Summary: [6x18] The opening scene is between Barry and Joe and I thought I could make the scene have a much more family feel to it, if you will.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE FLASH
TRIGGER WARNING: PANIC ATTACKS AND SELF-HARM
Joe West sat on his bed, absentmindedly staring at the pale wall opposite him. It had been a couple days since he took the offer of Witness Protection. Whilst he knew it was to keep him safe, he couldn't help but want to go back home, embrace his family and share all of the love he could and just never let go of them.
Although Barry had agreed to bring him home, he couldn't help but feel the doubts inside, he couldn't help but feel like his son couldn't do it.
He wondered if this is what Barry felt like after being brought to the West house that fateful night all those years ago. He wondered if Barry had felt this lost without his mother and father to be there with him after rough days at school.
A sound brought Joe out of his thoughts, it scared him. Joe thought no-one knew where he lived, he thought he was safe here. Gulping, he shakily stood up, reaching for his gun that was on his nightstand. Joe trained the gun to the door once he heard it swing open, preparing to shoot at whoever was there. What he didn't expect, was for his son to be standing there, looking drained of any reserves he had left.
Joe stared at Barry for a moment longer, he didn't think this was real, there was no way Barry was here, he wouldn't risk losing his speed to see Joe, would he?
Barry's eyes were glistening in the light, they seemed glossy, and his skin was so awfully pale, Joe thought his son was ill for a moment, until he saw how he was trembling, his chest struggling to bring in oxygen for his system.
He ran to him, gathering the shaking man into his arms and rocked him, feeling Barry's breathing worsen by the second. He needed to calm him down, before it got a lot worse. He guided them both to the bed, letting Barry bring his knees up to his chest and place his head on top of them. A sure sign of struggle, Joe had realised when they first started appearing.
"Shh.. you're okay, just breathe, Bear" Joe said, shifting closer to Barry, rubbing comforting circles into the lower portion of his back.
It took awhile, but soon, Barry's breathing had eventually evened out, and he lifted his head up, tears threatening to spill out of his red-rimmed eyes. It broke Joe's heart seeing Barry this defeated, seeing him this broken.
"Y'know, the last time you were this upset was when you turned 15," Joe started, he had pulled Barry into his arms, gently rocking them both.
"You has just gotten back from school, and you seemed so upset and you just stormed up the stairs and into your bedroom, Iris didn't even know what was wrong with you"
15 years ago:
Joe was sat in the living room, it was one of the rare days he was allowed off of work. Whilst he insisted on taking his kids to school, they both decided to make their own way home.
He was sat there watching an old sitcom when Barry walked in, really upset. He had flown his shoes off and stormed up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door afterwards. Shortly, Iris walked in, tears stinging in her eyes as she met her dad's concerned eyes. Joe was up within seconds, walking towards his daughter and pulling her into his arms, rocking her gently. He put his chin on top of her head as she cried, her whole body racking with sobs.
"What's wrong, baby?" He asked her, pulling her away slightly. He cupped her face with both of his hands and used his thumbs to wipe her tears away.
"It's-It's Barry," she started, more tears falling from her eyes, "he-he got really upset and when I told him to tell me what's wrong with him, he told me to back off, and just walked away from me"
Joe's heart clenched as he heard what upset his daughter. It wasn't fair, Iris just wanted to be there for him but he pushed her away, like he usually did.
"Let me talk to him" Joe said, ushering Iris to go to her room and play music so she wouldn't overhear the conversation.
5 minutes later, he had finally built up the courage to knock on Barry's door. He took a deep breath, raising his hand to the door.
Barry heard the knock on the door, but he didn't dare move, he didn't want to. The door swung open moments later, revealing a very concerned man in the doorway.
When Joe entered the room, he half expected to see Barry crying but he didn't, instead he saw Barry limply sitting on his bed, his eyes staring out of the window, which was open and letting the freezing winter air inside the room. He was in a long-sleeved top, the same one his father had told him to buy Barry for his 15th birthday that had happened less then a month ago.
"The top suits you" Joe said softly, slowly entering the room.
Barry made no effort to turn his head, his eyes having a hollow look about them. He kept his gaze trained on the world outside, the world that was buzzing with life and happiness; the world that wasn't Barry's.
"Why did you keep me?" Barry asked, his voice was straight forward, not a single emotion was inside it.
Joe felt like something had slapped him. He knew Barry always struggled with the feeling of being loved, especially after the tragedy that took the most important people in his life away. It wasn't the first time Barry had asked that though, and he knew it certainly wouldn't be the last time.
"Because, I love you Bear" Joe started, glad to finally hear music blasting from Iris' bedroom.
"I love having you in our family, without you, it didn't feel like a complete family"
Barry sighed, his eyes still looking out the window, as if he was trying to find something. Joe studied his kid, Barry wasn't usually this stoic when they would talk.
"You sure it wasn't out of pity?" Barry asked, and Joe could hear the desperation in his voice. He could feel the need for the answer to be confirmed.
"What started all of this up, Barr?" Joe asked, sitting on the end of Barry's bed.
That's when he finally took in Barry's appearance. His eyes had red-rims, clearly from crying. His face was slightly paler then usual, but from the lighting in the room, he didn't consider it to be bad. Barry's legs were slightly up, his knees bent but they weren't up to his chest, they were half-way. His arms were resting on top of his lap, nail scratches evident on his knuckles.
"Bear?" It was like he hadn't even heard Joe's previous question. He remained perfectly still, his breathing being the only thing that screamed alive on him.
He wanted to push him for an answer, wanted to make Barry talk to him but he seemed unresponsive, like he was stuck in some trance that he would come out of in very small intervals. Instead, he stood up and left the room, determined to bring his boy back to him.
When he entered the room, Barry hadn't moved an inch, his gaze was still focused on the world outside and his body was still limp. He walked towards his son, a cup of tea in one of his hands. Ever since Barry had lived with them, his anxiety had gone through the roof, so they enlisted some help and managed to get some herbs for a tea that can relax people. It had always worked on Barry before.
Joe placed himself next to Barry, using his free arm to gently direct Barry's gaze on to himself. He put the tea up to Barry's lips and was glad when he reacted slightly, glad that was more then breathing to show Barry was indeed alive.
It took another 10 minutes before Barry came fully back to Joe, and those 10 minutes were excruciatingly slow. When he did come back though, tears were burning in his eyes.
"J-Joe.." he cried, flinging himself into Joe, clutching on to Joe with everything he had. It took a second for Joe to recover from the attack and when he did, he swung his arms around Barry's waist and rocked them both, glad he had gotten through to him.
They stayed like that for awhile, just holding onto each other as if they'd drop off the face of the earth if they let go. When they did pull away though, Barry wrapped his arms around himself, avoiding Joe's eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked, using two fingers to raise Barry's chin just so he could look at his son.
"I-I have to show you something.." Barry said quietly, obviously hesitant at wanting to show him. He didn't press though, he knew Barry would do it regardless.
Joe watched as Barry slowly released his arms from around himself and lowered them, he was clearly trying to gather enough courage.
When Barry began raising for his left sleeve, Joe was terrified. If this was what his gut was screaming at him, then he would do everything in his power to help Barry through it all. Barry took a deep breath and pulled the sleeve back, revealing his arm. Or what use to be his arm.
Joe gasped as he stared at Barry's arm. Was it even an arm anymore? He couldn't see a single piece of skin, and if there was any un-damaged skin then it was covered in dry blood. God there was so much blood. He could see where the blood had been welcomed to the surface by the multiple cuts, he could see small droplets of blood still oozing out of some of them.
Without hesitation, he gathered Barry into his arms, glad that he didn't hear any apologies from him. He didn't need to apologise for being in pain, he didn't need to apologise for anything.
Present:
"All I know was that when I saw that on your arm, I would do anything in my power to protect you" Joe ended, still rocking himself and Barry.
Barry remained silent, had he really gotten this worked up over the entire situation? Back then, he had a reason for the pain, but now? What reason did he have? Obviously his wife had been dragged into the Mirrorverse and he had lived with an imposter for 5 weeks but that wasn't a justifiable reason to get this upset, was it?
"What I'm getting at here, is that you can get through anything" Joe finalised, planting a kiss into Barry's hair.
It all made sense. Joe was trying to give him strength whilst he was at his weakest, he was trying to make him feel better. No matter what was going on, Joe always had Barry's back, and at times like these, he was glad Joe knew when Barry had silently pressed an S.O.S alert. He was glad he knew Barry Allen better then Barry knew himself.
So, as of recently, I have watched all of the Fast and Furious franchise so I am fully prepared for next year with the anticipated release of F9 and how would the writers do us dirty like that by firstly killing of Han and then bringing him back? How could they do us dirty like that?
So once I finished my Flash x Glee story, I was thinking of writing a Flash x Fast and Furious one and I was going to have Ramsey have a thing for Barry and I've actually got some ideas written down so if I lose them then they're somewhere.
Hope you're all staying safe though, and staying healthy :)