Wally walked behind the bar table as his shift was starting. His conversation with John really messed with his head. Why did he say remember? He didn't know them personally. He rubbed the back of his neck remembering he didn't even know his own past. A touch of his mystery seemingly involved with the Lords? Inconceivable. He shook his head. He knew they were heroes before they were Lords. If he was ever involved with them, that would make him a criminal. And his sense of justice was pretty strong. Granted he was breaking the law working at a bar but that was at Charles Szasz's insistence. He had taken one look at him and immediately had him work for him. Not like there was anywhere else he could go with his lack of memory.
But it didn't seem to matter. He got along fine with his obsessed paranoia driven boss. And his girlfriend Helena isn't too bad even if she is a violent girl. Both had kept his secret. He didn't know how they pulled it off but he was thrilled. He picked up one of the glasses and began to casually clean it. When in through the door walked someone he knew instantly.
"John. Here for a beer?" Wally asked. On duty his job was to only ask about drinks, and listen to the drinker's problems.
"Yeah. The usual please," he said with a smile. Wally turned to pour his glass. He couldn't have been over twenty five.
"Here you are," he said placing the drink in front of John, "So what's on your mind Johnny?"
"Nothing much. But I'm curious."
"Curious?"
"How'd you end up in a place like this?"
Wally froze for a second before picking up another glass and washing it clean.
"You don't want to hear about that. Why don't you tell me about you and your girlfriend Marie," Wally said redirecting the conversation.
"We broke up. But seriously how'd you end up here?"
"How'd you two break up?" he said ignoring the question.
"We weren't right for each other."
"So this Miss Shayera… you think she's the one?"
"I don't know may… Nice try. Why don't you tell me how you got here? I already know you don't… care for the Lords."
From the other end of the bar someone snorted.
"Kid here is an Anti-Lord supporter. If you don't know that then you know nothing."
Wally shrugged his shoulders. John watched as he cleaned another glass. He saw a ring on his finger that did not look like a wedding ring. It was gold and had a lightning bolt on it. Where had he seen that before?
"Supporter of Anti Lords? I think that would be anarchy. I just hate them with the white hot intensity of a thousand red suns," he said as if it were nothing. John cringed inwardly. Superman might as well be human during the red sun. Did he really hate them that much? Did the world hate them that much?
"That much?" John asked. Wally shrugged his shoulders. He picked up another glass and started to clean it, despite how much it already shined.
"From a distance," Wally said. He looked John in the eye, "But none of us are perfect. We all have our inner demons. Currently, the Lords are losing to theirs."
John looked at his beer and took a sip. This kid was something else. John heard the door of the bar open.
"Excuse me. Do you work at this establishment?" asked the person who entered. John looked up. A cop.
"Uh yes sir I do. Can I help you?" he said with a calm voice. He looked the cop dead in the eye.
"Give this," he said pulling out an envelope, "to the owner of this establishment."
Wally took the envelope and glanced over faster than John had seen anyone do. Wally nodded and slipped the envelope into his pocket. The officer began to leave.
"Later Johnson," Wally said calmly. John looked at him. Apparently so did the cop.
"You know me?" he asked. He was wearing the basic new enforced attire that hid the face.
"Uh… yeah. You came here last week. You know how some people never forget a face? Well I never forget a voice," he said. Then he looked at John for a second but his eyes were full of mirth. The cop walked out quickly, avoiding Wally's eye contact. Once the cop was gone Wally let out a light and warm laugh. His ring shined brightly in the bar lights.
"Hey Wally…"
"Hm?"
"May I see your ring? Just for a second?" he asked. Wally looked at him for a minute. The only other man in the bar grunted as he grabbed his coat and said his goodbye. Wally looked at his ring.
"As long as you're careful. It's… it's a gift," he said handing it to John. John looked at the ring closely. He knew this ring from somewhere. It wasn't normal and… was that a button and latch? He looked closer. Definitely a button and latch. Right next to an engraving. B.A.
"Family heir loom?" he asked still looking.
"Maybe," Wally said above a whisper. He had gone back to cleaning cups nervously. He turned his back to John.
"Wally… whose is this?" he asked. He was afraid that this kid had stolen it. He would have to take him in. And that would be awkward, "You can tell me."
"I don't know."
"You can trust…"
"I don't know whose it is. I woke up in an alley covered in blood with nothing but my pants, a key and that ring. I don't know whose it is," he sighed. The most ridiculous thing was that it was the truth. So he could laugh it off as a joke. But John looked at him almost concerned.
"It's nothing man. I got dunk and ended up having the crap beat out of me and got a free ring out of it," he said. He wasn't sure it that was true or not, "But you should be going. You wanna go ask Miss Shayera out on a date before some other guy gets her first."
"Wally…," he began as Wally took his ring back.
"It's closing time. And I'm sure you have work in the morning," he said looking around, "Besides, boss will be here any minute. If you get caught by him you'll have your ear chewed off with hours of conspiracy theories."
"Look Wally I need to know where you really got the ring. I think that might've been a friend of mines," he finally said. The ring matched the Flash's. Wally sighed and handed him the ring.
"Only because I'm not a thief. Though it is nice. Fit my hand perfectly."
"Wally," said a voice. Wally jumped into the air in surprise. A red haired man looked at him, "Closing time."
"Yes Sir Mr. Szasz," Wally said. John stood up.
"Can I talk to you for a minute Mr. Szasz?" John asked. Wally handed the man the envelope and walked outside.
"Lantern. Surprised you're here," he said once Wally was gone.
"Question, I didn't know you owned a bar."
"It's a side thing really. Must have plenty of jobs with the government always watching."
John sighed. Question really lived up to his name.
"Look, who is that kid? And more importantly, why is he working for you?" he asked. Question questioned everyone. If he trusted someone to work for him then that person must be important.
"He's a candle in the wind. He is a fleeting light. He was flickering out. I found him. He is beginning to burn again."
John shook his head. Getting a straight answer from question was like getting Batman to hug small children with a non-demonic smile or scowl.
…Well please review.