| Washington D.C. - August 10
Joseph and Kori were on another date—sothing rare these days, and sothing he didn't take for granted. Life had been speeding up lately so monts like this? Where it was just him and her, they were gold.
When they were together like this, they didn't talk about the Team, the League, or any of the hero stuff. Just two people. Just Joseph and Kori.
They t in the early afternoon, right by the fountain outside the Smithsonian. The sun was out, the breeze was soft, and D.C. was pulsing with tourist life. The city always looked better in the sumr, when the chaos softened into sothing livable.
Kori looked stunning in a simple lilac sundress and white sneakers, her red hair flowing behind her in the breeze. Joseph had opted for dark jeans and a casual navy button-up.
They decided to catch a movie—Tron: Legacy, newly released in theaters. Kori was fascinated by the neon aesthetic from the posters alone.
And the movie? Aweso. For two hours, they were subrged in a world of light cycles, killer soundtracks, and digital gods. Kori kept leaning over to whisper questions about the physics of the Grid, and Joseph kept whispering back nonsense just to make her giggle.
Afterward, they wandered along the National Mall, deciding on lunch.
"I want sothing super greasy and very unhealthy," Joseph declared with a mock-serious expression, squinting at a line of food trucks.
"You're in luck," Kori said. "Because D.C. food trucks are overpriced and barely healthy."
They settled on hotdogs, loaded with ketchup, mustard, onions, and fries that were too good to be legal. Plus overpriced bottled sodas, of course. They found a quiet bench shaded by a tree and sat down to eat.
Joseph took a bite, leaned back, and sighed. "Okay, this is probably the best hotdog I've had this week."
"Have you had any others this week?" Kori asked with a smile.
"…That's not the point."
They ate in companionable silence for a while, people-watching and soaking in the lazy energy of the afternoon. Eventually, Kori dusted off her hands and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"I've been thinking," she said softly, turning to him.
"Dangerous," Joseph teased. "Go on."
She gave him a light nudge with her elbow. "About doing sothing during my downti. I'm grateful to the League—and to you—for covering all my living expenses. But… I want to feel like I'm contributing. Like I'm not just… taking."
Joseph tilted his head. "Kori, you do contribute. You've saved people, protected cities—"
"I don't an like that," she interrupted gently. "I an in everyday life. A normal job. Sothing small. Human."
He looked at her thoughtfully, then nodded. "Okay. I get that. You know I don't mind helping with money, but… yeah. I'll support whatever you want to do."
She smiled. "There's this modeling agency. A representative saw a few days ago—when I was just out shopping in civvies. She said I had 'the look.' Whatever that ans."
Joseph laughed. "It ans you're very pretty and people would pay to see you in clothes they can't afford."
She blushed slightly. "I was thinking of doing it under my civilian identity, Kory Anders. It could be fun… and also help feel a little more grounded. What do you think?"
"I think you'd crush it," he said, without hesitation. "Try it out. If you hate it, you walk away. But honestly, I can't imagine a single outfit not looking great on you."
"You're so sweet," Kori murmured, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
Joseph wasn't satisfied with a peck. "Selina recomnded this really good Spanish place we could hit up later. Real fancy. Good atmosphere. Candlelight. Though everything's in Spanish so you might not understand."
Kori gave him a knowing look. "If you wanted another kiss, you could've just said so."
She leaned in and kissed him properly this ti—slow, warm, and genuine. When they pulled apart, Joseph felt like he was floating.
"I wasn't speaking Spanish yet. You'll have to do it again."
Kori roled her eyes at his shalessness. He smiled. Life's good.
**
| Central City – August 10
Wally was in his room doing howork. School had started two days ago, and despite his goofy nature, Wally was a science whiz—top of his class—so he was breezing through assignnts, using his speed to knock them out in minutes.
He paused, grabbed a potato chip, and ate it.
Ever since Joseph shared the Speed Force formula with him, Wally's connection to the Speed Force had deepened. He noticed his tabolism wasn't as crazy-fast anymore. He still ate more than a regular person—or even his uncle—but it was starting to taper off. Only ti would tell if that trend continued as his speed kept increasing.
He owed Joseph a lot. Even if Spee-Red Arrow didn't seem to like the guy much, Wally figured he'd co around. Beneath that stoic shell, Joseph was solid.
Just then, his uncle Barry appeared in his room, suited up, the Speed Force lightning and aura flickering around him before fading.
"You're alive—thank God," Barry said, pulling him into a hug. Then he started rambling inhumanly fast—sothing about tilines, Batman wielding an Amazonian sword, and a guy called Reverse-Flash? Who even was that?
Yesterday, Wally had told him about the Speed Force formula. Maybe that's why he was acting weird.
"No matter what, don't break the ti barrier!" Barry warned, before speeding out of the room.
Wally blinked. Was that even scientifically possible?
"That was weird."
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