Wally headed back towards home. He wasn't needed at work for another few hours. So why bother going in early to drunkards and overly depressing people? Why not go home and try to figure out who he was? All he had pieced together about his past was that he was not dumb. At least in science. Forensics, biology, chemistry all were easy. And his knowledge of words was all clear and descriptive. He thought of the possibility of being a detective in his past life. His only clues were his ring, and an old key. Both he never had the heart to throw away. The key was a key to a door. A house key or maybe an apartment key. He doubted car key because he hated cars. The ring though had a certain button on it that he had fidgeted with before.
Nothing really happened though. He never stopped wearing it. He thought it might've been a momentum from a relative. He remembered his name was Wallace (but decided he liked Wally) so the initials in the ring were not his. The ring was inscribed BA. He always thought about berries when he thought about who it might've belonged to. Then his stomach and feet would take him to a restaurant to eat. And then he would hear something about the Justice Lords and everything would be back to normal in his world. The shroud of mystery dissipated for a shroud of misery. He preferred the former. Mystery was always better than the totalitarian rule of the Lords.
"I hate the Lords. Oh dear God-Loki-Zeus-Buddha-Hera-Anubis-Oberon-Kami-and whoever else I'm forgetting, why place us in a Flash-less world with crazy Lords who believe they are gods?" he asked. Another thing about his past, he never referred to one god. He always listed them off.
He saw people staring at him, "What? Most of you hate them too. What have they given us? Protection? Is it worth the price of freedom? Is it really worth it? I think freedom, and the ability run in any direction is better than being the Lords' puppet!"
John heard the voice he knew too well. Wally preaching his belief of the Lords.
"They aren't bad," said John walking up to him. Wally looked at him with a look that said confused for a fraction of a second. Then back to his angry fit.
"John. They've killed… they're murderers that call themselves heroes. The only people they're saving is themselves. They… they don't respect the dead. Dammit, if they liked the Flash so much then they shouldn't have killed his beliefs. They think he wants this? I'm sure he'd be yelling at them to stop it."
"They have their reasons. They avenged the Flash," John said hiding the fact he was a Lantern.
"Flash wouldn't have wanted to be avenged," Wally grumbled walking away. John walked with him.
"What do you mean he didn't?"
"Flash was a smiling free spirit that always saw the light. A light that was in his torch burning brighter than anything anyone could imagine. He shown like a lantern. Flew like a bird, and was as watchful as a bat. But he did it with a smile. A smile. He was a friend. He was the best kind of hero. He didn't stop people from doing things. He just protected others. How many of the Lords do you see doing that? Zip. Nada. None.
"Is that the kind of world we want the kids to know? It's just like the Giver."
"The what?"
"The Giver. A world without life. A world without song. A world without choice. A world without color. A world… where emotions don't exist."
"That's not our world," John chuckled at Wally's belief. Wally gave him a look.
"Not yet, but if it keeps up like this either war or lifeless life. Both are grim," he shivered, "But you're probably right. That's years from now. What are you doing in my neck of the woods anyway Johnny boy?"
"Visiting a friend. You know Bruce Wayne?" John asked. Wally looked slightly amused but mostly disappointed.
"Oh yeah. Man's been killing business at the bar," Wally muttered rubbing the back of his neck.
"How could he be doing you any harm?" John inquired. Wally gave him an amused look.
"Well Johnny," he began, "Mr. Brucie Wayne has encouraged the police to be harsher on the drunk driving laws. Not that I mind. It's great to believe there aren't any drunk drivers. The problem is that it is so strict, a drop in your blood and they take you off to jail! Or something of that nature," he sighed.
"You're overreacting Wally."
"And you're underreacting. Face it John we are slaves of the lords. And our children to be their children's slaves. They will pick who is 'worthy' and force others into marriage. John they aren't who I remember."
John gave him a look, "Remember?"
Wally realized what he said. Instead of a sheepish 'yah know, how I remembered them,' deal he looked confused. Criminal confused as Flash said years ago.
"Remember? I think… I think that's how they were," he mumbled going into a brisk walk. John didn't bother trying to keep up with Wally. He always seemed to speed up as he got closer. Despite the movements matching that of a person walking. He knew where he could see him later anyway. He was working at the bar. He could go for a drink anyway.
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