Beep Beep Zip Tang.

[fleet-feet.livejournal.com]

The Flash is on the job - pondering a vacation from said job.

He's feeling a bit burned out lately, but he has no idea what he'd do if he took time off.

He's heard a few reports about some funky orb going around, so he's trying to find it and corral it for study.

He comes across it sooner than he expected, and he's not quite ready for what it's going to show him...

Comments

[fleet-feet.livejournal.com]

It's time.

He doesn't want to hear that. It's 'I'm gonna be dead soon' talk, and he can't ever handle that.

"What is it? And I swear I'm gonna learn how to be a better cook one of these days - I rely on Bart too much and his memorized cookbooks..."

[jay-garrick.livejournal.com]

Jay steps into the den and pulls a box off a shelf in the closet.

"I never thought I needed to learn," he chuckles. "I never thought I'd outlast Joan, with my line of work. But ever since Degaton busted my knee last year..." He brushes off the top of the box, but no dust comes off... clearly, whatever's in this box is something that he's looked at frequently.

[fleet-feet.livejournal.com]

Wally's still not sure how he managed it, but that knee was broken in such way that he can't really speed-heal it. Same reason he never tried to help Barbara.

"We made sure to bust his face up pretty good in response."

His fingers tap the JSA communicator in his pocket. Felt right to move to the Brownstone once Jay couldn't work anymore...

[jay-garrick.livejournal.com]

He smiles. "You've done the name proud, Wally. There have been two Flashes for a long time. But the world will be down to one soon." He lifts the lid.

"It's been out of commission for over a year, but... I want you to have this."

He takes the lid away, revealing a shiny silver helm, with wings along the side.

[fleet-feet.livejournal.com]

He has to just look at it for a long while. He's made jokes about it, he's poked fun at Jay for it... but right now, it's choking him up.

Wally's hands reach in to pick the helm up. Taking a good look at it, topside and underneath.

"Jay, I - " he starts to say, before he can't think of any more words that sound right. "Thank you," is all he says.

And after a beat... his brow furrows.

"How did you ever keep this on your head?"

[jay-garrick.livejournal.com]

Jay grins. "The Speed Force. Alter its momentum." He winks. "Try it on."

[fleet-feet.livejournal.com]

He's hesitant to, but eventually he slips it on - along with the whole suit.

Okay, his own headwings are gonna have to come off, but...

It seems to fit.

"I... don't know if it'll look the same with the mask, though..."

[jay-garrick.livejournal.com]

Jay smiles. "You'll make it work, Wally."

For the first time since Joan died last week, one of Jay's smiles reaches his eyes. Tears twinkle in his eyes, but never quite break loose.

He and Joan could never have children. But together, they were the parents for the legacy of the Flash.

And today, the final piece of that legacy has been passed on.

"You've always made it work."

[fleet-feet.livejournal.com]

Wally sees that in his eyes, and he steps in to embrace the man.

"Thank you, Jay. You and Joan and Barry... you were the best parents a guy could ask for."

[jay-garrick.livejournal.com]

Jay embraces him like a father embracing his son one last time.

"I'm so proud of you, Wally. I know the legacy is in safe hands." He holds Wally tightly for a long moment.

Finally, he releases the other man as the timer chimes in the kitchen.

"Come on. Let's see how badly I've burned dinner."

He smiles, laughing... because he knows that he's done. Tonight, when he goes to sleep, he sure that his time will come, and he'll be reunited with Joan again. He has nothing left to accomplish.