A/N

Hope you guys are liking this story! This may not have a lot of Snowbarry at the start, but it's because I need to create a background for the story. I promise there will be some more Snowbarry soon! Love all o' ya!

Barry's POV

Barry regretfully turned away from Caitlin. However, he was the leader of The Serpents; their king. With that title, it was his responsibility to keep the peace. Barry raced toward the address that Felicity sent him. The Serpents had lost their cool with the Gooleys, their gang rival. The Serpents were better known, so the Gooley's filthy acts were pinned on his gang. Although, Barry knew better than to 'fight fire with fire'.

"What's going on here?" Barry asked when he sped to a stop between the two distinct groups.

Oliver, the best archer known as Arrow belonging to The Serpents, replied first. "These guys thought it was alright to give some of our homes a make-over."

"What? It needed some sprucing up," a guy teased, laughing afterward.

Barry saw as Oliver's muscles tensed, about to lunge for the rude boy. The speedster quickly grabbed the collar of his jacket. "Oliver, Oliver. Listen. We don't want any violence," Barry reminded.

"Look at that," the same guy started, "bulky gotta listen to scrawny." He started to laugh maniacally again.

That lit the archer's fuse. Oliver forced himself out of his leader's grip and pummelled the bully to the ground. Barry sped into action. He raced the Gooley boy blocks away. Barry flashed back and held Oliver up by his jacket.

"Listen, punk," Barry said sternly. "We don't want a fight. We want peace. That is what we promote from now on. Got that?" Oliver just stuck his head up arrogantly. Barry lifted his free hand and vibrated it near his chest. Darker and more menacing, Barry repeated the question, "got that?"

A few facial expressions later, Oliver surrendered. "Got it," he muttered. "Tell that to you're girlfriend," he added. Luckily, the speedster didn't hear.

Barry pushed the archer away and turned to the rest of the group. "Listen up. I'm the leader! I call the shots!" He announced angrily. "Now go!" Barry turned to the Gooleys. "You, too."

As everyone cleared out, the speedster sat on the curb letting out a sigh. He smothered his head in his hands, propping them up on his elbows, for a second, then laid against a planted tree. Before this summer, he was happy and free. He had all he wanted. His mother and father, Nora and Henry Allen, loved and took care of him. He was in the best relationship of his life with Caitlin. Everything was simple and perfect. Now, whenever he went to bed, he was worn out protecting The Serpents and other innocent people. Sometimes, Barry would wish he never went on that vacation.

"You good?" A female voice pried Barry out of his thoughts.

He looked up at a girl with long black hair with streaks of purple and dark-colored make-up. The girl had a snake tattooed on her neck and a pierced lip, the metal gleaming in the sunlight. She wore black ripped-up skinny jeans accompanied with a pink T-shirt and black leather jacket.

"I don't know, Felicity," Barry answered, looking back down at his hands. "I was just thinking about how easy life was before meta-humans. I was really happy. I had two parents that loved me and a great girlfriend…" his voice trailed off as he reminisced.

Felicity sat down beside Barry and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know this situation hurt you. The thing is, you have to let it go. You can't sulk every time it gets hard."

"Oliver doesn't help. Such a difficult person!" Barry joked.

"Try having him as your boyfriend," Felicity added. "Speaking of which, you still have a great girlfriend."

Barry nodded. "I know I still have Cait," Barry started. Felicity was one of the few people, that included Oliver and Barry, that knew the Serpent Queen's real identity. "It's just," he continued, "she isn't the same, neither of us are. She is cold and detached so she doesn't show her true feelings. Sometimes, she's not even open with me! Now, I have to be tough, dark, intimidating, threatening even, to show my place in our hierarchy. Sometimes I wish I could go back to being 'science geek Barry.'"

"I know what you mean. Sometimes I wish I could go back to being the computer geek. Then I met and fell in love with Oliver. I had to help him to find my boss. Then I couldn't stop because I couldn't leave him to get hurt." Felicity tried to relate.

Barry stood up abruptly, angrily throwing his hands in the air. "It's not the same! You chose to help Oliver with his vendetta! I was forced into this life!" The speedster's face turned red in anger.

"Barry," Felicity said trying to soothe him when she saw lightning flicker in his eyes.

In a burst of orange lightning, the tech guru was pinned against a tree with Barry's arm pressed against her neck. Lighting raced across his angered eyes. Before he could do something he might regret, the speedster curled over in pain. Felicity rubbed her neck while Barry reacted to the pain radiating from his back.

Felicity started giggling at the sight of her gang leader. "Damn, Oliver."

"Seriously?" Barry gestured to the arrow sticking from his back.

Felicity went to stand behind him, saying, "you're the one who attacked me. One of the perks of having Queen as a boyf-" She was cut off by the loud grunt of pain that escaped his mouth.

"I'm sorry I lost my cool. I just got really angry with what's happening. Caitlin doesn't deserve any of it. Neither did my parents." He explained, turning around.

Felicity's face was covered with understanding. "So that's what you're feelings are centered around. Not you, but your concern for your loved ones."

"I guess," he replied sheepishly. Barry looked down at his left wrist. Panic struck his expression. "I better go. Tell Oliver hi and the fact that he was watching us is creepy."

"He's just jealous because of that little fling between us before you met Caitlin." Felicity rushed but figured Barry didn't hear as he sped off.

In less than a few minutes, Barry was walking into a classroom in Southside High. He entered with a backpack slung over his shoulder and books in his arms. The room could be presumed as a science lab since it consisted of related instruments. Patiently waiting at one of the desks was a girl with dark skin and hair. She quickly smiled and waved at the sight of the boy approaching her table.

"Iris! I'm so sorry I'm late." Barry greeted and set down his books while sitting in a chair himself.

"No problem. I always got time for my brother-like friend." Iris hugged her best friend since preschool. "Okay, down to business," she said seriously after pulling away. "My least favorite subject: Science," she continued.

Barry opened his books to the right lessons and such. Out of the two of them, Barry was the introverted science geek and Iris was the outgoing party girl. Iris West was the first to talk to him in preschool and they've been the closest of friends ever since. They felt like they were long-lost brother and sister. Their families were also close. Barry felt like he had two dads with his and Joe. Barry's mother was Iris's mom figure. Iris's mother died from an overdose after giving birth to her brother, Wally. He was a rebellious teen obsessed with cars and speed.

Barry spent the rest of the school day going to his classes after an hour of tutoring Iris. He went to his make-shift home and fell on the bed. He built his little hut. Since he was never good with tools, and the like, it wasn't the best architecture job. However, it sufficed as a living space. Most of the furniture and appliances he may have stolen. The rest he salvaged from his parents' home.

After a very uneventful day at high school, Barry stationed himself in his home office. In other words, a room with a desk, chair, TV, and stolen police radio. The sheriff station has recently upped their game when it comes to arresting meta-humans. The majority of the few metas they've found are innocent. Barry took it upon himself to protect the innocent. When school and other priorities are over, he'd run home and sit vigil watching and listening. Luckily, he had no other activities that kept him from his duties.

"...policemen are being transported to the hospital as we speak. They're still alive unlike the other targets the newly named Killer Frost has attacked." A woman's voice sounded when Barry pressed the power button on the remote. The speedster's head perked at the sound of his girlfriend's name. "We have not been able to talk to witnesses yet, but this attack on Star High…"

Barry didn't hear the rest as he ran toward the crime scene. Buildings, people, cars, and the like blurred past him as he pushed toward his destination. He needed to hear with his own ears that Caitlin was alright. He needed to see with his own eyes that Caitlin was alright. Heck, he needed to feel with his own hands that Caitlin was alright. She was the love of his life. All she was trying to do is survive. It isn't her fault that some psycho scientists did this to her.

As Star High came into view the vigilante didn't slow down. Instead, he sped up, going faster than his top speed. He skidded into the only room that he thought his Caitlin would be in. Everyone in the room looked like nothing happened. The only thing that hinted at the supposed situation was the expressions on those who occupied the class. When the frozen bodies resumed motion, Barry dismissed the questioning looks. All he wanted to know was the condition his lover was in.

"Where is she?" He asked.