New Skills
It had been a week since Barry had his run in with Thawne. He was starting to think the speedster was just trying to play mind games with him, scare him somehow, which left Barry on guard. He went about his life as normal, CCPD work going as smooth as ever, which is to say it was just as it ever was. He had a meta or two he dealed with which afterwards he would do a quick sweep of Central and National City for Thawne. He knew in the back of his head that it was a little pointless, if Thawne didn't wanna be found he wouldn't be, but he did it anyway. He would visit Kara for lunch on occasion, listen to her day, spend hours with her before returning to his city.
Due to this pop up of their unwanted quest, Barry had chosen to stay in Central city a bit more the past week. He, Caitlin and Cisco were trying to figure out ways to stop Thawne while Barry also trained by himself in the pipeline. He wasn't sure what he could do to prepare so he just ran. He ran as fast as he could and when he thought he reached his fastest, he would push himself faster. He had even taken a trip to earth two to pay Jay Garrick a visit, to get his advice. He had visited the old speedster on occasion ever since they had saved him from Zoom. He had taught Barry a few tricks whenever he had the chance, but other times he was so busy that Barry wouldn't be able to stay long. However, Barry didn't mind how small the visit, he just enjoyed seeing the old man. Being the doppelganger of his father made Barry uneasy the first time they had met, but since then he had gotten used to it and he enjoyed a familiar face.
The most recent visit was more helpful than Barry could have asked for. "Now kid, I know you're a good person, I can tell that just from looking at you. But you have to know that what I'm about to show you, it can be really easy to abuse this sort of thing." Jay was putting away some research papers as he sat down at his desk. "You can't let it get to your head or else you'll be just as bad as the guys you put away."
Barry was unsure what could be so dangerous to learn that could turn him into a Thawne or Zoom, but he knew that if someone as experienced as Jay could consider teaching him what it was, Jay believe in Barry enough to have nothing to worry about.
"Listen Jay, I just wanna get faster so I can keep up with what is about to come," Barry showed his own concern, unsure if he even wanted to know what this trick was. He appreciated that Jay felt comfortable enough to show him but Barry remembered back to some dark moments of his these last couple of years. He had wanted to kill Zoom when he watched his father die and nearly did, something like that scared Barry, afraid that he may return to that mindset and may never come back.
Jay just chuckled to himself, "well, with this, you won't need to be faster than who you're chasing, just fast enough to touch them." He proceed to remove his lab coat and put away what papers remained on his desk. "Follow me,"
Jay led them out a door to the back of the warehouse they were in and to a huge open field of asphalt. The warehouse was just on the outskirts of this earths central city so the open field was pretty large with no worry's of anyone catching them using their powers.
"Ok, now," Jay sped around and after a second Barry noticed two traffic cones now places in front of him, both about fifteen yards apart from each other. Jay stood at the furthest cone, arms crossed. "I want you, to come at me and try to hit me. Punch, kick, tackle, whatever you think you'll be able to land, come at me."
Barry raised an eyebrow, confused, " I don't need help on how to fight," he assured Jay
"Did I say I was bringing you out here learn to fight? No. Now stop yammering and come at me, I have a lunch date in thirty minutes," Barry rolled his eyes and rushed Jay. The met Jay and took a swing only for Jay to dodge without problem. Upon the dodge Jay side stepped and smacked Barry on the back, no enough to hurt but enough for Barry notice. Barry turned and Jay was at the other cone, grinning and motioning Barry to try again. Barry figured the old man was trying to be cocky so he rushed him again, this time attempting a leg swipe. Again Jay countered, almost as if much easier than the last time. Barry swung and Jay caught his fist, grinned and pushed him away. Now Barry was slightly annoyed.
"What exactly is this supposed to teach me?" he asked Jay
"Oh, I think you'll notice here after another chance. Come on," Jay sped away down the field and Barry followed.
He was chasing Jay for a few minutes, not being able to gain up anywhere close to him which confused him. He knew Jay was fast but they were about the same speed when it came down to it, what the hell was happening. As he thought, he noticed Jay was stopped, staring back at him. He went in for another punch but Jay dodged and patted him on the back. "Good try kid but you didn't touch me."
Barry was annoyed," Ok, point made you're also faster than me, what now." Jay glanced at the warehouse that was now about three hundred yards away.
"Run to the warehouse and I'll show you."
Barry just became more confused but did what Jay told him, or at least tried. When Barry attempted to speed back to the warehouse he noticed something was off very quickly. Instead of speeding away faster than a speeding bullet, he instead broke out into a brisk jog because quickly stopping and spinning wildly to look at Jay. "My speeds gone!" Barry freaked out
Jay nodded, " Yes and no, yes you don't have your speed, no it's not gone. It can come back in a couple of hours but since you need it to get back home, i'll go ahead and give it back now." Barry's eyebrows stitched together, more confused and upset than before. "Alright before you throw a fit, let me give you your speed back and explain." Jay walked over to Barry and placed a hand on his should. Electricity came flowing from Jay's arm and into Barry's body, making him fell energized and normal again with the speed force coursing through him.
"I you just witnessed was a speed transference, a trick I picked up during my years of being a speedster. You noticed how it was just easier and easier to dodge your attacks a few minutes ago? And how you couldn't catch me on that chase, it's because every time I avoided you, I siphoned your speed away without you even noticing." Barry thought back to the times Jay had touch his back, then pieced it together.
"Now with this, you can temporarily take away the speed from a speedster, or you can also give speed to another speedster at the cost of losing yours for some time."
Barry tested his powers, making sure they were actually there and then faced Jay, "so you think I can use this against this Savitar guy? And thawne?"
"Yes," Jay nodded," once you've actually learn how to properly do it, all you need is to be fast enough to touch either of them and boom, no more speed for them and you can put them away. But like I said earlier, this can be a tricky thing to use, addictive even. When I first started using it I learned the hard way how bad it can be, so that's why I rarely use it anymore it at all. I'm only showing you because I trust you Barry."
Barry was happy Jay trusted him enough with this kind of power but that again just made Barry more cautious. "When do you think you could teach how to do it?"
Jay shrugged," I can teach you ever the next time you stop by, but just know that it won't be as easy as a one time lesson, it'll take time to get it perfect, understand?" Barry nodded and Jay smiled, which made Barry feel better. The two made their way back to the warehouse and then parted ways, Jay to his lunch and Barry to his earth.
