Til September Ends

Bertram

Kid Flash wanted to be like his bros and plan his child's birthday party. He didn't want a set theme (he didn't want to typecast his son) so he looked online to find fun party ideas so the theme wouldn't matter.

He was happy with those results and made sure that things were going well. The day of the party, he was running around like a headless chicken; Jinx smirking the entire time.

But he was doing it and it was soon time for the party. Friends and family showed up and the party began.

Bertram was having the time of his life. He tried his hand at walking and eating everything he came in contact with.

Barry Allen (the Flash) was super happy his namesake was chill and excitable by the simple things in life. He was so proud of him.

Bruce Wayne (Batman) was a little jealous of his grandson. Bertram was truly happy with life. Bruce couldn't say the same. He was a lot calmer since December but he still had issues that would take a while to iron out- with therapy.

Kid Flash didn't care about any of that. He was just happy that his son was happy.

He held onto his hands as he tried to walk. "Come on, Barry. You got it. Take one step at a time."

Bertram shrieked and continued pitching forward.

"Pretty soon, you're going to be running." Kid Flash sang.

Jinx feared that.

pagebreak

Bertram screeched when Kid Flash opened up another present.

Kid Flash brightened. "Thanks, man!"

Hot Spot lifted his cup of punch. "Welcome!"

Kid Flash gave his son the toy and watched him play with it. "He loves it."

"Of course."

Bertram dropped the toy and lunged forward out of his dad's arms.

Kid Flash hurried to set his son on the floor on his tummy.

Bertram got to his hands and knees and began crawling. Quickly.

"Whoa!" Red Arrow had whiplash. "He's going!"

"Has he ever crawled this fast before?" Kole asked.

"No." Kid Flash ran after his child and picked him up, Bertram's legs and arms still moving.

"His powers are kicking in!" Jinx was happy.

"Are they all hitting milestones because they're a year old?" Bumble Bee wondered.

"I am the gladdened they are reaching these milestones." Starfire was so happy that Mar'i had gotten her Tameranean powers.

Raven frowned. "The twins aren't reaching their milestones."

"Are you sure?" Marcy Chang scared the life out of the party.

Raven calmed first. "They haven't shown any ability."

"Test them." Marcy handed Jinx a box. "Happy birthday, runner."

"Wait!" Jinx saw she was going to leave. "Do you want cake?"

Marcy smirked. "No thanks."

Jinx pouted. "Okay."

"I'm in the middle of work. I gotta get back."

"Oh! Okay."

"Thanks, friend!" Bumble Bee called out.

"Bye." Marcy sang as she melted into the floor.

The kids waved. "Bye!"

Jinx handed the box to Kid Flash, who was wrestling with Bertram. "Open it. I want to see what it is."

pagebreak

It was a small soft race car. Bertram loved it and ran over his father's foot with it multiple times.

Jinx was happy he was happy.

Kid Flash was over the moon that for one, he planned something; two, things that he planned went right and three, his son had a good day.

He was happy.

But Cyborg wasn't. He gathered his friends together the day after Bertram's party to discuss a sensitive topic. "Lauren never found her spirit animal."

The trio blinked. "What?"

"Lauren never found her spirit animal. She told me after Ling's party. We've been trying to come up with ideas on how to find it but without talking to Bee or Nancy or someone from their culture, we have no idea what to do."

Nightwing blinked. "I definitely don't know how to find a spirit animal."

"Me either." Kid Flash frowned.

Changeling frowned and cocked his head. "Why won't she tell her sisters?"

"She's ashamed." Cyborg hated that for her.

"Yeah." Kid Flash could understand. "Don't they get those powers young? I mean Ling is only a year old."

"We don't know what to do." Nightwing admitted. "I'm human."

"I only run fast."

"Maybe I can help?" Changeling knew how animal powers went. "What have you tried so far?"

"Meditating, googling, trying to find books on Native American culture." Cyborg listed. "I've had her try to picture animals in her minds eye and still nothing."

"How does it even work?" Kid Flash was confused as to that part.

Cyborg lifted his shoulders. "I have no idea."

"You said we don't know anyone from their culture but that's not true." Nightwing grinned suddenly.

"Who do we-?" Cyborg's brain started whirling. "Marcy."

Changeling fist-pumped. "Yes!"

Kid Flash cheered. "We gotta call her!"

Cyborg felt a sense of relief. "Everything's going to be fine."