A Birdflash Short Story

A birdflash Short story

Based off of the story line from 'Titans: Rebirth' Vol. 1

My name is Wally West and I'm the fastest man alive. I've been away for a while. My last fight made me get lost in a space outside of time. The speed force. I was so alone and afraid. But there was always something to bring me back. My lightning rod. I don't know if I'm ready to face them again. Or if they're ready to see me alive.

"Who are you?" An escrima stick was held to my head as I crouched on the floor of my old apartment, looking at a photo I always kept with me. There's one thing I forgot to mention. No one remembers me.

"Dick?" I stand and turn, face-to-face with the elusive Hero, Nightwing.

"How do you know that name?" His face contorts into a scowl. Ah, the infamous batglare. "I don't know who you are--" he flipped over the desk that separated us. "How did you get in here?"

"Dick! Please, stop! I'm not here to hurt--" my sentence was cut short by him going to tackle me but a jolt of electricity shooting back and shocking him. I stare at my fingertips in disbelief. okay, weird.

"Did you just tase me?" he grips his palm with a wince. "What the hell, Wally? What was--" He stops, eyes widening. "Wally?" He asked himself. He know me. He knows me! "I don't understand." He mutters as I rush to his side to help him up. "I know you. I know your name..." he continued to talk to himself under his breath. "...but I don't know how."

"I'll explain soon, I promise." I whisper in his ear once pulled in a hug. It was short lived once I pushed him away and resumed my hero posture. "But first... Where are the Titans?"

"Right here." A voice said, from neither me or Dick.

I turn to see my old team surrounding us, weapons all ready. I see Dick's eyes widen from behind the mask from the corner of my vision.

"AH. Hi, guys." Okay Wally. Work fast. They don't remember either. How'd I do that zappy thing.

"Man, did you pick the wrong apartment to bust into, pal." Roy quipped, aiming his quiver straight at me.

They came at me from all side, Roy first. His rock steady determination, though he wasn't expecting me to be fast enough to dodge his arrow.

Then Donna and her protective fury when anyone hurts the ones she loves. I easily evaded her punch.

Lilith and her vulnerable mind to find the Truth. "I sense the intruder has done something to Nightwing! His mental patterns have been altered." She announced. Oh boy.

"What have you done to him?" Garth threw an unwavering punch. How can I prove that I'm not an enemy? They need to remember.

"You guys need to stop!" Dick tried reaching for me but was held back by Donna.

"Who is he?" She scowled as I avoided another blow with my speed.

"It doesn't matter who you are--" Lilith yelled, reaching her powers out and I fall down in pain. "--you can't outrun your own thoughts!" I scream.

"S'okay. We got him!" uhm. Ow. The when-all-else-fails Harper Hook. But when his punch hit, the sparks fly again. The memory dam bursts. He falls to the floor on his knees, cradling his head.

"What are you doing to my friends?" Donna attacked from behind. More sparks. More memories.

"He put Donna into some kind of trance!" Lilith yelled. "Grab him, Garth, and--" She was cut off as they both grab my arms. Sparks fly.

"Wally..." Lilith pulled her hood down. "It's wally." Tears welled in her eyes.

"Wally?" Donna stood back up. "Wally?!"

"I don't understand..." Garth ran a hand through his hair.

Dick still had yet to say something. Staring.

"Dick--" I started. I never figured out what I was going to say.

"Four years." He said, standing from the position I left him in from before the fighting began. "Four years! That's how long It's been!" He lashed out in anger, tears slipping past his mask. The others watched in somber silence. "You..." He started breaking down. "You were alive all along?" His voice cracked.

"Not exactly." I sighed, walking to him. "I was trapped in the speed force. It took me a while but I figured it out." I took his hand. This wasn't exactly how I planned for this to happen but it's now or never. "I needed something strong to bring bring me back." His masked eyes locked with mine and I could almost imagine those wide blue iris underneath it. "My lightning rod."

The way his mask contorted his eyes seemed to grow wider. I leaned closer and paused, waiting for a reaction. Our lips just barley grazing. I could feel his breath hitch on my face. We're so close.

Before I got the chance to doubt myself he lunged forward and connected our lips, holding me close with his arms around my neck. I gripped his waist like a lifeline.

Roy whistled from the sidelines. "It's about time." It was all background noise to me. I was in complete bliss.

Finally, I'm home.