Brothers To The Bitter End

14

"Hey, Wally?" Artemis called softly as she entered their apartment. She didn't want to wake up Richard Barry West, her two month old son, but she needed to get her husband's attention. She had made an important decision today, and she knew it was the right one. She just hoped Wally would see it that way.

"Hey, babe. Richie just went down for his nap." Wally appeared wearing a light pink apron with the words "Kiss the Cook" emblazoned on it in hot pink glitter. It had been a present from Dick during the baby shower. It had been addressed specifically for Wally and on the apron ties had "Wally West" embroidered on them (Dick always claimed that he'd had them professionally done; the truth was that Jason was just incredibly talented with a needle).

"Ugh. Why are you wearing that?"

Wally glanced down, as if just noticing his apron. "I like it. Besides I couldn't disappoint my best pal by not wearing it, could I?"

"Ugh, just, never mind. I need to talk with you about something."

"Uh oh. I'm not going to like it, am I?" A frown creased Wally's forehead. He hated when Artemis got all serious. It seriously messed with his cool boy vibe.

"Probably not," Artemis admitted. "But here goes. I accepted a new job."

"Ok? And?"

"With the Justice League. Training the new kids."

"Artemis!"

"And I kinda told them that I'd move into the tower with them."

"Why? Why would you sacrifice everything we've worked so hard for?"

"I think I'm doing the right thing!"

"And what about for Richie? Are we going to drag him into this life before he even has a will to make a choice?"

"You're not being fair. I could do a lot of good . . ."

"No. Enough. This has gone on long enough. Dick told me a while back to not make you choose. But it's come to that. What's it going to be? Richie and me or those . . . metas?" Wally crossed his arms and gave Artemis a severe look. He was sick and tired of her always running off because "she had to be with the kids for x reason." She had crossed a line, and Wally wasn't going to follow her.

"You're kidding! Wally, after everything we've been through . . ."

"After everything we've been through you should know how I feel about the hero gig. I didn't want to do this, Arty, but you've forced my hand. It's us or them."

"But if I leave the team, the kids would be so hurt. You can't make me choose!"

Wally sighed. "You just did." He blew past her at superspeed and collected his clothes, Richie, and Richie's things. "If you ever decide to be a family again, give us a call." Wally called over his shoulder as he ran past a shocked Artemis.

Wally wasn't stupid. He knew that this meant running out on everything he had ever hoped for. But he wasn't going to let Artemis ruin their child's life just because she wanted to play hero. He slid into his car after buckling Richie into the car seat. Artemis appeared in the doorway just as Wally drove off. Wally didn't look back to see tears begin streaming down Artemis's face as she slowly walked back inside and closed the door.

Wally glanced at his phone and pressed call on his emergency contact. "Hey, man, I need a favor."
********
Dick watched as the sporty yellow car pulled up in front of his house. "Subtle, very subtle," Dick commented with a smirk at the red haired young man who climbed out.

"Hey, we all have our quirks. I happen to like yellow," Wally said as he unstrapped Richie.

"Need any help with your bags?" Dick asked, walking up to his best friend.

"What makes you say that?" Wally asked as he almost dropped two suitcases, a stuffed bear, and Richie.

"Uh, the fact that you almost dumped your kid on his head," Dick scooped the baby up from Wally's arms and balanced a suitcase in his other hand, "or maybe the fact that you're still wearing the apron that I gave you at the baby shower?"

Wally glanced down and groaned. "I totally forgot."

"Rough day?"

"You have no idea."

"Well come on in. We ordered a ton of pizza after I found out you were coming."

Wally smiled gratefully as he pulled the remaining suitcases out of the car and locked it. "I sure appreciate you letting me stay here."

Dick laughed. "You're not the only one,"

"What do you . . . Roy?"

Roy looked up from his position on the stairs and smiled. "Hey, Wally. I heard that you were joining our little club."

"Why are you here?"

"Turns out being a single dad sucks. So I called Dick up and asked him if I could move in with him, seeing as how Jason just kinda sits at home all day."

"Oh. How is Lian?"

"Doing well. Jade has her for the weekend so it's been pretty quiet."

"Wall, your room is going to be the last one on the left." Dick walked down the stairs, casually avoiding the odd toy, shoe, and katana laying on them. "I already put Richie in a crib. You can have dinner whenever,"

Wally slowly climbed the stairs and was surprised that this entire hallway was lined with doors, each one of which had sparkly nametags all over the door to declare to the world who lives in these rooms.

"Dick, Jason, Damian," Wally muttered the names off either side of the corridor as he progressed. The sound of classical violin drifted from Damian's room. "Huh, didn't take him for a cd type of guy. Roy, . . . Tim? Who's Tim? Cass? Stephanie? Who are all these people?" He found his room at the end of the hall, unsurprisingly already with his name all over the door. "Ok, cool," he swung the door open and gaped. The entire room was painted a light yellow, Wally's favorite color, and had posters of his favorite bands on the walls. There was also a desk already set up with a laptop and papers, and his favorite books lined the walls the bookshelves.

"How in the world did they get this set up so quickly? I swear I only called Dick a couple of hours ago," Wally tossed his suitcase on the bed, which also had the marks of Dick's sense of humor: the comforter was emblazoned with Kid Flash and the Flash running. Wally walked over to the crib, which was situated right next to his bed, and saw that Richie was sound asleep. There was a baby monitor also set up so that Wally could leave the room without too much trouble.

"Hey," Jason popped his head into Wally's room. "Food's ready. I can watch Itch if you like,"

"It's Richie," Wally commented dryly. "Don't you need to eat?"

"Already did," Jason shrugged. "One benefit of being the babysitter is that I always get to eat first. What do you think of the room?"

"It's amazing. How did you guys do this in so short a time?"

"Honestly? I have no idea. I slept through most of it. All I know is that the room was already painted, and the furniture was in here. The rest of it . . . well . . . I think Dick is just a brownie and can pull anything from anywhere."

Wally laughed. "Yeah, I can see that. Do you mind watching Richie?"

"Nah. Dick told me it was either babysit or get a real job, and this is better than wearing a suit and tie any day."

Wally nodded agreeably and was halfway out the door before he remembered his other question. "Hey, Jay? Who are all those other people who have rooms here? Tim and Cass and Stephanie?"

"Tim is Bruce's other adopted son, which kinda makes him our brother, Cass is Bruce's adopted daughter, and then Stephanie is Tim'd girlfriend,"

"But why are they all here?"

"Tim got sick of Bruce's constant nagging and left Wayne Manor, Cass didn't want to stay there alone, and Stephanie hates doing laundry,"

"Why would that . . . never mind. I don't want to know,"

"Probably wise. It only gets weirder from here,"