#shuwappy

“Jinxie!” He rushed around their two bedroom apartment, scouring the area. It wasn’t until he sped past the bathroom did he hear her weeping. “Jinxie, open the door.” He tried the knob, finding it locked. “Do you need me to vibrate through?”

There was no answer.

Again, the speedster banged on the door. There were sounds of scrambling on the other side. He called for her again as she muffled her weeping. Was she using a towel to cover it up?

“Go away, Wally!” Her watery voice screeched.

He knocked his head against the wood and tried the doorknob again.

“You’re late! You’re always TOO late!”

His eyes squeezed shut, and he pressed his forehead harder to the door. “I came as soon as I heard. I’m sorry I wasn’t here, but I am now. Let me in.”

Glass shattered from the other side as she screamed. “Get the hell away from me!”

Pushing away from the door, Wally squared his shoulders. “I’m coming in anyway.”

“Don’t you dare!”

A second too late, the speedster vibrated through the door. He jumped at the sight of the mirror shattered around the sink and floor. Jesus. Speckles of blood colored the walls and glass. Clearly, she had punched the mirror in her frenzy.

“I said: Don’t come in, you imbecile,” she wept.

Curled in the corner of the bathroom, next to the shower, Jinx babied her injured hand. Blood seeped between her fingers as she rocked back and forth. To his surprise, Wally noticed chunks of pink hair littered around her form. A pair of scissors was thrown off to the side, which she probably intended to hide between their shower and toilet.

Taking a careful step forward, glass cracked beneath his boots- causing him to pause. From the sound of his movement, Jinx curled further in on herself. Her sobbing had been reduced to hiccups and sniffling, and Wally studied his reflection in pieces of mirror covering their tiled floor.

“Is the first aid kit still under the bathroom sink,” he asked already kneeling to look.

“Yes,” she murmured.

After grabbing the kit, Wally grasped the hand towel- smeared with her mascara- next to the sink and made his way over to his girlfriend. He brushed away pieces of glass and hair to kneel down next to her. Lightly, he grasped her injured hand and placed it on his lap with the hand towel underneath to collect the blood.

Jinx didn’t turn.

Wally watched her for a second before prying open the first aid kit. The first thing he took out was the alcohol wipes. “This is going to sting,” he said and waited for a response. She remained quiet and hiccupped once, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

“Right,” he whispered under his breath. Taking the wipes, Wally started dabbing her hand. Jinx hissed and flinched at the sting. But she kept her hand still as he worked. Once it was deemed clean enough, the speedster rubbed ointment on her wounds and wrapped it up. All the while, he remained quiet- sneaking glances every once in a while.

How were they supposed to talk about this? It was an accident. A tragic, unfortunate accident. They didn’t mean for it to happen. It just… happened. Now, Jinx sat in the mess of her own fuchsia hair and glass. Her hand was a scarred mess and her spirit broken. She knew them. At one point, she loved them like family. A family she never got to have with her real one.

Wally wasn’t sure how these talks usually went. The only warning he got was the one from Robin as soon as they recovered the bodies. Although, it was the only warning he needed to get into gear and make it to his girlfriend. Then it was too late. She had enough time to absorb and react.

He frowned and lifted her wrapped hand. Pressing his lips to the fabric, he lingered long enough to make her turn. She was a hot mess. Clumps of pink hair hung from the remaining strands and Wally found his fingers brushing through to loosen them. Her eyes closed at the contact as more tears fell. Her cheeks were riddled with streaks of mascara.

“I’m so sorry.”

“So am I.”

“Is there anything I can do-”

“Where’s your shaver?”

Wally shook his head, trying to catch up. What speed was she running at? “In the linen closet, why?”

She lowered her eyes. “I want it.”

“For what,” he insisted.

“My hair’s a mess if you haven’t noticed.”

In her hair, his gloved hand tightened while the other lowered her bandaged one into his lap. Their fingers intertwined without hesitation as a sly, teasing grin peeled across his lips. “You’re lookin’ pretty hot right now, actually.”  

Jinx grimaced and flicked her gaze to him then back to the ground. “I was going to shave the rest of it off.”

His eyes widened. “Really?”

Quickly, she asked, “Do you think they suffered?”

Dropping the hand from her hair, Wally considered his girlfriend. “I’d like to think they didn’t.” At least, her tears were beginning to dry.

“How could they be so stupid? To follow that group? They couldn’t have cared for them. They just wanted more power.” Her laugh was ugly and forced. “The Fearsome Five? What a joke.”

Wally only agreed with a nod. Yet another teasing grin returned to lighten the mood, “I’ll get the shaver when you give me a much needed ‘welcome home’ smooch.” He wriggled his brows when she met his gaze. She was obviously flabbergasted at the request.   

“You can’t be serious.”

He shrugged and added, “It’ll grow back.” And he meant it. Every single word.

Tears pooled the longer Jinx stared. Wally was sure she was going to sob again. Then with minimal tremors in her voice she spoke, “Come here.”