Bruce came to the orphanage with confidence that he flaunted in public. Though the people here were a bit different than the ones he had worked with in Gotham. When he donated there, they would kiss up to him and look good for camera crews that they had told to come. Here, there was little media. Most was from Gotham. One was from the Daily Planet in Metropolis. But only one small crew was here from Central City itself. And no Flash in sight. Though he could be wrong. He had never seen Flash as a civilian. Nor had he put time to look for the childish character that protected the city so diligently. The woman working at the orphanage was in her early fifties. Her hair had begun to grey. Her face had a warm smile. Very different from the greedy people of Gotham. She was out in the front with a group of children playing around her. She didn't look annoyed in the least.
Behind her there was a teen playing with some of the really young kids who looked newly orphaned. He stood out. He had vibrant red hair and bright green eyes. But he was also the only teen there. He couldn't be out of high school yet. A volunteer maybe. But not a worker. He was smiling and laughing with the kids too.
"You're Mister Wayne?" asked the woman walking up to him.
"Yes. And I take it you are Mrs. Hanick?" he asked. She nodded.
"Call me Ma or Betty. Everyone else around here does," she said with a hearty laugh.
"Very well."
The red haired boy stood up and ran over.
"Betty, I need to go into town," he said. His voice sounded familiar.
"What? Oh alright. But be back for the cameras later," she said. The boy smiled and ran off toward town.
"Who's he?" Bruce asked.
"Oh him? That's Wally. The oldest kid here."
Bruce looked at her with surprise.
"He lives here?" he asked. She nodded her head sullenly.
"His parents were killed when he was young. After that he came here for a year before he was adopted by his Aunt and Uncle. They… they died a year ago. He came back here until he gets his inheritance from both of them."
Bruce stared at her for a second.
"Wally? As in Wally West?" he asked.
"Why… yes. You know him?" she asked.
"You could say that," he said. He was the kid to get his scholarship? He was not what he expected. Obviously not like the rich kids who get other people to do that do the work. Or a shut in studier. The woman walked over to a group of kids who were arguing. He let out a smile at the sight. They deserved the money.
"Sh! Listen!" said a kid excitedly. Kids were gathered around a small radio. It was a broadcast about an ongoing crime. And apparently Flash had just arrived.
'And it Mirror Master is now being escorted to a police car thanks to Flash.'
"Hey guys!" said a cheerful voice. Everyone stared at the red haired teen that had appeared.
"Wally! You missed it!" cried a little kid.
"Missed what?" he asked ruffling his hair.
"Flash! He was on the news!"
The kid had a warm smile on his face His eyes were a soft and playful green.
"Really now?" he said with a laugh, "And who was Flash fighting today?"
"Mirror Master."
Wally laughed.
"Ah man. Does that bring back memories," he smiled. One of the kids grabbed his arm.
"Tell us a story about Flash."
"Hm… have I told you guys about when the second Flash got a student?"
A few kids smiled while others had wide eyes in disbelief.
"Really?"
"Yeah. His name was Kid Flash. The rouges called him Baby Flash though."
"Mr. Wayne, it's time."
Bruce nodded and headed to the front of the orphanage to put on a bit of a show for the camera crews. He smiled as people took pictures of him handing the check off. Cameras were rolling.
"Also, I would like to announce the winner of the Bruce Wayne scholarship award," he said surprising the camera crews.
The kids of the orphanage gathered around to see what was going on. Wally looked over above everyone he had a slight confused look on his face.
"A kid named Wally West," he said with a smile. Wally stood frozen. Hands pushed his back making him move forward. Kids were dragging him forward to where Bruce was. He walked up and stared Bruce straight in the eye. Bruce grabbed his hand and shook it firmly. Blue eyes stared at bright green eyes.
"Uh, thank you sir," he said giving him an extremely bright smile. A smile that made Bruce take a double take. He looked like Flash. His smile was a bright and bubbly matching Flash's personality. It was like he was seeing Flash as a civilian.
"No problem. Your work in school has been phenomenal. You are a bright individual."
Wally smiled even wider. He had a set of dimples that made him look even more like a child. But he had something in him that screamed Flash.
After about two hours of camera time he walked around the inside of the orphanage he came to a single room. It was different from all the other rooms. Every room had two beds. This one was smaller and had only bed. It had two dressers. One had a lock on it. Curiously he walked over. He quickly unlocked it. The kid couldn't be hiding anything bad. And if he was, then it would be better to send him to a Juvenile facility. Making quick work of the lock that only he could manage with such speed.
The drawer opened and he looked inside. Bright scarlet lay inside. A mask stared back at him. He pulled the mask out slowly. Flash's mask.
"Oh man," said a voice quietly. He turned back to see Wally staring back at him with fear on his face.
"Flash?" he said in a tone similar to Batman. Wally was frozen. He walked up slowly.
"My Halloween costume is ruined," he said covering up his fear. He walked up and slid the drawer shut. Bruce walked over to the door. He turned back and looked at Wally.
"We'll discuss this in the Watchtower," he said in a gruff voice that was obviously Batman's voice. Wally looked at with wide eyes.
"Do we have to Bats?" he asked. A simple curt nod came from the civilian disguise that was the caped crusader.
"Yes. And don't call me bats," he said giving a Bat glare.
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