Firsts and Lasts
Genre: Angst, just Angst
Rating: K+, maybe T
Guest Stars: Artemis, Barry (very briefly)
Wally smiles at Artemis slyly, his eyes twinkling before she finally notices and looks up at him over the bowl of cereal she had been eating. Swallowing she smirks and sticks her tongue out at him, he laughs and she just snorts and goes back to her cereal.
Months have passed since Ethan's death and slowly, but surely Artemis had begun to return to her old self. About month ago she'd come back and gone on her first. While the mission had been bumpy things were finally starting to return to normal, or rather as normal as things could get for the odd group of misfits.
She still woke up screaming though, yelling desperately for Ethan, but during the times when she was at The Cave Wally would race to her and comfort her, until she fell asleep again. However, she laughed now and she talked and he loved every moment of it. Every single witty remark and every single snort of amusement made Wally's heart flutter and while he didn't know exactly why he enjoyed every moment and as time went by the outbursts became fewer and fewer, until they almost ceased.
Then the Justice League was compromised, controlled into doing something they would never do, but they solved the problem, made it right and they were happy, because they'd won. They had faced the best of the best, their superiors in every way and had come out on top, smiling with only a few bruises to show for it.
Then the clock had struck midnight and New Year's had rang out in their ears, a new start, a new day, a new year. Wally smiled at Artemis, a sudden burst of courage soaring through him. He picked her up in one swift motion and for that moment he only saw her.
His smile widened, "I should've done this a long time ago." He vocalized, as he leaned towards her and for a brief second he was worried she would scream and push him away, but she didn't
Instead she wrapped her arms around him and closed the gap, "no kidding," she sighed and it was pure bliss. He only saw her blond hair, messy, but lovely and her grey eyes stormy and on guard and if he had to pick a word to describe it, he'd pick the word fireworks, because that's what it was. There was nothing else that compared to this moment; not even discovering his Flash was his Uncle or getting his powers.
It was his first, he'd never admit it to anyone of course, but it was. It was the first time his lips had pressed against someone else's and the first time he'd felt the fireworks swore him and he loved it.
"You look like an idiot," Artemis remarked as he pulled away, a goofy grin on his face.
"Ya, but that's why you love me," he muttered and Artemis groaned.
"I never said that," she teased, and Wally looked away downheartedly.
"Oh sorry I'll just—" He made to put her down, but she tightened her grip on him and smiled.
"But I never said you didn't," she purred and Wally smiled instantly, eyes shining in triumph.
"Now put me down lover boy," Artemis grumbled, the moment gone. "I'm a strong independent girl who doesn't need to be seen in your arms by the Justice League."
Wally laughed and set her down, "so how about after this we grab some pizza?" He tried to sound nonchalant, but he couldn't hide the small tremor in his voice. "And maybe a movie?"
Artemis smiled, "I'd like that."
Wally smiled back, pecking her softly on the cheek, "me too."
And they were happy, convinced that nothing could ruin this moment, he even took processions. Forcing her away from the hero life, away from the danger, but with every first, there is a last.
Wally laughed and smiled as he ran around Artemis, darting in and out of her arrows.
"Just like old times!" He yelled as he dropped her and they examined the robot of death.
"Except I don't feel like shooting an arrow through you," she laughed. "At least not as much."
"Artemis you wound me," he snorted, before darting towards her and sweeping her away from an oncoming blast. "Besides that's not what you said last—"
He was cut off by a loud blast and he jumped, spinning to watch Artemis's arrow explode a piece of rubble.
"Head in the game Baywatch," she yelled. "Remember time and a place."
He blushed violently, but smiled none the less, "will there be time later?"
"Only if you're good," she teased back and he laughed.
And while it was different, it was also just like old times and he realized with a start that he missed this.
He missed the adrenaline, the laughter, the taunts, the way that they fought as one, reading each other's every move.
He had left the hero life out of fear and horror, fear that one of them would end up dead, fear that Artemis would have to face another time like Ethan, and he didn't want that. Now he realized that that was no other way to live life. That he couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore.
Besides, he thought. We're superheroes what's the worst that could happen.
So carefully he wrapped her up in a kiss, allowing himself to melt into her and her into him, ignoring the words whispered in his com.
"This could work," he mumbled, through her lips. "We could do both, I'm not scared anymore."
"Neither am I," Artemis declared. "We're fine."
"Paris, not quite as good as our first kiss, but good enough," Wally smiled as he pulled away from her.
"Because nothing says romantic like making out with the Justice League right next door."
"Oh ya," Wally mumbled. "Those were good times."
Artemis laughed and pulled him back to her, memories of their first kiss racing through her head.
But with every first, there must be a last and little did they know that the last had just come and gone.
Wally was running harder than he had ever run before, and it hurt. It hurt so badly, his heart and his body. It hurt worse than when he'd blown himself up to get his superspeed, it even hurt worse than the heartache he felt when Artemis had died in the fake scenario, it just hurt.
Somewhere beside him he could hear Barry yelling, desperately telling him to hang on, but couldn't. Already he could feel himself slipping away and he just wanted the pain to stop, to let go and become the nothingness that was stretching out before him.
He was vaguely aware of a hand passing through him, but he chose to ignore that and simply stick to the most important fact. He was dying.
"It's no good Barry," he tried to keep his voice steady.
"Oh man Artemis is so going to kill me for this," Wally groaned, trying to ignore how metallic his voice sounded. "And don't even get me started on mom and dad," he choked out, tears evaporating before they could appear.
Barry said something, but he couldn't tell what and somewhere he knew that he was letting everyone down, "just tell them, ok" He sobbed, he couldn't get the last words out and the words I'm sorry died on his tongue, along with the rest of him.
Because with every first, there must be a last. A last joke to tell, a last tear to fall, a last breath to take and as Artemis watched Barry and Bart pull away from the funnel with no Wally, she realized in horror that there was a last kiss as well.
…So um…this was originally going to be the last chapter, like I had a speech and EVERYTHING, I was all ready to say my good-byes and retire this story, but then it hit me! The last chapter and it played before my eyes and it wasn't this chapter!
This chapter wasn't the last one, it couldn't, Wally's story was not yet over. So it is with a joyful heart that I announce that this IS NOT THE END! That I have one last chapter for you all and that it will be here within the next couple weeks.
…on a side note, I'm really tired and don't really want to rewrite all my review replies…so I'm sorry if they seem a little good-bye-ish…cuz um…they were up until two seconds ago
REVIEW REPLIES
Irenerb: Yes Spitfire, and it will bloom on :D
Monzepelmoon: …I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry
SpitfireChick: *waves nervously, then runs to hide from your pitchfork*
READINGhearts17: It's a video game that just came out recently, it's canon and yes…while I do believe that Wally is Robin's friend NOT just for the money, I do believe it's totally within Wally's character to take advantage of the fact that his BFF for LIFE is rich :P But don't worry Wally matured…and then he died, but you know
Kamil the Awesome: Yes, I was…I'm not really happy with how the 50th of Doctor Who ended, but it was okay, honestly I'm just having a hard time holding onto a fandom.
R.I.P Wally: …crap you made me feel guilty…all these reviews are making me feel guilty.
HorsesROCK: THANKS! :D
Huge Potter Fan: Thank you and I'm so sorry…I didn't do a lot of Roy and I realize that now with a heavy heart…and he was going to get mentioned, but it just didn't fit with the whole firsts and lasts things…but if you want more Roy just shoot me a PM with a prompt and I'll see what I can do :D
I Want To Remain Anonymous: Oh…gosh here we are old friend at the end…I wish that I could reply to this and be certain that you'd find this final chapter, but I can't…But I suppose that's my fault. In short I'd like to thank you, because you were always there and you're reviews were always something I looked forward to. You always had such kind words to give and you made me smile. I always (stubbornly) refused to update until you had reviewer, or was certain that you weren't going to, because I need to make sure you knew how much your reviews meant to me. So Anon with this final thanks, I thank you for your wonderful reviews and support
Guest: …I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry
ColorfulandBlack: I think that I answered your question in a PM, but if not tell me and I'll do so in a private message. Anyways thanks for the kind words, enjoy this final chapter
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