Friendly Advice
"Hey Bar."
He turns abruptly, his attention torn away to find Eddie standing next to him with two beer bottles in his grasp, arm extended to offer one—apparently he and Iris have finally arrived for the cookout. Barry nods agreeably and echoes the greeting before he takes the offered bottle. He twists the top off with a grateful smile and downs a large, refreshing a gulp of the cold beverage—the perfect companion for this Saturday afternoon barbecue that Iris and Joe have orchestrated for their little group. Clearly not done with him, Eddie closes the small gap and settles against the rail of the deck, tracking the focus of the attention he'd just diverted with his greeting.
He's not the least surprised by what he finds at the end of Barry's former line of sight—Caitlin. "So, are you ever going to tell her?"
Barry chokes on his beer, nearly shatters the dark bottle in his unexpectedly clutching grip as he startles and stares wide eyed at the detective. For one wild second, he wonders if he's traveled back in time without meaning to—but no, this conversation had not started quite so amiably in the past (though, to be fair, Eddie had been remarkably understandable about his then-lingering feelings for Iris, after some initial shock at least). When he manages to dismiss that notion, he realizes that there's only one other her that Eddie could be referring to (which is the right one) and that knowledge draws a heavy breath from his lungs. He doesn't know how to respond—thankfully Eddie rarely needs him to, he can supply the conversation easily enough without help.
"You really should Barry," he nods to where she's talking with Joe, beaming widely at some story he's telling, tucking a long strand of dark hair behind her ear when the breeze shifts and knocks it loose of the tie she's got it in. "Not to poke at the subject but," he seems genuinely distressed over what he's about to say, clearly worried Barry will take it poorly. It's those overarching good intentions that make it so easy to like Eddie, so difficult to ever begrudge him his happiness with Iris (not that he would now anyway). "You don't want to lose your chance this time." The 'like you did with Iris' is implied but again, Eddie's too good hearted to come right out with it, he even half winces at the allegation twisted into his words.
For his part, Barry just shakes his head and resists the urge to roll his eyes too (honestly, he's not made of glass; it didn't happen, didn't work out; he's over it and he's beginning to realize that they weren't ever really meant for each other anyway). "It's complicated Eddie," because for all Eddie knows their stories (it had eventually become impossible to hide the true goings-on of Star Labs from Eddie and, by extension, Iris, thanks to the betrayal of Dr. Wells), he hasn't been there to watch them play out, can't understand them quite the same.
The proof is in his reaction, the way he just grins widely and shakes his head, as if Barry is just being too stubborn or too stupid. "It's really not Bar. You like her, she's good for you and you're good for her too—so do something about it, tell her how you feel."
It's not that easy, it can't be. Nothing about who and what they are is easy. He'd think that Eddie, as a cop, would understand that but then, Eddie has the girl, so clearly he can't understand it. Barry tries to figure out a way to explain this, taking a long swallow to sort his thoughts. "There's more to it then that Eddie—my past, her past, the Flash, it's just not as simple as you make it sound."
"Except it is," he interrupts, before Barry can continue to try and talk him around. "Because there's more to you two than that—then your pasts or your issues or even the Flash. You're real people, with real lives and real futures. That means your lives deserve to include more happiness." He uses his own beer to motion toward where Caitlin and Joe, now joined by Iris (Cisco is on the far side of the yard, tinkering with the grill) are talking. "And she makes you happy. So do something about it." Sensing the stalemate protests already building on Barry's lips, the way they have so often of late, even if they're only ever used against himself, Eddie claps him on the shoulder and walks away, head shaking a little as if miffed by how the smartest people he knows can be so clueless on what he believes to be such a simple issue.
Since he knows that sometimes calling a draw is easier then winning a victory, Barry just ignores him and lets his gaze wander back over, taking in the way the parts of his life have come to coincide. He's about to abandon his position to go help Cisco double check the gas lines when he sees movement in the distance. It's Caitlin, looking his way with that quiet, soft smile curling along the edge of her lips. His eyes catch on hers and for a long, lingering moment, he shares in her smile, returning it with equal sincerity.
Caught up in the soft brown, Barry can't help the little burst of optimism that warms his thoughts—maybe Eddie's right. Maybe it is that easy.
Just a little piece with some Barry/Eddie time because I think that (if it weren't for all the Flash stuff) they could get along pretty well. Really I just love the idea of that whole group being great friends and Eddie (and often Cisco) pushing Barry to do something about his growing feelings, because he'd be that guy :)
Also, as a note, this was written ages ago, long before the last few episodes, so not in line with canon at all.
As always, feedback appreciated.
Take Care & Best Wishes,
AOR
