Felicity & Barry

"Thanks for doing this Barry. Not that many had signed up as my dad and I had hoped. Every volunteer helps." Iris muttered trying to fix and straighten his tie. The meta activity had taken a toll on department funds, and therefore the auction idea was born.

"Thanks for volunteering me." He answered drily but not terribly bothered. Part of which was going to a good charity after all one he supported, and if Joe and Eddie were participating. He could stand to sign up as well.

Iris merely grinned at him cheekily. "You're very welcome."

They both turned as the door opened, where Eddie peeked his head out. "Are you guys ready? If we don't leave now. We're all going to be late."

Iris grabbed her purse on the side counter moving to join him. "Hey babe I take offense to that, since I was ready 15 minutes ago."

"Yeah should have known it was Mr perpetually tardy over there. Honestly Barry, your phone and watch do absolutely nothing for keeping you on a schedule." Eddie teased watching as the other man rolled his eyes. He was pretty sure most of the office was convinced, that if Barry was ever early or on time to something. It'd be a sign of a pending apocalypse.

"We all have our flaws Eddie." Barry gave himself one last glance over. That was as good as it was going to get. His dress suit was finally seeing the light of day after being in the closet for so long. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd worn it.

The event they were going to was an auction of volunteers from the police and fire departments for an evening date to raise money not only for their own departments. But a portion of the proceeds also went to Food for Hungry helping the poorer families in their community.

Barry couldn't help feeling more and more nervous, as he waited for his name to be called, not able to keep from fidgeting from his place off to the side. He just hoped for a nice time with someone not crazy feeling that wasn't a whole lot to ask for.

Hearing his name being called he then saw Iris flash him two thumbs up mouthing good luck to him. She herself had already won her bidding war on Eddie ready to throw down with anyone going after him. Iris was glad it didn't come to breaking her bank not that she wouldn't have for Eddie. Now she was just waiting for him to come back with the paperwork for her to fill out. Needing to see who Barry ended up with before she paid.

Stepping up on the stage Barry gulped realizing there were a lot more people here specifically women than he previously had thought. 'Please just let him get someone nice.'

"Alright folks up next we have bachelor #12 Mr Barry Allen!" The auctioneer enthusiastically announced. There was a round of loud clapping and cheers, as he moved closer to stand before them nervously.

"Barry is one of our bright CSI's on the CCPD's finest, so ladies if you need some science pun icebreakers. I'm sure this one's got you covered. So without further adieu let the bidding commence! Do I have $100?"

Most paddles went up.

"Okay! I see we're off to a great start. Do I hear $200? 300?"

Most of the paddles remained up. Barry was in shock. How did this many people want to pay to go out with him?! In high school he couldn't get a date to save his life. Granted back then he wasn't that terribly depressed over it since he was far too focused on Iris much to care.

"Okay do I hear $600?"

Several hands went down.

"$700?"

Even more went down.

"I bid $1000." A woman stated smugly clearly expecting no opposition. She sat in a tight low cut sequin black dress, legs crossed and eying Barry as lions do food. Geez she looked even older than Harry and had probably a years worth of botox on her face. Barry tried to swallow feeling his face grow pale. 'Oh please God let someone else win.'

"Well! It seems we have ourselves quite a bid. $1000 going once? Going twice.?"

"$1100!"

Barry choked, when he recognized the voice.

"Folks we have ourselves a bidding war! Do I hear-"

"$1200," The older woman snapped glaring at the unseen back voice.

"$1300!"

"$1400"

"$1500"

"$1600"

"$2000!"

'Huh' Barry kept pinching himself but it still wasn't bringing himself out of this bizarre dream he was stuck in. It had to be that or some sort of hallucination, because how was this real?

"Whoowhee! Bidding standing at $2000. Do I hear any counters going once? Going twice..? Sold! To the pretty blonde in the back for $2000!"

The crowd clapped, as Barry made to leave the stage. When the realization hit him, he grinned at what had just happened. He ran to hug his savior finding her collecting and filling out the paperwork. He then caught her in a sneak hug.

"Oof!" She let out before hugging him back.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you!"

"Please as if I'd let you become cougar food! Her eyes were practically undressing you the whole time. It was disturbing. I was disturbed and offended. People should be arrested for that. I mean I have half a mind to smack her with this paddle and then lower her credit score."

As if summoned the woman passed by looking down at them with a sniff. "It's a shame. You could have actually had a fun night with me. But enjoy settling with that."

"Oh yeah? Your nursing home extends visiting hours that late? Thanks for the tip! Oh well guess you'll have to make due with someone else for the night. Goodbye now."

The woman sent one last sneer back at them before strutting away in her ridiculously too tall stilettos.

Barry patted her shoulder before asking only half teasingly. "Oliver isn't going to shoot me with more arrows for this will he? Because that's going to always stick with me, my back twinges just thinking about it."

Felicity scoffed holding up her phone showing the texting conversation. "I showed him what I saved you from, and he said: Well done, have fun, and don't try to run with her again."

Barry groaned, placing his forehead in his palm. "You told him about that?"

"Of course I did. It's kinda one of those we can laugh about it now that it happened type of things."

"If you say so." Barry allowed with partial skepticism and humor. "Well now that you won what would you like to do next?"

"Glad you asked because I have been Dying to see the latest Fantastic Beasts movie and didn't have a single person to go with until now. So I would like you sir to accompany me." Felicity responded with a sunny smile. "I would take Oliver with me again, but he fell asleep during the first one the heathen..."

Barry couldn't help laughing. "Well who am I to turn down such an offer for a friend. As long as Oliver's cool with it, and you've got everything you need then we can head out. Did you drive here?"

"I have a rental car, since I ended up taking the train to get here. Iris had an extra coupon to a discounted spa weekend, and let me tell you this girl can't remember the last time she's had a facial. Couldn't pass that up."

They went to grab their coats saying goodbye to Joe, Iris, and Eddie.

"So $2000?" Barry low whistled still in slight shock and bemusement over the fact."

"Yeah that woman would not quit but lucky for me Ray and I set up some emergency accounts and it's not really a problem to dip into one. Plus if it were a real emergency. I'm sure he'd be fine with a temporary loan. This does mean however that you are 110% in charge of the tickets and snacks." Felicity said with a pointed glance. Barry let out a chuckle completely on board.

"No arguments here. I barely ate dinner. I was too nervous. You are going to get the full theater spread complete with popcorn extra butter and Swedish fish. Personally he found them disgusting, but he knew they were her favorite candy of choice.

"Ah see that right there worth every penny."

They were parking, when Barry asked what Oliver was doing tonight. Felicity grinned eager to show him the picture on her phone. It was one Oliver had apparently taken of William concentrating hard, as they played mini golf. He texted her immediately as soon as William had sunk his first hole in one with the following text: Guess who's the new putting expert to what out for?

Oliver sent another of the two of them smiling at the camera and holding up their golf balls. Williams was red inspired by the flash, and Oliver's to no one's surprise was green. Barry was glad they were both having fun and getting to spend some time together.

Barry held the door open before going to buy their tickets. It was lucky that the timing worked out for the last showing was only 10 minutes away. "Well Ms Smoak are you ready for the next adventures of Next Scamander?" He was actually pretty excited himself having loved the first movie. He went to see it with Cisco and Caitlin, when it first came out. Both being huge harry potter fans alongside with him.

"Oh I was born ready well actually no I wasn't I was born 2 weeks late and was in fact an unplanned pregnancy. Not to mention the complications that came up that we weren't prepared for but sorry this! I'm ready for this."

Barry would gladly take Felicity's rambling over that other bidder any day of the week and or year. He didn't even want to think about what would have happened otherwise. Far better to think about how odd he probably looked hanging at the movie theater in full tux. He shrugged with a smile supposing there were worse things he could have been wearing as he added more butter to the popcorn.