A/N: Written for Snowbarry Valentine 2022 and the prompt "Don't you know? I'll always come when you call." I felt like it was a line that is easy to see Barry and Caitlin say to each but I wanted to try something a little different with it and so I worked it into a Savisnow ficlet instead. This has a redeemed Savitar in, though the scenario for how he's adapted to his new life is a bit different from what I've written before.
What's In A Word
"I have a favor to ask," Savitar says without introduction once his call is accepted.
Caitlin is quick to reply with "What do you need?" even though it's later than is polite to have called.
That she doesn't hesitate, so certain she can and will help him, causes a stirring of feeling inside him. This fondness Caitlin manages to elicit more and more, just by being herself. She doesn't even know what type of favor he might be calling on her for – medical, professional, personal...
"You almost make it sound like you'd do anything I asked," he says, only half-joking.
"Not anything, but probably almost anything, within reason. I'd say nothing illegal, but technically Team Flash isn't legal either, so... I'm just glad that you are asking for help."
There's a heavy pause at that reminder of how things used to be. How he used to push them all away, insistent he didn't need any more help than the bare minimum that he'd begrudge them for too. Looking back, it seems foolish, but at the time, it had seemed so important to maintain that distance. Only that hadn't left any room in his life for anything else important. Somehow, the team, and Caitlin especially, had put up with his difficultness long enough that he'd come around and realized what he was missing. It had taken a lot longer still for him to believe he could have all that again – support, friends, family, a purpose. Things were still tense at times, but he had a new identity that allowed him to have a job, to build a life for himself away from his old haunts. Far enough away he could be his own person, but not so far he couldn't be back there in a second if he wanted.
"I'm glad you still want to help me," he finally replies. He aims for sincere but can't entirely escape the melancholy that goes with those thoughts and his voice somewhat betrays him, coming out rougher with the emotion. Caitlin often seems to have that effect on him, and for some reason, he doesn't mind it so much anymore, at least not when it's just the two of them.
"Don't you know? I'll always come when you call."
It sounds like something he'd more readily believe she would say to Barry, or to Cisco, but there really isn't any reason to believe she's not being genuine. She says it so casually it can't be anything but true, because she simply isn't a good enough liar for it to be anything else. It's hard to know what to say in return, but knowing how much she cares does help him get over the gnawing worry that is the reason he's left it so late to ask, fearful it would be asking too much. It's suddenly a lot easier to get down to the real question.
"I need a plus one, for the NCPD charity ball. Tomorrow night."
The way it comes out isn't even as a question, but Caitlin doesn't seem thrown by it, nor confused. She accepts the implication she's the plus one and jumps straight to the practical concerns.
"Is there a theme or anything? It is on the 14th."
"Just the usual 'we want your money'. Someone should probably be fired for that scheduling."
"Or maybe they're geniuses getting the department to agree to what amounts to a sponsored Valentine's event."
"It doesn't matter to me."
"Duly noted," Caitlin says, and he wonders if that's said curtly even for her.
A silence passes between them where he starts to worry again, to wonder if this is a moment he should regret.
"Do you want it to matter?" he asks, leaving the question hanging dangerously.
"Are you asking if I mind accompanying you to an event on what would otherwise be Valentine's day?"
"Something like that. I'd like to avoid making my physician mad." He mentally kicks himself at taking the easy route out by summoning up that connection, as if it's so impersonal, even though it never could be like that between them, even if it was only that.
"No one else is asking me out. I hardly have anything better to do." It's such a non-committal answer that makes his heart sink despite himself and his attempts to avoid getting his hopes up.
"They gave me a heads-up, I'm getting a commendation for 'exemplary work'." He can't help the sarcasm escaping his lips, it's still too hard to believe people think good of him.
"Well, that settles it, I wouldn't miss it. What are you wearing?"
"Black, what else."
"I've got a blue dress I've been saving for an occasion like this. Maybe you could switch to navy for a change?"
His heart skips a beat at the suggestion, even though he's sure she doesn't mean she's been saving it for an occasion with him. That impossibility somehow doesn't seem too absurd to the fool in him that yearns for something more. Even though it means finding a whole new outfit just for her, he concedes that readily enough in his mind. But he saves a little hesitancy for his verbal agreement so he doesn't appear too eager.
"I could probably swing that."
"That's settled then, it's a date. See you tomorrow," Cait says firmly.
He can't help but feel her word choice was deliberate, but he still doesn't want to read more into it in case he's wrong.
"Goodnight," he says, as fondly as he dares. It sounds odd to his ears to hear his voice not either dripping with sarcasm or his fairly usual indifference, but by her reaction - the smile he thinks he can hear around her own goodnight - it must be fine, or welcomed even.
"Sleep well," she adds, despite knowing how ill he sleeps, always wishing for better for him.
He expects her to end the call immediately, but she doesn't, which is unlike her usually brusque telephone manner. There's another pause. He isn't sure if she means to say more and is hesitating or is just waiting for him to hang up first, neither of which is like Caitlin. Those few seconds feel like an age for a speedster. Each fraction of a second amping up the hope in his heart, because there is something different there. Some nebulous meaning he can't be sure of, except in how it makes him feel. Alarmed at how out of control his emotions are right now, but also a touch giddy at the prospect of a whole evening with Caitlin.
Perhaps he is reading too much into it, but he still hopes, secretly, for it to mean as much to her. For her shining smile at him as she watches him accept an accolade he hardly deserves. That will make his evening tomorrow, regardless of the day or the uncertainty of which type of date she meant.
