Flash took off before him, and with the speeds at which Barry is now moving, well, the senior speedster should get to the Flash museum well before Wally does. As he dashes along, running at speeds almost equal to that of the speed of sound (!!!), Kid Flash reflects back on all that has happened. Wasn't it only yesterday that he, Dick, Roy, Garth and Donna all banded together, to form the Titans? And now he's here in a time when they have their own Tower. A whole Tower. Build by them? For them? They're heroes fitting of a Tower? Man, in his world, the JLA lives in a cave, and they get their own Tower. But other things are on Wally's mind. Like that blonde girl, yes. And Dick, as something seems to be worrying the Boy Wonder, and when Robin's worried, Wally's worried. But then also Barry seems... well, what if it's not his Barry? Or if... But before he can answer any of his own questions he's coming to a stop, right outside the Flash Museum, right before... a statue of himself. He reads, "... Wallace West, the fastest Flash ever, hero and friend to-... But, I'm not grown-up yet and..." But then he looks left, to see the other statues... ...one of which is of Barry Allen. And sitting on its base, feet up there with him to reveal the inscription, is the Flash. Without looking at it - because yes, Bart has had it memorized for as long as he's been in this era - he recites the inscription word for word. "Bartholomew Henry Allen - The Greatest Hero The World Has Ever Known. 'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends,' John 15:12-13. Barry considered the world worthy of his friendship, and the world will never stop missing him." Bart sighs, watching Wally, and swings his legs down. "I'm sorry, boyo, I never meant to mislead you. I'm not Barry - I'm your cousin from the future." He pulls his mask off. "Bart." "Oh." And the pauses don't even begin to cover the silence that Wally feels befalling him right now. Looking away from his revealed cousin, directly to that inscription, it sinks in. All of it. Sinks in hard. And with realization comes the weight of death, one that is heavier than his own. "Oh," he repeats, his head shaking. he doens't want to believe it, really, he can't. Part of him knew it would come, someday, just... Why did it have to come? Why? It's not fair! His real dad should be the one, if anyone! Not Barry, not... not... Kid Flash slumps to his knees, hands together, as he looks back to Bart. It's true, it's all... true. He can feel it. But, in looking to Bart Wally sees something familiar, something he feels within himself. But the more Wally looks into Bart's eyes the more *guilty* he feels, because of what he sees there. Bart's family, Barry's family. Wally's pain is nothing in comparrison. Swallowing, he bows his head, nodding a little. "... thank... thank you. For telling me... I don't, can't... don't... I... I odn't know what to say, but thank you, for saying something about... to me... I..." He knew this was going to happen. He knew it would be like this - he knew it would be crushing and horrible and leave this gut-wrenchingly empty coldness in Wally - but he also knew that he'd rather Wally found out from him than from a book. See, a book couldn't walk over and kneel in front of the young teenager, and reach out and take him into an enormous and encompassing bear hug. There aren't any words Bart can say to Wally to make up for this - he knows exactly what the boy's feeling; he's felt it enough times, thinking *his* Wally was dead, gone for good, replaced and forgotten by everyone but him. He knows there isn't anything anyone could have told him during those times to make him feel better, so he just lets Wally ache, hoping to help him with physical support. More like wishing he could soak up the pain with his presence, like a super sponge - but he knows that's impossible. He knows so many things, and none of them are happy. "Wally," he finally whispers, holding the kid tight, like a loving and protective father would - protective, wishing he could have kept this from Wally somehow, and guilty because he feels as though he personally crushed something young, vibrant, and alive. "Wally, I never even got to meet him. And you have a long future ahead of you with him. This isn't your present - this isn't even close to anywhere near your present. When you get back home, you'll get him back - and you'll have him for a long time." It's true - this Wally is young. "And...I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I feel I owe you. My name is Bart *Allen*, and I'm *your* cousin..." His arms encompass you, drawing you as desperately to him as he possibly can. You're the closest thing he has to Barry left, and he's going to hold onto you as tightly as he can. With his head just pressed to your strong chest, he draws upon your strength, your silent pledge, and your understanding. Yes, you're his chousin, but you're also an Allen, a blood relative of Barry's... and for just the realization of that Wally is filled with guilt. And shame. "...I'm sorry...," he whispers back, pressed tightly to you. It's never something he anticipated he would handle it well, when time ran out. Not for him, but his family, the family he's wanted to have... family like with this Allen. Bart Allen. Sniffing, and keeping his head down, Wally leans back, relasing you slightly, as he'll let your circulation resume once more. "I'm... I'm the one that owes you. For so much, already... if you hadn't told me, if I learned it some other way, I... I'm glad you're my cousin, Bart. I'm glad you're my family. Glad that you wanted to tell me." He sniffs, and then attempts to smile a little, though his head still remains bowed. What should he say? He's running without the ground beneath him now, really. Running aimlessly, if at all. Or maybe not.... Drawing strength in something you've said to him, something he appreciates, he finally looks back up to you, that dreamer's hopeful smile there. "So, I make the most of my time here to learn as much about you as I can, but we also find a way to send me home so I can spend the important time with Barry. Right?" The Flash laughs quietly. "Actually, I'm not sure if you end up remembering any of this when you get home, because when I got here, you were grown up - I'm serious when I say I never met Barry - you were grown up, and you took me in, and you looked after me. I'm not sure what year you're coming from, but if they've already made a movie called 'Back to the Future', it works kind of like Marty meeting his parents. He tells 'em to go easy on their kid when he's eight and sets fire to the living room rug, but the fact that he had to tell them that means that they obviously forgot." All right - there's Bart back, running off at the mouth. He's silent for a second, then smiles a little lopsidedly. "But if you -do- remember any of this, tell Barry about me, will you? I...I wish he could have known...at least /about/ me." A beat. "And our other cousin, Jenni - but she lives in the thirtieth century, you won't get to meet her. Yet." Sitting back, Kid Flash puts his hands out to either side of him, to feel the ground beneath him. Lord, he needs that. As much as he's a dreamer, the ever-hopeful wishful thinker, the spirited escaping romantic, he'll always need that solid foundation beneath him to get his running start from. And in you he's finding that, more and more. His head bows again as he looks at nothing in particular, but he grins. The morose overwhelming dread he had a moment ago is replaced now byu something a little less burdensome, and it will get better. Promise. "Wow, a whole family. Next you'll tell me I end up getting married and have kids of my own." He teases there, as right now, he can't *EVER* see himself doing that. Maybe because he fears... well, he fears something, something he's not going to try and think about. But he looks up to you again, his head tilting, as maybe ... maybe he doesn't have to fear becoming *that*. Not if what you say if true. "I took you in? Well, I see it as being the other way around. I mean, no offense, but next to Barry, right now I can't think of anyone else I could hope to be like." And he *means* that. "I'll find a way to remember you, to tell him about you. Because I need to remember you for myself as well." He looks up to you, almost shyly, slightly grinning, before looking down again. "No, you definitely took me in," laughs Bart, sitting crosslegged on the grass in front of Wally. He runs his hands through his hair, which turn it into its usual wavy, uncontrollable mess, then lets his hands drop into his lap. "When I got here - see, I was born with superspeed. And it aged me exponentially - so, where I was born - the thirtieth century - they kept me in this virtual reality where I thought I was growing up normally, but when your aunt Iris broke me out of it, I was two and I looked about twelve. Kept aging, too, once she got me here. You saved my life, but boy, was I a pain in the neck after that. Two years old, you know?" The Flash winces just thinking about it, but still has a sort of entertained and embarrassed smile on his face. "So, see, really...the only reason I grew up to be like this is because I had *you* to look up to, Wally. You're an incredible person, you're a hero and a defender of peace and justice, and you always do the right thing. It's some legacy we've both been handed, but I know for a fact that you've proven yourself more than worthy of it, over and over again. I never had a father, and I never had Barry - I had you, and you were the Flash. You're *my* hero, Wally. I need you to remember that more than I need you to remember anything else. You're capable of great things, and in your lifetime you'll grow to realize them all." Now it's Bart's turn to look shy - but he also looks proud. Incredibly proud...of Wally. What can he say to *that* really? He's smiling now, that's for sure. Most of it goes over his head, as he's not sure what to make of it. No, that movie hasn't been out yet, but the reference isn't lost on him, nor are the compliments, the praise and the respect. Trust him, he feels it. And it's not something he's ever felt in *himself* before. He has it for Barry, he has it for Donna and Dick, and to some degree Superman, to his aunt Iris and now you. But hearing how he's been as much to someone as Barry is to him? well, he begins to feel it in himself. The pride that he doesn't have to be like someone else, that he doesn't have to be Barry, because... because he mattered to someone else because of who he was, what he did. for that Wally has no words. Just a choking feeling in his throat. Something you said catches in his mind. 'It's some legacy we've both been handed...', meaning that he's gone the same way as Barry will to him, that you've had to do what he has done. That you have lost him. And you continue to remember him, like this. Normally this might sadden him, this realization that he shall meet the kind of sacrifice that Barry will. But not today, not now, as right now he made a difference to someone, someone special. Standing, Kid Flash is all smiles as he offers his hands to you to help you up. "Someone is going to be lucky to have you as a mentor some day..." He smiles at this, as he hopes you will. "We should get back to the others, as I'm sure they'll need us. Without speedsters to hold them together..." He grins a little, and then just stops himself and smirks, "Thank you, Bart." "Without speedsters, *everything* falls apart," grins Bartholomew Henry Allen II, taking the proffered hand and accepting the hoist up. "And you know they'd pound us if they heard us sayin' that." Hopefully - hopefully today, he's managed to give Wally that which he's always wished he could help with, but was never able to. Maybe he's been able to make the sort of impression on Wally that Bart remembers Wally leaving on him. Through all their ups and downs, through the really snarky awful parts and the horrifying parts and the frightnening parts, and through all the beautiful wonderful amazing breathtaking astonishing parts, there's one thing that Wally's been to Bart...and that's family. Even when both of them have denied it, and even when either one of them has felt as through they didn't deserve the other. And family is always there for family - that's something Wally will learn when he touches the speed force for the first time. When he feels the presences of all those people he's ever lost to speed, there to lend him support and love. There are truly good times ahead for Wally West, and Bart grins like a maniac. "You're more than welcome, Wally," he answers quietly, voice held back by - well, by joy. It's incredible when it happens, that that kind of feeling fills you so much - but the fact that Bart sees Wally standing a little straighter, walking a little prouder, it makes him feel like he's been able to give something back. He pulls his mask on and laughs. "Come on, then, Kid Flash - race you back to New York!" "Only if we let them catch us," he replies, as he stands there facing you. Looking up to you. So much liek Barry, yet... the kind of man Wally only hopes to become, plus more. Maybe this is why Wally dyed his hair brown. And then with a grin, he nods. "You're on, old man." And with a wink, he prepares to take off before you can stop him.... not that you would. And as he'll take stride with you he'll feel that pressence as well. Of family, and of joy. There's more to the running,t o all of the speed, than just letting life rush by. It's an experience, and one best discovered when shared. Whatever paths lie ahead, they are best met with someone to join you on that journey. And here today,a nd he knows forever, he's honored to have you deciding to be there to walk those choices with him. With one last look back to Barry statue, Kid flash is paused for just one moment. 'Goodbye, Barry.' Just before take-off, Wally grins to you, Bart and suddenly looks down and *very* surprised. "Bart, your shoe's untied!" And with *that* he is gone. Catch him if you can!