Exit Post - Barry Allen

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

Morning, February 21...

The sun shone brightly as Barry and Sara walked to the path around the lake, hand in hand. He was dressed in the red costume he made famous, wearing it for the first time in months. He looked around at the crowd gathered to see him off. It wasn’t a large crowd - merely the right one. He smiled sadly but with pride at the friendships he had made, at the lives he had touched and that had touched his.

“Um, hullo,” he said to get the group’s attention. “I want to thank all of you for coming out to see me off. I know this is not the easiest thing for any of you, so it…it’s good that you came.” His words are not particularly eloquent. But when you are trying not to cry, it’s hard to talk.

“I guess I know how Lou Gehrig felt. Because I can’t help but feel I’m pretty lucky to have made such friends here. To have gotten the chance to meet such people as you. To have seen the worlds I have, to have done what I did here…I am very lucky indeed.

“I wish all of you the best, always. May the path from the Bar only be a happy one. Godspeed” He looks for a few specifc people.

“Wally, I’ll see you on the other side. Make me proud, as always.” Barry grins his successor and give him a hug.

“Stephanie…do good. Always.” The hug he shares with her is that of a father and a daughter, and he notices how hard this is for her. He wishes he could have spared her this. Wishes he could be here for her. But he knows she wil never be alone here. He smiles at Violet, and hopes that the first of his proteges here will be there for the second.

Finally, he turns back to Sara, and embraces her. The hug lasts forever. The hug is far too short. He gives her that last kiss. A kiss full of love and passion, a kiss that says what mere words cannot. But he must try some words as well.

“I love you, and always will. Remember that. Forever.” The words are a whisper for her alone.

He ends the embrace and looks away from everyone. Looks only at the path. And runs.

Within seconds he is past 100 mph, past 200, reaching up to 350. A red blur rcing around the lake. Suddenly, he accelerates beyond what can be measured, to nearly infintite speeds. But he leaves no wake, no damage. He is crossing over. The Speed Force is taking him home.

There is a bolt of lightning, and a crack of thunder. And along the path, there is a red costume with a lightning bolt on its chest.

Barry Allen is gone.

Comments

[lt-naraht.livejournal.com]

Naraht watches with a heavy heart as his friend vanishes and whispers his people's benediction for the dead.

"Farewell, Barry," he says. "You will be missed. Oh, Mother help us! How you will be missed."

[lt-naraht.livejournal.com]

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

[ooc: that would be marvelous. Thanks.]

[watcher-g-man.livejournal.com]

All farewells had been said. Remarks, comments were all in the past. There was nothing further but one last goodbye. So he watched silently as Barry was taken home.

O why should the spirit of mortal be proud!
Like a fast flitting meteor, a fast flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave --
He passes from life to his rest in the grave.
-William Knox

[lvpd_sidle]

Sara had smiled while he had spoken to his friends, held him as tightly as she dared when they kissed.

Let him remember me smiling.

But when he is gone, she slowly walks to where his costume lay on the ground.

Picking it up, clutching it to her chest.

And collapses.

[lvpd_sidle]

Gil wraps his arms around her, kneeling on the ground next to her.

He says nothing, knowing there can be no comfort for this.

[elrond-healer.livejournal.com]

Elrond stands just behind them, lending what strength and support he can, his heart going out to this young woman he has tekn into his life, his syes watching her as he too adds his spirit-salute to a great man who has Moved On.

[csi-catherine.livejournal.com]

Catherine's there, just hanging onto Sara, for all she's worth.

[withamagicword]

Billy watches from the back of the group, eyes running tears. And as the man he trusted vanishes, he turns, and slowly, slowly, walks away from everyone.

[inquisitivehero]

Hank sighs. As Barry vanishes, he shakes his head and grips his arms. It is cold suddenly, very cold, and he finds he feels very tired. And if there are tears there in his eyes, then it is to be expected, perhaps.

"Goodbye, Barry... fare thee well."

His words are soft, quiet, and then he lets his head fall and weeps.

[i-spoiled-it.livejournal.com]

Steph watches him run, face Robin-blank, very still.

When he's gone, she turns and walks away, without acknowledging anyone else's presence, or anything else.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy just stands and stares at the costume. At Sara on the ground.

And finds he can't move a muscle.

[jedipilot.livejournal.com]

Jaina watches from the back, leaning against a tree branch with a sad smile on her face. She's never liked goodbye much.

[no-more-chianti.livejournal.com]

Clarice doesn't cry.

She wants to think she's gotten better at holding it back, the tears and the emotions, but there's a small, icy sliver of doubt saying maybe it's just the time and distance-- four months away to make everyone here seem less a part of her world.

(What is actual is actual only for one time
And only for one place)

She doesn't mean for things to keep ending messy.

Whatever fucked-up destiny they've got for you out there, Barry, she thinks, glancing up into the winter sky, I hope you can handle it.

[timsbooks.livejournal.com]

And somewhere, locked away from everything else, a Tim watches, and cries for an idol who was dead before they ever met.