Rain.
Of course it just had to rain on your way to a job interview. As the first drops fell, you felt your hair grow damp, and the thought of the interview was dropped entirely. Panic set in as you charged clumsily through the nearest door. Thankfully, it was your favorite coffee shop (Jitters, best coffee in Central City,) so you knew exactly where you could hide.
When the dark matter blast had hit, you had been swimming in the harbor. Mono-finning was a hobby of yours, and you loved the rush of being able to move through the water as smoothly as its natural inhabitants could.
Not thinking much of the energy wave, other than how cool it looked, you went back to your apartment in peace.
Less than a week later, you found yourself on your butt in the shower sporting a shimmering, sea-green, scaly tail and a whole lot of confusion.
Since that week, you avoided water like the plague unless you needed to bathe. That was done in your bathtub, with lots of caution and lots of water spilling onto the floor.
That was also the reason you found yourself sprinting through Jitters towards the bathrooms. You could feel the changes happening rapidly as gills sprouted on the sides of your ribs and your legs started to become scaly.
On your way, you ran smack into a lady, knocking the coffee out of her hands. A quick apology was all you could manage as you shut yourself into a stall and shoved off your leggings before they were ruined.
You sat on the toilet seat, tail resting heavily against the stall door, and sighed.
So much for an important day.
Little did your scaly self know, you had bumped into exactly the wrong woman. Or the right woman, you thought later, but you had no way of knowing that now.
Caitlin Snow came into the restroom, less concerned about the coffee all over her blouse, more concerned about the girl who had rushed past like she had to be sick.
"Hello? Are you alright?" She asked into the bathroom, moving to the closed stall.
You froze in panic. Now was exactly the wrong time for a concerned bystander to inquire as to your well-being.
"i-I'm fine! Just not feeling well!" You yelled, hoping to dissuade the kind stranger.
"Are you sure? I'm a doctor, I'd like to help if you need something." Caitlin peered through the crack in the stall, trying to assess if she needed to break down the door and help.
You saw her eye through the hole and quickly threw your purse over your lap, hoping to conceal the scales.
"I'm sure. It's just a little stomach bug, I'll feel better in a little while I'm sure."
Your purse did not do a good job of hiding thing, because Caitlin had already jimmied open the lock when you finished your sentence. The sparkling tail attached to your body flopped out rather unceremoniously, smacking the floor. You winced.
"That certainly is some stomach bug." Caitlin sarcastically responded. She flashed a warm smile. "A meta-human, I presume?"
You nodded and sighed. She stuck out a hand for you to shake.
"I'm Caitlin Snow, resident biochemist at STAR Labs, and I would like to help you."
Not wanting to be impolite, shook her hand.
"My name is (y/n). I was supposed to be at a job interview 10 minutes ago."
"It's very nice to meet you! I assume the rain probably triggered this event?" You nodded, flicking your tail slightly. Even though it was a huge inconvenience sometimes, it was rather pretty.
Caitlin produced a hairdryer from her purse.
"Then let's get you dried off so you can rejoin humanity!"
Twenty minutes later, you were dry and comfortable in an armchair thanks to your new friend. You had bought her a new coffee as both an apology and a thank-you.
As the rain pattered on the roof, you sipped your own hot beverage, and answered Caitlin's hushed questions.
You told her of how you got the offending tail in the first place, and how much trouble it caused you.
However, you had saved a few people and pets that had slipped into the harbor, which helped you feel useful. Also, It was incredibly fun combing through the seaweed and finding random things at the bottom. You had even reunited a woman with a lost engagement ring. She had rewarded you handsomely with $500 and some Amazon gift cards, which paid for your groceries for a while, and some nice new stuff for your apartment.
Caitlin seemed impressed. She was typing out your answers into her phone. When she finished, she set the phone down and leaned forward in her chair.
"So. You missed an interview. How would you like to go for a different kind of interview once the rain stops?" She asked, a mischievous smile on her face.
"What kind of interview would this be?" You raised an eyebrow, setting down your drink on the side table.
"A meta-human kind. I would like to do some tests. For science of course." Caitlin chittered. She looked hopeful. You thought for a moment.
"Well, it's not like I've got anything else to do today." Caitlin did a little happy dance.
"Perfect! As soon as it gets dry out, we can go. But for now, I think relaxing in these chairs is in order."
You couldn't agree more.
Cisco raised his eyebrows at the text Caitlin had just sent him.
"A giant fish tank? Why do we need a giant fish tank?" He asked the empty air of his workshop. Not being one to turn down a challenge, however, he got to work.
Four hours later, you and Caitlin walked into the cortex of STAR Labs for the aforementioned testing, only to find a small commotion happening within.
Barry was arguing with Cisco as the latter berated him.
"For the last time, I told you, the suit is not impact proof! You can still rip it, or screw the wiring, or worse! And YOU are not impact proof either!" Cisco yelled as Barry paced, muttering apologies.
Caitlin cleared her throat, drawing the attention of both men. You looked between the red suit under Cisco's hands, and the fidgety Barry Allen, and your mouth formed a small O of realization.
"That's cool." You whispered to Caitlin. She nodded in response.
"Who dis?" Cisco seemed almost offended. It was understandable, as bringing a stranger into the lab was a fairly huge no-no.
"Hi. I'm (y/n)." You gave a little wave. Barry waved back with a smile.
Caitlin marched herself over to the medical station, pulling together all sorts of monitoring devices and sample kits.
"This is why I needed that tank, Cisco." She said firmly, guiding you to a chair. "Did you finish it?"
"Of course. It was easy." He scoffed, crossing his arms.
"Are you a meta?" Barry asked, coming over to help Caitlin. He took a blood sample for her, so fast you couldn't even feel it.
"Yeah. Caitlin saved my bacon earlier." Cisco raised an eyebrow.
"You'll see later. Is the tank full?" Caitlin finished taking readings and samples before sticking cordless electrodes to your head.
"Yeah. It's freshwater though, that ok?" Cisco opened a drawer, pulling out a twizzler and biting it viciously.
"Yeah that's fine. I'm used to salt though." You answered, confusing the men.
"Well. Your vitals are fine, so lets go to step two of our testing, shall we?" Caitlin gave you a knowing smile.
"Yes, let's!" The two of you shared a laugh before heading for the tank. Barry and Cisco followed out of curiosity, sharing Cisco's twizzlers.
The tank was fantastic. Cisco had exceeded expectations as usual, providing a lift to the top of the tank and a water heater, as well as a gorgeous modern appearance.
"Wow. That's. That's really cool." You stuttered a little, staring at the aquarium-grade tank with a slack jaw. Cisco grinned.
Caitlin rolled her eye as she handed you a STAR labs tank top.
An awkward silence ensued, since you didn't want to strip in front of three strangers. "Could you guys. Uh." You made a gesture, and a lightbulb went off. They quickly turned around. You sat on the lift, changed your clothes, and pressed the 'up' button. Cisco was trying to ask Caitlin questions, but she kept shushing him. You giggled before dropping into the water with a quiet 'plunk' sound.
30 seconds later, you leaned over the top edge of the tank, the fins on your arms dripping water onto the floor below.
"Okay, you can turn around now. I'm in."
The boys' eyes were as wide as saucers.
"Holy little mermaid." Cisco muttered.
Barry's face split into a grin and he rushed up to the tank, Cisco not far behind him. You swam down and smiled at them, pressing a webbed hand flat to the glass. Barry put his hand over yours, the grin never leaving his face.
"Ok. This is freaking cool." He pulled back with a groan when his phone rang. "Oh crap. That's Joe. I gotta go, guys. Don't have too much fun without me." You waved as he disappeared with a streak of red lightning. Swimming back up to the top, you did a twirl as you surfaced.
"Wow. The Flash thinks I'm cool!" You exclaimed. This was definitely a story to tell your best friend on movie night sometime.
"Okay, now that the wow factor has worn off, can we do the tests?" Caitlin asked, poking at a tablet. Cisco was staring at the end of your tail, seemingly mesmerized by it's iridescent glow.
"Of course!" You giggled a little, flicking your tail at his face and making him jump back a bit. When you got an opportunity to show your tail off, it certainly was fun.
Caitlin ran you through a series of exercises, monitoring your vital signs and brainwaves as you swam. Cisco just watched, eating twizzlers and staring unabashedly.
You pried off a couple loose scales for Caitlin to test before she told you to relax for a while.
You floated to the bottom, relaxing on the cool glass and lazily flipping your fins.
Cisco rolled his chair over to you, studying you like a scientist. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it with a furrow of his eyebrows. Eventually, after a few seconds of intense eye contact, you blew bubbles at him as if blowing him a kiss, and his face flushed.
"Do you want a twizzler?" He quietly asked, holding out the bag. You swam to the top to answer.
"I would love one, if you can reach me!"
Cisco grabbed something off his desk, stuck a twizzler in the end, and squeezed it.
It extended enough that you could reach the sweet treat, and he smiled warmly.
It gave you butterflies.
You took the twizzler as Caitlin came back in. She looked between the two of you and raised an eyebrow. Cisco cleared his throat.
"What? Sharing is caring."
Caitlin came up to the tank with her tablet.
"As far as I can tell, your blood says you're marine life. And for marine life, you're perfectly healthy. You have good swim speeds, your scales are in good condition, et cetera et cetera. How does it feel?"
"I mean. It feels great, but the whole 'being a mermaid when you hit the water' thing is inconvenient at the least." You hauled yourself out of the water and onto the platform to sit up.
"Yeah, and it's a total cliche, but at least you look real. You've got, like, actual fish fins." Cisco piped up.
"Yes, you do. And they are very lovely as well. Speaking of fins, though, you should try to avoid sitting on your dorsal fin too often. It might tear." You nodded in affirmation.
"I nicked it on the bottom of a boat once. Hurt like hell."
"So for this inconvenience, I was going to ask you if you could perhaps make something to help our new friend manage the issue." Caitlin looked up from her tablet to Cisco, who was distracted by the gentle sway of your caudal fin. "Cisco. Pay attention." He snapped out of it, looking kind of embarrassed.
"Sorry. It's just. It's really cool. Caitlin, seriously, how are you not freaking out a little right now? There is an actual mermaid in our lab!" He grinned like an idiot, extending a hand at you like he was presenting a guest of honor at the Tony's or the Oscars. It made you blush.
"I had my moment earlier. Can you make her something or not? The girl missed a job interview this morning because of the rain. This is not a matter taken lightly!" Caitlin was becoming agitated, and Cisco took a step back.
"Okay, scary lady, I'll see what I can do."
"Well the first thing you can do it get me a wheelchair so I can bring (y/n) up to the lab bed so she can dry out."
"Yes ma'm." Cisco drawled sarcastically.
He snuck you a wink as Caitlin rolled her eyes and made an angry noise.
You stretched up on your platform and let out a contented sigh. This was starting to get fun.
Later, you were up in the cortex, lounging on the bed with a blanket over your lap. You were watching YouTube on a spare tablet as Caitlin compiled her research.
"So. This Cisco guy. He really made that awesome tank?" You asked, trying to start some casual conversation.
"Indeed he did. Cisco is a genius engineer, even if he doesn't seem like it sometimes." Caitlin didn't even have to look up from her computer. Some tubes of your blood were in a centrifuge, and it made a pleasant humming sound.
"And this Barry guy is the Flash. This is the Flash lab. Ok, I am trying not to be too much of a nerd about it, but this is really cool." You laughed, a little nervous. Caitlin stopped typing and smiled, looking over at you.
"Yeah. It is pretty cool."
Another man came into the cortex, a bag of Big Belly Burger and a large drink in his hands. He stopped in his tracks, looking between you and Caitlin.
"I got your message, what did you need the food fo… Who is that?"
"Hi Harry. This is (y/n). I was doing some research with her."
"Oooookay then. Want some fries?" Harry held out the bag, and you nodded enthusiastically.
"Thank you! I haven't eaten since breakfast, I appreciate it." Harry took the moment to inspect your fins and scales with curiosity.
"Impressive. I assume you were in the water or something?" You nodded, your mouth full of fries. A sip of the provided drink washed them down wonderfully.
"Mono-finning. It was a hobby. Now it's permanently attached to my body when I get wet! Yay!" Harry chuckled.
"And Caitlin found this out and brought your here to fix that problem. Alright. Congratulations." He took a burger out of the bag and sat down to eat.
The next couple hours were spent talking and getting to know each other. Cisco made a couple reappearances, measuring a few things and doing some fussing with some devices. Barry came back, bringing along his foster father, whose sense of humor you enjoyed. Eventually you dried out enough, and you got your legs back. You put your leggings back on and stretched.
"Well, that is definitely that. I should probably be getting home. My cats are gonna be mad that I'm getting home later than usual." You joked, getting up and gathering your stuff. "Can I keep this top? Its really nice." Caitlin gave you an approving nod.
"Oh! wait! Before you go, let me give you my phone number." She rushed over to a desk, scribbling it on a post-it that she promptly pressed into your hand.
"In case you need anything. Or if you just wanna talk." You copied her happy smile, nodding in agreement.
Soon you were home. You threw your purse down by the door, grabbed a glass of water, and laid down on the couch. Charybdis and Scylla, your rescue cats, came up meowing at you and it made you laugh.
"Hey babies. Wanna hear a cool story?"