Becoming the Fake ID, pt. 13

 

Lasspoint - A DC Comics TG Crossover - Chapter 3

 The rays of sunlight began to slip through the blinds as Barry's second waking day as Bernadette began. She hadn't slept. She had been trying to act hazy on the details of everything as not to let Thawne in on the fact she remembered being Barry, so even beyond the simple details of Bernadette's life leading up to the lightning strike, which she genuinely didn't remember, she had to pretend to be hazy on certain details like Iris's job, any details of Bernadette's social life, and even the layout in her childhood home. She attempted to gather some idea of what Bernadette's life had been life, she was born later than Barry, so her pool of pop culture references wouldn't even be the same. She'd probably think Barry was lame. Or whack. Or whatever girls her age said.

After she'd run out of tears to shed and deciding she wasn't getting any sleep during the night, she started going through her old things, pictures with Nora and Henry - Mom and Dad - before her family was torn apart. Bernadette young, happy, wearing a ballet tutu outside of a school. She began to thumb through the photo album, watching Berni grow up and live a life, then see the immediate change after her family was torn apart, she looked so sad, sitting with Eobard at a diner, a goth phase that objectively, kind of worked for Berni. Graduation, first day at college. An entire section dedicated to prom, filled with photos of Berni in a black dress and a red flannel with black combat boots. She was posing with her date, who Berni recognized as Hartley Rathaway, the Pied Piper. She couldn't remember anything that happened with him, but she felt a slight sadness at the image, as if her brain still remembered to react to him that way, even if it could no longer recall why it was sad. He was a good kid, though Berni supposed Hartley was her peer now, whose family disowned him for being gay and he turned to a life of crime. Maybe Berni helped run cover to throw his parents off of the scent. She then turned the page and saw them in their same prom outfits, sharing a not-exactly-passionate kiss outside of a rented limo, Berni quickly closed the book and hoped that fake kiss was all they had done. She noticed that the cover read "Bernadette Thawne, a life in photos by E.O. Thawne" He gave himself a credit on a photo album, she had seen him do some egomaniacal things, but this one was a little surprising.

Lost in thought, trying not to feel guilt over assuming the face and life of someone that felt so different from the person she used to be, Berni tried to remind herself that this was in fact her. Everything before her consciousness caught up with her was just autopilot, everything she's done is what Barry would have done in similar circumstances. She missed her Mom just the same, she wanted justice for her Dad just the same, she wanted to help and to protect people just the same. She heard the door close and quickly made her way to the window to watch Thawne drive off to work for the day before going back to browsing her room, finding a pile of well-worn, frequently-read letters from Henry Allen in her dresser, still addressed to Bernadette Allen, not Bernadette Thawne. That was too much right now, she couldn't read those. She fell back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling as the door opened to see Iris, as beautiful as ever. She never looked bad in the morning, never looked stressed or tried even when Barry knew for a fact she was very stressed and very tired. She smiled at Berni, Berni smiled back, but Iris's smile was short-lived.

"Berni, baby. You look terrible. Did you sleep at all?" She asked.

"I just slept for like 6 months, I think I'm good." Berni wondered where that sass came from, then looked worried that she'd offend Iris. But she rolled her eyes and told her to get ready so they could visit Henry. Berni remembered that she had to work her selective haziness around Iris and not just Thawne. "This is kind of embarrassing..." Berni sighed. "I don't remember where the bathroom is..." Iris gave a caring laugh that made Berni feel pitiful and helpless, but remembering that this timeline is the one where she's still breathing, so Berni was grateful.

The Flash had faced many things, multiple Armageddon events, vicious criminals, literal aliens. She knew that her current situation wasn't the most harrowing or debilitating challenge she'd ever faced, not by a longshot, but in the moment it felt like it was. She locked the bathroom door and looked at the fresh change of clothes sitting on the counter, watching the stranger in the mirror start to undress. She tried to close her eyes as the clothes left her body and she hesitated to either look or touch the foreign body. She started the water and stepped into the shower, easing herself into opening her eyes. She looked down while holding her breath for a reason she couldn't articulate or justify. It wasn't the view she was used to taking in when looking down, her hands found her chest, where before there were hard, if slightly hairy, pecs. But now there were two soft, sensitive mounds that rippled when touched. She looked around the back of herself, still cupping her chest. Seeing the curves that came natural to the feminine form, and maybe with a little help from the Speed Force, regular exercise, or perhaps both, a little extra shape. "Whoa" she muttered as the apprehension she'd felt at first faded, though she was still nervous to explore the absence between her legs.

After washing up and the extended, absent look she took at the whole picture in the mirror, Berni was in her robe and making eye contact with herself once more. Despite the various differences she'd noticed and waded into exploring in the shower, the most off-putting part was still the stranger's face staring back at her. She wondered why she would pick a robe like this, they were supposed to be the same person, but a pink unicorn robe seemed very out of the realm of something Barry would choose. Then again, Berni probably wouldn't carve out certain weekends in her schedule to make Hal, Clark, and Bruce play tabletop RPGs with her. Though she could see Hal still going along with it if a pretty girl asked, she shuddered at the image she didn't want to think about. She dried off the rest of the way and put on her outfit for the day, she wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to the panties, there was just so little there. After assuring that none of her clothes were backward or inside out, she came to another pause as she realized something: She didn't know how to do her hair or make-up.

Iris was more than happy to rush into the bathroom with a chair from the kitchen and sit Berni down as she spread out various products and make-ups. She looked ecstatic as she started showing Berni the ins-and-outs, she even said that when E.O. told her that he had a Daughter on their first date, she envisioned someone younger than 21, someone she could teach about make-up, hair, boys. She backtracked to apologize and clarify that she was just excited. Berni didn't want to take that from her, Iris loved her. Not the way she loved Barry, but she really did care.

"Yeah, I always wanted a Mom to teach me that stuff too..." A tear welled up in Iris's eye as Berni quickly added "Not about the boys part though. Please." She took a deep breath and tried to take notes so she wouldn't have to ask for help with this again.

Lost in the City

 

Becoming the Fake ID, pt. 12 + Announcement

 I have caps scheduled for each Friday through the first half of April now! I'm feeling productive again. My birthday is at the end of this month and I actually have plans for it this year, so I'll be gone for a bit at the end of the month, but I'm hoping I planned ahead enough so it won't be noticeable. 

But that's not the only special day this year. 2026 marks 10 years I've had this blog! So I wanna celebrate, I obviously wanna do another sequel poll, so if anyone wants to post the title of a cap they'd like a sequel to in the comments, please do. Hawkeye Vs. Hot Guy, Re-Assignment, Secret Boyfriend, Tricks No Treats, and Hell Week are still planned even if I'm sluggish. If anyone has any ideas for ways to celebrate besides sequels, please share them.

XOXO

- Syd.

Lasspoint - A TG DC Comics Story - Chapter 02

Bernadette remained in a deep sleep, she tried her hardest to wake up but couldn't. The memory sat in the back of her mind. She had been here before, had this feeling before, but she couldn't bring it to the forefront. She couldn't bring anything to the forefront, it felt like she was lost in a black void only hearing the vague echoes of thoughts and memories. Thawne killing Hal, Thawne standing in the puddle of blood from the innocent people he murdered while she watched Iris engulfed by the explosion. Oh no. Iris. She was gone. What after? The Speed Force. Barry tried to fix it but she... Wasn't Barry anymore. Thawne had followed her and done something. But as soon as the thoughts hit, they faded back into the mist and Bernadette was once again adrift in the voice but then a voice.

"If you can hear me," That was Iris's voice. "I'm sorry for not visiting. It just-" and it faded again, Bernadette tried to focus on it. Iris, Barry's lightning rod. The thing that brought him back from the edge of oblivion more times than he could remember. Did he still save her? Bernadette fought through the emptiness, Iris's sobs coming clear. It was like Bernadette felt her feet touch the ground and she began to run, with each step her consciousness returning to her, everything becoming clearer. She wasn't Barry Allen, but she still knew Iris, Iris still cared for her. Were they friends? Bernadette remembered where she'd felt this semi-conscious emptiness before, when Barry Allen went into a coma after his accident. That was it. She'd been struck by lightning. Thawne set it up. But why would he let her get her powers again? She wasn't supposed to remember the previous timeline, that's what Thawne said, the memory would set. She had to reach Iris before that happened.

She opened her eyes, it was blinding, the light. There it was, the face she had fallen in love with, Iris West, reporter for Central City Picture News, as beautiful as the day they met. Wearing the years since they'd met with mastery, only growing more brilliant, confident, and beautiful from the fledgling journalism intern Barry had met when he was starting his career in forensics. He could see in her eyes that she still cared, the Speed Force had started to work through Bernadette's system, her perception of Iris's reaction was slowed enough to see all of the emotions on her face. She wasn't quite looking at Bernadette like the love of her life, but she was still crying tearfully at the sight of Bernadette trying to move, she leapt forward and wrapped her arms around her before hesitantly letting go and backing up. "I'm sorry, I got worked up. Did that hurt? Berni, oh my God I can't believe it."

"N-" Berni had to clear her throat while Iris opened the water bottle in her purse and held it to her lips, tipping, letting the cool water slide past her lips. She swallowed. It was tough to get down, even tougher to gather up the strength to sit up. Iris pulled out her phone and urgently sent a text before returning attention to Berni. Berni used the time to consider, she wasn't particularly fond of being referred to by any name that wasn't her own, but she strongly preferred Berni to Bernadette. "It's OK, Iris." She smiled and wiped away the joyful tears on her face before sitting back down. Berni felt overwhelmed and wanted nothing more than to kiss Iris, but didn't have the strength or context on their current relationship, it would be a bit odd for a friend to do that. Her hand in Iris's and the eye contact had to suffice for now, Iris's thumb absent-mindedly stroking the top Berni's hand was comforting. They enjoyed the moment. Then her eyes shifted toward the door. Berni turned her head slightly, it felt like a jumpscare but Berni didn't have the strength or energy to move so it wasn't a visible reaction, but she felt it.

Eobard Thawne stood in the doorway, dressed in an outfit that it looks like he pulled out of Barry's closet. He was pretending to be Berni's adoptive Father, she remembered now. He smiled smugly, hands in his pockets. bastard. Berni knew she shouldn't remember who he was before and emotions were too high to force a smile, so she could just stare at him, her mouth hanging slightly open while he smirked and said "hey, kiddo."

"E.O., baby. How did you get here so fast?" Berni's ears began to ring as the woman he'd planned to spend his entire life alongside, walk up to the man who had dedicated himself to making his life Hell through multiple timelines. Killed his Mother. Framed his Father. Killed Iris. She kissed him. Berni's heart dropped and she let out a gasp as Eobard turned his attention toward Berni, Iris understandably moved aside and smiled as if she were watching a Father and Daughter reunite after a long separation. Eobard looked back and muttered something about already being in the lobby for a lunch break visit when she texted him. Typical Flash excuse, did it seem so mean and dishonest when Barry did that before revealing his identity to her? He hugged Berni tightly, not taking the same care to be delicate like Iris did and kissed the top of her head before pulling back, a hand tightly gripping her shoulder.

"What do you remember, Berni?" He said, a clear double meaning in his intention. Berni inhaled, then shook her head and finally found the energy to pretend.

"I... I don't know. What happened?" The word were fake, the tears were genuine.

"There was an accident when you came to visit my lab. I'm so sorry. I never thought you-" Eobard sobbed. "A lightning bolt just crashed through the window. It ignited the chemicals and-" He started to lose his composure. He usually wasn't this subtle. Iris had moved in to start rubbing his shoulders to comfort him before the doctor entered and started to examine Berni as he remarked how remarkable Berni's physical recovery was going already. She was cleared to return home while the loving couple proudly hugged near the entrance.

On the ride home, Berni was filled in about the goings-on since her accident, telling her it was now October as she noted the leaves changing color. Iris drove as Eobard sat in the back, his arm around Berni who still didn't quite have the strength to hold herself up for the entire ride and had to rest her head on his shoulder. They broke the news that Iris had moved in, initially staying over to keep Eobard company, but their daily routines worked so well together that there was no reason not to live together. Especially now, that Berni might need care until she can get around on her own and can start making the trip back to Central City University for classes. Eobard said that he took the liberty of removing her from the forensics program she was in so she wouldn't have to relive her accident. She could pick a new major when she was ready to go back in January. Eobard knows that Barry pursued forensics to help clear his Father's name, Berni was sure it was the same for this version of herself. He's trying to cover his tracks.

Memories resetting for a new timeline happen naturally and without the knowledge of everyone but the time travelers themselves. If it's their original timeline, it presents itself as a migraine followed by a fleeting knowledge of your memories being drained from you and overwritten by new memories. It usually happens within the first 24 hours of your consciousness inhabiting the new body, before that it's like everything has been running on auto-pilot in the rest of the world. But it had been months that Berni was in a coma and she still remembered being Barry, being in his 30s, now stuck in the body of a 21-year-old young woman, those memories shouldn't be there. They arrived at the house. It was Barry's childhood home, a place that Thawne knew Barry avoided due to the bad memories they bring flooding back into his head. E.O. and Iris helped Berni inside, taking her upstairs to her bedroom. It was the same basic layout, but looked more like a modern, suburban young woman decorated. She could only breathe in and sigh as she drowned out Eobard and Iris telling her about all the things they had planned once she had her full mobility back. That they were at last one happy family.

The loving couple expressed their affection, their happiness at having Berni back home by getting perhaps a little too touchy-feely in the presence of her. She could only roll her eyes, biting her tongue so they'd think it was the typical second-hand embarrassment most young women experience around their parents and not disgust at seeing who was once her beloved in the arms of her mortal enemy. They took the hint and made their way out of the room, offering Berni privacy. She immediately walked to the cell phone on the night stand, plugged in and charged, having collected dust in the time its owner has been incapacitated. She thought to try and contact another hero, she had memorized Hal's number, Clark's number, Bruce Wayne never shared his. That is, if they even exist in this timeline. She started to dial Hal's phone number then stopped and closed her phone. Eobard probably pays for her phone, he could have access to it and her cover would be blown, she'd have to find a way to reach out that he can't monitor.

Berni made her way downstairs to see E.O. and Iris cuddled on the couch, celebratory wine in their glasses. "I'd like to see my Dad..." Berni said, cutting between their tension like a Batarang. E.O. sat up, Iris patted him on the shoulder, like she thought me referring to my actual Dad as my Dad would somehow upset him. But he gave himself time to think about his reaction, earning himself more brownie points with Iris by acting like he wasn't phased and completely understood his fake Daughter's plight.

"Yes. Of course. He's excited to see you too. Grab your coat and we could-"

"I don't think I have the energy today. Tomorrow?"

"I have work but maybe we could-"

"Could Iris take me? Please? Just us girls?" Iris put a hand to her chest, like it warmed her heart. Barry and Iris never had kids, but she did always have excellent maternal instincts when it came to her nephew Wally, his home life wasn't the best. Parents had him young then split up. That's someone else that Berni would have to check on when she had the freedom to research this new timeline, make sure Wally's OK.

"I'd love to. A Girls' Day. I like that." Berni nodded and turned to walk upstairs, but caught Iris hop with excitement and high-five E.O. Berni wondered what their relationship looked like before the coma. She closed her door and stretched out across her bed, staring at the ceiling, finally alone, she started to cry.