Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
hellspam; Thanks very much! Yeah, Matt's powers shall be shown as the chapters go, some will reveal powers he can do, and such. Hmm, that's a good theory, it could be either of them, but it was said for a purpose, that shall come back later on. He can use weapons, a few chapters will show that he can. Cool, thanks for the vote, that seems quite popular. Why not, Iris works there right now, they could have it under there. Yeah, that would be awesome, I could see that happening. Dunno if Iris will have an active role in a fight yet, but it would be cool for her to have something to defend herself. Alright then, I won't say anything~ I thought it would be cool, Magenta is someone that could be doing good combinations with Matt and could grow both of their characters.
DocSlendy; Hehe, I guess so. Hmmm, she might do~
ShadowUzumaki55; Aah, thanks very much! Yeah, that shall be revealed in a few chapters, for now he'll just wear a hoodie and such. He surely did huh, the reason why...well, it has been, sort of explained, but there will be an explanation later down the line. He would help them if they need him, though tensions between him and Harrison will be quite high. Matt, definitely will have his own adventures. He might be cool, I'll have to think about him~ He does, and Caitlin shows why she can be a better woman that Rachael this chapter.
Anime PJ; Thanks! Yeah, in the t.v show, Top is a girl, though obviously in other media, Top is male. I know, Matt can be quite ruthless when he wants to be, or has to be. Their bonding is going to be quite...good for both of them, helping the other cope with loss, and find one another, it's gonna be, I at least think it is, romantic. Aah, cool, I'm sure you'll love it. Cool, thanks for the votes, and you're probably right there, evil!Matt can be called that. I might do yeah, just do Matt can have villains that aren't tied in with the Flash, so while he's doing his thing, Matt can do his own, and obviously combine efforts as well. Gotham, I remember watching the last episode of the previous season, and the power around my home went out in the middle, but, I have watched it since then, and I do like Gotham, the show that is~ Hmmm, that could be interesting~ Thanks for the suggestion! And thank you!
I is nameless; Yeah, Matt will be able to do that with psychic energy later on, weapons, even objects like Green Lantern could.
blackmoon FierceGods 15; Aah, thank you very much! That sounds cool, thanks for the vote! Eeh, maybe it's like that, though both will be able to use the abilities. Since Matt is less focused on destruction, that's why his more mental powers are focused on, but he'll be able to do Telekinesis and such in the future of the story, next chapter even will show it. Yeah, that part won't change, evil, good, he will still love Caitlin/Killer Frost, it will be shown when it happens. Yeah, those moves sound pretty good, he could managed to do something like that. Those do sound pretty cool, thanks for the suggestions!
hellsing1990; Cool, thanks for the vote!
Ragna; Eeh, not really. She knows who she is, she knows who she is when she changes into others too. She's just, crazed, and that shall be shown why when we get to the thick of things.
Guest 1; Yeah, I guess he could yeah. Heck, he could only say it works on Supergirl when he meets her.
pyrojack25; For an enemy yeah, I don't see why not as I am looking for villains outside of what Flash deals with. For a Green Arrow ally, he'd only appear like, a few times, probably.
Guest 2; Hehe, I could see that happening, as even I did that when I first saw that scene. That would be pretty cool. Only Three? Isn't there like Super Saiyan God, and SSBlue now and probably newer ones out there in the future. Yeah, that sounds great to me!
ScorchXM; Cool and yeah she is pretty cool, can't deny that. Ooh some of them will, like the weapons, I think they would suit Matt quite well, especially with the backstory I've got for him. I could see that happening yeah, they could meet, and have some kinda cross over where they help one another. Ooh no, they are gonna be weapons that aren't like over the top. Ooh yeah, he definitely has limits. Those do sound cool though.
AlphaOmega; I did indeed, here it is~ I thought it would be, something different, right? He is, he's got quite the life, or did have the life before, yeah~ He's not someone you want to piss off anyway. He kinda does, but he won't forever. Yeah, besides that fact, I thought they would suit one another. And she does yeah, her love interests either die, are evil, or just...really not good chemistry, in my eyes anyway. Well, besides the fact that he 'killed' Jean, there's some underline issues that shall be explored as we get into it. I suppose we did yeah~ He could've been, we'll find out eventually~ That would be cool, and some of them will be yeah~
Guest 3; Cool, thanks for the vote! Yeah, I might do one day, and Laurel's cool, I think they did kinda screw Laurel over though on the show and yeah, she does.
Lightwave; Aah, thank you very much! It is going to be interesting going forward. Yeah, he will be eventually, and yup, those two show this chapter, how close, yet far they are from one another. And cool, thanks for the vote!
Neonlight01; For a little while at least, but Barry comes into it this chapter, sort of anyway. Yeah, he's not unintelligent, and he has three genius' behind him, he'll be able to contribute in his own ways. Yeah, his powers are gonna be quite, diverse I'd say. Basically he does yeah, but that's Cisco for you, he encouraged even Barry at the beginning when the others were on the fence about it. Yeah, that's gonna be quite, something. Cool, thanks for the vote! Ooh don't worry, he'll be leaving her soon enough.
Guest 4; Yeah, either of those locations would be cool, I could see it happening in either one, thanks for the suggestion!
Guest 5; I could see Matt doing that yeah. He would see how wrong that would be. I never watched the cartoon movie on it, I have watched the episode on it though.
With those lovely reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
The city of heroes part one
"Aaah! You son of a whore!"
Matt complained as he pulled out a thorn from his hand, leaving a hole there. Blood came out of the wound that he had, and though he still felt pain in his skill, the pain in his hand wasn't even that bad compared to the migraine he had.
He looked at the man on the ground, and was glad he managed to knock him out.
And then Matt recalled…
It had been three months since this had been going on.
He didn't think he would have to go through three months of this, never mind much more.
During the three months, he had become friends with Cisco, got along well with Caitlin, and despised Harrison Wells, he wouldn't allow himself near the man who essentially he thought ruined his life, and that wasn't a good thing either.
Today, it was a few superpowered people, he believed they were being referred to as Metahumans now, not that he cared what they were called either way. The first one that he dealt with was easy enough, he only had the power to melt things upon touching people or burning rather. He, managed to knock him out with a rubbish bin before he could actually touch him…no, he did manage to touch him, and he had a pretty bad burn on his arm, but he had been through worse before, and he could get through it easily enough.
The female on the other hand, was being quite difficult.
"That was nice of you! Now, have some more thorns!"
Then the woman who spat thorns at him, spat another round at him. But, he cartwheeled out of the way, and went behind a dumpster, so he didn't get shot again.
[Matthew! Your vitals aren't the best! What's going on?]
He heard the worried, and angry voice of Caitlin on the other line.
"Eeh, my arm is burned, and my hand has a thorn shaped hole in it, and I'm bleeding a little bit. More than a little bit actually. But, still, I don't like this Caitlin, I am gonna need you to patch me up when I get back."
He was thankful no one else was really around to hear him.
Of course, the fact that there were people around he didn't notice them at all, he could see that they had gathered to watch the fight though.
[It's not funny Matthew!]
"I wasn't joking!"
He complained back, feeling the stinging of his arm. Though, he thought that it would be more, painful than this. However, it seemed to be slowly healing itself. It wasn't fixing naturally all on its own, but it seemed to be healing enough for him to get through the pain.
[Neither am I! You need to get out of there before she finishes you off! Right now!]
"I can't Caitlin, I can't just leave and have these people be in danger. I have to finish off the thorn girls…aaah…"
He felt a surge of pain coming from the thorn shaped hole in his hand. He covered it with his fingers, and tried his best to fight off the pain that he was feeling. Though it was quite difficult to fight off the pain.
[Ooh…are you okay…?]
He heard Cisco's voice coming down the line, it sounded cringeworthy at most.
But that wasn't the problem.
The very fact that he still had to fight off Metahuman's were the problem for him.
He didn't want to do this, these people were getting stronger, and he hadn't developed any offensive powers just yet. The ones he had, were the power to read minds, that was automatic, and to make the other person feel sensations that he felt, but he hadn't had a reason to use that again. It wasn't like him feeling pain would make them be detrimental to the enemy, at least he didn't think it would be happening.
"Did we know the female spat thorns too!?"
Matt complained down the line, as he heard metal being hit by the females thorns. Thankfully, he didn't have to worry about such things, and enjoyed the idea that he could dodge the females thorns now, it just took him by surprise.
[There was no indication that she could do that no, sorry about that Mr. Stone. We only were under the assumption that she would only be able to produce them from her fingers. We're sorry about that Mr. Stone.]
Matt really felt like yelling down the line, but he took in a deep breath.
"Right, so I'm gonna have to avoid the thorns then. Hmmm, I wish I could use Telekinesis…I'm sure that you people were lying about that."
[No, we weren't dude.] Cisco complained. [But, don't worry about such things now. You have to get close to her, and knock her out. Do that amazing techniques of getting close to her, and then finish her off in one strike.]
"Eeh, easier said than done when your arm is burned."
He murmured, but still he looked around for anything that he could use to throw at the enemy.
Since he didn't have his powers to rely on, he could only use his own intelligence.
He could only see a few things that could help, and one such thing was a bins circular lid, and that's something that he would have to use, especially since that's the only thing that he could actually lift up…if he had Telekinetic powers, then he would use them, but he wouldn't be able to do that right now.
Making a decision, Matt lunged forward, and grabbed the cylinder, and launched it at the enemy that was behind him. the lid of the bin surprised the girl, so she made her fingernails sharper, and sliced through it.
"Aah!"
What she didn't realize was Matt was in there, using what speed he had, balling his good fist up, slamming it right into the girls face. Her body fell backwards, hitting the wall of the bricks behind her, knocking her out.
As soon as she was knocked out, Matt gritted his teeth as he looked behind him.
"Okay, we're all done here. Guys. And Caitlin."
[You got her then?]
He heard Cisco, so Matt walked forward, as he spoke.
"That's right, she went down with her partner leading the charge to unconscious lands…" He walked out to see a crowd before him. "And a crowd has gathered before me again, and are clapping…" In the crowds, he saw that Iris was there, cheering and clapping. "…And Iris is here again. How does she keep turning up to places I have been?"
As he said that, pain of the thoughts of everyone around began to creep into his mind. This…was one of the aspects that he didn't like doing. He, didn't like this, he didn't like the very idea that everyone just walked around his mind were their own.
[Damn, that girl doesn't stop, does she?]
Cisco complained, and Matt couldn't disagree either.
"What do I do now?"
He whispered over the comm's as the crowd walked closer towards him. With his injured arm, he wasn't sure what he would be able to do. He couldn't exactly fight through the crowds, he was sure he'd pass out if he attempted to, thanks to the noise being louder the closer they were in his mind that was.
"The Dark Avenger saved the day!"
He heard one of the crowds cheer, Cisco grinding his teeth on the comm's. He knew why, because Cisco didn't like the name, he wanted to pick Matt's name, yet he hadn't thought of a good one, even with the three months they had been working together now.
"Dark Avenger! He's surely my hero!"
A woman shouted off, Matt looking towards the woman and saw that she was pushing her boobs together. Matt, not one to deny such a chance, casually glanced at her, smiled, and then turned away, glad that he hadn't been noticed in his costume.
As they clapped, and clapped for him, he felt awkward about this.
He didn't know what to even think about it.
He didn't mind it, he actually liked it.
But, he didn't feel like he was doing, enough.
Sure, he knocked down Metahuman's, but he felt it wasn't…enough, he wanted to do more. But, with the power he had, he wouldn't be able to fight fires, or anything of that level. He wanted to use his powers to save peoples lives, and help them out with their lives, and things like that.
As he was in thought, Iris came close to him, and smiled as she put her hands behind her back.
"Dark Avenger, you've saved many lives today. You're the coolest!"
Matt knew what was coming next from Cisco, it always came when someone said it.
[Tell her that you're not Dark Avenger! Tell her Matt, right now! I come up with the names damn it!]
Matt cringed from the shouting on the other side of the earpiece, so much so that he felt physical discomfort.
"Erm…Iris, I'm not called Dark Avenger, and this isn't my finished costume either."
He hoped that satisfied Cisco, as honestly, as long as it wasn't a dorky name, then he was pretty cool with anything, and he knew he was working on a costume for Matt.
"Oh, what's your name then? And new costume sounds cool as well."
"Erm…"
Matt couldn't reveal his real name, of course he couldn't.
But, if not that…then, he didn't know what he was going to be doing.
The real name, he didn't even know what to use.
He couldn't use his real name, he didn't have a choice.
But Cisco hadn't thought of one yet, so he was lost on what to call himself.
[Tell her to be decided, then get out of there!]
Matt was all for that plan, and grinned from ear to ear.
"Yeah…to be decided Iris, and now, I must go…and fight crime other places…bye."
Seeing that he wouldn't be able to get through the crowds, he ran the opposite direction. People watched as he hopped onto a large dumpster, and then with the flow, grabbed onto the fire escape ladders, and crawled up them. He then rushed up the flight of stairs as fast as he could, and disappeared onto the roof.
As Iris watched him go, she placed a hand over her head.
"Really, what a hero he is."
Iris couldn't help but admire the fact that he was doing this now. Truly, she was enamoured about superhero's and especially ones that did such things for people without even asking for anything in return.
When Matt returned to the S.T.A.R Labs, he saw that Harrison, and Cisco were sat by the computers, while Caitlin stood in the labs or medical bay, Matt didn't honestly know which one was which, but he didn't care. He also saw unconscious Barry, and now it had been nine months, Matt felt worried for him.
"I'm back."
"Duuuude! That was cool! Two Meta's at once! That was awesome!"
Matt was glad to hear the compliment that Cisco gave, but winced at his arm being in pain, burned, and the hole from the thorn wasn't something that he honestly cared all that much about honestly right now.
"Thanks Cisco, the thorn bitch was a tough nut to crack. But, seems like she went down…speaking of, are the police going to be able to detain her, and such…? I mean, I get we've got…a certain understanding about it, and they have too…but, that one guy could burn things with just his hands alone. What if he just burns through the bars?"
"That's a good question actually Mr. Stone. We'll have to think of new places to detain the more, stronger Metahuman's. But, the question is…where are we going to detain them…hmmm, we'll have to have a good think about it. But don't worry, for this Meta, we'll find a secure location for him, and his girlfriend."
Matt nodded, trying to not look at Harrison Wells. He didn't trust him, he couldn't trust him. He didn't know why, he just couldn't trust him at all, it was like his heart was being ripped away ever since it happened.
"You know, Iris interacts with you, and the...hero you, how does she not know it's you?"
"Trust me, she thinks about the connections more than I'd like. On some level, I think that she knows me and...well, hero me are the same person."
Deep down, he knew that she had a very good idea, but he didn't want to truly admit it, he didn't want to put her in danger, yet he thought she'd be a great help at the same time.
"Oh, by the way, she's waiting for you. And…she's not happy…"
Cisco's warning didn't help Matt relieve any tension that he had.
Matt grimaced, as he looked towards Caitlin.
She was, putting on a rubber glove, and staring right at him.
To him, it was a scenario like he was in a dark place.
She looked like a mad scientist right now, and like she was going to kill him, even if Caitlin was a very sweet person.
Matt shook his head, and backed away slowly, Harrison looking on with slight bemusement.
"Cisco, I don't want to go in their alone with-"
"Matthew Lee Stone! You get your butt in here right now!"
Matt felt the pain and anger in her words, and how she looked didn't help either. He felt like he was about to get scolded. Even Cisco didn't want to trade places with Matt right now. No one would when Caitlin wasn't happy.
"She middle named you dude…you better go…"
He put a hand to his mouth, feeling the tears prickling his eyes, he didn't want to die after all. But, Caitlin wasn't making it any easier either. He steeled himself the best that he could, and walked into the medical bay.
"H-Hey Dr Snow…I really like what you've done with your hair today…it's pretty…"
He thought that futile attempt of calming the young girl down would work…
It didn't.
"Don't call me Dr Snow right now, or give me compliments to butter me up either, and take your clothes off."
He knew why she asked that, but each time that she did ask him that (which was getting more frequent as time went on) it just sounded more, and more dirty than it really should be, then there's the fact that she was wearing rubber gloves…it didn't look the best.
"How do you remain stoic faced when you say that…?"
"Because I'm quite, as you'd say, pissed off right now. Now, take off your clothes, except your underwear, and allow me to examine your body for any more wounds. I swear, the next time you get injured, I won't patch you up."
"You say that every time, and you do patch me up each time anyway."
Caitlin didn't look pleased, and just held her stare towards him.
"It's not funny."
"No, it's really not. Okay, I'll take my clothes off."
Without even a care, Matt peeled out of his clothes, and some of it hurt more than others. The arm was hard to get out of, thankfully the arm and the cloth didn't fuse together due to the heat, but it was painful to take off. He didn't get hit in his legs, so he didn't know why he had to take his pants off…Caitlin usually asked him to do that, so he didn't question it.
Caitlin's eyes went over his physique. If anything, she noticed that he was getting fitter by the time going on. She remembered him three months ago, and now, and there was a notable difference. Probably with all the running over the city he had been doing.
"Wow each time that I see him like this, and that helpless look on his face when being treated is…" Caitlin's eyes opened with realization. "N-No, I can't think about it, he'll know I'm thinking about his body and his adorable way of looking at me sometimes…he can't know…think of something else Caitlin…naked Matthew is good…God no he's going to know…my God, I can't look down at his…" Matt leaned forward, with a small knowing smirk on his face. "Damn, he knows that I'm thinking about him, he can hear my thoughts…he's probably going to think I'm weird for checking him out during an examination…ooh no, he knows that I..."
Matthew just stared at her, no judgement on his face, or in his eyes either. If anything, it was just a friendly stare.
She stared back at him, trying to think of a way to say this.
But, she thought that the most direct way of saying it would be best.
"M-My thoughts aren't something I can control, you understand? W-When I think of things…they are just fleeting thoughts, not something I seriously think about all of the time. And by that, I mean, I am…erm…I was…eeh, it's…let's just say when I think "Nice body." I'm thinking about how your body is…erm…it's just something I can admire…you're quite in a good physical condition, and it isn't bad either. S-So yeah, that's what I know sometimes…that's how it is Caitlin…erm, I mean, Matthew…yeah, that's it."
She finally said after a few seconds of silence.
It was quite clear that she was nervous, and how she stuttered, made her very adorable.
If she could read his mind, then he'd feel embarrassed, and he'd be ashamed of thinking she was adorable, since he still had a girlfriend…even if that was a very painful subject right now, he still was a committed man, and wouldn't leave her because things were rough, he was trying his best to mend their relationship…Rachael just didn't want too.
Matt just stared at her, then nodded his head in agreement.
"Very true Caitlin."
"A-And, when I check you out during an examination…it's purely for scientific reasons."
"Okay Caitlin, I believe you."
He really didn't, but he couldn't continue to make her feel embarrassed. Even he was when he heard, flattering, and unflattering thoughts from different people.
"G-Good, then let's get onto the examination."
Caitlin looked over his body, while he tried to stay as still as he could.
She spoke some medical stuff that he didn't really understand. He knew the basic gist of what was wrong with him, and how she was treating him.
"You know, I'm seriously going to have to make you stop going out in doing these suicidal missions."
Caitlin said seriously, as she bandaged the wound on his arm, treating it first however.
"Well, there's no one else that's stepped up to the mantle. Until there is, I have to do it, don't I?"
That's one thing that she didn't like about this, and expressed it clearly to him.
"No, you don't. Just because Cisco, and Dr Wells want you too, it doesn't mean that I want you too. Matthew, you're getting more and more injured…though you do heal at a remarkable rate…even then, it isn't fast enough. Perhaps, it is because of your mind being…no, that wouldn't…maybe, it does have to do with your abilities. Perhaps, psychic forces can also heal your body. To go into it now would take a while, but Dr Wells does theorize that your powers is called Psionic, a special type of energy, and it can also be used to heal your body as well, manipulating your cells, even without you realizing either. Or maybe, you're drawing in energy around you, maybe from others around you, as your powers are to do with minds, why not bodies as well? Or, maybe these theories are wrong, and you just have a healing factor too."
Matt listened to what she said, and while some sounded good, he didn't mind about the science behind it. If he could heal at a better rate than normal humans, then he wasn't going to complain about it.
"Ooh, so I have a healing factor then? That's pretty cool~"
"No, it isn't pretty cool. It just means that you'll take more dangers with your life…and I don't want you to be in danger, or in pain." Caitlin sounded serious, her eyes never wavering. "Matthew, think about what you're doing, and think about this pain you're in. I, don't want you to be in pain like this. Do you understand me Ron…Matthew?"
Caitlin corrected herself just as she was going to say his name, and Matt, heard it, but chose to not comment on it, so she didn't feel sad, or self conscious about saying it either.
It had happened a few times when she'd slip up and say "Ronnie!" rather than "Matthew!" and the boy had to wonder what that was about, but he didn't want to say anything to make her feel worried.
"Yeah, I understand. I'm sorry for worrying you…honestly, it feels, a relief that a girl does worry about me."
"Why's that?"
She took mild interest as she continued patching him up.
"It's just, my…Rachael has been…well, to say that we're people sharing an apartment would be a gross misstep. She…kinda doesn't want to talk to me anymore, and when she does, all she does is accuse me of cheating on her and tells me how useless I am, worthless…and how I'm never there for her…even though she tells me to leave her alone...and then says that I should give up on my sister…I don't want to do that though…"
Caitlin looked towards him, as she finished, seeing the pain in his eyes, and not from his powers. That always was there, he was just better at hiding it than most would be. But, she knew that he was in extreme emotional, and physical pain.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that. For what it's worth, you're not useless, or worthless, you're quite far from it. Over three months now, you've been protecting the city, and getting injured quite heavily…you're not useless at all. This is going to sound cliché, but you're kind of a hero."
Matt gained a slight smile, as she sat beside him.
"Hero huh…makes me feel all special inside~ Even with these injuries, makes it almost worth it to see people being happy~"
Even though he said it cheerfully, she still held reservations about him doing this.
"I'm serious about you going out and fighting Metahuman's. Matthew, I, don't want you to get hurt anymore. You're not invulnerable, and one day…you'll get an injury I can't fix, and you will die. Is that what you want?"
The concern alone, really did touch him more than anything else.
Caitlin, truly did help him in more ways that she even realized. Even without physically helping him, her compassion towards him did bring his spirits up, and his heart felt good, it felt warm, and it felt like it didn't have to go to war around her, unlike what he had to feel with Rachael for the past nine months.
"I have to do it Caitlin. No one else can do it. I know my powers aren't the most, fighting friendly right now. I mean, I can use it in day to day life, and battles against normal and sometimes Meta's that don't have amazing powers. But I haven't come across such a being just yet that can use powers above what a normal human might be able to take out, and when I do…we'll figure out a way to deal with it. And when another person comes along, they can have the job. Heck, maybe even Barry in their will be the hero."
"That's if he ever wakes up, and that's if he has any abilities. We don't know anything about him, but his body is…odd. His muscles should be going through dystrophy, but they aren't. It's the opposite actually."
"Oh, I'm sure he will eventually, heck maybe that's a sign right there that he has powers, defying the odds and keeping himself fit even unconscious. Iris is hopeful anyway about it, and if she is, then I am too. She knows him the best after all." Suddenly, as they were talking, a sudden pain overcame him, the boy placing a hand to his head, breathing in deeply. "Aaaah…"
His hand went to his head, a surge of pain ripping through his skull. It was getting worse, the pain that was. It lasted longer, and was getting louder. The noises inside of his head, felt like screams, and he couldn't say it to Caitlin…he felt scared.
"You're in pain again." She got off from the bed, and took out a syringe with a strange liquid inside. "Here, give me your arm." He nodded, and put out his arm. He looked away, looking quite afraid. "We've done this a few times now, more than that actually, I don't get why you're squeamish about needles."
"I don't like them. Bad experience when I was younger, don't care to repeat that process either."
He said, while gritting his teeth, a new surge of pain coming through to his mind.
"So, fighting Metahuman's that can melt your body is fine, but you're worried about a small needle?"
Caitlin would laugh if the pain in Matt's skull wasn't so serious.
"It's scary…"
He made a face that was close to being quite worried, but Caitlin wasn't going to have any of it.
"Ooh don't be a baby and accept it."
She then injected the…whatever it was, Matt didn't know the intimate details. He only knew that it was some kind of drug Caitlin came up with to suppress the pain that was in his mind.
Once the injection had been done, she sat down next to him again, and watched as the pain slowly slipped away, but always was there somewhere deep within him.
"I still think we should tell Dr Wells, and Cisco. It's getting worse, isn't it?"
She didn't have to be a mind reader to tell that it was, and she didn't want him to be in such a painful state.
"…Yeah, my thoughts…are like whispers sometimes, in the sea of loud booming voices…it's hard to really tell what I'm thinking sometimes, and not someone else. Just the other day, I found this thing, really cute. I was thinking it was really cute…but, then I realize that it was a little girl admiring an insect…and that wasn't my thought, I am averse to insects myself…but, I wouldn't find one cute…yet, I was convinced…I found it cute…and when I saw the girl, and she stopped looking…I snapped back to myself."
"Then, that's why we should tell them. They can help, Matthew."
He knew that she was only trying to help him, but he couldn't trust Wells, it was impossible, after everything that happened.
"No, I don't want Harrison Wells to know about me or anything. I am only reluctantly working with him because…well, the Metahuman's are out there, and need to be stopped if they are doing bad deeds. But, I don't trust him, and I won't trust him either. I know he's hiding something, and I won't be able to trust him with my life either. Besides, it's been nine months, and Barry in their hasn't woken up…and I haven't found my sister…he caused me to have this…power, I won't say gift because it's not. Don't you think I'd rather get rid of these abilities than keep them? All they do is give me secrets of people that…I don't want to know about, and it causes me to feel…distant to them…"
"I can only imagine, what it is like to hear everyone's secrets, the thoughts they have, and have to pretend to not hear them, or hear things that could affect you negatively, and have to pretend that you didn't hear anything at all, or confront it, and then have no evidence on how you actually knew what was said. Even with Cisco and me, I bet you hear things even if you try not to, am I wrong?"
He nodded like it was the most simplest thing in the world.
"That's right, I hear Cisco's…fantasies about women a lot." Caitlin scrunched up her nose. "Yeah, you don't want to hear what he thinks about Iris when she comes in here. It's like living with a teenager that watches porn out loud."
"Hehe, I don't want to imagine Cisco, like that honestly. But, Matthew?"
Matt tilted his head to the side.
"Yes?"
"You don't have worry about my thoughts, I'm not ashamed of anything I think, and if…if I ever think anything that is…something that might hurt you, tell me about it, okay?"
"Alright-"
"Matt! Incoming!"
Matt sighed and ran into the control room, Caitlin hesitantly following.
Getting there, Cisco, and Harrison at the monitors. Caitlin wasn't sure about this, as his injuries hadn't even been healed yet from the last fight. She could see that he was holding his burned arm with a pained expression.
"Reports have just come in, there's a man with bladed arms attacking the local shopping centre. Members of the public have casualties, one has been confirmed dead, and several have been injured. Police are on their way, though I am not sure they would be able to take this person down."
That…devastated Matt.
Having powers was all fun and games…until someone died.
He didn't even know why Caitlin and Cisco didn't think bad of this man.
He hated Harrison for what he had done.
It just seemed insane to like this person.
Work with this person.
It seemed wrong to even have him here.
Matt looked towards Harrison, and his eyes began turning red.
"That's because of you Wells. Someone's died because of you. Another person. How many is that in the body count now? Or have you lost track of how many have died because of you? I could jog your memory if you like, because I remember all of their names, I had to write about it for my newspaper, about the victims that night, and the still rising body count."
Harrison looked back towards Matt, seeing his red eyes, and felt…worried slightly.
The very fact that Matt hated him wasn't a secret. But when he became…evil for a lack of a better word, then it was a scary time.
"Yes…I suppose that it is my fault."
"Don't pretend you care." Matt spat out hatefully. "You're just like them, always getting away with your actions. Not paying for what you've done. You're exactly like them."
"Them...? Who's them?"
Matt's lips curled upwards into a dirty smirk, his hand gathering red energy. However, it slowly formed into something, a tangible something. It was small, yet looked very sharp.
A dagger of red energy was formed within his hand, Cisco fanboying and worrying at the same time, and before they could even think, Matt thrusted it forward, stopping just near his glasses, the air from the speed brushed past Harrison's hair.
"All of you are the same, you sicken me. You never take responsibility for what you've done. The lives you've destroyed... Maybe, I should just take actions against you for all of your victims…"
Caltlin could tell that he slowly, was slipping away into, whatever took over. She knew it was getting worse. More than before, it seemed that it was harder for Matt to control…whatever took over his body. She knew it wasn't him, she knew that he didn't want to hurt…but, when his eyes turned red, it was like a switch had been flipped, and it wasn't Matt anymore.
"Matthew." She got close, and pulled him back, seemingly snapping him out of whatever trance he was in. He looked down at the dagger in his hand, tossing it to the side where it dissipated into nothingness, Harrison taking a relieved breath as did Cisco. "Are you okay?"
He came back to his senses, then nodded kindly.
"Yeah…I'm okay…so, sword Metahuman huh…that's, wonderful. Well, best go."
Caitlin broadened her expression, shaking her head.
"You can't go out like that. You've not even recovered from the Meta's before."
Matt waved a hand at her.
"Someone's already dead Caitlin…I've got to go and do something."
"It's a Meta with swords for arms, how can you fight that exactly?"
"I'll improvise. Trust me, I'm pretty good at that."
He started for the door.
"If you come back with wounds, I won't patch them up this time."
It was her futile effort to keep him from going…she didn't want him to be hurt.
"Hehe, I love it when you play stubborn like that, gives it an extra flare."
He joked with her, though she couldn't see the worry in his eyes.
Even then, she persisted.
"Don't be foolish, and think. Have you even got a plan?"
"I've got Cisco, Wells, and you, I don't need plans. I just need three genius' behind me."
"He's got a point Caitlin. We'd be able to help him out with this."
Caitlin threw a frustrated look towards Cisco who backed down. Then, she looked towards the departing Matt.
"Hey, we're not finished here yet."
"I have to be finished here, Caitlin. I've got to go before more people die."
"Wait-"
Before she could get it out, he had already taken some clothes, and left for the sight. Truly, she didn't like that this was happening. But, she couldn't stop him, it was like he was a man on a mission. Perhaps, it was because of what happened with his sister…he didn't want anything else to happen to anyone.
A while later, Caitlin paced the room, waiting for any news.
They hadn't heard anything in a while, or at least Caitlin didn't hear anything. If she could only hear something, then she'd at least know that he was okay. Even then,
"Geez Caitlin, relax."
Cisco called over, as he went over some stuff over the computer. Harrison didn't say anything, just looking on between the two of them.
"How can I relax when you're sending a man to his death? Each and every time."
She shot back at Cisco, Cisco scrunching up his eyebrows in perplexity.
"He's not going to die, he took care of the enemy with our help I might add, and is coming back here. We saved the day again. Three times in this one day, three Metahuman's. That's got to be a record or something, hasn't it?"
"This isn't a game Cisco!"
She argued, worrying more and more for Matt who should've been back by now.
Cisco however, saw something…different in the doctor.
It seemed more than simple worrying to him.
"Caitlin, it's not like you, like him, right?"
"Of course I like him, he's not a bad guy…wait, oh you meant…oh, then no, I don't like him like that. But, he's been doing this for three months now, fighting, people that have weird abilities, and besides mind reading, he's a normal person. This can't be okay, he's going to come back here with wounds that can't be fixed. He's going to die out there."
Cisco wasn't entirely convinced, but didn't say anything else.
Soon, Matt came back into the labs, and he looked…less than stellar. He had wounds all over him, blood coming from his stomach, chest, and arms. His face also had some gashes on it as well, his outfit had been torn to shreds. He was breathing heavily, clutching the wound at his side, it looked to be very deep.
"S-Shit! Matt, are you alright!?"
"Cisco, get the medkit!"
Harrison ordered, Cisco running straight away to get it.
Caitlin rushed over towards Matt, and took him by the shoulders.
"I told you…I told you that…you'd get hurt, why didn't you listen to me?"
"I stopped the Metahuman, and managed to save a little girl before she got stabbed, though it slashed me in the ribs, and it might've broken a rib, or at least fractured or something. But, I think that your healing factor thing is real as these cuts on my face where bigger than before."
"A healing factor?" Harrison rolled up. "That's fascinating. Perhaps, you do have a healing factor as well."
"Even then, get into the medical bay."
Caitlin ordered, Matt just smiled weakly, nodding.
He didn't mess with Caitlin like this, she had a very scary kind of voice when she was angry. It was a quiet anger, one that didn't come out, she wasn't the type to just broadcast her emotions. Yet, with Matt…they were drawn out, and only one other person had ever done that before with her.
By the time they arrived, Caitlin saw the medical kit being laid down on the bed. She saw Cisco standing there. It seemed like she had to say something what she didn't want Cisco to hear, so he left, and closed the door.
As soon as he did, she turned to Matt, and unintentionally pushed harder on his facial wounds to clean the blood, causing pain to erupt within him.
"Oww! Jesus woman! Do you treat all your patients like this!? I am injured, you know!?"
"Yes I do realize that! I didn't mean to do that though, I am sorry for hurting you." She turned towards him, roughly taking his arm to see the wounds…slowly healing, the corner of her eyes began slowly, building tears, though she refused to acknowledge them. "But you know, I specifically stated that going out with these injuries wasn't a good thing, and then what do you go and do? Go out there and get yourself nearly killed! Again! Geez Ronnie, you're always…" Realizing what she said, she put her head down. "Matthew, I meant Matthew, sorry."
She truly did regret saying Ronnie, and not Matthew since this wasn't Ronnie. She didn't even know why she called him Ronnie sometimes. They look quite different, they even have different heights, and faces, and even different hair colours. But, for the life of her, she just couldn't help but let it slip, and now she felt bad about saying it. However, she couldn't deny that he brought…a certain air about him that did remind her of Ronnie. They were quite different yet…something about him was, quite like Ronnie, and she didn't know what that was.
"I know, and I'm sorry for making you feel concern. But, I'm not sorry for going Caitlin. I saved a little girl from being killed, and others too. I might've gotten injured, but I saved people. Do you know what that feeling is like?"
"No, I really don't."
She didn't mean it in a negative way, she just hadn't had the same rush that Matt seemed to be getting.
"Then, you don't…I saw, that little girls face as I saved her…it just reminded me of…"
"Your sister."
She guessed accurately.
"Yeah…my sister. I couldn't save her…"
"You don't know she's dead."
She comforted, as she treated the wounds, that honestly didn't need much treating. Though they were slow to heal, it didn't mean that they weren't healing. She was quite flabbergasted by the fact that his body could heal itself.
"It's been nine months, and not even so much as a postcard, I'm pretty sure she's dead at this point, and I don't know what happened to her. The police have pretty much given up looking for her, Rachael's always riding me about giving up the search too plus all of the other stuff she accuses me of doing like cheating, and other things I wouldn't do, and then there's these Metahuman's…honestly, it's kind of a relief that I gained this distraction. If I didn't…then I don't know what I would do."
"You'd be able to get through it, you're very strong, and I don't mean physically. I don't think I could cope with the pain you've been going through these nine months if it was me."
"Well, I've got a great doctor who helps me out, so that's a good thing."
She quickly raises her eyebrows towards him, Matt offering a small smile right back.
But that stopped when the thoughts of what happened to him came right through, and she didn't like it at all.
"Even then, I wish you wouldn't go out and just risk your life like that. It's irresponsible, reckless, insane-"
"How many of these can I expect before you're finished?"
Caitlin's eyes went towards his own, storming right at him, then looked into his eyes, at a close range. She moved closer, and closer, she didn't stop either. Her eyes danced with ideas that met his own eyes.
"You know, I'm being very serious right now Matthew. Say what you want about me, but seeing you like this, I really don't understand. It looks like you're deliberately putting yourself into danger because-"
"Harrison Wells made these Metahuman's, Caitlin. No matter what else is said, he made them, and now, until someone else comes, I have to clean up the messes. I get cut, slashes, and what not. It doesn't compare to the pain screaming in my mind. But, you make it better, so I don't mind anything else~"
"I really don't understand you sometimes. But, listen to me right now. No fighting Metahuman's for at least a day or two, until these injuries disappear. If you do heal faster than normal humans, then I want to at least see it before you just recreate wounds."
"But…" Caitlin stared at him with a no-nonsense look, he begrudgingly agrees. "…fine, I'll do as you ask."
"Yes, you better listen to me. If you go out again like this, then I won't forgive you Matthew. I'm serious. If you have to go out again, then do it after you've recovered. Even hero's take time off."
Caitlin revealed her very unnoticeable concerned face. The face that really did show true concern. Honestly, he hadn't remembered the last time, besides Iris, someone looked upon him like that, and Caitlin had already gone through quite a bit, he didn't want to have to add to that. Even if he was reluctant since he did want to protect people now, even if that itself was reluctant due to the own pain he was feeling.
"Okay…if you look at me like that then I'll have to agree."
"Thank you, now stay still. This is going to hurt…probably a lot, as it seems like I might have to…yeah, this is going to hurt."
Matt winced as Caitlin leaned closer…
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Oh, don't be such a baby."
She couldn't contain the giggle as she shed actual tears for what she did…no man or woman should have to go through such pain.
"Owwww…you sadist…"
Matt walked into his building, the place where his apartment is, and Caitlin was right by his side. He held his sides in pain, the cuts on his face had vanished by now. The healing factor did heal most of the injuries, but Caitlin took care of the more, painful ones.
"I told you it would hurt. And you're healing, you'll be back to normal soon. I don't get pleasure in hurting you."
"Well, lots of other Metahuman's do."
"Well, I'm not a Metahuman."
She retorted as she walked up the stairs with him.
He was going slower, due to the fact that he was still in pain.
"You didn't have to drive me home, I could've got here myself."
"Yes, you probably could have. But, how was I meant to know that you wouldn't go off and fight a Metahuman behind my back? I know you and Cisco talked about it before going. I don't need your mind reading powers to know that."
She countered, Matt giving her a sad look.
"I said that I wouldn't until I was better. I don't make promises lightly."
"Good, because I don't want you to make promises lightly either."
The pair continued going up the stairs, until reaching Matt's floor.
Since he had his keys, he unlocked his door, and invited Caitlin inside.
"Well, this is where I live." He spoke with a serene voice. "Rach, I'm home. We've got company."
From the bathroom, Rachael came out, and saw Caitlin.
"This is the bitch he's been cheating on me with."
Matt heard inside of his head from Rachael's mind.
"Rachael, this is Caitlin-"
"Your new whore?"
"Rachael! Don't call Caitlin a whore! She's not a whore! Please apologize for calling her that!"
Matt's words weren't heard, as Rachael's anger intensified.
"Did you just call me a whore?"
Caitlin couldn't believe it, she couldn't remember a time where she was called a whore, if ever.
Rachael didn't even care, nodding her head as she continued.
"That's right, I did. Because, I knew it, after all this time, I knew he'd slip, and bring her here. Hah, well, looks like I was right."
Caitlin could only watch on and remembered what Matt said about Rachael jumping to conclusions, and knew that he was right now.
"For your information, he announced I was coming inside, to you. And I am not dating him. Nor sleeping with him. I'm actually his doctor, and he's been…injured, and I offered to take him home, that's all."
She wanted to convey to Rachael that, they honestly weren't together. And she didn't want to be the reason why Matt, and his love life suffered. She wasn't even interested in Matt like that, right now only interested in his well being in general.
"Ooh sure you are. Is that how you like it Matt? Doctor Doctor?"
"Rach, please…she's been taking care of me."
"Ooh I'm sure she has been."
Matt rolled his eyes, while Caitlin felt out of place right now, but didn't have the heart to leave, seeing as how Matt really wasn't feeling the best right now.
"Not like that. Remember, those headaches? She's been helping me, when she didn't have to do anything for me. She's…She's really been great to me. Please, let's not fight. I already feel crap from today, I just want to relax."
"Ooh, you can relax with her then."
"I meant you, Rach."
He spoke with a sad expression, Caitlin feeling quite bad for him right now. She could literally feel the negative feelings rolling off Rachael for Matt. It was almost as if she hated him, and she couldn't see why Rachael did, since Matt hadn't shown anything to her that would indicate that he was a bad person.
"Oh no, don't worry about me, I'm going out. Won't be back until tomorrow anyway. Goodbye."
"Wait-" Before he could say it, she pushed past him, due to the weakened condition he was in, his body just went with the push, pushing him into the doorknob, where the major wound was. "Aaaaaaaagh!"
Matt fell to the ground, clutching his side in terrible pain.
"Matthew, are you okay!?"
Like what she thought Rachael would do, Caitlin actually bent down to check on him as he held his side.
Rachael looked on with a snide look on her face.
"Ooh stop pretending you're hurt."
Caitlin looked up towards her, and felt…angry.
More anger than she had expressed in awhile, and she couldn't keep it back.
"He IS hurt, you stupid woman! If you took, I don't know, five seconds to actually look at him, you can clearly see that he's in pain, was holding onto his side, and for your information, he's not cheating on you! Honestly, he's meant to be your boyfriend, and it's like you don't care about him at all!"
Rachael was fuming, and was tempted to hit Caitlin.
But she sighed, and grabbed a bag, then walked out.
Once she was outside, Rachael's face and body turned into that of a man, grabbing a gun out of the bag, and pulled on it, making a noise, then she placed the gun back in the bag, walking away.
Back inside of the apartment, Matt managed to get over to the couch with Caitlin's help.
Caitlin couldn't believe that Matt…put up with this.
"Why does he even stay with her if it is this bad, he doesn't deserve to be accused and pushed around like this…" She flew her eyes to Matt who indeed heard the thought. "Matthew, I didn't mean to think…"
She didn't have the words, but Matt didn't mind, truthfully, he was okay with expressing his thoughts to Caitlin.
"The reason is…because I love her. I've been with her for…over two years now, and before the disappearance of my sister, it was good. I mean, we had fights sure, like normal couples do…but, it didn't get this bad until recently…well, nine months ago actually. I don't know what to think about it, but I am going to try my best to...I don't want to give up, I'm not a quitter. Maybe I'm an idiot for trying to make things work, I realize that...but, this, my life, has been turned upside down, and if I don't at least try then...I can't just lose this last aspect of my life, former life that is, I'm not ready to just give up, and I know that we personally went through things back at the Leaeeeeh, never mind...I know it's not exactly the healthiest, but I know...she's going through something, I don't know what it is, but I know it's something, and I just...I don't want to just give up, it's not in me to just quit...maybe I do have to face reality...but that seems quite hard right now, and with everything else going on, reality just seems, too difficult for me to think about, I already lost my sister, I don't wanna lose someone else as well. Well, thanks for taking me home Caitlin, and hearing my rambles. You can, go home if you like? I'm just gonna…watch television or something."
Caitlin felt guilty by the second, seeing as how she thought she caused that. Though clearly, she could see that he was trying his best to keep it together. She guessed that this was his own way to keep his former life together, and even Matt wasn't an idiot, and could see it wasn't working, but if she was in the same situation...she would probably try and keep it together, for as long as she could do.
"I've…made a mess of things, haven't I? I, caused that then, right?"
Matt shook his head strongly.
"No, she would've gone anyway. She goes out most nights now, and I don't know what she does…even with my mind reading powers, all I hear when she's around me are thoughts of how she is waiting for me to mess up, and how she detests my sister, and me so…yeah, that's how it. My life, essentially is this. Wake up from the at most an hour sleep, with a screaming headache, being accused a lot, doing my daily job as a reporter, going out to fight Metahuman's that cause me injuries, get patched up by you, get dosed up by you so I'm not driven to the brink of crying with such painful thoughts, check on the nightclub to make sure it isn't going out of business, and then head home to get accused more…perfect."
"No…that's quite far from it."
"I was being sarcastic…did that lose you Dr Snow?"
She didn't know whether to laugh or point out that she did know it was a form of sarcasm.
"Never mind. But, how's the pain?"
She looked at the wound, and fortunately, it wasn't bleeding. If he had been anyone else, if he didn't have this healing factor, then she'd say he'd be bleeding right now.
"I'm fine, it's easing. Thanks Caitlin."
"Great, so what should we watch?"
Matt cocked his head to the side.
"Eh?"
"Yes, I mean, I can't leave you like this. I thought that maybe your…girlfriend would stay and keep an eye on you. But, if she's going to be gone, then someone has to make sure that you don't, I don't know, suffer or anything."
"You don't have to, I don't want to cut into your evening."
"This is the most excitement I've had in…a long time."
"Wow, you must be the most boring woman on earth if you think this is excitement."
Caitlin turned her scary eyes towards him…
But then she locked eyes with him, and let a small giggle out, as he did as well.
"Well, I don't have the most social of lives."
"Hey, neither do I now."
The pair shared another laugh together, and settled down.
"About before...Matthew."
"Hmmm?"
His eyes went towards her, as she looked serious.
"I called you Ronnie, and I shouldn't of done that."
"No, I-"
"No, it wasn't right." She cut him off, and took his hand in her own. "You're not Ronnie, and I don't want you to think that I am...trying to put you as Ronnie, because I'm really not trying to do that. If I slip like that again, just tell me, okay?"
"Caitlin, I understand...remember, I can hear your thoughts."
Caitlin adopted a sad smile.
"It wasn't fair of me to call you that, and I know I've done it before, and it makes me feel terrible, how I might make you feel like I don't see you, as you when I really do deep down. It's just...you remind me a lot of him, is all, yet you're different in so many ways, both equally good ways though. So, even if I slip like that, just tell me, and I'll apologize, I don't want you to think that I only think of you as a Ronnie replacement, because, I really like you, you scare me half to death a lot, I find myself worrying myself sick sometimes, but I really do find you...quite charming in a way, and funny. And you're heroic, even with all of the odds against you, even with so much pain and misery stacked upon you, you risk your life while being around someone that you hate, so you can fix the mistakes, that we caused that night, when you really don't have to, so I just want to say, thank you for being so, brave, and kind as you are. It really is...lovely how you do that."
Matt, didn't think she'd even call herself out on that slip before, but it made...him feel better that she did. He didn't want to say anything, to make anything awkward, but the fact that she did it, showed how truly, caring she was of others feelings, and he respected that of her.
"Well...thanks Caitlin. It means a lot to hear that."
"Oh, on record, I don't particularity like Rachael either, I don't think she's good enough for you. Sorry if that's out of bounds, but you deserve better than to be treated like that."
She didn't care she said it like that really, she just wanted him to be, happy, and clearly, he wasn't.
"Heh, where am I gonna find someone? I can imagine it. "Hey hunny, I know your every thought, I sometimes turn evil, and I feel like I'm dying from headaches and sometimes don't even know if my thoughts are mine or someone else's, and I might get myself murdered by Metahuman's, so what's for dinner...wait, never mind, heard it from your head!" and yeah, doesn't sound great on a dating profile, does it?"
"Not the best no, but I am sure...some women might appreciate honesty like that."
"Most women would run away from the evil part. Or the fighting Metahuman's to the death part. Or just the mind reading part. Pretty much any part honestly."
He countered, as Caitlin budged closer.
"I'm not running away." Realizing what she said, she giggled nervously. "W-When I said that, I meant in a friendly way, not in a...you know."
"I get it, I am in a relationship anyway, I'm just glad to have a friend like you."
Caitlin smiled and they went to settle down on the couch.
Soon, they began watching a television show on Netflix. Though, Caitlin paid more interest in Matt than anything. She could see that he was struggling to stay awake, and he kept the pain he was experiencing in his mind to himself, but she could see the signs, she was a trained professional and could tell when someone was trying to conceal pain.
Matt took in a breath then he reached around the side, and pulled out his laptop. Caitlin curiously looked as he did, seeing the pain etched into his face.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking my schedule, I remember I have a class going on tomorrow I think..."
"Class? You go to college?"
That's what she thought, but Matt shook his head.
"No, I teach a class about advanced ICT, in that general area anyway, and stuff like that."
Caitlin blinked in rapid succession.
"I...didn't know that."
"I only do it twice a week, and I am checking if tomorrow is the day, been hard to remember lately. It's a class for teens, around 14 to 18 year olds, who are interested in it, and wish to advance their studies, and looks good for applications if going down this route, doesn't it? Jean actually suggested that I do it before she disappeared...I guess in a way, I am honouring that and doing it. I saw it online one day, applied for it, and got the job based on my credentials and such."
"I'm quite surprised, I didn't take you for a nerd type."
Matt snickered as he found the place that he was looking for.
"I ain't a nerd and no way on the level of brain-boxes like you or Cisco or that thing Wells, but I did have some degrees behind me...well, that's after the...certain events happening. Suffice to say, I am handy with computers, programs, hacking, things like that, and the pay isn't bad either. For twice a week, for an hour each time, it is pretty good. And there's some pretty cool kids there too, with some good futures ahead of them. Clare, John, Frankie, and a bunch of others, they're pretty intelligent. I'm sure some of them will become the future Cisco, or Caitlin."
"Future me, the cheek. I'm still young thank you."
Matt smiled gently, then put his computer away, and they got back to watching television.
However, she noticed that he was slipping, he could barely keep his eyes open.
And the pain that he felt, she could see he was biting it back so it didn't take over him.
When it became too much, Matt passed out, and fell onto her lap.
She didn't know what to say at first, she didn't even breathe properly…
But then, she heard it.
Whimpering.
Looking down at his face, she saw that tears ran from his eyes, and unconsciously, or not, he grabbed his head. He was sleeping, she knew that much. But the pain even during a rest period, she truly felt sorry for him.
"This can't keep going on. I've got to help him somehow. I should have some in my bag, best not disturb him."
She went into her bag, and fished out a prepared syringe full of a drug that could at least keep the symptoms at bay, for now.
She took his arm while he slept, and injected him, wishing she could do more.
The pain soon disappeared from his face, and entered a normal, for Matt at least, sleep pattern.
Using her fingers, she ran them through his blonde locks.
"I'll definitely help you, Matthew. Even if I have to betray you by coming to Dr Wells and Cisco. I can't have you suffer like this…if it continues on, you might be driven mad…or maybe that other side of you might take over…truly, I'll help you Matthew, because you've helped me in ways…you'll not know."
She didn't bother waking him, she didn't bother even nudging him either, she just allowed him to sleep on her lap.
It seemed like he needed it.
Support.
Support from someone that didn't accuse him, someone that didn't seemingly hate him.
She, would be that person, as in ways…he truly did help her with her own grief.
It was…a nice feeling to know she wasn't the only one in the world affected by what happened that day nine months ago.
A few days later, Matt watched as Caitlin and Cisco did their usual routine of watching over Barry. Honestly, he didn't know much about what they did for him, but whatever it was seemed to be important.
Nine months, he didn't think that he'd like to miss nine months of his life.
"By the way, what's Barry's last name?"
For all the time that they had seen him, Matt hadn't known Barry's last name.
"It's Allen, why?"
Cisco was curious, so Matt held up his phone.
"I'm gonna check his Facebook page."
"Why would you want to do that? It's not like he has posted anything."
Matt showed a small smile on his lips for Caitlin.
"Because my Dr Snow, I have read somewhere that coma patients respond to familiar sounds, and such. Maybe, I can find his fav song, and play it for him. It's not like anything else has worked for you guys anyway, has it?"
Cisco didn't want to be the one to say it, but he did anyway.
"He's right Caitlin, even you can't deny that."
Caitlin looked towards Matt, seeing that he was heavily getting into his phone.
"You might not be wrong. I guess it couldn't hurt, Matthew. Though, you think he'd keep his likes on, Facebook?"
Caitlin asked Matt as he stared at Barry's unconscious body.
The fast thoughts of Barry ran through his mind, causing it to make him feel pain.
"Checking his social media for ideas on how to wake him up with familiar sights, and sounds seems good. See, it is good to use social media sometimes. Though, I checked yours Caitlin, and you know that I care about you and such, but it is a little…lacklustre."
"He's right Caitlin. You've not updated in months. Not even a post, or anything."
"Don't take his side Cisco."
Cisco rolled his eyes, and left Matt to defend himself from Caitlin. But, Matt scrolled through Barry's Facebook, checking out different images.
"Damn, there's a lot of Iris and him pictures on here. Like a shrine almost. I mean, I have pics of me and my girl, but this is…wow, this is a shrine to her."
"Really?"
Cisco seemed intrigued, Matt nodding his head.
"Come check it out dude. Look at this, Iris, Iris, and more Iris. I am betting he had the hots for her. Can't blame him though, Iris is a pretty attractive woman, and even just talking with her is a very much a treat, and half the men I come across with her think the same thing."
"Amen to that my brother!"
Cisco walked over, and the pair continued looking through Barry's Facebook account. They did see there were lots of pictures of Barry and Iris on there, and some of Joe too. But mostly, it was him and Iris.
"There's even some of a girl named Felicity according to the tagged photo here...wow, she's kinda pretty as well. How does Barry know attractive women?" Caitlin looked at him incredulously. "I said Barry, not me. I of course know attractive women." Caitlin cocked her head. "You're very much one of them Caitlin, so is Iris, and so is Rachael, and now this Felicity though I don't know her personally."
Caitlin accepted that, but still wasn't thrilled Cisco stopped doing what he was supposed to be doing.
"Oh, that's Felicity Smoak, didn't know Barry knew her."
"Apparently so Cisco. Small world for you two huh."
Cisco nodded as they looked over the images together.
Caitlin tapped her foot onto the ground, annoyed.
"Cisco, we're supposed to be doing vitals for Barry."
"Yeah, in a minute."
Caitlin rolled her eyes, but she walked over anyway, and looked down at Matt's phone.
"Heh, wow, Iris is everywhere on here."
Caitlin couldn't help but be shocked. If Iris didn't know that Barry had a thing for her, then she truly was blind.
"I'm betting he was, in love with her before all this happened. And never got to say anything either."
"Aah…it's going to suck when he learns that Iris is hooked up with that cop Eddie."
Matt mentioned to Cisco, Cisco pulling away with a WTF face.
"You serious?"
"I've been sworn to secrecy to her Father. But you're not her Father so I can tell you. I found out sometime ago, and she told me that I can't tell Mr. West, not that I see him much anyway. But yeah, I think they can't date, or it's frowned upon, or Mr. West frowns upon it. Either way, seems like things are going to be awkward for Mr. Allen there when he wakes up."
"No doubt."
Cisco finished off, as Matt found the songs that Barry liked.
"Aah, he likes Poker Face by Lady Gaga. Not the usual choice a dude would have, but it isn't bad either."
"Great, now can we get back to work."
"No one ever stopped you from working Caitlin."
Matt heard Cisco comment, and he received the eyes that not many people would want to have either. Caitlin didn't look pleased, but oddly, Matt looked quite pleased with Caitlin giving others the death glare that wasn't him.
Matt then looked down at his phone, and started the song.
"I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas plays~ Fold 'em, let 'em, hit me, raise it baby stay with me~ I love it~ Love Game intuition play the cards with spades to start~ And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart~"
Matt sang along with the lyrics, causing Caitlin to stop, and watched as he casually danced around. Cisco looked bemused with the dancing, while Caitlin was enamoured by his voice.
"I didn't know you could sing."
"I can't."
He believed that to the truth, but Caitlin shook her head.
"Yes you can. That was really good."
"You're just saying that to keep me sweet. Rach always said I had nails on a chalkboard voice."
"You don't trust me? I wouldn't lie. Rachael, was wrong. You've actually got a nice voice. I wouldn't know why she wouldn't like your voice. It's good."
"Aww, thanks Caitlin!"
Matt rushed to her side, hugging her from the side. Caitlin just smiled weakly, petting his arm with an entranced smile on her face. Cisco, noted that Matt really did bring Caitlin to smile, and he hadn't seen it since Ronnie…
And when he thought it, he realized that Matt could've heard it, so he looked towards the blonde.
But he was busy rubbing his face against Caitlin's.
"S-Stop acting like a cat!"
"Meow~ Kitty's are adorable though~ I know you like it, I can hear it in your head, and you wish for me to purr~ If you play your cards right, I could purr for you~"
Caitlin looked away so she couldn't see Cisco's shit eating grin.
"D-Don't say such-"
"Aah! Oh my God! W-What's happening!?"
Just then, Barry shot up, taking in a very long prolonged breath, giving Matt a fright.
"Holy shit, he's awake!"
Matt jumped, but Caitlin and Cisco sprang into action like the true professionals they were.
"He's up!"
Caitlin grabbed some medical equipment, checking over Barry's condition, as he looked freaked out. Matt himself walked over to the table, and saw that there was some medical equipment left on the table.
"Doctor Wells, get down to the cortex, like right now."
Cisco called over the comm's, then walked over towards Barry.
"This place is called the cortex?"
"Yeah, what did you think it was called?"
"The…medbay?"
Cisco snickered, but then saw the hurt look on Matt's face, so he receded the snicker, and just smiled weakly.
Caitlin checked over Barry's condition, Matt just chose to stay out of it.
"Over 110. Pulse 120. Flashlight." She looked at Matt, so he tossed her the flashlight, or he thought it was, and she shined it into his eyes, giving him a little hard look. "Pupils equally reactive to light."
She looked into his eyes more, but then he pushed past her, trying to get up. However, Cisco, walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder, Caitlin continuing to do her medical exam over him, while Matt himself picked up a pot.
"Hey hey. Oh, oh, relax. Everything's okay, man. You're at S.T.A.R Labs."
Cisco confirmed, wanting to make sure that he didn't go mad, or something.
But Barry still looked confused.
"S.T.A.R Labs? Who…who are you?"
"I'm Cisco Ramon." He introduced himself to Barry, then pointed towards Matt who waved. "He's Matt Stone, and she's-" Looking towards Caitlin, she tilted her head. "-Caitlin, Doctor Snow as she likes to be called."
He corrected himself at the end, as Matt held up the pot in his hand.
"Caitlin needs you to urinate in this please."
Caitlin nodded, not knowing of tact right now, not that Matt cared either.
Cisco though looked towards Matt with an incredulous look.
"Not this second."
Matt shrugged his shoulders, putting the pot down.
"Hey, so do you have powers too?"
"P-Powers?" Barry rasped, trying to understand. "W-What are you talking about? What is going on?"
"You were struck by lightning, Barry. Apparently, I wasn't there so I don't know the full details, I just go over what Dr Snow, and Cisco here tell me. Let's hope that you have powers too. Maybe Caitlin will feel better then about me not going out. But powers Barry, you could have them~ Don't you want to save the kittens or something?"
"Kittens…?"
Barry got off the bed, and wondered around.
If he was Barry, then Matt would feel odd as well, and probably would want to understand what was going on.
"Yes, that's right, kittens, and the good people of the world. You know, with your…"
"With my…what?"
Barry asked back, Matt shrugging his shoulders.
"We'll have to find out eventually, won't we? I was kinda hoping you'd fill in the blanks…I mean, with mine, it took me a little while, but that's because hearing minds is…well, it's like talking really loudly, but you might have to wait and find out what your powers are Barry."
"Powers, I still don't understand."
Matt walked over to Barry, placing a hand on his shoulder, and gave a small smile.
"Don't worry, we're totally here for you my main Barry man. But, maybe it was lightning that gave you lightning blasts."
"We haven't seen that yet."
Cisco commented from the side, Matt nodding in agreement.
"That would be cool. Lightning Barry Allen…how about Sparky?"
"Hey, hey! I come up with the names around here!"
"Well, where's my name then~?"
"It's coming, I'm thinking hard!"
Matt stuck out his tongue childishly towards Cisco who did the same, but in a friendly way.
Barry was lost in their conversation, he really didn't know what the heck was going on.
Barry walked over towards a screen, where he could see his body.
"Wh…Lightning gave me abs?"
"I know, I had to work hard for mine, and you get them from lightning. Totally unfair." Caitlin lightly tapped him on the arm. "What?"
She rolled her eyes at him.
"Nothing."
She retorted, though her eyes said "He doesn't need to hear that right now!" so he relented and nodded his head, even if she didn't say anything at all.
Barry gave a confused look towards Matt, as if he had seen him before.
"W-Who did you say you were again?"
"Matt, Matt Stone. And you're Barry Allen, and you've been quite, unconscious for a few months. Well, more than that actually. It seems like you've been…quite edgy lately, with all of the things that you've been doing…weird, huh."
Barry had to sit down, trying to get his head together.
"For how long was I unconscious for exactly?"
"Nine months." Harrison came into the room on his wheelchair. "Welcome back, Mister Allen. We have a lot to discuss. Now, if you'll follow me."
Barry nodded, taking a jumper that had S.T.A.R Labs across the front of it, and then he disappeared with the wheelchair bound man.
As soon as they left, Matt sat down on the bed, while Caitlin gave him a look.
"What?"
"You ask him about having powers immediately?"
"Ooh come on, don't tell me you two aren't curious. He was struck with lightning. If some weird energy gave me powers, then what would lightning give up? Lightning powers? Though I'm gonna go for super speed. I mean, going that fast, you'd get so much done during your day. I wish I had super speed, at least it would save me the constant headaches."
"Super speed for the win man!"
Cisco, and Matt high fived one another, while Caitlin rolled her eyes.
"Boys…I really don't understand you."
"Even if you don't, you've got to be curious Caitlin. I mean, this is a chance for me to get some rest…"
"Ooh no, you can't Matt!"
Cisco argued, Matt's eyebrows twitching.
"Why?"
"Because we don't know what kind of powers Barry has and we don't know if he'd want to help us. Even if he does end up having super speed, and having a good heart to help out, we'd still need you for your mind reading, and your fighting skills. No offense to Barry but I don't think he knows how to fight. Maybe you could teach him?"
Matt didn't hear anything that he'd like to hear honestly, it didn't sound right to him at least.
"…You're just worried the new costume you're working on for me isn't going to be used."
Cisco sweat dropped, but logic won out here.
"Okay, yes, there's that too. But, two out there. As they say, two heads are better than one head. Super speed, and super mind powers. What else could there be? That's the ultimate team up right there! And that way, we'd have a better chance at defeating the villains."
Matt looked down at his phone at that moment, getting a message. He saw that it was from Iris, and it said "Wanna meet and discuss story ideas? Got some on the mystery man of the town." to which he replied "Okay!" and ended the conversation right there.
"Eeh…I suppose you're right in the end there Cisco. You caught me with your logic. Okay, if Barry does need my help, then I'll help him out. But, I do need to go and meet Iris now, so say goodbye to Barry for me."
"Oh, you're meeting Iris?"
Matt looked up from his phone, nodding his head towards Cisco.
"We've been collaborating on story ideas, and wants to meet. Heck, I'll go and tell her that Barry is awake, and bring her here to see him. Stories be damned, this is real life love, or something. Iris truly did miss her Barry and all~ Well, gotta go~ See you later~"
Matt walked out of the room, and headed towards the exit.
The long corridors always got to Matt. Even after three or so months, he didn't like the idea of traversing these corridors alone. But, he'd have to go get out of their in one piece, and that's how he always felt around this place.
When he made it to the elevator, he happened to come across Barry again, waiting for it as well.
"Oh, hey again Barry. You going as well?"
"Gonna go and see someone. Apparently, not seen her for nine months. I'm dying to see her again and see what's changed, and what's not, and if she's…well, what's going on in her life. I'm sure you would…have you been in a coma for nine months?"
"No, but I've been in Hell for nine months." Barry looked confused, so Matt waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. What does is, that you're awake. Iris was so-"
"Wait." Matt was cut off by Barry. "Y-You know Iris? You're friends?"
Seeing the confused face, Matt thought that he would have to explain, and it was…refreshing to not know Barry's thoughts for a change. Because, they were moving too fast for his mind to comprehend, Matt didn't know what Barry was going to say. It was unpredictable, he couldn't predict what Barry was going to say, adding some mystery in his life…yet, at the same time, the very idea of being near Barry did hurt, because his thoughts were that fast, his brain couldn't process them.
"Huh…yeah, we're friends. Good friends in fact. Best friends wouldn't be a stretch. Nine months, was a long time for us, not for you though. Things changed. I went from casual friends with Iris, to being quite friendly with her in the span of nine months. I suppose you'd want to see her right away."
Barry looked lost in his own thoughts about Iris.
Nine months was a long time, and even Matt could tell that he missed Iris, just like she missed him. and the theory of her liking him and vice versa were things that were becoming quite the reality right now.
Matt couldn't hear his thoughts, they were going too fast, but he did pick out Iris' name from time to time.
"It's okay, I'm going to go and meet Iris myself. Want to go together? She's been coming here for the nine months you had been here, she cried a lot, and leaned on my shoulder to cry. Though to be fair, she's done a fair bit for me to. So, wanna ride?"
"That'd be great! Thanks Matt!"
Matt shook his head as the elevator came. They both got inside, and went down.
"It's not a problem Barry, we've both got to see a certain coffee girl anyway for, different reasons. Nine months…must be difficult to even think about what's changed in the world."
"Yeah…it's been nine months, wonder what's changed?"
"Eh, not much really. At least, not as much as you'd think. Well, if you watch Bones then you might be surprised who died in it…but, I guess you might not watch Bones. I love Brennan though…"
""She's so quirky that its actually cute~""
Barry and Matt pull away from one another, then began laughing together.
"Exactly, she's an adorable little weirdo~"
"Yeah, she really is…"
Barry and Matt snicker at one another, as they continued going down the elevator together.
"Anyway, about before, if I kinda was...a little eager with the lightning questions and all, sorry about that. It's just, relieving to possibly meet someone like me that doesn't want me to die." Barry tilted his head. "Aah, it doesn't matter. If you develop...certain things, I am sure you and I could, talk more." Matt then noticed something. "Either way, here we go, let's get going! Onwards to Iris!"
Barry smiled, as the elevator came to the stop, and they walked out together. Matt had to wonder, just what kind of powers Barry had. He was definitely convinced that Barry had some kind of powers, but he didn't know what they were. It would be a blast to find out.
End chapter!
So, Barry's awake, Matt's going through, quite the rough time, in contrast to Barry who didn't really go through much when he gained his powers, differences and all. Since it's been three months from last chapter, Matt, and Caitlin are, cosying up to one another, even if they both don't even really realize it yet, and Matt being in a 'relationship' and he somewhat explained why he puts up with what he does, and it shall be explored more in the future, so will Rachael as well. Iris seems to be having, quite the fascination with him, and something, might happen next chapter with that. Also next chapter has Matt begin to use his telekinetic powers, though without full control, at least not to the point of his darker counterpart. Speaking of, Evil Matt showed the ability to make energy weapons, I guess psychic energy weapons, Good Matt shall show that ability as well in the future.
For the name, wow, quite a few voted, both reviews and PM's so I have to thank you all for that! But...yeah, it kinda was even between Psylocke and Psyche so yeah...I'll leave it up one more chapter, to see which between the two would be which. The one that doesn't win here, would be the name for Earth 2's Matt, and the Mentalist for Matt's 'evil' persona, seems to be popular, and does sound like an evil dudes name, so yeah, I'll probably go with that. Anyway, thanks for reading, and until next time!
