The usual
How many times had he been here before? He wished he didn't have an answer for that. But, here it was: exactly 526 times. Ever since Iris had started working at the café, Berry had come here every other day, careful to be around but not too clingy.
So just like every other day, he was sitting in the café right now, laptop propped up on a table, notepad and a pen at the ready, sifting through the internet, trying to busy himself, while Iris flitted past him, flashing him a smile every now and then, mouthing 'be right there' with an apologetic look. Berry smiled back and focused on the pen in his hand again.
'The usual?' Iris asked when she finally managed to get around to him.
He dutifully nodded, feeling less than ecstatic about the drink he was about to receive.
He clearly remembered the day when his childhood best friend, had excitedly pulled him into this exact same café.
'You'll love it Berry, I swear! It is the most amazing drink you could imagine!'
She had ordered them both a Christmas hot chocolate, a specialty of the place, praising it as if they were just about to drink the elixir for immortality and not an overpriced hot beverage.
When they had finally sat down, warm drinks in hand, Iris had stared at him, awaiting his reaction.
Faking he had liked the drink had been his most trying moment so far. It had been sweet, actually beyond sweet. A sugar bomb, paired with over-the-top spices he couldn't even identify. Then there was the fact that said spices set his mouth on fire and numbed his taste buds at the same time. A sensation which alarmed him to no end. Disgust, horror and reproach should have shown on his face, yet one look at Iris's smile made his shock melt away and he felt a smile spread across his face.
'I love it.'
Those three words had doomed him. Ever since then, Iris would always start bringing him Christmas hot chocolates the moment they appeared on the seasonal menu. A kind gesture. A heartwarming inside joke. A nod to their long lasting friendship. Yet Berry hadn't grown fond of the drink over time. As much as he cherished the memory of it, he despised the drink more and more, but couldn't bring himself to tell Iris. Part of him hoped that one day, she would realize that everything he did, everything he put up with, including this diabetes inducing drink, was all for her.
It seemed pathetically foolish to pin your hopes and dreams for future happiness on a hot chocolate. But Berry knew that those three seemingly meaningless words were actually meant to say 'I love you.' It was the moment he had realized he was in love with Iris West.
'Here you go.' Her sweet melodious voice announced and he watched her turn and hurry to another table, being herself, friendly, charming, perfect.
He looked at the tall cup, took it and sighed. Becoming the Flash hadn't changed so much for his love life, but at least he could dump the contents of this mug down the sink, pour himself a cup of delicious coffee, take two sips and be back in his seat, before anyone even noticed that he had stood up.
Maybe one day, the right person would notice…