Birdflash Soulmates AU

My King (Part Five)

8 days later Wally and 10 other girls were walking into the throne room. Most girls were gawking at the sight of it, while Barbara and Wally simply stared forward. 

Dick was standing beside his father, stoned face, but when his eyes caught Wally's a small smile took over.
At Bruce's glare, Wally averted his gaze. 

After coming from their stargazing, Wally and Dick had discovered that the castle was in an uproar. 

Apparently, while they were up there word was that Prince Conner had run away right before his wedding. Later was discovered that one of their main servants, Megan, was gone as well.

No one cared about Megan, but Artemis, Dick, and Wally of course. But when it was noticed that Dick and Wally were missing, Bruce was going crazy. 

Once coming down, Dick was instantly escorted away and Wally was taken to his room. After that night guards were everywhere. Dick wasn't allowed out of his father's sight and Wally was to stay with a guard at all times.

But that didn't stop them from sneaking to their spot all night until the first light of sun peeked over. But they weren't just sharing stories. Dick was helping Wally train for one of the tasks.
Acrobatics.

"Today will be a physical and mental exam. Half of you will be out in the courtyard while the other half will be sent to the library. Cheating will have you sent home automatically." Bruce explained, "King Richard will be in charge of the mental exams and I will be in charge of the physicals."

Wally's breath of relief turned to a sigh.

'Oh no.'

~~~~~~~

Luck was so not on his side. Not only was he doing the physical exam first, but he was also stuck with Barbara who kept sending him smug glances. 

The tests were:
Strength
Flexibility
and Endurance

They were all ushered to two pull up bars. They were to count how many pull-ups they could do (obviously). For girls, the average was three or more. For boys, the average was six or more. 

Since there were 11 people in total one group was split with 6 people. Luckily that was Wally's group. He stood in the back of the line, which was really a waste since there were only two people in front of him.

But what caught him off guard was when Barbara moved to the back of the line beside him.

Tossing her hair over her shoulder she smirked, "me and Richard use to come out here and do this for fun. We would even help each other with our stretches."

Wally gave her a bewildered look, "and I care why?"

Eyes going round she huffed, before taking a step forward. "I just thought you would want to know who you're going up against."

"I know who I'm going up against. And there's nothing special about it."

It was finally their turn, grabbing onto the bars Wally waited for the signal. At the go both him and Barbara began. 

He couldn't deny that he was tired after reaching 10. He never was the biggest guy. But he still tried. Barbara was done on 20 by the time he reached 15. And all he could see was Bruce's proud eyes set on Barbara. 

He dropped at 22. She dropped at 34.

~~~~~~~

They were all in a single file line. The girl up front was sitting on the dirt, shoes off and legs spread a bit. At the go, she stretched at far as she could go. The goal was to stretch to the ground, marked with a little flag how far you got. 

One by one all of the girls went, Barbara having stood in front of Wally.
She got the farthest. 

When Wally's turn was up he waited for the go signal and reached as far as he could. Fingers digging into the ground to inch him forward. 

The flag was placed. He was the 4th closest.

~~~~~~~

Last was running, and Wally was actually grateful. 

Standing in a line Bruce explained how they were to run around the entire castle. People who get done can actually head onto the library and start their test. 

At the go signal, all of the girls took off into a sprint, Barbara in the lead. Wally took off at a jog, pacing himself. The guards and Bruce laughed and pointed at him, but he didn't care. 

Uncle Barry had taught him to pace himself. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.

The farther he got the more girls he passed up. 

'1..2..3,4... Where's Barbara?'

Turning the corner he saw her at a slow jog. She had a smile on her face, almost at peace it seemed. But when she turned back their eyes locked. The smile dropped and she sprinted around the corner out of sight. 

Wally continues jogging.

~~~~~~~

Awhile later, Wally realized that the girls behind him were nowhere in sight and that Barbara was slowly coming into his sight.

He picked up his pace, he heard guards whistling at Barbara. You could tell that from all the sprinting she was tired. She was barely even doing a jog.

He heard Bruce scream at her to look behind her, Wally picked up his pace. Huffing, he ran up to her, breathing technique out of his mind right now. He saw Barbara try to run, but she stumbled. 

At that moment he stopped and caught her. "Are *pant* you *pant* ok?" She stared slack-jawed, "are you just going to stare at me or answer?"

She glared at him before pushing him away. Stumbling he gained his footing before sprinting off after her. He easily caught up and easily surpassed her. 

He crossed the finish line first. Barbara in second and the other girls still nowhere in sight. 

With a smile towards Bruce and Barbara, he bowed and walked away.

~~~~~~~

Him and Barbara entered the library together, Barbara fuming over losing to him. 

Once the door shut, Richard turned to their sweaty forms, "have fun?"

Wally huffed out a laugh, "shut up."

She elbowed him in the gut, making him lose what little breath he had. "Respect the King."

Richard turned toward her, "don't touch him." Reaching out he helped Wally to his regular spot before placing a piece of paper in front of him. 

Wally took one look at it before his eyes widen. "This is-"

"Father let me pick out the test. He won't know until after they've been reviewed." And with a wink he walked off, trying to calm down Barbara who refused to take the science test.