smittenvigilantes:

empty-puppet replied to this post: ohman oh man oh man don’t get me STARTED ON BARRY AND JOE jesus I could write an essay about my feels for that father-son relationship

Right?? RIGHT?? THEY GIVE ME SO MANY FEELS. God!! I can’t even.

Joe is the most important person in Barry’s life. Fight me on this, I dare you.

Like, I get that Iris is the love of his life etc, but JOE IS HIS FUCKING ROCK. Joe cares about nothing but the safety of his two kids. Yes. TWO kids. It kills Joe that Barry’s out there risking his life, but all he can do is try to help him as best he can. Joe is there to give Barry advice - whether it be about work, vigilanteing, or Iris. AND ON THAT NOTE. Joe thinks Barry is good enough for IRIS. Godddd I can’t. Just. THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH.

ALSO - THIS ENTIRE EXCHANGE:

Barry: Joe, what I said to you about not being my father…
Joe: Barry, I know. I know I’m not your father.
Barry: You’re right, you’re not. You’re just the man who kept me fed and in clothes, who sat by my bed every night until I fell asleep because I was afraid of the dark, helped me with my homework. You taught me how to drive, and shave… and you dropped me off to college. Sounds a lot like a dad to me.

SO. MANY. FEELS. 

Sorry, Joe and Barry’s relationship is incredibly precious to me. 

YEEEEEESSSSS okay buckle your seatbelts kids because here I GO

Okay so yes yes yes Joe is 100% the most important person in Barry’s life, and holds the most influence over him. I do not at all doubt that when Barry started working for the CCPD people would often call him a weirdo or talk behind his back because we’ve all seen Barry at a crime scene and how enthusiastic he gets over scienc-y things, not to mention the paranormal blog and while Barry would take the jabs passively, Joe would not be on board with that because nobody talks shit about his son, especially when the kid’s been through enough already. So Joe makes it known, subtly of course, that the walls have ears.

Imagine the nights Barry spends at the office, doing his work after everyone’s gone because it’s easier that way, both mentally (how can some humans be so cruel and messed up and-) and without the constant annoyance of someone looking over his shoulder and Joe is there, stays overnight along with him.

Times when Barry succumbs to panic and anxiety attacks, when he withdraws into himself for days and days and Joe is there to anchor him, to offer a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen, coaxes food into Barry even though the anxiety makes his stomach roll.

Barry’s worry and concern and fear when he discovers that Joe is the intended target of the Mardens and Nimbus and he immediately suits up; his relying on Joe’s opinion when it comes to whether or not he should save his mum and oh my god my heart when Joe tears up when he answers because losing Barry would kill a piece of him but he would give anything for his son to be happy, even if it meant he himself would be miserable.