We're Stardust, You and I | BIRDFLASH

I was just enough but you need everything

Wally's feet barely skimmed the surface of the water as he sped across the bay, his laughter trailing behind him like the wake of a boat. The world around him blurred, and all he could hear was the rhythmic slapping of waves and the rush of wind in his ears. This was freedom, pure and simple, a feeling he was still getting used to but already craved more of.

"Come on, kid! At least act a little scared!" Barry's voice called out from behind him, teasing but with a hint of playful challenge.

Wally glanced back, seeing Barry catching up effortlessly, a blur of red and gold against the blue horizon. Wally pushed himself harder, his heart pounding not with fear, but with exhilaration. The bay stretched out endlessly before him, but it didn't matter; as long as he had the speed, he could go anywhere.

Suddenly, Barry was beside him, matching his pace with ease. Wally grinned, but before he could blink, Barry had scooped him up, lifting him off his feet.

"Hey!" Wally exclaimed, half-laughing, half-protesting. "Not fair, Barry!"

Barry just chuckled, holding Wally securely as they slowed to a stop on a small, deserted island in the middle of the bay. "You've got a lot of potential, Wally," he said, setting him down gently on the sandy shore. "But speed isn't just about running fast. It's about control, too."

Wally looked up at his mentor, wide-eyed and eager. "I know, I know. I'm trying, Barry. But it's just so much fun to run!" He waved his hands in the air and kicked at the sand. "I feel free."

"I know how you feel, Wally," Barry smiled down at him. "But please remember to be careful because the speeds you travel at can be lethal. No kid should have this power."

"Uncle Barry, don't worry about me. Under your teachings I may be an even better hero than you," he taunted.

"I have no doubt about that, kid."

***

Wally sat huddled in the alleyway, his back pressed against the cold brick wall as the sounds of Gotham's nightlife echoed faintly in the distance. He was shaking, his breath coming in quick, ragged gasps. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, unable to untangle the chaos that swirled within his mind. The mental attack from the frequencies had left him raw, vulnerable in a way he hadn't felt in years. His head pounded, and the once-familiar presence of the speed force now felt like a double-edged sword, amplifying the frequencies that attacked his senses.

The shadows in the alley seemed to stretch, creeping closer with every breath Wally took. The dim street lights flickered, casting eerie patterns on the walls, like the fragmented pieces of his trust, now shattered beyond repair.

The sudden clink of boots on pavement jolted him from his spiral, but his mind was too fractured to fully process the approaching figure. Red Hood, his helmet catching the dim light from a nearby streetlamp, approached cautiously. He crouched down and tilted his head to the side as he studied him.

"Flash?" His voice was tentative, uncharacteristically soft. "You alright, man?"

Wally flinched, looking up at the armored figure with wide, unfocused eyes. His instinct screamed at him to move, to run, but his body felt disconnected from his mind. He was too lost in the overwhelming flood of sensory input to respond coherently.

"Shit," Red Hood muttered, quickly assessing the situation. He pulled out his comm and spoke into it, his voice low. "Nightwing, I found him. Sending the location now."

Wally dipped his head further into his hands, gripping his hair to find any surface to ground himself to. It wasn't long before another set of footsteps echoed through the alley, this time softer, more familiar. He spared a glance to see that Nightwing had arrived, his usual calm demeanor giving way to much concern as he took in the sight of the trembling speedster.