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Bart Allen. 15. Still picking up the pieces, ready to start anew Closed RP Account

[j-buchanans]

Wally knew the signs of a speedster when he saw one, and Bart had ‘em.

Bad.

Not just in the, like, crazy, quick, ADHD kinda way, but in the I’m-gonna-run-around-the-Earth-twelve-times-if-no-one-stops-me kinda way. The redhead had been there too, he knew all about it. Hell, he still got like that sometimes, if the situation happened to permit it. But Bart wasn’t like him, or Jay, or Barry. No one knew how Bart got to be the way he was — from what Wally could tell, the kid didn’t even know himself. But he didn’t have to be completely lost. So what, he didn’t pour chemicals on himself and just happen to get struck by lightening (seriously; how the hell did that happen three freakin’ times)? He was still a speedster, just like them, and that meant… well, it meant that Bart didn’t have to be entirely alone.

He’d stopped for a couple six gyros when he arrived in Gotham, fueling himself back up from his run before making his way to the street he’d promised Bart they’d meet on. Wally wasn’t surprised to see Bart jogging up the block as he approached and smiled as he quickened his own pace, catching up to the brown-haired boy with ease. As he came up on Bart’s side, Wally grinned.

"On your left!"

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Bart almost tripped, hearing a voice shout out next to him and he quickly skidded to a halt. Turning to his left (no, he didn't try to turn right at first that would be.. dumb) his mouth quicky grew into a grin and he shouted with joy, leaping at the other boy.

"Wally!!!! You're here!" he laughed, wrapping his arms around the other as he collided. Wally was the only person he knew who could keep up with him (in several ways) and could deal with his energy. Kon was great, but even he had his limits. Pulling back, he chuckled, soon calming down and then made a face.

"Wait. On my left what?"

[warcraftedits-blog]

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Bart thought over Tim’s words as he sang the song. The periodical table? That sounds hard.. It sounded sciencey, so there was no doubt the lab had had one of those plastered somewhere. Could someone like Bart really learn something like that with singing? Even with a daunting thought like that, he somehow thought he could accomplish anything. Settling down from his song, feeling much happier now, Bart fixed Tim with a big grin.

"Uhhhh not much! Just what it says here in this big ol textbook. There’s stuff like a bunch of generals, the north fought the south, and people wore blue and grey!"

[fenceposterror]

Tim sighs, this was going to be a really long night, but a part of him was relieved to have some normalcy back. No matter how beat up he got, Bart was always going to need help studying for history, and it was always going to be a test of Tim’s resolve. Reigning in his expression, the young hacker looked at Bart again and shook his head patiently. "What I mean, Bart, is what did you just learn from singing that song? Can you tell me anything specifically about the civil war? The colors of their uniforms? Who was fighting?" He smiled reassuringly, waiting for Bart’s answer as he shifted lightly on the mattress, glanced at the heart monitor that sat beside his bed, the one he had begged Alfred to turn off and Bruce had insisted on. "Did you retain anything?"

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Bart smiled patiently, looking to Tim for approval that he said the right thing. The minute the other said otherwise, Bart felt like a complete idiot at his mistake. "Oops.. oh yeah, yeah I totally knew that! Totally..." he coughed, scratching his head. "So uh, lets see.." The boy began humming the tune in his head again, closing his eyes as he did so, and then opened as it kicked it.

"Oh!!" he said with a big grin. "It's so easy to remember now! The Civil War started in 1861 and ended in 1865! Also, the northerners wore blue and the southerners wore grey! Wow that's awesome! I'm like smart now!" Bart gave a big shout of joy and went to hug Tim, only stopping quickly before he did so remembering his friend's state.

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

He was incredibly excited. It wasn't always that Bart made friends, so when he did find someone knew who wasn't entirely put off by his.. behavior, he couldn't help but go nuts about them. Not that his current friends were any less! Gosh no, he adored them more than anything. But, only having like, two his whole life? Bart dreamed of large gatherings filled with friends of all kinds, playing video games and eating junk food, the way he saw on television. And now, he had gotten a little closer to that very fantasy!

So Bart waited as patiently as possible for his friend. Well, as patiently as Bart could wait, which included jogging around the block a bit and humming out loud.

[fenceposterror]

"It can be a little difficult, but once you get the hang of it, It’s not all that hard. I used to use it to help with memorizing the periodical table." He had been in elementary school at the time but, Tim kept his reassuring smile in place, hoping it would keeps Bart’s spirit up— there were plenty of high schoolers, even college level students, who still used the method. The older teen believed that so long as it helped one learn, there was no such thing as a silly method, and for free thinking minds like Bart’s, song and rhyme seemed like the best bet.

Carefully and quietly allowing Bart to find the rhythm himself, Tim nodded along, the tune seemingly familiar but perhaps not quite known on a personal level. It was pleasant enough and the young hacker momentarily closed his eyes. It had been some time since he heard a pleasant tune (usually it was just laughter) and even accompanied by historical information it was welcome. Finally opening his eyes as Bart trailed off, Tim glanced at him again.

"Well? What do you know about the Civil War?"

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Bart thought over Tim's words as he sang the song. The periodical table? That sounds hard.. It sounded sciencey, so there was no doubt the lab had had one of those plastered somewhere. Could someone like Bart really learn something like that with singing? Even with a daunting thought like that, he somehow thought he could accomplish anything. Settling down from his song, feeling much happier now, Bart fixed Tim with a big grin.

"Uhhhh not much! Just what it says here in this big ol textbook. There's stuff like a bunch of generals, the north fought the south, and people wore blue and grey!"

[jessequicks]

Flash Family being adorable.

[certusfortis]

"Uh…yeah, you were."

He sounds five years old. Mentally, John puts his foot down. He will not get into a petty argument with a kid he’s never even met.

"Do I?" the question is asked absentmindedly.

"I’m sure I can point you in the right direction. What are you looking for?”

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Bart nodded, feeling kind of foolish as he rubbed his arm. He couldn't put it down why the man was so familiar to him, but he could feel an ache in chest. Like it was.. like it was something important. But he just couldn't grasp it.

"Um.." The boy looked around, blinking as he felt more lost than even before. Looking for? The man probably meant his home.. which.. was..

"Well, I was walking home.. Which is a big grey apartment building. Somewhere."

[certusfortis]

   ”Oh, uh, hey…Just a heads up.    If you’re gonna follow someone,    you might want to be a bit more    sneaky.”

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

    "Eh?? Um... I wasn't.. following you.. Ahh      I just."           Bart looked around, realizing he didn't      really know where he was exactly.

    "You just.. you looked really familiar and      I wasn't sure why and I guess.. I started      walking and now.."      He sighed, feeling foolish. Kon      would surely scold him later.

    "I don't know where I am.."

[ephemeralephemera]

Visit Original Link

The other night, dear, As I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms. But when I woke, dear, I was mistaken. So I bowed my head and cried.

[different-is-fine]

[fenceposterror]

"Super sure, Bart. Cross my heart. Alfie isn’t like normal doctors. He’s the best." Tim smiled for good measure as he followed Bart’s gaze back to the text book. He supposed they would have to start from the very beginning, when it started, when it ended, and the battles in between. It was going to be a long day. But, the hacker supposed it was better than sitting in bed all day and watching reruns of reruns.

"Yeah, if you come up with tricks to help you remember, little things that make it fun or a cool word that reminds you of the real word you’re thinking of, it can be a lot easier to recall the facts." Trying to think of an example, Tim took a minute before directing Bart’s attention to the start of the first paragraph.

"So, for example. The Civil War started in 1861 and ended in 1865. If visualizing the numbers doesn’t help, try repeating the facts to like, the tune of your favorite song."

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

"Tricks? A fun or cool word... that sounds kinda hard." Bart went over all the possibilities in his mind, but it was hard to come up with anything at the moment. His mind raced too fast and he couldn't string something comprehensive and helpful together. But Timmy was smart, so he most likely knew what he was talking about. How could Bart doubt him?

"Civil War.. 1861.. 1865.." he perked up, his attention lighting up as he caught onto the last words in particular. "Favorite song?? OOooh oh my gosh there's so many though.. Umm um.. Oh I know!"

As if on cue, Bart suddenly broke out humming the tune of 19-2000. While he started humming, he began to insert the words that Tim just spoke over and over. It.. it almost felt like it was working!

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Impulse #9, pg 1. cropped.

[fenceposterror]

"Yeah, I definitely mean it. They’re taking really good care of me, Bart. Promise." He tried another smile, leaning back comfortably as he watched Bart finally relax beside him. "The machines take care of me too while my body recovers and it can’t take care of itself properly." Tim glanced over the small print of the heavy text book. It had been a while since he had done any work involving the civil war but he was confident in his retention of the facts enough to help Bart. And if his memory failed him, he was at least sure he could read the text over and explain it to Bart in a simple transition.

"Okay. So it’s the dates and stuff that’s got you stuck?" Tim skimmed over the text presented in front of him. "Should we start at the top then? We can figure out a way to get you to remember. Maybe a song? Or if you wrote it down? What about rhyming? Do you think that might help?"

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

"Really? You're sure about that? Doctors can't always be trusted" he looked back at the machines, eyeing them warily before nodding. "Welll if you insist.. I trust you Timmy." blinking, his thoughts were immediately forgotten as Tim went over the textbook, his attention dutifully fleeting. 

Bart nodded at Tim's comment, moving closer so he could peer over at the words his friend was reading. "Yeah, basically all of it? I just can't remember anything, you know me. I can read it all in a few minutes but only remember what it said in less that time" he sighed, his ability to retain anything exasperatingly hopeless. Back in those days there had been countless tests preformed on this subject. It always seemed he could read things at an amazing speed, but 10 minutes later he couldn't remember a thing. It was probably due to his previous amnesia, but he couldn't help feel that it was such a useless ability if it didn't help anything. "A song? Rhyming? You can do that with this stuff?" he looked from Tim to the textbook, this notion of this practice slowly getting him excited. Bart loved songs. He wasn't a very good singer (as Kon had told him) but he did love music. 

[fenceposterror]

Tim couldn’t help but give a wary smile in light of Bart’s chaotic concern and effort to make sure that he was alright. It was compassionate of him, something Bart had always been and Tim had always admired the teen for being able to give so freely and unabashed. Tim shook his head.

"I’m okay, Bart-man. Honest." He smiled again for good measure. "Besides, I’m feeling a lot better. I was looking forward to your visit actually. It’s been kinda quiet this week and I’m pretty sure I’m like, totally going stir crazy." Tim motioned for Bart to take a seat beside his bed, noting the phrases Bart used, wondering why the younger thought the machines would be to hurt him, but didn’t dwell on it for too long. Now was not the time and he was just glad that Bart was mostly composed.

"What subject did you need help with?"

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Bart continued to fidget, but seeing the light smile on Tim's face surely meant things were better than he thought so he let a little tension go out.

"Really? You mean that? You're not just.. saying things?" he looked around warily. "And these machines really aren't hurting you?" Seeing that things really were alright, Bart finally relaxed and gave in, sitting down beside the bed with a slowly creeping smile.

"Well.. that's great! I'm super duper happy I can be here for you Timmy. You're like my best friend, besides Kon of course!" he grinned, getting more comfortable and pulling up his heavy and questionably dirty backpack. He grabbed several folders and books out, haphazardly piling them on the bed but careful not to disturb his friend.

"Alright soo right now we're learning about generals in the civil war and stuff, but I don't know how anyone can memorize all these dates and names, it's ridiculous! Not crash at all. The past is weird."

[fenceposterror]

It had been a decision that took some thinking over. Not because he didn’t want to see Bart, but simply because of the younger teen’s general disposition. Tim was, quite possibly, in the worst state of his entire existence and he simple didn’t know if he had the stamina to put up with the other boy’s sprightly disposition. Still, Bart had sounded all but desperate, determined to pass his next exam, and so Tim had relented, though not before giving a strict warning that was followed up with one from Conner as well.

As he waited in bed for Bart to show up, Tim glanced around at the different medical machines he was still plugged into, wondering if the younger teen might not take to them well. He knew Bart had trouble with going to doctor’s visits, hated hospitals, though he wasn’t sure why, but at the moment, there was nothing he could do about it. Tim currently needed them and as Alfred ushered the high schooler into his room, Tim hoped, Bart was in need of tutoring enough to not freak out.

[buzzingstaticfootsteps-blog]

Bart all but stumbled in, his usual amount of grace intact. He was certainly excited to see his friend after so long, but when he had heard the gist of what happened he was... a bit nervous on how to interact. That being said, the minute he saw the machines surrounding his bed-ridden friend, his mind (as usual) jumped to conclusions before thinking. "Tim!!! What are these things? Are they hurting you?!" he yelled out, rushing over in haste, looking over each mechanism that beeped and buzzed. He didn't necessarily sense a threat from any of them, but he certainly didn't trust them. Turning to Tim, he bit his lip slightly and clutched the frame of the bed. "Oh man Timmy.. are you sure you can tutor me?...i get it if you're too.. yanno.." he trailed off, realizing he had probably barged his way in like he always did. Kon was always teaching him to be more self-aware.

[anakin-no]

Zero Friction - A fanmix for Bart Allen during his times as Impulse. Thanks towards kavinskysdick for help with the cover!

19-2000 (soul child remix) gorillaz | kangaroo kyle andrews | my skateboard will go on anamanaguchi | everybody loves me onerepublic| zero friction the presidents of the usa | you always make me smile (remix!) kyle andrews | just can’t lose! aquabats | with a little help from my friends the beatles | harder, better, faster, stronger daft punk | fast turtle anamanaguchi | dental care owl city

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[femharringrove]

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