Relationships: Barry Allen/Oliver Queen, Eddie Thawne/Iris West, Ronnie Raymond/Caitlin Snow, Wally West/Linda Park,
Characters: Barry Allen, Oliver Queen, Iris West, Eddie Thawne, William Clayton, Team SuperFlarrow, Original Characters, Original Child Characters.
Summary: Oliver mistakes a handsome man in a bookstore as an employee, and said man is too embarrassed to correct him. Now they have no idea what they're doing.
Genres: Canon Divergence/AU, Fluff, angst, romance.
Type: Standalone
Warnings: Trauma, Recovery, Support, Coming Out, Closeted Character, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, implied addiction.
Spoilers/Timeline: This story has its own timeline, but there are kind of Spoilers for Arrow s5 and Flash S2.
Author's Notes: I kind of like to mix canons. You'll see references to different parts of Central City and some general canon divergences I've come up with over my time getting into the Flash. Oh and my Barry Allen is kind of a blond Grant Gustin-esque dude I guess.
The moment Oliver Queen stepped through the doors he was in unfamiliar territory. Shelves of books surrounded him on every wall and he had no idea where to start. He was pretty sure the last book he'd held in his hand in the last decade was his father's journal.
Eventually, he made his way to the nonfiction section with some difficulty, the place was huge. Not that he'd been inside many other bookstores to compare it to. The first thing he noticed was a man on his knees in front of the small science section.
The man was slender and had a stack of books beside him. He seemed intently focused on his task at hand as well, leaving Oliver to assume he worked there. Oliver was certain he must work there but he wasn't certain the man could carry all those books on his own.
Thank god. Oliver thought, feeling partially relieved. Someone who works here. Oliver tapped on the man's shoulder. "Hey, do you know anything about this stuff?" he gestured to the set of shelves taller than both men.
The man glanced up and had no real reaction to seeing Oliver's face. This made Oliver feel more relieved if he was being honest. The constant 'You're Oliver Queen!'s he got from strangers was exhausting at best and extremely agitating at worst.
The man gave Oliver a confused expression but nodded once. "Yes, I graduated summa cum laude from Sun City University with a degree in Organic Chemistry and I'm a forensic scientist, I'm not an expert in other areas but I still know quite a bit." as the words came out he grinned up at Oliver with an openness he wasn't used to. It was genuine. It was human. Something he only saw from his family and Felicity.
"I don't know what half of that means, sorry." Oliver pressed his lips together. "but can you help me find some books?"
"Science is my job, I know about it, and I can try. What exactly do you need?" he brushed off his hands as they were resting on the floor and picking up dirt from the thin, cheap carpeting.
"Something about plants," Oliver glanced at the notes he'd taken for himself. "He likes plants … so I need something smart with plants."
The other man ran a slender hand across a shelf to his upper left. "Well, this whole shelf is botany."
"I don't need books on botany I need books on plants."
"Botany is the science of plants … you're not a science guy I guess," he laughed lightly and ran a hand through his hair, it was blond like Oliver's.
"Not really, no. I'm just a CEO, I know business, not science," he laughed with him.
"Can I ask what the botany books are for?" the man inquired as he sat back on his heels. "I can help you better if I know what you need."
"I've just met my son for the first time and he's moving in with me," Oliver found himself admitting. "I'm setting up his room and he likes plants. I want to make a good impression."
"How old is he?"
"He's ten."
"Is his reading level high for his age?" the man asked Oliver curiously.
"He's in some advanced classes in sixth grade," Oliver scratched his head. "If that means anything." He was glad he found someone who knows what he's doing.
"I'll pick out a few and you can decide if any would interest him," he started to look through the shelf. He could tell Oliver was in over his head. "Having a science kid can be hard, I know. It's really great that you're trying though. Not a lot of dad's do."
Oliver glanced at the man's hand. No ring. However, that didn't mean much as his own hand was bare as well. "Do you have kids?" Oliver decided to take a risk and ask.
"Sort of," he shrugged his shoulders as he selected another book.
"Sort of?" Oliver was confused by that answer.
"I've got a niece and nephew from my sister, and a nephew from my brother. That's enough for me-" he added another book to the pile. "They're my life."
Oliver found the way he said that endearing in a way. "I'm glad I found the one employee who knows what he's talking about."
The man paused for a second and Oliver noticed he seemed embarrassed and started to fumble but continued to pull out books. He turned to Oliver, showing him the small stack. "any of these should work, the big one is kind of pricey but it's a retired high school textbook, so, yeah..." he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Thanks … uh …" Oliver took the stack easily in one hand them noticed the man didn't have a name tag and then realised he probably didn't work there.
"Barry, Barry Allen." he smiled and stood with his own pile of books.
"Oliver Queen … you don't work here, do you?" Oliver asked awkwardly.
"Queen … like Queen consolidated? Also, no. I don't work here- I was too embarrassed and excited about the botany to say anything. Sorry."
"Yep, that would be me. I'm glad I found someone who knew what I was talking about."
"Cool," Barry shrugged, still unfazed by Oliver's identity, and Oliver wondered why that was, but decided to take it without complaints- he preferred it this way.
"Thanks for your help," Oliver shook Barry's hand before moving to hold the book stack with both hands.
"So, how long are you in town?" Barry asked casually as they walked into the line, Barry's arms trembled slightly under the weight of his books.
"I just moved in actually," he smiled. "Where's the best place to get a cup of coffee?" he asked and after a few seconds of watching Barry tremble he grabbed half of the stack with his free hand. It wasn't that heavy on its own but he was sure the full stack was a but cumbersome for Barry.
"That would definitely be Jitters on 74th and Main. It's about a block from the police station if you know where that is," Barry replied, surprised by Oliver's strength but not saying anything other than a mumbled 'thanks'.
"I do, unfortunately," Oliver laughed. "I spent more time there in my youth than I'd like to admit, old Detective West still gives me the stink eye when I see him in passing."
Barry snorted. "Wow, I'm surprised Joe hasn't said anything to me. Must be nice to travel all over when you're young though."
"What's so funny?" Oliver raised an eyebrow at him.
"Detective West is my dad."
"Detective West is … your dad?" his eyebrows pulled together. "I thought he just had a girl."
"Well, foster father, but he raised me. Also, there's three of us."
Oliver set his own books on the counter, barely registering the teenage retail worker behind it. He set Barry's books by the closed till so he could pull out his wallet and a business card. He grabbed a pen off the desk and jotted a number on the back of it. "Thanks for helping me out today, I owe you one and maybe you could show me Jitters. I'm only familiar with the club scene."
"Uh- sure!" he nodded. "I'll call you."
Oliver handed the clerk a credit card without even listening to the total. He didn't care that much. It wasn't like he didn't have the money, though he hoped it didn't make him look bad in front of Barry. He secretly hoped they could become friends. He seemed like the kind of person who could be useful. Or at least, that's what he told himself but he actually just wanted to see Barry again
"What's that?" Iris asked, glancing at the card Barry was turning over in his hands absentmindedly. An infant on her hip, tiny hands knotted into her shirt.
"Oh, I met Oliver Queen, and he owes me a favour."
"You met Oliver Queen?" Iris asked, her eyes wide.
"Isn't he on your three list?" Eddie asked, coming into view, straightening his tie, he pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead.
"Yep, right next to Rick Cosnett and the Green Arrow."
"Cosnett, looks kind of like Eddie. The Green Arrow feels like a random addition to that list."
"You have my blessing to go for it," Eddie joked, kissing Iris's cheek. "Also, who the heck is Rick Cosnett?"
"Yeah, maybe two children ago," Iris scoffed and pulled out her phone with one hand and showed Eddie a picture.
"Shut up, you're beautiful," - Eddie and Barry spoke the words almost perfectly in sync.
This time Eddie spoke on his own. "This guy looks nothing like me."
"Are you sure you don't mind watching them?" Iris asked checked again.
Barry placed the card on the table. "Not at all! Go, have fun," he smiled at them, and something in him felt a bit sad. He was envious of Iris and Eddie, really. they had a wonderful marriage and two beautiful babies. He was happy for them, but it also stirred up the deep longing in his chest. He had been lying when he told Oliver Queen his niece and nephews were enough for him.
Iris pried ten tiny terracotta fingers from her shirt before passing the baby to Barry. "Go to Uncle Barry, Esther," she said softly, "You guys are going to have so much fun with Barry!"
Barry took the child easily and bounced her very slightly, holding her against his chest so she would feel more secure.
"E.J. is on the floor in the living room with his crayons."
"Thanks again, Barry," Eddie chimed in.
"It's really no problem," and Barry was being honest, he loved spending time with his niece and nephew. Once Iris and Eddie left, Barry headed into the living room. "What are you drawing, buddy? Barry asked.
"The Green Arrow!" the four-year-old grinned and held up a scribbly crayon drawing of a green stick figure.
"Awesome, buddy!" he encouraged. "You did such a good job!" he ruffled up E.J.'s loose curls affectionately. "I'm really proud of you. How about we put it on the fridge?" he suggested.
"Okay!" the boy beamed and followed Barry to the fridge.
Barry set Esther on her feet before lifting E.J. up. "Pick a magnet," he told the boy.
E.J. picked up a letter magnet in the shape of an E and stick it on the paper that Barry was holding to the fridge.
"Good job buddy! What letter is that?" he asked.
"E!" E.J. grinned, picking up a 'J' shaped magnet and placing it on the other corner of the picture. "and J!"
"and what is that?" Barry asked.
"Me!"
Barry kissed his cheek and set him down. "That's right, you're so smart," he encouraged.
Ester was already making grabby hands at him again, little arms outstretched, tiny hands opening and closing. She didn't say anything. She was very quiet, she vertically could talk. She could babble out a 'mama', 'dada', or an extremely rare 'bawr' for Barry, but she didn't often.
Barry lifted her up easily "Okay, sweetie. You're extra snuggly today," he laughed a little. His phone started to ring and he pulled it from his pocket. "Hello?"
Caitlin sat at her desk at S.T.A.R. Labs, reading over some charts. "Hey, Barry!" he and Caitlin had met at a S.T.E.M. convention in Central City a few years ago and quickly clicked. "So, I'm technically not supposed to tell you this … but something big is happening, something that will blow your mind!"
"Hit me," he laughed.
"I just heard Hartley and Wells talking … about a particle accelerator! Not just in theory, but with serious plans."
"That's decades ahead of anything they're doing at CERN!" Barry exclaimed excitedly. "That's amazing!"
"I know, right? It's so exciting. Oh my god, they just called Ronnie in," Caitlin said excitedly.
"Oh, Ronnie's there?" a smirk spread across Barry's lips "Are you actually working or are you staring at his biceps?"
"I'll have you know that I'm reading over files right now."
"Speaking of Ronnie … Did you ask him out yet? Or did you fumble and ask him for the time again? While wearing a watch."
"That was one time and you're one to talk," Caitlin accused. "You don't even look at guys!"
"My last few dates didn't go too well. I've just resigned to be the gay Bachelor uncle," Barry shrugged. "Unless I settle for Hartley," he joked, declining to tell her about getting Oliver Queen's phone number.
"Barry, what's 'gay'?"
Caitlin could hear the small voice from somewhere in the background. "Oh dear, I'll leave you to deal with that," she said her goodbye and hung up.
"It just means I don't want a wife like your daddy has, I want a husband like your mommy has," he explained with a sigh. "That's all."
"Okay," E.J. shrugged his shoulders and went back to colouring.
Barry had thought and hoped that was the end of it but E.J. brought up the subject again when Barry was making an attempt to get him to go to sleep.
"What happens when you have a husband like mommy?"
"Then you'll have three uncles, instead of two," Barry smiled, hoping that was the answer the boy was looking for.
"I hope my third uncle likes dinosaurs," he decided.
"I'll make sure to marry someone who loves dinosaurs," he laughed a little and tucked the covers in around E.J. "Time to get some sleep."
"I'm not even tired," E.J. objected but was nearly falling asleep as he spoke.
