#and dick for wally

[radioactive-earthshine]

This is probably gonna sound like a dumb question (and I’m sorry in advance) but I literally know the bare minimum about the Flashfam and their lore, so here we go. You’ve talked before about Kon being Bart’s “Lightning Rod” and from my understanding, it’s more or less a soulmate. Can you tell me more about that?

Hello and apologies for taking so long to get on this one.

A "lightning rod" when it comes to Flash Lore is basically someone who prevents a Speedster from becoming one with the speedforce, or acts as an anchor to find their way back when otherwise lost in speed related... debacles. Like a bolt of lightning to a metal pole they are attracted to them. They are people of whom a speedster has an emotional bond with, romantically, platonically or even antagonistically.

The comics naturally focus more on those that share a romantic bond with a speedster, but there is evidence to support that any strong bond can make a lightning rod regardless of the type of bond they have.

Jay's lightning rod is his sweet Joan of whom being his lightning rod had her own aging 'slowed' to match his (it's a little more complicated than that but for simplicity that is what is going on).

For Barry, Iris is his lightning rod which he was able to use on several occasions to pull himself out of the time stream and back to his own time.

Wally's legendary bond with Linda as a lightning rod is blatant as she helped pull him from the speedforce after he had already merged with it.

There are other instances of Iris and Linda both being lightning rods where not only do they help their speedsters manage their own powers, but by being lightning rods it helps the speedster keep them safe and prevent their own deaths or grievous harm, or in Jay's case extend Joan's life.

The tell-tale sign of a lightning rod for a speedster is of course a romantic bond, or a persistent attraction bringing the two together.

The comics will also blatantly tell you who a lightning rod is eventually using those words, where by then they get... bonus features (like Joan having her aging impacted, Linda getting powers etc).

For Bart we don't have the comics using those specific words for anyone, but in looking at the behaviors of other lightning rods and their speedsters we can sort of extrapolate that Kon, Cassie and Tim are his lightning rods with possibly Cissie (realistically she would be one but she dropped off from continuity so we didn't get to see her much after 2003).

Kon being one with an intense 'pull' for Bart is something that has the most evidence in Young Justice 2019 when Bart worked exhaustively to find Kon and to bring Young Justice back together.

When the newly formed Young Justice sans Kon were all zapped to Gemworld they were all scattered but it was Bart who appeared literally right next to Kon. Everyone else had been deposited in more random places, but not Bart. This suggests that while he does have a bond with Tim and Cassie, it is to Kon that he may have a special bond with.

There are other instances of Kon's existence being a focal point for Bart throughout their comic relationship such as during the World Without Young Justice arc where a de-powered mundane Kon was able to give Bart the courage and strength to overcome his deep paralyzing fear to reabsorb his dying scouts.

Also Kon and Bart have an intense friendship where there are multiple instances where they pick each other up and seek each other out which is at least the grounding basics for a lightning rod. For further reading on that you can look at the Konbart Manifesto.

To quantify if a lightning rod is a soulmate is a little mushy. If you are a romantic sort and the idea of soulmates pleases you tremendously then yes a lightning rod can be used to describe one, but there are more 'extras' that come with a lightning rod than just an intense burning love and a 'meant to be' attraction.

There is something more physical, metaphysical, spiritual and atomic about their bond than it being a divine uncontrollable force. There is an element of spookiness involved for sure, but there also is an element of choice about who become one based on built up love.

A lightning rod is something as profound as a gravitational pull for a speedster; their relationship is like Earth and our moon where Earth is a speedster and the moon is a lightning rod. Without the moon as a ballest Earth's stability in orbit would likely change catastrophically and for a speedster this is also the case.

I hope this makes some semblance of sense.

TLDR: A lightning rod is like a soulmate that a speedster has semi-control over but is no less spooky and endearing.

[allineedisonedream]

When your bestie is hungry…>:)

[arttuff]

young justice vs the titans is a very "bullying your younger siblings" vibe

[bats-and-the-birds]

Batman being aggressively secretive towards the Justice League is one of my favorite tropes, but it gets INFINITELY funnier when you take the younger generations of heroes into consideration.

Barry Allen? He doesn't know shit about Batman, still partially convinced he's not human, still a little bit scared to talk to him. But Wally West? That's Nightwing's best friend. He's been around Dick since both of them were kids. He's had sleepovers at the manor since he was thirteen.

I just think it would be hilarious if all of the younger generations 100% know that Batman is Bruce Wayne. They've slept at the manor, some of them have taken various Batkids to school dances, they've been offered Alfred's cooking. And all because they've gotten close to at least one Batkid and said Batkid wore Bruce down until he let them reveal their identity. But all of them manage to keep this information from their mentors. Either purposefully or completely on accident.

Then you end up with a situation where the younger generations grow up and join the League and the older members Very Quickly realize that they seem a lot more comfortable with Batman than they should be.

[foolsocracy]

identity reveals are always fun

[foerchen]

POV: First breakfast after Wally stays over

Damian: *eyes Wally with clear disdain because how dare that simpleton fornicate with his brother*

Tim: *too tired to care*

Jason: *smirks every time Dick fails to cover his hickeys with Wally’s his shirt*

Wally & Dick: *blush cherry red whenever someone makes eye contact*

Bruce: *walks into the kitchen looking like a zombie*

Bruce: *sees Wally and freezes before looking at Alfred confused*

Bruce: Alfred… When did I adopt another one?

Alfred: Well, Master Bruce-

Bruce: *tears gather in his eyes*

Bruce: And why doesn’t he have black hair…

Alfred: *sighs*

Alfred: Master Bruce, please go back to bed.

[lightningstrikes-art]

[vivalafxxku]

Dick: Do you ever just see something that changes your life? Wally: I saw you. Dick: That is so sweet and nice and totally makes me feel bad about showing you this picture of Damian dressed as a pumpkin.

[neptunezo]

The batkids are known for sharing clothes amongst each other, so imagine everyone’s surprise when Jason won’t let them borrow his hoodie. Upon further inspection they find out it’s Roy’s hoodie. This causes a chain reaction and now Dick won’t let anyone borrow his Wally hoodie, Tim won’t let anyone borrow his Kon hoodie, Damian with Jon’s clothes(which there was no need for because Damian’s clothes never fit anyways), Duke with Izzy’s, Cass with Steph, and so on. After this “civil war” they all reluctantly agree to end this and all clothes (their own or not) is up for grabs. (minus Damian and Jon, of course)

bonus is when their partners steal the batkids clothes only to find out later that it’s definitely not a wayne kids clothing item.

Roy: That’s my sweater?

Wally: Yeah well Kon’s wearing my pants so…

Izzy: I’m probably wearing one of your boxers, it’s for sure not Dukes

Kon: how do you know?

Izzy: Because Duke doesn’t own Minecraft boxers???

Steph: Oh yeah sorry, those are mine

[ashrayus]

wallyyy and friends :]

[percythejedi]

never made one of these before but it seemed fun ^_^

[allineedisonedream]

When Your Best Friend is Suddenly a Vampire

more vampire doodles...;)

[arttuff]

this is soooo mean

[theerurishipper]

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First <- Part 17 <- Part 18 -> Part 19

Masterpost

[foolsocracy]

put dick on a team and trust he will make sure they can perform as an acrobat troop

[incorrectbatfam]

Does the Batmobile ever get ticketed or does the GCPD just ignore it

Bruce: *puts a box on the table*

Bruce: Gather around, everyone. It's time for our monthly ticket review.

Bruce: First up, Steph. Can you explain what happened last Friday?

[earlier]

Steph: *looking for parking in a full lot*

Steph: Screw it, I'm going around back.

Steph: *parks in front of a fire exit*

[present]

Steph: I just needed to use the bathroom.

Bruce: And in those three minutes, the Joker released a giant water balloon forcing everyone to evacuate through one less exit.

Steph: It said "fire exit." That technically wasn't a fire.

Bruce: Well, the penalty is $100 plus the towing cost. I can pay it off but you have to help Alfred in the kitchen for a month.

Steph: Yeah, that's fair.

Bruce: Next up... Cass and Barbara? Color me surprised.

Barbara: Oh yeah, I had to remotely pilot the Batmobile the other day because Cass needed a getaway.

Bruce: Then why am I being charged $250?

[earlier]

Cass: *fighting a gang*

Barbara: Orphan, ETA thirty seconds. Prepare for extraction.

Cass: *knocks out the last henchman and runs to the car*

Comm. Gordon: *writing a ticket*

Cass: ?

Comm. Gordon: You're in a disabled parking spot without a permit.

[present]

Barbara: Well I am disabled.

Bruce: Understandable. I'll let it slide since it's the first time. Just file the paperwork for a permit.

Bruce: Dick, you went thirty-five over the speed limit when you weren't pursuing a suspect. Explain.

[earlier]

Wally: Race you to Keystone?

Dick: *revs the engine*

[present]

Bruce: You're better than this. I'm disappointed. Next up: Tim. Driving without a license plate. What happened there?

[earlier]

Tim: I wasn't supposed to take the Batmobile since Bruce benched me for my wrist, but my other ride is in the shop.

Kon: What about cameras? Can't your dad tap into the city's surveillance system?

Bart: Traffic cameras read license plates, so if we take them off, no one will recognize us.

Kon: Now that's an idea.

[present]

Tim: That's on me. I shouldn't have listened to them.

Bruce: Put them back on, plus you're benched for another week. Damian, on to you.

Damian: What on Earth could I have done? I followed the speed limit, parked in the correct spots, and never so much as changed lanes on an empty road without signalling.

[earlier]

Damian, a middle schooler: *driving*

[present]

Damian: Tt.

Bruce: Don't do it again. Duke...

Duke: *cringes and remembers what he did*

[earlier]

Duke: *hooks the Batmobile to a freezer trailer*

Duke: *starts driving around with a megaphone*

Duke: Ice cream! Get your ice cream!

[present]

Bruce: Fantastic job. No complaints.

Jason, muttering: Teacher's pet.

Bruce: And finally, Jason.

Bruce: *empties the rest of the box*