It was very likely for him to forget. Wally West had a lot on his plate – superhero duties, training with the Team, and his never-ending thirst for adventure. But when it came to you, you always came first. You were his anchor, his calm in the midst of chaos. Which is why, when he promised to take you out for your anniversary, he swore he wouldn’t be late. Again.
You waited at the restaurant, dressed in your best. The evening light cast soft shadows through the window, and you tapped your fingers against the table, trying to stay calm. Ten minutes turned into twenty, then thirty, and the tiny pinpricks of disappointment began to grow. The server passed by, offering a sympathetic smile that only made things worse. By the time an hour had gone by, you were done.
He was late. Again. Your chest tightened as you gathered your things, leaving a note for the server to send Wally your way when he finally showed up – if he ever did. You could feel the sting of tears in your eyes, but you blinked them away. You were not going to cry over this. Not again.
---
Wally felt the wind whip past his ears as he ran, each step pounding with urgency. He was late. He knew he was late. And this time, it wasn’t just a few minutes. He skidded to a stop outside the restaurant, breathless but hopeful. But the moment he stepped inside, his heart sank. You weren’t there.
He looked around frantically, searching for your familiar face, but all he found was an empty chair, an untouched glass of water, and a note left with the server. He grabbed it, barely able to focus on the words:
“Went back to my parents' house. I’m done waiting, Wally.”
The words cut deeper than any villain's blow. He cursed under his breath, blaming the latest mission for keeping him so long, but he knew that was only part of it. He always thought he had more time, that he could make it up to you somehow. But time wasn’t something he could race against forever.
Without another thought, he sped off, heading straight for your parents' house. The flowers he had picked up along the way were still clutched tightly in his hand, a small bouquet of wildflowers – your favourite. He could only hope he wasn’t too late.
---
You sat on the porch of your parent’s house, a cup of tea cooling in your hands as you stared out into the fading sunset. The sound of crickets filled the air, but your mind was elsewhere. You felt a familiar ache in your chest, one that came from loving someone who was always just out of reach.
Your mother had offered kind words, telling you that Wally was a good man and that he loved you, but right now, it didn’t feel like enough. You knew Wally’s heart was in the right place. But sometimes, love wasn’t enough to hold on to when you felt like you were always the second choice.
Just as you were about to head inside, a gust of wind blew past you, and there he was – Wally, looking slightly dishevelled, cheeks flushed, and with a hopeful expression in his eyes. He held a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hands, slightly crushed from his speed but still beautiful.
“Y/N,” he panted, trying to catch his breath. “I…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
You stared at him, a mix of emotions swirling inside you. “You’re late,” you said simply, not bothering to hide the disappointment in your voice.
“I know, I know,” he pleaded, taking a step closer, “I tried to make it on time, I swear. But there was a mission and–”
“There’s always a mission, Wally!” you interrupted, the frustration boiling over. “There’s always something that keeps you away. And I understand that you’re a hero, I really do, but…when does it end? When do I get to come first?”
