I am Wally west

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"Another speedster?" Wally pondered, linking the appearance to Savitar. Is this his backup plan? he mused, thoughts racing at unimaginable speeds. There was a strange fluidity to his mind now, a sharpness he hadn't felt before.

Eager to test his limits, he turned to Alfred. "I assume you already have information on this individual," he said, his tone measured but curious.

Alfred nodded with a calm demeanor, waving a hand casually for effect. Holographic images materialized in the air, floating around Wally like pieces of a puzzle.

"I've gone to great lengths to investigate this speedster," Alfred began, his voice steady. "After some justified... persistence, I've not only discovered his identity but also his location."

Wally's eyes scanned the data. His expression tightened when he read the profile. "He's just a high schooler," he muttered under his breath. "Pietro Maxima." The name tugged at something in his memory, an odd familiarity he chose to set aside for now.

"Keep him in sight," Wally instructed. "We'll figure out our next move when the time comes."

Turning his focus elsewhere, Wally addressed Alfred again. "Now, whip up the most complex equations you can find or create. I need a challenge."

Alfred complied without question, generating intricate problems with seemingly impossible solutions. Wally dove in, his enhanced mind working effortlessly through each one. Within moments, he'd scrawled every possible answer, equations spilling across the screen.

He let out a chuckle, a grin spreading across his face. This is too easy now.

"Alfred," he said, switching gears, "how's the funding situation?" He had a feeling the answer wouldn't be ideal.

"It is possible to secure as much funding as needed," Alfred began, "but I advise against relying heavily on external sources unless absolutely necessary. West Tech's initial projects are still under scrutiny, and any sudden influx of capital might raise red flags."

Wally nodded, absorbing the warning. "Fair point."

After a moment of silence, he tilted his head thoughtfully. "Alright, continue extracting funds in appropriate quantities. Let's focus on smaller-scale, demonstrable projects for now—nothing too ambitious just yet. We can't launch tech capable of powering an entire city without drawing attention."

He paused, considering his words. "Then again... maybe a little attention wouldn't hurt."

Alfred raised an eyebrow but said nothing, leaving Wally to his thoughts.

After Alfred returned to his tasks Wally began sorting several Information, planning his steps. Then the thought hit him. "Argus" perhaps they could prove him with the funds he needed.

ARGUS, a governmental organization tasked with managing extraterrestrial and global threats, operated with a mission of planetary safety—whether through containment or elimination of dangers.

Under Lyla Michaels' leadership, the organization had shed much of the darkness and brutality associated with Amanda Waller's reign.

Though Lyla helmed ARGUS, she still had superiors to answer to. Yet, she maintained a strong moral compass, even if her principles shifted when circumstances demanded.

Wally mulled over the idea of selling some of his tech. Even if they reverse-engineer it, by the time they manage, it'll be too late, he thought, tilting his chin upward.

Practicality weighed heavier than secrecy now. His growing responsibilities required significant funding. Between the purchase of a skyscraper and his ambitious renovation plans, his financial needs had escalated.

I'll contact them soon enough, Wally decided, storing the thought away for later. For now, he turned his focus back to the pocket dimension where he had been overseeing security enhancements.

He plotted a series of defensive mechanisms against intrusion, ensuring the dimension remained impenetrable. Satisfied with his progress, Wally returned to the sanctuary of his villa. Sleep had become less essential for him, but he still relished it. Before long, he drifted off.

---

The following morning, Wally was jolted awake by the persistent buzz of notifications. Glancing at the holographic interface by his bedside, Alfred's calm but urgent voice greeted him.

"Master Wally, your guests have begun arriving for the housewarming party."

Wally rubbed his temples, realizing he had nearly forgotten about the event amidst his whirlwind of projects. Cancelling wasn't an option—not without raising Joe's suspicions.

"Right. Thanks, Alfred," Wally said, sitting up, his voice still groggy. "Let them in. I'll be ready in five."

In mere moments, moving at superhuman speed, he dressed, set up drinks and snacks, and arranged the villa's lighting and music to perfection.

---

Downstairs, the sleek, modern interior of Wally's villa was alive with warm lighting and subtle hums of high-tech systems. Outside, Barry, Joe, Caitlin, Iris, HR, and Cisco approached the building, marveling at its cutting-edge defenses visible even from afar.

"Okay, seriously," Cisco said, turning in place to take it all in. "This is next-level stuff."

Barry chuckled, impressed but also surprised. "He's definitely been busy."

Joe scanned the building, his expression a mixture of amazement and pride. "It's like he's a completely different person. Kid's really grown up," he thought.

HR, clutching his coffee mug, chimed in, "The vibes here are immaculate." A glint of inspiration crossed his face as he muttered, "If Wally can pull this off, maybe the STAR Labs museum can succeed too."

The group's musings were cut short as Wally entered the room. He was dressed casually but carried an undeniable air of confidence.

"Hey, everyone!" he greeted, his arms spread wide. "Welcome to my new place."

---

After giving them a quick tour, Wally demonstrated several cutting-edge features of the villa. Each innovation surpassed their expectations, leaving them in awe. The group's amazement was evident, but Joe's pride shone brightest. He embraced Wally in a brief but heartfelt hug.

"Son, you've really outdone yourself," Joe said, his voice tinged with pride.

Wally couldn't help the pang of guilt that followed, and Iris, noticing the shift in his demeanor, felt her own conviction waver. Watching Joe's proud smile only deepened her internal struggle over the secret they were keeping.

Drinks and Snacks are available in the kitchen, help yourself out Wally said with a smile and soon everything was holding a glass of wine raised up slightly.

Joe cleared his throat, standing amidst the gathered crowd in Wally's awe-inspiring villa. The chatter quieted as everyone turned their attention to him. He held his glass up, his expression a mix of pride and emotion.

"I just wanted to say a few words," Joe began, his deep, steady voice commanding the room's attention. "As a father, you always hope to see your kids grow into the best version of themselves. You want them to find their path, succeed, but more than anything, find purpose and happiness. Looking around this place, seeing what Wally has accomplished... it's hard not to feel proud."

He glanced at Wally, who stood to the side, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Wally, you've been through so much. Life hasn't always been fair, but you've faced every challenge head-on. And now, seeing the man you've become—the innovator, the leader—I know without a doubt that you're on your way to something truly incredible."

Joe paused, his gaze softening. "But more than what you've built here, more than all the tech and brilliance, what makes me proudest is the man you are. Kind, resilient, and someone who never forgets where he came from or the people who love him."

The room fell silent, the weight of Joe's words settling over everyone. He raised his glass a little higher. "To Wally West: a man who doesn't just move fast—he moves forward. Here's to the bright future ahead of you."

A chorus of cheers erupted, glasses clinking together in celebration. Wally ducked his head, his cheeks tinged with a rare flush of embarrassment.

Despite the guilt simmering in the back of his mind from the secrets he held, Joe's words struck a deep chord within him.

Across the room, Iris lingered on the sofa, her gaze distant as she sipped her wine. She cast occasional glances at Joe, whose heartfelt speech had left a lingering smile on his face. Yet, within Iris, the cracks in her composure deepened.

His words earlier had shaken her resolve, and now, the thoughts of telling him were growing louder, almost impossible to ignore.

Wally, noticing her unease, quietly made his way to her side. Sitting down, he filtered out the noise in the background and leaned closer.

"You don't want to see him sad and constantly worried about you, is that it?" he asked softly, glancing at his visibly absent sister.

She sighed, her shoulders sagging as her gaze met his. "Yeah," she murmured. "He's just starting to find his bearings again, without the burden. He's even planning to move on, to find someone he can love. But if I tell him about what's going to—" She paused, her voice faltering, glancing at Wally with visible worry. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Even though Iris had been putting up a façade of being okay, the weight of knowing her life might have an expiration date was overwhelming. It felt like her world was running on borrowed time, every second ticking closer to an unavoidable truth.

Wally placed a hand on her shoulder. "I won't force you to tell him. It's your choice. But remember, the more you delay, the more it will hurt when he finds out." He offered her a faint, understanding smile before rising to his feet and walking away, leaving her to wrestle with her thoughts.

Just as Joe's laughter filled the air, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered, his expression quickly shifting to one of alarm as Captain Singh's voice crackled on the other end.

"Metahumans?, robbing the bank?"