Wally looked at Artemis, "Are you…?"
She looked down at the girl. "I can't tell yet but if she's here…and is…I probably am Wally." She looked up at Wally, sadness lining her face. Were they ready for this? If she were, that'd put everything they had going on hold with the Team.
Artemis liked who she was be it Tigress or Artemis. She was a definite part of the Team and honestly, after everything that's happened, she needs them. Artemis didn't know what to think of this new revelation and the look on Wally's face wasn't helping.
Wally rubbed the back of his head, combing his fingers through his hair. "This is a lot to take in," He said quietly. "I-I need to go lay back down for a while." He turned around, walking to the door. At the door he paused, smiling back at Artemis. "We always get through everything thrown at us, don't we?" He asked, knowing she could use some reassurance.
She gave him a small smile.
Wally left the room, heading back to the one he'd woken up in.
Artemis looked down at the girl, her brows knitting together in worry. Were they ready? Was the question that kept running through her mind. Was she ready?
"How long do you think she'll sleep?" She asked Batman, not looking up at him.
Batman turned off the holographic screens. "We do not know the effects of what it was she entered to bring Wally back. So how long she remains unconscious is unknown." He turned and stood at the foot of the bed. "Her vital signs are normal and stay constant."
"So you think she'll wake soon?" She asked, looking up at him this time.
"Her metabolism will push her to wake as we cannot give her the proper amount of food to keep up with how fast her body needs it." He looked over at Artemis. "Will you be okay Artemis?"
She smirked, glad he asked. "I'm sure I'll be okay."
"That is not the same thing as being okay."
She laughed lightly, nodding. "I am okay Batman."
He stared at her for a moment, knowing it was a lie. "I'll be on Command deck if you need me," He said, taking his leave.
Artemis waited for him to leave before falling into the chair that was in the corner of the room. She slouched forward, resting her elbows on her knees. She looked up and stared at the girl on the bed. "I don't think Jade was this torn when she found out she was going to have a kid."
That Night
Irey woke up with a groan. "Mom, don't turn on the lights like that…" She rolled over to her right, falling off of the bed. She let out a squeak, flailing for a moment and then sat up, giving the bed an angry glare. "Since when are you four feet off…" She trailed off, realization sinking in. "Oh." She peeked up over the bed at whoever turned on the lights.
"Sorry, I didn't know if you'd wake up. Glad to know you are okay though," Said Wally with a small smile.
Irey stared at him, tears lining her eyes. "I did it," She breathed. "I actually did it!" She chimed. She quickly got to her feet and ran over to Wally, "Uncle Bart will be so proud of me!"
Wally held up his arms, keeping her from hugging him. "Um…yeah, not yet with all the hug stuff kid." He tried to smile again, having a slightly harder time with it. "Uncle Bart?" That'd be less awkward to talk about he hoped.
She stepped back, cocking her head to the side and looking around as she thought out loud. "Well he's not really family but everyone with the flash symbol is family, so I call him Uncle Bart, Uncle Barry, Grandpa Garrick. You know. Everyone's to tight not to be family."
Wally crossed his arms over his chest, laughing lightly. "I see you have his talking abilities as well."
Irey blushed, looking down at the ground. "Right, my cue to shut up." She shut her mouth, biting her lip because she wanted to keep talking and moved her foot around on the floor impatiently.
"And you have the speedsters impatience, always have to move huh?"
She nodded, going to sit down on the side of her bed. "I try to be still but it's really hard you know. So much energy, it's like we have to keep moving just to feel a bit of patience."
He smirked but said nothing.
"Right, right. Shutting up."
Irey looked up at Wally; surprised he seemed so…cool about all of this. Well not fully… It was possible he knew already, but she couldn't tell if he was being cautious or not.
There was an awkward air in the room for a few minutes as neither spoke. She's never even met him; all she wanted to do is ask him tons of questions. What he likes? His favorite munchies? How he stays so calm? Like now for example… Irey bit her lip in worry, looking back down at the floor.
He leaned against the back of the door, looking down at the floor as well. "This is all really weird for me, for Artemis too." He looked up at her, completely serious. "We know you are our daughter from DNA matching. And well…" He gestured to her with his hand. "You look like us. And you're wearing my goggles."
Irey reached up to touch the goggles. They were one of the only things she had of him. She pulled them off, looking at them in her hands. "Mo-Artemis, gave them to me when I decided to put on the suit. Said it'd make you proud that I was wearing them."
Wally looked down at the floor, not knowing what to say. "I-I didn't mean anything by it… I was just pointing out things that made you appear to be our um, daughter."
Irey smiled softly. "It is alright." She stood up and walked over to him, holding the goggles out to him. "You may take them back and use them again if you like."
Wally shook his hands, "No, no. You wear them. I'm sure I have the same pair in the dresser still." He rubbed his neck. "Time travel and all."
She nodded, pulling them on over her head. "Oh right, I completely forgot about that."
There was another moment of awkward silence and Irey sat back down on the edge of the bed. This isn't how she had thought their first meeting would go. This wasn't the Wally she had grown up hearing about, at least not at the moment.
"This," Wally paused, thinking about what he wanted to say. "This is all so new to me and with what happened to me and the hurt it had put on Artemis and the Team…"
Irey smiled sadly. "It's perfectly fine, Wally." It felt so awkward for her to call him Wally when she's only ever referred to him as dad all her life. "Coming out of the Force is tuff for any Speedster…" She knew herself, and not just from getting Wally out. "The Speed Force is where we draw our powers from and when we get caught inside…it's hard for us to get out by ourselves. And get stuck in the wrong way, you won't get back out."
Wally raised his eyebrows, "You've been in there before?"
She nodded, gesturing with her hand. "Yeah, but that was a long time ago. No worries."
He just looked at her for a moment, unsure whether or not he should press for details. Wally stood straight, opening the door slightly. "Well, if you're up to it, the others would like to meet you."
"We," Artemis said, opening the door fully and grabbing on to Wally's hand. "Would like to meet you."
Artemis stood up, beaming. "Now can I hug you guys?" She asked, moving her feet around impatiently.
Wally looked at Artemis and they both smiled, "Why n-" Wally began but was interrupted when Irey ran up and hugged them both. Even though she was as tall as both of them she felt like a little kid again, tears filling her eyes. They were all together for the first time… "I need air," Wally grumbled with a laugh. "Air please."
Irey stepped back, allowing them to catch their breath. "Sorry, it's just… It's never been like this before."
Hey you guys! I'm sorry about the whole name thing. I swear this is the last time I will change it, sorry for all the confusion. And I completely forgot that Cheshire named her daughter Lian… God, I'm hopeless! Well now it's been changed and I hope it won't need to be changed again! I plan to do a few things with this new (and hopefully final) name! And I've got some new plans to go along with the name, oh so fun!
Finally they get to hug I'm still going on with the story but the chapters will be put up slower. I just needed to get the whole name thing situated and you hooked! So thanks for your patience and likes so far. You guys are very helpful and I thank you for that!
Enjoy!
XD