Welcome to the Rainbow Factory

Ch.1: Tempers

"Don't waste your time there," He said sternly, "Come with me and I'll teach you more than any college could ever imagine teaching one person."

That's what Wally said to (Y/n) the day they met. He saw the raw potential in her from day one, and since then she stayed by his side from the beginning of the factory to the death of his daughter.

It's been ten years since that day and (Y/n) had been his longest worker there. She remained in a standard position, as his assistant, although others would say she was his right-hand man.

Anything they wanted to tell Wally Darling went through her first as she was the more docile of the two.

Today was no different.

A knock erupted on (Y/n)'s office door, mid-day.

"Come in," She called out, her eyes still looking at multiple computer screens.

A man walked in, tall, with blonde hair, "Miss (Y/n)?"

"Yes, Johnathan?" She sipped her coffee, "I'm quite busy right now."

"I know, I know, but, he's doing it...again."

She stopped typing for a moment her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She leaned back in her chair letting out a sigh of frustration and tiredness.

"Alright," (Y/n) stood up from her chair, pushing it in. "Where is he?"

"In his office," Jonathan's face showed worry and some fear.

This wasn't anything new to her though. Throwing on her lab coat she walked out of her office and down the hall. As (Y/n) walked further down the hallway the sound of banging, yelling, and breaking became louder and louder. Several workers stood outside of Wally's office listening in.

"Ahem," (Y/n) adjusted her voice.

They all looked up at her and then made room for her to open the door. She politely knocked twice which received a full item tossed.

"GO AWAY!" Wally yelled.

She took another breath, "All of you, try to make yourselves scarce unless you want to come in here with me."

None of them did and quickly hurried away back to their tasks. Once gone she twisted the doorknob and entered slowly.

The office was destroyed, which often happened when he threw his temper tantrums. Wally couldn't regulate emotions, especially sadness. Everything came out in anger which formed into temper tantrums and excuses as to why.

Slipping in (Y/n) closed the door behind her, keeping her hands behind her back.

Wally took the piece of broken wood and continued to hit his computer with it, over and over and over again letting out frustrated sounds with each hit.

"I was never a fan of your redecorating," She spoke up stepping over the debris.

Wally turned, his red eyes piercing hers, but only for a moment before somewhat relaxing.

"Did I interrupt your work?" He remained professional through words despite the scene.

"No, I was taking a little break since the data needs to upload."

Wally dropped the piece of wood, "And how is that going?"

"Well," (Y/n) began picking up some items off the ground and placing them on his desk.

If she were to make a big deal out of his behavior it would only continue. Casual conversations kept him calm.

"I was on the phone earlier with a possible investor. He'd like to speak with you personally next week, so I set up an appointment for you on Tuesday."

Wally sighed then looked at his hand, bloodied from the wood he held, "Why can't you meet with him?"

"Because my name isn't Wally Darling, now is it?"

She approached him placing her hand out. Instinctively, as it had happened before, he placed his hand, palm up on top of hers, and looked away, almost ashamed.

"Splinters," She spoke, "That's a new one."

"I'm fine."

"Ah, that's what you call it. Regardless, you can't work until that's wrapped up. You don't want to cross-contaminate your own projects." In reality, she cared more for his well-being than the projects, but he'd only comply for the greater good of the research. "I'll get the first aid kit."

He nodded.

(Y/n) left his office shutting the door and took a moment to herself. Seeing Wally in this state often took a toll on her own mind as it hurt her. It seemed like one bad thing after another occurred to this man.

After a few minutes (Y/n) returned with the first aid kit. She spotted Wally sitting at his desk with his head hung low leaning on his elbow his other hand poorly wrapped in a cloth.

He didn't bother looking at her while she unwrapped the wound to clean it out.

"This might hurt," She stated.

But he never reacted, though most people would.

(Y/n) was used to cleaning up his "accidents" from self-inflicted tantrums to test subjects breaking out of containment, she'd become a nurse of sorts without a degree.

"There," She pat the tape down on the gauze, "good as new."

He looked at his hand, observing her work, "If you chose to stay in school, you would have made a good nurse."

"Nurses are boring," She stated putting the items away. "I like what I do now."

Wally's gaze shifted to the windows leading outside, "I have somewhat important news to give you."

She began wandering the room to pick up what she could, what was important, papers, files, documents, pictures. One item she found was a broken picture of Julie and Wally together. It always sat on his desk.

"Julie wants a divorce."

"A divorce?" (Y/n) heard it very clearly but had to repeat herself.

He looked up at her, a small smirk on his face, "Yes, a divorce."

"I'd ask why, but her last few appearances here weren't the most...fun."

Her visits had always led to fights which almost always lead to tantrums shortly after, and (Y/n) had to pick up the pieces. However, Julie had a right as Wally was spending more and more time at the lab and less at home. He was a workaholic now more than ever.

"No counseling? Therapy? Books?"

"We're past that." He sighed then stood up to approach the window. "There's nothing to fix it."

This gave her the true answer to today's tantrum. It didn't help that while wondering she found the divorce papers given to him. For a long while her eyes studied the front document.

"(Y/n)?" He spoke to her.

"I was making sure your paperwork was together." She organized the papers with the others. "I'm sorry to hear about this..."

"Don't be. Everything happens for a reason."

Regardless of his words, she could see the hurt in his eyes as he looked down at the forest below. As a man who didn't verbally express his emotions his eyes told a long story of sadness, hate, betrayal, and loneliness.

"What now?"

He then turned towards her, "I'll be staying here, in a room in the workers' quarters until things are figured out."

"That's not an excuse to work more, I hope."

"It's not an excuse. I need to be closer to my work, my projects. I've been too distracted lately." He placed his arms behind his back. "I'll be implementing some changes around here, (Y/n). Changes that will increase our research beyond anything we could ever fathom."

"You keep reaching to the stars, you're going to end up on the moon one day."

"Nonsense," He spoke, "I'll be going further."