Author's Note: I decided to write this on a whim. If you like it let me know and I'll continue writing! This story is endgame WestAllen with possible Ollicity, and other ships. I own nothing.

Carnival for an Arsonist

Chapter One- Hunters

"Okay, who is ready for awful movies?" Caitlin sung.

Barry looked up from the barely touched glass of gin in his hands.

Caitlin paused. "Uh oh, what's wrong? Why do you look like someone just got whammied?"

Cisco's eyes darted to Barry. "Should we tell her?"

Barry placed down the glass on the coaster. He had planned on not mentioning the broadcast to Caitlin because this was their 'wild and crazy night.' Wild and crazy nights consisted of booze, board games, zero discussion of the Flash, and hypothetical conversations about social lives in the real world.

"No, you can't withhold stuff from me." Caitlin pointed.

Barry sighed as he took in Caitlin's wide eyes. This was exactly what he was trying to avoid. "Thanks, Cisco."

"What?" Cisco asked, clueless as ever. "I didn't spill trade secrets. I was just confirming that we were keeping The Murder Squad under wraps."

"The Italian smells good." Barry clapped his hands together. Distract her. That's what he would do. "Do you need me to nuke anything else? And by nuke I mean food."

"No, I don't need you to nuke." Caitlin shook her head. "Nuking keeps my mind busy. Let me nuke. Now can someone tell me what's going on? I will find out soon enough."

Beside Barry, Cisco shoved Twizzlers into his mouth. "Dr. Wells will probably be calling us into the lab soon."

Caitlin was right. She would find out soon enough. He reached for the gin and used his super speed to down it. There. It was all gone. If only he could feel buzzed for longer than a second.

"Is it Ronnie?" Caitlin whispered. "Did Felicity locate him?"

"No, it's not Ronnie." Barry wished that he had news on Ronnie. After work he and Cisco had been working tirelessly with assistance from Felicity to find Ronnie, but Caitlin's fiancé was still MIA. They were running out of leads.

Barry rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans. "There was a broadcast on TV, a really violent and disturbing broadcast."

"It involved beheading." Cisco added.

Barry clenched his jaw. He had only planned on suiting up for one reason tonight; until beheading was added to the regularly scheduled programming.

"Beheading?" Caitlin cringed. She sat down the plate of Italian appetizers in front of them. "This beheading happened on TV?"

"Hostile takeover of airwaves." Cisco reached for a mozzarella stick. "This is what happens when we make frequent visits to Starling, the sun drops from the sky, and we're gifted with a year of darkness."

Caitlin sunk onto the couch beside Barry. She reached for his glass and then paused. "Oh,"

"Empty." Barry said, darting his eyes to her.

Caitlin pouted, "Need more alcohol." She jumped up and grabbed the bottle of gin from the counter. Barry opened his mouth to tell her that he didn't need any more gin. It tasted god-awful and it had the same effect as orange juice on his body.

"We need to trace the signal." Caitlin said.

"We're working on it." Cisco informed.

Barry glanced at Cisco's phone. "We should ask Felicity for help."

"No," Cisco said quickly. "I've been monitoring the beautiful Ms. Smoak's methods. The student only crawls to the teacher when he has failed. Give me a chance to crack this before we loop in Felicity."

Reluctantly, Barry nodded. He turned to Caitlin. "We were watching 28 Days Later and then the broadcast came on. Three men stood behind a meta. We couldn't see their faces; and they didn't speak. They beheaded the meta with a machete. It's on all the major news stations. Everyone is freaking out."

Barry knew that he should be freaking out too.

"How do we know for sure that it was a meta? Did the victim exhibit any abilities?" Caitlin asked. She reached for Barry's glass and swallowed it with a single gulp. She winced.

"Uh," Barry wiped at his forehead. He had purposely left out that part. "We know for sure, because it was Tony."

"Oh," Caitlin's eyes darted back and forth. "Why didn't he just turn to steel?"

"We don't know." Barry responded. It didn't make sense. If Tony turned to steel then he would still be alive. Either he wanted to die or his abilities were disabled somehow. Sighing, Barry leaned forward and racked his hands through his hair. "We have to find these guys and stop them."

Caitlin nodded. "We need to go to the lab. Who knows what else…The Murder Squad has planned." She scowled. "Cisco we need a better name for them. The Murder Squad sounds too nice for a group of people that do live executions on TV."

Barry's cell phone vibrated. He already knew who it was.

"Barry," Caitlin shook her head adamantly. "You can't, not now."

Barry clenched his jaw. "Tell me when I need to suit up. I'll be there."

"Barry…"

"Tony is dead. I can't bring him back to life. Maybe if I wasn't so distracted I would've saw this coming…but I didn't." Barry balled his fist and rested it against his leg.

Caitlin looked down, and Cisco brought the whole tray of food into his lap.

Barry licked his lips. "I know, that I shouldn't be focusing on her. Central City needs me, especially now. But I've been asleep at the wheel. I need to get her out of my system."

It was a selfish request, Barry understood that fully. But Iris…she was the worst kind of drug. She made him happy. She made him high. When he was with her…nothing mattered. He loved Iris, and the love he had for her was complicated. It messed with his head, and even worse his duty to protect Central City.

She had no idea that he knew about Georgetown.

"Barry, go." Cisco said. "Caitlin and I will go to S.T.A.R. labs and lay down the groundwork. Anyways, you don't have that many chances to do booty calls in the Flash suit anymore."

Barry winced. "Please don't call it a booty call. No sex is involved, here."

Cisco snickered. "Uh huh, okay. Just the symptoms…heavy breathing, sweating, lingering eyes…"

"Cisco," Caitlin griped. "Do you want to be zapped with a laser gun?"

Cisco sheepishly looked down. "Well—one of us needs to be getting some."

"Iris has a boyfriend!" Caitlin pointed out. "Barry nor The Flash should even be entertaining the thought of a…booty call with Iris."

Barry tuned both of his friends out. He didn't have much time. There could be other meta murders tonight. He stood. "I won't be long, but if you need me, call me."


"I had to know that you were okay." She said.

Iris stood in front of him. He never paid attention to what people wore, but Iris…he noticed her dresses, boots, tights, and the way everything seemed to fit her so perfectly.

His thoughts were too loud. Shut up, Barry.

She took a step closer to him.

"When are you leaving for Georgetown?"

Her smile fell a little.

Barry bowed his head. She asked if he was okay. He needed to stick to the script. "I'm okay, thank you for asking."

"Do you know who they are?" she asked.

"I'm looking into it."

Iris nodded. "I'm sorry that I asked you to meet me. You should be off saving the world, and gifting people with hope. "

"Don't be sorry."

He used to get a thrill out of meeting Iris as the Flash. Because the Flash was different from the-always-late-foster-brother that was Barry Allen. The Flash was confident. He was the hero. He could tell Iris that 'she was worth being on time for' and not worry about the fallout.

Iris smiled at The Flash in a way that she never smiled at Barry. Even though she did give him some spectacular, heart-stopping smiles.

"Be careful, okay?"

He raised his chin. All the lights of Central City reflected around her.

Tell her that you love her.

No.

Prove him wrong. You can get the girl.

No.

Iris crossed her arms to her chest. He saw her shiver.

"We should go inside, you're cold."

"I'm okay." Iris said softly, "It's not like we could have coffee and sing Christmas carols, inside. You like the shadows."

Barry closed his eyes. "No, I like the light."

Her dark hair whipped around her face. Even though she was so far away Barry imagined that he could smell her perfume. He really needed to get a life. It seemed barely fair that he had superhuman speed, but a faulty heart that was determined to keep him alone, and looking for bits and pieces of Iris in any girl that he let get too close.

Barry hopped down from the ledge. "You should stay in Central City. You have people here who love you…who look forward to seeing you."

Iris' eyes narrowed.

He was actively digging his grave. Barry paused and he took a step back into the shadows.

She stared at him inquisitively for what felt like years. Iris was smart. Sometimes he wondered if she already knew that he was The Flash. He shamelessly put his feelings on broadcast when wearing the suit, and the Flash was openly anti-Eddie.

Did you guys break up?!

"Everyone I love is here." Iris agreed.

Barry inhaled. Then change your mind. Stay here. Stay with me. I know that I shouldn't be selfish with you, but I can't help that.

Iris tilted her head to the side. "But…"

"But, what?"

"But…my dream is Georgetown. My dream is journalism, metro rails, reading by the Washington Monument and laughing at tourists."

Barry's lips quirked into a smile. He wished that he could be a part of that. "You're a dreamer."

"Hey, Barry, it's Cisco."

Barry scowled.

"What's going on?" he asked, holding his hand to his ear.

"I just wanted to let you know that Caitlin and I are at the bat cave. If we need you, we will summon you. Have fun with Iris."

In the background Barry heard Caitlin say, "Don't encourage him to be a home wrecker!"

When his friends were out of his head he focused back on Iris.

"Do you have to go?" she asked.

"No,"

"Good,"


She was with Eddie.

Her heart raced at the thought of him. Her generous and sweet boyfriend who volunteered to leave his life behind in Central City for Georgetown. Eddie who brought her roses just because. And Eddie who woke up every morning to make her breakfast.

She could picture him in his boxer briefs and white tee shirt; powder on his nose, and a grin on his face as he served the world's best runny eggs, pancakes, and extra crispy bacon. It might have taken him several tries to get it right but he was always a perfectionist when it came to her.

Iris felt like she was cheating. The Flash was this abstract thing—this blur of red and yellow, that she couldn't touch, or kiss…he was not real.

Eddie was real.

But yet, it was criminal how her heart raced whenever she saw The Flash. Her blog had started with good intentions. She wanted to give credit to the hero; because the Flash represented hope. He gave her hope in this world of decreasing humanity.

"You know there is one bright spot to me leaving Central City."

In the darkness she could feel his eyes on her, burning a hole into her heart.

"There are no bright spots." He said.

The Flash was always candid. He challenged her.

"I can't write my blog from Georgetown."

"No more fanfiction then."

Iris giggled. "No, no more fanfiction. Unless one of your other fan girls takes up the job."

"I told you already, there are no other girls."

Her cheeks flushed. On that note. "I should go."

"Back into the light."

She saw the Flash look down. Iris vividly remembered the day he had smiled at her. "No," she shook her head. "You're the brightest light in Central City."


"How was the latest rooftop session?" Cisco asked as he swiveled his chair to face Barry.

Barry shrugged. "What did you find on the broadcast? And where is Dr. Wells?"

"He's not here." Caitlin said.

"What?" Barry scowled. Dr. Harrison Wells was always at S.T.A.R. Labs.

"Trust me, we were just as surprised as you." Caitlin added.

"Did you try reaching him?" Barry asked.

"Reaching who, man?" Cisco asked with his eyebrows arched. "Dr. Wells?"

"Yeah, that is who we're talking about."

"We reach him here." Caitlin said. "Or he summons us."

Despite himself, Barry chuckled. "No, seriously. Someone call him."

"Barry, seriously. We don't have his number." Caitlin visibly shivered. "Yeah, we work together, but there is never a time when I want to call Dr. Wells while watching America's Next Top Model…oh…" she winced. "If either of you mentions that to anyone, lobotomies will be involved."

Cisco shrugged. "No shade, I also watch for the ladies."

Barry patted Cisco on the back, "We need to get you a girlfriend."

Cisco snorted. "Pot. Kettle. Black. That's all I'm saying."

Barry racked his hands through his spiky hair. He deserved that.

"The broadcast signal was from a warehouse outside of Central." Cisco volunteered. "The closest landmark is a Big Belly Burger. Who is hungry?"

Caitlin shook her head. "Thanks to Felicity, I was able to hack into the camera system."

Barry watched as Caitlin and Cisco exchanged competitive glances. They were obviously trying to out-IT the other. "Okay guys, you are both pretty and smart. What did you find out while I was…"

Barry's cheeks warmed. "Fine, I will suit up, and canvas for myself."

"No, you can't." Caitlin turned the computer screen towards Barry. "The cops are already canvasing. This is national news…"

"It would be global, Caitlin." Cisco corrected. "But, we could still spy on the po-po and then grab some grease, fries, and milkshakes at Big Belly?"

"We still have Italian at home." Caitlin reminded. "Remember, wild and crazy night. Alcohol, bad movies, Italian food, and Christmas tree decorating."

"Girl, that ain't happenin' tonight." Cisco chuckled. "What we have here is smarties, some leftover Sparkling Cider from Thanksgiving, and the ingredients to make a pumpkin pie."

Barry listened to his friends as he watched the camera surveillance.

"Wait, were you here on Thanksgiving?" Caitlin asked Cisco.

"Uh—no,"

"Cisco! We invited you to the West's." Caitlin hit him.

Barry looked away from the screen for a second. "We did invite you. You said you had somewhere else to be. I believe your exact excuse was, a girl that looks like Nina Dobrev invited me to Thanksgiving dinner."

"Guys can we focus? Shit is fucked up in the world. Thanksgiving was years ago!" Cisco protested.

Caitlin shook her head at Barry. "Even Dr. Wells had somewhere to go, and he's beyond lonely."

"I am not lonely!" Cisco defended. "I have plenty of things to keep me warm at night."

"Eww," Barry said wrinkling his nose. "We could do without the imagery, man."

Cisco slouched in his chair and started popping smarties into his mouth.

"We wanted you there." Caitlin said.

"Fine," Cisco sighed. "Joe is scary that's why I didn't go."

"What? That's ridiculous." Barry snickered.

"Joe is the sweetest guy ever. I wish he was my foster dad." Caitlin said.

Cisco rolled his eyes. "Barry he has to like you because you're practically his kid, and Caitlin you always have smart things to say."

"You also have smart things to say." Caitlin encouraged.

Every now and then, Caitlin went into mothering mode. She tried to cheer you up when you were down, or steer you away from making bad life decisions. Barry appreciated Caitlin even when he was doing the exact opposite of her advice.

Cisco licked his lips. "When I talk to Joe he just looks at me blankly."

"In his defense…" Barry placed his hands on Cisco's shoulders. "Whenever you are around Joe you start talking about off the wall things. He looks at you crazy because you talk crazy around him."

"Duh! Because he's terrifying."

Caitlin sighed. "Christmas dinner you will be there. I'm making my legendary cranberry sauce."

"Oh, yum." Barry rubbed his hands together. "From scratch?"

Caitlin gave him a quick side-glance. "Do I look like Martha Stewart to you? The cranberry sauce is straight from the can, courtesy of Ocean Spray."

"Hey, something's happening." Cisco snapped his fingers to get their attention.

"Can we zoom in?" Barry asked.

"Yes," Caitlin said.

The three of them leaned into the computer screen. The cops were all standing around a wall.

"It says something on the wall? What does it say, Barry?" Caitlin asked.

"Caitlin, I have super speed not 20/20 vision."

She chewed on her lip. "I knew that, obviously."

"Luckily, I wore my contacts today." Cisco cracked his knuckles. "Stand back amateurs, The Ramon has got it." He squinted his eyes. "Okay, it says…it says…"Cisco slouched back in his chair. "It says genocide."

"Genocide?" Caitlin cocked her head to the side.

Tony. "The genocide of metas." Barry pieced together. His real cell-phone vibrated. It was his real cell phone, which meant that it was either Iris, Joe, or work.

"Hey, Iris."

"Are you busy?"

"No, I'm just…waking up from a nap."

"What? Barry that's lazy."

"I had a full day."

"It's Saturday."

"Saturdays can still be full." He answered awkwardly. "What's up?"

"I need you."

"Is it an emergency?"

"Kind of, we need to talk."

Barry closed his eyes and rested his hand against his forehead. "I'll be there."

"Barry, I'm outside your door. I brought Chinese, hope you're hungry."


Barry answered the door in sweatpants and a tee shirt.

"How is it, that even when I meet you at your own apartment, you're still late?" she bumped into him.

"Glad to see you too." Barry said, putting on the smile to play the part.

Iris placed down the food on the table and she held out her arms.

Barry kicked the door shut and went over to Iris. He hugged her tightly.

I am a masochist. He thought. Iris smelled like perfume and winter.

Iris leaned away from him, her hands on his arms. "I love you."

He stared into her eyes, they were deep as drops of Columbian coffee. Iris occasionally told him she loved him. But she didn't mean it the way he needed her to.

Sometimes he wondered if it would be easier if they never met. Iris was smiling back at him in that way, her eyes pulled him in mercilessly. He closed his eyes capturing that mental image. She was leaving him.

"Are you okay?" Iris asked, suddenly concerned.

"Huh, what?"

She touched his cheek. "You look like you're going to cry."

"No, what I…"

"Bear," she slipped her hands in his. "Talk to me."

He nervously shook his head. "Talk to you about what? And no, I'm not going to cry." He threw his head back and laughed. He tried to throw Iris off the scent of his angst and it backfired horribly.

She stared him down. "You are a horrible liar."

"The Chinese food is getting cold." He segued.

To hold him hostage Iris kicked off her boots and swung her legs over his. "You are my captive now. I will not allow you to get up until you tell me what's wrong. That Chinese food smells good doesn't it?" Teasingly she tried to waft the scent over.

Barry crossed his arms. "I'm not sure what you're holding me hostage for? I did nothing—except let you into my apartment."

"I got cream cheese wontons, yum. Shrimp friend rice, extra shrimp, because you know they always skimp, a large beef and broccoli, is mouth watering yet?"

"Nope," Barry said.

She tugged on his ears. Touching him generously.

He had trained himself not to respond to her hands. It was torture.

"Is it a girl?" she asked, tentatively.

Barry pinched the bridge of his nose. Buzzkill. "How are you going to bring over enough Chinese food to cater this apartment complex and bribe me into talking?"

"Because, I know how to work you."

"You are cruel."

"I care," she affirmed. "If it's a girl, tell me who she is, and I'll knock some sense into her."

Barry rolled his eyes. "Fine, it's a girl."

"Felicity!"

It annoyed him that she was so eager to dump him off on another girl. There really was no chance for them.

"No, she's my friend…we kissed…but…no."

Iris nodded. Maybe he imagined it, most likely he did, but Barry swore that Iris' smile wavered…and then she went right back to ship Barry off to any and every girl even if it's a one-legged stripper named, Sparkle.

"Caitlin?" she asked. "There is obvious chemistry between you guys."

"No! She has an MIA fiancé."

"Oh right," Iris frowned. "Is it Cisco?"

"Cisco is a boy."

Now she thought he was gay!

This was officially the worst day ever.


"It's going to be one of those nights." Eddie said.

Joe was sitting beside him, stern-faced.

Eddie had a desire to put on the radio, fill up the silence with a little music, but every time he reached for the radio dial, Joe mentally set his hand on fire.

"The last thing we need in Central City is another group of lunatics." Joe took a swig of his coffee.

Eddie nodded. "Do you think this…this Flash is in danger?"

Joe shook his head. "I don't know."

Eddie kept his commentary on The Flash to a minimum because Joe was apparently pro-Flash. Eddie had no idea why. He turned to Joe with his mouth open. "Joe, can I ask you something."

"If it is about Iris, us grabbing a beer, or anything outside of work, no."

"It's about Iris."

"No, I accept that you and my daughter are together…actually, I don't accept it, but I respect her decision as an adult."

Eddie bit down on his lip. Joe was a great guy, maybe even someone he considered a friend, up until he and Iris announced their relationship. "Should I be worried about Barry?"

Joe chuckled. "What you should be worried about is Iris moving to Georgetown, and telling you that you could stay here."

Ouch. Eddie shifted in his seat. He tried to laughed it off.

"Look, Iris loves you but Barry comes first." Joe studied his partner. "Why do you ask?"

Eddie looked down, "Because she keeps calling me Barry, and she never used to do that."