Wally West was exhausted as he trudged up the stairs to his apartment. Another day of hero work, another series of battles, and all he wanted was to spend some time with his family. As he approached the door, he noticed it was eerily silent inside. Usually, at this time, he could hear his son’s laughter or the sound of the TV.
When he opened the door, the sight that greeted him was unexpected. The apartment was in chaos—sofas flipped over, tables upended, and toys scattered everywhere. The lights were off, casting the place in dim shadows. His heart raced for a moment, imagining the worst. He took a cautious step inside, scanning the room for any signs of life.
“Hello?” he called out, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet space. “Y/N? Little man?”
No response.
Wally moved deeper into the apartment, his senses on high alert. Just as he was about to pull out his phone to call for backup, he heard a soft giggle.
Suddenly, he felt a tap on his leg and looked down to see his son, beaming up at him with mischief in his eyes. He was holding a brightly colored Nerf gun.
“Gotcha, Daddy!” his son exclaimed, laughing.
Before Wally could respond, a soft foam dart hit him squarely on the shoulder. He turned to see you, standing behind one of the overturned sofas with a Nerf gun in hand, grinning from ear to ear.
“Welcome home, hero,” you said playfully. “Thought you could use a little bit of fun after a long day.”
Relief washed over Wally, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You two had me worried there for a second.”
You gave him a mock salute. “Just keeping you on your toes.”
Wally swiftly picked up a nearby Nerf gun and aimed it at you, a playful glint in his eyes. “Alright, prepare for the fastest Nerf battle of your life!”
Laughter filled the apartment as the three of you engaged in an epic Nerf gun battle, ducking behind furniture and dodging foam darts. The worries of the day melted away, replaced by the simple joy of being with his family.
Eventually, you all collapsed onto the floor, breathless and giggling. Wally wrapped his arms around you and your son, pulling you close.
“This,” he said softly, “is exactly what I needed.”
You smiled, resting your head on his shoulder. “Welcome home, Wally. We missed you.”
He kissed the top of your head and then his son’s. “I missed you guys, too. Now, who’s up for some ice cream?”
Your son’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Me! Me!”
As the three of you headed to the kitchen, Wally couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful. No matter how tough things got out there, he knew he always had a place filled with love and laughter to come back to.
In the kitchen, you pulled out a tub of Wally’s favourite mint chocolate chip ice cream. Wally scooped generous portions into bowls, adding a few sprinkles for good measure. The three of you sat around the table, enjoying the treat.
“So,” you began, “how was your day, Wally?”
Wally sighed contentedly, savouring a spoonful of ice cream. “Busy. We had a run-in with some of the Injustice League. But everything turned out okay. What about you guys?”
“Well,” you said with a mischievous smile, “we had a run-in with some Nerf bandits, but I think we handled it pretty well.”
Wally chuckled. “I think you did. Our little guy here is becoming quite the marksman.”
Your son beamed with pride. “I practised all day, Daddy!”
Wally ruffled his hair. “And it shows, buddy. You got me good.”
After finishing your ice cream, the three of you began the task of tidying up the living room. Wally moved at super speed, flipping the sofas back and setting the tables upright in a blur while you and your son gathered the Nerf darts and toys.
“Having a speedster around definitely makes cleaning up easier,” you remarked, smiling at Wally.
“Perks of the job,” he said, giving you a wink.
Once the apartment was back to its normal state, you all settled on the couch to watch a movie. Your son snuggled between you and Wally, his little head resting on Wally’s shoulder.
As the movie played, Wally felt the day’s exhaustion finally catching up to him, but it was a good kind of tired. The kind that came from being surrounded by the people he loved most.
As the credits rolled, you noticed your son had fallen asleep, his little chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Wally carefully picked him up and carried him to his room, tucking him in with a gentle kiss on his forehead.
When he returned to the living room, he found you waiting for him, a warm smile on your face. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close.
“Thank you,” he whispered. “For tonight. For everything.”
You looked up at him, your eyes reflecting the love you felt. “You’re welcome, Wally. We’re a team, remember? Through thick and thin.”
He kissed you softly, a promise of many more moments like this to come. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As you both stood there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, Wally knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he could face them all with you by his side. And that thought made him feel invincible.
