maskormenacelogs | Train-surfing, or Bored Teen Hero at Play [Open]

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Train-surfing, or Bored Teen Hero at Play [Open]

WHO: Kid Flash (Bart Allen) and YOU!!!
WHERE: Anywhere there's a railroad
WHEN: First Week of October
WHAT: Riding the open rails the wrong way!
WARNINGS: Teenage stupidity, possibly reckless endangerment, will edit if needed

[ooc: Catch Bart anywhere high-speed or light rail is found, because he gets around]

One of the nice things Bart had found out about the way the nanites interacted with the 'net on this Earth was that when he didn't feel like running between places or trusting his luck to the Porters, he could pull up bus and train schedules at a thought, and read as quickly as he wants. Which is what leads to Kid Flash going train-surfing.

Sure, he could have gotten a ticket and rode inside, but on top of the train, he could feel the wind in his face in a way that tended to fade when he ran as his frictionless aura shielded him from pesky things like air resistance and heat. Besides, balancing on trains was fun, and getting on and off took a little timing and precision. Not to mention any fans that caught him on video will enjoy the thrill of it, without actually endangering anyone or spending every free moment catching purse-snatchers and other petty criminals. He does that, too, but this is just about the joy of the moment.

Kid Flash can't help the tight-lipped smile that keeps threatening to turn into a full-fledged grin as he shifts his weight in reaction to the movement of the car beneath him, a map of the rails with current track schedules and timings kept current on an internalized heads-up-display. And when he notices that he isn't alone anymore, that grin is realized, amber eyes lighting up behind the mask.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

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"Yeah, definitely odd," Bart agreed. "But, hey, I think we all could use some kind of down-time, and while there's definitely weirdness afoot, there hasn't been anything like the last few years."

He really hopes there won't by any of those any time soon. Avoiding haunted houses because he doesn't want to be surprised by the undead is definitely one of his goals for the month.

"I totally have to introduce you, though. To Iris, I mean. She's definitely not the evil past version of herself or anything. And I just have to deal with the whole family-but-not-exactly bit on my end."

A pause. "Anything good with you?"

"I'm glad for the lack of world-ending madness, here. It's a nice break." They had been through a lot, okay?

"And I will gladly meet her. And me? Mostly just settling into a job, registering for being in university in the Spring, and trying to get along with roommates and this world's people."

He chuckles.

"Mostly, quiet, so far."

"I should be ready for enrolling in the Spring, too. Assuming the GED scores aren't a problem," Bart said. He wonders if he should have maybe made some mistakes, or gone slower, or something.

"Still thinking about getting a place of your own? I kinda feel bad when I have nightmares. Doesn't seem right to disturb anyone else."

"Sounds like a plan. And I am sure you will be just fine." He believed in Bart. Bart was smart, and strong, and would figure it out.

"Yeah, I am, and yeah, me too." he still had nightmares of Warworld and Apocalypse from the war. He shivered, and nodded again.

"You are welcome to join me in this endeavor."

"I'd feel better having a responsible adult, but if they're going to treat you like one," Bart teases, letting a turn cause a balance check and half-falling against the other teen. "The funny thing is that of the two of us, I actually remember being old enough to drink. But adulting is hard, which probably explains some of that."

Given the choice, he would have come back to the world the age he'd left, but he doesn't exactly regret those five years, either, what he remembers of them.

"Although after all this time, maybe you'd be sick of having me for a roommate. I mean, you know how much I eat."

Kon laughs, and makes a face at Bart, "Gods know why, I mean, it's me, right?" He shakes his head. This world has problems.

"Adulting sucks. I have a job and have to show up on time and handle money and stuff." Whoever said that was fun had no clue.

Kon snerks. "No. You're my friend, as close to a brother as I will ever have. You're stuck with me."

"Tell me about it. Rent and bills and stuff. It's no wonder you keep hearing that advice about enjoying your youth while it's there," Bart grumbles.

"Well, if we're almost family, that means you have to meet my almost-grandma."

He finds himself often at a loss as to who he is, an what to be, but some things are certain to him, such as his friend, and where he belongs. That he knows without a doubt.

"Of course. especially if there is food in it." He grins, unabashedly. But he also would be scoping out Bart's new family member to make sure she was on the up and up.

"Hey, no getting suspicious of the fine, outstanding member of the newspaper community," Bart said, punctuating that with a mild smack of annoyance. "She's really nice, even if a lot of things are really different."

A pause. "I guess it might be like suddenly meeting a Clark in his teens or something."

Kon laughs, then grins at Bart. "If you say so. I will do my best."

Kon nods, and winces. "I did that once, did I ever tell you? Between times with Young Justice and the Titans. The whole Hypertime thing. Met young Clark. That's how I found out the identity. It was weird."

The whole ride had been insane.

"I hate time travel, sometimes," Bart grumbled. "I can't really imagine going back that far, or having one of my family come forward. I mean, it happens, but considering how little Grandpa Barry has stopped moving since he came back..."

Bart wishes it hadn't felt like most of it was to avoid him. But then Barry had saved him from the black ring.

"I wonder if we really could do normal."

"I don't know, Bart. Normal is something I tried. It didn't stick."

He shakes his head.

"In fact, I've tried it multiple times, and every time... it didn't work. I won't begrudge you if you wanted to try, but I think I'll stick with what works for me."

He nods. Being normal is a pipe dream for Kon.

"I can't just stop being a speedster. It builds up," Bart admits.

"And sometimes, it's like I'm more me when I'm Kid Flash than I can be as just Bart. That's part of why I didn't really bother with keeping a secret from the other imPorts, at least. And mostly just keeping the same line we did back home. Kid Flash will sign autographs and do fanservice. Bart doesn't."

He doesn't want to lose the balance of having a little bit of normal in his life, but he's always been a hero, and even trying to give that up would be painful.

"I can fake being a normal-speedster if I have to, but it's not something I like. I'd rather just be me, warts and all."

"I understand. for me, having a normal life was a failure, and ended in failure. So I am not trying anymore. I am just... being me. I was born Superboy and that is who I am. I m grateful for the names Clark gave me, but in the end, they are... second and third names to me. They are the cover names, not Superboy."

He rubs his face again and nods.

"I barely sleep in my bed. I mostly just float at night, high up, and let the wind currents carry me away." For him, it was easier than trying to pretend he was going to sleep a lot.

"I am glad things work like that for you. I am glad you have that line. I just never really... made a good one for me."

"I guess I sorta use Kon because Superboy is still a mouthful. But it means the same thing to me. It's just there are times that I want to myself, and sometimes it feels like Kid Flash has to share everything with the world," Bart said.

"It's kinda stupid, but I want to be more than just a Flash. I want to be myself, even if most people never know me beyond the mask."

"It's not stupid. And I am glad you have that. And I will do my best to protect that for you, Bart." Whatever it took, Kon would do it. His friend, and what his friend needed, those things were important to Kon, a lot.

Pretty much the most important things, really.

"And I'll do what I can for you. Whatever you need."

He likes a lot of the people he's met since showing up, but Kon was there pretty much from the beginning, and that's something that will always run deep.

"Even if it's just a pizza delivery." What? Stay serious? Why?

"A pizza party sounds like fun. We should round up a place and throw one, invite whoever we can lay our hands on, and see if we can just relax."

Kon grins. It sounds like a really good way to just not think for awhile.

"See, I knew we kept you around for more reasons than just looking pretty," Bart said, with a grin of his own. "That sounds amazing."

Kon laughed and shook his head.

"I figured it was because I broke the bad guys with my head."

He nodded.

"We'll float the idea through word of mouth and see who bites. Carefully."

He hmmmmed. "Maybe see if any of our friendly neighborhood Bats want in."

"If not, I've got a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man that definitely will. Got an idea of which city? I hear Heropa's got the best beaches."

Perhaps other people would find having a half-shouted conversation on the roof of a speeding train unusual, but this was just another day as a Titan.

"Sounds good to me. And Heropa is my first choice, unless we want to go DeChima, I think both Jeopardy and Maurtia are out for different reasons."

He waves around them. Gotham Lite and Spooky town were both not his favorite places.

"Iris is in Heropa, so there's another vote in favor. And yeah, Maurtia Falls is definitely not my cup of tea, but I just didn't want to ditch for that alone."

It's hard for him to just pack up and move again. Not without something to look forward to.

"I haven't really spent any time in Jeopardy, though."

"Sounds like a plan, then. We should look for a house we can have several rooms in, one for gaming, and a guest room." Kon nods, thinking.

"And we should see what super-proofing we can do, or get done."

"What do you mean as far as super-proofing? I really don't think we can lead-line the bathroom."

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