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clockwayswrites · 10 months

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A Broken Sort of Normal Part 10

WC: 1382, Masterpost CW: past cannon typical violence, past off screen civilian and first responder deaths, mentions of death, dissociation

The golden softening of the light across his face woke Danny. Well, it brought him to consciousness. Danny still didn’t feel entirely awake. He felt floaty, like the world was steps away from him. If he tried to wake up, to think to hard, it felt like there was a scream boiling up in his chest.

His breath stuttered.

“It’s okay,” a sleepy voice murmured behind him. The arms wrapped around him tightened in a gentle squeeze.

Danny ran his hand over the arms, trailing down to link his fingers with the hand. He knew that hand, it was Flash’s.

“It’s okay, I have you,” Flash assured him, the words followed up by a soft kiss to the back of his neck.

Danny gave a hum and let himself drift away again.

The next time Danny woke, he was alone and in a bedroom he very much did not recognize. There wasn’t much personality in the room. It was painted in on a soothing blue that the sheets matched. A few pops of yellow brightened the whole color scheme up.

It didn’t give him any clue where he was.

Or why he felt like a bus had hit him.

It took him a few tries to sit up and swing his legs over the edge of the bed.

He wasn’t even in clothing that he recognized, though the sweat pants and t-shirt fit well enough, if a little long. The pants pooled around his feet, catching under his heels, as he shuffled down the cheerfully green hall.

“Oh! You’re up!”

Danny spun towards the voice. The bright red hair pulled back in a loose pony tail made him ache for Jazz.

“Wally, honey!” She— whoever this was— shouted over her shoulder before she focused back on Danny. “Hi, I bet this is all really weird, isn’t it? You were a little out of it when you arrived so you might not remember much? I’m Iris. I’m the older Flash’s wife and the younger Flash’s aunt.”

Automatically, Danny shook the offered hand. It was warm from the coffee cup she was carrying. “I, Danny, I guess you know that?”

She had a kind smile. “Sure do, W—”

There was a rush of air and there was a guy standing in front of him, watching him with big, concerned eyes. “Babe! You’re awake! Of course when I go and get breakfast you wake up! How are you feeling? Did you rest? Oh right, um, this is Iris but she said I’m sure and she’s my aunt—”

The blur of words cut off when Danny reached up to brush his finger tips over the bridge of Flash’s nose. The freckles did go all the way across.

“Danny? Babe?”

Danny glanced up into pale blue eyes. “I…”

Oh. Right. There had been…

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, you’re okay,” Flash said. He reached out and wiped away tears.

Danny didn’t even know he had started crying, but now that he was aware he was outright sobbing. His whole body shuddered with it. Carefully, more carefully than Danny thought he deserved, Flash wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close.

They ended up on the couch. Danny didn’t know how long had passed, it was all a bit of a blur, but when his tears finally dried up and his chest had stopped catching with grief, him and Flash were wrapped up each other on a couch in what was obviously the living room.

“Sorry,” Danny chocked out. He felt gross. His skin was sticky from the dried tears. His nose was running. His throat felt like he had swallowed a desert. Everything still hurt.

“Don’t apologize. You needed to cry. I mean of course you needed to cry. You will again too, I bet, but it’s okay. It will always be okay. Being a hero… it… yeah, there are days like this.”

“I’m not a hero,” Danny said. Insisted.

He wasn’t. If he had still be an hero he could have phased people out of the rubble and saved more of them. He could of contained some of the blasts. He could have fought. He could have—

“Danny, hey, come on babe, breathe, please?” Flash begged, fingers rubbing over Danny’s cheek. “Come on, follow my breathing.”

Flash took exaggerate breaths, making Danny’s whole head rise and fall from where it was buried against Flash’s chest. Slowly the shuddering breaths got back under control and Danny stopped feeling like his whole… everything was breaking apart.

“You still with me?” Flash sounded absolutely wrecked.

And it was Danny’s fault.

“I’m with you,” Danny said, before he felt the need to be truthful and add, “I think.”

“Things feeling a little floaty?” Flash asked, rubbing his hand up and down Danny’s back.

Danny just nodded.

“That’s okay. I’ll be here with you to keep you safe,” Flash promised. “I’m sorry I was away when you woke up. I was just getting some food. Iris was worried about me getting ill if I didn’t.”

“Hummingbird.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Did you eat enough?” Danny really didn’t want Flash worried and sick on top of that because of him.

Flash’s little noise said everything.

“You should eat more.”

“Think you can eat something too? Maybe like oatmeal?” Flash asked.

Danny’s stomach did uneasy little flip, but he could also feel the gnawing hunger on the edge of it all. “I’ll try.”

“That’s good enough for me,” Flash said and started to untangle them. “After we can go back to being a mass of limbs here or in my, er, the guest room again.”

“You used to live here?” Danny asked. He still felt more than a little boneless, but even standing Flash didn’t seem to want to let go of him, so Danny let himself be maneuvered as needed.

The kitchen was yellow with white cabinets. The brightness of it all was actually soothing. Iris was leaning against the counter, sipping at her coffee.

Danny felt embarrassed all over again. “Sorry about…”

“It’s nothing, really,” she said with another one of her kind smiles. “It’s not the first time in this house someone needed to have a good cry and it sure won’t be the last. Are you hungry?”

Danny just shrugged as Flash explained, “We’re going to try some oatmeal.”

“I can get that going, you get back to your hash, Wally. I stuck the skillet in the oven to stay warm,” Iris said, setting her mug down.

Danny watched Flash move over to the oven. “Your name is Wally?”

He almost fumbled the cast iron skillet. “I, um, yes? I mean, yes. That’s not a question, I know my name. Well, it’s really, you know, Wallace, but…”

“I like Wally,” Danny said, a little softly, but it had an effect. Flash, Wally really did blush all the way up to his hairline. Despite everything, it made Danny smile slightly.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s… is all this okay?” Danny said with a little wave to the home around him. “I know you probably weren’t planning to tell me…”

Danny’s head shot up as Iris snorted. She finished putting the oatmeal in the microwave before turning around.

“Sorry, it’s just that you haven’t heard Wally for the last few weeks agonizing over if it was too soon to tell you his secret identity. Did it put too much pressure on your relationship to tell you, what if you didn’t want to move as fast, what if it freaked you out? I don’t think him bringing you here was a hard choice at all,” she explained.

“Iris,” Wally whined, hiding his face.

“Barry— the other Flash— and I are both glad he brought you here and you’re allowed to stay as long as you don’t want to be alone,” Iris continued, ignoring her nephew.

Danny didn’t really know what to say to that kindness, so he settled for a bashful ‘thank you’.

“Besides, I’ve got baby pictures and stories of Wally first trying to figure out his powers—”

“Aunt Iris! No,” Wally squeaked.

Danny’s laughter was as surprising to him as the others, but there in the bright yellow kitchen with people who seemed to care… it was easier to laugh than Danny thought it would be. Maybe it would be alright.

-----

AN: He may have been having a terrible time, but things will get better! (Shhhh ignore how this whole fic started. You don't remember that.) And now he knows a bit more about how much skin Wally's freckles cover~

Stay delightful, darlings!

I no longer tag, but you can subscribe to the Masterpost!

#dp x dc #quick death ship #quick death #danny fenton/wally west #abson

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mangoisms · 8 months

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circle k (back to you)

summary: in which you're just the graveyard shift employee at circle k bombarded by vigilantes.

━ chapter twelve: back to you | read chapter eleven

━ pairing: tim drake x f!reader

━ word count: 5k

━ warnings: none

━ masterlist

━ a/n: the final part <3 my end notes if you'd like <3

ten months later

“Hey, you two. Where’s your aunt?”

“Having an existential crisis on the trampoline,” you hear Irey respond matter-of-factly.

“She’s no fun anymore,” Jai adds.

“Well, Bart just got here so—woah!”

Even you can feel the sharp gust of wind the twins create as they zoom off to see their cousin. Bart Allen runs at a million miles per hour—metaphorically and literally, so he and the twins get on like a house on fire.

Good thing everyone turned out for you and Steph’s pre-graduation party, otherwise Wally, Jay, and Max would have their hands full trying to make sure the three of them didn’t bring the house down.

And when you say everyone came, you really mean everyone.

That’s sort of the problem.

Barry Allen and Iris West-Allen were pleasant as always when they arrived—fifteen minutes late, the tardiness Barry is prone to considerably mitigated by his wife’s urging—and gave you big hugs in congratulations when they saw you.

“Well, early congratulations,” Barry amends, smiling.

“I just wish we could be there, too,” Iris says, letting you go.

You wave her off. Barry had a mission with the JL on the day of and Iris’s book tour was just starting, so there was no extra time to spare.

“No, it’s okay. Wally and Linda are already going, so that’s enough.”

“We’ll be there in spirit,” Barry says, grinning as Iris rolls her eyes. “Literally.”

Referring to the speed force and the way it tethers both speedsters and lightning rods. So, yeah, technically.

You chuckle. “Exactly. So, don’t worry.”

“We still wanted to give you our gift in person, though,” Iris says, passing you an envelope.

“You guys really didn’t have to but thank you.”

“‘Course we did,” Barry says. “You’re Wally’s… what is it? Close friend slash little sister slash niece? Us, well, we don’t mind seeing you as a niece.”

“Complicated labels aside,” Iris puts in, “you’re part of this family, too.”

And boy if that wasn’t going to choke you up.

You believe it now, almost a year since Wally revealed his identity; since then, you consider Keystone City and Central City as much of a home as Gotham. It was only inevitable that you met the others and you were lucky enough that they welcomed you with welcome arms.

But the ones part of this family are one and many. Not just the Garricks, not just the Wests, not just the Allens, not just Max Mercury, but—

“Ms. Chambers?”

Jesse Chambers grins at you. “Hey now, none of that. Here, Jesse works just fine. Pleasure to meet you. Everyone has had nothing but excellent things to say about you.”

Okay. Sure.

That bit is just a little obscured by your horrible confusion on how on earth she even knew everyone.

You have an inkling as to the answer but frankly, it feels impossible to believe. Not because you don’t think she is not capable of it but the fact that the whole billionaire-as-a-superhero/vigilante thing isn’t so uncommon as initially thought.

The confusion must be written all over your face. She laughs. Jay is at your side in the next instant, smiling at her in greeting.

“Sorry not to have told you sooner,” he tells you apologetically, though the smile pulling at his lips tells you he isn’t that sorry. “But we wanted to leave the decision up to her. And—”

“If you can keep these guys’ secret,” Jesse says, jerking a thumb to the kitchen, where Wally, Linda, Barry, and Iris are, “you can keep mine, too. Besides, you did great work during your internship. QE has had our eyes on you for a while.”

“Oh, you really don’t have to—”

“We want to,” she says. “We wouldn’t lose anything at all offering you a place with PR. But if you want to go somewhere else, that’s okay. I’d be happy to be a reference if so.”

Somehow, you managed to stammer out a thank you and get out of that situation without making a complete fool of yourself. Wally later told you Jesse taps into the speed force using an equation, which… sure, why not.

Jesse used to not like him, apparently, but recent events have allowed her to warm up to him; plus, the birth of her own son, Johnny Tyler, helped, too, that way Wade could have a friend to grow up with.

While all the others prepare dinner and attempt to keep Bart, Jai, and Irey’s shenanigans contained, you manage to snag a bit of time to yourself, not quite believing you’d just been offered a job by Jesse Chambers herself.

It’s all just… a little bit insane.

Then the twins came out and you indulged them on the trampoline in the backyard of the West house for a bit. Then you thought too hard about everything and sunk right back into your disbelief again.

Which leads to now.

“Speedsters, I swear,” Tim mutters.

You hear the soft sound of footsteps on the grass but make no move to leave from your place — star-fished on the trampoline, eyes closed. Early May in Keystone City is considerably warmer and tepid than Gotham City. You should shed your hoodie but you don’t want to. Mostly because it isn’t yours, exactly.

It’s Tim’s. The one you wore the night you got stabbed last year. Not the same one; that one was ruined beyond repair and anyway, you weren’t too happy to wear that exact one, either, since you nearly bled out in it. But it’s close enough. The same shade of brilliant azure. Big on Tim and baggy on you.

Of course, why should you want a hoodie when your boyfriend is right here?

The faint noise of the flaps of the netting be brushed aside. Then the trampoline itself moves, dipping with his weight as he comes over to you. You slide a bit, elbow bumping into his knee.

“So,” he starts, closer than before, one hand brushing your cheek as he tucks a few pieces of your hair behind your ear. “What’s this about an existential crisis? In the middle of the day?”

“It’s four in the afternoon.”

“Schematics.”

You grunt but don’t respond.

A soft chuckle. “Is this about Jesse Chambers’ offer? It’s too bad, you know.”

“What’s too bad.”

“Well, Wayne Enterprises was looking forward to offering you a position, too. And so were the Titans. And I can’t speak for this one personally but I’m fairly certain the Justice League was planning on sending an offer, too. You’re in high demand.”

You groan. “Isn’t that too much? I’m—I haven’t even graduated. There are so many other people with so much more experience—”

“Well, how are you supposed to get experience, too?” he asks, laughing softly. “Besides, you’re graduating with honors.”

“Oh, yeah, well, I’m sure it helps to have a boyfriend with an in at WE, who also just so happens to be a member of the Titans, on top of multiple people who are close to me that are also part of the Justice League.”

“And Jesse Chambers? Hers is the most reliable in that sense, then, isn’t it? Because she doesn’t personally know you—”

“But she knows Wally.”

“But their relationship isn’t that great. Sure, she’s good with Jay and Max but… You also have the advantage of having worked there briefly. They wouldn’t call you back if they didn’t like what they saw.”

Which is true. Jesse Chambers is a businesswoman. She wouldn’t do this as some pity play.

Then again, neither would the others.

You finally open your eyes, squinting immediately as the sun beams down at you.

Tim shifts, moving until his head can shield you from it, bringing him into your focus.

He’s smiling warmly at you, affection clear in his gaze; the sunlight does wonders for him, for his dark hair and blue eyes.

“This can’t be happening.”

“It is,” he says. “You’re graduating next week Friday. You and Steph. And no matter where you go and what you do, you’re gonna kick ass, you know that, right?”

You groan. “You’re supposed to say things like that.”

“Maybe,” he concedes. “But when I tell you I had nothing to do with the offer from WE, you have to believe me. You know I haven’t worked with them in a long while. That was all them.”

“Bruce?”

“Maybe Bruce.”

But then that’s ‘cause he feels… guilty about cornering you last year. Which serves him right. Your relationship with Tim’s adoptive father is a bit rocky, truth be told. Just because of the things Tim has told you. The things Steph has told you. And last year is certainly a factor. But all the others, you get along with them.

You don’t see Dick too often because he lives in New York but he’s kind. Jason’s cool when you see him. Cass and Duke are great. You hang out with them regularly on your own. Damian is a bit frigid but that’s just because of your choice in company and not anything personal, exactly, but you do get the advantage of also having Steph on your side, since they have a better relationship than he and Tim do. Alfred is pleasant as always, too; sometimes he sends grocery deliveries to you to make sure you’re sustaining on actual food and not just ramen.

Barbara Gordon is also very nice and volunteered to help you put together your resume and cover letters and applications; Jean-Paul Valley is kind, too. They’re both old family friends, you would learn. You have lunch with Helena Bertinelli once a month; you two bond over a mutual dislike for Batman and a mutual fondness for Tim—begrudging on her part sometimes but she undeniably sees him as a little brother and he sees her a big sister. And truthfully, your relationship with her is a bit similar.

You’ve made quite a few relationships with these vigilantes. Connections. So, you shouldn’t be surprised that all of this is happening. But one part of you, the prideful part, doesn’t like it. The other part, the rational one, says it was unavoidable. You were going to apply to QE and WE, anyway. Maybe toss out a few applications to the League and the Titans, too, just for the heck of it. Not expecting anything to come of it. Out of any of it.

But of course something would. You know too many of these people for nothing to happen.

“But then again,” Tim says a moment later. “Bruce is just attached to the company by name.”

“That is not a ‘just’ thing, Tim, that is a very big thing. They’d do whatever he wanted.”

“Not anything. Not if you didn’t have the grades, background, or potential to back it up.”

Also, technically, true.

“But like I said. Jesse’s is the most earnest in that regard.”

“Do you want me to leave Gotham, is that it.”

He laughs. The sound warms you.

“I don’t,” he chuckles. “I really don’t. I’d love for you to go with WE. But I also know that the news of us dating throws a wrench in that.”

Right. Ever since the gossip columns caught you two kissing on a date a couple months ago, they wouldn’t shut up about it. Only after digging their grubby little fingers into every inch of your past, of course, and using that to fuel the flames. Talking about your relationship with him as if you planned it, just trying to get a leg-up in the application process at WE.

But the thing is, objectively speaking, there isn’t anything wrong with that. You aren’t with Tim strictly for that purpose but you knew it would factor in. It’s undeniable, the way all these other offers are undeniable in who and why they came. You can’t help who you’re connected to.

But yeah. It would suck to prove all the tabloids right by accepting a job with WE right after graduation—like all of them said you would.

Of course, they would talk regardless. Even if you went with QE or the Titans or the Justice League. Wayne Enterprises is a known partner with Quickstart Enterprises, as well as a heavy funder for the League and the Titans. So…

You groan, wiggling closer to him by planting your head on his thigh and staring forlornly up at him. “What should I do?”

He smiles. “Whatever you want to, honey.”

“Yeah, that’s not really helpful, Timmy.”

He rolls his eyes fondly, bending down to scoop you into his arms. You let out a squeak as he pulls you into his lap, then you settle comfortably in the circle of his arms, dropping your head on his shoulder.

From here, you can spy the old bullet graze on the side of his neck, silvery and a little textured. Without a second thought, you lean forward to kiss it.

He shivers slightly, arms tightening around you.

You bite down a smile. “Cold?”

“Shut up,” he mutters, fingers digging into your side, making you giggle and try to squirm away from him.

He doesn’t keep up the torment, exhaling a soft laugh, too, as you lay your head back on his shoulder.

A cool breeze sweeps through the backyard. In the suburbs of Keystone City, it is quiet out here. Peaceful. Though you can still hear the others inside. Wally saying something. Steph laughing at it.

You’ve carved out a nice place for yourself here. The West’s and Garrick’s here in Keystone and the Allen’s over in Central.

You close your eyes, basking in Tim’s embrace and his proximity. You haven’t seen him much this month, with you and Steph in the throes of finals. But he promised to come, that he’d ask Bart to take him and his friend happily agreed.

You were surprised to learn of their relationship. That they had known each other. But they had met when they were younger, along with the rest of the original members of Young Justice. Put together because they were superhero kids. The relationship stuck. What a coincidence, that Bart Allen was part of the family you had quickly grown close to. But not unwelcome.

It is a small world, you would think.

Or maybe, when you feel indulgent, meant to be. You and Wally. You and Steph, you and Tim. All of this. Interconnected in ways you could only dream of. You don’t have to sacrifice much to have them together.

Tim squeezes your hip, one hand slipped underneath the hoodie. “What are you thinking about?”

That maybe this decision isn’t as hard as you thought it would be. That it’s not a matter of deliberation, is it?

You know you don’t want to prove all the tabloids right by going with WE immediately. Not to mention, for the longest time, it was a dream to work with them. You want more time, more experience, before you move there.

And you don’t think you are ready to jump head-first into working for the Justice League or the Titans. You need experience for that, too.

So…

“I’m pretty sure I could convince Wally to take me to Gotham to visit. When I start at Quickstart.”

“Not necessary,” he says and you raise an eyebrow, watching him pull back, his gaze warm, not at all surprised by your words. “I could just come and visit you. Unlimited access to the jet and all.”

“Racking up carbon emissions just for me?”

“You know the jet is clean energy,” he says, pouting a bit.

Yes, you do. He talked your ear off about it when they made the switch. But you just like seeing him get pouty about it.

You cup his cheeks, smiling, particularly taken with the way his whole face softens as he looks at you. The knowledge that he’s this soft for you is always so insane to you. Not at all good for your heart.

“I know. It’s still a bit of an expense, though, isn’t it?”

“It’s worth it.”

“Cornball.”

“I’m being serious,” he presses, hands tightening around your waist. “Whatever I have to do, it’s worth it for you.”

You know that. Tim is a devoted boyfriend. He doesn’t do things in halves. When he’s loyal to someone, when he dedicates himself, he does it wholly. You could ask him of anything and he would do whatever it took to get it for you, to do it for you. If you asked him to move with you, you know he would do it.

You also know the thought must’ve crossed his own mind. But he still won’t say anything, not unless he knows you want it, too, and… you do. You think that can wait, though, for a little while longer. Let you get settled in and then you two can discuss that possibility—if he wants to, of course, because while Wally and Linda do like him now, the former would not like having a Bat running underfoot in the city, in either of the cities.

You just aren’t used to that kind of devotion. Even after this long.

You slide your arms around his neck, threading your fingers in his hair. He leans into the touch. “I know.”

“I’ll take Steph when I can, too,” he adds and you smile again.

“I love you.”

He leans forward, forehead brushing yours. Your eyes flutter shut.

He nudges your nose with his, then finally closes the distance between you two.

Cotton-candy sweet warmth unspools in your chest he kisses you, soft and gentle. But it quickly edges into dangerous territory when you nip at his bottom lip and he yanks you closer and closer until there is no space between your bodies. It would be better if you weren’t wearing this hoodie but you make do with what you have, still able to feel most of his chest pressed to yours, hard and sturdy, heat licking up your spine.

Your fingers twine in his hair and he lets out a shuddery breath, the kiss turning open-mouthed in the next second and you can taste the gum he was chewing on earlier.

It’s a shade too hungry for your current location but you can’t help it, he’s just so… beguiling. You’re overwhelmingly attracted to your boyfriend and you think you always will be.

But of course, you still should know better, even with all that.

A sharp gust of wind hits you two in the next second and you both separate immediately, knowing exactly what—or who—it is. But instead of Wally or any other speedster here, a high-pitched giggle makes it to your ears and you both turn, eyebrows raising as you find one and a half year old Wade West now inside the trampoline, net fluttering behind him.

You and Tim turn to look at the back door, which is now open, Wally and Linda standing there; the former looks pleased, while the latter just raises her eyebrows.

“I thought,” he starts, mischief written on his face, “that instead of leaving space for Jesus, you could leave some space for Wade. So. Do that. And please stop desecrating the place my children play.”

“And come inside,” Linda adds. “Food’s almost ready.”

You slide off Tim’s lap, reaching for Wade before he tries to stand and walk over to you, not trusting his balance on the trampoline. Tiny hands grapple with the hoodie strings, tugging.

“Got it. Thanks.”

They both smile pleasantly and turn back inside.

You bite your lip, which already feels swollen from your kissing, and look at Tim. His face is flushed with red, lips swollen, too. A tempting sight.

He catches the look on your face. “Don’t.”

“It’s my graduation party.”

“It’s yours and Steph’s. Later.”

“You’re no fun.”

“Well, you love me, so what does that say about you?”

“That you’ve seduced me.”

He rolls his eyes. “Oh, I’ve seduced you, okay, sure—” he looks at Wade, shaking his head “—can you believe this?”

All Wade can do is giggle in response. All you can do is smile at him, so painfully in love.

He smiles back, rising up on his knees and leaning forward to kiss your forehead.

“I love you, too, you know.”

Yeah, you do know.

four years later

“Goddamit, where is it?”

Fish, a miniature Italian Greyhound you rescued from the shelter, offers no answer or help for your plight. Instead, she just sits near you, happy to follow you around as you search, watching you with big eyes. Big, empty eyes. Absolutely nothing goes on in her little head and you and Tim love her very much for it but damn if you wouldn’t appreciate a little help in finding the security badge that seems to have mysteriously disappeared.

It’s perfect timing, too. That badge is your lifeline. That’s what your supervisor, Meena, said anyway, a couple days ago when you went in for it and had a chance to speak with her before starting work. You can’t get into the tower without it. You can’t do anything without it and guest badges do not have the same amount of clearance that you have.

You stop in the living room, taking a breath, frustration starting to make you hot, which would be the icing on the cake, if you managed to sweat through your clothes before you even started work.

Sighing, you look at her. “Do you know where it is?”

A sound behind you.

“You should know better than that, honey,” comes the sleepy voice of your boyfriend, and you turn. “Fish is lucky to have a single coherent thought once a week and she wasted that one yesterday when she managed to give Damian the high five he asked for.”

You chuckle despite yourself, remembering the pleased gleam that had come into Damian’s hazel green eyes when Fish successfully completed the trick. Only after six months of painstaking work, of course, but it hardly deters him. Titus passed away not too long ago and he’s fixated on Fish because of it. Even if he says her name is ‘completely idiotic.’

Brushing away those thoughts, you focus on Tim, still sleepy-eyed and rumpled. Then you see it—in his hand is your security badge, your picture smiling up at you, with your name beneath it.

“Oh my god, where—”

“You gave it to me, remember?” he asks, laughing softly as you pad over to him. “And said to keep it with my gear, that way it wouldn’t get lost between then and now.”

True. All true. After all, that gear—that is, his suit and tech—doesn’t get brought out other than for the occasional mission with the Titans, so, say, every six months or so. Other than that, it remains hidden in a panel behind your side in the walk-in closet, accessible only by him and you through fingerprint and retinal scans.

Easiest way not to get lost, especially since you’ve been particularly harried in the lead-up to the official start of your job at Wayne Enterprises as their spokesperson.

“Sorry,” you sigh. “Is that why you’re up? Because I told you, you don’t need to wake up for this, you can stay in bed…”

He raises an eyebrow. “And let you freak out for the next hour and a half before you have to leave?”

“Um. Yes?”

A soft smile. He reaches for you, hands settling on your arms, rubbing small circles there.

“Well, you’re wrong. It’s your first day at WE.”

“I know, but you didn’t have to get up now at least…”

The original idea when you decided to wake up at five-fifteen is that one, it would give you ample time to get ready—both yourself and your belongings—and two, it would let you try to relax.

Key word being try.

It’s now six, you’re supposed to leave in an hour and fifteen minutes to beat the morning rush traffic, and your nerves are none the better for it.

Your sleep was fitful, too, in anticipation of today, so you’re starting to feel sleepiness creep in at the edges; the fact that the sun has not yet risen and won’t rise for a while—cursed winter months and their late sunrises—does not help.

He eyes you. “I think I do.”

You groan, dropping your forehead on his shoulder. “I can’t do this.”

He squeezes your arms. “Yes, you can.”

“No, I can’t. They’re going to eat me alive.”

If not for being the new girl, then certainly because your boyfriend was, actually, once major shareholder of the company when he was seventeen and no, it doesn’t matter that he was just a figurehead and Lucius was actually pulling the strings—it still happened and Tim worked closely with the company for several years after. And then, of course, it will also be because your boyfriend is the adoptive son of the man who owns the actual company.

Even if you waited before joining, even if you actually applied for the position! Yes, applied! Contrary to what a few tabloids are saying right now, you did not go up to Tim (or Bruce, depending on which gossip column you’re reading) and demand the job. You went through the same channels as absolutely anyone else would.

Tim ducks his head to press a kiss to your neck. You can’t help your shiver and you know he feels it by the way he smiles against your skin. “No, they won’t. That’s my job. They can’t take that away from me.”

“Now is so not the time—”

He laughs, pulling away; you do the same to look at him.

“You’re going to be fine, gorgeous. You had Linda and Iris regularly pressing you these last few weeks and you did very well with them. Not to mention your last two jobs…”

You purse your lips.

“Two years with Quickstart Enterprises,” he lists. “Two more with the Justice League. Still bitter you picked them over the Titans, by the way.”

“They were more hardcore. Sorry.”

“Well, see? You and the rest of the team had to salvage the League’s image after each alien invasion or otherwise massive destruction committed during a mission and you guys did it. I mean, the publicity campaign you came up with was brilliant, you know that, right? Support was the highest it’s ever been while you were there.”

Right… In an effort to better the League’s image with the public after a particularly nasty fight that left multiple city blocks destroyed and more questions about the relevancy of the team, you decided the more prominent League members needed to create more solid images for themselves, that way each time the public or news saw them, it wasn’t always about the latest incident that brought their presence in. To do this, they needed to pick something to sponsor or support and start showing for it. Superman took an interest in accessibility to education, Wonder Woman focused on preserving wildlife and ecosystems, along with world landmarks, and Batman—with immense detail and planning to abide by his stiff rule not to be seen before the masses—focused on rehabilitation programs.

It brought in a lot of good coverage as more Leaguers agreed to do it and it did help. Helped a lot. Not to say those in the League were not helping, of course, either suited up in their own cities or with their public personas, but that was the issue. The League was capable of much more destruction collectively than individually and the public didn’t know that Batman was funding hundreds of programs to help impoverished communities in Gotham, mostly because he did that as Bruce Wayne and that connection would never be made known.

But that was the job. And you did it. Excellently. You would’ve stayed on for a little while longer but then you got kidnapped towards the end and that just wasn’t fun.

(Fortunately, however, there was a clause in your signing contract that states that in the event of a kidnapping, the League is obligated to rescue you.

Fair is fair, you think, for helping maintain their image and ensure that the UN doesn’t pull the plug and that the public doesn’t completely despise them.)

And of course, if you managed to survive working with the League and being kidnapped because of that work, then you should be entirely prepared to take on Wayne Enterprises. It should be chump change, if anything, but again, you go in with preconceived notions about yourself and your reputation. Not so great.

But would you back out?

No way.

“I believe in you,” he murmurs, his gaze warm and reassuring. “All of us do. You know Steph does.”

A pause, everything falling silent, save for the snores coming from the guest bedroom, where Steph is asleep.

“I’m not missing your first day at WE,” she had said the night before. “So, you better wake me up before you leave.”

He grins a bit teasingly at a particularly loud snore. “Like a train, right?”

“Like you’re any better.”

“I am not that loud.”

“What is it with me and attracting people who snore?”

Honestly.

“Speaking of, you know Wally and Linda believe in you. You can do this. It’s just ‘cause it’s the first day. Get through it and everything will be better.”

Which is true. You know that. Have been repeating that in your head as today approached and your nerves grew in intensity.

But everything is easier in theory than in practice.

“I know,” you whisper, closing your eyes. “I know.”

You can hear the smile in his voice when he speaks next. “That’s why I’m here. Why we’re all here.”

“To knock some sense into me?”

“To do that gently,” he chuckles.

“I don’t know. I might need the force.”

“Well, I can call Damian if you want.”

“I don’t need that much force… on a scale, maybe something like Linda.”

“It’s good thing she and Wally are going to be here soon for breakfast, then.”

For the same reason Steph spent the night and Tim dragged himself out of bed—for your first day of work.

For you.

You pull him into a hug, overwhelmed at the thought and not at all caring about wrinkling your clothes. You can fix that. But this… this needs to be made known.

“I love you.”

He squeezes you—gently, trying to mitigate any wrinkles, and the thought makes your heart swell with unbridled love—and kisses your temple.

“I love you. We all do.”

And isn’t that something?

reblogs are appreciated!

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#tim drake x reader #red robin x reader #dc comics imagine #tim drake imagine #red robin imagine #tim drake x you #red robin x you #dc comics x reader #batfam x reader #batfam x y/n #batfam x you #tim drake x y/n #red robin x y/n

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zahri-melitor · 1 month

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What was the purpose of the New 52? Was it really a failure?

There’s a loaded essay topic!

The purpose of the New 52, to my best understanding, was stated to be the opportunity to tell stories that were less weighed down with continuity and allow a clear starting point for new fans to hop on board and start reading comics.

Basically, COIE and Post-Crisis is a successful version of what they wanted! COIE did in fact reset the universe and make a nice clear boundary for fans, and while if you dig in, particularly to 1980s comics, it wasn’t always as clean or tidy as people think of it being, and it created some weird discontinuities requiring additional retcons (Donna’s everything being the most famous, particularly to tumblr), it created a 25 year long largely coherent story where characters grew and changed over about 5 in-universe years of narrative.

Let’s look at Wally, because he’s emblematic of it. Wally in 1986 was a young adult who just lost his father figure, was expected to step up and take on a role he had never expected to need to take, especially that young, and was a kid from a fairly conservative background who had never examined his views.

Wally by 2011 was a fully grown adult who had a wife, kids, extended family, a career, was fully respected in his role as the Flash, and had found his views becoming significantly more progressive over time as he was exposed to more of the world.

This is fantastic long form story telling. The problem is to tell long range generational storytelling is that you have to be willing to allow those legacies to occur and the character focus to shift. And that makes fans of older characters, particularly the ones giving up their legacies, mad and long for their faves to be back in their prime.

Enter the New 52.

New 52 was an attempt to cut this Gordian knot. If they created a new timeline where superheroes only had 5 years of history, then that meant that the classic Silver Age headline characters couldn’t be ‘too old’ to still be realistically running around doing what they do. They had to be in their late 20s-early 30s! Young! Hot! Spritely! Relatable to a new generation!

While some of these characters did have 70+ years of history, the thing is that nearly 50 years of it (1938-1986) had already been compressed and glossed down to basics. Nobody can actually tell you what happened the year Dick Grayson was 14 years old. You can build one from old storylines if you wanted to have it! But it's not as easy as pointing to a run of comics and saying "during this Dick was 14".

This left two significant problems in tension with each other:

The intention to make Bruce, Clark, Hal, Barry, Ollie, Arthur, Diana etc about 30ish years old and the key adult members of the DCU to revolve stories around.

Everyone from the Titans on down therefore had to get significantly younger to fit into a 5 year history, but a lot of these characters ALSO had active fans and writers wanted to use them.

And then, on top of that? Because the intention for resetting to a new universe was to remove the burden of backstory from storytelling, the editors and various offices...never sat down and worked out together what the new history contained.

This led to the wild situation where The Flash, for instance, was reset to a pre-1986 state where there wasn't even a KID FLASH, and basically every member of the Garrick-Allen-West-Chambers-Mercury Flash Family not named Barry Allen or Iris West had ceased to exist (and uh, given it's the Flashes, only ONE character with each of those names existed). While over in Batman, the writers tried to hang onto everything and they cut ten years out of the timeline mostly from discarding Dick's history, so that Bruce had 4 Robins in 5 years.

This obviously created a lot of the issues. Because there was no structure as to what was in or out in the new universe, writers just...did whatever. And contradicted each other. And when they realised the contradictions, tried to write retcons to excuse it. (Was Tim Drake Robin or not? Depends on which writer you ask!)

Was it successful?

In the short term, in terms of sales? Yes, absolutely. DC managed to get a bunch of new readers in, as was the financial intention. It also did allow for a shift in focus on some characters: it's where basically all of Damian Wayne's stories that people like as stories (and not as concepts) exists; it's where Jason Todd's modern characterisation as an antihero and dynamic with the other Bats was established; it brought back a bunch of older properties that hadn't been seriously used in years back into the spotlight; due to the fixation on having 52 titles running at all times it gave a lot of characters opportunities to headline titles that hadn't got that in a long while, and the opportunity to try out different styles of storytelling; it provided the opportunity for modern rewrites of origins for some characters that needed some retcons applied - Morrison's Superman is well regarded and both Aquaman and Green Arrow's origin rewrites for instance put things together more coherently and discarded some outdated elements. Blue Beetle's rework of Jaime's history to keep the main elements but excise the fact it was so reliant on Infinite Crisis was actually better considered than people give it credit for.

The bigger issue was the lack of planning meant that the timeline became a burden on the whole initiative, particularly given how many fans were asking for the return of beloved characters and dynamics that had been wiped away or rendered unrecognisable in the reset. On top of that, there was the conception that they could just abandon the whole timeline again at the end of 5 years and start over, so large radical changes were fine and wouldn't have ongoing effects.

Also, the initial boost of sales from being able to announce brand new titles, like every time an #1 is announced, trickled away. Yes, it was the entry point for a generation of new fans. But also it wasn't any more turnover in terms of new fans than in any other period, on the long term view. There were still more people who were comics fans of DC who were long term fans than there were new fans, buying comics 2-3 years in, and those are the sort of fans who DO want the continuity back. They've got decades of favourite stories that they were told no longer mattered, and they wanted them to matter. And they lost a whole chunk of fans who reacted to New 52 like it was a contact poison and...stopped buying DC comics.

And so, like a pyramid scheme or a shell game or a company expanding too fast, it started to fold in like a pack of cards. DC found itself frantically relaunching more and more titles in 2014 and 2015 as they tried to regain the new feeling momentum of 2011. Their timelines needed people who cared deeply about the characters to go over things and reinterpret them to make things flow, and most of the people interested in doing that were trying to reinstate pre-Flashpoint continuity elements.

And that's why eventually, in 2016, we got Rebirth.

I don't think it was an outright failure. There are salvageable elements. But I think the damage it did to the company reputation and to their ability to exploit what makes cape comics distinct and unique as a storytelling form far outweighed the benefits gained.

And the recovery process from trying to turn the situation around has been long, drawn out, and is still ongoing for some characters.

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she-talks-to-angels-14 · 1 year

Text

Homecoming Queen: A School Spirits Story.

Wally Clark x Reader

Part 2

A/N:I just finished season one of school spirits and I had this idea I kind of ran with. This is a single part story but I left it open for more parts and i could definitely be persuaded to make more parts.

Split River High Homecoming week 2013

Homecoming had once again rolled around at Split River High and the festivities had just begun. I was sitting in my first period class patiently waiting for the morning announcements. They were supposed to be announcing the homecoming court during announcements this morning. This is supposed to be my year. I had been voted onto the court each year by my classmates but this year was finally the year I could be in the running to be named Homecoming Queen.

“Good morning Bandits!” Assistant Principal Hartman’s voice echoed over the intercom. “Today kickstarts homecoming week and I know we are all looking forward to our court announcement but there are a few things we must announce before then.”

I zoned out while he rambled off the announcements that came prior to the homecoming court announcement. I was lost in thought wondering if they would change things up this year for the 30th anniversary memorial of Wally Clark, our fallen football star who tragically died during this game back in 1983.

The memorial had been the same since I started attending the football games, since 2007, my brother Lincoln’s freshman season the memorial has always been a moment of silence at half time followed by a speech from his parents. It’s sad really reliving the worst moment of your life year after year, replaying that horrible moment every time you step foot in the stadium named after your son. That must be why his dad stopped coming back in 2008.

“Earth to Y/N!” My best friend Bailey snapped her fingers in my ear breaking my train of thought. “You spaced out, he’s announcing homecoming court now!”

“What grade are we on?” I asked my interest suddenly brought back to the announcements

“Sophomores about to be Juniors.”

I listened intently as each Junior Maid was announced patiently waiting for Senior Maids.

“Now for your Senior Maids,” Mr. Hartman said enthusiastically over the intercom. “Haley Johnson, Bailey Lewis, and Y/N YL/N. Let’s give a round of applause for your 2013 homecoming court!”

“We’re both on homecoming court!” I squealed at my best friend and teammate!

“Maybe a basketball girl will finally win Queen!” Bailey smiled back at me.

“Alright girls settle down.” Mr. Anderson called out, “congratulations but we have a lesson to get through.”

We ended our conversation and Mr. Anderson proceeded with his lesson. The rest of the day passed by rather quickly and before I knew it, it was lunch time. Bailey and I were sitting at our normal table with the rest of the team.

“So Y/N do you have a dress picked out for homecoming?” Sarah asked.

“I sure do,” I said showing her my phone with the picture of my dress on it.

“Oh my god you are going to look amazing!” She squealed.

“Thank you, Bailey’s dress is even prettier than mine.” I redirected the conversation.

While the rest of the team chit chatted about homecoming and their plans for the game and dance I was lost in thought about who I would have escort me during presentation at the game Friday night. My dad and mom separated 4 years ago and he moved off to Florida and has since remarried. I could try to have him come in to escort me along with mom but he would likely have an excuse as to why he couldn’t make it. Maybe Lincoln would escort me along with mom. I spent the rest of lunch lost in thought.

The rest of the week went by fairly quickly. It was a blur of dress up days to show our school spirit. Tuesday was decade day, I sported my best 80s get up. Wednesday was twin day, Bailey and I were twins in our basketball jerseys. Thursday was country vs country club and I dressed like a proper country girl. Lastly Friday was spirit day, I went all out to show my school spirit!

———————————————————————

Homecoming game 2013

I stood with my mom and Lincoln on the track as we watched the final seconds of the the second quarter tick by. We were currently winning the game by two touchdowns. At halftime we were lined up waiting to be presented, the presentation was to take place after the memorial. This year Mrs. Clark gave her speech first. The speech however was followed with a slideshow this year, pictures of Wally flashed on the screen below the scoreboard I had never seen pictures of him before, he was a rather attractive young man. The video ended with the stadium name flashing.

“We all knew his story,” Lincoln said to me as we waited for my name to be called. “He was the football teams idol.”

“He was your idol,” I sighed, “but I can’t help but feel sad for him, he had a young life that was cut short by the sport he loved.”

“He was the best player to grace this field Y:N.”

“Yes he was but could you imagine having the future he could have had only to have your life ended by the sport you loved?” I could feel the tears pricking at the corner of my eyes. “Then every year your family has to relive that awful moment over and over?”

Our conversation was cut short by the announcer calling out my name.

“Y/N is escorted tonight by her mother Amber YL/N and her brother former state champion quarterback Lincoln YL/N.” the announcer spoke into the microphone. The crowd erupted into a roar of cheers although I’m not sure if they were for me or for the returning Split River royalty I was related to.

“Give it up one more time for your 2013 Split River Homecoming Court.” The announcer spoke as we all left the field in the choreographed manner we had practiced all week.

We made our way back to the stage set up for the court and we all took our seats.

“Did you hear the way the crowd cheered for you?” Bailey asked, “I’d say based on that you are definitely our Homecoming Queen.”

“You know they weren’t cheering for me,” I sighed. “They were cheering for Lincoln, a part of Split River royalty.”

“You don’t know that!” She scolded

“I do Bailey, he’s a state champion, I’m just his little sister.”

“You are so much more than that.” She said she popped me in the back of the head. “You are literally one of the most popular girls here, you’re friends with everyone and have always gone out of your way to do for anyone who needed a helping hand.”

“You and I both know that that doesn’t hold a candle to being a state champion around here.”

She rolled her eyes at me but let it go. Thankfully the remainder of the game passed faster than expected and I was able to escape the stadium in no time.

———————————————————————

Homecoming Dance 2013

I walked into the gym with my chiffon train flowing behind me. I felt like a million bucks, this was my last homecoming dance and I was determined to have a good time no matter the outcome of the vote. I quickly found Bailey and the rest of our teammates and we proceeded to head to the camera line where we could take one final team homecoming picture together.

Once we finished with the pictures we made our way out on to the dance floor. The DJ had just started playing ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ by One Direction, we all sang in unison at the top of our lungs “baby you light up my world like no body else,” as we danced and jumped around. The song was fading out and the tune to a slow song was fading in when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Turning around I was face to face with Jax Dawson, our quarterback.

“Can I have this dance?” He asked smiling sweetly and sticking his hand out to me.

“Of course,” I said taking his out stretched hand. He put my arms around his neck and placed his hands on my waste very lightly. We swayed in sync to the music and lyrics of ‘I’ll Be’ by Edwin McCain.

“You look gorgeous tonight Y/N.” He whispered in my ear.

“Thank you Jax.” I could feel my cheeks flush. “You look handsome.”

“Handsome enough I could snag a second dance later in the night?” He flirted

“We might can arrange that.” I laughed.

We danced with each other until the song faded out and a shrill screech of the microphone broke us apart.

“Can we please have our Seniors on homecoming court report to the stage?” The Principal Mrs. Sheridan called out.

I made my way to the stage my heart was beating out of my chest I was so nervous. I could literally hear my heart beating each step I took that got me closer to the stage.

Once everyone was situated on stage Mrs. Sheridan only added to everyone’s anxiety by dragging out the crowning. She started by crowning the Homecoming King, who was none other than Jax.

“No time for your 2013 Homecoming Queen,” she called into the microphone. “Drumroll please, this years Homecoming Queen is, Y/N YL/N!”

The crowd erupted in applause and I stepped to Mrs. Sheridan for her to crown me. Once the crown was secured to my head I turned back to find my best friend Bailey, “You did it,” she smiled, “I knew you had this.”

“Thanks B,” I said hugging her, “finally one of the basketball girls won.” We both laughed.

“Please give it up one more time for your king and queen.” Mrs. Sheridan called out followed by applause.

I had to stay on stage with the court and take pictures for a few minutes after the presentation. Once the pictures were done I headed to the steps of the stage so that I could get back to the dance floor. As soon as I stepped off the first step I felt my dress tug on something causing me to miss the second step and fall down the steps hitting the back of my head on the steps as I fell down them. I could faintly hear people calling my name and I could tell my hair was wet with something, I stuck my hand to the back of my head and brought it to my eyes to see my fingers covered in blood before everything went black.

I’m not sure how long I was out for but when I finally came to I had a major headache and was still on the gym floor. My vision was still slightly blurred but I could make out a male figure standing in front of me.

“What happened?” I asked groggily.

“You fell down the steps of the stage.” A sweet unfamiliar voice responded, “you hit your head on the way down.”

“How long was I out for?”

“Well about that.” The voice responded, I could listen to this boy talk all day,

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked as my vision finally began to refocus. I was face to face with a face I had only ever seen once before, on the screen at last nights game. “Yo- you’re wa- wa.”

“Wally Clark,” he finished my sentence for me “Homecoming King of ‘83”

“That’s impossible,” I panicked. “I must be dreaming or in a comma because you’ve been dead for 30 years!”

“It’s not impossible cherry pop.” A girl with dark curly hair stated plainly.

“The only way it’s not impossible is if I’m.” I choked on the last word of my sentence.

“Dead.” Wally stated softly grabbing my hand.

“No I can’t be dead!” I whaled, “I’ve got a concussion or something.”

“Im afraid not,” a shorter boy with glasses said pointing off in the distance to a crowd of people around someone.

I pulled myself together enough to get up off the floor and see what was going on. I could see Bailey, Sarah and Jax clearly in the distance. I made my way to each of them touching their shoulders and telling them I was ok but neither of them even noticed I was there.

“They can’t see or hear you,” the shorter boy said.

“This can’t be real.” I real I sobbed, as I pushed my way through the crowd to see what the commotion was I saw my lifeless body laid out on the gym floor as one of the teachers attempted CPR.

“She’s not breathing.” The teacher shouted, “I’m going to continue with chest compressions until the EMTs get here!”

“Dispatch says they’re two minutes out,” another teacher called.

My friends were all a wreck, the sound of their sobs and cries tore through my heart like a bullet from a gun.

“She can’t be gone!” Bailey cried out. Sarah could barely speak she was crying so hard. Jax had his head in his hands and I could hear soft sobs escaping his lips. My friends were hurting and there was nothing I could do.

Within minutes the EMTs burst through the gym doors with a gurney. They rushed to the group of people surrounding my lifeless body.

“How long have you been doing compressions,” one of them asked the teacher who had been working to keep my heart beating.

“Ten minutes,” he responded.

“She doesn’t have a pulse,” the other EMT called out. “Let’s try to shock her.” They pulled out their defibrillator and proceeded to put the paddles to my chest. Shockwaves ripples through my body and I didn’t even move. They tried a second and third time with not a single movement. I was gone and I wasn’t coming back.

“Let’s call it,” one of the EMTs said. “Time of death?”

“Ten o’clock,” the other responded.

They began getting a body bag ready and I felt a hand lightly touch my shoulder. “You don’t need to see this,” the sweet voice from earlier said. I turned around and instinctively buried my head in the chest of the tall brunette football player. He wrapped his arms tightly around me as I sobbed into his chest.

“Let’s get you out of here while this is cleaned up.” He said as he ran his hand through my hair.

“Where could we even go where I won’t see them drag my body out of the school?” I sobbed

“Let’s go to the auditorium,” he started walking while he still held me into his side. “You won’t be able to see anything in there.

I didn’t say a word I simply let him lead me to the auditorium. I wasn’t ready to die. I still had so much life to live. I was supposed to go to college and play college ball. Meet a wonderful man and get married and have kids and grow old with the love of my life, I wasn’t supposed to die at my senior homecoming dance!

By the time we had made it to the auditorium my sadness had turned to rage. I was enraged by what had been taken from me. Once the auditorium doors shut I let out a blood curdling scream from the rage that was coursing through me.

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s ok,” tried to south me. “I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same way after reality finally set in. Mad at the world for what has been taken from you.”

“I’m pissed,” I cried. “ I had so much to look forward to a now it’s gone. No college ball, no love, no wedding, no kids, no growing old with the love of my life.”

“I get it,” he said putting his arm around me and pulling me to him. “I watched all of those same dreams I had die when I died on that damn football field 30 years ago.”

“How do you live with it?” I asked leaning into his embrace. I felt like I was safe sitting here with him as if not matter what he would protect me from whatever harm could come to me now.

“It gets easier,” he smiled, “eventuality the sting isn’t as painful as it used to be, that and with Mr. Martin’s help.

“Who is Mr. Martin?”

“He leads the afterlife support group we are all apart of.”

“Oh,” was all I could manage “what’s it like being a ghost?”

“It’s nothing like the movies make you think.” He giggled, “we can’t walk through walls, touch people, talk to them, or possess them.”

“So we’re really lame immortals basically?”

“Basically,” he sighed, “we still have the same needs and wants as we did when we were alive though.”

“So what we can get sick or something?”

“We’ll charley is allergic to nuts, even in death if he eats them he swells.”

“So can we still fall in love or have sex?”

“Yes and yes,” he laughed, “I just said we still have needs and wants like we did when we were alive.

God that laugh, something about his laugh was contagious. Hearing him laugh just put a smile on my pained face and I couldn’t fight back.

“I know the night didn’t go how you planned,” he said scratching his neck “but you are still homecoming Queen,” he said pulling out my crown, “and the homecoming Queen does get a dance with the homecoming king.”

“The homecoming king is still alive,” I said quizzically.

“This years king is yes but how about a king from 30 years ago?” He asked as he placed my crown back on my head.

“It would be my honor,” I smiled as I stuck my hand out to him.

“You know I never even made it to accept my crown,” he said as he took my hand in is. “I died the night before they crowned me so I never even got my dance.”

“Until now that is.” I smiled up at the handsome jock who had his arms tightly wrapped around my waist. “We don’t have any music.” I said I we swayed together in silence.

Wally began to hum the tune to ‘Iris’ by the Goo Goo Dolls then began to sing the opening lyrics. “And I’d give up forever touch you, cause I know that you feel me somehow, you’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be and I don’t wanna go home right now.”

I was mesmerized by how good of a singer he was and before I knew it I was lost in the song. My arms around his neck and my head lay perfectly on his chest, this moment eased the pain I felt moments before for just long enough for me to enjoy the dance.

The song had been over for a while but Wally and I still stood in the middle of the auditorium my arms around his neck and his around my waist neither of us wanting to break the comfortable space we were in.

“Wally?” I asked softly “how did you know that song, it came out years after you died?”

“I’ve been to so many of these dances over the years you can’t help but learn the songs.”

“I see well,” I sighed.

“Well what?” He asked concerned.

“You sang my favorite song very well.” I smiled.

“I’m glad I could do your favorite song justice.” He said as he let one arm fall from my waist and moved it to cup my cheek. “Do you feel better?”

“I do thank you,” I smiled as I leaned my cheek into his touch. Being in this moment felt right I didn’t pull my check away from his touch and he didn’t pull his hand away from me either we are just standing there looking into each others eyes. The next thing I know both of us are leaning into each other, within seconds his lips are pressed to mine in softest and sweetest kiss I have ever felt. His lips are soft and they feel like they were meant for mine. Moments later we break the kiss both of us breathless.

“I will never forget this night Y/N,” he smiled as he ran his thumb across my cheek bone.

“Neither will I,” I say as I reach one of my hands up to grasp the hand he has placed on my cheek.

#wally clark #wally clark imagines #wally clark x reader #school spirits #school spirits imagines #wally x reader #school spirits paramount #Spotify

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nearest-dearest · 11 months

Note

Ayoo ok so, hear me out

How about Wally with a s/o whos vision is getting progressively worse and they end up getting glasses? Since hes a puppet i suppose he can be confused about how do our eyes work n all

Coming right up Anon! :D

One of the best things about visiting the big city you used to call home is that your local optometrist is still there. Thanks to that, Dr. Iris managed to measure the perfect glasses for you. Now you can see well, making the train back home much more enjoyable, since you can see the scenery outside the window clear as day, even at night. You wonder how the neighborhood is going to react seeing that you now have glasses. It’s going to take time to get used to having a new weight on the bridge of your nose, but you can manage that.

You just wish Julie and Barnaby won’t tackle you when they see you. Wouldn’t want to get your glasses broken when you just got them. You didn’t have to wait long though because the train stop to home is coming closer. And when the train stopped, that’s when you took your cue to stand up, get off and walk all the way to the neighborhood.

“Neighbor!”

“Julie! Barnaby! NO!” You braced yourself, waiting for your body to hit the ground from the weight of their hug, but it never came. And when you looked at why is that. You saw Frank holding Julie back and Eddie keeping Barnaby still in his spot. So not only can the mail man lift anything, but he’s also strong enough to stop anything!

“Now Julie! I know you’re excited, but you must give our neighbor their space. They had a long journey.” Frank scolded like an older brother would do to their misbehaving sister.

“I know that, Frank! But I can’t help it! Neighbor has been gone for three whole days and I just want to see if they’re okay!”

That gave you a little laugh “Thanks Julie, but I’m okay. The doctor just said I needed some glasses.”

“Glasses?” All four of your neighbors say at the same time before walking up to you to see your new glasses.

“Now how would you need that little fella?” Barnaby asks.

“I—”

“Hi Julie, Hi Barnaby, Hi Frank, Hi Eddie. What are you all—” A fifth puppet joins the scene.

“Wally! Look! neighbor’s back! And she’s got glasses now!” Barnaby announced.

“Glasses? What are those?” Wally asks.

“We’ll find out soon Wally. If our neighbor is feeling up for it.” Frank says, being the ever-considerate puppet that he is.

“It’s fine Frank, I can explain to you what this is.”

Julie suddenly gasps “Wait! So even FRANK doesn’t know what it is?”

Frank sputters and huffed “How would I know? I’ve never encountered them before!”

“That’s because it’s a human thing.” You said, and with that simple statement, everything clicked for everyone. You explained further “Whenever our eyesight is getting blurry, we need to wear glasses to see clearer.”

“Oh! I get it now!” Eddie says, but then concern laced his face at a thought “Wait, does that mean you went to the big city blind?”

Everyone gasped at the thought, but you were quick to quell their worries “No no no no! I’m not fully blind, and the doctor said I’m near sighted, that means I can see things when they’re up close, but not when they’re far away.”

And with that, everyone calmed down again. Knowing that you were safe.

“Oh! Does that mean my sight will also become clearer with glasses on?”

“Wally, I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“Frank is right Wally, the doctors have to measure what glass to put in my glasses so I can see clearly. It really depends on how bad your sight is.”

“Why, whatever do you think caused this blurry vision of yours neighbor?” Barnaby brought up.

“It runs in my family, and I guess it’s about time my family genes caught up to me. But not to worry, I just need to keep my glasses on the entire time, only taking them off when I sleep.”

“Oh! That’s the most, I’m glad you’re okay neighbor. I was worried for the past few days.” Wally sighs. And for some reason, that made Barnaby chuckle, saying: “Wally buddy, you’re always worried about our neighbor here.”

“I can’t help it though, at least they’re okay. And that glasses made them look the absolute most.”

“Thanks Wally.” You gave a smile, a smile that Wally believed that it’s the absolute most.

Barnaby, Eddie, Julie and Frank can see it clearly. The two may be oblivious to the fact, but the rest of the neighborhood will wait for the day. Where you and Wally can tell each other that fact.

#wally darling #wally darling x y/n #wally darling x you #welcome home #wally darling my beloved #wally darling x reader #wally x reader #welcome home arg x reader #fanfic #julie joyful #eddie dear #frank frankly #barnaby b beagle

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ten-shi-fandoms · 1 year

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Hi hi! I wanted to know if you request are still open. If they are i wanted Wally Darling comfort where reader is having a hard time and wally comforts them

Sure no problem :) this actually made me feel a lot better having a pretty hard past few days so thanks for this request.

_______________________________________

"Everything will be fine"

__________________

Cw: Wally Darling x Reader, gender neutral reader, reader had a bad week, Wally being supportive bf, pre established relationship (dating), kissing (very mild and soft), first person pov, reader cries, minor angst to fluff, tooth rotting fluff, short like Wally-, kinda sucks srry

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Why?

Why did everything have to go wrong?

It felt like everything was against you.

Like the world was turned against you.

It all started earlier that week when Howdy asked you to help out around the shop which you happily agreed too. You ended up falling from a stool, dropping all the items you were holding and landing on your hand which caused you to sprain your wrist. Howdy apologised profusely but you reassured him it wasn't his fault that it was yours for not being careful. But things seemed only to get worse.

Later that week you went to help Sally with one of her plays only to forget all your lines during the performance. Sally told you it was fine and that the play was still fun especially when you both had to improvise but it left a sour taste in your mouth. You almost burnt the cookies you were baking with Poppy. Almost fell out a tree while watching butterflies with Frank. Almost made Eddie fall after tripping over your own feet. And even dropped fruit punch all over yourself when you were setting up for a tea party with Barnaby and Julie.

It was like the world hated you. Like it was out to get you just for existing. Tears gathered in your eyes as you sat on a couch in Wally's house. Wally had invited you over a few minutes ago to have a painting date. Mainly he would paint and you would pose. It was always a lovely arrangement but the events of the week begun to make your emotions act up forcing tears out of your eyes. Tears slowly slipped down your cheeks as you choked back a sob.

As more tears fell down your now wet cheeks you heard footsteps walk into the room and closer to your area. You didn't have to wonder who it was when you felt arms wrap around your shoulders. Wally said nothing as he held you, allowing your body to shake with each sob that racked your body. You heard Wally hum gently. He was humming "Beautiful Dreamer" a song Barnaby had introduced him too. It always seemed that Wally loved that song often humming it to you or singing it to Home.

The soft sound of Wally's humming alongside a gentle hand rubbing through your hair helped you calm down a bit. You were still a mess. Your eyes red and puffy, tears still rolling down your face onto Wally's cardigan, (h/c) haid stuck to your face but your breathing was a bit more steady and you weren't sobbing as much. Wally gently leaned you back, just enough to roll his sleeve down wiping the tears from your face even as new ones fell with such gentleness you felt like you were going to melt.

"Everything will be okay." his soft voice rang through your ears as you stared at his half lidded eyes. He gazed at you like you were something so precious that he couldn't look away. You could feel the warmth in his eyes. The love that constantly swirled around in dark iris everytime you looked at him. Before you could speak Wally leaned forward placing a soft kiss against your lips. More tears welled up in your eyes as you wrapped your arms around his waist pulling him as close to you as you could. You felt Wally smile at against you before he pulled back. His eyes were glossy like he was in a daze. A expression you had come to love.

"No more crying now, I don't want the apple of my eye to become soggy" he teased, placing gentle kisses against your cheeks and under your eyes effectively kissing away your tears. You couldn't help but giggle. The soft kisses, the corny joke, the warmth that Wally provided all of it made you feel better. You always felt better in Wally's arms. He made you feel safe and loved with little effort. It was one of his many charms. You sniffled a bit, a small broken sob leaving your quivering lips. "Okay.. No more crying." you muttered, your voice hoarse. Wally smiled once more, the warmth that seeped out of his smile warming your heart from the inside out.

"Good, now go wipe your face. I'm only going to paint my lovely honeycrisp if their smiling." you smiled at the apple themed nickname nodding as you got up walking off to get cleaned up. As you were walking you heard Home make a few creaking noises and Wally sigh.

"I know Home, (Y/N) is beautiful even when they cry."

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dcfanfictioncatalogue · 28 days

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hey i just wanna say ur blog is great and sooo useful!! do you have any good flashfam recs?

I am so sorry this took a month to answer -- the answer WAS no, but I have spent literally forever digging through ao3. this ask was also a little vague, as I am not the Most familiar person in the world with flashfam, but I tried my best. I'm sort of afraid you've already read all of these, but oh well. if you would like to send another ask in requesting a specific character or relationship pairing (platonic/familial/romantic) I would definitely be able to get that to you faster.

at the beep, by FromStarstuff ( @blackbatcass ). 5k, G, background wallinda. fic summary: voicemails from the flashfamily. my notes: CUTE!! solid fluff that still manages to be accurate to their characterization and dynamics, I had a very good time and genuinely laughed out loud at some points. this user has some more dc fics -- not all flashfam, but all VERY good.

Iris West and the Multiple Resurrections of Eobard Thawne, by poppiesandsunflowers ( @wallylinda ). 10k, T, westallen/newsflash. fic summary: family bonding is when you bury the body of a time-traveler together, over and over and over again. my notes: like, this is obviously the ICONIC one by this user, but she has SO many GOOD fics so please click on the user link and scroll through the flash comics tag!! I didn't want to spam this rec list with just one user so I just picked one, but her writing is really so good.

you aren't always the best, but you're mine., by lazarusfell ( @gretahayes ). 4.7k, NR, gen. fic summary: bart has known his big cousin for exactly thirty-five minutes and twelve seconds. in that time, bart's learnt two things. one: wally hates him completely. two: bart may as well do the same. my notes: MAN. bart and wally's complicated relationship!!!!! it's so hard to find fics that tackle this in a meaningful way and AURGH this is everything I love the characterization here

One Step At a Time, by novakid. 18.7k, T, gen. fic summary: thaddeus thawne spends years imprisoned as a living statue until bart allen releases him and pleads a case for his reformation. my notes: thad-centric, but we get the whole flashfam as he tries to integrate himself into it, and mannn do stories about reformation always get me, I loved this one. plus this author has more flashfam stories as well !!

ask box is open for requests ++ find my fic rec libraries organized here

#asks #flashfam #iris west #thad thawne #bart allen #family friendly #wallinda #newsflash #westallen #2k to 10k #10k to 25k

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junespriince · 17 days

Text

Hal: weird, you're not afraid of bats, I mean Barry wasn't as afraid but you know he had the manners to not say it out loud what he's thinking about.

Wally: wow, speedsters being different from other speedster, it almost like we're different people with different personalities and such.

Hal: rude... Barry never act like this.

Wally: hold on, *looks through his lunch bag* oh, would you look at that, out of fucks to give.

Oliver: well, Mr. Sass, can I ask you a question.

Wally: I don't know, can you?

Oliver: damn, really shouldn't have let you get corrupted by Roy.

Wally: wrong, I always been this way. Just aged, like a fine wine.

Oliver: ... I mean Barry was horrible, but you're worse than him.

Wally: yeah, because he's not my blood dad, I take after my momma.

Oliver: Mary?

Wally: Iris.

Oliver:

Oliver: yeah I see it, anything that's not my question, my question is why ain't you scared of him or creeped out at least.

Wally: easy, I saw his ditsy civilian persona, how the hell am I supposed to be scared of that? Hm? I can't be, all I see is a emo furry ditz with a punching problem.

Oliver: well, how do you feel about this Diana? Someone bullying your mans

Diana: well, let's see, my love how do you feel getting bullied by your son-in-law in front of your teammates?

Bruce, grumbling: horrible.

Diana, smiles and cheerful: I love it then.

Clark, sighing: dia, give Bruce a break, he has gremlin children he needs a break.

Wally: he doesn't deserve a break, not after he took one of his child's own mantle away from him, but we don't have to unpack that small rock in your fucky wucky quarry now.

Arthur: I thought this meeting was about the rate of high level crimes spiking...

Martian: Aquaman, shut up I'm enjoying our new flash bullying Batman.

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redrobin-detective · 2 years

Text

how quickly the glamour fades

“What do you think the Captain does in his down time?” Wally asked, squirting a large amount of cheese whiz onto a cracker and eating it. He was still getting used to being the Flash, being in the Justice League alongside his uncle’s friends. They’d helped him grow as a hero and a person over the years and now he was one of them.

“I don’t know, Cap is always working,” Hal said, taking a bit of his pizza. “The guy never quits I’m telling you. If he’s not here, he’s putting out fires in the jungle or fighting space-magic-tentacle monsters or working with an apron at the soup kitchen. I don’t think he knows the meaning of ‘down time’.”

“We all have to take a break sometimes, even gods,” Wonder Woman said with a raised eye brow. She didn’t technically chastise him but Hal’s shoulder crept up to his ears anyway. “Marvel is the personification of the Gods’ will on Earth. He may not require physical rest I’m sure he must take moments to collect himself but it is, surely, none of our business.”

“I didn’t mean any disrespect,” Wally said hastily. “I’m still new here, trying to figure everything and everyone out with these big shoes to fill.” He cleared his throat and glanced over at the door Captain Marvel had exited out of a few minutes earlier. “I don’t know Marvel well, he was just a reserve member when I first met him and now we’ve moved into big leagues pretty much at the same time. I guess I’m trying to get to know my fellow newbie, he seems like a really nice guy, someone you’d want to talk to outside of work.”

“Yeah good luck with that,” Hal snorted and preemptively winced from the force of Diana’s glare. “What? Look, I love the big cheese as much as the next guy but he’s hard to pin down! He’ll smile and chat up here at the Watchtower no prob but he won’t go out for a drink, he won’t attend any of Bruce’s fancy parties. Barry used to practically beg the guy to come over and have some of Iris’ cooking and he turned him down every time.” A brief moment of silence as Hal coped with the sudden, casual mention of his best friend. “He’s friendly but not sociable.”

“Perhaps he needs time alone, away from all this,” J’onn said, walking in to stand by Diana. Without being asked, she reached into the cabinet and pulled out his favorite cookies. It could have been telepathy or simply years of love and experience. “As you mentioned, he spends much of his time battling the evils of the world, both the grand and the mundane. He may need solitude to cope.”

“Isolation doesn’t heal anything,” Wally grumbled, playing idly with the cheese whiz can. “The Titans taught me that there’s strength in community. I won’t begrudge the man some alone time but,” he sighed and set the can down. “I don’t know, he smiles like Dick does sometimes, when he’s keeping all the hurt inside. I think he could probably use someone to talk to.”

“He’s a god or something, it’s not like we can relate to him,” Hal sighed. “I’m with ya, Kid. I’d be over the moon if Cap ever decided to hang out after the battle was done but he’s just not that kinda guy.”

“Your kindness is appreciated, Wally but Marvel is entitled to his privacy. Should he ever need that listening ear you suggested, he of course knows he can come to us.” Diana smiled. Wally smiled back but still didn’t feel completely settled. There was something about Captain Marvel that never felt right, like he was only seeing a funhouse mirror version. His smiles were too perfect, his lines so cheesy, almost practiced. In a way, he almost didn’t feel real and that the real person was hiding behind this perfect cardboard cut out they all knew.

“Yeah, okay,” he frowned before perking back up. “Did you guys catch the game last nigh-”

“Don’t get me started squirt my team looked like they were sleepwalking, not playing.”

Hundreds of thousands of miles away in Fawcett City, a boy was cold and he was hungry.

“Achoo!” Billy Batson sneezed. “Ugh either someone’s talking ‘bout me or I’m coming down something.” He sniffled, wiping his nose on his threadbare sweater sleeve. “I don’t even know which is worse.”

It had been warm on the Watchtower when Bill, well Marvel, had finally left. The halls had been crowded and there’d been plenty of food and company. It would’ve been nice to stay but that wasn’t the way things worked. Cap didn’t need food to stay full or heat to keep him warm. He enjoyed the conversation but it felt so empty with the large wall he had to keep around his other life. It was safer this way, for him and for them.

The weather was turning cold and the shelters would have stopped giving out food by this late hour. Another night spent shivering and another night without a meal.

“It’s fine, you’re fine,” Billy chattered to himself as he slowly made his way back to the abandoned apartment he’d been sleeping in. “They don’t need to know about this, won’t care about another homeless kid. You’re lucky you get to know them as Marvel, you’re lucky to have Marvel.” He squeezed his eyes shut to fight back tears. It was an honor, a blessing to have the power to help people but oh did it hurt sometimes.

He wished he had someone to talk to about this but all he had was Tawney and the empty throne of the Wizard. There was the League but he couldn’t risk it, Marvel’s good standing was the only way they let him be active without giving away any details. They wouldn’t listen to him anyway, if they knew who their powerhouse really was. The illusion was hard to keep up sometimes but it was all he had.

All the way home, he hummed a tune he’d heard Black Canary humming while doling out portions of pizza and thought of the way Wonder Women’s gentle strong arms had felt around his shoulders and the sound of Lantern’s loud laughter and imagined that he wasn’t alone.

#title is lyrics from FatM Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)#which is the most billy batson song ever #i don't actually know what I was trying to say #just wanted to hit on the inherent dichotomy of Marvel's perception vs reality #and this projection of Marvel as this omnipotent being who works 24/7 and isn't bound by human trappings #only for Billy to be crushing himself under this heavy weight #they want to know cap but think he's not into it while Billy is So Desperate for affection but is too afraid to confide #idk I was in a sad mood and thought of billy and this came out #wrote in 35 minute but 10 minutes were freaking out if Barry was still alive at this point in time before deciding eh whatever #i didnt review this at all lol just wrote the last word and hit post hahaaha #im tired

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