Chapter Text
Shit.
That's what Wally feels like right now. Shit.
Who in their right mind would force children to go through literal hell!
They must've been getting off on this when they saw our miserable faces, why else would they have invented school.
It's literally the worst place on earth! And that's including Cadmus, Luthor corps, and all other villain hideouts!
And Wally knows that for a fact because he's standing outside of one right now! And all he sees is miserable and depressed teenagers!
Okay maybe not everyone was looking miserable, there sure are a bunch of happy faces in the crowd…but! Wally's face is definitely looking depressed! So he was half right.
Wally was starting 11th grade, and he hates that because everyone in his grade is gonna be complete jerks that already have a nice shiny car, hot girlfriends and lots and lots of friends.
All while Wally is standing in the corner being a stupid 15 year old with no car no hot girlfriend and no friends!
With a sigh Wally stops his inner turmoil and actually starts walking towards the school.
It's only 8:25 so everyone still has half an hour before they need to head inside, that means the entire front of the high school was packed full of students.
He tries his best to maneuver through the crowd, aiming for the front doors since apparently no one cares that it's freezing outside, and if he goes inside then he won't be cold and he won't have to be surrounded by a bunch of highschoolers!
Wally sees the doors and takes a second to wonder how on the first day there's already tons of scratch marks on the glass, which was his mistake cause his moment of hesitation causes him to bump into an abnormally hard back and makes the person the back belongs to stumble and trip into the hot babe next to him, making the iced coffee the girl was holding spill over both her, the guy Wally bumped into and splash on the two other dudes beside them.
Way to go west, you've done it again! And for your next trick? Oh I don't know, maybe I'll just take a bucket of pink glitter and pour it over Batman's head!
The man Wally originally bumped into, turns around with a snarl revealing his- holy shit , his hair is white- enraged brown eyes, along with his gross yellow teeth that Wally thinks may have a few cavities.
“Dude! What's your problem!” the- i need a name, think fast before you end the sentence Wally! -polar bear growls at him- polar bear!? Are you serious -causing the people around them to turn and stare at the future murder scene.
The girl that had the coffee- naming her red -pulls at her damp shirt and swipes away at her long red- heh get it now? -hair out of her face where it got stuck from the spill. She has a disgusted look on her face but it's a way more beautiful sight than looking at polar bear.
The other two guys just sort of stand there, maybe waiting to hype polar up when he starts beating the crap out of Wally.
Speaking of witch-
Polar grabs a fistful of the front of Wally's shirt, stretching it past its limit since polar was easily towering over Wally right now.
“The fuck you do that for?!” his breath stunk and it caused Wally to cringe away. he had to leave right now if he didn't want to be a Wally-pancake, sure he could easily win this fight, but that would cause him to use his super speed, and Uncle Barry would be so disappointed if he did that.
Instead he decided to use his words and annoy him, that's what he's best at after all.
“Man, your breath stinks! Do you even brush your teeth?” he put on his best disgusted face, which wasn't that hard since the smell was making him want to throw up.
He didn't, best not to embarrass himself even more on his first day.
Polars face contorted to one of rage and Wally could see the people surrounding them cover their giggles with their hands, Red just rolled her eyes at the jab and glared at the two boys behind her when they let out a few snorts of laughter.
The two must be more of polars friends, they didn't look all that threatening like him or intimidating like Red, but they looked like the type that can weasel out of a situation with grace.
“You wanna say that again?!” Polar yelled, lifting up his fist and aiming at Wally's jaw, but his punch didn't connect and instead met air as Wally flung himself backwards.
He wasn't strong enough to actually take polar with him but he let his feet slide along the ground between polars legs, causing polar to tip forward and drop his grip on Wally, who took this as his chance and used the momentum and continued to slide through polars legs.
He didn't make it far but he used his hands to fling himself up and immediately bolted towards the front door. He glanced back at polars yelp and saw that he fell face first into the pavement. A smirk found its place on Wally's face but he didn't let his small victory give him a bigger ego, he's learned from YJ missions never to let your guard down.
That didn't stop his smirk from growing as he heard the laughter from the other students erupt from outside.
~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Wally barely stopped himself from groaning in annoyance.
It was only the second period but he was already bored out of his mind! And it didn't help that he had English first thing this morning, that's one of the hardest classes for him.
Wally sat in the ‘learning commons’- it was more like a library, and it was one up until last year -and glared at the computer currently in front of him.
Right now he had online Media studies, which was a simpler version of “you teenagers are too attached to your phones and I'm gonna tell you why”
Wally knew it was important he finished his work, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it! It happens all the time for subjects he doesn't care about all that much.
For instance! He almost failed 8th grade math's because all he did were the tests and not the actual assignments they gave him.
But to be fair, the assignments were 10 pages long and filled with questions that didn't make any sense.
The teacher was fine but the work was stupid.
And in 9th grade he actually failed math's and had to do summer school! It was so embarrassing! Especially when his older sister found out!
Wally just didn't like most subjects. He was awesome in science and drama but when it came to other courses…
Most people just called him lazy, Barry said it had something to do with his speed but Wally was like this even before the accident.
Maybe he was broken.
NOPE! He was not doing that again! Just focus- as hard has that sounds -on media studies and make it to lunch! After that it's art! Not your best subject but at least the teacher was nice! He had her last year and the year before that and she was really kind to him and everyone else, even the trouble makers who didn't care about school.
Just make it through media, Just make it through media Walls!
Make it through media.
Make it through-
UGH I'm so bored! Why is this even a subject!?
Wally slams his head down on the table with a thunk, luckily there weren't a lot of people in here, just a couple students with free periods and the 2 teachers looking after them.
So it was a surprise when there was suddenly a paper plane in his hair.
“Wha-” Wally says as he jolts his head up, the paper plane falling in front of him.
A snicker makes him take his eyes off the plane and focus on the boy across from him since when was he there?!’
The boy in question was pale with moles decorating his skin, he had dark bags under his eyes, which were a chestnut brown colour, matching with his almost black brunette hair, he wore mostly black and grey, all together making him look like either a drug dealer or a depressed teenage boy.
Now that Wally thought about it, it was probably the second choice.
The boy was still staring at him, smiling creepily, he glanced down at the paper airplane then back up to Wally.
Wally looked down at the plane as well, slowly picking it up and unfolding it so it was just a paper that was wrinkled and cracked everywhere.
In the middle of the page there was writing.
“Nice moves out front, maybe you can use some on me? ;)”
Wally glanced back up at the boy across from him with a dubious expression, the boy just smirked.
Then he thrusted his hand out and straightened his back, smirk turning into an innocent smile and his eyes lighting up.
“I'm Alex!” His voice wasn’t deep, nor was it high pitched, it was smooth with a few cracks in it that spoke of over or under use.
Wally smiled slightly, not really sure what was going on, but he had no friends and was a complete loser so what else was there to do? Your work? Yea, nothing else to do.
So he took the hand offered to him and opened his mouth to speak.
“I'm Wa-” “the weirdo who decked logan!”
Wally blinked. Weirdo? Who the hell is logan?
Alex seemed to sense his confusion and smiled again, this time more sympathetic but still had an edge of mischief.
“The white haired dude you bumped into, his name is Logan”
Well that explains it.
Alex must have heard or seen what had happened and decided Wally was the perfect target for bullying, or he thought that Wally was the bully. So not how he wanted his first day to go.
Wally cringed and took back his hand, making himself look smaller and not like a threat.
“It was an accident, I didn't mean anything by it” along with making his body smaller, he made his voice small as well. If Alex decided he was a threat, he might want to fight, or he was one of Logan's friends and wanted to get revenge or something.
I've gotta stop hanging with Rob so much, I'm starting to over analyze everything.
Alex surprised Wally by laughing suddenly, throwing his head back and acting like he just saw the funniest thing in the world.
He was quickly shushed by the teacher in charge. that didn't stop his laughter but it died down to silent giggles.
Wally looked on, confused. This guy is weird.
Alex seemed to calm down enough to actually talk, though everything he's said so far only made half sense.
“S-sorry, just n-never seen someone do it like you do” he just keeps getting more confusing as the seconds pass by.
Wally made to stand up, but Alex grabbed him by the wrist before he could walk away.
“Wait! One more thing” jeez what now.
Alex- still holding onto Wally's wrist -dug into his back pocket, Wally stood there, not sure what to do.
That was until Alex thrust his hand into his face, revealing a…quarter? What?.
Wally looked at the quarter and then to Alex, who was smiling so wide it looked like it hurt.
“Okayyyyy well I'm gonna go now..” Wally said slowly, backing away, once Alex's hold on him loosened, he grabbed his computer and backpack- using a small amount of his speed- then ran out the doors, rushing around the hall corner.
Once he was a decent amount away he slowed down and started to walk through the halls, the whole first floor was in the shape of a circle, so he could literally just circle back to the library and put his computer away, hopefully Alex wont be there.
Speaking of Alex. Wally was pretty sure he wasn't friends with “Logan” OR trying to start a fight, so that left the option of him wanting to be friends with Wally.
And Wally just ran away from him…
Wally! You fool! Why do you do this to yourself!
The one person who showed interest in befriending him and you just RAN AWAY!!!
He was being weird! Most people are weird! Wally is literally a superhero on a superhero team and he fights villains on a daily basis! Compared to Wally, Alex is completely ordinary!
He groaned and turned back towards the library, maybe he could make it up to Alex somehow? Not likely, he probably hates you as much as logan.
As Wally turns the corner, he has a split second to think oh shit before diving right back behind the wall.
Speak of the devil
Logan, red and the two weasels were walking down the hall, directly in front of the library doors, where Wally needs to go.
Peaking around the corner, he looks to see if any of them saw him.
They didn't, until red glanced his way.
She didn't show any emotion except for a slight upturn of the lips, she tapped Logan on the shoulder to grab his attention, never looking away from wally.
He could see the exact moment Logan sees him.
Time to run . He bolts down the corridor, discarding the computer which- thankfully- didn't get damaged as it hit the floor.
He kept his backpack, not wanting it to land in the hands of Logan or the others, he did not want to think about the outcome of that.
He could hear Logan chasing after him, there was no one in the halls so Wally had no chance of making it out of this situation unscathed.
He turned a corner, and saw the two weasels turning into the same hallway across from him. He stopped in the middle of the hall, planning to turn around when Logan arrived as well.
He was trapped.
~^~^~^~
Alex thinks he did something wrong.
He just wanted to talk with the cute ginger who humiliated Logan this morning!
Instead, he made himself look like a lunatic, a hot lunatic, but a lunatic nonetheless.
It went like this.
He had a spare second period, so he went to the library -not the stupid name the school wants it to be called- and the moment he walked through the doors his eyes went straight to a mop of red hair sitting in a booth across from the entrance.
Now, Alex comes to school late. Like late late, so he didn't see the fight- if it can even be called that- but he's heard about it since he got to school.
And there weren't a lot of “red-headed teenagers with freckles and green eyes” in the school, we got red-heads, green eyed weirdos, people with freckles, but not all three.
That's why, when he saw red hair, he immediately checked off the two others off the list.
Green eyes check, freckles check, red hair check, must be him.
So Alex sauntered over, sat down across from…Charlie? Yea, he looks like a Charlie.
And promptly started folding one of Charlie's work papers into an airplane.
When he was just about to toss it at the ginger teen, he suddenly slammed his head down onto the table, making the paper plane land in his hair instead of on his keyboard.
Alex held back a snicker when Charlie finally noticed him.
That's when things went downhill.
Alex knew it was rude to interrupt people, but he was so excited to finally meet the guy everyone was talking about! He didn't have time to think about what was rude or not.
He did stop when he saw Charlie shrink into himself.
It was Alex's first time seeing someone make themselves look small so effortlessly, like Charlie's been doing it his whole life, but it was also Alex's first time seeing someone make their voice small too.
People tend to forget one or the other, making their voice weak while keeping their body strong, making their body small while keeping their voice big and loud.
It took Alex so much by surprise that he couldn't help but laugh.
Charlie didn't think it was funny, so Alex tried to explain, but it didn't come out right.
When Alex saw Charlie was ready to leave he realized he messed it all up, he was about to lose charlie forever!
So he did what anyone would have done.
He grabbed Charlie by the wrist and shoved a quarter in his face.
Charlie apparently didn't like that for some reason.
He ran away.
So now Alex was wandering the halls looking for him. Maybe if he explained to Charlie what he meant it would make everything better and the two of them would be friends-no, best friends and travel the world together battling off villains and heroes alike!
Man he needed sleep.
Alex wasn't usually like this- weird and eccentric- he was quiet and explained what he was thinking most of the time, when he was tired, well…he tended to forget people couldn't read his thoughts.
Alex was just planning on where he could sneak in a nap or two during lunch when he heard it.
The sound of skin connecting to skin, a shout of pain, a prideful humph.
Alex sprinted down the hall, then around the corner and promptly froze.
Logan was there, fist wound up above his head, aiming directly at Charlie's face, who was being held back by Devin and Joseph, while those two alone wouldn't be strong enough to hold someone back, together they could handle it easily.
The only saving grace was that Macy wasn't here, she was the devil incarnate.
Alex felt his anger boil beneath the surface of his skin, how could they hurt his friend like this!? Charlie did nothing wrong!
With a yell Alex ran forward, leaping onto Logan's back and slamming his fists down repeatedly.
“Let go! Let go! Let go!! ” he shouted into Logan's ear, the bully's fist dropped and he tried to pry Alex off him.
Wally looked on in surprise, he wasn't expecting Alex or anyone to come help, but here was a practical stranger defending him!
The two weasels let go of him, running to help Logan out, but before anything could get worse, someone down the hall cleared their throat.
“Stop making such a ruckus” everyone froze, turning around to see who spoke.
Red stood there, hands on her hips and one eyebrow raised. She slowly walked down the corridor until she was standing beside Wally, who quickly grew uncomfortable when her intense stare landed on him.
“I apologize for Logan's actions, it wasn't my intention to have him physically harm you” And if that didn't send a shiver down Wally's spine. Reds voice was smooth and intimidating, cold like a frozen lake that will never thaw. Wally might've found it hot if he didn't just get jumped on his first day of school.
Reds eyes slowly slid over to gaze at Logan, they narrowed slightly at the sight of Alex, who was still on the bullies back.
“Could you ever so kindly get off my boyfriend?” with a speed that could rival the flash, Alex yanked himself off of Logan's back, jogging over to Wally's other side to escape Logan's hands.
Red smiled, that action causing everyone to stiffen.
“Thank you. Now” she turned towards the two weasels, “you two, get back to class, you have 15 more minutes left until lunch so be quick” red’s voice turned from if I ever hear that in my nightmares I wouldn't be surprised I wet the bed to I feel like I'm getting scolded by my mother real fast.
The two boys nodded and left, leaving red, logan, Wally and Alex alone.
I should really learn her name, Wally thought, but he quickly focused back on red when she huffed out a sigh.
“Logan. When I said ‘I want to get back at west’ I didn't mean hurt him” she placed a hand on the bridge of her nose, looking like an exhausted mother. Wait. She knows my name? Well last name but still.
Logan looked angry but significantly less then when he was beating up Wally. Red sighed again, walking over to her boyfriend and grabbing his hand. She turned slightly towards the boys in the hall.
“I apologize again, but I can't say you didn't deserve it” with that, she walked off, Logan trailing behind sending glares at Wally over his shoulder.
After they disappeared around the corner Wally waited a moment before letting out a laugh, what the hell?! He could not believe that just happened.
Wally kept laughing until it bordered on hysterical, Alex looked at him concerned but otherwise said nothing.
“Man that was scary” Wally finally let out after his laughter died down enough to talk. His hands were on his knees and a bruise was starting to form on his cheek. Alex resisted the urge to push back a few strands of ginger hair that fell into Wally's face.
Instead he smirked and opened his mouth “well charlie, that was certainly a way to start the school year” his smirk grew when ‘charlie’ looked at him confusedly.
“Mine names not charlie” the ginger teen responded “it's Wally” Alex's smirk broke out into snort.
“Wally?! I think my name works better” Wally pushed himself back up from his crouched position, an angry expression on his face, which quickly turned to sinister.
“Well Alex isn't much better, that's the most basic name I could think of” a gasp of fake hurt left Alex's mouth, his hand reaching up to cover his heart.
“You wound me with your insults Weasley” a bark of laughter left Wally's mouth, “Weasley? How'd you get Weasley?” he asked. Alex's fallen expression morphing into a smile.
“Red hair? And hand me down clothes? You must be a Weasley!” he spoke with a horrible British accent, breaking off into giggles at the end.
Wally wasn't any better, he should be in the library right now doing school work, being bored out of his mind.
But he isn't, right now he's laughing over being compared to a harry potter character in the middle of the school hallway with an almost complete stranger who he-just a few minutes ago-ran away from.
Maybe school wouldn't be so bad.
He could do without the bruises though.