Chapter Text
"You want Wally to spend the summer with you?" asked Mary blankly, sitting across from Iris, Barry and Jay in her living room. Over the years, the couches had become worn and the fabric was slightly pinched and weathered. The walls were covered in family photos taken at various events, but overall, it was a rather pleasant atmosphere. Except the people inhabiting it were filling the air with tension. Wally was sitting beside his mother, his hands locked in hers. Rudy was standing beside the couch, his face twisted into a scowl.
"We think it could be beneficial for Wally to stay with us and work on his focus," said Iris pleasantly, "It's really a simple program. Jay here has worked with kids who've suffered recent trauma and Barry and I are positive that he'll have Wally back in shape in no time at all."
"It'll be great mom!" said Wally enthusiastically, squeezing her hands as Mary glanced warily between the three adults and her son, "Mr. G is totally cool! We ran through some exercises and I managed to finish two of my homework sheets for science!"
Nobody added the fact that Jay had had to read the sheet to Wally, first in speed-talk, and then very slowly, before Wally's mind had been able to slow down and process the information. All of his answers had to be written down by Jay while Wally computed the work. The boy was still unable to properly read any of his assignments. And nobody wanted to explain to Mary that her son was now able to run faster than the average car.
Prior to the meeting with his parents, the adults and Hal had come to a conclusion to inform the Wests of Wally's new powers after Wally had them in control a bit more. While Barry and Iris had been insistent that they should know right away, Hal had vehemently argued that the last thing that Wally needed was to struggle to be normal in his home environment. Hal had taken to hating the Wests ever since the emotional outburst by Wally after being dismissed from the hospital. As far as Hal was concerned, the Wests shouldn't even be a part of Wally's life. While both Barry and Iris were inclined to agree with him, they still insisted that the Wests were family. However, both Jay and Hal had agreed that the shock of being a speedster would be a bit too much for Wally's very ordinary parents, and that the grocery bills alone, once they started to come in, would probably cause the Wests to worry about things that Wally wasn't able to control. Besides, said Hal, Why add another thing for Rudy to use as ammunition in breaking the kid's spirit? Thus the argument was won, and they decided to keep this a secret from the Wests until such time that Wally was in control of himself.
" Do you think we're doing the right thing not telling Mary and Rudy about this?" asked Iris to Barry. Two hours after Jay and Hal had headed home, they had retired to their own room to discuss the situation privately. At the end of the day, it was their decision after all.
"Honestly, I don't know," said Barry with a heavy sigh, "I'm hardly the biggest West fan at the moment, but he is their son. If it were us, I'd want to know that sort of thing immediately."
Both of them felt awkward at that . After Barry had first told Iris about his powers, and they were discussing their future together, both had agreed children weren't an option. Barry always felt guilty about taking away that option for Iris, but with the way his powers were, and the uncertainty of it all, the two had agreed to follow the example of the Garricks and just not have children. Neither, of course, had gone to the lengths Jay and Joan had in getting a vasectomy, but they had made the decision together and were rigid about being safe.
"It's odd, but I sort of understand Joan now," said Iris with a little smile, "And how easily she accepted you into her life. A speedster, around the age of a son would be- well, it's nice. Makes me feel maternal."
"Oh please, you've always been like a mother to the kid," said Barry with a grin, "But I know what you mean. The speed, it's like he's really ours."
They both went silent after that. It was one thing to enjoy the pretense of being Wally's parents when they took him to the movies or the zoo, it was another thing entirely to admit it out loud. Perhaps the situation would have been different if Mary and Rudy were loving and kind parents to their son, perhaps if the West and Allen family got along, but it wasn't the case. As soon as those words left Barry's mouth, he paled dramatically, and Iris went still. Neither said anything for a very long time. They simply turned off the lights, and went to sleep.
It was in this moment that Iris felt the gnawing sensation of guilt clawing back into her heart from that night. Mary reached out to lovingly stroke Wally's hair, while Rudy gave a sort of grunt and sat down beside his son. It was so wrong of her to feel jealous. It wasn't entirely fair of her to be angry with her brother and sister-in-law for not being good parents, because it wasn't borne entirely out of anger at their treatment of Wally at all. Rather, the anger was borne from the thought that she could do better. That they didn't deserve to be parents. That she did. And if that didn't make her dishonorable for wanting to take their son away, she didn't know what did.
"It sounds lovely dear," said Mary flatly, not sharing the enthusiasm Wally seemed to have, "I just don't understand why Wally can't commute from home. Why does he have to go your house and be away from his parents all summer?"
Iris felt her hand clench involuntarily into a fist, as she met Mary's cold green eyes. It was unfair that both women were linked by that characteristic, as was Wally. Iris ignored that little thought to keep her eyes on Mary. Barry and Jay were discussing the commuting issue, and Jay's old age, but all Iris could do was stare Mary down. Her blood went cold as she kept thinking over the words Mary had used. Mary knew of her sinful thoughts. And apparently, all her years of marriage with Rudy had taught her how to slyly toss subtle barbs at Iris's face. Barbs that cut in places Iris couldn't protect herself.
"He's with his Aunt and Uncle, Mary," said Iris quietly, "You don't think we care for him any less than you, do you?"
The room went still, as both Barry and Jay quieted. Iris had cut Jay off mid-sentence. Something she never did, out of respect for the old man. Rudy's eyes shifted from Barry and Jay to the confrontation boiling between his sister and wife. Wally remained oblivious as his mother clenched his hands even tighter.
"Wally, why don't you and I head upstairs and take a peak at your homework assignments?" said Jay quickly, bouncing up with virility that should have been impossible for a man his age, "We can sort them out."
"Go with Mr. Garrick, Wally," said Rudy immediately, as Barry placed a comforting hand on his wife's fist.
"Ah, alright," said the boy, stumbling to his feet and letting Jay lead him out with a last curious glance towards his mother and aunt.
Mary had remained quiet throughout the entire exchange. Her eyes only left Iris's to follow Wally out the door. Once he was gone, she turned back to Iris, and her lips were thin. There seemed to be some sort of steeliness in Mary's eyes that Iris had never seen before. Mary was always the meek and quiet sister-in-law that walked beside Rudy, like a good little wife. Iris wasn't a mean woman, but she'd always thought less of Mary for it. She'd never understood how Mary could be alright with being so submissive with her husband. Not in this day and age. Not when Iris was ambitious herself. It was just hard to relate to Mary. However, she'd never held it against Mary. She enjoyed being Mary's friend. Once upon a time. Iris doubted she and Mary could consider themselves friends for a long time now.
"Well, do you?" asked Iris impatiently, her own uneasiness about that fierce look in Mary's eyes transferring into her argument. A good reporter was supposed to be patient, a listener. But Iris wasn't a reporter right now.
"I don't doubt that you care for Wally," said Mary coldly, as though she very much disagreed with her own words, "However, he's my son Iris. And nobody can love and care for a son quite like his own mother."
Iris felt her breath leave her as Barry suddenly went rigid beside her. Neither had expected Mary of all people to deliver such a blow. Rudy seemed a bit taken aback himself, but unlike the horror in his eyes, a sort of pride filled his own. Iris didn't know what to say to that. She had never expected Mary to throw that in her face. There had been a time where Mary used to lovingly say Iris was Wally's city mother, the one they visited when they went to the city. Apparently somewhere along the lines, that idea had collapsed.
"Iris loves Wally as if he were her own Mary," said Barry quietly, tightening his hold on Iris's hand, "She'd never do anything to harm him. We just want what's best for him, and Jay is the best person to help Wally."
Iris loved Barry, she did. But this was hardly a confrontation about what was best for Wally. This was something else. This was an argument that apparently Iris had missed over the years. This was a statement that she'd let fester in Mary's psyche and was now attacking her. And this was hardly going to go away by a few kind words or an apology.
But Iris once again found herself surprised by Barry's own ability to diffuse a situation. Whatever steel that had entered Mary's eyes suddenly disappeared, and she looked worn and tired. Aged almost. Rudy sighed as well, releasing a heavy breath and their eyes turned to Barry.
"This will help the boy?" said Rudy sternly, "You're sure it will make him get better? Become normal again?"
"Jay is the best of the best," said Barry calmly, "I'd trust him with my life."
"Then we'll go through with it," said Rudy, as Mary stood up and left to the kitchen. Normally Iris would follow her, but right now, she just sat in her seat. Her head was spinning. If Iris were the type of woman to smoke, she'd probably need a cigarette right about now. As it were, Iris's one vice was coffee. And boy did she need a hot mug of it right now. Maybe two.
"Great," said Barry with a relieved sigh. "I'll go-
"I'll get Wally," said Rudy immediately, cutting off Barry, "He is my son."
Barry stiffened like Iris had, but let it go as Rudy stood up. As he left the room, Barry took in a gulp of air, and then turned to Iris. She was pale and her eyes looked lost. Barry reached out and stroked the back of her spine with one finger, and she leaned into his shoulder. This was by no means an ideal situation, but it was what it was.
After dropping Jay back to his home, the Allens and Wally returned to the small apartment they called home. Iris sent Wally straight to bed after dinner. Jay was going to start working with Wally tomorrow morning. They only had three weeks of this summer to try and deal with the outbreak of the speed latching onto Wally, and try and control it. Combined with the anniversary of the Justice League's first year, the household was going to be busy.
"Barry," said Iris once they were in the sanctity of their bedroom, "Do you think we should have told them?"
"I don't know," said Barry with a troubled expression, "Hal and Jay are right when they said that we need to focus on Wally, but, after today, I'm starting to wonder if we're doing the right thing by excluding the Wests. He is their son."
Iris scowled as she replied miserably, "Oh, they made that very clear today. They're going to hate us even more when they realize Wally's speed and its connection to us."
"Who said that they hate us?" asked Barry quickly, trying to appease his wife, "They're just upset with the situation."
"Barry, don't try and defend them," said Iris sternly, as she climbed into their bed together and let down her red hair from it's usual pony-tail, "Mary's jealous of us, and her jealousy is making her hate us. She doesn't know to handle the fact that Wally prefers being with us than them. And can we blame him for it? It's not like those two provide the happiest home environment for him. If today was anything to go by, Mary's been hating me for a long time."
Iris swallowed heavily at that, and Barry sighed, and took her into his arms. Neither of them knew what to say, but they were worried.
"We'll deal with it," said Barry with firm conviction in his voice, "Right now we need to focus on Wally and helping him acclimate to the speed. No distractions. We'll deal with the Wests later on. And their issues with us. And what does it matter if they can't stand us as long as they treat Wally alright? That's what this all boils down to, isn't it? Wally. As long as he doesn't get caught in the crossfire, then we can deal with it."