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Post by Countess on Nov 13, 2024 3:11:02 GMT
Barbara listens in silence, her gaze steady on Wally as he speaks. The warmth of earlier banter gives way to a quiet intensity, her sharp mind picking up every nuance in his tone and posture. The weight he carries is evident, and she recognizes it all too well. The shared burden of guilt, even when it doesn’t belong to you, is something she’s intimately familiar with.
As Wally describes the tragedies that befell Jay and Tim, Barbara’s lips press into a thin line. Seems some things just... stay the same no matter what. She doesn’t interrupt, doesn’t flinch, but there’s a slight shift in her stance—a subtle bracing against the weight of his words. Her arms cross loosely over her chest, not in defensiveness but in a gesture of grounding, her fingers gently tracing over the fabric of her sleeve.
When he mentions “Stabby Robin,” her brow quirks just slightly, a flicker of amusement breaking through the solemnity of the moment. That is what he had called Dames... The fondness in Wally’s voice doesn’t go unnoticed, and despite everything, she allows herself a small, knowing smile.
“That’s the thing about the ones with all the knives,” she says softly, her voice steady and low. “They usually have the biggest hearts, buried under all that armor.”
She takes a slow, deliberate breath, her gaze drifting briefly to the sunlight outside, the same unfocused point Wally had been staring at moments ago. The room feels a little lighter now, the weight of shared stories and mutual understanding creating a bridge between them.
Turning back to him, Barbara steps closer, her posture relaxed but purposeful. “You know,” she says, her tone gentler now, “We all carry things that aren’t ours to hold. Regret, blame... it sticks, no matter how fast you run or how much you try to outrun it.”
She pauses, her eyes searching his for a moment. “But you were there for them, Wally. And you’re here now. That counts for something.”
The corners of her mouth lift slightly, a quiet reassurance. "Besides, anyone who can rock a Gotham Knights sweater like that has a little bit of hero in them, whether they believe it or not."
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Post by Nomz on Nov 13, 2024 4:41:27 GMT
Wally tries not to smile when he sees her brows quirk just a bit at the Stabby comment, and he knows that the little kid must be with the bats. That is one thing he doesn't have to worry about anymore and he lets himself smile when she wears one herself. Those green eyes stay on her as she comes a little comes a little closer. He isn't wary of her, just curious as to what thoughts are going through her head.
Her words strike hard, cutting through the layers he wears to defend himself from the pain- the little shell of lies he tells himself. He doesn't exist. Not really. If he doesn't exist, none of his pain does either and neither does all his efforts to support those around him.
His eyes tear up a little and he looks down at his shoes, the muscle in his jaw bouncing as he fails to come up with a response. Barbara, saint that she is, does not leave him hanging long with a follow-up. Wally's chuckle is a little wet and he rubs the sleeve of said hoodie across his eyes.
"Ugh, uh," he struggles and looks up at her with a trembling half-smile. "You know, I don't think you're supposed to make the new recruits cry. I'm gonna have to tell the headmaster on you, Ms. Granger. Where's Superman?"
His chest rises with a quick breath as he resists the urge to pack everything away. He won't fall into old habits when his heart pleads for any ounce of comfort it can find in this world. Sincerity rings loud and clear in his voice, "Thank you, Barbara. It's been a long time since I've been seen. Figures that Oracle would see me, ya?"
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Post by Countess on Nov 13, 2024 5:14:40 GMT
Barbara watches Wally closely, everything in her melting a little as she catches the tremble in his half-smile and the way his humor masks the emotion beneath. She doesn’t move to close the distance between them further—she knows better than to crowd someone who’s standing on the edge of vulnerability. But her presence remains steady, like a lighthouse showing him his way back to the shore.
When he mentions Superman, a ghost of a smirk crosses her lips. “Superman? Oh, he’s on speed dial,” she quips lightly, her voice dry but not unkind. “But I think he’d tell you the same thing I did—probably with a little less sass and a lot more ‘truth, justice, and the American way.’”
She lets the silence settle for a beat, giving him the space to process. When he thanks her, his voice sincere and raw, Barbara feels a pang of recognition. She knows what it’s like to feel invisible, to crave acknowledgment in a world that often overlooks people like them—just people navigating extraordinary spaces.
“Oracle sees everything,” she replies, her tone gentle but wry. “It’s kind of my thing, after all,” she says. Her smirk fades, replaced by something more genuine. “But really, Wally… you don’t have to carry all of this alone. You don’t have to disappear into the background just because you think it’s easier for everyone else. You’re here. You matter.”
She leans back slightly, her arms crossing loosely over her chest. “And if you need someone to remind you of that every now and then, you know where to find me.”
Barbara glances around, then gives a slightly wet laugh. "Right... joining the Justice League... Maybe we should... get back to that," she says, rolling her eyes. ".... or we could skip to the finale and get something to eat. Honestly, I would kill for some of the caf food we have, especially after... all that."
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Post by Nomz on Nov 13, 2024 5:28:48 GMT
Wally can't help the little bark of laughter as she talks about Superman and the American way. He feels steadier with her nearby, calm and giving him space without leaving. Doing...doing what he hopes he had done for her and that feels novel when it used to be common place.
"I don't want to disappear anymore, Barbara," and he nearly whispers it like the admittance he would have previously taken to the grave. The world moved on without him. The idea that someone will be there for him is more than he could have hoped for and he knows that this was the right choice. He'll always miss his Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris, but he can be happy here.
"I think I'm part of the Justice League at this point. I mean, I was in it in a different universe. I'm sure it's the same thing," he says with a quiet chuckle, letting the remaining emotion drain away. Wally doesn't close those boxes to shove in the closet. He leaves them in the entryway so he can remember to tend to them later.
"Wait, your caf food is edible here? I would have rather eaten anything else if I could help it. I think the best thing they had was Mystery Meat Mondays," he says with something a little more sincere than just playfulness, which begs the question: just how bad was the food that a Speedster turned their nose up at it? "What do you like to eat?" He pauses and shakes his head. "I'm getting a head of myself. What's the finale?"
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Post by Countess on Nov 14, 2024 15:29:12 GMT
Barbara watches Wally carefully as he speaks, her astute mind picking up on the weight behind his words. His quiet admission hangs in the air, vulnerable and raw. She knows how much it takes to say something like that, especially for someone who’s spent so long hiding their pain behind speed and smiles.
“You’re not going to disappear,” she says, her voice steady but soft, like she’s making a promise. “Not on my watch.”
Her lips quirk into a small, knowing smile as he moves on, his humor returning in fits and starts. It’s good to see him coming back to himself, even if only a little.
“You think you’re part of the Justice League?” she teases, chuckling slightly. “Sounds like a trial period to me. But hey, we could use someone who’s good at dodging Mystery Meat Mondays.”
At his question about food, she raises an eyebrow. “The caf here is surprisingly decent. Not Michelin-star level, but you won’t get food poisoning. I’m a sucker for their chili on Fridays,” she says, grinning. She pauses, tilting her head. “And you? What’s the Speedster diet look like? Please tell me it’s more than just energy bars and powdered drinks. Is it like Barry? Damn, caf cannot catch a break...”
When he asks about the finale, Barbara’s gaze drifts toward the nearest window. Her eyes go upwards, a little reverent as she does so.
“Something in the stars,” she says simply. “The Watchtower. Floating above the world. Every time am up there, it’s like a reminder of why we do this. Why we fight, why we keep going, even when it feels impossible.”
She glances back at Wally, her green eyes meeting his with an acceptance, of him... of his predicament... of their budding friendship. “It’s not about the powers or the title. It’s about being part of something bigger. And you? You belong here, Wally. You’re one of us.”
Barbara lets that hand for a moment, her hand on his shoulder. "Come on. Telepad is this way. I am still going to need that blood for Zatara."
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Post by Nomz on Nov 15, 2024 22:04:03 GMT
“You’re not going to disappear. Not on my watch.”
More than he needs the air to breathe or the water to drink, Wally needs those words to be true. He needs the way they sear across his heart to mean something, to matter when it all comes down. And it will come down. It always. Comes. Down.
Wally shakes his head, mouthing 'trial period' as if the mere words offend him greatly enough that he would erase them from the dictionary. One shoulder lifts in a shrug as he tucks his hands into his pockets, now sure that Barbara is not going to be falling over any time soon. The tips of his ears and his neck get a bit red.
"Well, I wouldn't call it the speedster diet. Until I met Diana, I've been keeping to a very low-end and human diet. I took for granted how much food I used to get from the previous JL." He chews his lip thinking. "If I had to pick a favorite food? A really good meatball hoagie with extra cheese and jalapenos."
When she gets to talking about the stars, Wally finds himself smiling just a little. He's spent more time than he can count staring out at the Earth from above- watching over the people he'd sworn to protect with his everything. It is a vow he takes as seriously here, even if it is a different Earth and a different people.
"I was a fool to think that I could stay away from it all," he says quietly, words sincere and a bit rueful. "I'm glad to be here, Barbara. I am glad to have a people to call my own again."
His smile grows with the hand on his shoulder and he speaks up, "Lead the way. I'm just glad that- Well, there are some differences in this universe I am happy to hear about. Did I tell you I had to wear Fate's helmet before? It was a whole ordeal. Magic is my least favorite thing. Magic and 24-hour fast food joints that aren't actually 24-hours."
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Post by Countess on Nov 23, 2024 0:36:14 GMT
Barbara watches Wally as he speaks, the shift in his expression and tone like a slow sunrise breaking through clouds. He’s steadying himself in her presence, and that realization sits warm and sure in her chest. It’s something rare and fragile, and she’s determined to protect it- protect him. As best she can, at least.
“Magic and disappointing fast food,” she says with a dry laugh, her hand dropping back to her side. “I think you just described the universal enemies of heroes everywhere. I mean, what’s even the point of calling it ‘24-hour’ if they’re gonna lock the doors at midnight? False advertising and broken promises. You deserve better. We deserve better. I have an in with a politician... maybe I can make that a reality.”
“You know,” she says softly, “there’s something comforting about the view from up there. No matter how different the world below might be, out there-it’s always the same. The stars, the vastness of it all. It reminds you that you’re part of something bigger, doesn’t it? It does for me. All the things I think are so big are just... specs, in the grand scheme of it all... but I'm still in that scheme.”
When her eyes meet his again, her voice carries a quiet conviction. “And you are, too. No matter where you came from, no matter how far you tried to run, you’re here now. You’re part of this team, this family. You matter, Wally.”
Her lips twitch into a faint smile, the warmth of it reaching her eyes. “For the record, if this universe includes more people who order meatball hoagies with extra cheese and jalapeños, then I think it’s already an upgrade. You’re in good company.”
With a tilt of her head, she gestures for him to follow. “C’mon, let’s get moving before I get too sentimental. Lead the way? You’re the fastest man alive, after all. And if we pass the kitchen, maybe we can see if anyone’s brave enough to try making your hoagie. Fair warning, though- I’m not cleaning up the mess if it goes wrong.”
Her teasing tone lingers as they walk, but there’s no missing the steadiness in her presence, the quiet promise that she’ll be there to keep him grounded, no matter how far or fast he might run.
END THREAD
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