#like??? WALLY RUN THE KILLER IS IN THE HOUSE! THE PHONE CALL CAME FROM THE KITCHEN!!!! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

coldtomyflash · 7 years

Note

What is your take on Barry and Joe's relationship before the Flash powers? We know Joe loves him, but the issue of Barry's father's innocence looks like it had been a sore spot between them for a while. Do you think Joe resented any of his efforts to find the real killer (he made a comment about Barry making people think he raised a weirdo or something in the first episode)? He's also called Barry son, but he doesn't seem at the same level as Iris or Wally, like losing them would be worse.

Oh man I forgot I never responded to this. This ask is actually what spawned me thinking about Barry’s characterization / narrative arc recently.

Man, their relationship is complicated, IMO. And I’ve gotta preface this with saying: I love Joe West. He’s one of my favorite characters on the show. He’s one of my favorite characters to write. People say I make him a sort of villain in some of my fics but if I do, it’s not from a place of dislike but from a place of recognizing that Joe West is a goddamn realist who’ll do anything for his kids but damn if he isn’t also just human.

So that being said... YES. I think there was resentment and exhaustion from both sides for a long time. I’ll lay out my headcanons on this, with some tangential canon evidence.

First off, you’ve got Joe bringing home his daughter’s bff who is now traumatized. Probably a knee-jerk decision but he sees that kid on the crime scene and he knows him, knows this family, and he doesn’t know what else to do because he’s seen a lot of shit, and he’s tired, and he’s a single dad and shit’s piling up but this? Things like this aren’t supposed to happen. Not in his neighborhood with people he knows and a kid he’s probably had over for supper more than once. Not with Dr. Allen and his wife.

He knows that’s not how the world works, and that evil doesn’t stop at an invisible line between his home and anywhere else in the world, but even for him, this case was rough.

So he takes in this traumatized kid, and he does his goddamn level best to be patient with him. He gets that the kid is going through hell. He gets that he needs to process, and that denial is a natural part of grief and loss. So if he’s in denial about what happened, and made up a story that makes it easier for him to cope, Joe’s gonna accept that and just help him out. Accept that Barry’s going to do things like run to Iron Heights and scare him half to death because he misses his dad and he’s still in denial and he’s just a kid. He lost his mom and his dad that night, just in a different way, and Joe gets it.

So he gives Barry a talking to and establishes firm boundaries but he starts to allow the kid visitation access to his dad because maybe it’ll help him come to terms with things. His dad can’t hurt him from prison, after all. Joe knows how dangerous manipulation can be, but he keeps an eye on their visits and it seems okay. He hates Henry Allen for putting him, Barry, all of them through this, for being such a damn snake in the grass, but he accepts that Barry needs to see this man if he’s going to move on, and is going to keep running away if Joe doesn’t let him do this.

He makes concessions. He tries. He raises Barry like he’s his own, and loves him like he’s his own.

But years are starting to pass and Barry’s not really processing it any better than he was at 11. He’s still holding to the fabricated story about lightning that he made up, and people are starting to look at him weird when he talks about things. The kid’s been bullied enough and lost so many friends after what happened, got branded in a way that ain’t fair, and he’s kept a stiff upper lip through so much of it, as much as a kid can.

But after those first few psych visits in the first months which Joe let go by the wayside because Barry was adjusting to life in his home and back at school, if sullen and angrier than he used to be, Joe’s starting to wonder if they should’ve kept it up. Barry’s getting in fights at school and defending his father still and has a trigger temper.

So Joe sends him back to a psychologist. And then another. And probably another. The social worker on Barry’s case thinks Joe is doing great, but Barry hates every counsellor and therapist he sees and starts to clam up and hide things more again. He actually leaves town under false pretences and pretends he’s on a school trip for his AP science class when he’s actually tracking down a lead on an ‘impossible’ thing. Joe doesn’t even know it was all a lie until he gets a call from the school, and then of course it’s a matter of panicking and finding Barry and finding out what the hell he was doing leaving down and why.

Barry agrees to stop his behavior. He stops talking about his dad being innocent, agrees to stop doing crazy things and just altogether stops talking about his dad aside from his monthly visit. He barters for an end to the psychologists if he can keep his behavior up, and Joe agrees.

Barry learns to hide more, especially hiding his anger behind smiles. It works so well he sometimes forgets just how much anger he ever had, and his moods vacillate between sullen and chipper, but it’s an ‘improvement.’

Joe finds a scrapbook under his bed one day and it’s full of newspaper clippings and ‘evidence’ for things related to his father’s case and to other strange and unexplainable occurrences. Thankfully, no bus tickets tucked between the pages, so Joe debates even bringing it up -- he was just cleaning Barry’s room because it stunk, he wasn’t actively trying to snoop -- but eventually has to when Barry has one of his moods.

They really have it out. Iris hates seeing them like this. Barry tries to run away again but Iris stops him at the bus station, in tears, and Barry feels like an ass. She shouldn’t have to be the peacekeeper between them. He caves first, then, and Joe tears up when they hug and make up. Joe feels like such an ass, but he’s drowning and doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know how else to help this traumatized kid.

Barry’s grades are top notch. He uses them as leverage for Joe to let him leave town to track down a lead properly. Joe knows he’s still going after that stuff, and he hates it a little, but Barry’s a good kid. Doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, barely has any friends. He gets Barry a flip phone and makes him check in almost hourly, but he lets him go to Opal City for the weekend, and a few months later, all the way to Coast City. No way he’s letting his kid go to Gotham or Bludhaven though.

He’s got another issue at home, which is that Iris is pointing out how damn unfair it is that Barry gets to go on adventures alone and he gets her a cellphone to even the pot but he knows it’s not enough. He’s told her under no uncertain terms that she’s not allowed to become a cop, and Barry’s talking about maybe being a CSI one day. It’s a playing field he can’t level. He loves Barry but he’d never ever forgive himself if anything happened to Iris. Barry has always been a stubborn little brat who pushed himself outside the orbit that Joe could protect him in, and suffered more before he came into Joe’s house than Joe suspects he’ll ever suffer again (Joe would be wrong about that, but he can’t yet imagine how). He can still protect Iris, so he comes to terms with the fact he treats them differently, and waits for them to as well.

He starts to call Barry ‘son’ long before he even realizes he’s doing it. He has been for years, by this point. Barry’s never called him ‘dad’ or anything close to it, but when he realizes he’s calling Barry ‘son’, he notices the way it makes the kid’s heart swell, so he keeps doing it, and neither of them ever comment on it.

Barry goes off to college with a ton of scholarships and a bit of leftover cash from his father’s house. Criminals don’t lose everything, even in jail. Henry, via some lawyers, sold the old place and had a lot to pay in taxes and legal fees, but what he didn’t lose went to taking care of Barry and putting away a nest egg for his college fees.

Joe almost wonders, sometimes, if Barry could be right about him. Not about his crazy vision of a man in lightning, but of the fact that Henry wasn’t the one who killed Nora. But there was no one else, no other evidence, and no motive for anyone besides Henry. It was an open-shut case, and he has to believe in the hard truths of reality. It he let himself think like Barry, he’d never make a half-decent cop, let alone have made detective as young as he did.

Barry’s sunshine smile is brighter all the time, and so is Iris’s. It wasn’t all bad. Mostly good. Mostly family dinners and fun games nights and taking the kids out to a movie, having a son to teach how to shave and how to drive and how to throw a football. It was mostly good, even if it was hard, sometimes.

But it’s still exhausting when Barry’s spending his college weekends traipsing across the country to track down Big Foot instead of coming home for a family meal. It’s still tiresome to hear him talk, more candid again and Joe’s trying not to crush that, about this blog that he started and how he’s meeting people ‘online’ who think like he does. He doesn’t approve, especially not of people validating Barry’s very warped perception of reality, and has to be the asshole who reminds him he’ll never make it into the force as a CSI if he keeps on with shit like that.

Barry doesn’t stop, but he does get quieter about it. Joe notices he’s filled out that scrapbook about his dad’s case a lot more when he visits his college dorm. He doesn’t comment. Barry moved out so fast, as soon as he started college, whereas Iris was happy to save money and avoid the dorms. She took a year off to work and figure out what she wanted, to enjoy life and do a bit of travelling now that she was old enough that Joe would let her, and found her own legs and path in a different way. He couldn’t be prouder. He worries, but knows he doesn’t have to worry with her, not in the same way.

Barry eventually graduates, does the grad school work required to be a CSI, and does it all fast, really. He’s on the fast track for sure, completely dedicated. Joe knows his motives. They piss him off. Being a CSI should be about helping people, not just helping his father. And Barry says that, he does, but Joe’s seen his murder scrapbook and that stubborn, fervent look he gets in his eye whenever Henry Allen comes up in conversation. Joe’s taken to trying to stamp it out again, not because he wants to see Barry hurt, but because he doesn’t. Barry can’t talk and think like that in a police precinct. He’ll be eaten alive, and he’s already gonna be the youngest one there and an outcast just because.

And maybe... maybe Joe resents it, a bit. How the man who murdered his mother still gets to have the role and title of ‘dad’ for Barry despite everything, and how Joe’s raised him now for longer than Henry did, really, and doesn’t get that. He thinks it’s petty of himself. As a parent, as someone who sees himself as Barry’s dad, he won’t ever let it interfere with doing what’s best for Barry. He loves that kid more than life itself. But as a person... it smarts. And he’s tired of it, eleven years later. He wonders what he did wrong, that Barry’s view of events became so entrenched. He wonders what he could have differently. Should he have been firmer, harsher? Pushed the therapy more? Kept him away from Henry more staunchly?

It’s not worth thinking about, really. His murder scrapbook has become a murder board hiding behind papers in his lab. Yes, ‘his’, because he doesn’t play nice with the other CSIs. Joe had to snort when he noticed. Barry had his smiles down pat but that sullen resentful attitude was still there and it wasn’t long before the tension caused him to look for a new workspace. The Captain was already exhausted by the kid, and Joe was catching heat for it, something creating tension between him and Barry too. He was damn good at his job but not the most reliable and not the easiest to share a space with.

The Captain gave in and Barry rewarded with him with one of those blinding smiles and Joe threw his hands in the air in defeat. He wasn’t the only one to cave to Barry, at least. The kid got to retrofit a filing storage room with a leaky ceiling into a new lab. It was an old lab really, just no one had used it in over 10 years. But he moved all the boxes to the basement and helped the girls down there organize them and cleaned it out and made it his own.

And yeah, they still had arguments. Barry ran off to goddamn Starling City on one of his ‘impossible’ stories and damn if the kid didn’t lie his way on to an investigation. Joe was ready to kill him for that. The Captain was liable to suspend him. He didn’t, but it was a near miss. For such a good kid, Barry sure had a problem with authority.

But then he got struck by a bolt of lightning and everything changed.

Joe’s whole world stopped. His kid, his son--

He was already grieving Chyre, his partner, when he got the news. His partner and his son in one night-- was there really no God? Not one who loved Joe West, he was suddenly certain.

Hope felt painful. So much was suddenly put in perspective. He knew he loved Barry as a song but this, losing a child...

Except he wasn’t dead.

He didn’t trust Harrison Wells for a second, the man who caused this, but he let the man take his son because it felt like the only option and Joe spent months grieving what happened. He knew he shouldn’t blame himself but he was supposed to protect his kids. Protect that kid-- the stubborn little fool who always needed it so much more than he’d ever admit. The one Joe let get away with so much more because he’d suffered enough to earn it, and it couldn’t be worse than what he’d already--

Losing nine months was bad. Barry waking up and acting as if nothing had happened was a blessing and a curse. He didn’t understand how much had changed, or what Iris and Joe had been through, the long hours, the despair and exhaustion. He was right as rain and bright and whole and Joe prayed again for the first time in 40 weeks, to give thanks.

But he felt responsible, too. A renewed sense that he had to protect Barry, both from the world, the impossible that came in the form of lightning strikes, and from himself. His own delusions about this father, still cropping up, maybe more than ever.

Except.

Except then he saw his son chase off after a tornado in a streak of lightning and the world literally tilted on its axis.

And it took an argument, about powers, about Joe’s role in Barry’s life, and some apologies and hugs on both sides, in their own way, but Joe came around to realizing that...

That the only mistake he’d really made was not believing Barry for all those years before now. It keeps him up at night. There’s nothing he can do about it now, but the world isn’t simple and it maybe never was. And now there’s nothing left to do but try his damn best to protect his kid who’s a superhero, to keep his other kid safe and as far as this mess as possible, and to stop the man who killed Barry’s mother. He owes his son that much, alongside all the unconditional love he has for him.

And their relationship improves dramatically, once they’re on the same page. Barry’s resentment for him, which he knew was there all those years, between the psych visits and the running away and the way Joe always had to be the bad guy... it falls away. Just melts, like it was never there. All it took was telling Barry he believed him. And that smarts, stings a little, really, but he lets it go, too. His son the superhero, who still needs him anyway. That’s gotta be enough.

#joe west #characterization #headcanons #analysis #commentary #i don't touch on his relationship with wally here #just his one with barry and a bit of iris #west family feels #the west family #long post #long post for ts #ahhh this was fun but long to write out whoops #Anonymous #replies

30 notes · View notes

westallen4ever-love-blog · 7 years

Text

A funny tale

Barry and iris finally , had a day together, just them. To them this was a very rare event. Between Joe always “Popping up” , Cisco calling about a meta human, Caitlin finding out some new problem, or even Barry and iris going to work, It seemed like they never had time.

“Barry, Can you please stop!”

“Okay, just let me …”

Barry and iris had been playing a game called TUG, they came up with this when they was kids. How the game works is that One person is blindfolded, and they sit in a chair, the other person is doing things , jumping, yawning anything, that persons in the chair has to guess it, except for them , that mean Barry was kissing her all over , and taking his clothes off.

“Barry, that tickles! My turn“ Iris took off her blind folds to find Barry in nothing but boxers .

“ Barry? Okay, you want to do this yeah ?”

Barry and iris had A LOT of fun, either by Kissing, dancing, watching movies, or whatever, THEY HAD FUN! The day was almost over. Barry and iris was cuddled up in bed taking a nap. Cisco, Joe, Caitlin, Wally, Wells, Jesse, and Linda was at the door. Linda knocked again. “ Why aren’t they answering?”

“Maybe they went out “Wally always wanted to be apart of the conversation yet he never felt invited.

Joe looked at his son, “ Son, if they went out I am sure they would’ve left all the lights on, iris always leaves the lights on, that’s just, her… but I thinks it very weird how all the lights are off, plus…Guys I have a key “

Joe unlocked the door.” Man, its dark, do you really think we should be in here?” Cisco pulled his phone out with the flashlight.

“Cisco, this is my home… relax“Joe tried to “Encourage him”

“Yeah, I am pretty sure that everything is fine” Caitlin added. All of a sudden they heard something fall.

Back upstairs “Barry, babe… Did you hear that? Oh my-gosh it think someone’s in the house!” Iris whispered. As soon as Barry heard that he jumped up .

“What? We need to go to the bathroom, if its… I hope its not a meta human, we need to call Cisco, lets hide in there until I know what I am up against. Barry and Iris ran in the bathroom, naked, and hid in the tub behind the curtains. “Iris, grab our phones!” Barry got in the tub, and soon pulled her in.”Call Cisco, Iris, he doesn’t have your number yet, and also block it, just in case…”

Back downstairs

“Oh my god, someone from a private number is calling me!” Joe thought he was lying until he saw his phone.

“Maybe their friendly “Jesse looked for agreement, and found none. “DUDE, have you ever watched scream, or I know what you did last summer, or any horror movies? Yeah, never ever pick up the phone!!! Everyone knows that!”

Barry started getting worried. “Why isn’t he picking up?” Iris started shaking. “I don’t know … I should try dad” “Hey, my phone is ringing off a private number …” “ If I was you , Mr. West I would Pick up the phone, because no idiot, like a cereal killer is going to call twice, Because if they do, then we can pick up the data from their location, track them down, and all fails for them, so Ramon, and West, please start picking up your phone. “ Wells walked in the kitchen with Cisco, Joe, and Linda.

“Hey, why are there chips half opened over here?” Jesse yelled. Everyone turned to look. “ Ever thought of checking up stairs ?” Wally said.

“I hear them coming up the steps, grab a blanket! Hurry!” Barry ran and grabbed a blanket, and hid back inside the tub with iris. “I love you Barry “Slowly kissing him.” I love you too iris!” They kissed. And heard the door open .

Cisco: “What’s behind the curtain?” Wally: ”I don’t know” Wells: ”I insist we look” Caitlin: “should we really look, I think I might have a ...” Barry: “ Oh god, were doomed “ Iris: “Barry, I am so … forget it !”

They ripped the curtain . AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

“ WE CAN EXSPLAIN “ Barry and iris yelled .

“ That was a great prank, wait what are you two doing ?” Cisco turned his flashlight off.

“ What the Hell ? why are you naked in the bathtub ?” Joe yelled. Everyone else but Cisco stepped back .

“Iris-and I, -we, was taking a bath” Joe knew Barry was lying, because they clearly were adults and they clearly have body parts and they clearly are dating … now.

“ You know you ain’t taking a bath, the waters isn’t even running !” Joe got them , red handed. Barry and iris sat there in the tub. “ I think its time , we come out yeah ?” Iris started getting up when Barry pulled her back down, given the fact her dad was already mad at her, and she forgot she was naked, when he pulled her down she thought if was for a kiss, but he meant it to stop her from showing things, so she kissed him . “Iris, wait, not yet, Iris” Who could resist this, urge to be in love! Barry kissed her back; they kept it going until Joe literally broke them apart.

“STOP, THAT’S ENOUGH!” Cisco started laughing, iris and Barry was so embarrassed. “Oops! Sorry!” Barry and iris said. “We need to come up with a name for you two!” Cisco thought, “Hmm, well you’re a west, and he is an Allen, and we already saw what those two ended up as, from a news paper so … WESTALLEN!”

“West-Allen?” Barry felt chills in his back.” OMG this is happing, we are meant to be together “ those were the only words running in his mind.

“Yeah I kinda like that, west Allen huh?” Iris smiled, everyone laughed.

“Well, once you get on some clothes we can go down stairs to have dinner!” Joe yelled.

Once everyone was downstairs. Barry thought to himself.

“Wait, why were they al here?”…

#Westallen #team flash

6 notes · View notes