Chapter Two: I'll Try (for Central City)

A steaming bowl of macaroni and cheese was placed down in front of Barry, breaking his staring game with the wooden table.

"Long day?" Iris West asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Barry settled back in his seat, giving her a smile of thanks and a nod. "Very," he replied. "This looks great, Iris." It was his favorite dish. His mom used to make the greatest mac and cheese in the world. He and Iris had tried for years to recreate it, but had yet to succeed.

"Go ahead and start," Iris replied, brushing her hair out of her face. She walked around the table and took her usual seat across from him. "Dad will be a little late, and he said not to wait up."

"Ok." Sliding his fork into the warm meal he scooped a chunk of cheesy noodles and slid it into his mouth, closing his eyes as he chewed. The bacon bits and green onions brought the flavors together.

"You've really outdone yourself this time, Iris."

"You looked like you needed the pick me up," Iris replied, tucking herself under the table. "And some time to slow down and enjoy yourself."

"Not much to enjoy," Barry said with a shrug of his shoulders. He shoved forkful after forkful of food into his mouth. "Is there more of this?"

"A whole pot full. Take as much as you want, I already got a bowl for dad." Iris planted her elbows on the table, her hand rubbed the back of her neck. "Do you really think that?"

"That this is good?" Barry asked. He looked up at her over the rim of his bowl. He lifted it higher towards his mouth. "Yeah. You've always been a great cook, Iris."

"You know what I mean," Iris said. Barry ate in silence, scraping cheesy macaroni into his mouth. He hoped she would drop the subject, but he knew Iris just as well as Iris knew him. She had always been able to see through him. As they grew up together, it was something he relied on. It was nice to know that someone knew his every thought and feeling without him having to say anything. She knew when he wanted space or a listening ear. Now, he would have preferred if she wasn't so understanding. "You don't think there's anything to enjoy right now? Not even saving so many people by closing the singularity? Not even knowing you've survived another day?"

Barry set down his bowl, the bottom colliding with the wooden table top with a thunk. "Wells is gone," he said. He chewed his last mouthful of food. "He only had certain metas under his belt for his plan." Clearing his throat, he jumped to his feet and traversed to the pot sitting on top of the stove. "Anyone else is your typical run of the mill law breaker. I'm grateful that's all there is." Barry dumped a mountain of macaroni and cheese into his bowl. "Mmm, this smells so good."

"Barry."

"Iris." Barry mimicked her tired tone of voice and started to eat again. "He's gone. We won. End of story."

Iris smiled a close-lipped smile, scoffing through her nose. "Your story won't stop being told for a long time, Barry Allen," she said. "Everyone keeps talking about you."

Barry's gaze shifted towards the ceiling. "This isn't about Flash Day, is it?" he asked with a groan. Iris's eyebrows lifted, but she didn't answer. "Not again. First Joe and Cisco, and now you?"

"It's a big honor," Iris said, "why wouldn't you want to go?"

"Because I'm not the one who closed the singularity," Barry said. He stabbed his macaroni with his fork. It shook and jiggled before it stilled. "Ok? Everyone thinks I'm a big hero, but I'm not."

"Yes, you are," Iris insisted. Barry's upper lip curled before he went back to his food. "You are Barry."

Barry lifted a hand to cover his mouth and let out a single, "Ha!"

"Why is it so hard for you to accept that people believe in you?" Iris asked. "I don't understand."

With quick bites, Barry finished his dinner and dropped the bowl into the kitchen sink. He roughly pulled the faucet of the sink and water splashed out of the bowl. The hem of his shirt soaked up the wayward water, but he barely paid attention to it. Staring out the back window, he tightened his jaw. The funny thing was, he didn't understand why people wanted to believe in him in the first place.

I didn't stop the singularity that day, he reasoned with himself. I had caused it because I didn't go along with Wells's plan. The pads of his fingers turned white as his grip tightened on the sink edge. The Flash isn't a hero. The water suddenly shut off and Barry jumped when he realized how close Iris was standing next to him, her facial expression demanding an answer from him.

"Don't," he said quietly, moving away from her.

"Don't what?" Iris asked. She grabbed his arm when he moved to walk past her.

"Don't make me out to be someone I'm not," Barry replied. He pulled his elbow out of her grasp and turned around to face her. "I'm not a hero."

"Yes, you are, Barry."

"A hero doesn't hurt the people they're trying to protect." Iris's eyes widened. They shifted back and forth as she scrutinized him. Barry expelled a deep breath of air, voice suddenly groggy. "You don't know how hard it's been to see you day in and day out knowing how hurt you've been. How sad. How depressed. Knowing that I had a hand in that."

"Oh, Barry." Iris stepped closer to him. Barry instantly backed away. "Eddie decided – "

Barry interrupted her, "You didn't see him." A confused look appeared on her face. "You didn't see the look on his face right before he did it, Iris." With a cough, he cleared his throat. He shifted his weight from foot to foot. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I looked him in the eye, and I didn't move. I could have stopped him, and I did nothing."

"You didn't know what was thinking."

"I saw it in his eyes. He had the gun in his hand, and I could see what it was he was going to do and I just…" Barry looked at his hands and found them shaking and not in his usual electrified way. He shifted faster and faster, legs starting to feel as if they had fallen asleep. He kicked his legs. He wanted to run from her, run from the conversation. Yet, he knew that in doing so, it only meant he could only avoid it until he returned home. "I'm faster than bullets, I could have stopped him. But, I didn't."

"Barry…"

"Just like I didn't do anything to stop Ronnie and Professor Stein from splitting inside the singularity." Barry started to pace, kicking his legs to rid them of the feeling of static build up. He let out an odd laugh. "At least Caitlin did me a favor and left S.T.A.R. Labs. This is the second time she lost Ronnie because of me."

"It's not your fault."

Barry slammed his fist down onto the kitchen counter as he passed it. "The accelerator never would have purposefully been built to malfunction if I had just defeated Wells in the future," he declared, teeth clenched. A lump lifted in his chest. "I hate myself for that. I hate knowing that I've caused so many people so much pain."

Iris reached towards him, and Barry took another step away from her. Tears came to his eyes and he blinked rapidly, trying to hold them at bay. "If I had stopped him in the future, he never would have killed my mom, my dad never would have gone to jail, and I – "

"Never would have lived with me and my dad," Iris said. Her voice cracked. She lifted her hands to cover her mouth before she lowered them again. "It wasn't the best circumstances, but I wouldn't have changed that. We wouldn't have become best friends if that hadn't happened. He may have changed how our lives would have turned out. But, some good things have come from it."

"Good?" Barry repeated, incredulously. "You think it's good that Eddie died? You think it's good that Ronnie's gone? That, again, Cisco and Caitlin are facing unemployment? That, on numerous occasions you had your life threatened?"

"Of course not," Iris whispered. "But, we can't change any of that now. It's happened. We have to move on." Her tongue darted out between her lips and she wetted them. "You and I both know that this Eddie and Ronnie, they wouldn't want you to be like this."

"Like what, Iris?" Barry asked. "Realistic?" Iris's lips shook, but she didn't answer. "I'm not a hero. They are; Eddie and Ronnie. They're the real heroes." He grabbed chunks of his hair. "I don't understand why no one gets that." A tear slipped down his cheek, followed by another, and another. His breath came out in short gasps. "I could have done something. I'm the fastest man alive and I just stood there, Iris. I just stood there." He took in a deep breath and shouted, "I did nothing!" He sniffed. "And I'm so sorry, Iris," he whispered. His head bowed, and he slowly swung it from side to side. "I'm sorry."

Iris was crying with him. "Oh, Barry." She slowly stepped towards him, hands outreached to hold him. He flinched under her touch, but otherwise didn't move. "No one blames you, ok?" she asked. "So, you shouldn't blame yourself."

"I'm the hero of Central City," Barry replied, voice gruff. "You don't see them making a Firestorm day. Or a Visionary day. There isn't a statue being erected in Eddie's honor." His shoulders lifted as he took in a deep breath of air. "Caitlin and Cisco will forever be linked with S.T.A.R. Labs no matter what they do. It'll always be a black mark on their resumes, and they've still done more to help than anyone else knows. They aren't getting the recognition for it."

"None of them asked or ever wanted the recognition, Barry," Iris replied. Barry laughed. "I know you didn't either, but, it's what happened. They've never hated you for it. They've never been envious of the attention because all they wanted was to help you." She used the heel of her palm to wipe her cheeks. "You; the Flash. The man who will do absolutely everything in his power to make sure no one feels even a sliver of the pain you've experienced in your life." Iris gently shook him. "That's why they want to help you. Why they will do everything in their power to keep you safe. Because you inspire them. You inspire everyone to be better. That's why you need to make an appearance at the key ceremony."

Barry stepped away from her, shaking his head. "No," he said. He got stuck on that word. "No, no, no. No. No, I'm not going."

"People believe in you, Barry," Iris said as she watched him increase the space between them. "And so do I. I always have. You know that better than anybody." He turned away from her and made a beeline for the front door. She called after him, "When are you going to believe in yourself again?"

Barry didn't answer: he was already ten blocks away before the front door to the West home had even shut.

Running.

It was the one thing he could do to get away from everyone. Literally: all those years running from school bullies who constantly teased him about the plight of his parents paid off. While he moved faster, faster than the naked eye could see, everyone else slowed down. It was just him and the Speed Force every step of the way. He could ride the lightning and allow it to take him wherever he needed to go.

Right now, that was C.C. Jitters.

Easily slipping past the boarded doors and caution tape, he picked up the tools he had left behind the night before. The smell of fresh wood and sawdust ticked his nose as he spun in a slow circle, surveying the damaged floor space. Even moving as quickly as he did, it would still take a while before the coffee shop was up and running again. It would take even longer if he continued to stare at the damage.

"Let's get to it," Barry coached himself. He zipped around the room, pounding nails, tightening screws, the use of power drills not needed. With the aid of his connection to the Speed Force, he managed to get some of the electrical wiring back up and running by the time he took a break. "Phew. Oh, man." He made a click sound with his mouth as he gazed longingly at the broken-down coffee machines. Even for a speedster, nothing was better than a jolt of caffeine from time to time.

Eyes closed, Barry leaned against the counter. The smell of roasted coffee surrounded him. Laughter and typing on computer keys collided into a wall of familiar noise. He could picture the corner table he and Iris would sit when they wanted to discuss matters privately. The view from the roof stretched out in front of him from where he would meet up with Iris as the Flash. He could see the bright smiles from the baristas that greeted him and every customer, including that of his new-found half-sister, Averey Moore. Her Australian accent could cut through all the chatter; different, yet welcoming all the same.

"Oh, sorry." Barry's eyes shot open and he turned to face the man walking through the back doors, a legal pad in his hands. "I didn't know anyone was going to be here." He let out a low whistle as he looked around the room. "You've done good work here, Barry."

"Thanks," Barry said as Daniel Kingston stepped up beside him. "I've just been working on a few things. What are you doing here?"

"Right now, surveying," Daniel replied, offering Barry his hand. Barry shook his hand before quickly releasing it. "I told the managers that I'd give them an idea of when they'll be able to open. With your help, it looks like they could open real soon." Barry gave him an odd look. "Averey didn't tell you I work in construction?"

"Oh. Yeah, no, of course," Barry replied. "Kingston Konstruction, I remember. I've seen your truck around town."

"You ever consider becoming a contractor, mate?" Daniel asked, taking another look around the space. "Reckon you've got a knack for it."

"Not really, no," Barry replied, putting his hands on his hips, shaking his head back and forth. "Just want to help out. It's kind of depressing; seeing all the damage." He chewed on his bottom lip. "How's—how is Averey?"

"Ask her yourself, hey," Daniel replied. "Offer's still open: you can come over whenever you want. We can only have two visitors at a time, but she'd be happy to have someone drop by." He used the pen in his hand to scratch his jaw. "Haven't had visitors in a few months, yeah? She says it's ok, but I've watched her twist, pull, tug, bite, and try to saw the ankle monitor off her." He let out a heavy sigh. "It's only a little over two weeks left, so…"

Barry nodded.

He wasn't one that really liked staying in one place for so long. Especially now that he had gained his abilities from the particle accelerator accident. Standing still made him feel restless, like he had to move. The idea of staying put was uncomfortable in a way. For someone like Averey, who enjoyed being outside and spent a lot of times travelling, she had to have been chomping at the bit to be able to roam freely. Literally, by the sounds of it.

It was one of the things he found they had in common since meeting her. An equal love for root beer was one of the first.

"I know the feeling," Barry replied. The initial days following his mom's death, he felt trapped in his own home. Too many people with too many comments and too many opinions walked the streets of Central City. He turned to face Daniel and watched him write notes on the legal pad. "How is she doing? Really?"

The tip of Daniel's pen pressed into the paper as it stilled. A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Let's just say her teenage years were easier to handle," Daniel replied, albeit with a hint of a smile. "And that was mainly because she actually left the house. Back then, I only had to wonder if she was going to come home after a day of hanging out with her mates."

"Oh." Barry scratched at his ear, finding himself at a loss for words.

"Are you going to the Flash Day rally?" Daniel asked. He looked up from the notepad and locked eyes with him. "Reckon it's going to be a huge event."

Barry let out a heavy sigh. "Unbelievable. No, I'm –" He cut off the end of his sentence. Averey's parents didn't know he was a metahuman, let alone the Flash. "I mean, no. I don't think so. Everybody's been asking me, though. Why?"

"Ave doesn't have much time left on house arrest," Daniel explained. "She gets one day for three hours Earned Leave every week. She doesn't know it yet, but her mum and I have managed to get her a booth for her photography of the city." He shrugged his shoulders. "Figured it would be a good representation of the city the Flash saved. It'd be nice if you, or Iris, Caitlin, Cisco…maybe stopped by for a bit." He went back to the legal pad in his hands. "If you have the time I mean."

Barry held back a snort. With his abilities, he had all the time in the world. "I don't know if anyone's told you," Barry said, "but I tend to be late for things."

"So, don't be late," Daniel replied with a second shrug.

A scoff slipped past Barry's lips. If only it was that simple. The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. Maybe it was simple. He had super speed for crying out loud. Being able to sleep in and still get ready for work in a fraction of a second was a bonus. Then again, arriving late to work did take any suspicion of him being the Flash far, far away from him whether anyone had a reason to believe he was or not. No one would believe "perpetually late Barry Allen" would be the "Fastest Man Alive."

"Yeah…" Barry grabbed the back of his neck. "I'll work on it."

"You haven't been doing all this work by yourself, have you?" Daniel asked. Barry shrugged. "I've been working on a lot of sites around the city. They've been completed faster than originally projected. Do I have you to thank for that?"

He forced a laugh, giving himself time to think up an excuse. "I've just been working here," Barry replied. "A lot happened here for me, so…" He looked around the room.

Was it that long ago that he had walked through the doors to greet Iris after he woke up from his coma? That long ago since he had given in to what feelings he had for Felicity Smoak at the time? C.C. Jitters was the first place his mom and dad brought him on his very first excursion into the heart of the city – he had hot chocolate that day and with each mouthful, he would hold it in his cheeks, droplets sliding out of his puckered lips before he swallowed.

"I understand," Daniel said with a nod. "I'll get out of your hair. Just give me a few minutes to look around and you'll have the place to yourself." He headed towards the stairs. Turning around, he started walking backwards. "Just think about what I said, yeah? About Flash Day."

"Sure." Barry replied. "I'll think about it." Lifting the hammer sitting next to him on the counter, he twisted it in his hands. Things moved too slow when others were around. He had too much time to think. Too much time to wonder how things could have turned out differently.

He could see it now: a threat to Central City and Team Flash and the CCPD worked seamlessly together for a win.

With his skills in the forensics department, and with Joe and Eddie Thawne working their magic with witnesses, C.I.'s, and crime databases, half the battle was won. Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow would put their scientific expertise to the test. Not only would they figure out the extent of the meta-of-the-week's abilities, but their weakness as well. He'd go bursting out onto the field with S.T.A.R. Labs connected to him through his communications link.

Averey would join him suited up as Visionary, maneuvering through the city in her Cisco Cycle, complaining about needing to obey traffic laws, yet determined to make her way to the location of the meta as quickly as she could. Ronnie Raymond and Professor Stein, fused together as Firestorm, would charge through the skies. Together, they would throw a melee of fire blasts, hand to hand combat, and super-sonic punches to declare victory.

They'd reconvene at S.T.A.R. Labs to debrief the attack, plug the encounter into the meta-human database, and be on their way to victory drinks at the local bar. Some drunken karaoke may or may not be an accompanying factor. Then it was all just a matter of waiting until the next disturbance to arise to do it all over again.

Ten minutes later, Daniel left the rundown coffee shop, giving Barry a half smile in farewell. Once he was gone, Barry zipped around the building, continuing to rebuild before calling it quits for the night. He stepped back to survey the rest of the damage as he stretched out his arms and legs. Another night or two with now interruptions and the place would be back to normal in no time.

Shutting down all the lights, Barry made sure the tools were back in their proper storage places. As he left the building, his stomach growled, and Barry wondered if there was any more macaroni and cheese he could eat. With his fast metabolism, and all the energy he needed to keep up his speed, the West house was never without food. Thankfully.

Stepping out onto the streets, he surveyed the late-night traffic as Central City wound down after another busy day. The crisp fall air blew past Barry and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a fluttering motion. He gazed upon the Flash Day poster stapled to the wood on the windows. He ripped it down, leaving a chunk stuck to the wood, and read over the details again. He folded the flyer, tucked it into his pocket, and rushed home. Landing on the couch, he propped his feet up and stared up at the ceiling.

"About time you got home."

Barry rolled his head to the side, locking eyes with Joe who sat in the arm chair by the window. "You waited this whole time?" he asked.

"15 years later and you're still surprised?" Joe asked. "You know I can't sleep unless I know you and Iris are safe and sound." Barry smiled. "How did the remodeling go?"

"The what?" The smile froze on Barry's face.

"You don't think people have noticed the Red Streak speeding in and out of buildings every night?" Joe asked with his deep chuckle. He leaned forward in his seat, setting down his now empty bowl of macaroni and cheese. "Just a heads up, Iris is considering doing an article on it." He hummed. "if only she could lock down the Flash for an interview."

"Please no." Eyes closed, Barry lifted his hands to cover his face as he groaned. "I don't need any more press about the Flash."

"Don't worry. I think I talked her out of it."

"Thanks." Barry eyed the empty bowl. "Is there any more left?" Before Joe could answer, he sped into the kitchen and got himself another bowl.

"Are you ever not hungry?" Joe asked, eyeing Barry's bowl of macaroni with curiosity and amazement.

"Lightning fast metabolism," Barry said with a shrug.

"Even as a kid, you barely kept a pound on you," Joe said. "Between you and me, at one point, I started to worry about you." He shook his head back and forth. "What about those energy bars?"

"They're helpful, but they taste like chalk," Barry said, his nose wrinkling. "Except the chocolate ones, those are pretty good. But, I ran out of those a few months back."

"Why don't you ask Cisco to make some more for you?"

"How was work?"

Joe stared at Barry, blinking a couple of times before he decided to go along with the subject change. "Singh screaming," he explained, counting off on his fingers, "stacks of files, paperwork; your average day at the CCPD"

"How do you keep doing it, Joe?" Barry asked as he slowed his eating. He slowly spun his fork in the warm meal. "Going out there day after day despite not having Eddie as your partner anymore?"

"Because it's my job," Joe replied. "Whatever I can do to get Central City back to normal." Barry scoffed. "I'm being serious. It's hard. I can't ignore that. It is hard. It's not something that will just go away in an instant, it will take time. But, I still have a duty as part of the police department to help everyone in Central City feel safe after the singularity. Just like the Flash is still running the streets every day doing whatever he can to stop criminals, whether they're meta-humans or not."

"Yeah," Barry said quietly. "I guess."

"Barry," Joe said, leaning forward in the chair, resting his arms on his knees. "I understand what you're feeling."

"No, Joe, you don't," Barry said. He shook his head. "You keep going on and on about how I deserve the key to the city. I don't. Eddie and Ronnie, do."

"How many times have I watched the Tony Awards with you?" Joe asked. Barry gave him a confused look. "There have been people who accepted awards for those unable to attend, right? How is this different? Central City may be recognizing you, but that doesn't diminish everything they'd done to help you. If we still remember them, they won't be forgotten." Barry's lips twitched. "You can't have it both ways, Barry. You can't do everything you can to keep our 'operation' a secret and then turn around and complain that no one is getting the recognition for it."

"I'm not complaining about them not getting recognition," Barry protested. "I'm just…" His nostrils flared as he let out a sigh through his nose. "I just wish they were still here."

"We all do," Joe replied. The two men sat in silence before Joe plated his hands on his knees, getting to his feet with a groan. He patted Barry on the knee as he shuffled past him. "Good night."

"Night." He tilted his head backwards over the couch. "By the way," Barry said, lips forming a wide smile, "we both know you like watching the Tony Awards more than you let on."

"Yeah, right," Joe mumbled.

"I've come across you singing songs from RENT a time or two," Barry said.

"They have good songs," Joe said, voice lifting into a higher pitch in defense. He started up the stairs, calling back to him, "Go to sleep."

Barry chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. Feeling a poking on his inner arm, he retrieved the flyer from his pocket. "Back to normal," Barry muttered as he looked over the colorful flyer. "Whatever that is. Central City hasn't been normal since the accelerator went online." He went to crumple the flyer between his hands, but stopped when his dad's words slammed into his head: normal is just another way to say comfortable.

His life had stopped being normal the night his mom was murdered. He wasn't normal anymore. He was Barry Allen; the son of the guy who murdered his wife. That was the catalyst that put everything in his life into motion. He was meant to become the Flash no matter what, even if Eobard Thawne finagled with his life to do so. Whether it was in six years early, or six years late, his life was meant to change.

He was the Flash.

No one else was.

And he was going to accept the key to the city by himself.

"Do you really have to do that right now?"

Cisco pulled his gaze away from the machine parts in his hands. Lips pursed, he looked over the edge of the illuminated magnifying glass at his brother, Dante, who stared back at him from the couch. "I have to get this done," he replied. "I'm on a deadline."

"So am I!" Dante dropped his pen onto the fan of notebooks, work sheets, and crumpled up balls of paper. Setting his laptop aside, he buried his face into his hands. "I have to have this essay done by tomorrow at noon."

"Ha ha ha, here's an idea!" Cisco said with an over the top smile, "stop talking and the both of us can get our work done." Dante made a face at him. Cisco's eyes widened in annoyance, and he curled his upper lip. He went back to his work only to drop the parts when Dante started talking again.

"You know if you hadn't burned down your old apartment, we wouldn't be getting in each other's way," he said.

"Except we would have because my old apartment was only one bedroom. I don't know if you can count, but this is a two bedroom." Cisco massaged his temples. "How'd you come up with that?" As if he hadn't heard this all before.

His mom was happy to have him home and even made his favorite foods to celebrate – and then took him to Zumba classes to help work off the weight. His dad allowed the use of one of his trucks to help him move everything home. The tricked-out truck used to move meta-humans was kept at S.T.A.R. Labs for possible future use. (Surprisingly, Cisco had moved out with more sci-fi and pop culture memorabilia then he ever remembered buying while living there). Even with the help, and the warm welcome, he had to sit through a few "how could you have been so reckless?" and "we warned you about playing with fire" lectures and blah, blah, blah.

All he could do was shrug and apologize. He was sorry that he had accidentally set his previous apartment on fire. However, he wasn't sorry about why it had occurred. Of course he'd try and find out for himself what kind of metahuman abilities he had, he was an engineer for crying out loud. If Eobard Thawne had never told him that the particle accelerator accident had affected him, too, none of this would have happened.

At least he could rule out that he doesn't have lightning-like powers like Barry. Now it was all just a matter of figuring out what kind of abilities he did have, and how to keep it at bay.

"You would have gotten your deposit back," Dante explained, "and any payment you could have gotten wouldn't have been eaten up by restoring the place. You could have also used it to help pay for movers."

"Why pay for movers when I had you?" Cisco asked with an over the top smile. "To take the elevator and not the stairs? With the plants and boxes of pillows?" His smile faded. "While dad and I busted our humps moving everything else."

"I have a busted knee," Dante said flatly, "in case you forgot."

Cisco frowned. "How could I?" he asked, going back to his work. "Considering I'm somewhat responsible." Dante didn't answer, going back to his computer.

They worked in silence. Keystrokes, the sound of metal striking against metal, and occasional cursing under breaths occasionally broke it. Having managed to get through five months living together, having fights taper off was a big step for them. Starting them had never been an issue. Some could pass it off as brothers being brothers. They knew it was different.

"Flash Day is coming up you know," Cisco said, breaking the silence. He reached for the dish towel that sat next to his elbow. Dante slowly rolled his head to lock eyes with Cisco. "Maybe it'll do you some good to go somewhere other than school. Take a break. It's supposed to be like a giant party."

"You and your parties," Dante muttered.

"Do you want to come with me?" Cisco watched Dante's look of annoyance change to surprise. Even he was surprised he had suggested it. "It could be fun." He started to wipe the grime off his fingers.

"Don't you have to work?" Dante slowly pulled his hands back form is computer. He held them in his lap.

"That's what this is," Cisco replied. He dropped the towel on to his machine. "My next project for the CCPD."

"You don't work at S.T.A.R. Labs anymore?" Dante asked.

"I still work there," Cisco replied. He spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. "It's just not as fun." Dante's eyebrows angled towards each other. "I don't work with my friends anymore."

"I thought your friend was the Flash."

"Sssshhhhh!" Cisco made a face. He started looking wildly around the room, checking each corner.

"I doubt anyone would have this place bugged," Dante said.

"You never know," Cisco replied. It wasn't like anyone had expected Eobard to have secretly set up cameras all throughout Central City to watch him and his friends, either. His muscles relaxed, and he slowly shook his head back and forth. "Geeze, bro, you can keep the fact that you had any interest in Melinda Torres a secret but you're going to say that out loud?"

"Are you still on that?"

"I'm just making a point." Dante's jaw clenched. Cisco changed the subject. "Barry's still the Flash. He's just...flying solo lately"

"Why?"

Cisco shook his hair out of his face. "We lost a couple friends when the singularity opened," he explained. "He blames himself; he doesn't want to see anyone else get hurt."

"What about this Flash Day?" Dante settled back against the couch cushions, left hand clamped around his left knee cap. His pants bulged in the shape of his knee brace. "They're saying that Mayor Bellows is giving him the key to the city."

"I've been telling him that he should go – and that we should all get keys because we're all part of Team Flash – but I don't know." Cisco shrugged. "It's ultimately his call. It'd just be nice for him to be recognized."

"Oh." Dante bit down on his bottom lip. "And you still work there? At S.T.A.R. Labs?"

"Yes, I still work there." He started playing with the hand towel. "I'm just the tech advisor for CCPD'S Meta-Human Task Force. A consultant, really. This –" he indicated the machine parts in front of him, "will help them out whenever the Flash is hung up on something." He scoffed. "I should be so lucky they even took me on for this position. I mean, in a way, I helped create the metas. Least I can do is help them figure out how to keep the officers safe, right?"

"Like those cold and heat shields you made?"

"Yeah, like that."

"So, what does this do?" Dante reached for a cane leaning against the arm rest and slowly got to his feet. Taking small steps, he shuffled over to the kitchen table. "How does it help?"

Cisco looked up at his brother, blinking in confusion. "Don't you have an essay you need to write?" Cisco asked.

"What, your big brother can't be interested in your life?" Dante asked with a hint of a smile.

"You can." Cisco slowly nodded his head. "But I've pulled an all-nighter or two to know when people are trying to delay the inevitable bad mark on a grade." He gave Dante a teasing smile in return. "It's usually followed by a brag fest on either how little sleep they got, or how little they studied. That's one for the books; Dante's first F." Dante pulled out one of the chairs and dropped into it. "What are you stuck on, anyway?" He set his cane down onto the table.

"It's for my Fundraising and Philanthropy course," Dante replied

"Ok."

"I'm writing an essay, a paper, as if I'm a donor having to choose from various organizations, community issues, and causes to give money to. I have to follow the news and make a decision based off what I read to choose which I would help, why it's important to me, and how I would help."

"What about S.T.A.R. Labs?" was on the tip of his tongue. He didn't allow his mouth to form the words. What was the point if all he would get in return would be a sarcastic answer? "They've been talking about cutting funds for arts and music programs," he said instead.

"Yeah." Dante's voice was muffed as he buried his face into his hands. "The issue is just picking one of them."

"It's just a paper. It's not like you're giving them money, right? No one will be upset if you don't pick them."

"That's not it, mijo." Cisco did a double take. That was the first time Dante had ever referred to him that way – that he noticed. Most times, whenever Dante was complaining about something school related, he would tune him out. Seeing the deep frown on his brother's face, Cisco knew he had to pay attention. Holding his breath, his cheeks puffed up, and he blew it all out in one breath. "This is hard."

"What is?" He rapped the table before picking up his tools, starting to get back to work.

"School."

"School's not that hard."

"Correction, school's not that hard for you." Dante made a face. "School's always been easy for you." Then he added, "Everything's always been easy for you."

"Ha!" Cisco dropped the tools in his hands. They bounced off the table and fell to the floor. He didn't bother to pick them up – though his muscles tensed at the thought of his babies being damaged. "You think being your brother is easy?"

"You think being yours is easy?" Dante struck Cisco with a lifted eyebrow, 'you've got to be kidding' look. "You weren't at home, Francisco, you didn't see what the S.T.A.R. Labs fallout was like for us."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was so hard for you," Cisco shot back. "I was too busy trying to dodge the media, and ignore everyone online besmirching my name." He lifted his palms into the air. "But, please, go ahead, tell me how hard it was in the aftermath. Because there's no way I would know."

"You would if you had even bothered to call home and check on us."

"Phones work both ways. I don't remember any of you checking up on me, either."

"Would you have answered even if we did call?"

"Probably not." He paused to think. "Maybe for mom."

Dante pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You see?" he said. "Why even bother if you were going to be so difficult?"

"Maybe because it would have been nice to know my family cared an iota about me," Cisco shot back. "Not just then, but at all."

"That's funny." Dante suddenly spoke so quietly, it threw him off. "We were thinking the same thing about you."

This time, Cisco buried his face into his hands. Pressing his elbows into the wood of the kitchen counter, he slowly took in a breath of air. He held it. Held it until his chest started to burn. Slowly, he let it out.

"What are you stuck on?" he asked, moving his hands away from his mouth. "In your paper." Cisco wasn't sure if Dante was going to answer him. He got out of his chair to gather his tools.

"Making it sound good," Dante finally said to his empty chair. "I wasn't ever much of a writer. I can move my fingers quickly over piano keys, but computer keys…hunt and peck is more my speed."

"I wasn't going to say anything." Cisco reclaimed his seat and gave Dante a teasing smile. But, the constant tap, tap, tap is driving me nuts. "Mind if I look?" Dante lifted an eyebrow. "While in school, I've written anything and everything from a journal article, to a book review, to a lab report, to a research paper, to essays. I've even written a business letter or two for S.T.A.R. Labs."

"Not to brag."

Cisco let out a short laugh through his nose. "I think I can help." He set his tools down on the table top. "If you want."

Dante twisted his mouth to the side. "Sure."

They stared at each other, waiting for the other to move. "I'm not getting it," they said in unison. "You get it."

"I have a busted knee," Dante reminded him.

"Which I helped you get medical attention for," Cisco replied. He titled his head to the side. "You stole Melinda Torres from me."

Dante chuckled. "Believe me, I did you a favor. She's the most determined person I know." Cisco moved to protest – Hello! Cisco was determined, too. Not a lot of people would have kept their, pretty much, non-existent job – but Dante continued his explanation. "To a fault. She was always way too serious. You two wouldn't have gotten along. You're too laid back, too fun loving."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Cisco got to his feet and froze. He gazed at Dante with a look of suspicion. "Wait. Are you saying that you regret dating Melinda?"

"I didn't say that," Dante instantly replied. Cisco arched an eyebrow. "What I'm saying is: go get my computer."

Shaking his head, Cisco crossed the room to grab Dante's computer and notebook. "Just so you know," he said, "I'm not doing it because you told me to." He carefully balanced the notebook and pens on top of the computer keyboard. "I'm doing it because I had already planned on it."

"Mmhmm."

"Ok, let's see what you have." He pulled his chair around the table to sit down beside his brother. Scrolling through the opened document, he gazed upon the text. "You have a lot of good in here, you just need to shorten your run-on sentences, and flow your paragraphs together. Basically, you want your essay to convey what you want to say in an organized, yet simple manner."

"I know that," Dante said.

Cisco pressed his lips together, closing his eyes. Blowing air out of his nose, he coached himself to calm down. "Okay." He spent the next ten minutes reading over the paragraphs and making corrections. By the time he was done, the document was filled with yellow highlights, red highlights, and comments added. "Change all of that, and you should be good to go."

Dante rubbed his hands together. "Which one do you think I wrote the best, though?" he asked. Cisco gave him a confused look. "Each paragraph was testing out which organization I'd write about."

"Use all of them."

"The rubric says I can only choose one."

"Realistically, there won't always be just one organization you want to give money to." Cisco patted him on the shoulder. "Especially not when it comes to music. I know how much you care about it. In real life, do you think you'd really be able to just pick one?"

Dante sat quietly in his seat, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"You've always been a follow the rules type," Cisco said with a shrug. "It doesn't hurt to think out of the box from time to time." He dragged his chair back over to his spot to resume his work. "I mean you do it all the time with the cadenzas you perform. Which, by the way, is pretty impressive." Maneuvering his magnifying glass, he looked up find Dante staring at him. "What?"

"Nothing," Dante replied, shifting his attention back to his computer. Cisco followed suit with his own work. "I just didn't know you paid attention to that."

"All the lessons and recitals I was dragged to," Cisco said with a snort, "Eventually, I would have had to start paying attention." He shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, there's only so many ways I could figure out how to keep myself entertained."

"Right." Dante grabbed the top of his laptop with his hands, fingers tapping against the back of the screen. He pointed with his index fingers. "What is that, anyway?"

"It's going to be an ankle…thing," Cisco replied. "The B.O.O.T. Strap this baby to a meta's ankle, and their abilities will be halted for as long as it's on. Making it easier for the police to handle them."

"Like a ball and chain?"

"It's where I got the idea from it. And we kind of used the same tech with the metas at –" He cut himself off. Dante may know he worked with the Flash and knew he had some contact with metas in general. But he didn't know that they were housing metahumans at S.T.A.R. Labs. "At any scene the Flash catches them at."

"What if the Flash can't get close enough to the meta to use it?"

"He's fast, of course he will."

"But, what if he can't?"

Cisco sucked in a breath of air through his nose as his hands stilled. "Do you have a suggestion?" he asked. "Or are you going to keep telling me how this could fail." He lifted his head and watched as Dante's lips parted just slightly.

"You said this was for the CCPD, right?" Dante asked. Cisco nodded. "So, do you want it to be something they can only use after the Flash incapacitates metas? What if he's held up elsewhere?" He reached his hands up to adjust his shirt collar. Cisco instantly recognized the movement – for someone who always seemed as put together as Dante, he always fussed with his collar when he grew self-conscious. Others would think it was to assure his perfect outward appearance, but he knew better. "What if you make it, I don't know, like a gun? Or a taser? A long range, thing?"

Cisco stared at Dante, silently blinking. Why didn't he think of that? It sounds so simple. It was so simple. It was funny how he could overlook something so Heat and cold shields were easy to remake, and the police department needed as much of them as they could have at their disposal. But, it was hard to get a jump on what type of advantage they would need against metahumans until they appeared. It took a while, and many dodged calls from Captain Singh, for Cisco to come up with something like the B.O.O.T.. And he still wasn't sure if it would be something the CCPD would want more of. Not until he was able to test it out.

Dante shifted in his seat. "It was just an idea," he muttered. "I don't know if it helps. Or if your friends could come up with anything better."

"No, no, it's helps," Cisco reassured him. "Thanks."

It would have been different at S.T.A.R. Labs. Caitlin would order Chinese food for late nights where they would be working on their own individual projects. Whenever they worked through whatever block they had, they'd go out for ice cream to celebrate another job well done. After a particularly tough week, hanging out at each other's apartments to unwind with junk food and movies.

The last time they got together, Caitlin was dropping the news that she had taken a position at Mercury Labs. He had known something was on her mind. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes when she reassured him that everything was "okay." She didn't point out all the medical inaccuracies, laugh at the humorous parts – even though they would have seen the movie hundreds of times already – or even asking questions through movies she hadn't seen before.

"I'm trying to avoid telling you something," she had said after his repeated, "Are you sure you're okay?" She looked so relaxed, with her usual work attire traded in for a nice shirt and jeans – something she would never be caught in at S.T.A.R.L. Labs. "I should have known you'd see right through me. I just didn't want to spoil the evening."

The movie had been paused, a scenic view of some fictional California city projected on screen. For a moment, he wished he could crawl into the TV and be a member of that community if it meant he could avoid what it was that she was going to say next. For he had an idea of what she was going to say. All the hushed phone calls, and quick closing of web browser windows would finally have an explanation. One he wasn't sure he was ready to hear.

"I'm hanging out with you," Cisco had said, "nothing can spoil that." He smiled a patient smile, giving her permission to tell him everything.

"That's sweet, Cisco." For a minute, he received the full force of her genuine smile before it disappeared. "But, this might." She brushed her hair off her shoulder and curled her knees up to her chest. "Ever since…everything, Barry leaving, and Averey on house arrest, and Ronnie." She cleared her throat. "S.T.A.R. Labs just doesn't feel the same anymore."

If he was being honest, it had never felt the same before the particle accelerator went online. Even then, with their ever-changing daily lives, she did her best to keep a sense of normality in her life. As soon as she got to work, she would greet Cisco and check her phone and work messages, before taking inventory of the medical lab, setting up for the day, and working on projects. It was the opposite order when the work day ended.

Even the slightest change in her routine would have her frazzled for the rest of the day.

And the past year or so was a drastic change in her routine. He didn't blame her for feeling unsettled.

"You know Mercury Labs was one of the places I was looking at when I was filling out applications," she had continued, talking over the silence he refused to fill. "Both Dr. McGee and Dr. Wells had spoken extensively with me about working with them. In the end, I thought S.T.A.R. Labs had more to offer."

"Now Mercury Labs is giving you another chance," he had said.

Caitlin slowly nodded, watching him closely. His heart sank. And then lifted in excitement for her. And then sank again. "I can't be at S.T.A.R. Labs, anymore," she had said. "I've tried. I just don't think I can try anymore." He stayed silent. "Say something."

Cisco had swallowed, swirling the beer bottle in his hand, watching the liquid spin in a circle. Caitlin had been right beside him through everything: his first day at S.T.A.R. Labs, whenever Hartley had some salty comment to throw his way, the accident, helping Barry through his coma, everything that happened the last year. It would be hard to go through that without coming out as friends, and she had become more than that. She was his best friend.

Best friends were supportive of each other, no matter what.

"Just remember…" Cisco took a sip of beer to try and clear the lump that had formed in this throat, "you won't ever meet anyone as cool as me."

Caitlin laughed, her body relaxing against the pillows of her couch. "No, of course not," she agreed.

"Then what we are we still doing here?" Cisco had asked. His stomach had twisted at the thought of his longest friend, leaving. Despite their best efforts, Barry was clearly doing things on his own now. He had to accept that. Like he had to accept that this was the best move for her. "Let's go celebrate."

"This is all the celebration I need," Caitlin had reassured him as she turned her attention back towards the TV. "Play the movie."

He did. They acted like it was any other weekend, but when he had left that afternoon, it felt like it would be the last time he saw her.

So far, that turned out to be true. Besides the occasional "How are things going?" texts, they barely talked over the past few months. He reasoned with himself that she was just busy. That it wasn't anything to take personally. It didn't mean he missed her any less.

"Hey." With a click, he turned off the light to his magnifying glass and sat back in his seat. Dante peered at him over the top of his computer. "I can finish this later. You want to go get ice cream or something? Just take a break?"

Dante looked thoughtful. "You buying?"

"Don't I always?" Cisco asked, deadpan.

"Then I think I could swing for a jumbo cone." Dante smiled. "Who can pass up free ice cream?"

"You know what they say about the size of your ice cream cone." Cisco rounded the table and said in a sing-song voice, "I think you're overcompensating for something." He skirted out of Dante's way, narrowly avoiding a swat on his bottom from his cane, laughing maniacally as he did so.

He may miss his friends, but getting on his brother's nerves never got old. After all, he was the baby of his family, it was basically his job. And his parents wanted them to try and find some bond with each other. What's a better way to bond than to drive each other crazy?

At least they were trying.

A/N: Family scenes are ones I enjoy writing whether that's with Barry and the Wests, Barry, Henry and Averey, or with Cisco and Dante. Because they're all different dynamics, it's fun to do. Writing Dante and Cisco here was fun, and their relationship is something I'm excited to explore in this story. And, for those waiting, the next chapter has more of the broken Team Flash interacting with each other.

As a heads up, I may be moving updates for this story to mostly stick with Fridays to give myself a break on the weekends. Especially as this holiday season really starts to ramp up.

That being said: enjoyed a specific spot in the chapter? Need further explanation on anything? Leave a comment.

-Rhuben

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Review Replies:

gods-own: Thanks for continuing on to read this story. Hope you enjoy it.

Ethan: No, Averey's parents don't know she's a meta. I had another section in this chapter with Averey going a bit into that more, but I didn't feel it fit the overall tone/flow of this chapter so I moved it to the next one. It's actually a poached egg that Averey had, which is why it's runny.

Guest: I'm glad you enjoyed that section. I found it a bit hard to believe that with Cisco working at CCPD and with Barry going in and out of STAR Labs as the Flash that they wouldn't run into each other at some point - despite in show, Cisco stating he tried talking to Barry about Flash Day more than once. I wanted to show even a small moment between the two of them.

spinquin142: You're on the right path with Belle Reve, but the Royal Flush Gang isn't a huge plot point in this story in the sense that Averey is dealing with them again. I can see why you're worried about it, though. It's explained a bit more in the next chapter so I can't wait to see your thoughts on it. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It's a little weird to say, but I really enjoy writing Barry going through such a huge range of emotion/in so much pain. Grant does an exceptional job showcasing it on screens, that I want to try and keep that same feel in my fic.

Review replies from last chapter of In a Flash:

Ethan: Jury's still out on who would win between Green Arrow and Flash for me. At this point, Oliver would know how Barry is as a fighter and a vigilante, but Barry does have that speed. Yes! Cisco did walk Caitlin (partially) down the aisle. I originally had it so that Clarissa (Stein's wife) was at the wedding and had done it, but changed it to Cisco at the last second. Dim Sum was only mentioned briefly as Eddie's favorite food in the last episode.

gods-own: Thanks for sticking with my story all the way through. I'm glad you're enjoying this so far.

spinquin142: I'm glad you picked up on that. Of course Joe and Iris are the closest people that Barry could go to, but despite everything Dr. Wells is still someone to Barry that had been a huge part of his life. Despite Barry having that much hatred for the man, he still wanted to have a truthful conversation with him as Wells, despite being so many steps ahead of Barry, is one person that he could tell absolutely everything to. In regards to Averey going after Gavin, simply put, and this is shown more in Out of Focus, it was partly her superhero duty, and partly a drive to turn the tables on him and to have power over him