So I know some of you are worried about this becoming an overpowered Barry fic. Personally, Barry is a bitch in the show compared to the comics. While I do like the arrowverse, I will be using a lot of concepts from the comics in terms of the levels that a lot of the characters that appear will be on. That just makes my choice for Barry's new Rogues Gallery even more badass. You'll see. I've also go plans for his team, since everyone loves a good superhero team, including an unexpected choice. Mwuhaha.

This is another world building chapter. Don't worry, while the baddies are just around the corner, I wanted you guys to understand the type of cast to expect in this story.

Chapter 2: Developments and Pressing Onward

Earth 38, National City, Time unknown...

Barry lay within the crumbled outskirts of the National City. Building after decimated building lay in waste around him, with scorch marks and ice littering the surroundings. He looked over at Kara, who stood before him in her renewed Overgirl outfit. She smiled mockingly at him, Kara batting her eyelashes at him. He winced, before glancing down at the metal pole she'd shoved through his sternum. He could feel himself fading, but he had to know why she'd betrayed him. He looked at her, eyes reflecting sadness, which just made her sneer harder.

"Why Kara? I thought you loved me." He managed to speak before he began to violently cough, blood spattering across this inside of his helmet. He reached up, before unhooking it and tossing it to the side.

His words prompted a round of derisive laughter. "Me? Love you? Of course I don't love you. You're pathetic. You couldn't protect the other me and you couldn't bring yourself to fight back against me either. How does it feel to know the woman you loved killed you?" She shook her head, before making her way over to his downed form. She looked at him as if he was an ant, before powering up her heat vision.

As Barry looked up at Kara's now glowing red eyes, he could still only marvel at how beautiful she was.

"I love you, Kara."

"Die."

Kara unleashed the beams, and seared his flesh.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Earth 38, National City, Barry and Kara's apartment, 0700

Barry shot off the couch with a yell, smacking into the glass coffee table and shattering it, glass shredding his gray sweat pants and piercing his flesh.

"Agh! Shit!" Barry attempted to get up but when he tried to move he realized he had huge chunk of glass stick out of his leg and pieces of it sticking out of the bottoms of his feet. He could see blood leaking from his leg and feet in the dimly lit apartment, light from the city seeping in through the windows. His jerky movement had also gotten blood on his white CatCo t shirt. Instantly, Kara shot into the room, looking hastily for an attacker with eyes aglow, before she saw Barry on the ground bleeding profusely. She was wearing blue athletic shorts and black anime shirt that Barry had gotten for her, hair messy from sleep. Her eyes immediately lost their glow and were replaced with concern and fear when she took note of how badly he seemed to be hurt.

"Barry! What happened!?" He flinched at hearing Kara's voice, he crawled away from her as much as he could, causing Kara's face to morph into a confused and hurt expression. "Barry? Why are you moving away?"

"S-Stay back!" Barry managed to ground out through his pain. His breathing was ragged and he wouldn't heal until the glass was removed. His mind was still foggy from sleep and was still really disoriented. "I won't let you hurt me again!" He tried to phase a bit to make himself intangible.

"Barry? I just want to help you." Kara reached over to touch his face, hurt dripping from her voice. He inched away. "Barry, you had a nightmare. I'm not going to hurt you." For good measure, she walked over to the kitchen table, and put on the red sun bracelet that the DEO had made for her so she could mimic human life more accurately. "I can't hurt you now, Barry. Not that I ever would." Kara spoke softly, then mumbled. She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out his leftover Big Belly Burger order, and put it in front of him, before getting the tweezers and gauze from the first aid kit.

They sat in silence for roughly 10 minutes while Barry eyed her warily. Eventually, Barry's breathing slowed and calmed, though he still eyed her with slight apprehension. He did let her start to pull the glass out of his legs, though, which she did as gently as she could.

"I'm sorry, Kara." Barry spoke softly, so much that Kara wasn't sure he'd said anything at all. She looked up at him, and saw he was smiling sadly at her. She pull the last piece out, before she dabbed the alcohol soaked rag on his cuts, before wrapping his legs with gauze. When she finished, she moved to sit beside him, and handed him his food, which he dug into ravenously.

"It's okay, Barry. Would you like to talk about it?" She spoke as soothingly as she could, making good use of the empathy skills she'd obtained from the original Kara. She sneakily grabbed his hand, which caused her face to go a bit red, but when Barry said nothing about it, she began rubbing soothing circles the back of his hand.

"Nightmare." He stated vaguely, before digging back into his leftovers. She tilted her head to look up at him, taking in his disheveled appearance. He'd been having trouble sleeping lately, but he'd never had such a violent reaction to them until tonight. His eyes had bags, and his hair was matted against his head. He was also sporting some stubble which she felt suited him, for some odd reason.

"What happened in this nightmare, Barry?" She prodded gently, before she rest her head on his left shoulder and closed her eyes. They continued to sit on the floor with their backs against the couch, so Kara felt she might as well get comfortable.

"You killed me along with everyone else. From my old Earth. Naturally, we ended up fighting, but I couldn't bring myself to hurt you. " She shot up in shock and looked at him, finding his blue eyes watching her closely. "Before I woke up, you'd impaled me on a pipe and then vaporized my face." He explained bitterly, before moving his gaze to the ceiling. Kara couldn't stand such a hurt expression on his normally cheerful face, so she did the only thing she could think of. She hugged him tightly.

"Barry, I would never do that, not to you. I've done so many unforgivable and cruel things. But hurting you will never be one of them." She murmured into his shoulder, nuzzling him without realizing it.

Barry felt his cheeks warm a bit, before he wrapped an arm around his Kryptonian friend. "I know, Kara. I know you're not that person, and that you're trying to change for the better." She looked up at him, a hopeful expression on her normally haughty face. "It just...felt so real. The pain, both emotional and physical...but seeing you hear concerned about me is reassuring." He tried to finish with a joke, but it just made her look at him with more concern.

Silence settled between them, though Barry noted they were still locked in eye contact. Slowly, their faces were drawn together, before their lips met in a chaste kiss. It continued for a few seconds, before Kara pulled away, no longer looking at him. Barry wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or not.

"Did...did you kiss me just because I remind you of her? The original I mean." Kara asked in a wavering voice, clearly emotional from hearing how she'd hurt him, even if it was just in a dream.

"Kara, I...No. I kissed you because I wanted to. Though, I agree. The timing was terrible." That caused her to snort a bit, and look back at him. Barry paused a moment, before his expression shifted into a teasing grin. "Wait a second. Are you jealous...of yourself?"

Kara just huffed, before she tried to pull out of his grasp, though his metahuman strength made that difficult while the suppression bracelet made her powerless. "Let me go, jerk."

"Come on, Kara. I was just kidding." He said, before he let her go, though he noted she didn't get up to leave like he thought she would. "I'm drawn to your for the same reasons I was drawn to her, even if you find that hard to believe. You're both intelligent, funny(in different ways), caring, and unbelievably beautiful." Kara's cheeked flared up red again at the praise. "While I see a lot of her in you Kara, I don't see you as the same people. I'd like the opportunity to get to know the real you."

She tilted her head to look back at him, idly cursing how handsome his gentle smile made him look. "Fine. I will permit you to take me on a date. Though, I guess that means you'll need a job first. After all, it is draining on me to be the sole bread-winner in the household." She finished with a faux-mocking tone, prompting him to laugh. She was once again reminded by how much she loved his laugh.

"As you wish, Ms. Zor-El. It just so happens J'onn finishes making my identity today, and my job interview at NCPD happens to tomorrow. So my key to your financial shackles is within reach." Barry said with a teasing grin, before he checked his watch. "Crap, I still have 4 hours before J'onn said to swing by, and I'm not too keen on trying to sleep again."

Kara looked at him a moment, while pretending to think. "We could watch some of those cartoons you like if you want?"

"Ugh, I cringe every time you call it that. It makes me sound like some creepy weirdo." He said with a sigh. "And trust me. Once you watch Hellsing, I doubt you'll want to call it a mere cartoon. Though, I think you'll appreciate some of the themes in it. Say, killing Nazis." Kara's eyes lit up with sadistic glee.

"You have my attention. And since Cat closed the office for Adam's birthday, I guess we'll have to watch this show together until your meeting."

Upon seeing Kara's smile, Barry matched it with his own, before turning on the TV and pulling up Hulu.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

National City, Police Precinct, 27 hours later.

Barry sat in the police lieutenant's office, waiting for her to show up for his job interview. He honestly didn't know anything about the woman, other than that she'd made LT extremely quickly, was an accomplished detective, and apparently had transferred from Gotham City PD two years prior. J'onn had been very insistent that Barry do his homework on his new potential boss. The credentials he'd received from the government got his foot in the door, but it was up to him to impress Lt. Renee Montoya.

The office itself was very similar to Lt. Singh's office back in Central City. It was filled with mementos from her days as a beat cop and detective, as well as case files and commendations. She even had pictures with a few of Earth-38's superheroes, like Kara's cousin and the Batman of Gotham City. Lt. Montoya's desk had a picture of her with an cheerful looking woman and a dog, and a computer that was humming while in rest mode.

He was about to check his watch when the door to the office opened, and an attractive Latino woman walked briskly into the room.

"Mr. Allen? I apologize for the wait. I'm helping three transfers and their consultant get settled in. They were a package deal from LAPD, and the consultant is a bit of a handful to deal with. Calls himself 'Lucifer', funny enough." She explained apologetically. "I assure you, I value your punctuality, and you come highly recommended. You just graduated with your master's in forensic science, correct?"

Barry nodded to the woman, who was now in business mode. "That's correct. I chose forensic science because I've wanted to make sure the right people get punished for their crimes. It's very important to me."

Renee nodded, but before she could say anything, her office door opened to reveal a tall, dark, and handsome gentleman wearing an Armani suit. "Pardon my interruption but I was told there was a kindred spirit in here." The man spoke with a posh British accent, and offered Renee an smile, that seemed to calm her ire ever so slightly. The man strode over to Barry, before extending a hand towards him, which Barry shook awkwardly. "Lucifer Morningstar. Pleasure to meet you. I'm sure the Detective and I will have lots of interactions with you, seeing as you'll be one of the new CSIs."

Barry gaped like a fish at the man's boldness. He looked over at Lt. Montoya, who just seemed amused by the situation rather than angry. Shaking his head, he extended his own hand towards the charming British fellow.

"Uh, Barry Allen. Nice to meet you." Barry said as he shook Lucifer's hand, noting that he had a rather firm grip.

"Mr. Morningstar is correct, Mr. Allen. We have two slots open in the CSI department, both of which will be filled today should you accept the job. The other position was filled by one of the transfers from LAPD." Upon the lieutenant's explanation, Lucifer jumped in.

"Indeed! Our little team had decided a change in scenery was in order, and while I grudgingly accept the Douche's coming along with us, if you are even half the forensic's expert as Ms. Lopez, you will be just dandy."

"Um, who is 'the Douche'?" Barry had to ask, using air quotes and all. Lucifer seemed to be delighted by the question, but before he could answer, two more people walked into the office.

"Ah! You're in luck. Here he is now. Detective Douch- I mean Espinoza, meet our fellow neophyte, Mr. Barry Allen." Lucifer pointed from him, to the muscular looking Hispanic detective, who seemed to be torn between annoyance at Lucifer's antics and genuine interest in meeting Barry.

"Hey, man. Name's Dan Espinoza. Nice to meet you. Don't mind Lucifer. He's obnoxious, but he's mostly harmless." Dan said with a friendly grin. Lucifer, however, looked scandalized.

"Excuse you, Dan. I am most certainly not obnoxious!" Lucifer said indignantly, before the other person made herself known, placing a hand on Lucifer's, prompting the man to preen at the attention while settling down. The blond woman turned to face Barry, before offering a small, friendly smile to both himself and Lt. Montoya.

"Hi. Sorry about that. He got excited at the idea of a fellow newbie, and had to say hello. Barry, was it?" Barry nodded, before she continued, "Name's Chloe Decker. I look forward to working with you."

Barry was about to answer, when Lt. Montoya coughed to get everyone's attention.

"While this heartwarming display of newbie solidarity is wonderful, I would like to conclude the formality of Mr. Allen's interview before my lunch break, so if the rest of you could clear out, that would be great." Chloe obliged, dragging both Dan and Lucifer out by their arms, though not before Lucifer waved goodbye at him. The office door closed, leaving a somewhat awkward air.

"So...they seem nice." Barry ended up breaking the silence, prompting a small smirk from the lieutenant.

"Indeed. They also are a ridiculously effective team. I also assume you know that this is Supergirl's city, meaning you'll get to work with her a lot. Try not to gawk too much, please." Renee said with exasperation, making a pointed look at Barry. "I get it. Trust me, if I wasn't happy with my wife, I'd make a pass at her too. She's the full package."

"That won't be an issue, ma'am. I make it a point not to gawk at women in general, let alone while on the job." Barry said while rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. That got a small grin out his new boss.

"Good answer. Now, head down to the lab to meet your fellow CSI. I, unfortunately, have to go through this mountain of paperwork. I'm sure Detective Espinoza wouldn't mind showing you to your new...office." Barry knew a dismissal when he heard one, so he nodded politely before standing from the chair and making his way to the door. He paused a moment, before turning back to Renee.

"Thank you, Lt. Montoya. I look forward to working with you."

"Mm." Clearly, the lieutenant was already in bureaucratic mode. He shrugged, before exiting her office, glancing around for Dan. He spotted the guy standing in the station entryway, next to a bubbly looking Latino girl, who appeared to be a little older than Barry was. They were standing a little closer than mere coworker status would be appropriate for mere work colleagues, indicating they were probably dating or something.

"Uh, Dan? The LT said you could show me to the labs?" Barry greeted with a wave, in the way one usually greets a familiar-ish face in a new setting. Immediately, that same tiny woman that Dan was speaking with was in front of him, with speeds that impressed even a speedster like him.

"OMG! Are you my new lab buddy? I'm Ella Lopez! Nice to meet you!" She managed to rattle off before she snatched him into an enthusiastic hug. Barry just patted her back awkwardly while looking at Dan for help. Dan just shrugged, and made no efforts to help him. A few seconds later, Ella released him, before reclaiming her spot by Dan. "Sorry, I'm kind of a big hugger." She smiled sheepishly at him, prompting Barry to chuckle awkwardly.

"Don't worry about it. Your enthusiasm reminds me of my friend Cisco." Barry stated with a small smile at the tiny cinnamon roll of a human being. "Um, as I asked before, you think you could show me to the labs?"

Ella shared a small look with Dan, who merely shrugged before answering for the both of them. "Sure thing. I'm still on my lunch break for another fifteen minutes. Might as well do something somewhat productive right?"

Barry nodded appreciatively. "Thanks a lot. I tend to be somewhat directionally challenged sometimes."

That got a laugh out of Dan and Ella, as the three of them moved through the hallways of the station, weaving through the crowd of officers on duty who were going about their day.

Ella pointed to a door in front of them. "There she is. My home away from home. Well, I mean, I guess it's yours now too." She explained sheepishly, before opening the door to the forensics lab. As Barry followed Ella through, he was greeted by the familiar sight of a fully stocked crime lab. Frankly, it was a beautiful, at least to a science nerd like Barry. Regardless of whether or not Barry now had the powers of a speedgod, he would always be the guy who wanted to make sure the right people got caught for their crimes.

Barry looked back over his shoulder at Ella and Dan, who'd been observing him, before he smiled at them. "It's as awesome as I was hoping it would be."

Dan rolled his eyes a bit, while Ella smiled at him, before she leaned and fauxwhispered at him "Don't let the grumblyguts over there bring you down. This lab IS rather awesome."

Barry was about to respond, when Dan's phone began to ring. The detective held up a hand for silence before he answered.

"This is Espinoza." Dan's eyes widened a bit, before he nodded to Ella. "Where at?" A pause. "I'll be there with Forensics in 15." He looked over at Barry. "How'd you like a taste of murder on while you're here?"

Barry had to admit one thing. If today was any indication, working here certainly wouldn't be boring.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To be continued...

Alright people. We're slowly getting to wear I wanted to be. Soon, we'll be handling episodes and villains with each chapter! Rejoice! I foresee maybe one more chapter with world building and maybe a smallfry villain before we get into the meat and potatoes of the story. Hope you're all enjoying it so far. :)

Until next time, (Which should be soon)

Raizen out.