Okay, the next chapter was actually planned out at the wedding of my cousin. So it was scribble in a notebook and hope no one noticed me or actually deal with relatives, asking why I am not married! I think you'll agree my choice was the right one.
One reviewer noted that this is where many stories start to fall apart, when Jinx and Kid Flash are just at the point of liking each other; it gets horribly mushy and less fun to read. I promise I have no intention of letting that happen, Jinx will not be going to the good side without a fight and Wally has some very big problems ahead of him. Anyone who has read my Avatar works know I don't let happy endings come cheaply. Jinx currently has no intention of going good and after this chapter, you'll see why! All right, special thanks to Starlight for editing this, providing somewhat moral support, and for being the best snarker an author could know!
This chapter also complete the milestone of 400, 0000 words of fanfic uploaded to this account! Here's to many more!
If blood
will flow when fresh and steel are one
Drying in the color of the
evening sun
Tomorrows rain will wash the stains away
But
something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was
meant
To clinch a lifetimes argument
That nothing comes from
violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an
angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
--Sting
Wally had definitely outdone himself with this transformation to wedding crasher. Thankfully, Batman's lessons in espionage were second to none. Even his own mother, God rest her soul, wouldn't have recognized him. Wally had used a brown hair dye to transform his red hair into something less recognizable. Being a carrot-top had its downsides. A pair of glasses hid his eyes and some platform shoes disguised his height. Wearing his Sunday suit and Aunt Iris's favorite tie, he had to admit, he looked rather dashing. He couldn't resist a generous look in his mirror, fixing his newly darkened hair. He was damn fine!
Getting to the synagogue
wasn't hard; Wally had been to the Jewish part of town many times
to visit Atom Smasher and Dr. Fate. He had even walked the
entire way, to preserve his secret identity. Besides, he liked to
walk once in a while. You missed a lot traveling well past the speed
of light, like roses and girls in short mini-skirts. He was
officially dating now, but he still had eyes!
The synagogue was a low, modest building, marked by beautiful
stained glass windows in the shape of the Israeli flag. Wally was
glad to see that everything was peaceful. There had been some gang
problems around here lately, but Ragman's influence had definitely
helped in preventing anyone throwing stones. It had only taken a
few…examples to convince hoodlums to leave the community alone.
Inside the lavish indoor area, Wally waded through a sea of black head coverings and modestly dressed women, smiling at each and wishing them a polite "Mazal tov." He really didn't want anyone paying too much mind to some stranger searching for a gal. This crowd seemed to know each other very well and the less they noticed him, the better.
Everyone had families they belonged to, huddled in small groups together, chatting happily. They reminded him of his uncle and aunt, all warm and closely knit. He would have to call them again when he got home and assure them he was fine, leaving out the pesky details about dating a juvenile delinquent.
He walked
through, keeping his head down. There was one family, hugging and
kissing loudly and saying how they should get together more. There
were two other people, obviously conducting business. Happily, none
of them seemed to notice him much.
Wally
wandered over to the buffet, deciding to try and blend in some more,
and replenish his energy supply. Nothing like an all you can eat
buffet to settle a hero's stomach. He had to force himself not to
use his powers, but wait in line like everyone else! It seemed to
take forever for him to get his roast beef, French fries and
pigs-in-a-blanket, with plenty of ketchup. His energy levels were
down and he was starting to get cranky.
He looked around nervously, hoping no one noticed how quickly he was eating. He really didn't need his secret identity discovered in a room that currently held many of his uncle's friends. All he needed was this to get back to his mentor and Wally would be doomed. Well, not as doomed as he would be if Jinx betrayed him, but he'd be in a fairly wretched state, cleaning the entire space ship with a tooth brush.
As he kept a sharp lookout for anyone he knew, a flash of white caught his eye. Talking to the white-clad bride was the person of his dreams. Wally couldn't resist a smile. Mission accomplished. Now he wasn't hungry or alone either!
Jinx was dressed in a modest purple gown, which somehow managed to cling to every curve of her body. She was wearing the necklace Wally gave her and it complimented her perfectly. Her hair was black again and she had left it long and loose, down to her waist. With her pale skin, she looked ethereal and beautiful, like the fairy queen Titania from "A Midsummer's Night's Dream."
"My lady?" he asked, bowing deeply.
"Quit it. Just say hello like a normal person," Jinx said, pinning him with a glare that could make Killer Frost look warm. "Apologies for the dweeb. Hope you don't mind us both coming without invitations. We really wanted to wish you the best."
"Layla, it's just so wonderful to see you again," the bride said, hugging Jinx close. "I'm so glad you came. You know you're always welcome. I just wish you would have called earlier so that we would have known. Mom and Dad have been so worried about you." Wally had to say, he liked Jinx's real name. It reminded him of that song that Aunt Iris liked to play when she was in a romantic mood.
Layla,
you've got me on my knees.
Layla, I'm begging,
darling please.
Layla, darling won't you ease
my worried mind.
Oh did it fit his
situation! Still, he had to admit, she looked beautiful in the dress.
She looked normal and happy, like a regular girl who wasn't on the
run from the law. She had never been more gorgeous to him.
"I'm glad to be here, Regina. You look
beautiful. I'm so happy you're finally tying the knot,"
Jinx…because she'd always be his Jinx said, beaming at her
friend. "Mazal tov."
"With God's help by you. You taking care of yourself? You know my parents are still willing to take you in. Now you could have my old room. I know my sisters would love a roommate. They miss you so much. You must go over and say hello to them," Regina said, looking like an angel to Wally's eyes. Living with a normal family would be perfect for Jinx.
"I'm doing fine. Don't worry about me. This is your wedding
after all," Jinx said, obviously trying to change the subject. "I
can't believe you and Simon finally got married. I thought he'd
never get your hand. You used to throw him out of the house when he
came to visit. A lot. In fact, at one point, you chased him out of
the house once with a frying pan for forgetting your birthday."
"Simon was persistent and I guess he
finally won me over. His gain. And who is this fine boy?" Regina
asked, nodding her head at Wally, who smiled back at her. "Are
you…?"
"Ummm, he's my ride home," Jinx said, crushing Wally's hopes for a brief second. He had hoped for tonight, they could be open with their relationship. He supposed it couldn't be that easy to get her to lay down her guard. It was all right, he could be patient. Time meant nothing to him.
"Don't be shy. I see how you look at him. Regina Mittleman for the next twenty minutes." The bride nodded her head in greeting, really looking like a queen. Her blue eyes seemed to just glow with happiness…or the tons of make up they had put on her. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Ira…Miku," Wally said, using his grandfather's first name and his friend's last one. Uncle Barry would have been furious with him for not preparing an alias in advance.
"Are you related to Ellie Miku? Ellie's a cousin of mine from Metropolis. She couldn't come for the wedding," Regina said, her face warm and welcoming. "What a nice girl, she sent me such a wonderful wedding gift."
"No, never heard of her," Wally said, realizing just how dumb that alias was at a Jewish wedding. He was really starting to sweat, Ellie worked for Lex Luthor, and even though he trusted her, he didn't trust Luther not to bug the email address and phone systems. "I'm sorry to disappoint you. It must be a common name."
"It really isn't. You should definitely look it up; it's always amazing to find new family. Well, speaking of which, I need to make Simon the luckiest man in the world. If you'll excuse me, they're about to bring him in," she said, blowing kisses merrily. "Until the dinner!"
"She's nice," Wally said, trying to recover his nerve after that disastrous episode. He would be doing push-ups till his arms fell off if Uncle Barry knew about any of this. Actually, he'd be lucky if he wasn't sent to live with the Jesuits! "What's the story with her?" he asked.
"The Mittlemans were kind to me when I needed them. The streets aren't an easy place for a kid. When I was nine, I got hurt trying to steal something and Regina found me, wandering the street bleeding. She brought me home and bandaged up my knee. Her parents were a little worried, but they let me stay the night." Jinx's eyes narrowed as she was most likely remembering things she didn't want to recall, like being poor and alone and powerless.
"Sounds like they were great people," Wally agreed, promising himself to send them a really nice card.
"After that, they always had a warm meal, some clean clothing and a bed when I needed them. They were like the family I should have had growing up. They knew I was a meta-human but they never said a word about it. Would have most likely adopted me if I had wanted to be taken in," Jinx said, her tone growing cold. This was obviously not a subject she wanted to discuss.
"Why didn't you want to be adopted? They seem like a great family and sometimes…your real parents are the ones you find," Wally said, thinking of the people who had raised him. "I mean, sure, they're different but…they seem to really care. And they have great food, I mean, I'd be over your house every night…"
"Because villains don't have nice little Beaver Cleaver families. Now, do you want to watch the ceremony or not," Jinx snapped, which made Wally note that he should most likely look into the records of Children's Services for the years around Jinx's birth. There was something that really went wrong in that system.
"You remind me a lot of my best friend growing up," Wally said, giving Jinx a sad smile. Batman was an excellent mentor, but his emotional skills were…somewhat lacking. So Robin had tried to bury that wish for friendship and family so far deep, the loneliness would stop hurting.
"Why? Was he a daring villain who could leave heroes cowering in their slippers?" Jinx asked, actually sounding curious. This was good, engaging her in conversation.
"No. He just refused to admit that he was in pain and even though he has a really loving group of friends now, it's still hard for him to admit how he feels. He's loosening up, but he has a long way to go. It's not a nice thing," Wally said, remembering the time that Robin had slept over his house and gotten hugged by Aunt Iris. The fearless masked hero had practically had an asthma attack over the physical contact and had spent two hours in his room, alone in the dark. Wally had never forgotten that look of despondence as the stoic superhero remembered what it was like to have a mother. I can't want this, because I can never have it. So what is the point of wishing for the impossible? "He also felt like you didn't need family, but he really wished he had it."
"It keeps you
strong. Feelings are burdens. People can only hurt you if you allow
them to. I think your friend sounds moderately intelligent." Jinx
held her head high. "The pain goes away very well. After a few
years, you can't even tell the difference."
"The friend is
Robin," Wally said, wondering if that would change Jinx's opinion
of admiration.
It did. "Wow. That really makes me feel better. Mr. Commando is really some poor little cry baby," Jinx snickered with a pretty but savage grin. That wasn't the reaction he had thought.
Wally's grin faded. Robin may have been an up-tight little dictator at times, but he was Wally's best friend and only he had the right to make fun of him. "Well, that was mature of you," he said in a dry tone that was a clear Barry Allen innovation. "Picking on orphans and snickering at them. Really, are you going to steal candy from cripples next? I know he's your enemy, but you know what's it's like to have no family. Even when you were just a villain to me, you were better than that. That's why I respect you so much. Because you are an amazing person and you just act this way to push people away." He knew Jinx was better than this.
"Oh my gosh, it is you!" interrupted a beautiful dark haired girl, her eyes sparkling. Next to her was an exotic looking blond beauty, making him see double paradise. "Good to see you! What are you doing here?"
"Beatriz, Laura," Wally said, calling them by their civilian names. They were a welcome change, allowing him to calm down. "I can't believe you would recognize me looking like this," he said, dropping strong hints that he was incognito. "How have you been?" He asked, giving them a warm smile.
"Same old, same old," Laura said, tossing her black hair over the shoulder. "Regina's a friend of ours from summer camp and we both flew in for the wedding," she said, with a wink, smoothing her silver gown. That was meant literally.
"I have missed you, meu amigo. You are such a naughty boy for not calling me. You should come visit me more often. I would love to cook dinner for you. I know how much you love my Moqueca Capixaba," the Brazilian teenager said, giving him a kiss on both cheeks. For some reason, Wally was sure he heard the sound of teeth grinding.
"You don't have to call me amigo, just call me Ira," Wally said, blushing. Those girls were drop-dead gorgeous but they delivered justice with a swift vengeance, and those innocent smiles could get very scary with righteous wrath. "And I'd love to meet up with you both, oh glorious ones. I think you two are outshining the bride," he complimented, getting squeals of joy from the girls. They loved to be complimented. "I haven't been to São Paulo in ages."
"Well, then you must come. I would be so
disappointed if I didn't get to show you around. I'm studying now
in Columbia University in New York, so you could visit me there too.
I live right next door to Laura here, amigo," Beatriz said, giving
him a radiant smile. She whirled around, displaying her emerald gown
to full effect. "I designed this dress myself. How do I look?"
she asked.
"Beautiful," Wally said, sweating it up.
Apparently, in Brazil, showing massive amounts of cleavage was still
considered modest. God bless the country!
"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt this little love fest but who are you both and why are you talking to him?" Jinx said, her eyes almost glowing with fury. Okay, why was she reacting this way? Laura and Beatriz had made it clear that they were just friends with him. Hadn't they?
"I am Beatriz De Costa. And this is my roommate, Laura. We are old friends of Ira here and we were just glad to see him after such a long while," the alter ego of the heroine Fire said. Wally could see her fingers balling into a fist. Jinx had no idea who she was threatening. The girl could create massive amounts of heat. "We are just saying hello to him. There is no need for you to get offensive. I do not believe I have met you before…Senhorita..."
"I'm Layla Jenson. It's a pleasure to meet you," Jinx said venomously. Wally inwardly cheered, he had gotten her last name, a clue that she might care about him enough to be jealous and he was witnessing the beginnings of a cat fight. God was good to him. "I'm so glad you are such good friends of my boyfriend." Wait, had she just called him her boyfriend? Yes, Wally West for the Win!
"A pleasure shared, Jinx," Laura said, taking her hand and shaking it. The smile was not very happy. "It is…really interesting finding you here at this party." This wasn't good. Wally knew that Laura had a mind of a computer and she could place any face within seconds. That meant she also knew everything about her. He'd have to talk to her about finding out where Jinx's family was from. Maybe she had other relatives who could help her.
"You are a villain?" Beatriz said, her eyes starting to get very bright. Wally shook her head before his hotheaded friend combusted. "Ira, what are you doing with a villain? This is not good." That was the understatement of the century.
"I'm not breaking the law by being here, am I?" Jinx hissed, looking a bit feral and angry. Wally didn't even have a chance to help the situation. "Regina's my friend too. I can leave, but that would upset the bride. Besides what are you going to do about it?"
"Oh, we can do plenty about it. Just watch yourself. Ragman's here too and he would not take kindly to your presence," Laura said, looking very righteously wrathful and ready to start breaking out the anti-gravity powers. "We don't want any trouble, especially from the likes of you. Regina's a nice girl and she doesn't need her wedding ruined."
"And somehow I do not think someone like Ira here would be seen alive next to a criminal. He must have no idea who you are. Ira is a wonderful person, one of the best guys in the world. And you are not. In fact, you are very bad. So if this is some ploy to hurt him, mulher de mal, you'll have to answer to me." Beatriz was really looking angry now. It wasn't like her to be so mean, but he knew why she was acting this way. She was…wrong, but right. "So, you Delilah, you should move along."
"Isn't she more of a Jezebel than a Delilah?" Laura asked, looking just as ready to spin into action. "Trying to sleep her way into getting information."
"Insult me one more time and there is going to be a lot of trouble," Jinx hissed, her eyes now definitely glowing. "I have every right to be here and if you take one more step, I will definitely make it your last. He likes me. He likes me, not you, you little green slut!" Jinx hissed, her eyes glowing.
"Girls,
stop it," Wally said in a slow tone, not sure if he liked being
around so many angry females. This cat fight was about to turn very
dangerous and he wasn't sure he wanted to see it after all. "Let's
think of Regina, who will be mad if you trash her wedding."
"Ira, would you kindly get me a coke? I'm very thirsty," Laura
said, giving him a significant look. "We'll settle this
outside, Jinx. We're not going to let you hurt anyone, including my
friends."
"No. She's with me. I know who she is and she's
still with me," Wally said, in a soft tone. "And it's fine. We
don't want trouble."
Laura raised an
eyebrow. "You're with her? Knowingly? You can do so much better!"
she spat. "Why would you waste anything more than hand-cuffs on
her? She'll just end up hurting you and everyone else she
knows."
Jinx looked stricken as she walked away wordlessly. Was…that…a tear in her eyes? Wally followed her, knowing that Moon Maiden and Fire had been right. Jinx was a wanted criminal and it was their job to defend their friends and the community at large. He didn't blame them at all. But he hadn't realized how hard it must have been for Jinx. And how hard it was going to be if the Justice League found out about this.
He had screwed this up really badly.
Next chapter: Wally tries to win Jinx back and finally gets a bright idea.
