I'm so, so, so very sorry! This chapter is extremely late! I hit writer's block for a while. Anyway, thanks for bearing with me.
Also, I've always had a headcanon that Wally is faster than all the other speedsters and is known throughout history as the greatest Flash ever.
Set a week after the last chapter and before, during, and after The Ties That Bind (a.k.a. Miracles Happen).
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to DC comics.
Bart's POV
Bart was excited. In fact, Wally said he was practically vibrating. I hope I can vibrate soon. I wanna vibrate. Dad says my training's going well. MaybeIcouldvibratesoonthatwouldbesocool!
Bart had started his training a week ago. At first it was really hard; he wasn't as fast as his dad, but he had a big problem slowing down anyway. That's what they've been focusing on. Every day they would spend four hours objective time talking at a (so called) normal pace. If Bart messed up, they started over. That happens a lot.
Painfully slowly, but surely, Bart started to improve, and that's why he was standing with the older speedster at the front door of Wayne Manor with an overnight bag. He was being rewarded for "all his hard work" (Dad's words!).
Wally's POV
Wally rang the doorbell to the huge mansion, while his son was smiling widely beside him. After a few seconds (How does that guy even move around a place this big so fast?) the door opened to reveal an old butler with a white mustache.
"Master Wallace. Young Master Bartholomew. The masters have been expecting you. This way please," the butler said as he let the speedsters in and led them down the hallway.
"Thanks Al," Wally said as Alfred led them to the room where Bruce and Tim were.
Alfred led the guests into the living room where Bruce was reading the newspaper in his costume. Tim, who was researching a cure for Scarecrow's latest fear toxin on his laptop, looked up from his spot on the floor. He smiled at Bart.
"Alright," began Wally, "Be good Bart. I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early." He hugged his son as the Dark Knight stood. They walked down to the Batcave to transport to the Watchtower.
Bart's POV
"Soooo," Bart said, turning towards Tim, "what do you wanna do?"
The other boy shrugged. "Play video games. If you want, that is! I'm totally okay with doing something else," he spit out while blushing.
Bart tiled his head. "What domostpeopledo at sleepovers?" he asked. "Cause video games sound fine to me. ImeanI'veneveractuallyplayedanybeforebutI'maquicklearner!"
Tim just shrugged and smiled shyly as he led his friend up the stairs.
-LINE BREAK-
"Ugh! This game is so slow!" cried the young speedster, tossing the controller in his hand to the floor.
Tim looked at him and said, "Um, well, it's not supposed to be. Maybe you're just, you know, going too fast."
Bart huffed and crossed his arms. "Don'tremindme," he grumbled, "Dad's still trying to get me to slow down. And I'm trying. I am! It's just reallyreallyreally hard!"
Tim looked thoughtful before leading his friend into the hallway. Facing him, Tim said, "I'm giving you a tour of the Manor, and we're going to do it slowly. There will be no running, only walking. Understood?" At the speedster's nod he continued, "Good. Let's start. The room we just left was my room, but it used to be my oldest brother's. His name is Richard. Call him Dick. He's Nightwing now, but he was the first Robin. He now has the room across the hall, though he lives in Bludhaven."
-LINE BREAK-
Wally's POV
Wally was furious as he stomped down the hallway. He kept replaying Mister Miracle's words in his head. Stupid J'onn! He'samindreader! He should know how seriously I'm taking this! Oberon is to MM as Uncle Barry is to me! You know what? Forget him. I can help MM and Barda out allbymyself! Decision made, the redhead started running after the two New Gods.
-LINE BREAK-
Shayera's POV
Shayera had just finished putting her room in the Watchtower in order. Not that I'll be needing it much. Dr. Fate said that, due to circumstances (namely Rex) she could live at his home.
She had considered telling John about their baby, but then she found that he'd already moved on.
Flashback
Shayera walked into the cafeteria wondering how to tell her Green Lantern about Rex. She scanned the tables until her eyes settled on one and widening in hurt. There he was with some girl (Shayera later found out that her name was Vixen). They were sitting closely while talking and laughing. Then, they kissed.
Shayera escaped to the safety of her room and began to cry. I can't tell him. He'd marry me out of guilt or something. I'll just be responsible for ruining his happiness again.
End Flashback
Silent tears fell down the Thanagarian's face at the memory. She wiped her eyes and left the room.
Walking down the hall, she saw Superman. His expression kept changing from deep thought to worry and back again. Well, that's strange. The female hero just shrugged it off and kept walking, though.
-LINE BREAK-
Bart's POV
The two kids had to take multiple trips to the kitchen before ending the tour. Tim had shown Bart nearly every room. A lot of them were rooms for guests and hadn't been used in at least a decade, but the young bat made a point of pointing at and explaining them nonetheless.
There was one door that Tim skipped over, though. Bart probably wouldn't have given it much thought if not for the fact that his friend looked miserable when they passed it.
They were sitting at the dining room table eating sandwiches and drinking milk when Tim cleared his throat. "Any questions?" he asked.
"What'swiththatroom?" Bart blurted out. A part of him wished Tim didn't understand the question.
The older boy tensed. "What room?" he asked.
The speedster looked him in the eye, suddenly suspicious, before replying, "You know which one."
Tim let out a sigh and whispered, "That's my other older brother's room, er, old room. It's Jason's."
-LINE BREAK-
Wally's POV
Fire was surrounding him as he spun around. The heat was almost unbearable, but he had already started this mission. He had to see it through. If that meant he had to take a little heat, then so be it. He then felt himself hit the door making it explode.
-LINE BREAK-
Bart's POV
"Tell me about him," the speedster requested once they were back in Tim's room.
Said boy grew lost in thought before saying, "He was the Robin before me. He, well, he was killed. By the Joker. He came back, though. I still have no idea how that happened. He came here, er, to Gotham, anyways. He's Red Hood now. An anti-hero. I, I think he doesn't like me that much. He was mad when he found out about me." His voice kept getting quieter with each word.
Bart looked towards his downtrodden friend. Jason doesn't like Tim? That's impossible! Nobody could ever dislike Tim! "Do you not like him?" he asked.
"OF COURSE I LIKE HIM! He's my brother! I love him!" Tim blurted out. Before he could stop himself, he continued, "I watched him when he was Robin. He was the best! He was way more passionate and dedicated than anybody I had met before. I admired him so much, but then he died, and Batman lost it. He lost it for six months! Batman needs Robin. So I took up the mantle. And now my idol hates me for it. I, I don't know what to do."
The speedster looked thoughtfully at his friend. "A brother is a male who has at least one common parent with another. I read it in a book. Thingisyoudon'tshareanyparentsinthisfamily. Not biologically, at least, so you and Jason have to create the common ground needed to replace that blood-bond. You'll be able to do it. Brothersloveeachother. No matter what."
Tim looked at his friend hopefully and asked, "You really think so?" At the younger boy's confirmation he asked, "How do you know?"
Bart grinned and stated, "I've been watching Dr. Phil. It'sareallygoodshowevenifitgetsboring. It only does that sometimes, though."
-LINE BREAK-
Wally's POV
"You are very gifted when it comes to this game, Flash," J'onn said while getting up from his chair.
Wally grinned and did the same. "Well, what can I say?" he started, "I'm a master at Brawling Bots."
"Indeed," the Martian replied.
As the speedster began to leave the room, he heard his friend's voice in his head. 'Wally, I have instructed Clark and Shayera to meet you in Conference Room 5A in five minutes. I believe it would be wise to inform them of your son.'
-LINE BREAK-
Wally was actually getting tired of explaining the circumstances of Bart's existence. He loved his son, of course, but he always got nervous of people's reactions after he got done with the story.
"Wow," Shayera said breathily. Clark to a deep breath, but remained silent.
"Yeah," the Scarlet Speedster said while rubbing the back of his neck. "J'onn said I should tell you guys. He didn't say why but, well, you know him," he continued as he put his hand down and shrugging. There was an awkward pause while each hero grasped for something to say. Finally, Shayera broke it.
"I have a son," she said quietly. At seeing the other's looks of confusion she added, "He's John's. I found out I was pregnant before the invasion."
"Did the baby get hurt!?" Wally asked, alarmed. Pleasenopleasenopleaseno! She's had too much happen to her! She doesn't deserve to have anything but the perfect kid!
The woman snorted. "Thanagarians are a warrior race," she began, "My womb is made of an organic substance that is tougher than what my mace is made of. Plus, despite the pregnancy being longer than it would for a full-blooded Thanagarian baby, it was still shorter than a human's, so I wasn't far enough along to start showing at the time."
The uncharacteristically silent Kryptonian spoke up, startling the other two heroes. "I have a son, too. A clone, actually, but he still has half of my DNA so…"
Wally smiled as they took turns talking about their kids. It was nice to have more people to relate to within the League. He silently thanked J'onn for setting this meeting up.
TBC…
So Bart's given a piece of wisdom. Not to mention that Kon will be in the story soon. I'm going to try to bring in Cassie, but I'm having trouble figuring out how. I know I want one chapter to be a crossover thing with the Young Justice cartoon, though.
I tried to keep everyone in character. I hope I did well in that regard.
So please review and tell me what you thought of the chapter. Or to ask questions. As always, any suggestions, even if not used right away, are welcome.