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He had to run. He had to just keep running. The burning in his lungs with every breath didn’t matter. The tremor in his legs that shook his body with every step didn’t matter. He just had to keep running. He had to survive! He had to. He was the last one.
Wally sped around a corner and tried to shove that last thought out of his mind. It didn’t matter if he had an army behind him or if he was entirely alone in the world. He would survive. He wouldn’t let his teammates' sacrifice be in vain.
So he ran. And ran. And ran.
He ran blindly for so long that he almost missed the whizzing by his ear and the boulder that almost dropped on top of him. He let out a yell and swerved out of the way. He skidded to a stop to see Artemis a few yards away, another arrow nocked and ready to fire.
He was far, but he could still see it. She looked normal. Her green uniform was pristine but tarnished by flecks of blood that dripped down from her chin. She gave Wally a fanged smile and launched another arrow.
They were easy to dodge. He could’ve easily caught it, but he knew they were tricks. The second it got close to him it would activate something to keep him still. Something that would make him not move so they could bite him. So they could turn him. But he wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t going to let himself get caught.
“RAAAAAH!”
“Wha-?!” Wally yelped as he zipped away from the body that fell from the sky. The earth shook with the impact and dust kicked up into the air.
Wally coughed and waved his hand in front of his face - trying to clear his eyes and lungs - when he heard another whistle coming from behind. He only had time to lean out of the way, but the arrow still nicked his shoulder. Blood dripped from the wound but the sting was nothing compared to the alternative - that arrow going through his chest.
“That speed of yours is annoying,” Artemis called as she casually made her way toward him. Wally didn’t have time to respond as Superboy, clothes tattered with the impact and baring his sharpened teeth, stood back to full height blocking Wally’s escape path. He cursed in his head. They were trapping him.
Artemis knocked another arrow as she licked a droplet of blood off her lips. “Give it up already. You know you can’t win. Not against Superboy. Not against me.”
Wally had the audacity to roll his eyes. “Oh, what? You think I’m just gonna give up because you ask nicely? And you’re not even asking nicely! Whoa!”
Wally zipped away to dodge another arrow that exploded at his feet. His eyes were drawn to the fiery explosion that erupted where he stood. His gaze was so focused on the flames that he ran straight into Superboy’s outstretched arm. His body spun through the air and he landed on his chest with a painful oomph!
Superboy stood over him, baring his teeth. He reached down and opened his mouth. Blood dripped from his fangs in disgusting globs. A shiver of fear and adrenaline shot up Wally’s spine. His body crackled with electricity as he tapped into the speed force. It didn’t matter that Superboy was Kryptonian - his speed increased compared to a human’s - it didn’t matter that he also possessed the other inhuman vampiric speed. Nothing was faster than a speedster. Blindingly quick, Wally delivered several kicks to Superboy’s chest. The last one he let out a yell and kicked with all his might, sending Superboy flying backward away from him.
Wally rolled to his feet just as another arrow flew toward him. His instincts kicked in and he grabbed the arrow. He cursed himself internally as the arrow exploded and a cable wrapped around his torso, locking his arms in place.
“You’re caught, Wally. Give up!” Artemis yelled.
“Give up? You think this is enough for me to give up? Wow, you turning into a vampire made you really cocky, huh Arty?” Wally teased as he got to his feet with a slight wobble.
Behind him, he heard Superboy get up again. He knew he couldn’t take them both on - especially with his hands tied behind his back.
So he ran.
It wasn’t an elegant escape. It wasn’t a cunning plan. But it was all he had at the moment. The strategy here was to survive. If that meant awkwardly running away, then he would.
He wasn’t as fast because his momentum was thrown off without the use of his arms, but he was still faster than Superboy jumping into the air - trying to land on him - and he was definitely faster than the three arrows Artemis tried to shoot at him.
He heard Superboy yell in range and Artemis curse him out as he fled. Wally couldn’t help the smug grin creeping onto his face knowing he got away.
He looked down at the restraints around him. He couldn’t keep this on forever - he was so much slower with this damn thing wearing him down. He skidded to a stop and hid behind an unsuspecting tree. He peered around the corner and saw nothing but an empty street. It was eerie that there weren’t even any civilians. He heard the crash of the water and was reassured because nothing would be able to sneak up on him without him hearing them.
Wally sighed. He was clear - for now. He shouldn’t get too comfortable though. Who knows when another vampire would find him? He shuddered at the thought of having to try to fight another ally - or worse, have to kill them.
Wally closed his eyes and shook the thought away. No. He wouldn’t kill any of his friends - vampire or not. He had his strategy. He wouldn’t deviate from it. Wally tried to wiggle himself out of the wire to distract himself.
The thing was snuggly around him - it was annoying. He couldn’t even raise his hands to try to de-tangle himself. He was grumbling under his breath so much that he didn’t hear the enchantment before it was too late.
“Ekans a otni eriw eht nrut!”
“Oh, shit!” Wally cried.
He felt the wire tighten and thicken around him. It shifted and squeezed as the coils turned into brown scales. He heard a hiss in the back of his ear and saw two snakeheads slither into his view. He yelped and flexed his arms trying to free himself from the creatures. Their bodies slid against his and it made his skin crawl. The slithering was too close to his ear made his core shiver and those yellow eyes threatened to freeze him solid in fear.
It’s just a spell! They aren’t real! Wally willed himself to think as he continued to strain against the enchantment.
Zatanna descended from the sky, hand outstretched and blood splattered across her face. Her eyes glowed red as she concentrated on the spell that bound him. Wally swore under his breath. Zatanna was the one ally that was a wild card. The one where he didn’t quite know how to avoid.
Still hovering in the air, away from his reach, she closed her eyes and began another encantation. Oh no! Wally knew he couldn’t let her say another word - who knows what it will do to him. He had a terrible vision of himself turning into a pile of sludge. He didn’t know if she could do that, but he didn’t want to give her the opportunity to try!
Her mouth opened and the words threatened to fall from her lips. Wally’s body crackled to life once again, but he wasn’t planning on running (not yet anyway). He shifted his arms up and down faster and faster until he smelled the smoke radiating off the snakes. It smelled terrible, but Wally just thanked whoever was above as the creature’s grip on him loosened. Hands now free, Wally grabbed the snakes by the tails, spun on his heel, and chucked them up towards the magician.
“Rewols retsdeeps eht - oomph!”
The impact knocked her out of the air and sent her crashing onto the ground. Her cry almost sounded normal - human. Wally had to fight the urge to go check on her to make sure she was okay. But he couldn't. He couldn’t as long as those fangs in her mouth made her thirst his blood.
He was about to turn and run away from the pier when a set of strong arms wrapped around him.
“AAh!” Wally screamed as he immediately began to try to break free.
“Be still, Kid!” Aqualad’s voice growled in his ear. The words shot fear through his spine and only made him thrash more. Aqualad was a fight he didn’t want. He knew their leader was strong. He knew he was cunning. He was surprised he wasn’t bitten yet - it might be because he was moving around too much. Then he would keep moving! Wally kicked his shins, tried to smash his head into Aqualad’s nose, and thrust his shoulders in every direction. He needed to break free. Aqualad was way too close to his throat.
Amidst his struggling, he could feel Aqualad moving. Slowly but surely, Aqualad took step after step. Backward. Into the ocean! Shit!
He wasn’t feeling particularly creative. His only thought was ‘escape’. He was able to escape a bind like this before, so what wasn’t broke don’t fix it!
Wally looked down at the strong arms encased around him and threw behind him, “Sorry about this, Kaldur!” He then vibrated his arms. Faster and faster. He saw the flesh slowly burn before Aqualad let out a hiss and loosen his grip on Wally.
He takes advantage of the weakened hold and pushes his way out of Aqualad’s arms. He sends a flurry of blows to Aqualad’s center pushing him further back and into the waters - where he probably came from. Wally didn’t have time to relish in his freedom for he saw Zatanna slowly get up. He raced over to her, the snakes now back to their wire form, grabbed it and her. He threw her against the tree and sped the wire to trap her and coiled a bit around her mouth for good measure. Now she couldn’t bite nor cast spells - perfect!
Zatanna strained against the wire and muffled out screams of protest. Those red eyes bore into his with hatred and betrayal. He would feel bad about his actions later.
Wally was about to run away, satisfied with his work, when the wire floated off Zatanna’s body. She stood to her full height, a smug grin on her face and a hand on her hip. Aqualad also emerged from the ocean, water cascading down his form like fog, but he didn’t stop rising. He ascended into the air and floated next to Zatanna.
Wally wondered if Zatanna cast a spell to make Aqualad float for only two seconds. The air shifted between the two figures and out came Miss Martian - de-camouflaged. Blood dripped from her lips and the three hissed in unison. It was terrifyingly coordinated.
Zatanna raised her hands and her lips moved in a new encantation. Aqualad removed the bearers from his back and drew up gallons of saltwater. Both were terrifying opponents, but the thing that made Wally stagger was the voice in his mind.
“Join us, Wally.”
He pressed his hands over his ears in vain. He knew the psychic link was established and knew he could be swayed by it. It was just M’gann after all. Miss Martian was his friend. She would never lead him astray. They were friends. He could trust her. He should trust her. He…
No. He shouldn’t. He couldn’t. Not now! She was a vampire, just like the rest of them.
He tripped over his feet as he heard Miss Martian say louder, “Join us!” But he swatted the thought away.
“Sorry, Megalicious,” Wally thought, “No can do!”
Miss Martian’s eyes narrowed into a glare. She sent her hand forward and Aqualad launched towards Wally, a threatening wave trailing him. Zatanna surged forward as well, fangs out and ready to bite. They all screamed and hissed and had clawed hands outstretched. But Wally was free, and he was not going to stick around these vampires any longer than he already had.
Turning his heel, he fled. He heard Aqualad's wave gain speed and crash behind him. Splashes of water hit his back but didn’t harm him. He heard Zatanna cast another spell, but he sped out of its way. He heard Miss Martain scream in his mind, “Join us! You can’t escape! No! Join us!” But he put one foot in front of the other, putting more distance between them, and soon the mental connection faded.
He sighed in relief as he ran. That was close. Too close. Zatanna had him trapped. Aqualad almost bit him. Miss Martain almost convinced him to stay. It was all way too close.
Wally shook his head to try to clear his mind. He was doing good. He was surviving. He outran all his past allies. He didn’t kill any of them! That was something! Yeah, he was doing good! He could survive this! He WILL survive this!
Wally grinned and was a moment away from whooping with joy when he rounded a corner and was met with two unpleasant sensations. His chest rammed into something solid and metal - his body propelled backward and flipped in the air. As soon as his body touched that metal, an electric shock shot through his body. It was nothing like the speed force’s electricity that danced on the edge of his skin. It was harsh and painful - it traveled through every nerve in his body making his muscles go ridged.
He flopped onto the asphalt with a groan. He stared up at the starless sky as his muscles spasmed with aftershocks. Fuck! That shit was painful!
“You never look where you’re goin’, do you KF?”
Wally’s eyes widened. Oh no.
A dark shadow appeared above him - staring down. A white grin stretched across their face - blood stained their teeth and down their chin. Some plopped onto the ground next to Wally’s head. Ew.
They crouched down, arms on their knees, and got close to Wally’s face. “You did a good job of running from everyone else so far, but that stops now.”
Wally bit the inside of his cheek. He was nervous when fighting Superboy and Artemis. There were many close calls with facing Zatanna, Aqualad, and Miss Martian. But there was no way. There was just no way he could beat Nightwing, the Vampire King!
Nightwing’s smile widened as Wally’s eyes did. He licked a stripe of blood from the bottom of his lip. “You’ll join us, won’t you Walls?”
Wally couldn’t help but follow that tongue as dragged across the dripping blood on his chin. His fangs peaked through the darkness that was his mouth. His grin was mischievous but somehow inviting. Was Nightwing leaning closer was he? Regardless, Wally wanted to lean closer. Wanted to get closer. He wanted -
No! Wally needed to snap out of it. He needed to run. He needed to get away. He needed to fight!
His muscles still strained and his head weirdly foggy, Wally snapped his arms behind his head and sprung to his feet. He tried to aim his kick at Nightwing’s jaw, but the Vampire King was just too fast. He dodged out of the way as Wally got back to his feet. Wally tested his muscles to see if he could run. A small shock of electricity tingled down his legs - like small needles were poking out of his bloodstream.
He wasn’t running away from this fight. So Wally raised his hands and was ready to defend and throw some lightning-quick punches.
Nightwing smiled at him (why did those fangs look so alluring?) and twirled the escrima sticks in his hand. Lightning crackled from the end of the weapons as Nightwing got into a ready stance himself. Wally would need to avoid those weapons just as much as Nightwing’s teeth.
The vampire made the first move. He surged forward, jumping in the air, and slashed down at Wally. Their fight was like a dance. When one person moved forward the other retreated. Then they would go in with an attack while the other dodged. Neither landed a hit on one another or at least one that would do damage. It was graceful with how their bodies moved. It was violent with all the grunting and hissing.
Nightwing then laughed as he sent a kick at Wally’s ankles. Wally yelped as he tripped but he was still up. He staggered backward, but Nightwing kept advancing with his escrima sticks. With a well-placed blow, Wally dropped to the ground. Before Wally could scramble back to his feet. Nightwing stomped his foot down onto his chest. Wally felt all the air force out of his lungs. He strained to get some oxygen back in but the pressure only allowed short wheezes in.
In all honesty, Wally was surprised he lasted as long as he did. Dick had always been a better hand-to-hand fighter. He never stood a chance.
Wally grabbed at Nightwing’s ankle, trying to shove the appendage off, but Nightwing grabbed both his hands and pinned them above his head. His other hand found his throat and squeezed. Nightwing was mere inches from Wally’s face as he grinned, fangs on full, terrifying display.
“You lose, KF. You know what that means? You get to join my army. Become a vampire with me?”
“N-never,” Wally wheezed out.
Nightwing chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, I wasn’t asking. You’re going to drink my blood and become a vampire. You’re joining my legion. You’re going to be my right-hand man and we’re going to take over the world together.”
Wally was about to scoff and tell him off when Nightwing leaned in closer. His eyes slipped closed and he closed the gap between them. Wally froze. Nightwing’s lips were on his. His hand crept up to Wally’s jaw and forced it open with a squeeze. He slipped his tongue in and Wally could feel the liquid dip into his mouth and down his throat. His eyes rolled back. Oh, that was nice.
Wally began to kiss back in earnest. Nightwing hummed in approval as he slipped his hand to the back of Wally’s neck and pulled him further into himself. The kiss felt more electric - and it wasn’t because of the escrima sticks or the speed force. Heat bubbled in Wally’s chest with the ache to get closer. To touch more. To feel Nightwing in every sense of the word. The kiss was everything. Just kissing wasn’t enough.
“Ah-hem!” a voice called.
Dick broke away from the kiss and Wally’s head snapped towards the voice. Artemis stood with a hand on her hip and eyebrow raised. Behind her, the rest of the team walked toward the two that were still on the ground. Wally felt his face heat up as the team surrounded them.
“You lost, Wally. Oh, and you got a bit of jelly on your face,” she said as she pointed to the corner of her lip.
Dick let Wally sit up and lip the corner of his mouth. “Hm, strawberry!”
M’gann floated down next to Artemis she clapped and giggled. “This was such a cool idea, Wally! Evasion training but Halloween-themed! This was so much fun!”
“I will say, it was an interesting way for me to use some illusion magic,” Zatanna said, her eyes still glowing red. “Speaking of…lamron ot kcab!” The enchantment swirled around the team - sans M’gann - and everyone was back in their pristine uniforms with fangless mouths.
“Hey, Kaldur, you’re next right?” M’gann smiled as she floated over toward him. “What would you like us all to be? Zombies? Mummies? Werewolves?”
“Hm, I don’t know why, but I envisioned everyone as creatures of sorts, such as dragons or chimera?” Kaldur pondered with an amused grin.
“Oh! I can totally imagine Dragon-Conner!” Artemis said as she turned her back on the two heroes still on the ground.
“I’ve always wanted to breathe fire,” Conner hummed to himself.
The group dissipated, readying their next exercise. Wally looked at Dick, who was still on his lap. He smiled up at him and squeezed his hips teasingly. “Gonna get up any time soon, Boy Wonder?”
“Eh, I’m good where I am. Thanks,” he giggled. Dick looped his arms around Wally’s neck and planted a quick peck on the corner of his mouth.
Wally smirked at him. “Not gonna lie. You were really hot as a vampire.”
“Oh, was I? Didn’t notice.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing all this later. Maybe later tonight?” Wally teased.
Dick raised a brow. “Oh? You wanna sleep with the Vampire King, Wallace?”
Wally’s grin turned mischievous as he hugged Dick closer to his chest. “Oh-ho, babe, if he comes, I don’t think there’s gonna be a lot of sleeping tonight.”