Lightning Rod - A BIRDFLASH Story

Chapter 2

It started with a blue haze, and faded to purple before my vision started to return. Still foggy, I begin to make out a figure. It's my wife. She looks at me with disgust, "Wally, how could you do this," her voice grows louder, "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO YOUR FAMILY." I step back beginning to panic. "Linda, I'm sorry I have a responsibility," I look down from her penetrating gaze, "you deserve more than me." Linda fires back, "Does your responsibility mean you drop everything for HIM!" Smoke begins to flow from Linda's mouth enveloping my vision.

The color red begins to dissipate into the smoke, until it fully covers my sight. It eventually fades, and I find myself in my childhood bedroom. Laid out my plaid comforter is a Flash poster that I was making for The Flash Fan Club I started as a kid. I look down at my hands and see how small they are. I realize I must be around 11 years old in this vision. God, this is before I even knew Barry was the Flash. My amusement is cut short by the all too familiar stomps coming to my door. It's my dad, Rudolph West, he opens my door and immediately starts berating me once again. "WALLACE WHY IN GODS NAME ARE YOU SO OBSESSED WITH THESE MEN IN TIGHTS? ARE YOU A FUCKING HOMO? Now get the fuck outside and cut the damn grass like I told you." Even with the mind of an adult his jabs cut deep. He's keeps going on and on and getting louder and louder. That is till smoke begins flowing out of his ears like a train trying to get started up. The smoke floods my room till it is all that remains.

Yellow begins to permeate my vision. It fades to me being right outside the Flash museum. I check my hands and see the classic red gloves and yellow sleeves of my Kid Flash costume. The wind blows behind me and a comforting voice says, "The unveiling seems to have gone well. The usual suspects must've known it'd be a bad idea to strike today." Barry gives me a smile that could brighten up any day. "Yeah, Central City needed a place like this. A beacon for the people. Our symbol brings hope to so many people and now they have a reminder that we're watching out for them," I said with perhaps too much poise for a teenage sidekick. "That's really well said, Wally," Barry puts his hand on my shoulder, "You're worthy of the Flash legacy and I'm so grateful to share it with you." Barry would regularly say things like that and honestly I appreciate it a lot, but it's just hard to believe. "How are you and Raven doing anyways," Barry asked me trying to fill out the silence. "We actually decided to just be friends instead of dating," I responded cringing at myself. "Ah okay, I never thought you and her fit together. Don't worry you'll find someone. Someone to be your lightning rod," Barry smirks. "Thank you, Barry," I respond and he says, "Anytime, I'll always be here for you, Wally, but now I need to go check in with the League. Be safe getting home. See you soon!" As he speeds off the asphalt kicks up into the air with blue dust that begins taking over my vision.

What comes out of the blue mist is Dick Grayson in Titans Tower. "Hey Walls, how are you doing?" He beams brightly at me. I look into his baby blue eyes and can't help but tear up, "I kind of need a hug?" Dick, in his Nightwing costume, comes forward saying, "I got you, man," as he embraces me. "What's the matter? If you want to talk about it of course," he asks reassuringly. "I've just been seeing things in my life in a new light. I feel like I've been hiding myself. Running from who I am and hiding behind people that make my life simpler," the words escape my mouth before I can think. This is one of the first times I've talked about how I truly have felt for a long time. Dick says back, "I understand that feeling. Wally, what helped me was finding my own identity within myself. Which eventually brought about the bluebird you can see plastered on my chest. Now I'm not saying you leave the role of the Flash. I'm just saying you need to be your own Flash and follow your path. You can never be Barry, so why put yourself through so much trouble by trying to be like him. I personally think you are the greatest hero and not just that, but person as well. You can shine so much better as you and even do your job better," he chuckles and says, "Now wake up before I shove this escrima stick up your ass."