Chapter Text
1: Tickets to Rio
Sa. July 9th, US Olympics Trials (track and field)
Immediately after Wally crossed the finish-line he was sure he had done it. Had qualified for the Olympics in Rio. Even though he was pretty sure he didn't come in first he just had a feeling that it would be enough. That his dream would come true.
He turned around to look at the board of results and anxiously waited for the official times.
“First Place in the Olympic Qualification for the 200 meters with a fantastic time of 19.75 seconds goes toooo Justin Gaitlin!” it came over the speakers and Wally held his breath.
“Only four hundredth behind in this photo-finish with 19.79 seconds LaShawn Merritt comes in second!
Now to the third place and last ticket to Rio: There is only one hundredth between third and fourth place. One! Hundredth! And in the third place with 19.93 seconds: Wallace West!”
If asked later Wally wouldn't be able to tell what happened after that. He half registered being hugged by his uncle and trainer Barry and congratulated by the other athletes, but all he could think of was phoning his best friend to tell him the news.
Later in the locker room after a quick shower he unlocked his cell to almost a hundred new massages and missed calls from friends and family to congratulate him. He scrolled over most of them only sending a quick thanks to his parents and his aunt Iris before he found and opened Dick's.
There were three massages. Realizing that the first was actually send before the start Wally opened it:
5:39 pm Run, Forrest! Run!
He grinned and got to read the next one:
5:44 pm OMG!!! U did it! U r going to RIO! Congrats Wally!!!!! U were gr8! OMG ! YOU ARE AN OLYMPIAN !!!! 1/100th!! Thats sooo asterous!!!!!!!!
5:45 pm call me ASAP! I wanna congratulate u in person!
That was exactly what he was doing. Dick accepted the call at the second ring and answered with a loud squeal.
“Oh! My! God! Wally! You're going to Rio! That's soo great! Congrats again! I knew you could do it!”
“Thanks D! I Know! It's the Dream! When I crossed the line I was sure I had it! But then the announcer said it's only one hundredth between third and fourth place and I got soo nervous! But yeah! I did it! I'm going to Olympia!”
“I never doubted it! I knew you can do it! And it wasn't even you're best time! You're going to rock The Games!”
“Yeah.” Wally sounded much more subdued all of a sudden.
“What is it Wally? Aren't you happy? That was your dream since we first met.”
“I am happy! Ecstatic even. It just sucks, that you wont be there. I mean it was our dream to go to the Olympics together!”
“I know. Coming in sixth when five qualify sucks. But we can still go in four years. I mean, we're young. I just got 18. I would have been the youngest gymnast! And your just 20, there's at least two other Olympics waiting for us.”
“Three! Or even four! Gaitlin still beat me and is starting at 34. Hell, my uncle won his last Medal at 36!”
“See, we can still go to Olympia together. You worked really hard for this. And you qualified for the 200 meters and also almost for the 100 and the 400! You deserve to go! Also who says I can't still come cheer you? You know there are certain perks to being adopted to one of the richest men in America.”
“Really? You'll come to Brazil, just to watch me?”
“Duh. Of course Kid Idiot! But not just you, also the gymnastics, archery and as many others as possible.”
“Don't call me that! But why archery? I mean it's not like Roy could start with his arm...”
“He's still hoping and training for the Paralympics. He send me an article of a guy who has no arms and shoots with his legs.”
“Wow! Didn't know that's possible.”
“Right, I know! But actually I was talking about the women's competition. Artemis is qualified. I told you about her.”
“She goes to your school right?”
“Yeah, she's quite cool. And good looking. I'm gonna introduce you in Rio.”
“Good looking, huh? There something you wanna tell me, you player?”
“What? No! We're just friends. I told you I'm not looking for a new relationship. Not after Babs...”
“Still too fresh? Well, I should probably go. Barry is waiting for me. I'm still in the locker room and there's some reporters waiting for the Wallster.”
“Ok Wally, stay whelmed.”
“Bye Dick”
Fr. July 15th, Central City
A few days later Wally was totally exhausted after training starts for the whole afternoon and only wanted to take a hot shower, eat everything in the kitchen and then fall into bed when Dick called.
“Hey Wally.” Dick sounded oddly disappointed
“Hey Bro! What's the matter?”
“It seems I wont be going to Rio as a spectator after all.”
“What? Why? But you promised to cheer for me. That's Bruce's fault, isn't it? He can't do this! That's soo unfair!”
“Wally, listen!” Dick interrupted before his friend would rant even further, “I'm not going as a spectator 'cause I'm coming with you as an athlete!”
Now every trace of disappointment had left his voice and was replaced by joy. Wally was left dumbfounded.
“But. But how? You missed the qualification.”
“Orozco injured himself in training and can't compete.”
Wally let out a happy (manly) squeal.
“You're going to Olympia!”
“Yeah I know! I know I should probably feel bad for him, but I'm just so excited!” Dick exclaimed.
“We're going to Olympia! We're going to Olympia!”, Wally chanted and jumped and danced around excitedly.
Dick grinned at Wally's antics, “Now we only have to plan carefully what we want to do and see in Rio!”
Wally's exhaustion was completely forgotten and they chatted and planned until late at night.