Oh my God! Thank you for all the reviews last chapter! I know, I'm evil ;P I'm so sorry it took so long to update… but enjoy this now! :D
Oh, and in response to: Guest who commented on my lateness for updating: Well, I'll let you know in future and you can come do my homework for me- then I'll update quicker :)
Episode 10
Maya watched as the drone chased Barry along the runway, firing shots at him as Barry ran at lightning speed. He was angry. She knew that. Ever since the encounter with the Man in Yellow he'd been on edge, he'd also been pressing himself harder- pressing himself to get faster.
Barry stopped on the track, dodging a few shots as the drone shot past him before running off again. Maya looked to the side as Caitlin approached, giving Cisco a concerned look as the engineer controlled the machine that was chasing Barry.
"That was too close," Caitlin commented, looking slightly worried.
Cisco followed the drone as it blasted out, "He told me to make it hard."
"Yeah," Maya scoffed," Hard. Not homicidal."
"Remember," Wells reminded them, "This is just supposed to be a training exercise to improve Barry's speed."
Maya scowled, crossing her arms. Something was definitely up with Wells, Maya found it more noticeable since Christmas when the "Reverse-Flash" (as Cisco named him) attacked him.
"Cisco!" Barry shouted through the comslink, "You gonna bring it or what?!"
Cisco slowly turned to look at Dr Wells and the Dr didn't glance away, "Bring it."
Maya and Cisco exchanged a smirk and Maya took the control board, "You're on, speedy."
Fiddling with the buttons, Maya managed to deploy a missile, it bolted from the drone and hit the ground, catapulting Barry forwards.
Barry slowly pulled himself up on one knee, glaring at the drone. Caitlin look worried, "Why isn't he running away?"
As Cisco and Caitlin watched Barry, Maya's eyes shifted slightly at movement to her right. It took a lot of willpower to keep a neutral expression; Harrison Wells was gripping the arm of his chair, one foot placed on the ground as if he wasn't paralysed.
But Caitlin's worried voice brought her back, "Barry run away."
Maya watched as Barry, a determined expression on his face, ran at the approaching second missile, grabbing it by its front and lugging it back at the drone. Said drone exploded on impact as its own missile hit it.
A mountain of belly burgers and fried later, Barry sat in his chair, wiping his mouth as he sat back, exhausted.
Wells nodded, "Very impressive, Mister Allen, your reaction and stimulant at super-speed continues to improve."
Barry shook his head, "Still not enough."
"It will be," Wells instantly replied, "You keep working like you are, you stay focused, and you will be ready the next time the Man in the Yellow suit comes around."
"I think you mean… "The Reverse Flash"…" Cisco corrected dramatically, grinning at Maya, who shook her head with a smile, "What? He said it- not me. And he's right: yellow suit, red lightning, and evil- the reverse of Barry."
"Meh," Caitlin shrugged.
"Actually I kinda like it," Wells nodded.
"Eh," Maya moved her head from side to side contemplating, "Not sure on the last one…"
"Hey!" Barry exclaimed, lightning nudging Maya.
"Alright I'm still ready for another round," Barry announced, he pointed to Cisco, "How many drones you got left?"
"Two," Cisco instantly replied before snatching the controls off Maya, "And this time I will be controlling them."
Maya smirked, "Best part?"
She and Cisco high-fived as the scientist pointed down at the crated, "These one's got lasers!"
Later That Day,
At S.T.A.R. Labs…
"Captain Cold's back?" Maya inquired as they walked into the main lab.
"For a non-metahuman, Snart is proving to be quite the nemesis," Wells pointed out.
"He still has the cold gun he stole from us," Cisco sighed, "the one I built."
Caitlin smiled at him reassuringly.
Maya turned to Barry, "What did he steal this time?"
"Nothing," Barry shrugged.
Maya crossed her arms, "Okay what did he want?"
Barry held up his arms, "The Flash and Ghost."
Caitlin and Maya's eyebrows shot up, and the girls exchanged a look. Barry shrugged, "If Snart wants a fight- I'll give him one."
"Well…" Wells trailed off.
"You don't think I should give him one?" Barry frowned.
"I didn't say that but… Barry, as fast as you are, you cannot be everywhere at once," Wells pointed out, "And then comes a question of priority, now in the last month you have made a commitment to increasing your speed and your reflexes and it is working, you're finally getting faster."
"Okay but what am I supposed to do then?" Barry looked confused, "Just ignore Snart?"
"The last time you had a fight with Snart a train de-railed, you were lucky to get all those people to safety," Wells sat forwards.
"Let me go, then," Maya interrupted, "I don't have to be in two places at once, let me go after Snart."
"No, maybe if you both stay low, he'll back off- and there won't be any casualties," Wells shook his head, "Look, me and Cisco will work with the police to devise a way to catch Cold," Cisco turned to look at him and Wells glanced back, "Yes I heard it, the second it came out of my mouth I heard it."
Cisco grinned as he leant on the desk, "Yeah we can definitely come up with a way to neutralise Snart."
Last night I told ya I loved ya, woke up blamed it on the vodka. I generally thought I was dying and I could see that smile you were hiding, last night I told you I need ya, that's the last time I drink teq-
Maya cursed, pulling her phone out, muttering under her breath, "Last time I let my sister mess with my freaking phone…"
They all looked up as Maya checked the caller ID: Calling: Your Fave Sibling…
Maya rolled her eyes and grimaced when she looked up, "Its family, I gotta take this."
Walking out, Maya clicked accept and pressed the phone to her ear, "I'm gonna kill you for messing with my phone."
"Maya? Maya this is urgent," Cecilia Black's voice was worried as she answered.
Maya was instantly alert, "What is it? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, it's Thea. She's panicking. Ollie hasn't come home in a week or so… Maya I talked to his girlfriend, Felicity- she is his girlfriend, right? Anyway, I talked to her about it and she just started crying! May, where's Ollie?"
Maya was frozen, Oliver had told her about Ra's and how he was going to fight him. She'd offered to pull a few strings, sort it all without possible harm. It was her fault, she should've been more persistent- Oliver was probably dead already. No. Oliver was stronger than that, he was alive- she knew it.
"Cece, Ollie's probably fine- just off on vacation or something, tell Thea not to worry," Maya assured her sister.
"…" there was a moment of silence on the other end, "Okay. Only because you say so."
"Love you."
"Love you, too, Maya. I still can't believe your back…"
"Bye Cece."
"Rude."
The line went dead and Maya chuckled to herself, shoving her phone in her leather jackets pocket and walking back into the main lab.
The Next Day,
West Residence…
Maya swung her leg off her bike, taking off her helmet and moving her neck as she turned to skip towards the West's house. Walking through the door, Maya pushed it open as Joe and Iris hugged, Joe saying how much he'd miss his little girl.
"Ugh, family mush," Maya turned to shut the door.
"Hey, hey!" Iris shouted, looking at Maya over Joe's shoulder, "Get back in here! You're an honorary West."
"I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult," Maya grinned and she walked back through the door, pulling Iris into a hug, "I'm gonna miss you."
"Geez, what's with you guys? I'm only ten minutes away," Iris laughed, "And besides, you moved out a month ago."
"Yeah… Christmas present off ma parents," Maya rocked on her heels.
"Oh, hey…" they all turned to see Barry walk through the door, a grin on his face.
"Hey, so you both her to help Iris pack?" Joe inquired.
"No… she said she had something for me…?" Maya turned to look at Iris.
"Oh, same," Barry nodded, smiling slightly.
"Yes! Thanks for reminding me," Iris grinned, pointing her two index fingers at her best friends before striding over to the cardboard boxes stationed next to the sofa.
Iris knelt by the box and pulled out a red rucksack, she stood up and grimaced as she handed it to Barry, "I found this… in my, um… closet…"
Barry grinned as he took the rucksack and Joe started laughing- Maya noticed the green turtle on the stairs and frowned, wasn't that the turtle Iris said Joe had taken off her when she was little. Looked like they all had a knack for hiding things.
"I haven't seen this in years!" Barry exclaimed, chuckling as he sat down and opened the rucksack to reveal a variety of things only he wouldn't be able to live without.
"Well," Iris grinned, "the nerd survival kit is still intact."
"Whoa…" Barry breathed as he pulled out the vintage comic and looked at it.
"I, uh, thought those would be worth something," Iris smiled before her eyes widened and she darted back to the box where she then pulled out a purple iPod shuffle, "Oh, and I found this… I think it's yours…"
Maya's eyes widened as she took the iPod back, she turned it over as her mouth opened and closed like a fish, "But, you, er, what- you said you lost this!"
"I… lied?" Iris grinned guiltily as she watched Maya scowl and shove the gadget protectively in her pocket, Iris glanced at her watch and cursed, "Well, I have to go- so late for work! And since my lovely co-worker, Maya here, is coming with me we better leave- now!"
Maya scoffed, "You make it sound as if I purposely make you late, Iris. Let's go."
Checking her phone as she walked to the door, Maya grimaced worriedly as it showed no communication from Oliver- just a blank screen.
This is bad, he'd never keep up radio silence this long, Maya thought.
"I will… uh… I will tidy this up when I get back," Iris promised, grabbing her coat, "Maya will help."
Maya looked up from her phone, "Will I?"
"Yes, you will, now come on- we're late as it is!" Iris complained, grabbing Maya by the wrist and dragging her out the door.
Soon the duo were heading towards Jitters, Iris rambling about the job she was possibly getting offered at the Central City Picture News, Maya nodded and mumbled the odd "Uh-huh" and "Yeah…", but her mind was on other things- on how Oliver not surviving the duel with Ra's Al Ghul was starting to become an intimidating possibility.
Hours Later,
CCPD Precinct…
Maya strode into the Precinct, concern written all over her face as she made a bee line for Joe and Barry, who were standing by the door frame talking in hushed voices.
Coming to a stop next to them, Maya looked between the two of them, "What happened? I came as soon as I heard something was up."
"Looks like Snart's back," Barry sighed, "And this time he's got an accomplice. Someone with a gun like his, but this one uses fire."
"And ironically they stole the Fire and Ice painting? I don't know whether to laugh or roll my eyes," Maya commented before looking to Joe, "You know how many were hurt?"
"Not many, most were treated on the scene, but we've got two in the burn unit," Joe shook his head.
"I'm… I'm sorry, we should've been there," Barry apologised, Maya nodded as she ran a hand through her hair.
"It's fine guys, but next time Snart and his pyro-buddy show up," Joe's expression hardened, "You make them sorry they ever messed with you two."
"Trust me, I'll make them sorry they picked up the freaking guns in the first place," Maya growled.
CC Jitters…
Maya was back at CC Jitters, taking the later shift to make up for what she missed visiting CCPD Precinct earlier. She looked up and raised an eyebrow as Caitlin came barrelling through the doors, casting her a smile before she focused in on the cocoa-skinned man who'd just bought some coffee.
"Hey Caitlin," Maya grinned, "the usual?"
"Please," Caitlin nodded, then turning back to the man.
Maya turned her back, starting to make Caitlin's regular drink, only glancing back when Caitlin's stressed voice caught her ears.
After finishing making the drink, Maya headed over to Caitlin and the man's table, placing her drink in front of her.
"Thanks, Maya," Caitlin looked at the blonde, "Can I pay you after?"
"Nah, it's on me, don't worry," Maya shook her head, she'd already put her own money in the register.
"You sure? I don't-."
"Cait, it's fine- but maybe I could catch a lift home after my shift? Barry gave me a lift here."
"Sure," Caitlin smiled warmly.
"Ciao," Maya waved before heading back to the counter, pulling out her phone again to check for news from Oliver or even Cece. Nada… but there was something from Felicity.
Felicity: Maya, this is serious- it's about Oliver. We need to talk, call me when you see this.
Maya groaned, she couldn't call Felicity on her shift, she'd have to do it after- but if it was about Ollie…
"Gah I hate my job," Maya complained, shoving her phone back in her ripped black skinny jeans before taking over the washing up from Jessie.
An hour or so later, the man Caitlin was with long gone, Maya was released from her shift. Sighing in relief, the blonde grabbed her black leather jacket from her area along with her trust shoulder bag before she headed for the door, Caitlin at her side.
The cold hair hit them harshly as CC Jitters' doors swung close behind them and the duo stepped into the night, the path to the car park only illuminated by the yellow light of the street lamps.
"Thanks again for waiting, Caitlin," Maya said thankfully as she zipped up her jacket.
"Anytime, you paid for my coffee after all," Caitlin replied before pulling out her own phone and quickly loading an article on Professor Stein.
The two continued walking towards Caitlin's mint-green Fiat, Maya felt a sense of something being wrong and her emerald green eyes were suddenly scouring the car par, her senses on alert. Nothing.
The uneasy feeling didn't leave her as they reached the car and Caitlin paused to pull her keys from her bag. Then a blue flame hit the window and the side of the car froze over.
Maya cursed, spinning to face Captain Cold and his partner. Snart grinned, "Car trouble?"
"Caitlin run," Maya ordered, both of them already turning away.
Caitlin made it further as Maya quickly threw a punch at the partner which sent him stumbling, but as she spun to move away something cold and hard hit her in the back of her head and she fell to the floor, blacking out and leaving behind the sound of Caitlin screaming.
Snart and Rory's Hideout…
Maya woke up groggily, but as soon as she didn't recognise her surroundings she was awake, her eyes sharp as they took in her surroundings. She went to move herself, only to find her hands tied behind her, she cursed before her mind quickly started to formulate an escape plan.
Then she heard it.
Caitlin's groan of pain as she stirred, Maya's attention instantly snapped to Dr Snow.
"Caitlin, Cait are you okay?" Maya inquired.
"I think so, you?" Caitlin questioned.
"I've been through much worse."
Two sets of footsteps echoes through the warehouse as Snart and his accomplice approached.
"Ah, if it isn't our wonderful kidnappers," Maya smiled sarcastically, "How are you two?"
"Much better than you two, I can assure you," Snart stated plainly.
"And you, Pyro?" Maya mocked concern.
"Peachy, thanks, princess," the arsonist growled.
"Mick," Cold said warningly before smiling at them, "Now if you don't mind," Snart said plainly as he readied a camera, "I have a city to address."
Maya rolled her eyes as Mick dragged her from her chair, holding her arm in one hand and then pulling up Caitlin with the other.
"This ought to be interesting," Maya muttered as she started working on lifting her leg up high enough to grab the trusty knife from her boot- which actually came in quite useful fairly often.
"Greetings, citizens of Central City," Snart spoke into the camera, "I am Lenard Snart, but you can call me Cold. I'm going to make this extremely simple for you; this red streak you've been hearing whispers about, and the vanishing girl that's been rumoured to run through walls- the ones mysteriously saving people these past few months? Well surprise, they're real. He calls himself… the Flash, and her… the Ghost."
Maya mentally face palmed, so much for just being a whisper of a rumour, now they were public- this was not going to end well.
"Porter and Main," Snart continued, giving the coordinates, "tonight, sundown- come out come out wherever you are, heroes. Show the whole world you're both real. Or these women die."
Maya's attention snapped to the camera and she spoke before she thought, "Don't come for us- do not come."
"Just stay away!" Caitlin added, both of them hoping Barry got the message.
The video ended then, and Mick dragged them back to their chairs, tying them back up before he started setting up the triggers for whatever he was planning.
Maya watched his every move, making note of each detail so she'd know what to do when they left… well… when Maya broke them out.
As Mick moved her chair, Maya turned to glare at him, her bright green eyes narrowing to slits as she stared him down,.
Mick stared right back, "You're a friend of theirs, huh?"
"You could say that," Maya spat.
"He's fast and she, she can vanish in a blink… like fire," Mick stated before he whipped out a lighter, lighting the lint and staring mesmerised at the bright flame, "fire it's… undefinable. Heat, light, energy."
Maya watched as he placed his hand over the hot flame, watching as it danced up against his skin.
Mick was almost hypnotised, "It's an evolution when things burn."
Maya laughed sardonically, "You're crazy."
Mick snapped the lighter shut, his hypnotic trance turning to a cold glare, "Maybe you're the crazy ones, ever think about that?"
"Yeah I did," Maya snapped back, surprising Mick slightly, "And maybe I am. But I'm not sick, and you are."
Mick opened his mouth to reply, but Caitlin piped up from next to Maya, "You've got third degree burns."
She was referring to the distorted, red marks that marred Mick's left arm, travelling from his elbow to across his shoulder.
"Why didn't you get skin grafts?" Caitlin questioned.
"The fire revealed my true self, showed me who I truly am," Mick stated.
"That's insane," Maya shook her head.
"I wonder what your Flash will reveal," Mick shot forwards, narrowing his eyes at the blonde, "When I burn his suit and skin off- or maybe your Ghost, I wonder what her true self is…"
Maya instantly went into defence, staring at him intensely with a cold glare.
"Do whatever you want to me- kill me even, but touch him and I will make sure you don't live to see that sundown- so don't touch him," Maya hissed venomously, making Mick flinch slightly.
"Ooo," Mick soon recovered, grinning at her, "You must really care about this Flash, saying all that, if you're willing to die for him- and you didn't even mention that Ghost girl."
Maya didn't move, but her glare remained just as scary as she stated calmly, "If you touch him, I will kill you."
Mick smirked before he pulled up his heat-gun, loading it quickly, "Why don't I show you who you truly are?"
The gun glowed red as it booted up and Caitlin's eyes widened as the thought flickered through her mind that Mick was crazy enough to do it, and Maya was stubborn enough to go along with it.
"Do it," Maya dared, but a scary smirk set on her face, "But I can assure you it won't be pretty what you find."
"Let's see who you truly are then."
The sadistic smile remained on his face as he raised the heat gun towards Maya's face, who carried on staring straight at him and Caitlin started to shift uncomfortably.
"Mick."
Snart's unimpressed and annoyed voice cut through the silence as the man in the blue parka stared at the trio with a bored expression.
"Time to go," Snart stated, already moving to grab his gun.
Mick flicked a switch on Caitlin's chair before doing the same to Maya's, "You better pray the next people who come through that door is us."
Then he tied a piece of cloth around both of their mouths before picking up his own gun and striding away.
As soon as the warehouse door slammed shut Maya spat the rag out of her mouth, sliding the knife from up her jacket sleeve into her hand and quickly cut through the ropes.
Caitlin looked slightly shocked, her voice muffled slightly from the material, "Where did you pull that from?"
Maya grinned, "I snagged it from my boot when Cold was making that public speech, hid it up my sleeve until now."
Maya undid her feet and moved towards Caitlin, who instantly shook her head, "No, leave me- someone will come, go help Barry."
"Caitlin I can't just lea-."
"Maya. Barry stands more of a chance of making it out of there alive if you're by his side. Barry will have Cisco on our whereabouts. They'll be here soon."
"Are you sure?"
"Go!"
Maya nodded before taking off, leaping over the trigger and sensors as she legged it for the door, wrenching it open and looking around.
In the distance she could see S.T.A.R. Labs, at a guess she estimated about a ten minute run- at her top speed. Maya's face hardened as she clenched her fists before she took off down the pavement, racing as fast as she could towards S.T.A.R. Labs.
Ten Minutes Later…
Maya had soon taken to running through the air, speeding over rooftop to rooftop as she avoided cars and turns, just heading in a straight line towards the massive science lab.
She reached it in just over ten minutes, landing on the roof silent and racing towards the roof exit, the adrenaline pumping through her veins keeping exhaustion at bay and keeping her legs moving.
Maya burst through the doors to the main lab, causing Dr Wells to look up in surprise at the intruder. But Maya wasn't focused on that, the only thing going through her mind was saving Barry.
And that's why within two minutes she had her familiar blue suit on was slipping her black mask on as she snatched her Bō from the table and was already racing out of the door before Wells had a chance to ask her anything.
The Ghost didn't even take her bike, she was already sprinting through the air towards the street where police cars swarmed and the Flash dodged streams of ice and fire.
Barry dropped to the floor from the building, slightly out of breath as he hit the concrete, before he could stand and burning cold jet of frost hit him square on, sending him hurtling backwards down the street.
Barry watched as Captain Cold and Heatwave raised their guns and locked on him, his breathing was ragged and he knew there was a slim chance he could move in time.
The Flash groaned, writhing on the floor as the frostbite starting to hit him and the cold burnt through the suit and bit into his skin and nerves.
"You ready to die, Flash?!" Cold shouted as they neared, "Shame your little girlfriend isn't here to save you!"
Cold and Heatwave exchanged smug smirks before they turned back to the Scarlet Speedster and readied their guns. They fired.
"Be careful what you wish for, boys!"
A smile crept onto his face as Barry watched a flickering blue force field erupt in front of him, the ice and fire hitting it harmlessly.
The Ghost suddenly appeared at his side, dropping from the air next to him in her blue suit and a smirk on her face.
"Hey, Speedy," Ghost grinned, "Miss me?"
Barry gave her a weak smile and Maya gave him a pained one back, the heat and cold hitting the shield from the guns starting to get to her.
The criminals let out annoyed growls as they increased their guns powers but Barry stood up, whisking him and Maya to the side and away from the streams.
Snart and Rory stopped their attack, moving apart to try and attack from a different angle.
"I can get them to cross paths!" Barry shouted over the coms, "Speed isn't getting it done."
"That's fine. Now you've got invisibility and intangibility as well," Wells replied, referring to the Ghost.
Maya's eyes widened slightly, "Or maybe it's not about powers at all."
Wells immediately caught on, "Maybe it's not."
Barry got it quickly, "Maybe it's about pushing through."
"Maybe," Wells nodded.
Maya and Barry exchanged a look, both of them taking in deep breaths before they turned back to face the two temperature villains.
Turning to Barry, Maya then held out her hand, Barry looked at it for a moment before taking it. Maya didn't care how it looked, holding onto Barry would help her get through it- and if it helped Barry too, nothing else mattered.
They slowly moved forwards before Barry shot forwards in a blur, then slowed again as the two guns hit them, ice hitting Maya and fire hitting Barry. The two were soon letting out pained yells and groans as they pushed forwards, moving between the two of the villains.
Barry let out a cry as Maya hissed in pain, but the two of them were directly in-between them and that was all that was needed for Barry to sweep Maya up and shoot forwards away from the guns.
The two guns' streams immediately hit one another and quickly started to cause them to malfunction, crossing the other out almost immediately as the criminals lost control.
Sparks exploded from the machines as they broke down and the two men were sent catapulting backwards, landing on the ground painfully and dropping their guns.
Barry and Maya exchanged a look before parting ways, Barry heading to Cold as Maya strode towards Heatwave, breathing heavily as her mutilated blue suit rubbed her frozen skin.
Heatwave rolled onto his side, taking a deep breath before he started clawing his way towards his heat-manipulating gun, only for a black booted foot to step on it.
Mick looked up at the Ghost, who stared right back at him with hard green eyes.
"You got me, ghost girl," Mick smirked up at her.
"Guess your true self isn't all you made it out to be, huh?" Maya mocked icily, she knew she might have just given away her identity- but the look of rage and shock on the criminals face was worth it.
Chief Singh appeared at her shoulder, gun at the ready and pointed at Heatwave. He glanced at the heroine in slight shock.
"Chief," the Ghost nodded before she vanished, disappearing like her namesake.
CCPD Precinct…
Maya stood next to Barry, both of them watching amongst the crowd of police officers as Mick Rory and Leonard Snart were escorted through the precinct… the latter going a lot… quieter… than his accomplice.
"I'll burn every last one of you pigs!" Mick yelled as the officers pushed him towards the doors into the offices.
Maya watched with Barry inside the doors along with Joe, both of them wincing as Mick tore away from his officers and struggled against them. Joe was moving in seconds, shouting at the criminal to get back as he pulled his gun out.
Mick growled at the gun like a mad-man, when he was finally moved on Snart moved forwards calmly, Maya crossed her arms and edged forwards with Barry.
"You're partner's a real hot-head," Joe commented as he moved forwards.
"That's funny," Snart stated blankly.
"You know what's hilarious, Snart?" Joe inquired, "We got you."
Cold's face gave away no emotion, "Congratulations."
"Get him out of here," Joe ordered, looking to the officers holding him.
Barry turned to face Eddie, "Nice work, Eddie."
Maya spun to look at the scene, slightly surprised at Barry's comment.
"It wasn't me," Eddie shook his head, "It was them. The Flash and the Ghost."
Barry and Maya looked at each other, exchanging smiles as they took in what Eddie said.
Thawne turned to Cisco, holding the heat and ice guns, "We won't be needing these for trials, make sure they-."
"Never hurt anyone ever again," Cisco finished, taking the guns from the Detective, his face telling Eddie it wasn't going to happen.
Eddie nodded, a small smile on his face before leaving. Cisco sighed and walked to the beige tray sitting on a desk, he carefully placed the two guns into it and picked it up.
Maya looked away and turned to face Barry and the two of them started to walk back through the crowd towards the doors.
As they walked, they overheard a group of four officers discussing the Ghost and the Flash, saying how they blurred through the street or disappeared into thin air and took the criminals out singlehandedly. They said they were heroes.
Barry and Maya carried on walking, smiles on their faces. When they reached the elevator Maya stopped and looked at Barry.
"I think they're right, we are heroes. We should be proud of that, Barry."
The Next Day,
West Residence…
Maya pulled to a stop on her bike, dismounting it easily and heading for the door which stood open.
"-Come around whenever you want, just give us a heads up… O-or not, you know, come round whenever- you want a key?"
Eddie's nervous voice floated out onto the driveway and Maya sent the strawberry-haired officer a smirk as they passed before she walked through the door.
"You know, I think Joe might have to kick me out now that you're gone."
Barry, Joe and Iris all turned to Maya, all smiling at her as she stopped in the doorway.
"Nah, course not," Joe ruffled her hair, "You're like my second daughter anyway,"
"Mm, yeah, we both know you couldn't handle two daughters Joe," Maya teased as she patted his shoulder before moving to give Iris a hug.
"I'm gonna miss you making me late for work," Iris sighed as she hugged the blonde tightly.
"And I'll miss you waking me up in the mornings," Maya retorted before pausing and putting on a serious tone, "Now, if he gives you any trouble you tell me, 'kay? I'll beat the hell outta him."
They pulled apart and Iris shook her head, "They say the boyfriend should be afraid of the father, but really it should be the badass, blonde, ex-assassin best friend who lives with you."
Maya scoffed, "Got that right."
Iris then turned to Barry and the two best friends hugged tightly, rocking side to side as Iris said about how she was gonna miss his sci-fi films and Dr Who reruns constantly on the television.
"Group hug," Iris suddenly announced, grabbing Maya by the arm and trying to pull her in.
"Nope. No, no, no, no, no," Maya refused, though a smile crept onto her face before Barry grabbed her arms and she sighed in defeat.
"Yay," Iris beamed as Maya joined the hug and the three of them tightly embraced, "I'm gonna miss you guys. Really."
"We'll miss you too, Iris," Maya breathed.
"Now we have no one to wake us up in the mornings," Barry teased.
"Shut up, guys," Iris pushed them away playfully.
The TV started up and the trio turned to look at Joe on the sofa, a photo caught Iris's eye on the stand and she slowly walked to it.
"Dad, may I…?" Iris trailed off, gesturing to the photo.
"Yeah, sure," Joe nodded.
Iris slowly picked up the wooden framed photo; it was of Barry, Maya and Iris, all of them huddled together with Iris and Maya sitting on the sofa grinning with Maya's arms looped around Iris's shoulders and Iris' around Maya's middle and Barry leaning on their shoulders behind them, smiling brightly. They all looked so happy.
Maya and Barry moved forwards to get a good look at the photo and they both smiled, Maya leaning into Barry and resting her head onto his shoulder, Barry moved his arm over her shoulder.
Joe and Iris hugged one last time and Joe grasped her hand and shook it slightly, "Bye, baby girl."
"Bye, dad," Iris smiled before turning back to Maya and Barry and hugging them both together, whispering in their ears, "Please get together soon, you're a really cute couple."
When she pulled back they were both bright red and Iris grinned before waving, "Bye, guys." Then she walked out of the door.
As soon as she was gone, all three of them let out a deep sigh and Maya collapsed onto the sofa next to Joe.
"Well," Barry breathed, dropping down next to Maya.
"You two okay?" Joe questioned as he sat forwards,
"Yeah," Barry nodded.
"No," Maya stated, "She left me with you two."
Barry lighting hit her arm before turning back to Joe, "How about you?"
"It was bound to happen at some point, right?" Joe admitted.
"Mhm," Barry and Maya replied.
"Wanna order some pizza and watch the ball game?" Joe invited them.
"Make it Dr Who or Supernatural and I'm in," Maya bargained, Joe raised and eyebrow and she shrugged.
The turned to Barry who raised his eyebrows, "Make it pizzas and you're on."
Both Maya and Joe laughed and Maya pushed Barry before lying on his shoulder.
"If you ever need anyone to come and eat your food, Maya and I are here," Barry assured Joe before pausing, "And besides the washing machines in my building have been broken for like a month so…"
"I don't know why you moved into that death trap in the first place when you've got a perfectly good room here," Joe pointed out, "And God knows what made Maya leave."
"I'm twenty six, I thought it was time I actually had my own place," Maya interjected.
"Yeah but you're room's still the way you left it," Joe explained.
Barry frowned at Joe, "You said you were turning mine into a gym."
"Mine was becoming an office," Maya mused.
"We all know I'm not turning either into a gym- or an office," Joe said flatly, earning grins from the other two followed by laughs, "Besides, you two got me running around enough as it is."
"You know it is getting hard to hide the blasting in and out of my apartment at all hours of the day from my neighbours," Barry started.
"I have the same problem, you'd be surprised how many people look out the fire escape at two o'clock in the morning," Maya paused, "I think my neighbours are little afraid of me…"
"I suppose it would make sense for me to move back in…" Barry continued, sitting up.
"Me too, I mean it would be a lot easier- and you know about our nightly activities so it would help!" Maya added.
Barry nodded, "I mean we are a millennials that is what we do."
"Well don't do it on my account," Joe laughed, "I'll be fine on my own."
"Oh yeah, me too, sure," Barry nodded.
"Same here," Maya agreed, though a smile crept onto her face.
Maya rolled her eyes and batted at him, "Just go get your stuff already, speedy. Get mine whilst you're at it!"
Barry grinned before shooting off in a blur, reappearing moments later with three suitcases, two off duffel bags and a few black bags, he threw them to the floor, "Okay roomies, Joe you order the pizza, I'll unpack and Maya can put Dr Who on."
"No way," Joe smiled, picking up two more beers and handing one to Maya who also stood up, "We wanna help you. I wanna enjoy this."
"Besides, I actually have an order to my things," Maya grinned as she joined them by the door.
Joe handed the last beer the Barry and the three of them clicked bottles before swigging, Barry looked at it, "You know this does nothing to me?"
"Just drink it," Maya stated, Barry shrugged and took a sip, the three of them grinning.
Later That Night…
Maya sat in her newly unpacked room, staring at the screen of her phone as she sat at her desk. Nothing. Oliver was responding to none of her texts, calls or messages. Panic rose in her stomach as Maya opted whether or not to accept that Ra's Al Ghul killed her best friend or not.
Looking around her room, Maya groaned at the scattered boxes and bags from when she and Barry went back to her flat to get the things he'd missed- she'd have to get rid of those tomorrow.
Glancing one last time at her phone, Maya sighed and clicked the off button, placing it on her desk and looking at the bright like of the monitor. Cold had become a reoccurring enemy, so Maya decided to look into him and Mick Rory.
With a final sigh, the blonde clicked onto the database and started reading.
Okay guys, it's the holidays now- so hopefully more updates! Yay :D
READ: So! I have two scenarios/possible chapters for the next chappie guys- I want your opinion:
One- Maya stays in Central City and faces off against Hartley with Barry and Co, also taking up a new job in a certain place. She also starts worrying about Oliver and soon succumbs to visiting Al'mowt for information on what could've happened.
Or- Maya goes to Starling City using her present off Iris and checks up on Team Arrow to find Oliver presumed dead and the team in pieces. She revisits her family but is pulled back to Central later on as Hartley escaped and afterwards visits Al'mowt in her cell for information on Oliver.
Leave your choice in a comment? :)