Iris had been taken.
Barry's old childhood nemesis had seen her blog and assumed she knew something. Hayley couldn't help but feel almost vindicated, a thought she didn't voice. Hayley had gotten the call while still at the lab, and the anguish filling Barry's voice alone was enough to make her drop everything and run to STAR Labs like HYDRA was after her.
She was just barely in time to stop Barry from throwing his phone at Dr. Wells in frustration.
"Barry! Barry, we'll find her, I promise." Helplessly, she looked at Cisco, who shook his head. "Where would Tony take her?"
Barry thought. "I don't know." Hayley opened her mouth to say more, and was cut off by a ping! from the computer.
"Sir, sir, we got a fire alarm call at Carmichael Elementary. Dispatch the fire department. We'll send backup when we can."
"That's the school you and Iris went to." Cisco said, looking up from the screen.
"And Tony." Barry added.
"Go." And Barry was gone.
〰️〰️〰️
Hayley paced. And paced. Cisco, whenever he wasn't watching Barry's vitals, watched her in exasperation. After two minutes of this, Caitlin snapped.
"You're going to wear a path in the floor. Stay still."
"I'm just worried, okay?" Hayley stopped her pacing anyway.
"Wait, he's running away." Cisco said. Hayley gaped.
"He's running?!?"
"He stopped." Caitlin told her.
"Exactly 5.3 miles away."
"Ooh he's gonna do it." Cisco whooped. "Supersonic punch, baby!" Hayley sat down hard.
"Just tell me when it's over."
〰️〰️〰️
Iris and Barry were both safe and sound. It had been a nerve-wracking few hours but now everyone was celebrating quietly. Hayley slipped outside silently.
Once outside she pulled her
coat tighter around herself and looked up at the stars.
"Hey, there, Hayes." Barry's voice floated over to her. "You've been awfully quiet tonight." Hayley turned to look at him.
"I thought you were going to die."
"But I didn't. I saved Iris and Tony's in the Pipeline."
Hayley exhaled sharply, watching the white cloud of breath dissipate. "I guess I'm just tired of watching you run off, risk your life, and come back injured."
Barry chuckled softly. "Yeah, I think we're all tired of meta attacks."
Hayley shook her head. "No, I don't think that's it. I'm used to fighting; it's a part of me, I pretty much am nothing if I'm not a fighter." Barry opened his mouth, but she plowed on. "No, Bar, don't try to tell me I'm more than that. My point is that I worry about you. I just don't like watching you get hurt."
"Well, I can agree that constantly fighting and worrying is getting tiring." Barry started. "Look, the precinct autumn party is coming up and I was wondering if you might like to go? With me?"
Hayley turned incredulous eyes on him. Was... Was he asking her out?! Barry started fidgeting when she kept staring.
"I mean, it might be fun?" he said, rubbing his neck. "We get to dress pretty fancy and..."
"Barry. I wasn't made for pretty things and fancy dresses. I was made for deadly things and suits of armour. But, in spite of that, I would like nothing more than to go to the winter party with you." Hayley answered.
"Really?!" he asked. "I mean, yeah, great. Ok."
He reached for her, hesitated, then hugged her tight and walked back inside. Hayley watched him walk away. She also watched him fist pump the air and whisper yes into the night. She smirked. He really was too adorable for his own good.