I truly apologize for the delay, but I have wonderful news, I have a new niece, who was named Lily and I've been superbusy helping out my sister in law with her other child and the shopping, besides taking the LSATs and writing professionally. So I am sorry, but I will update faster next time. I know this chapter breaks hearts…but as a reviewer said, I'm evil!
Weapon
Here by my side, an angel
Here by my side, the devil
Never turn your back on me
Never turn your back on me, again
Here by my side, it's Heaven
Here by my side, you are destruction
Here by my side, a new color to paint the world
Never turn your back on it
Never turn your back on it, again
Here by my side, it's Heaven
Careful, be careful
This is where the world drops off
You breathe in and you breathe out
For it ain't so weird
How it makes you a weapon
And you give in
And you give out
For it ain't so weird
-Matthew Goode Band
Wally didn't know why Jinx was acting this way, vulnerable and inquisitive but he liked it. It was like she was finally opening up to him, finally revealing that side to her that he always knew existed, but was never entirely seen. Deep down inside of her was a sad, abandoned beautiful girl who just needed the affection she had been so cruelly denied.
The kiss had made him feel all tingly, which was wonderful. At this rate, he'd be able to introduce her to the League as reformed. And that would be a wonderful day, the day he would no longer have to keep secrets from her, the day he could finally date her in the open. He and Robin could discuss which date had the biggest rack, while sneaking out past curfew to double date. Life would be perfect.
"That was…wonderful," he said. "Let's keep walking. I want to show you something I thought of that really may help your situation." He was going to do the most stupid, reckless, and defiant thing possible. He was going to take her back to his room and tell everything she wanted to know.
"Where are you going?" Jinx asked, still sounding nervous. Something really must be on her mind. He would have to ask about it when he had finally sworn her to secrecy about his identity.
"Well, after one little errand, we're going home. To my home. I'm going to take you to where I live. I'm going to introduce you to all of my friends and show you where I grew up and tell you funny stories. And then I am going to call my family and introduce you. Because if I am going to expect you to come clean, I need to come clean to you too," Wally said, feeling like either a fool for love or king of boyfriends.
"You don't have to do this," Jinx said, her lips pursed and worried. "I don't mind just walking around with you." She really needed a hug and some assurance that he trusted her. He took her hand tenderly, hoping to make her feel better. He had been a lot of trouble when Uncle Barry had first taken him in. Jinx was just like him, she just needed emotional security to become a hero.
"It's fine. I trust you. You could have blasted me a thousand times and you haven't. So just relax. I am madly in love with you. Do you know how many girls would kill to be the object of my affections?" he asked. He knew he was good looking; he wasn't exactly a bad offer.
"So why not date them?" Jinx said, being her lovable but ornery self. She constantly needed assurance that he cared about her. He couldn't imagine how hard the life of a villain was, not knowing who you could trust, knowing your best friend today could stab you in the back. He would reassure and show her care and affection till she felt secure with him. It was a lot harder to be chased than chase, since you had to look for all the obstacles. Her life had been hard and he needed to be understanding.
"Because they aren't you. You are the girl for me. Haven't I proved that yet?" he asked with a smile. He wanted to take her in her arms and never let her go. She needed him. He had been raised to be a hero. He functioned best when he was needed. "Come on, don't you like having someone to protect you?" he asked.
"What are you going to do, outrun them to death?" Jinx asked bitterly, still sounding nervous. She must have been feeling vulnerable, that she had joined the good side. He knew what villains did to traitors and he needed to assure her that she would be safe at his side.
Wally hated to talk about it, but he could be very dangerous. "I can make objects disintegrate. If I punch it at high enough speeds…it just disappears. I never had to use it, and I hope to God I never have to…but I'm a hero when I need to be. I do fight crime when I have to," he said, wondering if this would win him points.
To his surprise, Jinx smiled sadly. "I know," she said and squeezed his hand. "But you're nice too." She was starting to come around, he knew it. Now, he needed to present her with evidence of his trust. "We're near Star Labs," she noted. "Are we going to go play with some dangerous equipment?" Maybe she was thinking she could find a weapon in there that could tempt her back to the dark side. He'd have to stay one step ahead of her. Still, as he said, he was good at being very fast.
"Jinx, you're too smart for me sometimes but there are no weapons of mass destruction in there. It's a biology lab, it's there to help superheroes with medical conditions. I was hoping we could get your DNA tested so we could find your real family. They have amazing records," Wally teased. She was quick on the uptake, underneath that tough exterior seemed to be quite an intelligent mind. "Wait…is that smoke?" he asked, smelling something weird.
"No, it's nothing," Jinx said hurriedly. "Why don't you come and take me for ice cream?" she asked. She sounded so worried about him. It was adorable!
Still, Wally had learned his lessons. Kisses had to come after he did his duty to society. He wasn't about to repeat that portion of his life again. "I got to get in there and save the day," Wally said, blowing his lady love a kiss. "Simple fire. shouldn't take too long." He didn't understand why Jinx looked so stricken and miserable. He had been doing this for half his life, he could do a fiery building rescue in his sleep. He gently kissed her again. "Don't worry, I'm a hero. I'll be fine." He was starting to feel sore, but he had to push through. Uncle Barry would be a lot more patient if he knew Wally was being responsible.
A second later, he had sped into the building to save his home.
This should have been an easy assignment. In, save people, out. Yet, as Wally accelerated inside, a terrible crunching sound disturbed him. It was not a sound he was used to hearing, especially from his own body. His ankle had snapped, a shooting pain filling his entire body. He crumbled to the ground, as he began to cough. His lungs felt like he had just ran a world marathon against Superman and been chased the entire time.
As he bent down to try and see the damage, Wally finally felt the heat around him and the smoke which stung his eyes. He had jumped into so many fires; he had never realized how dangerous it was without his powers. Screams filled the air, people he recognized. Why hadn't someone done something? There were fire alarms all around this place and sprinklers! This was no accident, someone wanted everyone in here dead. As if to confirm that, the ceiling cracked on top of him. Wally groaned as a beam crashed onto his body, bruising every inch of him. He screamed in pain as something in his ribs gave out.
The fire burned around him as Wally tried to get free. He felt as weak as he had in Poison Ivy's clutches, completely helpless. He lurched around as the smoke began to cut off his air supply. Maybe he hadn't completely recovered from that event two weeks ago, he should have had himself checked out better. Could have. Should have. Didn't.
It hurt. It hurt as badly as anything he had ever experienced, every muscle was crying out in pain and he was helpless to do anything but experience it. Wally shouted, but horrible air filled his lungs. He should have been able to vibrate himself out of this, he should have been too fast for falling debris. His powers had failed him, just at the moment when he needed them most. He pressed his emergency button and realized that in the precious minutes it would take for help, he could be dead already.
"Someone, help!" he called, feeling himself grow weaker with clean air to breathe. He gasped again, trying to stay conscious. It was so hot, so painful, he just wanted to close his eyes and let darkness overtake him. As the heavy beam pressed down on his body, Wally was sure that he would not see tomorrow.
Waves of nausea and confusion past over him as he heard screams around him. He clawed at the debris, trying to move it. He couldn't help them, he couldn't even help himself. Tears of frustration and throbbing poured down his face as he tried to pull himself out, away from the heat and to become a hero again. He wasn't supposed to keep being a victim!
As he moved, a falling piece of something hard hit him in the head. Wally reeled and collapsed to the floor. He could hear voices of everyone he had known streaming through his head. Jinx…Layla…his girl, all alone. He was supposed to protect her. Now she would be alone again, all because his powers had failed him. If she turned back to a life of crime, it would be his fault. "Wally, why did you leave me?" he heard her voice accuse, as the smoke further invaded his lungs.
Other voices invaded his mind, screams of terror and pain that weren't his own. The lab was filled with people, people who could be trapped in there. If only he was stronger, he could fight the pain and save them. He tried to move his body, but it felt so heavy. Time and reality swirled around as his vision began to fade and air became harder to get. It was so hot, and his lungs hurt so badly. He just wanted to lie down and sleep forever. He knew there were more important things, but currently, all he could think of was passing out into the nice comfortable darkness.
He didn't know if he felt a sudden whoosh of air or if he was just hallucinating further. Was it his parents, coming to take him home? "Mom, Dad," he whispered, coughing. They would hold him and tell him everything was all right.
Wally felt strong arms picking him up and hold him tightly. Either it was the Brotherhood of Evil to dissect him, the Titans to rescue him or the Angel of Death to take him to his parents, he didn't know. He just closed his eyes and hoped for the best. "Just don't mess up the hair."
There was a long moment in which time froze. Jinx had seen Wally disappear into the burning building and knew he would never come out. She wanted to run to him, to fight with him, to die with him. But all she could do was keep sobbing in agony, hiding behind a clump of trees.
She had killed him. And she would never be fast enough to undo what she had done. She had to know that there was no turning back now. She was a villain. She was supposed to do this. It was her destiny. Even if she could save him, he would never forgive her betrayal. She had seen a brief second of his anger and she knew that he could easily kill her if he wanted to. Being so fast, he could reduce her to rubble.
What did it matter? She loved him and she was killing him and she was too weak to do anything but freeze and try to justify herself. She had completely lost her mind, screaming on the inside while just numbly staring into space as the fire department and police showed up to take care of everything.
The cops would find him. Yes, he'd walk out of the building, injured but fine. She would still be in danger, but at least he would be alive. She could still grab his communicator and say she broke his spirit, it might be enough to save her. Wally and she would live…apart, but alive. It would be terrible, but it was the best solution for the both of them.
Then the chilling words were heard. "We have bodies here." And Jinx knew that Wally was dead. She knew with all her heart that she was irredeemably evil and that she was never going to be happy again.
He was dead. The guy who had made her smile was dead and she had killed him.
She was a murderer. She would never be able to be with Wally. She would never be free now, the villains would respect her but she would be hunted down by heroes. If only she had begged Wally for help, she would have…well, she would have had other options.
No, she was bad luck. She never had a chance for happiness. She should have never had hope.
"Murderer," a voice whispered in her ears. "Wally loved you and this is how you repaid him. No wonder no one wants you. No wonder you're alone." The voices were right.
Now what should she do?
Where should she go?
She had no idea.
A fire at Star Labs injured thirty and claimed the lives of at least twelve people. Sources close to the investigation saw villainess Jinx running from the scene. Noted hero Kid Flash was seen entering the building, but never leaving. A fifty thousand dollar reward is being offered for information leading to her arrest and prosecution. Prayers are said for the young hero. This is Vicki Vale, standing in for Iris West who is on leave due to a family emergency.
AN-Reviews and anger at my evilness are welcome! And don't worry, I know what I'm doing.
