I don't own the CW show The Flash or any DC characters found in this story. I only own my OCs.
Central City
October 15, 2014
In retrospect, if Melody had known how busy the next week would be she would have insisted meeting with the Star Labs crew that very night.
'Hindsight's 20/20' She mused, leaning against her propped up arm, hand rubbing against the migraine that pressed like a vice around her head.
Danton Black was dead, having apparently thrown himself from the roof after failing to kill the man who ruined his life and inadvertently caused the death of his wife, a one Simon Stagg. All the work that she had put into providing the scientist with a space to continue his research and practice his abilities, gone in a single night, helped in no small part by Barry Allen. The two birdies she had sent to observe the fight had come back with the same story. A man in red leather had fought Danton, attempted to save the man when he fell out a window, and had lost his grip when Danton twisted his way free.
'I'm not being fair' She argued with herself. 'He was trying to kill a man. I can't be surprised Allen had a problem with that, of course he would try to stop him.' Pushing back from her desk she tapped her fingers against the wood as she moved around the desk and towards the door. 'Not everyone sees the world like I do, and I can't expect them to. Though it would certainly make my life easier.' Huffing a laugh, Melody made her way through the door and down the stairs, slipping past the employees only door and out into the club.
Music thudded and lights flashed in the dark room, though no one besides staff were present, and Melody bobbed her head to the beat that made the floor hum and her fingers tingle with power. Checking her watch Melody settled into her armchair, crossing her legs and leaning back into the plush fabric. '10 til, should be here any minute if the rumors of Wells' punctuality are to be believed.' For a moment she pondered which would win out; Wells need to be early or Barry's chronic lateness.
'I suppose I'll find out.'
Settling in to wait, Melody tracked the movements around her, watching wait staff move around the floor, setting tables and prepping the bar for the evening rush. While Wednesday wasn't the busiest of nights it still garnered a good amount of people and Melody always made sure her staff had plenty of time to prepare. As though her thoughts had summoned them, Janet and Jace strode through the doors, finishing up their perimeter check. Jace headed straight to her side while Janet placed their order at the bar, giving Jenna her usual flirtations as she accepted the drinks, taking extra care to brush up against the other woman.
"Five bucks she finally asks her out." Jace muttered, gun spread in pieces on the coffee table as he idly cleaned.
Melody scoffed "Not likely. Jenna will ask her when she's ready, not a moment before, and Janet is content to wait until then."
And as she said, Jenna gave Janet an equally flirtatious smile before pulling away and heading back behind the bar. Janet stared after her, expression soft, then spun on her heels, quickly crossing the dance floor and climbing the slight rise to the closed off area where Piper held court. Handing Jace his drink, she sunk into the couch on Melody's left, stretching a hand along the top while the other cradled her glass.
"Early or late?" She asked, placing the glass on the end table after taking a sip.
"Coaster" Melody reminded, eyes half closed as she pushed away background noise in search of a certain group pulling up out front.
Janet made a face but pulled a coaster from the table drawer, wiping the ring of condensation her drink had left behind before putting it back down.
"Early it would seem" Melody finally responded, eyes blinking open. Lacing her fingers together she propped her chin on top, smile playing at her lips as hushed voices met her ears, squabbling quickly ended in the face of West and Wells stern words. Flicking her glasses out Melody settled them on her nose just as the front doors opened and the Star Labs group stumbled through. While both Barry and Joe had been here before, both for official and unofficial reasons, none of the others were what you might call clubbers and so had never stepped foot in Hamelin before this moment. The younger two were taking their time in studying the building, the male nudging his coworker in excitement. Dr Wells was not so easily impressed and had instead focused on Melody the moment his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.
"Dr Wells" Melody murmured her greeting, head slightly tilted. "This is certainly a meeting that was a while in the making, wouldn't you agree?"
The others jumped at the abrupt sound that cut so easily through the din of the club, Joe and Barry turning her way from experience rather than a true knowledge of her location.
Dr Wells simply hummed, following the raised path around the dance floor until he reached the dais before replying. "I would, though had I known you were affected by my Particle Accelerator explosion I would have arranged this meeting much sooner."
There was the slightest hint of reproach in those words, as though he were chiding Melody for keeping such a thing secret from him.
"Perhaps if you looked further than Mr. Allen you would have found others like him." Mike retorted, detaching from the shadows at Melody's back and draping himself over top of her chair, smile sharp as glass. "But since that never happened, I suppose we'll never know."
Jace chuckled quietly, head still down as he started to piece his gun back together. When Joe, who had walked up with the others, made a noise of warning he glanced up with a scowl. "Wanna see my permit?"
"Come now, we're all friends here, lets not quarrel over petty matters." Melody soothed, letting her hands fall as she gestured toward the couch that Janet lounged on.
Barry and Ramon were quick to take their seats, Ramon still taking in the décor with tangible excitement, while the others gingerly settled around the cordoned off area.
"So!" Melody clapped her hands together, leaning forward in her seat. "Shall we talk business now or after drinks?"
"Now." Was Joe's firm answer. Melody sighed but nodded in agreement, waving away the server that had briefly paused at the foot of the dais. Melody waited until the server was far enough away before twisting her wrist, pushing the music and general clatter away before sealing the area so none of their sound escaped. The sudden noise drop was startling though the Hamelin members didn't flinch.
"Impressive" Wells noted.
Melody gave him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Like your opinion matters to me."
If Wells was insulted he hid it well, instead leaning back in his wheelchair with the air of one who was purely humoring the other. Melody knew the expression as it was one she had adopted herself a time or two.
"Right into it then. The people you see before you are my most trusted, both with my secret and yours. They consist of my brother Michael," Here Mike gave a bright smile with a jaunty wave "and my two bodyguards Janet and Jace." Each raised a glass in greeting, exchanging nods. "I presume your group is the extent of those who know of your abilities?"
"Yeah, no one else knows" Barry confirmed, glancing at Wells as he did.
"I see. There are no others outside of Star Labs and Joseph?"
"No, Iris doesn't know" Joe growled, pointing a finger in warning, "And I'd like to keep it that way."
"Watch that finger, West." Janet advised, tucking her chin lower.
"Why, you gonna do something about it?"
"Enough." Melody's voice was quiet but the stillness it settled over the group was all the power it needed.
"Barry, allow me to be frank. You know something about me that I would prefer not become well known. I know something about you that you would prefer not to be well know, especially if you intend on continuing your do-gooder runs through the city wearing red leather."
"Actually its-"
"So what I am proposing-" Melody continued as Barry jabbed an elbow into Ramon's side and Wells leveled a glare that quickly shut the engineer up, "-is a more involved agreement then the one I currently carry with the CCPD."
"In what way?" West asked, relaxing somewhat as the discussion continued.
"You stay out of my business, I stay out of yours. You help with my business, I help with yours. If there is ever a conflict of interests, we discuss it as rational grown men and women and come to a mutually beneficial agreement that doesn't press against anyone's moral code too hard." That last sentence carried a bit of a sneer that Barry knew was directed more toward Joe than him.
"That sounds pretty good." Barry had to admit, knowing just how valuable Melody's help could be. "But, uh, what kind of business of yours exactly is it you want me to stay out of. Just so we're clear."
"You're cute when you're trying to be sneaky. There are a few projects," Melody continued paying no mind to the suddenly sputtering meta, "that I have currently running that I would prefer to remain uninterrupted. Projects that I have some level of certainty you would find... uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable how?" And there was West with his years of well earned paranoia that had his hackles raising far sooner then others might have.
"Not exactly aligned with what you might consider good, but also not at a level you would find personally distasteful." Melody offered. "A sort of middle ground. But believe you me Detective, everything I do I believe to be good for this city."
"I suspect we have vastly different definitions of the word good."
There was a shared laugh among the Hamelin group at that, Melody restraining herself to a tight smile. "Seeing as my version of good didn't explode inadvertently creating an entire subspecies, cause the highest death toll outside of natural disasters that this city has ever seen, and rack up more DRF requests then the last hurricane did, it's safe to say mine is the one we'll be operating off of."
There was a decidedly awkward pause as Melody and Wells stared each other down, one with hands tightly clasped to the arms of his chair, the other with a cold anger burning in her eyes.
"Fair enough." West intervened, raising a hand to flag down a passing server. "I think I'd like that drink now."
"Amen" "Me too" "Oh thank God"
Huffing a laugh Melody leaned back, tension slowly draining as sound trickled back in. Drink orders were taken and the server was gone as quickly as she came leaving behind an only slightly less tense group. They sat in silence for a brief time before Ramon couldn't seem to contain himself any longer.
"So how did it happen?"
Tilting her head, Melody popped a quizzical brow.
"That night. How'd you get your powers? What are they by the way, I guessing something to do with soundwaves, which would be a really cool name actually" He added more to himself then anyone else.
"Sure, if it weren't already taken by a transformer." Mike snorted, moving to perch on the left arm of Melody's chair.
"You know transformers?" Ramon was momentarily distracted and Melody let out an actual chuckle. "We were kids in the eighties and nineties. Of course we know transformers." Ramon accepted the explanation with a nod before returning to his original question.
"So? If you want to, I mean, totally cool if you don't" He quickly backtracked when both bodyguards leveled glowering expressions his way.
"I don't mind" She assured, pausing as the drinks arrived. "It wasn't nearly as dramatic as getting struck by lightning though, I'll tell you that now." She teased, eyeing the others as they drank, pleased when no one eyed the drinks with suspicion. It was always nice to be trusted, even if it wasn't really needed.
They spoke for a while, the two Metas (as Star Labs had seen fit to label them) exchanging stories of their changes, though each was careful not to share everything. If Barry were any better at lying it might have even been a challenge for her to discern what was kept back for the sake of privacy rather than perhaps deserved suspicion of her motives. Nonetheless by the end of the meeting the two groups were feeling much more comfortable with each other, making idle chatter as they gathered coats and started to meander toward the door. Mike Barry and Cisco, as he had given them permission to call him, were deep into discussion on their theories for the new Star Wars movie due to come out in December. Melody watched them with an idle smile. She had always thought Mike needed more friends and she was glad to see the three of them getting along.
There was a quiet whir as Wells moved closer and Jace tensed, casting the wheelchair bound man a warning glance.
"It's alright Jace. Why don't you go make sure the Valets' have the Star Labs van pulled around?" Melody dismissed. Jace hesitated for only as long as it took for Melody to start raising an eyebrow, quickly disappearing through the employee only door.
With him gone Melody turned her attention back to Dr Wells, accepting his silent invitation to accompany him to the door with a dip of her head. Without question she formed a bubble around the two of them allowing them to speak in peace.
"I don't trust you"
Melody laughed, a slightly startled sound that bubbled from her chest and spilled out before she could stop it. "The feeling is mutual, I assure you."
"I think your interference will lead to distraction on Mr. Allen's part which will only be a detriment to the progress he seeks to gain."
Melody nodded slowly, clasping her hands together. "His progress or yours I wonder? Oh come now Dr Wells I'm not an idiot. I know full well what effects Barry's blood could have on the medical science community, the potential waiting to be unlocked in his altered DNA. Given enough study even you might one day be able to walk again."
"I didn't expect you to have such a grasp on the possibilities. Most would assume all Barry can do is run fast."
"Not an untrue assumption to make. I didn't entirely consider it on my own. I made a query with a physician that I know. They were not stingy on details."
Wells swung his chair sideways, leveling a truly deadly glare at the woman. "You told someone else? And exactly what other lies did you tell this evening?"
Melody smiled amusedly, well aware of the looks they were garnering as Wells scowled up at her. "I did no such thing. I proposed a hypothetical situation and referred to the potential subject entirely in the third person. I gave no clues or hints that the hypothetic was a reality and that the person in question actually existed. Even if I had, the Doctor in question is under several NDA contracts and has been for years. Even without the contracts I would trust them with my life."
Dr Wells studied her for a long moment, seemingly attempting to stare in the woman's soul. Finally he gave a single nod, turning back toward the door as they resumed their course. "My apologies. I take the safety of Mr. Allen very seriously."
"Of course. If only you had shown that much care before this whole situation could have been avoided."
Wells' mouth twisted but he made no move to respond, nodding politely as the Doormen stepped to the side, gesturing the group out.
"I think it's quite clear that you will never like me and I will never like you. But this isn't about us; not really." Pausing at the curb, Melody spun on her heel to face Wells. "It's about Barry. We both care for him, granted in vastly different ways. You care for what he can get you, I care for what he has already done for me. Either way we both want his career to continue and flourish. All we can do is agree to disagree on the methods we each take." Stretching out a hand, she offered it to Wells to shake. "What say you?"
"Agreed" Shaking her hand, Wells turned back to face the curb as the Star Labs van pulled up, the side door opening and a ramp automatically lowering for the man to drive up. The others quickly filed into the van after him though Melody held Barry back briefly, handing him a business card. "If you need anything call this number anytime. If I can help I might."
Smiling at the look that got her Melody shooed the other Meta away. Now it was just West and her on the curb watching the van drive off without him.
"Something on your mind?"
"Yeah, just the one thing."
"Walk with me then." Hooking her arm around West's Melody started walking, turning the corner and leading him around the block. Jace hovered just out of hearing range, keeping the two in his sight.
"Back there, you said that those present were the only ones that knew about what exactly it is you can do."
"I did."
"And no one else?"
"With the full extent of it? No. They are the only ones that know the full story. Why the curiosity?"
Joe shrugged. "I just thought you might have told Snart is all."
It was only the knowledge that West was looking for a reaction that kept Melody from exhibiting one. Instead her face remained a still mask of pleasant demeanor, not so much a stumble in her stride.
"While I'm sure I would never associate with such a well known criminal like Leonard Snart, I can say with some authority that he has been underground since the night the Accelerator exploded. No one's seen him since."
"Not even you?" Joe seemed rather disbelieving of that. Melody couldn't imagine why, smile staying firmly fixed in place.
"Not even me. Perhaps he's moved on to bigger and greater things?"
"Not likely and we both know it. Maybe he's dead." Melody's grip tightened just briefly but West still noticed, glancing sideways at her.
"Oh I doubt that." Her voice was even but West could pick out the warning. Cease and desist from that line of thought.
"You'd know better than me" He conceded, feeling the grip on his arm relax as they moved away from the charged topic.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean by that Joseph. Shall I call you a cab?"
"No need" Joe detangled their arms, offering a short insincere smile. "I'm meeting Iris at Jitters, it's only a ten minute walk from here."
"If you insist. Thank you for your time and... pleasant conversation." They shook once before West walked off, hands shoved in his pockets.
Melody felt Jace come up behind her as her pleasant smile melted like a popsicle in summer. "Sometimes I really don't like that man."
"Thought you respected the shit out of him."
"It is in fact possible to do both." Turning on her heel, Melody patted the taller man's shoulder as she headed back inside.
"Mike, where's that guest list for tonight!"
"Do you look at anything I leave on your desk?"
October 17, 2014
Melody had honestly not been expecting a call this early. She had been anticipating the Star Labs team to put off asking for her help until circumstances were truly dire. Barry seemingly did not share their caution she mused as she accepted the call.
"Barry, what an unexpected but pleasant surprise. How can I assist you? I'm rather busy at the moment but I might be able to find some spare time to-"
"Someone's killing off Darbinyan family members" Barry cut her off.
Melody paused, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair. "Yes I heard all about that tragic incident at the Oasis, such a shameful loss of life."
There was an almost amused huff from the other end of the line. "Yeah I'm sure you lost sleep over it, we think we know who's doing it."
"Oh? Do tell." Melody knew damn well who was behind it, she had payed him to do it after all, but it was best for everyone that Barry not know that detail.
"Kyle Nimbus, he was a hitman for the Darbinyans but they testified against him in court."
"Kyle Nimbus was sentenced to the death penalty, he was executed by toxic gas-"
"The night of the Particle Accelerator explosion?" Melody wasn't loving all this interrupting Barry was doing but for the sake of comradery she supposed she'd let it go.
"Fair point. You think he's scratching people off the list of those that lead to his downfall?"
"That's the current theory."
"Then you had better get Joseph somewhere safe, he was the lead detective on that case. He slapped the cuffs on Nimbus himself."
Barry swore, rushing out a quick thanks before ending the call. With no great deal of urgency Melody flipped through her contacts, clicking on the one that just said 'N'. The line rung twice before connecting. Melody didn't wait for any greeting that she knew wouldn't come. "They know, you have a limited window before West is no longer accessible. Fail it this time and I will offer no further opportunities."
"Understood"
The line went dead and Melody resumed her halfhearted spinning, offering Mike a smile as he swept into the room.
"The Darbinyan's have been crippled and soon Nimbus will be removed from the picture." She informed him, accepting the offered tray with a murmured thanks. "I even managed to get rid of that uptight Judge Howard."
"Nice. She didn't laugh at any of my jokes." Mike complained, unwrapping his burger and taking a bite.
"Truly a just cause for her release from life." Melody agreed, setting her fries to the side as she started to eat.
After finishing their meal Mike threw away the trash and deposited the trays just outside the office doors for a server to take back to the kitchen before returning to his spot across the desk from Melody. They worked in silence for a few hours before a knock on the door disturbed the peace.
Melody didn't bother to look up from her reports or raise her voice, simply muttering a "Come in Janet" in reply.
Janet entered with her hands held tight to a slip of paper, handing it over when Melody stretched her hand out. Giving the paper a quick scan, Melody let a pleased smirk pull at her lips. "West still lives, and Nimbus has vanished from off the playing field. Seems our friends at Star Labs have spirited him away to some secondary location. Which I should look into further, it seems very sketchy."
"And that's coming from you" Mike laughed, accepting the report when Melody offered, giving it his own glance over.
"Everyone has a line. I would hate to see Barry cross one of his own in the pursuit of 'The Greater Good.' Besides-" Leaning back in her chair Melody frowned at the far wall, deep in thought. "Something tells me it wasn't his idea."
"What makes you say that?" Janet asked, taking the report back from Mike and crossing the room to throw it in the lit fireplace.
"Because why would a CSI who lives by the rules of due process suddenly break mold like that? This is the same man who turned in a detective for tampering with evidence. It doesn't match previous behaviors and it's questionable ethics at best." Pushing away from the desk she swept from the room, snagging her coat from the hook at the door as she passed. Janet and Mike were quick to follow her down the hall and out the back way that led to the alley at the back of the building.
Melody only had to wait for a minute before a group of street kids emerged from various ends of the alley. They quickly gathered around the woman who offered soft smiles and quiet words of praise passed along with the small treats that seemed to have a never ending stream from her pockets.
"I have another job for you all if you're willing." Melody had waited until the candies had been shoved into mouths, firmly keeping the questions at a minimum, before voicing her offer, displaying a photo on her phone of Kyle Nimbus when the group turned to look.
"I'm looking for this man, I seem to have misplaced him somewhere. Could you look around for me, but be very careful when you do? I don't want any of you getting hurt for this."
She let the phone get passed around so each child had a good look at the photo before tucking it back in her pocket.
"Well?" She let the challenge show in her voice and every kid straightened in response, little faces setting in determination.
"We can do it Miss Piper." One of the more outspoken boys said.
"Then it's the usual payment for your efforts and a special extra for whoever manages to find him. I'd suggest starting with areas normally off limits or generally avoided. Hop to my little minions." With a loud cheer the group split off, some ducking down the alley with others climbing up the fire escape to the roof. When the last had disappeared around the corner Melody turned back to the door where Mike and Janet had stood waiting.
"Call the car around and see if you can find any blueprints of Star Labs in our records. I can't imagine they're stupid enough to keep Nimbus in the building with them but it merits a visit just to be sure."
"To Star Labs then?" Mike checked as they moved through the club, Janet splitting off to call the car.
"To Star Labs" Melody confirmed "Where there had better be a stellar explanation waiting."
There wasn't.
There wasn't even anyone there, and so the three walked in unencumbered.
Never one to waste an opportunity, Melody gestured Mike toward the computers and left Janet keeping guard as she continued down the hallway, head cocked slightly to the side as each step sent soundwaves echoing down the halls. Pausing at one bend Melody let her fingers rest against the concrete wall, a frown pulling at her lips. That was not the sound of a solid barrier. If Melody didn't know any better she would say that this particular wall was-
"Miss Piper, I didn't know we had an appointment."
Firmly jolted from her thoughts, Melody kept her back to Wells long enough to cast her eyes to the ceiling, sending a half hearted plea for patience before turning to face the man.
"Indeed we did not, however I had a rather concerning phone call with Barry earlier this evening that ended quite abruptly. Naturally I became rather worried and so took it upon myself to ensure his wellbeing with my own eyes. But to my surprise I found no one in the building when I arrived." Pausing to let an eyebrow show above her shades she joked. "Was there a team outing I wasn't invited to? If so I shall have to curb my disappointment."
Wells gave a tight smile and spun his chair, wordlessly inviting her to follow him down the hall. Rapping the wall once with her knuckles, Melody accepted, falling into step next to Wells as he rolled back toward the Cortex.
"Today was rather hard for the others if somewhat rewarding in other ways."
"Mhm, I heard West was in the Hospital, is he recovering well?"
"He'll need to be on bedrest for a few days but the toxins should be fully removed from his system by tomorrow."
"Good to hear" Melody said with a smile. "I'll have to send him flowers. And what about the situation did you find rewarding, if you are inclined to share?"
Wells was silent for a moment before answering with a curious lift to his smile. "Watching Barry overcome a more versatile opponent using only his wits was a delight to see. With every day he exceeds more and more of my expectations."
"He's always been a credit to his name." Melody agreed before stopping just before the last turn to the central control room. Half turning to face her, Wells lifted a brow in question.
"Exceeds your expectations for him" She quoted, head tilting down. "Interesting phrasing. Not Star Labs, not Cisco or Dr Snow's, but yours."
"I do feel some level of responsibility for him, it was my error in judgement that caused all this. All of you." Wells explained, leaning back in his chair, arms folded across his chest.
Melody laughed softly, lips twisted into a wry grin. "You think you caused me? You think you created who I am? I created myself, Harrison. The only claim you could possibly make is that you enhanced what I already was. What is it like for you I wonder?" She posed, steamrolling over the man when he attempted to speak. "Tell me what does it feel like watching all these Metas cause such wanton destruction and knowing you made it possible? I wonder," Stepping closer she loomed over the scientist before leaning down so they were eyelevel, hands braced on her legs. "Do you ever feel like God?"
At such close distance not even shades could hide the faint shine of golden eyes.
Something changed in Wells' expression, a minute shift so small Melody would have missed if they weren't inches away from each other. There was something new in the way he looked at her, like he had figured out some secret and was now trying to pretend he hadn't.
Slightly unnerved, Melody straightened, carefully keeping her expression cool. Stepping around him, Melody strode past the opening into the Cortex, a quick glance confirming that Janet and Mike had already left. Not pausing until she had reached the elevator, Melody pressed the call button then turned to smile down at Wells.
"Always an experience talking with you Dr Wells."
"Just as it's a revelation speaking with you, Miss Piper." There was the slightest hint of hesitance before her name that she noted and tucked away for later thought. Stepping through the elevator doors, she pressed the ground floor button, maintaining her pleasant smile as the doors started to slide shut. Just before the doors closed, Melody watched as the matching smile dropped from Wells' lips, leaving a decidedly sinister expression in its wake.
"He suspect anything?" Mike asked, pushing away from the car as Melody got closer.
"Start the car."
Startled, Mike slipped into the passenger side as the vehicle rumbled to life. Speeding from the parking lot, Melody didn't relax until the looming architecture of Star Labs had disappeared from their rearview mirror.
"What happened? What did he say!" Janet demanded, eyes flicking between the road and the tightly wound figure in the back seat.
"Not here. I don't want a word spoken until we're in a secure location. Not one peep." She stressed when Mike opened his mouth to argue. Snapping it shut with an audible clack, Mike slumped against the seat, arms crossed as he pouted.
"Trust me, you'll be thankful when we're back home."
The rest of the drive passed in silence, broken only after they had pulled up to the curb and Janet had handed off the keys to the valet. Slamming the doors to the club open, Melody stalked past the cleaning crew who scattered out of her way. Hovering behind, Mike dismissed the group for the night, sending them home with an apologetic smile and a promise on a bonus.
"Boss? What's wrong?" Reaching out, Melody grabbed Jace by the arm, spinning him around and dragging him after her. "Send my apologies to Marlene but I need you for a little while longer." She explained, letting go as the others caught up. Digging his hand into his pocket Jace pulled out his personal cell, sending just one word in text to his wife before shoving the phone back in.
Leading the way into her office Melody reached into the bottom right drawer on her desk, yanking it open and pulling the false bottom up. Grabbing the device she didn't waste a second before pressing the button. It beeped twice before connecting.
"What do you need." The familiar gravely voice asked.
"Everything you can possibly get me on Dr. Harrison Wells. The man is dangerous in a way I can't pin down and I need to know why."
"Is this you calling in your favor?" Melody hesitated, then remembered the gleam in Wells' eyes just before the elevator doors closed.
"Yes."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line as the others settled around the room, listening to the conversation with concern and a good amount of unease.
"He's unsettled you." The man finally said, seemingly surprised at the revelation. To be fair, very little caused Melody genuine unease, and for a widely acclaimed and notably mild mannered scientist to do so was a surprising turn of events.
Melody didn't deny the statement, only gave a low hum as she sank into her chair. "You didn't see the look in his eyes when we were speaking, he..." She let out a long breath, shaking her head slightly. "There is something wrong in that man, there is no doubt in my mind. If anyone can find what it is it's you."
"Hmm. I'll see what I can find. I'll be in contact in the next few days."
"Thank you, Batman."
Jace jolted in his seat and Janet let out a swear that made Mike whistle and Melody send the other woman a scolding glance. No response came from the other end of the line before the connection dropped with a buzz. Carefully replacing the device, Melody nudged the drawer closed before lacing her fingers together a leveling a serious look at Mike and Janet.
"What did you find?"
"That apparently Wells and co are the idiots you were so sure they weren't." Mike replied, pulling out his tablet and tapping at the screen before turning it around to show live footage of Kyle Nimbus sat idly in a small cell.
"Shit" Melody breathed, leaning forward to get a better look at the screen, shades quickly discarded on the desk. "That can not be in compliance to the Mandela Rules. This is a massive breach in human rights."
"So what do you want to do?" Mike asked.
Leaning back, Melody rubbed at her temples. "Save that footage. I want at least three backups on all our private files and a written account of everything you found in that system as well as the obvious infractions. Clearly we can't allow Star Labs to take another Meta, so from now on, all of the ones on our record get my number. Make sure you stress that it is for the strictest emergencies only. Even Wells can't ignore them demanding their phone call, not without losing face in front of the others. Barry's respect seems to be very important to him, lets use that as often as possible."
"What about Nimbus?" Jace asked, work cell already pulled out as he tapped away.
Melody hesitated for just a second too long. The others paused and turned to look at the woman, varying expressions on their faces.
"Mels?"
Spinning her chair around, Melody uttered the words that made her hate herself just a little bit. "We have to leave him there."
Silence reigned for a long moment before Mike softly asked, "Why?"
Hunching over slightly, Melody braced her elbows on her arm rests, fingers digging into leather.
"If we break Nimbus out they'll know we discovered the cells. They'll just come up with another option. And if this was their first idea? I don't want to see what they come up with next. We can save others from that fate, but we can't let them know we're on to them."
"Death would be a kinder fate for someone like Nimbus." Jace pointed out.
"We'd be the first suspects, Wells wouldn't hesitate to point the finger, and I have no doubt they'd believe him over us. And clearly they don't care about human rights when it comes to either Metas or convicts." Sinking into her chair, Melody's tone barred any arguments. "He stays. Until we have an airtight case against the Labs, he stays."
"...Snart would be livid." Melody flinched, fingers curling into fists on reflex. Only Mike would get away with saying something like that and not worrying about retaliation.
"Leonard isn't here."
Gravel crunched as a motorbike pulled to a stop just outside Central City limits. Pulling down his goggles, Leonard Snart took a deep breath of cold air, blowing out a cloud of fog that quickly dissipated into the night.
"Good to be back."
Ayo, wassup my guys? My second favorite boy has officially entered the scene-ThawneEnthusiast
