Ramblings of Another West 'verse - Part 1
In another part of the multiverse, there aren't superheroes. Or supervillains. There isn't a Flash or a Captain Cold, but there is Wally and Len.
I'm going to start grouping these together. They're separate on flash_rogues.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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Title: Ramblings of Another West
Characters: Flash (Wally West), Axel Walker, Evan McCulloch, Len Snart
Word count: 829
Summary: Pretty much what the title says. Set somewhere in the time between Ignition and Rogue War. The idea just sort of pounced, though not everything managed to make it to the page.
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I don't want to do this.
None of them seem to realise that. They don't understand. Can't understand.
I know you've not exactly had the easiest time of things, and I've got a good Samaritan streak, but I never would've pictured something like this. It's all a bit egotistical for my tastes. Heh. I'll have to remember to tell Linda that, she's always accusing me of having a big ego.
Though by the looks of things, mine's nothing like the guy whose boots I'm trying to fill.
It hurts, doing this to your best friend. And you are my best friend, even if you'd call me mushy for saying it and cuff me over the back of the head in that way that means you totally agree, though you'd never actually say the words yourself.
Man, the world's crazy here. I don't know how Keystone or Central are anything more than a flat landscape. Must be really easy to get a job as a builder around here.
Superheroes are real.
So are supervillains.
I keep wanting to laugh whenever I think of that, or when some guy dressed as a bat starts lecturing me, or when I see half the costumes (and the other half wouldn't look out of place at a strip-bar), or...
Well, it's crazy.
You remember that artist the cops hired for that weird Manga case? The one I hated, but now he's on my Christmas card list? He's here. He's got a ring that can create whatever he thinks up out of green light. I'll have to tell Kyle when I get back, he might find a niche market or something.
Or just laugh himself silly.
So yeah, apparently I'm some big-shot hero for the twin cities. The Flash. Sounds awful. At least it's a legacy name and I, well, the other me, didn't think it up himself. And the costume...
Is it actually possible to feel more self-conscious wearing something that only shows your chin than it is to be completely naked?
Linda's still Linda, thankfully. If she hadn't been than I would've gone spare. Though she isn't pregnant and there isn't a little Jai toddling around. I made the mistake of asking about it and heard a horrible tale about some guy named Zoom and a miscarriage. She isn't exactly my wife and I still want to hurt the bastard.
That unfortunately leads me onto you.
You've never been shy about your prison time. I think you were trying to scare me off, that or make sure I never let someone I didn't know crash on my couch again. I still hold that you should be thanking me for not letting you drown in the gutter, the way it was coming down that night.
Plus, I'm never sensible when I'm drunk. You know that. That's why you insist on keeping me company when I head to the pub and really need it, so I don't end up trying to rescue more drunks.
According to you, I once tried to hug a guy twice my size because I thought he needed to calm down.
Given the black eye I woke up with, I believe you.
Odd to know in this world you're a professional criminal. I'm not sure 'supervillain' really fits, since that puts me in mind of world-domination or something like that. You're in a band of guys that steal money for the most part. I've heard worse things too, but it's hard to link them up.
Oh, I will never refer to Axel as a brat again. He's here too, part of that group, about five years older and an absolute nightmare. He calls himself Trickster. Don't think he's your kid here - I got looks when I asked.
Evan too. He's about twice as old and twice the accent. Not likely to be your flesh and blood either. I can't match up what he's done here to what he's like back home.
Probably for the best.
Haven't mentioned what made me a superhero, have I? Some accident in Uncle Barry's lab gave me superspeed. He had it too, until he died saving the universe. Barry 'perpetually late' Allen was the fastest man alive before me.
That's surreal on a whole other level.
You two still didn't like each other here. Thank god for multiversal constants. In fact, if you strip away all the aliens and spandex and the constant fighting, there are a lot more similarities than when you first looked. I'm still a mechanic, just it's more of a side thing for him. Linda's still a reporter and my wife.
It's still weird being able to think of all this during the time it takes for a punch to connect.
Yeah, I'm in the middle of a fight.
Against you - this version of you.
And as much as I hate to say this, I hope I win.
I've got to win.
I don't want to do this.
Sorry Len.
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Title: Accents from Another Country
Characters: Evan McCulloch, Len Snart
Word count: 1780
Summary: Evan's life, from the orphanage to finding his own family. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
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You can't remember ever living anywhere beyond the orphanage. Not many here can. One of the older kids used to tell stories about how only the worst of the worst end up here, since you made your parents hate you so much they got rid of you.
And since you were only a baby, you must've been terrible.
Mrs McCulloch was the one who gave you the name Evan. When you asked if that meant you were her kid she laughed and told you that you were all her kids. Until someone adopted you.
That made you smile. It made you smile more when she let you use her last name for yours when you needed one for school.
The day after your fifth birthday, you move into the bigger boy room. At midnight the other boys pass around a packet of biscuits. Commiserations. You're too old to get adopted now.
When you're seven there's quite a commotion one day. Some rich couple from America want to adopt one of the older boys, since they're already toilet trained and know basic reading, writing, and maths.
You're the smallest. The lady coos over how cute you are until you thank her. The man says it's amazing what speech therapists can achieve now and she smiles again.
You've never been ashamed of your accent and you definitely don't want to end up sounding as... American as them.
You don't say that out loud and the woman decides that you're the one for her. The man gives you a stern look and you try to stand up straight against it.
They adopt you.
You go and buy a packet of chocolate digestives for the other boys. Some of them get angry, some of them don't care. You hope some of them will miss you.
Mrs McCulloch gives you a warm hug and asks you to send a postcard. You hug back tightly, you'll miss her more than anything else.
The trip to America is long and boring. You try and keep to your best behaviour, but the lady and the man don't even want to talk. Not to you anyway. The lady has gone to sleep, while the man has gone somewhere else in the plane. The air hostess gives you a colouring book and a carton of juice and giggles when you thank her a politely as you can.
When you finally get to America, you don't get to see much of it. The man bundles you and the lady into a limousine with tinted windows and you drive through the city, unable to see any of it. The man starts talking about stocks or bonds or something boring and you drift off.
When you wake up it's in some mansion. You spend the next two hours exploring, pretending you're Sherlock Holmes or Poirot or one of the other detectives Mrs McCulloch used to watch on TV. The lady shrieks when you accidentally tumble into the room she's in, covered in dust and cobwebs.
What follows is one of the most unimpressive lectures you've ever sat through. Then the lady hands you over to a maid, who manages the telling off a bit better, then gives you a tour of the house.
You inform her that you've been most places and there aren't any dead bodies, so it's a bit boring. She laughs and tells you a ghost story.
Most of the time you don't see the man. The lady only appears occasionally to pat you on the head and smile distantly.
You make friends with the maid, whose name is Emma, and the cook, who's called Matthew. They're both nice to you and much more interesting than the tutors you have to see. You've got lots of different tutors. One for English, one for maths, one for science, one for French.
And the one you hate most, the one for teaching you to speak properly.
What's wrong with using 'a wee bairn' instead of 'a little kid'? Or using 'aye' instead of 'yes'? That's how everyone you knew spoke.
It's only been two weeks when you feel yourself snap.
You throw a tantrum. Smashing vases, tipping over furniture, trecking mud through the hallways, screaming at the top of your lungs. You make sure to purposefully go by the man's office, but he doesn't do anything. The lady asks you to be quiet since 'mommy has a migraine'.
The surprise shuts you up. She's not your mum - and yes, you use a 'u', like it's meant to have - and you tell her as such. She tells you she is and that's final.
You tear down the curtains in the drawing room then find yourself in a sobbing heap.
No one comes to comfort you.
You picked a day when Emma and Matthew were out at the market. You wanted to see if the lady and the man - you will never call them your parents - actually cared.
You found your answer. You wish it wouldn't hurt quite so much.
Months go by. The lady starts to get fat. You get told she's pregnant. There's going to be another kid around. You get curious, despite yourself. Babies are smelly squishy things, but another kid around would be fun.
You actually begin to believe you might like it here after all.
Then the man calls you into his office.
You've only ever been in here once, back when you were playing detective. The man sits at his desk and looks all stern. He tells you the reasons you were adopted, that they couldn't have kids and he wanted someone to take over his business when he was gone. Now they're having a kid and there isn't a place for you.
They're giving you up.
It hurts.
It hurts more that you're not going to see Emma or Matthew again. You decide to send them a postcard, like you did with Mrs McCulloch. You hope they'll be nice to the new kid too.
You ask if you'll be going back to Scotland. The man snorts and mutters something about your accent, then tells you that they've found somewhere else for you. He hands over a sheet of paper. There's a name and an address and 'blood match' in big bold letters.
This is your father. Your real father.
You start to feel a bit faint and only just make out the man telling you that you'll be leaving tomorrow morning. You don't remember walking down to the kitchen until Matthew offers you a ginger biscuit.
You start to cry, because you'll never have that again. You spend the evening with Matthew and Emma and make them promise to be just as good to the new baby.
The next morning you pack. You make sure to leave all the stupid clothes, but you keep the jumper Emma knitted for you, even through the sleeves are uneven lengths. You keep the stuffed haggis Mrs McCulloch got for you, to remind you of Scotland. You don't want to take much else, but Emma persuades you to take enough.
You have to say goodbye to Emma and Matthew at the mansion, they aren't allowed to come.
You don't see the route they take you, because of the tinted windows, and you don't care. You're not going back.
The apartment the man knocks on is fairly ramshackle. The person who opens the door looks just as scruffy. This is your father. So far you're unimpressed.
The man shows your father some papers and gestures at you. Your father looks over them and shakes his head. He says he doesn't have any kids. The man is insistent and has the blood work to back it up. Your father eventually admits that it might be possible, but he's never heard about any kids before now.
Finally your father says he'll give it a go and opens the door further to let you in - he hadn't let the man in, much to his frustration. The lady catches you and starts wailing about how much she'll miss you.
Your father takes one look at her and tells her to stop shamming, there aren't any cameras to look impressed. The lady goes from affectionate to icy at the drop of a hat.
You decide you'll give this guy a chance.
The flat is small and cluttered. Your father looks lost when he looks at you. He finally tells you where to put your stuff and you help him clear some space for you. He rings up a friend of his and then tells you that while he's at work you'll be looked after by some of his friends. Wally and Linda. You hope they're nice.
When you hesitate on what to call him, he tells you to call him 'Len', since he doesn't think either of you are ready for 'dad' yet. He says he doesn't know what to do with kids, but he promises to try.
You believe him.
You try some of your more incomprehensible Scots on Len. He just tells you that if he can't understand you he won't know what you want and you won't get it. He lets you away with the rest of the accent though, so, as thanks, you don't use the weirder stuff.
You throw a tantrum after a week. Len gives you a smack and sits you on one of the wooden chairs at the dinner table for fifteen minutes.
The sting hurts, but it's nothing compared to the stirring of hope that Len might actually care.
Afterwards, Len gives you a talking to. You feel uncomfortable and guilty while it lasts, but then he lets you help make dinner, which makes you smile.
With the roller coaster of emotions, you're not too surprised when you burst into tears after dinner. Len's startled and is terrible at giving hugs, but he's trying and that makes you cry harder.
You cry yourself to sleep and when you wake up an hour later, you're still being held by Len while he watches a hockey game on TV. You snuggle closer and think that maybe, just maybe, you might try calling him 'dad'.
You keep the name Evan McCulloch.
When you ask Len about it, he says it might've been better to find a name that people know how to spell, but he's not bothered. He adds that he hates his name, so he wouldn't wish it on you either.
Wally and Linda are nice, even if Wally always looks a bit panicked when Linda starts talking about kids of their own.
It's not always perfect, but you've found home and family.
And that's perfect.
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Title: Hair of Another Colour
Characters: Axel Walker, Len Snart, Evan McCulloch, Barry Allen
Word count: 1642
Summary: Axel decides to run away. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, after 'Accents from Another Country'.
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Axel knows his father isn't his father before he's ever told. Everyone on his father's side of the family has dark hair, while Axel's is a bright blond, unlike his siblings'. He hears an offhand comment about there having to be blond on both sides for it to pass down, but it takes him a year or two before he actually puts it together.
When Axel asks his mom about his real dad, she waves a hand and mentions that she could hardly be expected to remember that.
When Axel's nine he sees them using people's DNA to trace their real parents on TV. He heads to the nearest hospital with a bag full of belongings the next day and asks them to find his dad. The woman at the reception desk tells him is very expensive and he offers her his savings. All twenty dollars of it.
She shakes her head and tells him that's not enough.
Axel's debating what to do next, when one of the doctors starts talking to him. Apparently the receptionist paged one of the paediatricians - kid doctors, the doctor explains when Axel looks blank. Axel does his best to remember the word.
Axel tells the doctor what he wants to do. The doctor is apologetic and tells Axel that it's expensive. Axel says the receptionist already told him that. The doctor adds that it takes time and energy away from people who are trying to make medicine better.
The doctor offers to give Axel a check-up, so he doesn't feel like he came all this way for nothing. Axel agrees and gets his eyes, ears, throat, and pulse tested. The doctor proclaims him 'fit as a fiddle' and gives Axel a sweet before sending him home.
Axel crosses the hospital off his mental list and goes to the police department instead.
Just inside the doors Axel bumps into a man, who drops the files he was holding. Axel helps pick them up - they might be nicer to him if he's helpful - and carries some to the man's lab desk for him.
The man introduces himself as Barry Allen. Axel only gives his first name.
Barry has a lot of funny looking lab equipment and a computer that is running some analysis program. Barry smiles when Axel shows interest and starts explaining what it all does. Axel listens for a while, then starts asking his own questions. Barry seems thrilled and lets Axel steer the conversation onto paternity testing.
Axel asks if Barry could find out who his dad is. Barry says it only works if they've already got the persons DNA on file. Axel asks if he could try anyway. Barry 'hem's and 'haw's but eventually gives in.
Later Barry will admit to having a soft spot for adopted kids who are unable to find their parents, since his wife's an orphan.
Barry sets up the test. He takes some of Axel's blood and promises him an icecream while he lets it run. It's not like TV, things take a while to come to the result.
Barry looks at the clock and groans. He explains he was meant to meet his wife for lunch half an hour ago. He offers Axel the chance to tag along and have something to eat. Axel, who hasn't had anything to eat bar that sweet from the doctor's, nods eagerly.
Barry's wife is called Iris and is pretty. She smiles when Axel tells her so and calls him handsome. She waves off Barry's apologies, saying that she'd only just got here herself, knowing what Barry is like.
Axel gets spaghetti and does his best not to splatter it everywhere. Iris still ends up wiping his face off afterwards.
They say goodbye to Iris after lunch and head back to the lab, Axel eating the promised icecream on the way.
The test isn't finished when they get back, so Barry lets Axel hang around, as long as he phones his parents to tell them where he is. Axel scowls, but agrees and ends up speaking to one of his sisters over the phone. She promises to tell mom he's run away, if it comes up.
Axel spends the next few hours running messages for people. Some of them ask if he's Barry's nephew. Axel supposes it's the hair. He does wonder if Barry might be his dad, but he really doesn't seem the sort, if Axel's honest with himself.
When the results finally arrive Barry groans. Axel asks if he's found him and Barry nods. Barry had said that if they did find Axel's dad in the system then it wouldn't be a good thing. Axel asks for the address, so he can visit, but Barry offers to bring him here.
It turns out Barry knows Axel's dad well enough to have his number in his phone.
Axel runs messages again while Barry calls and after while they're waiting. He can't stand still.
Finally, Axel heads back to Barry after taking a file to the other end of the building, and there's a man and a boy waiting. The boy's a couple of years older than Axel and has brown hair. So does the man. Axel's heart sinks, there must be a mistake.
Barry waves Axel over. The boy looks on with undisguised curiosity. He doesn't wait for the go-ahead from the man or Barry and offers Axel his hand and name. Evan McCulloch. Axel takes it and gives back his first name only. Evan looks sympathetic and says Axel can use his surname if he hasn't got one, since their dad's is worse. That earns him a cuff over the head by the man, but Evan's smiling, so it can't have been that hard.
The man tells Axel to pay no attention to Evan and introduces himself as Len. He crouches down to Axel's level and asks who his mom is. Axel gives her name, but Len can't recall her.
Axel decides to speak up about the mistake, since if his dad or half-brother don't have blond hair, where does his come from?
Evan quickly jumps in to say that Aunty Lisa has blonde hair. Len nods when Axel looks over for confirmation. Evan's still talking about how he's only seen Aunty Lisa at Christmas, since she's travelling the world on ice-skates. It's all in an accent that gets thicker the more excited Evan gets until Len has to remind Evan that not everyone's as used to Scottish as him and Barry are.
Evan asks when Axel's moving in and the adults look worried at that. Barry asks carefully about the bag Axel has with him, and Axel confirms that it's got his stuff in because he's run away and he's not going back. Barry pinches the bridge of his nose and Len swears silently at the ceiling, but Evan doesn't seem bothered and just asks if Axel's got any games with him.
They set up a game of cards while the adults talk things over quietly in a corner. It's more like arguing, but Evan says they argue about everything, it's just how they communicate.
They're on a score of two-all when another worker leads in Axel's mom and two of his sisters. His mom's got a scary look on her face, like when Axel's baby brother ate her best necklace, or when one of his sisters spent an afternoon cutting up everyone's clothes.
Axel's mom starts shouting at him. Barry and Len move to intercede, but Evan's closer. He steps in front of Axel and shouts right back, using all sorts of weird Scottish words. Axel's mom isn't impressed until Evan calls Axel his brother.
She laughs in his face and tells Evan that he doesn't know what he's talking about in a condescending tone. Evan insults her and for a moment it looks like she might hit him for that.
Then Len steps in front of Evan and tells her to stop shouting at his sons. Barry backs it up with test results when Axel's mom spits out that she doesn't believe him.
Evan's holding Axel's hand tightly and Axel's enjoying the stability too much to point out how sissy it is. Len and Barry are forming a nice barrier between the kids and the shouting.
Axel's not quite sure when it happened, one minute they're all arguing about negligence and child welfare, the next Axel's mom's storming out, shouting that Axel's not worth this much trouble.
Evan squeezes his hand and it goes a surprising way to fixing the cold that's building up in Axel's body.
Len and Barry are talking again. They come to the conclusion that Len will look after Axel until this whole mess is sorted. Axel hopes that it will never be sorted, because he doesn't want to go home again.
Evan tells Axel all sorts of stories about Scotland during the evening and when they're supposed to be sleeping. They ended up in the same bed, since there wasn't a spare one and Len wouldn't let him sleep on the couch. That's a decision Len appears to be regretting since they haven't gone to sleep yet.
Evan tells Axel that it doesn't matter if he has to go back, because now they're brothers and as the big brother Evan has to look after the younger one. Evan seems awfully delighted at having a brother. Apparently some friends of Len's that Evan stays with sometimes are having a baby, but Evan laments that babies aren't all that fun until they've grown up a bit.
Either way, Axel agrees that Evan will always be his brother.
Len comes in to tell them to go to sleep for the fifth time and they finally do.
Axel dreams of chasing haggises the other way around the hilltops and of staying here forever.
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Title: Sleeping on Another Couch
Characters: Len Snart, Wally West, Linda Park, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker, Barry Allen
Word count: 2287
Summary: Len wakes up on a stranger's sofa, things just get stranger from there. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, set before and during the others.
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When Len wakes up he comes to two very distinct realisations. Firstly that he must've been drinking like a fish last night. He may have actually succeeded in blotting out... whatever it was that he wanted to blot out. No doubt it'll come back to him when his hangover ends.
The second realisation is simpler.
This isn't his couch.
Len gets up, mindful of his aching head and churning stomach, and tries to figure out where he is. It's not Mick's place, or Mark's. Too tidy. In fact, he's fairly certain it's a house rather than an apartment, which rules out most people he actually knows.
Huh, Len's never been kidnapped before.
Though, he isn't tied up or anything. Maybe he'd decided to do some housebreaking while drunk. That'd be quite awkward to explain to the parole board. If he just gets out before anyone saw him, maybe they'll ignore it. It isn't like he's going to steal anything.
Unfortunately, Lady Luck isn't on Len's side this morning.
An Asian woman walks into the room. She looks vaguely familiar, but Len's pretty sure he didn't meet her last night.
She explains about her boyfriend being a soft-hearted drunk, who apparently decided that Len needed a place to crash. He usually only brings home lost pets, she goes on to mention, this is the first time he's brought another person home.
She offers him coffee and gives her name as well as the cup. Linda Park. Len slowly processes it until a light goes on and he remembers who she is. She's a reporter.
Well shit.
When Len starts to panic, Linda tells him that she already knows who he is. Wally's - her boyfriend's - Aunt did the story on his jailing. Iris Allen. Who's married to Barry Allen.
What a fuck up.
Linda says that it doesn't matter to her, as long as he thanks Wally and helps her convince him that bringing back people is a bad idea.
Not really much of a choice when faced with a determined reporter.
Len agrees.
Wally has the worst hangover Len's ever seen. The kid looks green. Len has to remind himself that the guy essentially kidnapped him, otherwise he's going to start feeling sorry for the kid.
Wally is unapologetic about letting Len crash on his sofa, even when Len mentions his criminal record. Wally asks to argue about this another time, since he's really not feeling up to it right now. Linda threatens to bang some pots and pans together unless they do talk about it now. Len pleads Wally to talk about it now.
Wally finally admits that he had planned on going drinking with a friend of his, Roy Harper, but Roy had dropped out at the last minute so Wally had gone alone. Linda looks exasperated and asks why he didn't just ask someone else. Wally shrugs and doesn't really have an answer. For all that he's apparently a friendly drunk, Wally isn't much of a talker in the morning.
Though that could just be the hangover.
Len takes his leave and expects that to be the last of it.
It isn't.
Wally bumps into Len at the pub next week, this time dragging another red-head. Roy. Roy doesn't hang around long - by the sounds of it he's got a kid to look after, and doesn't trust his adopted dad not to make a mess of things - so Wally asks Len to keep an eye on him.
Len agrees and spends half the night amused - Wally's a funny drunk - and half the night annoyed, since he has to drag the kid out of bad situations.
Once he's gotten the kid home, Len expects that to be the last of it.
It isn't.
Len gets a job with a night-shift. During his 'lunch' break he heads to a diner he's used before for something to eat. Ten minutes later Wally shows up, his familiarity with the waitress showing that he's been here before.
He spots Len and sits at his table. Wally's a mechanic, on the night-shift too. They trade stories about job horrors until Len's break is over. Wally asks if he'll be here again tomorrow and Len replies with an affirmative before he really thinks about it.
It settles into a nice routine. People at Len's job aren't usually talkative, so it's nice to hear someone else's voice for a bit.
Then Len gets fired.
He hadn't done anything wrong, but they were looking for layoffs and Len's criminal record always works against him at times like that. Wally listens to his rant, then offers his couch if Len's landlord chucks him out.
Oddly, that makes Len more determined to get a job than the threat of roughing it on the streets.
The next string of jobs Len lands keep him ticking over, even if the hours are all over the place. He usually manages to find time to meet Wally for drinks every now and then, or at the diner if his job's good about it.
Somewhere along the line, Wally and Linda tie the knot. Len gets an invite to the wedding, to his surprise. His gift to them is a gift voucher for one of the more high-end shops in town and not starting a fight with Barry Allen over the toasts.
Things carry on fairly normally. Len never keeps a job for more than a couple of months. Sometimes he feels himself casing a bank or a jeweller's when money's low. Sometimes it's just a little too tempting to give in to old habits.
Then something completely unexpected happens.
The rich family from just out of town knock on Len's door, shove a load of paperwork in his face, and give him a child.
Len's child.
Len had no idea he actually had any kids, let alone one with a thick Scottish accent.
The kid's called Evan and is just as wary of Len as Len is of him. Len manages to hold in his panic until Evan's with Linda and Len's at the pub with Wally. Wally shifts between amused and sympathetic for most of the night. He offers getting in contact with his uncle for doing a paternity test.
Barry Allen isn't exactly happy with the circumstances, but he agrees to do the test. It's entirely possible he's hoping that Len isn't actually Evan's father.
The test is positive.
Something loosens inside Len at the same time that something else tightens. He wasn't kidding when he said he had no idea what to do with kids.
He knows what not to do though.
It's a few weeks along before Evan asks why Len put him in the orphanage. Len tries to explain about not really knowing his mother in terms a seven-year-old will understand. He's not sure if it helped.
Two months in and Evan calls him 'dad' for the first time. They both freeze, then Len gruffly continues.
Two weeks after that Len refers to Evan as his son when picking him up from school. Evan's grin could light a city block.
Len finds that being a single parent sort of cancels out his criminal record when it comes to layoffs. Jobs still come and go, but they hang around longer than they used to.
Things don't always go well with Evan, sometimes he's a bit of a brat, sometimes Len just doesn't have the patience to deal with a child, but for the most part they get along.
Evan's been around long enough that Len can't really remember what life was like without him, when Wally mentions that him and Linda are trying for one of their own. He looks terrified at the thought, but Len points out how much Evan likes the couple, so they must be doing something right. That calms Wally down slightly, though he's still edgy whenever Len meets up with him.
Wally and Linda hold a get-together a couple of months later. As Len expects, they announce Linda's pregnancy. Everyone congratulates them. Len ends up talking to Roy and avoiding Barry Allen. He's found that tactic works best for not spoiling happy occasions with a fight.
At some point Len and Roy realise that Evan and Lian are missing.
Roy immediately blames Evan. Len's defence of his son is only half-hearted at best, since six-year-old Lian adores the ground Evan walks on and quite happily follows him wherever he leads.
After a quick search of the West house, which turns up nothing, Roy lets Wally know what's going on, then the two of them make their excuses and head to Len's apartment, since it's the closest.
Once there, they find Evan packing a battered suitcase, while Lian 'helps' by bringing Evan all his toys.
Roy sweeps Lian into his arms, raining kisses on her hair and telling her that she is never allowed to scare him like that again. Lian squirms and replies that her and Evan are running away.
Len looks down at Evan, who is looking more scared than Len's ever seen him before. Len tries to keep his voice flat as he asks why Evan's running away. Evan replies that he wants to choose who he ends up with this time.
It takes a lot of prodding, but Evan finally spills the whole story. Those posh snobs he was with got rid of him as soon as they conceived a child of their own.
Evan thinks it's going to happen again.
Len calls him an idiot and gives him a hug. It doesn't matter that Evan's eleven and he thinks hugs are for girls, Len's not letting him go and he tells him so. There's a sniff from Evan, the sort that means he's doing his best not to cry. Len pretends to not hear it.
Roy suggests getting some icecream, then heading back to the Wests' to apologise. Len agrees. They give Evan a few minutes to collect himself, which is spent putting his clothes back in their proper places. Lian doesn't really understand what Evan was about to do, but appreciates the cuddle from her dad.
Evan slowly brightens as he demolishes his icecream. Len explains that Evan's going to be a big brother to Wally and Linda's kid and that means he's got to look after it, like he does with Lian. Roy barely manages to avoid spitting his coffee over the table when he hears that.
Apparently Roy doesn't think convincing Lian to run away with him was a good example of 'looking after'.
Evan apologises to Wally and Linda, then demands that Linda has a baby boy, since he's already got Lian for a little sister. Linda ruffles his hair indulgently and tells him that it's not up to her, it's up to the baby.
Evan pouts and wishes for a little brother.
His wish comes true sooner than anyone expects.
Len's walking Evan home from school when Barry Allen rings. That's never a good sign. Barry asks them to come to the police station, he doesn't want to explain things over the phone.
Len does so and his first thought when he enters Barry's lab and sees the results on the screen is 'oh shit, another one?'
It's a bit late for it now, but Len vows to stop sleeping around without adequate protection.
The kid is nine years old and has a shock of blond hair. His name is Axel. Evan, who's been looking forward to having a younger sibling, takes an immediate liking to the kid, instead of worrying that he's going to be replaced again.
Axel's smart enough to know things about genes, but not smart enough to realise that he can't just decide where he's going to live without telling anyone.
Then Axel's mother arrives and Len defends his kids without a second's thought.
Barry, in a rare display of friendliness, says he'll make the whole thing as smooth as possible. Evan's still holding Axel's hand and chattering away. Axel looks up at Len and, like that, he's part of the strange little family that's crept up on Len unawares.
Axel's more independent than Evan was at that age, but also less inclined to do as Len says because of it. There's a lot of arguing the first few weeks, but then Axel finds his place and there's relative peace.
Linda gives birth to a baby boy and they call him Jai. Evan's still excited about another younger brother, whereas Axel's seen plenty of babies. He warms up to Jai a bit more when he finds out he doesn't have to change any diapers.
Wally's thankfully calmed down about the idea of being a father and is far more pleased than Len believes anyone sober has the right to be.
Len's surprised when Wally asks if he'll be the godfather, but he's pleased and accepts.
Axel starts talking about 'a little barn', which Evan keeps trying to correct to 'a wee bairn', and Len has to threaten to separate the two unless they quiet down and don't wake Jai. He's still not sure what possessed Evan to try and teach Axel Scots, or Axel for actually listening.
On the way home from the hospital, Axel calls Len 'dad'. Len ruffles his hair and asks what he wants for dinner.
Len doesn't know when he actually started to like his life. He hasn't felt the itch to start thieving for years and it doesn't feel like it's going to come back any time soon. Even as he pulls apart Evan and Axel from their rough-housing and makes a start on a dinner for three, Len knows he wouldn't have it any other way.
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Title: Problems of Another Father
Characters: Mark Mardon, Joshua Jackham, Len Snart
Word count: 1320
Summary: Mark has never wanted children, especially not one that isn't even old enough to talk. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, after the others.
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Mark stares at the infant held at arms length. The infant stares back.
Mark's brain is currently running along the lines of 'shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit'. The infant burbles and sticks its hand in its mouth.
Mark puts the infant on a clear patch of floor and tries to get his mind back in gear. The infant picks up a gardening magazine - a delivery for the previous tenant that Mark hadn't thrown out yet - from the floor and starts chewing it.
Finally, the sensible part of Mark's brain, the part that's been jumping up and down to get his attention for the past half hour, makes itself known. Get Len. The infant spits out half-chewed bits of paper and manages to get them stuck to its face.
Mark soon discovers a flaw with his plan. For some stupid reason, the seats in his car aren't exactly made for an infant. Mark improvises with some cushions and a cardboard box and hopes no one looks too closely. The infant starts chewing on the cardboard box.
After a nerve-wracking drive, they arrive. Mark picks the infant up, vaguely remembering something about supporting its head, but he isn't sure if it applies or not. The infant doesn't seem to mind Mark's clumsy hold and gets gummed-up cardboard over them both.
Len's reaction is to stare - Mark has to admit that a baby with wrinkled pictures of shrubs stuck to its face and mushed cardboard down its front is quite a sight - then mutter something about condoms and sobriety levels. He looks close to shutting the door in Mark's face, despite Mark swearing that the baby is his, not Len's. The infant waves a soggy bit of cardboard at Len.
Once inside Len's apartment, Mark manages to hand over the infant and take a seat on the sofa with his head in his hands. Len disappears for a short while, then returns with a book and a can of beer. The infant is happily munching a handful of biscuits, only half of which are getting in its mouth.
Len passes the book and the can over to Mark. The alcohol tugs Mark back to this side of hyperventilation, while the book appears to be a guide on how to look after a baby. Mark opens it and finds an inscription on the first page.
'Snart, read this book and PAY ATTENTION. If you hurt one hair on my great-nephew's head I'll have yours. B Allen.'
Mark snorts, but starts reading.
Ten minutes later and Mark's panic hasn't decreased in the slightest. In fact it's increased now he knows what can go wrong.
Len asks for the infant's name and Mark looks at him blankly. Thankfully he finds that he brought the baby's birth certificate and other details along with him.
Joshua Jackham.
Somehow the name makes it all that much more real.
Mark has never wanted children. He sort of hoped he'd have Len's luck if there were any and the kids would be old enough to fend for themselves. Evan and Axel are old enough to sometimes join in with their poker nights if Len was hosting. Mark's still stuck on the fact that he's going to have to change diapers.
A problem which presents itself too soon for Mark's liking.
Len talks him through changing the diaper and is generally finding the whole situation amusing. Mark's trying not to swear when Josh pisses on him, or when he gets the diaper on backwards.
Mark has discovered a whole new level of respect for parents.
Thankfully Josh nods off while Mark's looking through the book again. Len puts the infant down in one of the bedrooms, then he asks what Mark is planning on doing.
It hadn't occurred to Mark that he could put Josh up for adoption until Len points it out. Len also makes it very clear that Mark will be talking to Evan before that happened. Len's firstborn - as far as anyone is aware, it's possible Len has some still-unaccounted for kids - had been in an orphanage and, from what Mark's heard, didn't like most of it.
Mark's real problem is that he's never managed to get a steady income. He's an extortioner by trade and stints in jail aren't going to help him raise a baby. Josh deserves better.
Mark doesn't know what to do.
It takes a few days for a solution to be found.
Both Mark and Len have been asking around for ideas, when Iris Allen offers to adopt Josh. Mark's not exactly happy with the thought of Barry Allen - the man who'd been responsible for several of Mark's stays in jail - bringing up his son, however, it's looking like the best option. The Allens are stable and have been trying for children of their own without success.
Evan makes it known - loudly - that if the Allens conceive a child and give up Josh, he'll make them regret it. Len pulls Evan away, mid-threat, though it's clear he'd be right in line behind Evan if they gave up Josh.
Mark's holding onto Josh tightly. These past few days have been more stressful than Mark would like to remember, but faced with the prospect of giving Josh up, he doesn't want to let go.
There's discussion of visitation rights, which Mark hopes someone thought to write down, since he's not doing a good job of listening to anything beyond Josh's gurgles.
Iris gently removes Josh from Mark's arms and promises to take care of him where Mark can't. Josh whimpers, but doesn't dissolve into tears, and as much as Mark would like to think his son has any idea what's happening, it's obvious Josh isn't aware of the situation.
Afterwards, Len takes Mark to the pub to get shit-faced.
Mark wakes up on Len's sofa the next day with a splitting headache and bare snatches of memories of the previous night. There's the sense that he'd broken down around the fifth glass or so, but Mark can't be sure.
There's a knock on the door that does absolutely fuck-all for Mark's aching head. After falling off the sofa and swearing into the carpet, Mark manages to get to the door and open it.
Evan and Axel are on the other side, along with that West guy. Evan's looking sympathetic, but Axel's looking like he's about to take advantage of Mark's hangover. He's done it before. The brat.
Len appears from his bedroom. He's looking nowhere near as bad as Mark's feeling. Bastard. He probably drunk in moderation to keep an eye on Mark, but Mark's not feeling particularly charitable right now.
Len thanks West for keeping the kids overnight and the guy leaves after stumbled commiserations aimed at Mark. Evan and Axel are shooed into their rooms to let Mark nurse his hangover in peace, but not before Evan gives Mark a hug and tells him that he's still 'Uncle Mark' to them.
The journey back to Mark's flat is wet. The skies are apparently in tune with his mood and the rain is bucketing down. Thunder and lightning crackle and boom across the heavens.
When Mark gets home he puts all the baby stuff he'd bought into a box and shoves it to the back of his wardrobe. He won't need it any more. He doesn't have a child to look after. Josh is with a better family. He doesn't need Mark.
Mark pulls out plans he'd been working on before Josh had appeared and sits down to perfect them. This was how he made a living and how he will continue to make a living.
He doesn't miss the diaper changes.
He doesn't miss the midnight crying.
He doesn't miss Josh's garbled coos and nonsensical babbling.
He doesn't miss reading to Josh.
He doesn't miss... Josh.
Maybe if Mark keeps repeating it, he'll be able to fool himself.
I'm going to start grouping these together. They're separate on flash_rogues.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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Title: Ramblings of Another West
Characters: Flash (Wally West), Axel Walker, Evan McCulloch, Len Snart
Word count: 829
Summary: Pretty much what the title says. Set somewhere in the time between Ignition and Rogue War. The idea just sort of pounced, though not everything managed to make it to the page.
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I don't want to do this.
None of them seem to realise that. They don't understand. Can't understand.
I know you've not exactly had the easiest time of things, and I've got a good Samaritan streak, but I never would've pictured something like this. It's all a bit egotistical for my tastes. Heh. I'll have to remember to tell Linda that, she's always accusing me of having a big ego.
Though by the looks of things, mine's nothing like the guy whose boots I'm trying to fill.
It hurts, doing this to your best friend. And you are my best friend, even if you'd call me mushy for saying it and cuff me over the back of the head in that way that means you totally agree, though you'd never actually say the words yourself.
Man, the world's crazy here. I don't know how Keystone or Central are anything more than a flat landscape. Must be really easy to get a job as a builder around here.
Superheroes are real.
So are supervillains.
I keep wanting to laugh whenever I think of that, or when some guy dressed as a bat starts lecturing me, or when I see half the costumes (and the other half wouldn't look out of place at a strip-bar), or...
Well, it's crazy.
You remember that artist the cops hired for that weird Manga case? The one I hated, but now he's on my Christmas card list? He's here. He's got a ring that can create whatever he thinks up out of green light. I'll have to tell Kyle when I get back, he might find a niche market or something.
Or just laugh himself silly.
So yeah, apparently I'm some big-shot hero for the twin cities. The Flash. Sounds awful. At least it's a legacy name and I, well, the other me, didn't think it up himself. And the costume...
Is it actually possible to feel more self-conscious wearing something that only shows your chin than it is to be completely naked?
Linda's still Linda, thankfully. If she hadn't been than I would've gone spare. Though she isn't pregnant and there isn't a little Jai toddling around. I made the mistake of asking about it and heard a horrible tale about some guy named Zoom and a miscarriage. She isn't exactly my wife and I still want to hurt the bastard.
That unfortunately leads me onto you.
You've never been shy about your prison time. I think you were trying to scare me off, that or make sure I never let someone I didn't know crash on my couch again. I still hold that you should be thanking me for not letting you drown in the gutter, the way it was coming down that night.
Plus, I'm never sensible when I'm drunk. You know that. That's why you insist on keeping me company when I head to the pub and really need it, so I don't end up trying to rescue more drunks.
According to you, I once tried to hug a guy twice my size because I thought he needed to calm down.
Given the black eye I woke up with, I believe you.
Odd to know in this world you're a professional criminal. I'm not sure 'supervillain' really fits, since that puts me in mind of world-domination or something like that. You're in a band of guys that steal money for the most part. I've heard worse things too, but it's hard to link them up.
Oh, I will never refer to Axel as a brat again. He's here too, part of that group, about five years older and an absolute nightmare. He calls himself Trickster. Don't think he's your kid here - I got looks when I asked.
Evan too. He's about twice as old and twice the accent. Not likely to be your flesh and blood either. I can't match up what he's done here to what he's like back home.
Probably for the best.
Haven't mentioned what made me a superhero, have I? Some accident in Uncle Barry's lab gave me superspeed. He had it too, until he died saving the universe. Barry 'perpetually late' Allen was the fastest man alive before me.
That's surreal on a whole other level.
You two still didn't like each other here. Thank god for multiversal constants. In fact, if you strip away all the aliens and spandex and the constant fighting, there are a lot more similarities than when you first looked. I'm still a mechanic, just it's more of a side thing for him. Linda's still a reporter and my wife.
It's still weird being able to think of all this during the time it takes for a punch to connect.
Yeah, I'm in the middle of a fight.
Against you - this version of you.
And as much as I hate to say this, I hope I win.
I've got to win.
I don't want to do this.
Sorry Len.
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Title: Accents from Another Country
Characters: Evan McCulloch, Len Snart
Word count: 1780
Summary: Evan's life, from the orphanage to finding his own family. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
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You can't remember ever living anywhere beyond the orphanage. Not many here can. One of the older kids used to tell stories about how only the worst of the worst end up here, since you made your parents hate you so much they got rid of you.
And since you were only a baby, you must've been terrible.
Mrs McCulloch was the one who gave you the name Evan. When you asked if that meant you were her kid she laughed and told you that you were all her kids. Until someone adopted you.
That made you smile. It made you smile more when she let you use her last name for yours when you needed one for school.
The day after your fifth birthday, you move into the bigger boy room. At midnight the other boys pass around a packet of biscuits. Commiserations. You're too old to get adopted now.
When you're seven there's quite a commotion one day. Some rich couple from America want to adopt one of the older boys, since they're already toilet trained and know basic reading, writing, and maths.
You're the smallest. The lady coos over how cute you are until you thank her. The man says it's amazing what speech therapists can achieve now and she smiles again.
You've never been ashamed of your accent and you definitely don't want to end up sounding as... American as them.
You don't say that out loud and the woman decides that you're the one for her. The man gives you a stern look and you try to stand up straight against it.
They adopt you.
You go and buy a packet of chocolate digestives for the other boys. Some of them get angry, some of them don't care. You hope some of them will miss you.
Mrs McCulloch gives you a warm hug and asks you to send a postcard. You hug back tightly, you'll miss her more than anything else.
The trip to America is long and boring. You try and keep to your best behaviour, but the lady and the man don't even want to talk. Not to you anyway. The lady has gone to sleep, while the man has gone somewhere else in the plane. The air hostess gives you a colouring book and a carton of juice and giggles when you thank her a politely as you can.
When you finally get to America, you don't get to see much of it. The man bundles you and the lady into a limousine with tinted windows and you drive through the city, unable to see any of it. The man starts talking about stocks or bonds or something boring and you drift off.
When you wake up it's in some mansion. You spend the next two hours exploring, pretending you're Sherlock Holmes or Poirot or one of the other detectives Mrs McCulloch used to watch on TV. The lady shrieks when you accidentally tumble into the room she's in, covered in dust and cobwebs.
What follows is one of the most unimpressive lectures you've ever sat through. Then the lady hands you over to a maid, who manages the telling off a bit better, then gives you a tour of the house.
You inform her that you've been most places and there aren't any dead bodies, so it's a bit boring. She laughs and tells you a ghost story.
Most of the time you don't see the man. The lady only appears occasionally to pat you on the head and smile distantly.
You make friends with the maid, whose name is Emma, and the cook, who's called Matthew. They're both nice to you and much more interesting than the tutors you have to see. You've got lots of different tutors. One for English, one for maths, one for science, one for French.
And the one you hate most, the one for teaching you to speak properly.
What's wrong with using 'a wee bairn' instead of 'a little kid'? Or using 'aye' instead of 'yes'? That's how everyone you knew spoke.
It's only been two weeks when you feel yourself snap.
You throw a tantrum. Smashing vases, tipping over furniture, trecking mud through the hallways, screaming at the top of your lungs. You make sure to purposefully go by the man's office, but he doesn't do anything. The lady asks you to be quiet since 'mommy has a migraine'.
The surprise shuts you up. She's not your mum - and yes, you use a 'u', like it's meant to have - and you tell her as such. She tells you she is and that's final.
You tear down the curtains in the drawing room then find yourself in a sobbing heap.
No one comes to comfort you.
You picked a day when Emma and Matthew were out at the market. You wanted to see if the lady and the man - you will never call them your parents - actually cared.
You found your answer. You wish it wouldn't hurt quite so much.
Months go by. The lady starts to get fat. You get told she's pregnant. There's going to be another kid around. You get curious, despite yourself. Babies are smelly squishy things, but another kid around would be fun.
You actually begin to believe you might like it here after all.
Then the man calls you into his office.
You've only ever been in here once, back when you were playing detective. The man sits at his desk and looks all stern. He tells you the reasons you were adopted, that they couldn't have kids and he wanted someone to take over his business when he was gone. Now they're having a kid and there isn't a place for you.
They're giving you up.
It hurts.
It hurts more that you're not going to see Emma or Matthew again. You decide to send them a postcard, like you did with Mrs McCulloch. You hope they'll be nice to the new kid too.
You ask if you'll be going back to Scotland. The man snorts and mutters something about your accent, then tells you that they've found somewhere else for you. He hands over a sheet of paper. There's a name and an address and 'blood match' in big bold letters.
This is your father. Your real father.
You start to feel a bit faint and only just make out the man telling you that you'll be leaving tomorrow morning. You don't remember walking down to the kitchen until Matthew offers you a ginger biscuit.
You start to cry, because you'll never have that again. You spend the evening with Matthew and Emma and make them promise to be just as good to the new baby.
The next morning you pack. You make sure to leave all the stupid clothes, but you keep the jumper Emma knitted for you, even through the sleeves are uneven lengths. You keep the stuffed haggis Mrs McCulloch got for you, to remind you of Scotland. You don't want to take much else, but Emma persuades you to take enough.
You have to say goodbye to Emma and Matthew at the mansion, they aren't allowed to come.
You don't see the route they take you, because of the tinted windows, and you don't care. You're not going back.
The apartment the man knocks on is fairly ramshackle. The person who opens the door looks just as scruffy. This is your father. So far you're unimpressed.
The man shows your father some papers and gestures at you. Your father looks over them and shakes his head. He says he doesn't have any kids. The man is insistent and has the blood work to back it up. Your father eventually admits that it might be possible, but he's never heard about any kids before now.
Finally your father says he'll give it a go and opens the door further to let you in - he hadn't let the man in, much to his frustration. The lady catches you and starts wailing about how much she'll miss you.
Your father takes one look at her and tells her to stop shamming, there aren't any cameras to look impressed. The lady goes from affectionate to icy at the drop of a hat.
You decide you'll give this guy a chance.
The flat is small and cluttered. Your father looks lost when he looks at you. He finally tells you where to put your stuff and you help him clear some space for you. He rings up a friend of his and then tells you that while he's at work you'll be looked after by some of his friends. Wally and Linda. You hope they're nice.
When you hesitate on what to call him, he tells you to call him 'Len', since he doesn't think either of you are ready for 'dad' yet. He says he doesn't know what to do with kids, but he promises to try.
You believe him.
You try some of your more incomprehensible Scots on Len. He just tells you that if he can't understand you he won't know what you want and you won't get it. He lets you away with the rest of the accent though, so, as thanks, you don't use the weirder stuff.
You throw a tantrum after a week. Len gives you a smack and sits you on one of the wooden chairs at the dinner table for fifteen minutes.
The sting hurts, but it's nothing compared to the stirring of hope that Len might actually care.
Afterwards, Len gives you a talking to. You feel uncomfortable and guilty while it lasts, but then he lets you help make dinner, which makes you smile.
With the roller coaster of emotions, you're not too surprised when you burst into tears after dinner. Len's startled and is terrible at giving hugs, but he's trying and that makes you cry harder.
You cry yourself to sleep and when you wake up an hour later, you're still being held by Len while he watches a hockey game on TV. You snuggle closer and think that maybe, just maybe, you might try calling him 'dad'.
You keep the name Evan McCulloch.
When you ask Len about it, he says it might've been better to find a name that people know how to spell, but he's not bothered. He adds that he hates his name, so he wouldn't wish it on you either.
Wally and Linda are nice, even if Wally always looks a bit panicked when Linda starts talking about kids of their own.
It's not always perfect, but you've found home and family.
And that's perfect.
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Title: Hair of Another Colour
Characters: Axel Walker, Len Snart, Evan McCulloch, Barry Allen
Word count: 1642
Summary: Axel decides to run away. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, after 'Accents from Another Country'.
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Axel knows his father isn't his father before he's ever told. Everyone on his father's side of the family has dark hair, while Axel's is a bright blond, unlike his siblings'. He hears an offhand comment about there having to be blond on both sides for it to pass down, but it takes him a year or two before he actually puts it together.
When Axel asks his mom about his real dad, she waves a hand and mentions that she could hardly be expected to remember that.
When Axel's nine he sees them using people's DNA to trace their real parents on TV. He heads to the nearest hospital with a bag full of belongings the next day and asks them to find his dad. The woman at the reception desk tells him is very expensive and he offers her his savings. All twenty dollars of it.
She shakes her head and tells him that's not enough.
Axel's debating what to do next, when one of the doctors starts talking to him. Apparently the receptionist paged one of the paediatricians - kid doctors, the doctor explains when Axel looks blank. Axel does his best to remember the word.
Axel tells the doctor what he wants to do. The doctor is apologetic and tells Axel that it's expensive. Axel says the receptionist already told him that. The doctor adds that it takes time and energy away from people who are trying to make medicine better.
The doctor offers to give Axel a check-up, so he doesn't feel like he came all this way for nothing. Axel agrees and gets his eyes, ears, throat, and pulse tested. The doctor proclaims him 'fit as a fiddle' and gives Axel a sweet before sending him home.
Axel crosses the hospital off his mental list and goes to the police department instead.
Just inside the doors Axel bumps into a man, who drops the files he was holding. Axel helps pick them up - they might be nicer to him if he's helpful - and carries some to the man's lab desk for him.
The man introduces himself as Barry Allen. Axel only gives his first name.
Barry has a lot of funny looking lab equipment and a computer that is running some analysis program. Barry smiles when Axel shows interest and starts explaining what it all does. Axel listens for a while, then starts asking his own questions. Barry seems thrilled and lets Axel steer the conversation onto paternity testing.
Axel asks if Barry could find out who his dad is. Barry says it only works if they've already got the persons DNA on file. Axel asks if he could try anyway. Barry 'hem's and 'haw's but eventually gives in.
Later Barry will admit to having a soft spot for adopted kids who are unable to find their parents, since his wife's an orphan.
Barry sets up the test. He takes some of Axel's blood and promises him an icecream while he lets it run. It's not like TV, things take a while to come to the result.
Barry looks at the clock and groans. He explains he was meant to meet his wife for lunch half an hour ago. He offers Axel the chance to tag along and have something to eat. Axel, who hasn't had anything to eat bar that sweet from the doctor's, nods eagerly.
Barry's wife is called Iris and is pretty. She smiles when Axel tells her so and calls him handsome. She waves off Barry's apologies, saying that she'd only just got here herself, knowing what Barry is like.
Axel gets spaghetti and does his best not to splatter it everywhere. Iris still ends up wiping his face off afterwards.
They say goodbye to Iris after lunch and head back to the lab, Axel eating the promised icecream on the way.
The test isn't finished when they get back, so Barry lets Axel hang around, as long as he phones his parents to tell them where he is. Axel scowls, but agrees and ends up speaking to one of his sisters over the phone. She promises to tell mom he's run away, if it comes up.
Axel spends the next few hours running messages for people. Some of them ask if he's Barry's nephew. Axel supposes it's the hair. He does wonder if Barry might be his dad, but he really doesn't seem the sort, if Axel's honest with himself.
When the results finally arrive Barry groans. Axel asks if he's found him and Barry nods. Barry had said that if they did find Axel's dad in the system then it wouldn't be a good thing. Axel asks for the address, so he can visit, but Barry offers to bring him here.
It turns out Barry knows Axel's dad well enough to have his number in his phone.
Axel runs messages again while Barry calls and after while they're waiting. He can't stand still.
Finally, Axel heads back to Barry after taking a file to the other end of the building, and there's a man and a boy waiting. The boy's a couple of years older than Axel and has brown hair. So does the man. Axel's heart sinks, there must be a mistake.
Barry waves Axel over. The boy looks on with undisguised curiosity. He doesn't wait for the go-ahead from the man or Barry and offers Axel his hand and name. Evan McCulloch. Axel takes it and gives back his first name only. Evan looks sympathetic and says Axel can use his surname if he hasn't got one, since their dad's is worse. That earns him a cuff over the head by the man, but Evan's smiling, so it can't have been that hard.
The man tells Axel to pay no attention to Evan and introduces himself as Len. He crouches down to Axel's level and asks who his mom is. Axel gives her name, but Len can't recall her.
Axel decides to speak up about the mistake, since if his dad or half-brother don't have blond hair, where does his come from?
Evan quickly jumps in to say that Aunty Lisa has blonde hair. Len nods when Axel looks over for confirmation. Evan's still talking about how he's only seen Aunty Lisa at Christmas, since she's travelling the world on ice-skates. It's all in an accent that gets thicker the more excited Evan gets until Len has to remind Evan that not everyone's as used to Scottish as him and Barry are.
Evan asks when Axel's moving in and the adults look worried at that. Barry asks carefully about the bag Axel has with him, and Axel confirms that it's got his stuff in because he's run away and he's not going back. Barry pinches the bridge of his nose and Len swears silently at the ceiling, but Evan doesn't seem bothered and just asks if Axel's got any games with him.
They set up a game of cards while the adults talk things over quietly in a corner. It's more like arguing, but Evan says they argue about everything, it's just how they communicate.
They're on a score of two-all when another worker leads in Axel's mom and two of his sisters. His mom's got a scary look on her face, like when Axel's baby brother ate her best necklace, or when one of his sisters spent an afternoon cutting up everyone's clothes.
Axel's mom starts shouting at him. Barry and Len move to intercede, but Evan's closer. He steps in front of Axel and shouts right back, using all sorts of weird Scottish words. Axel's mom isn't impressed until Evan calls Axel his brother.
She laughs in his face and tells Evan that he doesn't know what he's talking about in a condescending tone. Evan insults her and for a moment it looks like she might hit him for that.
Then Len steps in front of Evan and tells her to stop shouting at his sons. Barry backs it up with test results when Axel's mom spits out that she doesn't believe him.
Evan's holding Axel's hand tightly and Axel's enjoying the stability too much to point out how sissy it is. Len and Barry are forming a nice barrier between the kids and the shouting.
Axel's not quite sure when it happened, one minute they're all arguing about negligence and child welfare, the next Axel's mom's storming out, shouting that Axel's not worth this much trouble.
Evan squeezes his hand and it goes a surprising way to fixing the cold that's building up in Axel's body.
Len and Barry are talking again. They come to the conclusion that Len will look after Axel until this whole mess is sorted. Axel hopes that it will never be sorted, because he doesn't want to go home again.
Evan tells Axel all sorts of stories about Scotland during the evening and when they're supposed to be sleeping. They ended up in the same bed, since there wasn't a spare one and Len wouldn't let him sleep on the couch. That's a decision Len appears to be regretting since they haven't gone to sleep yet.
Evan tells Axel that it doesn't matter if he has to go back, because now they're brothers and as the big brother Evan has to look after the younger one. Evan seems awfully delighted at having a brother. Apparently some friends of Len's that Evan stays with sometimes are having a baby, but Evan laments that babies aren't all that fun until they've grown up a bit.
Either way, Axel agrees that Evan will always be his brother.
Len comes in to tell them to go to sleep for the fifth time and they finally do.
Axel dreams of chasing haggises the other way around the hilltops and of staying here forever.
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Title: Sleeping on Another Couch
Characters: Len Snart, Wally West, Linda Park, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker, Barry Allen
Word count: 2287
Summary: Len wakes up on a stranger's sofa, things just get stranger from there. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, set before and during the others.
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When Len wakes up he comes to two very distinct realisations. Firstly that he must've been drinking like a fish last night. He may have actually succeeded in blotting out... whatever it was that he wanted to blot out. No doubt it'll come back to him when his hangover ends.
The second realisation is simpler.
This isn't his couch.
Len gets up, mindful of his aching head and churning stomach, and tries to figure out where he is. It's not Mick's place, or Mark's. Too tidy. In fact, he's fairly certain it's a house rather than an apartment, which rules out most people he actually knows.
Huh, Len's never been kidnapped before.
Though, he isn't tied up or anything. Maybe he'd decided to do some housebreaking while drunk. That'd be quite awkward to explain to the parole board. If he just gets out before anyone saw him, maybe they'll ignore it. It isn't like he's going to steal anything.
Unfortunately, Lady Luck isn't on Len's side this morning.
An Asian woman walks into the room. She looks vaguely familiar, but Len's pretty sure he didn't meet her last night.
She explains about her boyfriend being a soft-hearted drunk, who apparently decided that Len needed a place to crash. He usually only brings home lost pets, she goes on to mention, this is the first time he's brought another person home.
She offers him coffee and gives her name as well as the cup. Linda Park. Len slowly processes it until a light goes on and he remembers who she is. She's a reporter.
Well shit.
When Len starts to panic, Linda tells him that she already knows who he is. Wally's - her boyfriend's - Aunt did the story on his jailing. Iris Allen. Who's married to Barry Allen.
What a fuck up.
Linda says that it doesn't matter to her, as long as he thanks Wally and helps her convince him that bringing back people is a bad idea.
Not really much of a choice when faced with a determined reporter.
Len agrees.
Wally has the worst hangover Len's ever seen. The kid looks green. Len has to remind himself that the guy essentially kidnapped him, otherwise he's going to start feeling sorry for the kid.
Wally is unapologetic about letting Len crash on his sofa, even when Len mentions his criminal record. Wally asks to argue about this another time, since he's really not feeling up to it right now. Linda threatens to bang some pots and pans together unless they do talk about it now. Len pleads Wally to talk about it now.
Wally finally admits that he had planned on going drinking with a friend of his, Roy Harper, but Roy had dropped out at the last minute so Wally had gone alone. Linda looks exasperated and asks why he didn't just ask someone else. Wally shrugs and doesn't really have an answer. For all that he's apparently a friendly drunk, Wally isn't much of a talker in the morning.
Though that could just be the hangover.
Len takes his leave and expects that to be the last of it.
It isn't.
Wally bumps into Len at the pub next week, this time dragging another red-head. Roy. Roy doesn't hang around long - by the sounds of it he's got a kid to look after, and doesn't trust his adopted dad not to make a mess of things - so Wally asks Len to keep an eye on him.
Len agrees and spends half the night amused - Wally's a funny drunk - and half the night annoyed, since he has to drag the kid out of bad situations.
Once he's gotten the kid home, Len expects that to be the last of it.
It isn't.
Len gets a job with a night-shift. During his 'lunch' break he heads to a diner he's used before for something to eat. Ten minutes later Wally shows up, his familiarity with the waitress showing that he's been here before.
He spots Len and sits at his table. Wally's a mechanic, on the night-shift too. They trade stories about job horrors until Len's break is over. Wally asks if he'll be here again tomorrow and Len replies with an affirmative before he really thinks about it.
It settles into a nice routine. People at Len's job aren't usually talkative, so it's nice to hear someone else's voice for a bit.
Then Len gets fired.
He hadn't done anything wrong, but they were looking for layoffs and Len's criminal record always works against him at times like that. Wally listens to his rant, then offers his couch if Len's landlord chucks him out.
Oddly, that makes Len more determined to get a job than the threat of roughing it on the streets.
The next string of jobs Len lands keep him ticking over, even if the hours are all over the place. He usually manages to find time to meet Wally for drinks every now and then, or at the diner if his job's good about it.
Somewhere along the line, Wally and Linda tie the knot. Len gets an invite to the wedding, to his surprise. His gift to them is a gift voucher for one of the more high-end shops in town and not starting a fight with Barry Allen over the toasts.
Things carry on fairly normally. Len never keeps a job for more than a couple of months. Sometimes he feels himself casing a bank or a jeweller's when money's low. Sometimes it's just a little too tempting to give in to old habits.
Then something completely unexpected happens.
The rich family from just out of town knock on Len's door, shove a load of paperwork in his face, and give him a child.
Len's child.
Len had no idea he actually had any kids, let alone one with a thick Scottish accent.
The kid's called Evan and is just as wary of Len as Len is of him. Len manages to hold in his panic until Evan's with Linda and Len's at the pub with Wally. Wally shifts between amused and sympathetic for most of the night. He offers getting in contact with his uncle for doing a paternity test.
Barry Allen isn't exactly happy with the circumstances, but he agrees to do the test. It's entirely possible he's hoping that Len isn't actually Evan's father.
The test is positive.
Something loosens inside Len at the same time that something else tightens. He wasn't kidding when he said he had no idea what to do with kids.
He knows what not to do though.
It's a few weeks along before Evan asks why Len put him in the orphanage. Len tries to explain about not really knowing his mother in terms a seven-year-old will understand. He's not sure if it helped.
Two months in and Evan calls him 'dad' for the first time. They both freeze, then Len gruffly continues.
Two weeks after that Len refers to Evan as his son when picking him up from school. Evan's grin could light a city block.
Len finds that being a single parent sort of cancels out his criminal record when it comes to layoffs. Jobs still come and go, but they hang around longer than they used to.
Things don't always go well with Evan, sometimes he's a bit of a brat, sometimes Len just doesn't have the patience to deal with a child, but for the most part they get along.
Evan's been around long enough that Len can't really remember what life was like without him, when Wally mentions that him and Linda are trying for one of their own. He looks terrified at the thought, but Len points out how much Evan likes the couple, so they must be doing something right. That calms Wally down slightly, though he's still edgy whenever Len meets up with him.
Wally and Linda hold a get-together a couple of months later. As Len expects, they announce Linda's pregnancy. Everyone congratulates them. Len ends up talking to Roy and avoiding Barry Allen. He's found that tactic works best for not spoiling happy occasions with a fight.
At some point Len and Roy realise that Evan and Lian are missing.
Roy immediately blames Evan. Len's defence of his son is only half-hearted at best, since six-year-old Lian adores the ground Evan walks on and quite happily follows him wherever he leads.
After a quick search of the West house, which turns up nothing, Roy lets Wally know what's going on, then the two of them make their excuses and head to Len's apartment, since it's the closest.
Once there, they find Evan packing a battered suitcase, while Lian 'helps' by bringing Evan all his toys.
Roy sweeps Lian into his arms, raining kisses on her hair and telling her that she is never allowed to scare him like that again. Lian squirms and replies that her and Evan are running away.
Len looks down at Evan, who is looking more scared than Len's ever seen him before. Len tries to keep his voice flat as he asks why Evan's running away. Evan replies that he wants to choose who he ends up with this time.
It takes a lot of prodding, but Evan finally spills the whole story. Those posh snobs he was with got rid of him as soon as they conceived a child of their own.
Evan thinks it's going to happen again.
Len calls him an idiot and gives him a hug. It doesn't matter that Evan's eleven and he thinks hugs are for girls, Len's not letting him go and he tells him so. There's a sniff from Evan, the sort that means he's doing his best not to cry. Len pretends to not hear it.
Roy suggests getting some icecream, then heading back to the Wests' to apologise. Len agrees. They give Evan a few minutes to collect himself, which is spent putting his clothes back in their proper places. Lian doesn't really understand what Evan was about to do, but appreciates the cuddle from her dad.
Evan slowly brightens as he demolishes his icecream. Len explains that Evan's going to be a big brother to Wally and Linda's kid and that means he's got to look after it, like he does with Lian. Roy barely manages to avoid spitting his coffee over the table when he hears that.
Apparently Roy doesn't think convincing Lian to run away with him was a good example of 'looking after'.
Evan apologises to Wally and Linda, then demands that Linda has a baby boy, since he's already got Lian for a little sister. Linda ruffles his hair indulgently and tells him that it's not up to her, it's up to the baby.
Evan pouts and wishes for a little brother.
His wish comes true sooner than anyone expects.
Len's walking Evan home from school when Barry Allen rings. That's never a good sign. Barry asks them to come to the police station, he doesn't want to explain things over the phone.
Len does so and his first thought when he enters Barry's lab and sees the results on the screen is 'oh shit, another one?'
It's a bit late for it now, but Len vows to stop sleeping around without adequate protection.
The kid is nine years old and has a shock of blond hair. His name is Axel. Evan, who's been looking forward to having a younger sibling, takes an immediate liking to the kid, instead of worrying that he's going to be replaced again.
Axel's smart enough to know things about genes, but not smart enough to realise that he can't just decide where he's going to live without telling anyone.
Then Axel's mother arrives and Len defends his kids without a second's thought.
Barry, in a rare display of friendliness, says he'll make the whole thing as smooth as possible. Evan's still holding Axel's hand and chattering away. Axel looks up at Len and, like that, he's part of the strange little family that's crept up on Len unawares.
Axel's more independent than Evan was at that age, but also less inclined to do as Len says because of it. There's a lot of arguing the first few weeks, but then Axel finds his place and there's relative peace.
Linda gives birth to a baby boy and they call him Jai. Evan's still excited about another younger brother, whereas Axel's seen plenty of babies. He warms up to Jai a bit more when he finds out he doesn't have to change any diapers.
Wally's thankfully calmed down about the idea of being a father and is far more pleased than Len believes anyone sober has the right to be.
Len's surprised when Wally asks if he'll be the godfather, but he's pleased and accepts.
Axel starts talking about 'a little barn', which Evan keeps trying to correct to 'a wee bairn', and Len has to threaten to separate the two unless they quiet down and don't wake Jai. He's still not sure what possessed Evan to try and teach Axel Scots, or Axel for actually listening.
On the way home from the hospital, Axel calls Len 'dad'. Len ruffles his hair and asks what he wants for dinner.
Len doesn't know when he actually started to like his life. He hasn't felt the itch to start thieving for years and it doesn't feel like it's going to come back any time soon. Even as he pulls apart Evan and Axel from their rough-housing and makes a start on a dinner for three, Len knows he wouldn't have it any other way.
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Title: Problems of Another Father
Characters: Mark Mardon, Joshua Jackham, Len Snart
Word count: 1320
Summary: Mark has never wanted children, especially not one that isn't even old enough to talk. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, after the others.
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Mark stares at the infant held at arms length. The infant stares back.
Mark's brain is currently running along the lines of 'shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit'. The infant burbles and sticks its hand in its mouth.
Mark puts the infant on a clear patch of floor and tries to get his mind back in gear. The infant picks up a gardening magazine - a delivery for the previous tenant that Mark hadn't thrown out yet - from the floor and starts chewing it.
Finally, the sensible part of Mark's brain, the part that's been jumping up and down to get his attention for the past half hour, makes itself known. Get Len. The infant spits out half-chewed bits of paper and manages to get them stuck to its face.
Mark soon discovers a flaw with his plan. For some stupid reason, the seats in his car aren't exactly made for an infant. Mark improvises with some cushions and a cardboard box and hopes no one looks too closely. The infant starts chewing on the cardboard box.
After a nerve-wracking drive, they arrive. Mark picks the infant up, vaguely remembering something about supporting its head, but he isn't sure if it applies or not. The infant doesn't seem to mind Mark's clumsy hold and gets gummed-up cardboard over them both.
Len's reaction is to stare - Mark has to admit that a baby with wrinkled pictures of shrubs stuck to its face and mushed cardboard down its front is quite a sight - then mutter something about condoms and sobriety levels. He looks close to shutting the door in Mark's face, despite Mark swearing that the baby is his, not Len's. The infant waves a soggy bit of cardboard at Len.
Once inside Len's apartment, Mark manages to hand over the infant and take a seat on the sofa with his head in his hands. Len disappears for a short while, then returns with a book and a can of beer. The infant is happily munching a handful of biscuits, only half of which are getting in its mouth.
Len passes the book and the can over to Mark. The alcohol tugs Mark back to this side of hyperventilation, while the book appears to be a guide on how to look after a baby. Mark opens it and finds an inscription on the first page.
'Snart, read this book and PAY ATTENTION. If you hurt one hair on my great-nephew's head I'll have yours. B Allen.'
Mark snorts, but starts reading.
Ten minutes later and Mark's panic hasn't decreased in the slightest. In fact it's increased now he knows what can go wrong.
Len asks for the infant's name and Mark looks at him blankly. Thankfully he finds that he brought the baby's birth certificate and other details along with him.
Joshua Jackham.
Somehow the name makes it all that much more real.
Mark has never wanted children. He sort of hoped he'd have Len's luck if there were any and the kids would be old enough to fend for themselves. Evan and Axel are old enough to sometimes join in with their poker nights if Len was hosting. Mark's still stuck on the fact that he's going to have to change diapers.
A problem which presents itself too soon for Mark's liking.
Len talks him through changing the diaper and is generally finding the whole situation amusing. Mark's trying not to swear when Josh pisses on him, or when he gets the diaper on backwards.
Mark has discovered a whole new level of respect for parents.
Thankfully Josh nods off while Mark's looking through the book again. Len puts the infant down in one of the bedrooms, then he asks what Mark is planning on doing.
It hadn't occurred to Mark that he could put Josh up for adoption until Len points it out. Len also makes it very clear that Mark will be talking to Evan before that happened. Len's firstborn - as far as anyone is aware, it's possible Len has some still-unaccounted for kids - had been in an orphanage and, from what Mark's heard, didn't like most of it.
Mark's real problem is that he's never managed to get a steady income. He's an extortioner by trade and stints in jail aren't going to help him raise a baby. Josh deserves better.
Mark doesn't know what to do.
It takes a few days for a solution to be found.
Both Mark and Len have been asking around for ideas, when Iris Allen offers to adopt Josh. Mark's not exactly happy with the thought of Barry Allen - the man who'd been responsible for several of Mark's stays in jail - bringing up his son, however, it's looking like the best option. The Allens are stable and have been trying for children of their own without success.
Evan makes it known - loudly - that if the Allens conceive a child and give up Josh, he'll make them regret it. Len pulls Evan away, mid-threat, though it's clear he'd be right in line behind Evan if they gave up Josh.
Mark's holding onto Josh tightly. These past few days have been more stressful than Mark would like to remember, but faced with the prospect of giving Josh up, he doesn't want to let go.
There's discussion of visitation rights, which Mark hopes someone thought to write down, since he's not doing a good job of listening to anything beyond Josh's gurgles.
Iris gently removes Josh from Mark's arms and promises to take care of him where Mark can't. Josh whimpers, but doesn't dissolve into tears, and as much as Mark would like to think his son has any idea what's happening, it's obvious Josh isn't aware of the situation.
Afterwards, Len takes Mark to the pub to get shit-faced.
Mark wakes up on Len's sofa the next day with a splitting headache and bare snatches of memories of the previous night. There's the sense that he'd broken down around the fifth glass or so, but Mark can't be sure.
There's a knock on the door that does absolutely fuck-all for Mark's aching head. After falling off the sofa and swearing into the carpet, Mark manages to get to the door and open it.
Evan and Axel are on the other side, along with that West guy. Evan's looking sympathetic, but Axel's looking like he's about to take advantage of Mark's hangover. He's done it before. The brat.
Len appears from his bedroom. He's looking nowhere near as bad as Mark's feeling. Bastard. He probably drunk in moderation to keep an eye on Mark, but Mark's not feeling particularly charitable right now.
Len thanks West for keeping the kids overnight and the guy leaves after stumbled commiserations aimed at Mark. Evan and Axel are shooed into their rooms to let Mark nurse his hangover in peace, but not before Evan gives Mark a hug and tells him that he's still 'Uncle Mark' to them.
The journey back to Mark's flat is wet. The skies are apparently in tune with his mood and the rain is bucketing down. Thunder and lightning crackle and boom across the heavens.
When Mark gets home he puts all the baby stuff he'd bought into a box and shoves it to the back of his wardrobe. He won't need it any more. He doesn't have a child to look after. Josh is with a better family. He doesn't need Mark.
Mark pulls out plans he'd been working on before Josh had appeared and sits down to perfect them. This was how he made a living and how he will continue to make a living.
He doesn't miss the diaper changes.
He doesn't miss the midnight crying.
He doesn't miss Josh's garbled coos and nonsensical babbling.
He doesn't miss reading to Josh.
He doesn't miss... Josh.
Maybe if Mark keeps repeating it, he'll be able to fool himself.