He'd folded like a cheap tent. He'd signed on the dotted line, he'd agreed to be their pet piper, their snake charmer, and he didn't think he'd be calling the tune any time soon, not with how rigidly they took care of their assets. Every time he stepped into a cell it was like his heart was broken over again, and some nights he curled up on himself, cursing his cowardice, fearing deep down he was never going to be the man he should be.

But every morning he got up again and did it again, and said silent apologies in his head to Wally and Linda and tried not to hate anyone but himself, because it wasn't Wally's fault he never came.

But all the same, he never came.

Piper had been looking the wrong way for heroes, he'd thrown his family away waiting for his knight in polished golden wingtips. He was a fucking idiot.

He stepped into the cell for the hundredth time, the thousandth time, the ten thousandth time, what did it matter?

"Hi."