mmat: The pairings will be revealed as the series/story progresses, I will not be giving any spoilers. As for the heroes in this story, they are: The original Avengers (from 2012), Batman, Superman, The Flash and Oliver Queen.
Chapter Three: Waking Up
8 months later
February 2012
S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier
S.T.A.R. Labs Facility
Barry began to open his eyes as his vision blurred as the song 'Poker Face' played at a low volume.
"Why is this song necessary, Cisco?" a British woman asked
"C'mon, let me have some fun." a man, supposedly Cisco, asked.
"Cisco, answer Jemma's question." another woman, an american one, said in a stern tone.
"It's one of his favorites." a Scottish man said
"How do you know?" the american woman asked
"Skye took a look at his profile." Cisco answered
"Skye is so obsessed with him." the British woman, supposedly Jemma, said.
"Jemma, you're obsessed with him!" the Scottish man protested
"Oh Fitz, I'm not obsessed with Barry Allen." Jemma said "Barry Allen, famous, cute and charming."
"Aha!" Cisco said pointing at Jemma.
"Alright, I fancy him." Jemma admitted
"Why?" Caitlin asked coldly "Because he's some billionaire with PhD's? He only cares about himself."
"Cait, not so loud. He can hear you." Jemma whispered
"Good, he can know what I think." Caitlin spat
At that moment, a woman entered the room looking at the scientists. The group looked back at the woman casually.
"Hey, Skye." Cisco said
"Sup guys." Skye said as she then eyed Barry. "Billionaire, lightning boy not awake yet?"
"Well." Jemma said "Apparently-"
Jemma was cut off as Barry shot up out of his bed, gasping for air. Skye, Jemma and the others looked at Barry in shock as Fitz grabbed pushed an intercom button on the computer.
"Dr. Wells, please come to the lab. Barry Allen is awake." Fitz said
"Where am I?" Barry asked as he looked at the scientists in shock. "Who the hell are you guys? Where's my shirt?"
"Well man," Fitz began. "In that order, you are at a S.T.A.R. Labs Facility in a S.H.I.E.L.D. hellicarrier. I am Leo Fitz. You can call me Fitz, that's Simmons, Cisco, Skye and Caitlin."
Everyone gave a friendly look and a small wave to Barry, except for Caitlin, who gave him a cold stare before looking back down at a computer.
"Oh and your shirt..." Fitz said looking around the lab.
"...is here." Skye said holding out Barry's AC/DC short-sleeved t-shirt.
"Uh, thanks." Barry said as put on his shirt and slowly got up out of the bed. "Hey, what exactly were you doing with my shirt?"
"Umm... looking... for it?" Skye said
"Thank you." Barry said softly
"Yeah, sure." Skye replied
The entire room was quiet as Barry and Skye gazed into each other's eyes, the scientists looked at the two and then glanced at each other in awkwardness.
"You two are so meant for each other." Cisco commented "I mean, smart and in the shadows with rich, smart and famous. Meant to be."
"Yeah right!" Barry and Skye said at the same time.
"That's the first sign of love, simultaneously speaking the same words." Cisco said "I've seen enough romance movies."
"Well, if you two are done staring at each other..." Caitlin said, sternly "we have tests to run."
"Before that... what happened to me?" Barry asked
"You were struck by lightning." Jemma explained softly
"And you were in a coma." Fitz said
"For how long?" Barry asked
"Nine months." a voice said as Barry, Skye and the scientists turned to see Harrison Wells in his electric wheelchair. "Welcome back, Mr. Allen. Correction, Dr. Allen. I forget about your PhD's, forgive me."
"You're Harrison Wells." Barry said in surprise. "Amazing to meet you."
"Well, I've been wanting to meet you and your father for some time." Wells said
"Oh right, I need to get to my dad." Barry said
"We have tests to run." Caitlin said
"That can wait." Barry replied "My dad cannot."
"These tests are important." Caitlin protested
"Not more important than my family." Barry said
"C'mon, Dr. Allen." a man at the door said "We can help you."
"I don't doubt it, just let me see my dad. He's probably worried sick about me." Barry said
"Stand down, Agent Ward." a familiar voice said from behind
The man, who was supposedly Ward, stepped to the side, revealing a man with an eye-patch standing at the doorway next to Wells.
"I know who you are." Barry said "You're Nick Fury, the guy who locked my dad in his own house."
"It was for his own good." Fury said "You want to get out of here, I can see that."
"You're only seeing half the picture here, Fury." Barry said "Guess it makes sense for a guy with only one eye."
Ward stepped between Barry and Fury as he lowered his tone, giving him an angry voice.
"Watch it, rich head." Ward said
"Make me." Barry spat
"I can make you." Ward spat back
"Go on." Barry said "People like you kill, go ahead and prove me right."
Skye chose that moment as she lifted her arms and stood between the two men before they could go any closer to one another.
"Okay, you two, chill." Skye said "You are both way too-"
Skye was cut off as a medium-sized surge of blue lightning was seen between her finger and Barry's shoulder. The lightning was pretty small, but it was big enough so that everyone in the room could see it.
"Intriguing." Wells said "Dr. Allen, that wouldn't have happened if you were normal. Now, it's you're choice, but I suggest that you let us run some tests. For your safety."
Barry was quiet for a moment when he finally breathed a deep sigh.
"I appreciate it, Dr. Wells. But, I got to go and see my dad. I'm sorry." Barry said as he shoved Ward and walked past Fury down through the halls. Barry stuck his head outside the door, one last time, as he looked at Skye.
"Thanks again for my shirt." Barry said as he was just about to leave when Skye held his arm.
"Can I come with you" Skye asked
Everyone looked at Skye in shock of what she just said.
"Skye, I don't think-" Ward was going to speak but was cut off by Barry.
"No, it's fine." Barry said "You can come."
"Just like that?" Ward confronted
"Ward, I don't need you to protect me." Skye spat
"Let's go?" Barry asked
"Totally." Skye said "Follow me."
Skye walked out of the room as Barry followed and stayed by her side. Skye had felt much more calm when she was by Barry's side as Barry had felt much more normal and casual with Skye.
"I never thought I would do this." Skye said "Meet the Barry Allen."
Barry smiled lightly. "Please, think of me as another guy."
"Another guy?" Skye scoffed "You're the son of billionaire Tony Stark (aka the Iron Man), you have done so many successful things, you graduated from Harvard before you were 20. You're not Tony Stark, you're better than him."
"Thanks." Barry said "This fame, this life, it all began with my mother's-"
Barry stopped speaking as he and Skye stopped to a halt. Barry looked down in guilt as memories flashed through his mind.
His mother's dead body. Partially covered under a blue tarp. A blood stab wound in her chest, Barry's father being dragged away in handcuffs and being driven away in a police car.
"DAD!" young Barry's scream echoed through Barry's head.
Barry then found himself standing over his father's grave.
"Barry?" Skye called as Barry looked back at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Barry lied
"I'm sorry." Skye said
"For what?" Barry asked
"For forcing you to bring up your mother and your dad." Skye explained
"You don't have to apologize for that, I brought it up, it's on me." Barry said
"I know what it's like." Skye said "To have your parents torn away from you."
"You lost them?" Barry asked, talking about Skye's parents.
"Never knew them." Skye said "My real name isn't even Skye, it's just a name I gave myself. I don't have a last name and I don't know my real name."
"I'm sorry." Barry said
"It's fine." Skye replied "We should get going."
"Yeah, we should." Barry agreed
They had both agreed that they needed to get going, but Barry and Skye just stood where they were as they gazed into each other's eyes and. Barry and Skye continued to look at each other, Barry slowly swung his right hand closer to Skye's left. Skye grabbed Barry's hand quickly as Barry drew patterns on Skye's wrist, feeling her pulse. Barry and Skye moved their heads closer to each other as they were inches away from one another, Barry finally realized what was happening as he pulled his hand away and stepped back from her.
"I'm sorry, I just... I didn't mean to do that." Barry said
"It's fine." Skye said, trying to mask her disappointment and sadness. Barry, however, recognized Skye's tone and felt guilty almost immediately.
"Would like to go out with me?" Barry asked "Tony's gonna host a party for me being back, it's who he is. Wanna come?"
"Is this an early invitation?" Skye asked
"The first." Barry replied
"I would love to." Skye said "But what do I wear?"
"I'll take care of it." Barry promised
"Thank you." Skye said
"Sure." Barry said "We should probably get going."
"And maybe not gaze into each other's eyes." Skye said
"Why did we even do that?" Barry said
"We're weird." Skye said bluntly
"We are." Barry agreed "Friends?"
"Friends." Skye agreed.
Skye and Barry both wanted more than that for and from each other, but neither had worked up the courage to tell the other. Barry and Skye continued looking into each other's eyes as Skye, without thinking, put a hand on Barry's shoulder as Barry put his other hand on top of her's.
"Follow me." Skye finally said, slowly removing her arm as she walked away from Barry.
Barry followed her until they stopped in an elevator, Barry and Skye stepped into the elevator as it carried them up a few floors. Barry found himself on the top of the Helicarrier. Barry looked around and noticed that the Helicarrier was on the water as the top of it was where some jets took off.
"Cool." Barry said
"Yup, took even me a while to get used to this." Skye said "Even though I hacked S.H.I.E.L.D. from my van with a laptop I won in a bet."
"I hacked S.H.I.E.L.D. when I was 14 with a laptop I got from best-buy for 200 bucks." Barry said
"And you didn't even know it." Skye said
"I thought I hacked into Tony's secret network." Barry said
"Secret network?" Skye said, shocked and excited.
"Long story." Barry said
"Show-off." Skye said, rolling her eyes as Barry chuckled to himself. It had felt pretty good to get to know someone who could talk to you casually, at least without stuttering and stammering every 2.5 seconds.
"So, how are we getting outta here?" Barry asked
"That's how." Skye said, pointing to a Quinjet as Barry gave an 'okay,-count-me-impressed' look.
"Let's do it." Barry said as he and Skye got inside the Quinjet.
"Hey Skye." a man said
"Hey Clint." Skye said as she looked at Barry. "Barry, this is Clint Barton. S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, master assassin and pilot. Clint, this is-"
"Barry Allen." Clint said as he got up and struck his hand out. "Stark's genius billionaire kid."
"Nice to meet you." Barry said, shaking his hand.
"Looks like Stark's about to have his spotlight stolen from him." Clint said as he removed his hand and got the controls for the Quinjet ready.
"Don't tell him that." Barry warned "You'll bruise his amazing ego."
Skye, Clint and Barry chuckled as Clint got into the pilot seat and the hangar door closed.
"Alright, enough chitchat. Strap in kids." Clint said as Barry and Skye strapped themselves next to each other into their seats.
"So how long is this going to take?" Barry asked
"I'm no pilot or anything, but we're not too far from the mainland, so I'll say about a few minutes." Skye said
"Nice." Barry said "So what's your story?"
"Well, I've lived in an orphanage for 17 years and moved from foster home to foster home for god-knows-why." Skye replied "What about you?"
"You already know my story." Barry said
"You said you wanted to be a bit normal." Skye said as she gripped his hand tightly.
"You're right, I do." Barry said
"I'm sorry." Skye said, pulling her hand away from Barry's as she felt a small jolt of electricity."I shouldn't have done that."
"It's fine." Barry assured as Skye slowly put her hand back on Barry's.
"So, what is your story?" Skye asked
"Well," Barry began "My mother was murdered when I was 11. My father went to prison for it, I knew he didn't do it. I told the police what happened, but they thought I was just defending him. The truth is... something... impossible... happened in my home, that night."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. covers up the impossible and they investigate it." Skye said "I've read worse, tell me what happened."
"Well, I was sleeping in my room." Barry said "I heard a noise downstairs and so I went down, I saw... a tornado of red and yellow lightning. It surrounded my mom, in the red lightning... I saw a man in yellow and in the yellow... I saw a man in red. I saw the yellow lightning come at me and suddenly, I was 20 or 22 blocks away from my house in a fraction of a second. I don't know how it happened, it was like I had teleported there or... something. When I got back, they took my dad away and soon... I lived with Tony. My dad died in prison 4 years ago, or I guess it's 5 considering that it's 2012."
"I believe you." Skye said, still holding Barry's hand.
"You do?" Barry asked
"What I mean is... I believe that your dad didn't kill your mom." Skye replied
"Thanks." Barry said, looking into Skye's eyes.
"Yeah." Skye replied
"Alright lovebirds." Clint joked "We're here."
Barry and Skye got up as they stood behind the pilot and co-pilot seats as they looked outside the window and saw Stark Tower, Clint landed the Quinjet on the helipad as he looked and faced the Skye and Barry.
"Okay you two, end of the line." Clint said "Let me know when you want me to pick you up, Skye."
"I'll call you." Skye replied as she and Barry stepped out of the Quinjet as it's hangar door closed behind it.
Barry put his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone as he looked at the time, 10:45 a.m. Skye watched as the Quinjet took off into the skies and headed back to base for the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier on the water. Skye then turned to Barry and sighed.
"Meeting Tony Stark." Skye said "Guess I can cross that off my bucket list."
Barry smiled back at Skye.
"Follow me, this time." Barry said as Skye covered her mouth, laughing.
Barry and Skye walked to the side of the helipad as they went down a few stairs as they stopped at the bar and saw Tony with his back turned, facing them. Tony poured a drink into a glass as he put down the bottle of scotch in his hand.
"Alright." Tony said, turning around to face Barry and Skye. "How is Barry-"
Tony stopped, dead in his tracks, as he looked and saw Barry standing in the bar. Barry slowly walked closer to Tony.
"Hey Tony." Barry said, softly. "Yes, this is real. No, I am not your-"
Barry was interrupted as Tony dropped his glass and pulled Barry into a hug, Barry was very surprised as patted Tony's back. Tony pulled away from Barry as he put a hand on his shoulder.
"Glad you're back with us." Tony said, trying not to get his eyes watery as he noticed Skye. "Who is she?"
"Skye." Barry answered "She's a friend of mine."
"Hi, Mr. Stark." Skye said, waving.
"Huh, hey." Tony said "Good to meet you, are you with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"Yeah, sorta." Skye said
"Right." Tony said
"Barry?" a voice said from the doorway as Barry, Skye and Tony turned to see Happy standing at the door with a box of donuts in his hand.
"Hey Happy." Barry replied casually.
"Damn kid, you really are indestructible." Happy said as he walked closer. "I got donuts, want one-"
Happy was cut off as he tripped over and the box with the donuts fell from Happy's hand. Barry looked in shock as he saw Happy falling in slow motion, Barry turned and saw Skye and Tony standing still. Why is the world in slow motion but not me? Barry wondered inside his head. Barry looked back at Happy, who was still falling in slow motion. Barry looked at some of the donuts, falling out of the box, in shock as he could see many, small, atom-like structures pushing against each other. What the hell? Barry thought. Time went back to normal as the structures vanished and the box of donuts dropped to the ground.
"You okay?" Skye asked
"I'm fine." Happy replied as he picked up the box and noticed that all the donuts were in perfect shape. "Got lucky."
"Barry, you alright?" Tony asked, noticing his son's shocked look.
"Yeah." Barry lied "I'm fine, I just gotta go to restroom."
"Okay." Tony replied as Barry walked out of the room and inside the bathroom.
Barry opened the door quickly as he closed and locked it behind him with his back on the door. Barry looked around the bathroom, which was the size of a regular living room, as he slowly played back what had happened in his head. Barry suddenly felt less feeling in his left hand, he looked at his hand in shock as it vibrated with yellow lightning circling it.
"What the hell?!" Barry asked himself as his hand kept vibrating.
Barry ran towards the other side of the bathroom and found himself banged against in the blink of an eye. Barry groaned as he put his hands on the floor and slowly got up, his hand had stopped vibrating at this point. How the hell did I get here so fast? Barry thought, knowing that he had crossed over 30 feet in less than one second.
"Awesome" Barry said to himself
Barry got up as he cleaned up the entire mess there was on the floor, at super speed. Barry finished doing so as he chuckled to himself.
"Really awesome." Barry said to himself.
Barry opened the door as he walked out of the bathroom and back to the living room, where Happy, Skye and Tony were all having donuts. Barry was about to keep walking when he stopped and realized something. Donuts Barry thought to himself I was moving at super speed, what if when I saw Happy and the donuts fall, I wasn't just seeing the donuts but I was seeing the donuts' molecules vibrate. That's why I saw all those atom-like balls pushing against each other! What do I do?
Barry shook off the thought as he walked into the living room, but he stopped just outside the room, where he wouldn't be seen but where he could hear everything inside the room.
"I knew I was right." Tony said
"C'mon boss, any girl that's Skye's age has a crush on Barry." Happy protested as Barry listened in shock. "I mean, he is as successful as you and has $80 billion."
"Yeah, but this is something special between those two." Tony said
"Guys, I'm right here." Skye said
"But tell me, do you really like him?" Tony said, putting down his drink and looking at Skye. "No, you love him."
"Yeah." Skye admitted, looking away "I do."
"Why don't you tell him?" Tony asked
"Happy, defend me." Skye begged, looking at Happy as the bodyguard shook his head.
"No, I'm enjoying this." Happy said "I wanna hear it."
"I mean... what if he doesn't feel the same way?" Skye asked
At that moment, Barry wanted to walk in to that room, grab Skye's hand and pull her into a kiss, telling her he felt the same way more than she thought. Of course I feel the same way! Barry wanted to scream as he hid, listening to the conversation I feel better and more whole when I'm around you! I know we just met, but that's just proof of the everlasting light inside you. I-
Barry thoughts were interrupted as Tony burst out laughing. Skye and Happy looked at Tony confused as the billionaire cut his laugh short.
"Of course he feels the same way." Tony said "Okay, fine, you guys just met but he feels for you. Hell, I think he burns for you."
"How do you know?" Skye asked, keeping her tone as respectful as she could.
"I've spent 11 (technically 12, since it is 2012) years raising that child. I know when he's got it for a girl." Tony said "You'd be doing him a favor."
"Exactly." Happy said
Skye looked down in guilt as Barry noticed, he chose that moment to walk in and pretend he barely heard anything.
"What's going on here?" Barry asked
"Nothing." Skye replied quickly.
"Okay." Barry said, trying to mask his disappointment of Skye not telling him how she felt as Barry wouldn't be able to tell her.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Tony said "I am happy to announce-"
"You're gonna host a party for Barry, we know." Skye, Barry and Happy interrupted.
"Never mind then." Tony said as his watch beeped
Tony looked down at it and sighed.
"Sorry fella, daddy's gotta go stop a robbery." Tony said as he got up and ran towards his suit. "I'll see you guys later."
A few minutes later, the trio saw Tony flying outside in his Iron Man suit. Happy looked at the other two.
"I gotta go, Pepper needs me." Happy said "You kids good?"
"We're fine, Happy." Barry replied
"Alright, see you." Happy said as he made his way out of the room and through the door. Barry then turned and looked at Skye and smiled.
"What do you want to do?" Barry asked
"How about we go out?" Skye suggested "You and me. Walking down the streets of New York."
"And tens of people surrounding me? That's so not going to happen" Barry said sarcastically
"Let me teach you how to stay in the shadows." Skye said
1 hour later
Barry and Skye walked down the sidewalk, there weren't many people outside. At most, there were about 20 on the street. Barry walked beside Skye has he kept his cap low and tucked his jacket inward.
"I gotta say, you're impressive." Barry said
"Told you." Skye replied as they continued walking and stopped at a pole.
"Skye, I gotta tell you... you really are something." Barry said
"You literally just said that, Barry." Skye replied, chuckling as she put a hand on Barry's shoulder. "I guess you really are a good person on the inside."
"I don't know Skye." Barry said
"What do you mean?" Skye asked
"I'm not good enough." Barry said "I wasn't good enough to save my mother or my father, if you want a good friend, I shouldn't even cross your mind."
"You always cross my mind." Skye said
"You'd be wasting time caring about me." Barry argued
"I don't care." Skye replied
Skye placed her hand on Barry's cheek as Barry placed his hand on Skye's. Skye reached upward as she was about to kiss Barry, Skye's lips were about to meet Barry's as time slowed down around him. Barry turned to his right as he saw a black car about to crash into him, Barry grabbed Skye as he sped her out of the way. Barry and Skye fell on the sidewalk as the black car sped away with multiple police cars followed it. Barry turned to his left as he saw Skye on her side, Barry placed two fingers on her neck as he sighed with relief when he felt a pulse and could hear her breathing. Barry turned to the right as he threw away his hat and sped after the car, back on the sidewalk, Skye got up as her vision blurred. Skye's vision got better as she noticed Barry was gone.
"BARRY!" Skye screamed as she noticed that he had vanished in a second as tears filled Skye's eyes. "Where are you?"
Barry chased after the car as he saw it right in front of him, Barry broke through the car window as he found himself in the passenger seat next to a blond-haired man. The man looked at Barry in shock as he reached for his pocket, grabbing a gun. Barry saw the man moving in slow motion as he grabbed the wheel and pulled it down as the car flipped over and landed on it's top. Barry groaned as the man got out of the car and stood, he walked until he was stopped by a metal man.
"Stark!" the man yelled
"Hey buddy, I'm gonna need to bring you in." Tony said as Barry crawled out of the car and stood, looking at the blond-haired man.
"Who are you?!" Barry demanded from the man
"Barry?!" Tony said, shocked to see his son with him. "What are you doing? Get outta here."
The man ignored what Tony was saying as he spread his arms out, dust and wind surrounded the man as Tony was knocked 20 feet away.
"Tony!" Barry cried
"Who am I?" the man asked "I... am Weather Wizard."
I'm gonna end that chapter here, mostly because I really needed to update this story by now. I'll see you in the next chapter and please, please, please send a review.
