Chapter Three:

Training

Oh boy, this could be a struggle for some of you. If you are reading this from a League funded building (if you don't know what I mean, don't worry about it), you're already ahead of the pack. You have a great training facility and personal trainer. But, if you plan to start solo before going team-o, you're gonna need to do a lot of sit-ups and - unless you're a speedster with a mega fast metabolism - I hate to be the one to break this to ya but you're going to have to start cuttin' the carbs. And the sweets. And the bad fats.

Located in the back cover of this book is an instructional 120 day workout DVD. But even 120 day won't put you in the tip-top shape you'll need to be in - but hopefully by day 120 you'll be good enough for the League to notice and take interest in you.

"Alright," Black Canary stood before the group of sweating and panting teenagers. "If you guys give me 13 miles in under an hour and 35 minutes I'll let you leave early tonight."

Even with the promise of early release the team groaned. Canary sure knew how to push them and although they knew it was for the best that didn't mean they had to like it. Nevertheless they all lined up on the track and took their positions.

"Not so fast, Kid Flash," Black Canary pulled the redhead away from the group, "that would be far too easy for you."

Wally let out a defeated moan, he was so close. "Awh come on, BC! It wouldn't be fair for me to sit out while my team has to run!" In the background he could hear Artemis grunt a sarcastic and challenged 'your team?' but he chose to ignore it.

"Oh you won't be sitting out, I have other plans for you." Canary turned away from Wally and gave the others the go and their workout started.

"What kind of plans?" The boy wiggled his eyebrows, but all humor drained from his face when he noticed the smirk that played on her lips.

"You're going to do what I like to call: Murph." Wally snorted but any sarcastic remark died on his tongue when Dinah shot him a glare. "You are going to do 10 handstand push-ups, 100 pull-ups, 200 squats with 140 pound weights, 300 hundred regular pushups, 25 burpees and you'll finish with 50 around-the-world push-ups,"

Kid Flash narrowed his eyes, "easy-peasy lemon squeezy." Canary raised an eyebrow.

"I'll leave you to it then. Oh, and no super speed, Wally." With that she turned to watch the others run.

"Hey, Black Canary," he called, cursing her for banning his speed. She just had to make this difficult for him, didn't she? "How did you come up with the name?"

She grinned, "ex-boyfriend."

It was halfway through his 200 squats that Wally realized just how tired he really was. He glared daggers at his team and the back of Canary's head. What he would give to be running right now - even if he would finish the half marathon in seconds while his team was huffing and puffing over it.

But it was 100 push-ups in that Wally started to shake - really shake. Not the small tremors he was getting earlier. His face was red, his breathing was labored and every movement of his arms was draining whatever energy he had left.

Maybe he could shave some pushups off of his workout? Canary wouldn't notice. No, Canary would definitely notice. By the 150th lift he couldn't do it anymore. This 'Murph' guy must've been a real dick to elicit this kind of workout.

It was a little after his 200th push-up that Black Canary decided to pay him a visit. His push-ups had gotten sloppier and were slower now. His whole body shook with exhaustion. She knelt down beside him.

"Quittin' on me, West?"

"Never," he ground out through gritted teeth. That one word took out far too much energy than it should have.

"How many have you done?"

"Two - fif-fifteen."

She nodded. "Those last fifteen didn't count. You're back to two hundred." She stood up to leave.

"Wha-what? No," he groaned. "Black Canary," he whined but it was no use. His complaints fell on to deaf ears, she was already halfway to the track. He heard her clap a few times and throw out words of encouragement to the others. He took a moment to watch them.

Robin was in first, which didn't surprise the ginger, followed by Kaldur. Artemis was not far behind and she seemed determined to pass the Atlantian. Half a lap behind was Zatanna and a little ways behind her was Superboy, who was obviously running slower to match M'gann's pace.

"Don't get distracted, Wally!" Black Canary called before she turned her attention back to the team.

He grumbled a few explicits but pushed through the remaining push-ups.

Standing up to start his burpees he looked down at the matt and frowned at the puddle of sweat there. He side-stepped and decided to finish his work out on a dryer space. By his fifth burpee Wallace Rudolph West was sure he was going to throw up. Drop, push up, stand, jump. Drop, push up, stand, jump.

"Higher, Kid," Canary stood to his side. When did she get there? He took a deep breath and grit his teeth. The muscles in his jaw ached maliciously. "Push yourself West." On the opposite side of the gym the others had finished their run, the slowest time coming in at 1 hour and 29 minutes. They piled off of the track and out of the room. Artemis shot Wally a sympathetic look before ducking out as well. And then there were two.

"I - I can't," Wally managed to say between breaths. His false bravado melted away when his teammates left. There was no one left to pretend to be strong for.

"You can't?" The boy nodded. "You can't do this? You can't finish?" Sweat slid down his face and splattered onto the ground. Drop, push up, stand, jump. He swallowed thickly but his throat was dry. "No one is making you stay here, Wally. If you want to quit, then leave. You're tired? Fine. Go to sleep. Your arms hurt? Go to your room and cry about it. Nurse your wounds with your tail between your legs." He didn't say anything but he started his push ups. "You hurt, you're in pain - but how long will that pain last? A minute, an hour, a day? With your accelerated healing you'll be fine by tomorrow but your teammate?" Black Canary kneeled beside him, "they're gonna be sore tomorrow. And the next day. If you finish, Wally, you'll hurt for a while but pain is temporary. If you quit, however. That pain will last forever. Why stop? You're already in pain, Wally - get a reward from it! You've gotten this far - why stop now?"

Wally ground his teeth together, fully prepared to spit a comment at her but he couldn't find the energy. His brain was shutting down. He poured all of his concentration into his form.

"You think you can't?" She scoffed. "Well, you're probably right! He who says he can and he who says he can't are both usually correct."

His muscles shook mercilessly. Every breath he took hurt but he couldn't stop. He wouldn't stop. But at the same time, his arms threatened to give out on him and he was only 15 in his last set of 50. Black Canary stood up and turned. "You can have results or excuses, Wally. But you can't have both." He hadn't realized she left until he heard the heavy slam of the door shut and echo through the gym.

The only sound left was his grunting and labored breathing.

"I can't," he spat. "I can't." Up, down and around, his arms shook violently. Around and around he went. Each time whispering I can't.

I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't. 15 reps turned into 30 turned into 40. Again and again he pushed himself. He pushed himself harder than he thought he could go. Harder, faster, stronger. Mind over matter, Canar had said many times during their training sessions. Mind over matter. Pain is in the mind, he was taught. 46. 47. 48. 49.

With one last push Wally dropped onto the wet surface of the matt. 50. "Fuck you, Murph."

I watch a lot of motivational videos, okay? Sue me. you might recognize some of the parts in the speech

Next Chapter: Secret ID

For more Young Justice, check out my drabble dump/one-shot collection "Fireflies Flash". Each chapter is labeled with a pairing or character that is centric to it and there is a brief list of character/pairing/setting before each story so you can skip things you don't like