin above his stomach, dropping it like as it had burned him a moment later (all had gotten changed into civvies after Ace had dozed off). "I got one in the chest and it hurt like hell. Stabbing isn't too forgiving, just don't ever get stabbed Art." Dick mulled, Wally chuckling half-heartily as he turned and tugged up the side of his shirt which proudly showed a similar looking scar near his hip bone, maybe a few centimeters above.

"Then we made up and promptly died." Wally muttered, scratching at his chin and sighing.

Artemis kept quiet, not sure if opening her mouth would bring on the waterworks or cause a scream to rip from her insides.

Dick seemed privately repulsed at the next words that left his mouth, "Aeron told us that I was dead for fifteen seconds before stabbing a needle into my chest, while Wally was dead for forty five. The needle was filled with something nicknamed FTO2-CO2-B. That stood for Fear Toxin Number Two, Cure Number Two and Brainwashing."

Wally scoffed at the memory, cutting in. "This guy's endgame is to make everyone else in the world feel the pain he's felt his entire life. So he created a manic type of cure for himself, to make himself stronger—though it did have side effects of deforming some of his features—so he would be able to take over the world. He became a speedster, got a tad bit of super strength from that shit he had Bane take—that toxic stuff. But really his plan backfired."

Dick nodded, "He wanted to silence anyone who had ever made fun of him by becoming something unbeatable and handsome. That cure gave him the unbeatable part but lacked the beauty and turned his multiple skin deformations and scars into bumps and grey-bolded veins."

Artemis waited a moment, waited for the tension in the air to settle. "So what was his obsession with having you guys?"

Dick and Wally looked at each other and then back to Artemis, the former taking the blunt of having to respond.

"For years he has been kidnapping people from ages eighteen to thirty in hopes of finding the 'perfect host' for his spinoff cure and then he stumbled across us. He paid big money to Sportsmaster for succeeding in kidnapping me and then ran out of funds to kidnap Wally so he did it himself with the help of Bane and a stale promise that Bane could break a few bones which was enough motivation for him apparently. Between the time Wally was recovering he ejected the first cure into himself which then allowed him so kidnap us so easily the second time. After putting us through hell and taking multiple tests he killed us and put the second cure into our bloodstreams."

"It works as a virus. It gave us heart attacks to get our hearts going fast enough to 'awaken' us, and then slowed it back down to normal pace so we could live." Wally mumbled, picking at his fingers.

Dick waited a second before talking again, "So there we were. Alive and breathing but now with something in our bloodstream that made us . . . do things. The cure attached to a few separate red blood cells and from that tiny amount of blood cells Aeron was in control of anything. And he could make us to do anything as long as he was focused on us and nothing else. That is why we have time now, though limited, because his frenzied episodes always last at least a few hours to a day."

Wally rubbed at his eyes, "It hurts. Not just physical, not just the feeling of your veins freezing over and boiling under your skin—but mentally too. Just the thought of not being able to do whatever you want is crazy and it hurts." Artemis held in the tears as Dick ran a hand through his hair, muscles tensing.

"The first year was more torture. Teaching us to obey rules and mental training," he spat, distaste clear in his letters. "The second year was learning how to be evil. Robbing banks, stealing things from stores, how to knock out someone without killing them in fifty ways."

Wally laughed bitterly at that, like a twisted funny memory had hit him.

"He had us practice that on each other. It was fucked up." He added dryly and Artemis held in her gasp.

"Year three was bigger. Aeron started getting worse, more crazed. Had us practice hostage situations in banks in our civvies and black ski masks all over Gotham. He knew the Justice League wouldn't pay attention to a few more petty criminal cases in Gotham, the place was full of enough dirt bags to fill up a dump. He had us take expensive things we didn't need, forced us to watch as you guys suffered and Bruce and Barry's friendship fell to pieces."

Wally instantly paled at the mention of his uncle, obviously not expecting Dick to have said his name so easily. Dick knew Wally wasn't going to be up for speaking for a few more minutes so he continued unaffected—he had learned to hide his feelings a long time ago.

"This fourth year was the worse. Aeron pushed us to the limit and told us that we would have to kill Bruce and Barry, our father figures, to show that we were fully dedicated to him. To show that we were his. We went through with it." Dick cut off curtly, mouth snaking in repugnance as Wally figured he should give his best bud a break in talking.

"Then after we proved our worth he told us about his final game plan; Operation Blackout."

Artemis nodded along, eyeing Dick who had gone completely silent and looking wishfully at his hands. "He mentioned that when he had me." Wally met his girlfriend's eyes for a second before looking at his feet again.

"It's the apocalypse. Or Aeron's version of it at least. The goal is to create an army of people like Dick and I and then for him to take over the world that way. I don't know how he was going to do it, or why but I know it was going to happen soon. After the um . . . deaths."

Artemis knew the story was finished, even if neither signaled that and without warning Dick mumbled that he was going to bed and hurried to his room, shutting the door softly and then sliding down the wall and crying silently.

Neither sees the flash of red from outside the window or the soft sound of a grapple gun in the eerily nighttime hours as Artemis watches her boyfriend's movements carefully. Wally went to stand but was stopped by Artemis' soft touch on his shoulder, her other hand planting itself on his thigh.

"I'm sorry. For everything you went through." He said nothing as she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips, his mind too numb to understand that he was supposed to kiss back, before Artemis took his wrist and guided him back to their bedroom.

The door shut behind them softly and they climbed into bed, the blanket covering their bottom-half as both laid on their backs and stared up at the ceiling.

After a moment Artemis turned so her head rested on his chest and she took peace in the steady rise and fall of his chest, her right hand finding its way under his shirt to unintentionally memorize every part of his muscles again, the feel of his skin against hers.

She fell asleep first and then he did a while after, his arms wrapped around her waist by memory.


i'm burning in the heavens


"Artemis, B-07. Wallace, B-00."

It's not a shock as Artemis and Ace to zeta into the cave by themselves; Bart and Jamie actually looking to where Oliver and the rest of the Justice League stood to see the hints of a smile to show that it was just one big joke to be having everyone meet at six in the morning.

And as much as it stings to hear Wally's full name through the speakers, it always causes a smile on their faces because Ace is there—bubbling and happy and ready to learn what it takes to be a part of the team.

But just as Gar clutched tighter onto M'gann's hand and Jamie went to snicker, to whisper a smartass comment into Bart's ear and Bart went to comment on the lack of appearance from the boogey man—the zeta beam brightened again and the computer read off two codenames that hadn't been heard in a while.


and i'm drowning in a hell


"Nightwing, B-01. Kid Flash, B-03."

It's one hell of a shock as Dick and Wally materialize before the many eyes of the teams, both in full uniform and grins plastered onto their faces. Wally turns towards Ace and scoops him up in his arms, the little boy laughing happily as Oliver watches the faces around him gawk with shock for a few more seconds.

Until Bart zips over to where Wally is standing and crushes him in a hug, which for some reason propels everyone else into motion as Gar bolts over to where Dick is standing and jumps up to hug him.

Then laughter and joy is filling the room and Wally doesn't let go of Ace once, skillfully switching him from shoulder to shoulder so he can hug different people. After almost everyone, excluding Conner who grunted and tried to hide the smile from his face, spoke what was on their mind to the two—Dick got everyone's attention with a simple cackle that was fully and unbelievably his.

He notices the absence of Zatanna with a heavy heart but hides it with a cocky look and smug grin; though a part of him can't help but wonder why she wasn't there.

He pushes away the fear that Cooper got to her again so he can speak, "We've missed you guys a lot. But right now we have more important things to deal with. The man that took us is still a threat to all of us, really we shouldn't have come here."

Kaldur knitted his eyebrows, "What exactly are you hinting at old friend?"

Bart and Jamie sparing a curious glace at each other before Tim interrupted on his own account. "The man is Aeron Hyades right?"

Dick sighed at both questions and answered Tim first, white silted eyes meeting and identical pair. "Aeron Hyades, Victory as he calls himself, was the one who took us. He put something in our bloodstreams, something that makes us not ourselves. He can control us, make us do things without our consent from his mind as long as he has focus."

"Like brainwashing?" M'gann cut in, eyes wide. "That's impossible."

J'onn agrees with his niece from the sidelines, looking to Dick with a rickety face. "Brainwashing can only be done by the extremely skilled Martians of our kind. Even then, it takes decades upon decades to master."

Dick's lips turned down in a sharp frown, "Well Aeron figured it out and we have it in our bloodstreams. Our first priority needs to be getting it out of us so no harm comes to any of you guys."

Wally gave a sideways glance to Artemis as the sight of Barry's mangled body passed through both of their minds, Dick blinking away the vision of Bruce's blood on the floor work. Hal stepped forwards, eyes focused on Dick. "Our first priority should be finding the man who murdered Flash and Batman," he muttered evenly, loud enough for the whole room to hear him.

Besides Bruce and Oliver, Hal also used to be one of Barry's close friends in the League.

Clark turned on Hal, "We don't even know if that's true."

Hal said nothing, instead turning back to where Dick stood with a scowl. "Was he behind their deaths Nightwing?"

Wally felt the knots form in his stomach, Artemis noticing and grabbing his hand. Gar knew Dick was trembling next to him but had no idea why, the man hiding it was well as Bruce could hide unshed tears after an unneeded death by one of Harley's goons in Gotham.

Dick settled on changing the subject, "You need to get this out of us before he takes control again. Kill us if you have to but I will kill myself if it comes to him trying to hurt one of you guys through me." He stated firmly, Dinah nodding.

"The Justice League will go and hunt down some doctors that can operate on you two. For now just sit tight here and be safe."

As the rest of the Justice League took their exit through the zeta tube, knowing through Oliver that they would get a full explanation on what exactly had happened as soon as he got one from Artemis, he lagged behind; grabbing the final member of the League (which happened to be Clark) and telling him he was staying before they disappeared.

Moments later, the zeta tube came to life again and many people in the room turned to look and see who it was even as the name was read out loudly.

"Zatanna, B-08—A-03."

Dick whipped around instantly, Zatanna in the mist of looking down and wiping specks of dirt off her outfit as she walked forwards blindly.

"Sorry I'm late I got caught up with something with Doctor Fate and so help me Bart, if you say one smartass comment about my boobs hanging out I will kill—" she glanced up and the final word left her lips in a hushed undertone, "—you."

She locked eyes with Dick and they stared at each other for a long tong, until Bart broke the silence with an obnoxious remark. "Well I didn't make any jokes but I'm pretty sure Dick over here can't wait—mmf!"

He was cut sort as Jamie slung a hand over his mouth to silence him, "Shut it. If there is ever a time when you need to stop talking, that time would be now amigo."

The two's bickering words seemed to snap Dick and Zatanna into motion as she ran to him, her lips pressing against his in a tense moment of passion.

He wrapped his arms around her tightly and his hands dangled near her lower back as hers tangled in his hair. The kiss deepened and he used all of his strength to not do what he really wanted to do, considering they were in a room with adolescents and Wally plus Bart. They pulled away when she needed breath and he leaned in for what looked like a hug on the outside, but secretly pressing a few kisses to her neck on the inside.

She smiled, her hands falling to wrap around his neck and then he pulled back and looked into her eyes and the pure desire they showed caused her heart to lurch like it did during their first ever hookup.

Though that contact was broken when she saw the smirk latching onto his lips and rolled her eyes at the matter as everyone around them went back to minding their own business and multiple conversations started.

"I thought you were dead," she muttered, Dick laughing as she lifted a hand and brushed the hair out of the way of his domino mask.

"I think we both know that I didn't die. Who else was going to save you from that cheating lowlife?" She leaned in and her lips brushed against his before speaking, her minty breath causing goosebumps to appear on his skin.

"Thank you. He's gone now." Dick closed the distance between them with a short kiss before pulling back with that adorable boyish smile she had fallen in love with from years ago present.

"Been cheating on with me Bart all these years huh?"

She hit him playfully on the shoulder, scoffing. "In his dreams. It's always been you."

He grinned, "I love you, as much as I know I shouldn't and I do."

She chortled, fingers running over his flushed cheeks. "I love you too and I've missed you a lot."


my soul is in a coma


Ace holds onto Wally's shoulder as the older man talks to Artemis about some explicit things from his dream that they could do, the latter trying her best to keep a straight face so she can continue cutting him off and yelling at him for saying such things in front of his son.

She had just cut him off for the sixth time when he finally gave up with a well-rehearsed fake pout.

"Four years and you don't want anything to do with me!"

She rolls her eyes, "I want everything to do with you Baywatch, just not in front of Ace!"

Wally whined lowly, "He's three, he doesn't have any idea what—"

Suddenly he gasped and grabbed at his chest with his free hand, quickly lowering to his knees and releasing Ace. The boy ran over to hide behind his mother's legs as she moved to Wally's side; Kaldur, M'gann, Dick and Zatanna running over to see what they could do to help. "Wally? Wally, talk to me." She mumbled nervously, freezing when his hand grabbed her elbow harsher than he intended to. He lifted his face, eyes darting between her and a cowering Ace.

"B-B—Babe, r-run."

Before she could question him, Dick was backing away from Zatanna—feeling the unmistakable hold of Aeron over him start to control him. The group turned towards the nighttime hero, Zatanna's face blanching.

"Dick?" He shakes his head and takes a step back as she takes a step forward.

"G-Get Ace out of h-here Zee, h-h—he has us."

She sent a look to Artemis before everything clicked and by then it was far too late as all hell broke loose.