Cisco and Caitlin gently helped Belén to stand on her feet. Today was the day she was finally able to leave the hospital and needless to say Belén was eager to get out of there. It had been a week since her accident and nothing had been more boring than being forced to lay in bed and do nothing.
"I can do it guys," Belén tried to shoo Caitlin and Cisco but neither moved away from her.
"Nu-uh, we are not letting you out of our sight," Cisco promised. "Not until we figure out why you were targeted."
"Cisco, that's so last week," Belén sarcastically rolled her eyes.
"He's right though," came mama-Caitlin's agreement. "We have a mystery to solve."
"Can we do that at Jitters while I eat?" Belén asked hopeful. She heard the place had finally re-opened - thanks to a 'mysterious force' reconstructing it at night - and was desperate to get back to her normal routine.
"We've actually got somewhere else to go," Cisco announced, his somewhat mischievous smile put Belén on edge.
She stopped struggling against the two to get to the bottom of their mysterious place to be at. "Oh, and where's that?"
"Barry's dad is getting released today," Caitlin smiled impossibly wide, matching Cisco's face exactly. "And we're throwing a little party."
"I-I'm invited?" was the words that came out from Belén's mouth in her rash nervousness. She knew Barry had begun the process of overturning his father's case thanks to the confession Wells left behind on video but neither she nor he knew how long that would take.
"Well of course!" Cisco answered her with a laugh. "So c'mon, everyone's setting up right now."
"But I need to get a proper shower and-and find something to wear…" Belén began to think about what she had in her closet. What could she wear with the new dark blue arm sling her injured arm was forced to rest in.
Caitlin chuckled as they finally got her to stand up from the bed. "Don't worry, I'll help you with whatever you need and then we can head to the party."
"Thank you," Belén could only wonder how much help she would need now that she only had one working, movable arm. Taking care of Axel sure was going to get even more interesting. She knew that one for sure.
~ 0 ~
"Where are half my things at?" Belén was mighty confused - and a bit alarmed - to find that her closet and drawers were half empty. Caitlin had walked in with a glass of water and some pills Belén needed to start taking. "I've been robbed," Belén turned back with wide eyes.
Caitlin couldn't take it and laughed. "Calm down, Belén. Iris and I came over last night and took some things you would need."
"As a welcome-home prank sorta-thing?" Belén raised an eyebrow, finding no relevancy in that plan whatsoever.
Caitlin continued to laugh but shook her head to answer Belén. "No, of course not. Iris and I thought that maybe it would be easier for you to stay with someone that could help you for a while. We put all your stuff in my spare room for you and Axel to stay in."
"Oh," Belén began feeling bad for making such a deal.
"Iris wanted you to stay with her instead but we figured it might be awkward staying in the same house as Barry so…"
Belén grabbed Caitlin's arm dramatically. "Thank you," she could not be more grateful for Caitlin convincing Iris of the alternative plan.
Caitlin chuckled and held the glass of water and pills for her to take. "Yes, now take these."
"Yes, Doctor Snow," Belén saluted with her good arm.
"And then we're gonna find you some clothes that we left for you," Caitlin walked for the closet, humming to herself, "I'm pretty sure Iris mentioned something she left specifically for the occasion."
Belén groaned. "Oh no."
~0~
Barry was glad to see his father happy right in front of him...without glass windows to block them. He was thankful that Iris had gotten the idea of making a little party for Henry and honestly couldn't think of a better way to welcome his father back than with his family and friends.
"Iris, Iris!" Axel tugged on Iris' dress sleeve and didn't stop until Iris paid him attention.
"What is it, Axel?" Iris looked down at the young boy. He seemed very impatient or upset, Iris couldn't tell which one it was but she knew the reason for his behavior.
"When is Auntie Belén coming?" he asked sadly. "I don't want cake until my auntie is here." He had been eyeing the cut cake for about an hour but refused any slices Iris tried giving him. Apparently, he was planning on not having lunch until Belén was finally home.
"She should be here any moment, I promise," Iris said and took the boy's hand. "If you want, I can cut you a slice right now-"
"No!" Axel stomped his foot, frustrated no one understood him. "I want auntie Belén! I miss her." He wrapped his arms around Iris waist and hugged her. "I miss her."
"Poor kid," Cisco remarked beside Barry, both having been watching Iris tend to the child. "Dad's dead, Mom's in jail, aunt in the hospital."
"Yeah, I can kind of understand," Barry admitted. While he'd been much older than Axel when he lost a parent, Barry still could empathize with the young child who had to cling to someone in order to cope with the losses. Joe and Iris had been his rock when he most needed it, and now Axel probably viewed Belén in the same way. Though even before Maritza had gone to jail, Axel was already close to Belén.
"Hey!" they heard Caitlin greet from the front door soon as she opened it. "Sorry we're a bit late."
But apparently it didn't matter. Axel gasped with delight at the sight of Belén and dashed from Iris to go greet his aunt. "Auntie Belén!" he embraced Belén however he could, making her stumble a bit back.
Belén laughed and hugged him with her good arm. "Axel! Tell me you've been a good boy with Iris."
"Mhm!" he said proudly but refused to let go of her just yet. "I helped wash dishes, I made the beds, and I helped cook and-"
"All that by yourself?" Belén managed to pry the four year old off her waist.
Axel gave a big grin as he nodded his face. "Aha!"
Belén didn't even argue with him. She just glanced at Iris who shrugged her shoulders (nearly laughing herself) then hugged Axel again. "Well thank you for being so good while I was gone."
"Why did you go away?" Axel drew away to stare at her arm sling. "I thought you were going away like Mommy."
Belén immediately paled in her face. She hadn't really thought about what Axel may have concluded on his own over her whereabouts for the past days. She'd specifically told Iris to tell him she had a small accident that required her to stay with the doctors. Belén didn't want Axel near hospitals.
Before Belén answered - which she was practically racking her mind for to avoid talking about Maritza - Barry approached them. "The doctors were taking care of her, remember Axel?" the boy in question looked away from Belén to Barry instead. Barry smiled down at Axel and bent down beside him. "She's not going anywhere. Hey," - he whispered - "You want to get some cake for your aunt?"
Axel's eyes widened at the reminder there was cake on the table. "Yes! I can share with you, auntie Belén!" he gave her a quick hug and then darted for the table, hollering for Iris to cut him that slice of cake now.
"Thank you," Belén said to Barry after Axel had left. "I...I should really get myself together when it comes to the subject of Maritza."
"You're doing the best you can," Barry said honestly. Even though they hadn't been together for 6 months, he was well aware of the challenges she had living on her own while basically supporting Axel. She worked her job(s) and took Axel to his preschool every day - though sometimes roughly depended on their neighbor Mrs. Andrews to babysit every now and then - and trained to have a better control over her powers.
Belén didn't seem to agree as she shrugged her shoulders and looked in Axel's direction. "I'm not his Mom - I definitely don't know what I'm doing half the time when it comes to him. There should be like a...guidebook on four year olds."
Barry laughed quietly, making her smile for a moment. "Yeah, I don't think you're the only one who wishes that. You're doing great, Bells."
Belén's smile returned with a light blush on her cheeks. She definitely liked hearing her nickname come out his lips. "Thanks. I'm happy for you, you know. I didn't think you would get your Dad out so quick, though in hindsight given your...speedy nature, I should've seen it coming."
"Joe pushed it, and I guess luck was finally on our side," Barry stuffed his hands in his pant's pockets.
"About time. You deserve it," Belén seemed hesitant about something but in the end, she decided to go for it and hugged him. After all, it was something she thought was well needed.
Although surprised by the action, Barry hugged back, careful not to hurt her in the process, and closed his eyes.
"I am so happy for you right now," Belén said honestly, her words slightly muffled from the party's music and overall low voice.
"Thank you. If you hadn't made me watch the video…" Barry couldn't even imagine what that would've been like.
"Don't even say it," Belén hushed him, relieved herself she made him watch despite his reluctance.
Barry held onto her for who knew how long, just relishing he had that sort of contact with her again. He opened his eyes and happened to cross gazes with his father who was smiling knowingly their way.
Immediately self conscious, Barry pulled back from Belén. "Come on," he took her hand by custom and led her down the small steps to the living room. He took her towards his father, willing to just get over the awkwardness now than later. "Dad, you remember Belén? My…" but the words failed him as he didn't really know what to call Belén if she wasn't his girlfriend. Friend just didn't cut it.
"I'm just Belén," the woman said after watching Barry fumble over his words.
Henry chuckled at his son. He flustered so easily. "Of course I remember you. And I'm so sorry for your losses. Is your sister doing well?"
Belén involuntarily breathed in at the mention of her sister. "She's...fine, in what fits. But I bet you're doing a lot better now that you're here with your son. Now it's your turn to deal with his weird science explanations because I don't understand them one bit." Henry laughed while Barry shook his head. "I'm serious. Last time he tried getting all sciency I nearly smothered him with a pillow."
By this point Barry was completely red in the face. "Bells…"
"You gonna lie and say I'm wrong?" she challenged him.
"Best to say no in these cases, son," Henry said and had Barry groaning.
"Unbelievable!"
Belén laughed and happened to catch Cisco walking by with a plate of cake in hand. She gasped and grabbed Barry's arm on an instinct. "Is that cake? I haven't had cake in months. I miss cake. And donuts. Oh, but cupcakes. I miss cupcakes more, though. Man I really miss cupcakes."
Barry swallowed down a laugh, thinking she was incredibly adorable at the moment. "Axel went to go get a slice of cake for him and you, actually."
"I love that kid," she mumbled and looked back at him and Henry. "If you'll excuse me…"
"You go ahead, I think you probably deserve it more than all of us," Henry assured.
"I really want a cupcake," Belén mumbled under her breath as she turned to go leave. She had never been happier to see so much junk food on the table and she planned on getting everything she could.
Although Henry, in the end, decided to leave the city, he did adhere to spending a couple of days in the city for Barry. In the meanwhile, the group began returning to normal. Cisco and Caitlin returned to STAR Labs. Belén had to leave her aerial dancing aside for the moment while she got back on her feet - or arm in this case. She came back to CC Picture News full time.
~ 0 ~
"Hey," Caitlin greeted Cisco in the cortex when she and Belén - and Axel - walked in. Cisco was busy working on the main desk with professor Stein while Iris stood beside the desk looking at something on her phone.
"I wanna play!" Axel rushed up to Cisco and tried peering at the computer screen.
Iris looked up from her phone screen with a rather nervous smile. "I got news on our, uh...assignment," she told Belén, careful of what words she used since she wasn't sure Belén had told anyone else about their article intending on causing doubt over the Azalea's death.
Belén moved over to see what was on Iris' phone and saw a couple pictures that seemed familiar but she wasn't sure where she'd seen them. "Where'd you get these?" she asked after handing Iris her phone back.
"Well," Iris tilted her head, her smile now becoming innocent, "Remember our early days where I had no idea you were the Azalea and Barry was the Flash?"
"Yes..."
"I snapped pictures of you and him in secret, duh!"
Belén remembered the one famous picture Iris snapped of Barry that'd gone on the front cover of their newspaper. That'd been over a year ago and it was still one of the most known pictures of the Flash. She should've figured Iris snapped pictures of her too when she wasn't looking.
"I sort of told Linda I got these from unknown sources but the backgrounds on them are evidence enough that they're not photo-shopped," Iris stuffed her phone in her back pocket. "But I have to ask again...are you sure you want to do this?"
Cisco loudly cleared his throat at the desk and raised a finger to make it known he'd be entering the conversation now. "I'm sorry, what are you two planning with the Azalea now?"
Belén playfully rolled her eyes at him. "I've been thinking about coming back as the Azalea."
Caitlin was the first to react and it was nothing but concern for her friend. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes," Belén said, truly honest. "I thought about it and I feel terrible that I left the city unattended. Even if Barry was looking after it, I had a responsibility to keep it safe as well."
"But don't you think it'll be hard if you can't control your powers anymore?"
Belén scrunched her face. "Weeeell, it's not like I haven't been practicing at all. I've done training by myself and with Cisco."
At that, Caitlin immediately shot Cisco a look to which the man raised his hands in defense.
"You weren't talking to me!"
Caitlin rolled her eyes and waved him off. "If it's your choice, Belén, then I'll be here if you need my help."
"Thank you," Belén smiled.
Joe and Barry walked into the room a couple minutes later. Barry had gone with his father to the train station to say goodbye. While he was still pretty sad to his father go, seeing all his friends once more in the cortex made everything a lot better.
"Ho ho! Hey, guess what?" Cisco shot up from his chair. "I added a little upgrade to your suit." He made a gesture with both hands towards Barry's suit that showed a brand new golden outline around its white emblem. "It's just like the one from the future newspaper Gideon showed us. I was thinking, you know, you shouldn't fear the future anymore, right?"
Barry laughed as he took a good look at it. It did look pretty nice he had to admit. "No, and it'll be here faster than we think."
"Well, see, I like it," Professor Stein said, moving to stand beside Cisco. "The lightning definitely pops more against the white."
"It is nice," Belén's comment made Barry smile at her.
"I wasn't thinking about your suit, Bells," Cisco admitted after a moment, now feeling rather guilty about it. "But if you'd like, I could get brainstorming!"
Belén sheepishly smiled and shook her head after a minute. "No thanks, I'm good. I want to get back to myself." She noticed Barry's confused stare and promise him she would explain it later.
"You'll also be happy to know that S.T.A.R. Labs is now safer than ever," Cisco promised. "Increased security and surveillance. Re-coded, double firewalled, electronic lock sets."
"Sounds sciencey enough to be true," Iris remarked and shared a laugh with Belén who understood her perfectly.
"Ha, ha," Cisco mocked their laugh and frowned. "People won't be able to just waltz in and out of here."
But it seemed like that would still continue to be untrue. A tall, blonde man donning a black leather jacket and matching pants did just that. Iris gasped and jumped from her chair. Belén quickly nabbed Axel and hurried to get him away from the stranger.
Cisco, despite being alarmed of the intruder, was overall irritated that none of his work did any good. "For real?"
"Stay where you are!" Joe had pulled out his gun to aim at the blonde man. He eyed Iris to get behind him.
Barry discreetly took a closer scoot to Belén should the man come straight for business. "Who are you?"
The man raised his hands, apparently meaning no harm. "You don't know me, but I know you... Barry Allen."
"Take one more step, it'll be the last step you take," warned Joe soon as the man had taken one step forwards. "The man asked you a question. Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Jay Garrick and your world is in danger."
"That's not much to go by," Belén scoffed. "Clearly, you're new to Central City."
"I am, Belén Palayta," Jay said, much to her horror and the other's shock.
Barry yanked Belén to his side, and consequently Axel. "How do you know her name?" he demanded.
"I know everyone's names," Jay said, then gesturing to the others. "Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, Detective Joe West…"
"Enough," Joe threatened the man with his gun again. "That part about explaining needs to happen right about now."
Jay nodded, deciding it was best to follow orders when there was a gun aimed at him. "This world is in danger."
Iris wasn't sure she heard right. "What other worlds are there?"
"When you created the singularity above Central City, you also created a breach between my world and yours-"
"I'm sorry, a breach?" Cisco cut him off, confused as well.
"Yes, a portal connecting our two earths-"
"And what precisely is your concern?" Stein asked, partially following more than the others, but it didn't mean he was any less confused.
"A few days ago, you found a dead man named Al Rothstein at the nuclear plant. But then a different Al Rothstein tried to kill you."
"Atom Smasher?" Belén looked at the others.
"That man was from my world. If he got through the breach, I suspect there'll be more to follow."
"Okay, so, Jay, how exactly do you know all of this?" Barry asked, although it was easy to see that despite getting an answer he wasn't very inclined to believe it.
"Where I came from, I was a speedster like you. They called me The Flash. Before I arrived on your earth, I was in a fight with a man named Zoom."
The name rang in Barry's mind. "Zoom? I've heard that name before. Atom Smasher, he said Zoom sent him here to kill me. Who is this guy?"
"He's a speedster, like you and me. And fast," Jay paused as if to consider how much. "Maybe the fastest of all. But evil. He is an unstoppable demon with the face of death. We were engaged in our fiercest battle ever, racing throughout my city. But I wasn't fast enough to stop him. Zoom had me beaten. He was about to kill me when suddenly there was a blinding light and the sky split open. A breach, between my world and yours, caused from the singularity. It pulled me in and I somehow ended up in your world. Powerless. Unable to return home."
"What do you mean?" Caitlin stared at him.
Jay sighed. "Before nearly killing me, there was this woman - a siphoner - who took my speed."
"You can do that?" Iris immediately looked at Barry on instinct. Barry, this time, was just as lost as she was.
"She did," Jay answered her instead. "I lost my speed because of her."
"So, you've been in Central City for six months. Why haven't you come to see us before?" Joe lowered his gun for a moment but still kept a tight hold on it.
"I'm in a foreign world here, Detective. I didn't know who you all were. Took me that long to piece it all together."
"So that's how you know our names," Iris frowned. "You've been following us."
Jay sighed but admitted to it. "Look, I know how this sounds. The existence of another earth, you, another Flash, it all came as an unexpected shock to me, too. I just wish there was something I could do to convince you."
Barry looked at the others, seeing no one was willing to make a decision there and then. "There is," he walked for Jay. "We're gonna... do some tests on you. See if you're telling us the truth. 'Cause if you're not, this Zoom, he's not gonna be your only enemy."
~ 0 ~
Out in the city, in an alleyway, in the dark night a blue portal - a breach - opened up. Zoom himself, a dark figure dressed in all black complete with a black mask, threw down another man to the ground.
The man groaned as his back hit the ground harshly. "Where the hell am I?"
One moment he was making a petty theft and the next a brunette woman and a ginger one appeared and nearly killed him.
"You want to go home?" Zoom towered over the man. "You only have to do one thing."
"What's that?"
"Kill the Flash."
The man stared in confusion. He knew the Flash alright - from his world - but what the hell did that mean now?
"Fail and I'll have Datura siphon you," Zoom warned and stepped backwards.
~ 0 ~
Although they were fairly interested in the newest arrival to their world, both Belén and Iris had to leave the lab for work. Belén left Axel in the care of Caitlin and the rest in STAR Labs - who promised to keep him far away from Jay. Well, Barry promised her that, the others just agreed with him.
"These are so good!" Linda couldn't finish gawking over the pictures Iris had now printed out in high definition. "How the hell did you get these? The Azalea hasn't been seen in 6 months."
"She's here...just a sneaky one," Iris said confidently, briefly glancing with Belén. "Very sneaky."
"But that just leaves the question," Linda lowered the pictures, her shoulders slumping with confusion, "Why is she letting the entire city believe she's dead?"
"Maybe she's scared," Belén said, answering a bit too fast without realizing, "A lot of people died 6 months ago and...maybe she's scared about that."
"What? Like she thinks we're going to blame her for it?" Linda nearly snorted if it wasn't a professional setting. "Yeah, right! I'd love to see her back. She and the Flash were such a good team!"
"Maybe if we finish writing this piece she'll see that," Iris' suggestion seemed to make Linda more determinated.
Belén cleared her throat and gravitated towards her desk, making the other two follow her. "I have a draft already if you want to look at it." She stopped just beside her desk when she spotted a small, pink box sitting in front of her computer.
"What's that?" Iris eyed the box curiously while Belén studied it up close.
"No idea," Belén picked up a small white card and read it over silently.
"Seriously?" Linda rolled her eyes at the two. "It's a dessert box, idiots." She took the paper draft from Belén's desk and walked off with the intention of reading it over and giving some feedback.
Iris wasn't sure she liked seeing the dreamy smile spread across Belén's face while the woman read off a small card that'd been on top of the box. It wasn't the first time some secret admirer pulled the stunt at work. Linda had had one a couple months back as well.
"So, who's it from?" Iris couldn't help the sour tone stinging her words. She knew she was wrong to think that someone belonged to someone, but in this case that someone happened to really care for her friend and that someone happened to be like a brother to her. She had a right to feel offended.
Belén could practically see Iris' thoughts and, with a teasing smile, said nothing. With her good arm, she opened the box's lid to find a red-velvet cupcake inside. Its bright, white whip-cream swirled around to a fine tip.
"Who sent you that?" this time Iris had asked more demanding. Unable to help herself, Belén laughed. "I'm not kidding," Iris huffed, putting down her papers on the desk to then place her hands on her hips. "I know I've got no right but it's annoying knowing someone here-" she threw an aggressive look at the room, "-is trying to play Mr. Secret Admirer with you."
"Okay," Belén thought enough was enough and let poor Iris in on her secret. She handed Iris the card meant to be a letter.
Iris took it glumly and read the small message.
A sweet way to start the day. Maybe later we can finish the day in a sweet way with donuts? - Barry.
Iris didn't know whether to feel mortified at herself for being so jumpy with conclusions, or on Barry's behalf for being such a…
"What a dork," she ended up laughing.
"I will take that, thank you very much," Belén took back the white card and set it down on her desk, her eyes lingering over its message for a moment. "Can't believe he found a moment to do this." She shook her head, but was unable to stop smiling as she took a seat on her chair.
"Soo…" Iris narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "...are you two, like, back together or…?"
Belén raised her head in thought. "I...don't know. But this is very good points."
Iris laughed again. "Dork," she continued to say.
"Hey, he's sweet and I like it," Belén pointed a warning finger at her. "...I missed it," she added after a minute, her smile softening.
Iris laughed but she abruptly stopped when someone walked into the place. Iris noticed her sudden fall and followed Belén's gaze behind. Although Iris was surprised to find the woman there, it didn't match Belén's.
"Mom?"
"Hello Belén," Veronica Green walked up to them. "We have to talk."
~ 0 ~
After getting no such conclusive results that would prove Jay, at one point, had been a speedster Barry did what he thought was best.
"I hope you understand why we have to do this," he watched as the pipeline sealed the prison pod Jay was now in.
Jay gave a nod of his dead, looking pretty understanding. "I get it, kid. You're doing what you think you have to. But you'll all realize soon enough that this, the tests, it's unnecessary. I want to help you, Barry, not harm you."
"You're not the first person that's said that to me."
"If what you told me about Zoom is true, that he sent Rothstein here to kill you, instead of locking me up in here, you better start listening. Because if Zoom is involved, then it means so is the siphoner. And you're gonna want to listen to me then."
"Why?" Barry tried acting like it didn't affect him.
"Two things are gonna happen," Jay raised two of his fingers. "One: Zoom's gonna want your speed as well. If you're lucky he won't kill you, but you can say goodbye to your powers. Two? The Siphoner's gonna wanna come here as well. She'll have her target and you're not gonna like who it's going to be."
Barry's eyebrows knitted together, partially mad Jay was making all those claims without an ounce of backup for then and another half of him was just confused. But before he could say anything, Cisco's voice alerted him through the speakers there was a fire somewhere in the city. Leaving Jay, he went out to help the others.
~ 0 ~
Joe had just finished a phone call when he heard a woman calling his name. "Yes, Officer…?" he turned to face a petite blonde woman standing rigidly in front of him.
"Spivot. Patty Spivot," she introduced herself formally. "Captain Singh mentioned there may be positions available on your anti-meta-human task force."
Joe shook his head and went for a couple of papers on his desk. "Yeah, everybody quit. There is no task force anymore."
That didn't deter Patty from making her proposition. "Well, I know someone who's interested in being on it. Me."
Joe stared at her to see if this was just a joke, but the woman remained in her spot smiling. "You do realize that meta-humans have super powers, right? And even if they didn't, you wouldn't be a good fit for the team."
Patty's smile faded for a moment. "Because I'm a woman?"
Joe shook his head, making his way for the reception room with the papers he had picked up from his desk. "I didn't mean to imply that."
Patty turned on her feet and followed him out. Both missed a hasty Belén coming out of the elevator and spotting them.
"Good, because I know how difficult this job would be, but I think I'm an excellent candidate," Patty ventured to get her qualifications out in the open for Joe. "I triple-majored at Hudson in biology, chemistry, and physics. I'm in prime physical condition. And I rated top of my class in marksmanship."
"Your class? You don't even have your stripes yet." Joe set down the papers for the secretary.
"Soon. Been on the job seven months, sir."
"Are you aware of what happened to my previous partner?" Joe started back for his desk and once again Patty followed behind.
"Detective Thawne, yes. I know that he died and the one before him, Fred Chyre, died, too, but the one before that's not dead, just transferred. I'm sure it had nothing to do with you."
Joe stopped by his desk and looked at the blonde woman who seemed very sure of what she wanted. "Listen, Officer…"
"Spivot, Patty Spivot."
"Yes, Spivot, the answer's no."
Patty sighed. "All I'm asking for is a shot, sir. Please, just an interview."
"You just had the interview. Didn't get the job," Joe apologized with a face and walked away.
Patty sighed deeply and turned to leave when she bumped into Belén. "S-sorry!"
"Don't mind it," Belén watched after Joe who'd taken a conversation with another officer. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop or anything but I heard…"
Patty shook her head. "If he thinks I'm giving up so quick, he's got another thing coming."
A small chuckle escaped through Belén's lips. "You should. I have good word that he usually breaks down after a bit of hassling."
"Really?"
"Mhm. He's my boyfriend's and best friend's dad so I know a thing or two."
Patty's eyes widened a bit. "Really? Could you...give me some pointers, maybe?"
It was then that Belén realized she had branded Barry as her boyfriend. Her face turned a bright red. Oh my God if Patty mentions this to Barry…
"I, um, I'll look into that and get back to you," she said when she realized she left Patty hanging there in silence. "I'm Belén, by the way," she stuck a hand to shake with Patty.
Smiling, Patty shook hands with her. "Patty."
"If you'll excuse me, I came with a mission," Belén made a gesture she needed to get going and Patty nodded her it was fine. Taking a breath Belén hurried away from the woman, praying to every God she knew that Patty wouldn't put two and two when she eventually saw Barry.
"Joe?" she stopped a couple inches from Joe and another officer. "Could we talk for a bit?"
"Sure thing," Joe left his co-worker and gestured Belén to follow her to his desk. "Is there something you needed?" it wasn't usual for her to stop by the place since the singularity, and much less to talk with him.
Belén seemed to struggle with her words for the first minute, but eventually she got it out in one small-worded question. "Did you call my mom when I had my accident?"
Joe's eyebrows raised slightly but didn't intend on hiding what he did. "Yeah, I did. I thought that as a mother Veronica needed to know." Although he was very perplexed and shocked to find that the woman hadn't even made a call for her daughter to see how she was doing.
"Well, that explains why she showed up at my job today," Belén sighed.
"She did?"
"Mhm," Belén nodded. "She went ballistic when she my arm and other injury. She's blabbing about getting me to come back with her to Star City."
"Look, Belén, I didn't mean to cause you any problems with your mother-" Joe meant to explain but Belén cut him off with a soft smile and response.
"I know that, Joe. If roles were reversed and Iris had been hurt, I would have done the same thing."
Joe gave her a thankful nod in return.
"It's just...it's difficult hiding my other life when she's constantly breathing down my neck," Belén couldn't help her frustration seeping through her words. "Last time I warded her off because I had my life put together, but now I have Axel and I'm battling to keep his custody while holding down a job and trying to keep up with payments-" she stopped to take a breather, "I don't know how I'm gonna convince her I can do this."
And she truly didn't. She knew right now was not the best moment of her life but she didn't want to leave the city like a little girl who needs her mother. She didn't. She was old enough to be independent and work for what she needed.
~ 0 ~
The next day, Barry thought it would be a nice time for lunch with Belén. He hadn't had the opportunity to be alone with her anywhere, so perhaps today would be the day to start. After finishing up his usual CSI work at the scene where he fought their newest metahuman, he stopped by CC Picture News to see if she was willing to have lunch with him.
"I would definitely like that," Belén chuckled as a means of expressing her nervousness. It was as if they were beginning all over again and that included the feelings of a high schooler with a crush.
Belén moved around her desk trying to gather her things with one arm. Barry quickly offered to help her with that and as he was moving to put her phone in her purse it began to ring. He was unable to remain at ease when he saw 'Mark' flashing on the caller ID.
"I'll just take that," Belén saw nothing and grabbed her phone, answering then. "Hello?"
In the meantime, Barry pretended to just casually stand there like it didn't bother him this guy was probably still trailing after Belén.
"Yeah, no thank you so much. I will definitely be there tonight. Okay, thanks," Belén hung up with an incredible amount of excitement.
"So...what did Mark happen to say….?" Barry took her phone and let it drop in her bag.
"Things…" Belén said slowly, her eyes studying his expressions and gestures. It reminded her of the way Cisco and even Joe had looked at Mark the day at the rally.
"Mm, things that had you so happy…" Barry commented, utterly failing at hiding his jealousy.
Belén reached for his arm and motioned with her head for them to get going. Sighing, he took her purse and led her for the door. It was honestly refreshing seeing him this distressed over something as simple as a phone call from another man. Belén wasn't there to be fought over like a trophy, but after six months of having nothing from Barry, she could stand to see a bit of jealousy on his part.
Of course, midway down the same street she felt guilty. Barry was having a struggle to keep his mouth shut about Mark and Belén could tell it was killing him.
"Can I show you something?" she stopped suddenly to face him.
"Yeah, sure," Barry expected her to want to take something out of her bag but she shook her head and leaned to his ear to whisper something.
An address.
Barry blinked in confusion, but Belén assured it was for a good reason. He carefully took hold of her, not wanting to hurt her injuries, and sped them for an apartment building. There, they came to the third floor.
"Bells, I don't understand what we're doing," Barry was following the woman down a solemn hallway lined with various apartment doors.
"I'm easing those thoughts of yours about Mark," Belén glanced to see the metahuman fumbling over something he thought he'd been hiding relatively well. She stopped in front of the last apartment door and bent down to reach underneath the mat. Barry watched her pull a small golden key.
"Where are we?" he asked once she unlocked the door.
"Mark's apartment," Belén giggled and hurried in before he could refuse coming in with her.
The jealousy was undeniable then. "Belén, I know I was a jerk but I don't think this is fair-"
Belén hummed to herself as she looked around the almost empty apartment. Its living room was spacious without the old furniture that used to be there. There was a couple of boxes stacked up against a wall. She walked over to them and started sifting through them.
Meanwhile, Barry was scowling at everything there. The kitchen still had its table and a couple of more boxes. He could see the hallway was empty of any portraits or furniture.
"Barry, do you think Mark and I are dating?" Belén's sudden, straightforward, question pulled Barry to the moment. Widened eyes laid on her still going through a box. "Well?"
"Um…" Barry rubbed the side of his neck, "...what's the answer that doesn't make me look like a selfish jerk?" Belén laughed to herself. "I mean, I don't purposely try finding jealousy. I know you and I are not together and that you have every right to find someone who won't hurt you. It's just...it doesn't mean I stopped caring." Belén looked back silently, her playfulness gone as she listened to his words. "It hurts, yeah, that you could find someone else. It shouldn't but it does. And...and if you and this guy are trying something...then tell me, and I'll stop all of these attempts of mine. I promise."
Belén could tell, despite being a decent distance from him, that he was being completely honest. With a swelling heart, she pulled out a small, wooden portrait and walked back to him. "Here," she held the portrait for him to take.
"What?" Barry took the portrait and looked down to find a picture of Mark and a ginger woman side-by-side smiling.
"That's Mark-" Belén tapped a finger over Mark's figure, "-and this-" she moved her finger to the ginger woman, "-is Selena. His fiancee."
"F-fiancee?" Barry repeated. Belén nodded her head, giggling when she saw the relief wash over his face. "Oh thank God!"
"They're getting married - actually, I'm a bridesmaid - and Mark is moving in with her so...he let me take his apartment," Belén gestured to the place.
Suddenly, the apartment was amazing. Barry couldn't help himself and encased her in a hug. "I'm probably a selfish man but I'm really happy you're not dating anyone nor thinking about dating," he murmured beside her ear.
"Well, maybe just one person…" Belén responded quietly and pulled away to show a shy smile across her lips.
Barry blinked, initially taken aback, but it didn't take long for him to start smiling back. Definitely on the right track, he thought.
~0~
Cisco was setting to work on the sample of sand - which apparently was not sand according to Jay - that Barry brought to them earlier in the day. He was waiting for professor Stein to return to the working room to try and find out more of the breeches. He set the small sample of sand underneath a scientific microscope and barely got a look at it when he felt that same, odd sensation that often pulled him from the present.
He found himself in a blue, glowing building. He spotted Sand Demon being thrown to the hard ground, a crackling light threatening over him.
"What do you want!?" Sand Demon shouted frantically as the threatening light grew closer to his face.
A woman's laughter sounded behind him. However, a second woman's voice ordered the first to quit it.
Her soothing, almost sultry-sounding voice, then told the first woman it wasn't the way.
A brunette donning leather, her back to Cisco, stood in front of the second woman - a tall, ginger in a green one suit. "He says there's another one…"
The ginger wagged a finger at the brunette. "Then you shouldn't harm this one-" she gestured to Sand Demon who was still under the brunette's threat, "-unless you want to lose your only way."
The brunette sighed and retracted the threatening light from Sand Demon. The ginger moved past the brunette and stopped beside Sand Demon. "Zoom wants you to work for him. Either you agree or you lose your powers and probably die. Quite simple really." The sadistic smile on her face provoked a terrible tingle of fear in Cisco.
"Woah," Cisco sucked in a heavy breath once he managed to get out of that vision. "What's happening to me…?" he slowly fell back into his chair, exhaling and trying desperately to get that vision out of his head.
~0~
Before Barry could take Belén to lunch, he received a call from Joe that he had found their metahuman - whose name was Eddie Slick. Sadly, Barry had to cancel and leave Belén on the street. She didn't mind, she understood after all. SHe went back to work and did her best to finish her article as much as she could before it was time to go. Linda and Iris were really excited once they saw their work finally melding together in the article, and left Belén a little happy to see her return getting closer.
However, her happiness didn't last long when she returned to Caitlin's apartment.
"Oh for the love of…" Belén mumbled under her breath at the sight of her mother standing in Caitlin's living room.
"Annah-Belén," Veronica finally breathed from relief at the sight of her daughter.
"What are you doing here?" Belén demanded. "How do you even know we're staying here?"
"Wasn't easy but I am a cop," Veronica said, shrugging. "Your lovely friend - Caitlin, I believe - was kind enough to let me wait for you in her home. I've been trying to call…"
"One would think rejecting all your calls would give you a clue that I didn't exactly want to talk to you," Belén set her uninjured hand on her hip.
Veronica expected this sort of behavior from her daughter but couldn't say it didn't hurt her. Her talk with Belén earlier in the day at her job was a complete disaster. Belén was mad that she hadn't even tried getting in contact with her after she was shot. But what really drove things home was the fact Veronica had tried coaxing Belén to return with her to Star City with her.
"We need to talk," Veronica ventured to try again but Belén wasn't having it.
"You said everything earlier and I already told you no," Belén enunciated the last word slowly. "I'm not coming with you and there is nothing you can say that'll change my mind."
Veronica, exasperated, let her own purse fall to the nearest couch. "Would you stop being so childish? You would see that I'm only trying to help you!"
"Me!?" Belén scoffed. "How are you helping me? By trying to pull me away from my friends? From my job? From my city?"
Veronica was about to shout back but she bit her tongue and came up with an alternative. "I passed by the house...and I saw you were selling it."
Belén still became defensive over it. "The deed was under Dad's name, and with Rayan dead and Maritza in jail the house is legally mine. I can do what I want with it."
"But that's the point, Belén," Veronica sighed. "You are selling your home because you can't keep up with all the payments and now with Axel you have a lot more to deal with. Come back with me, please. It's the best thing for Axel."
"I am not going with you!"
Veronica gave her a stern, yet somewhat apologetic look, for what she was about to say next. She truly thought she would be able to get through with her daughter but apparently she had been wrong. "If you don't come back then I will be forced to file for Axel's custody."
Belén's eyes widened till they just couldn't anymore. "You wouldn't…" her voice trembled.
Veronica remained on her stance. It felt terrible seeing her daughter so shaken by a possibility of losing the child, but Veronica truly saw no other way. "Axel is a child, Belén, and he needs a stable home. Where is he right now, hmm?" she gestured to the clearly empty apartment.
Belén's eyes became teary but she answered anyways. "With my friend, Cisco."
"Mm, can't keep him with you, can you?"
"I have a job!" Belén defended herself in a mild-shout. "That thing I do to pay for his needs. Many single mothers have babysitters."
"I think I have said what I needed to," Veronica reached for her purse on the couch. "I will be here till the end of the week, but if you don't come back with me then I will be forced to fight for my grandson's custody."
"Maritza wouldn't let you!" Belén cried frantically. "She specifically left instructions for me to have Axel's custody."
"Well, when the judge takes a look at our backgrounds they'll see I have plenty experience unlike you." Veronica sighed as Belén's tears began to fall down her cheeks. "I don't want to fight you, Belén. I don't. But you are leaving me no choice here." With those words, she walked out of the apartment.
Belén angrily threw her purse across the room just as Veronica shut the door. Almost instantly, Belén felt the cold, plant-side of her start creeping out. But unlike the previous year, she didn't fight it, she let it come to her. There was a brief change of her skin - the emerald, scaly side appeared for but a minute before Belén felt calm enough to send it away.
"It's not over," she turned away.
~0~
Belén listened for the loud ringing bell that indicated she was allowed to move into the visitor's ward. Every time she came to Iron Heights' metahuman division, she couldn't imagine living in such a dull, cold place. But, it was where her older sister, Maritza, had been living for the past 6 months...serving a life sentence. Her metahuman side proved to be a challenge for her sentencing, and since the justice system hadn't caught up with the fact some of their population now had powers...it was easier to sentence almost any metahuman for a long, long time.
Maritza knew well what she'd done and she accepted her sentencing with true penance...not that Belén quite believed it yet.
"You came for a visit," Maritza beamed when her sister picked up the visitor's phone on the other side of the glass.
"It's not like I had much of a choice," Belén muttered. Her eyes seemed to struggle to remain on her sister, something Maritza noticed the first time Belén visited her.
"I heard what happened to your arm..." Maritza lowered her voice. "Did you catch the guy who did it?"
"Barry did," Belén cleared her throat. "Metahuman. What can you expect from low-lives."
Maritza took the sting with a slow nod of her head. She was being patient, very patient with Belén, but it hurt each time Belén made a snide comment like that. "I'm very glad Barry helped you, then. You and him...you're talking again?"
"That doesn't matter," Belén shifted on her seat. "I'm here for other business. Mom's in town." Maritza blinked in shock. "And she's not here on good terms."
"I...I don't understand," Martiza leaned forwards in her chair. "I haven't seen Mom since my sentencing hearing and...it's not like she had a lot of words to say to me."
"Well, she said a lot to me," Belén shook her head. "She wants me to come back to Star City. If I don't, she'll fight for Axel's custody."
Maritza's eyes widened in alarm. "What!? My instructions were specifically for you. I transferred my custody over - everything was legal, Belén! I swear it!" And judging by Maritza's distress, she was telling the truth.
"Has she come talk to yet? About anything?"
"No! I swear she hasn't!" Maritza sighed and brought a hand to her forehead. "Mom hates me." Belén remained silent for a moment. Maritza wasn't always one to show emotion, but her quiet whisper was signal enough of how honest she'd been when she said that. "I did terrible stuff, shamed her name in the police department. She doesn't come to visit me, ever." Maritza lowered her hand to the metal table and looked at Belén with a small smile. "You're her golden child now, her only child now."
"Mom and I don't get along, and if she does this - if she takes Axel from me - I will hate her forever."
And Maritza knew Belén meant every word of it.
~ 0 ~
The next morning that Belén made it to STAR Labs, she found all of her friends arguing with one another. It was enough to give anyone a headache.
Barry was the one in the middle of scolding the others. "We don't even know anything about Zoom! What is Zoom? Is Zoom even real? Right now, that's just, you know, a story around a campfire. I mean, have you discovered a breach yet?"
Professor Stein coughed awkwardly when the question was thrown at him. "Not yet, but we know how to now."
Barry made a gesture he was being proven right then looked at Caitlin. "Have you found one thing to suggest that Jay is a speedster? Is there a trace that the Speed Force was ever even in his system?"
"It doesn't appear to be, no," Caitlin shook his head. "But then again, if a siphoner was involved…"
"What's going on?" Belén spoke over them.
"We're being lectured, that's what," Iris sighed and glanced at the woman.
Barry groaned. He was frustrated that no one was listening and getting that this was important. They were all so quick to trust Jay - a man who had dropped in on them with a story they couldn't even yet prove. "We are scientists," he continued, voice louder and sharper than before. "You're journalists," he gestured to both Belén and Iris, the former blinking as she was yet to understand what the problem was. "We test, we prove, we report. That's what we do. Except right now, nobody here wants to do any of that except me."
"Okay," Belén spoke over him before he said something more, "I'm cutting it right here. We gotta talk," she pointed between herself and Barry with a warning look that he had to better agree with her. "Can we have the room for a mo?"
There was no disagreements among the group. Caitlin took Axel by the hand and walked out along with the others. Belén waited with arms crossed until they were all gone.
"Look, Barry, I know it too early to say this, but I'm not having a good day so can we just cut to the chase here. Why don't you want to trust Jay?"
Barry tried to look anywhere but her demanding eyes. "I don't know."
"Really? That's the answer we're going with?" Belén was mighty disappointed he was trying to play dumb with her. "Look me in the eyes and tell me that, then. I dare you." But of course, Barry was unable to. With a sigh, Belén walked up to him. "Is it...because of Dr. Wells? Well, Thawne, whatever his actual name was."
Striking the nerve, Barry didn't even hide his anger. "I trusted that man. For months."
"Hey, we all did," Belén reminded.
"But you know what?" Barry finally was able to look her in the eyes. "Eddie is dead. Ronnie is dead. And a whole lot of other people in this city, they are dead because we trusted him. I'm not gonna let us make that mistake again."
"You know, I would have thought that you being a scientist would understand that not everyone is the same. Jay is not Wells. And besides that, you defeated Wells because you trusted in people. Because you believed in them. The team that you have here, they will follow your lead. They'll do what you say. But if they think that you don't believe in them, it won't be long before they don't believe in you. Is that what you want?"
"Course not," Barry mumbled under his breath.
"Then…" Belén stepped closer to him, hands like a feather over his arms, "...why don't we give him a chance, hm? Think he deserves that."
Barry thought it over but struggled a bit as he felt her touch. He playfully rolled his eyes then, succumbing to her idea. "Yeah, I guess I could let him out for a bit…"
With a laugh, Belén stepped back. "There we go. See? It is possible to play nice with other speedsters."
This time, Barry laughed. Their conversation was cut short when they heard Barry's phone going off. He saw it was Joe and answered, hoping they had news (again) on their actual villain. Unfortunately, it also involved the kidnapping a fellow new co-worker.
"We're looking for any structures that promote humidity. Greenhouses, grow rooms, anything of the sort," Jay explained to the group who was ready to start searching for places where Slick could have taken Patty to. "His body will literally start to fall apart if he becomes dehydrated."
"Like dry sand," Caitlin nodded her head.
"Exactly. Sand Demon always attacks on two fronts. He creates a diversion, then strikes when you're distracted."
"Okay, then what do we do?" asked Barry.
"We use your speed to get to him before the distraction can happen."
Barry did his best to not sound condescending as he asked, "Jay, how do I stop somebody who can slip through my fingers?"
But Jay already had the answer. "The way I was never able to. With lightning.c
Cisco clapped his hands together. "Yo, are you about to pull a Zeus right now?"
Belén snickered. "Oh my God, Cisco. But wait," her face scrunched in confusion, "Can you do that?" She looked between Jay and Barry. "Can you actually create thunder from speed?"
"Asks the woman who can poison anyone by touch," coughed Cisco.
"You can poison?" Jay asked curiously, making Belén chuckle.
"Yeah, suit's mine," she pointed at her old Azalea suit behind him. Jay glanced back and examined the suit for a moment.
"All right," Barry agreed to the plan, a but unsure ld how well it would go but at the moment it was all they had.
~ 0 ~
While everyone set to work on finding their missing meta and officer, Jay and Barry moved to the training room/garage to try out that lightning trick. Because neither Caitlin nor Stein had found the place they needed, Cisco opted for a different way but left abruptly to go try it out apparently. Unable to help herself, Belén followed a short moment afterwards.
When she found him in the working room, she was a bit concerned to find him holding his head with eyes shut. As Belén walked in further, he jolted like he had snapped out of something.
"Oh, no," he muttered with a heavy breath like he had just run a marathon or something.
"...Cisco?" her voice startled him into turning around. "What just happened here?
Thinking it would distract her, Cisco answered a different question. "I figured out where Patty is."
"Okay...but how did you figure that?"
Cisco nervously laughed. "Just a hunch. We gotta tell Barry." He made a move for the hallway when three tendrils of vines wrapped around the room's threshold to block his way. Slowly, he turned around. "Using powers against me now? That's a serious disadvantage."
"I'm sure," Belén smiled. "So are we going to discuss this or will I have to keep you hostage?"
"I know where Patty is, Bells. We can't waste time," Cisco adamantly said.
"Cisco I know you're hiding something-"
"Look, I promise we can talk afterwards but right now we have to save Patty. Right?"
Belén narrowed her eyes playfully. "Playing the good-guy card on me. That's the disadvantage." She pulled the vines back from the threshold and followed Cisco out the room.
After telling both Barry and Jay of where it was most probable that Sand Demon and Patty would be, Jay was designated as the visual distraction needed in order to save Patty. It was then that he revealed the silver helmet that had fallen through the breech on the day of the singularity was his.
"Never thought I'd see that again," Jay laughed when Caitlin emerged from a cortex side room holding said helmet. "It was my father's, from the War of the Americas."
Cisco blinked. "Did you just say War of the Americas?"
"I wish you would have just told us you lost your helmet. Would have saved us all a headache," Barry remarked as Jay put on the helmet. It really would have avoided so much distrust.
"Well, sure you want to do this, Flash?" Jay turned to him.
"Yeah. Let's go see what you're made of... Flash." Barry clapped hands with him.
As it turned out, Cisco had been right of where to find Sand Demon and Patty...to which Belén gave a sharp look at Cisco. Cisco, trying to avoid questions, got on the comm.
"I'm in the security feed. Go, Barry!"
Barry had sped into the building, making sure Sand Demon would hear his arrival but remained hidden and allowed Jay to come in as if he had made the noise instead.
"Is that you, Flash? Found your way here," Sand Demon turned from the bound Patty on a chair to face Jay.
"I came quite a distance," Jay remained where he was. He needed to draw Sand Demon away from Patty to allow Barry the time to get her out.
"I thought you were dead," Sand Demon admitted.
"You were wrong. Like usual. Let the girl go."
"Have at it," Sand Demon gestured to Patty. "But you touch her, she goes boom-" he made the exploding gesture with his arms, "-and I think even you aren't fast enough to save her."
He walked up to Jay, waiting for a moment but allowing Jay to throw the first punch. Sand Demon ducked and stepped back.
"Quite a bit slower on this Earth, aren't you, Flash?"
That moment allowed Jay for a clear shot across the face.
Angry he'd been caught off guard, Sand Demon returned the favor and started punching Jay back. "You don't have your speed, do you?" he realized with great delight and wonder. "Did she siphon them?" he had to know. While it was such a pleasure to see his enemy without powers, it meant that Zoom did have the power - or the woman - to steal powers from anyone.
But once again he had become distracted. Barry was able to come in and pull Patty from the chair she was tied to. As the bomb went off, he, Patty and Jay were blasted back while Sand Demon absorbed the energy.
"Must be my lucky day," Sand Demon laughed as both speedsters got up. Patty was identified as unconscious but alive. "Zoom sent me here to kill you. Now I get to kill The Flash from two worlds before I go home." He stuck a hand backwards, using a mighty sand blast to choke Jay from behind.
Barry took a big breath and started running around Sand Demon and Jay, just like Jay instructed.
"Come on!" Sand Demon shouted for him to stop and actually fight. He let go of Jay and waited for the other speedster to stop.
At light speed, Barry stopped in front of him and hurled a shard of lightning forwards. It caught Sand Demon right on the chest and threw him backwards. By the time he hit the ground he had turned into brown glass that shattered at the contact of the hard ground.
~ 0 ~
Later that same day, Belén returned to find Cisco working in his experiment room. She had held her tongue back for a reasonable amount of time but now she felt it was time to get those answers.
"Cisco?" she startled him as she strode into the room. "Professor Stein wanted to know if you've made progress on whatever the hell electrophotography is supposed to mean?"
Cisco smiled. "The satellite picture of the city's still rendering so we have a couple more minutes left."
"Oh, perfect," Belén made herself comfortable on the edge of his desk. "While we wait, maybe now you can tell me what's going on with you."
"U-uh...what?" Cisco glanced at her, eyes blinking rapidly.
Belén just smiled. "Your 'hunches'-" she made air quotation marks, "-don't really sound like hunches. I know you're smart very smart, but this is something else. I mean, you knew where Sand Demon was - like exactly where he was and what he was gonna use? Cisco-" she tilted her head, serious then, "-for real?"
Cisco knew there was no point in denying it then. "Something's happening to me."
"That much I got."
"I'm starting to perceive things. Horrible things…" Cisco paused and moved away from the desk. "It started after Wells killed me in the other timeline. It came back when Atom Smasher attacked on Flash Day, and then again when Sand Demon showed up. I get a vibe, and then a vision of something that's already happened, and then it's gone. That's how I knew where Slick was."
Belén was beginning to smile. "Cisco, you're a metahuman!" she jumped off the desk excitedly. "You have powers! And...and good ones by the looks of it! We have to explore them-"
Cisco was quick to refuse such an idea. "No, no, no, we're not doing any of that, and we're certainly not telling anybody, either." Belén's smile began fading. "I'm seeing things I don't want to see. And knowing things I don't want to know. I just want it to stop."
"Cisco...I think I am the most qualified to remind you what happens when you desperately try to push your powers away."
Cisco curly nodded. He acknowledged there could be consequences to his decision but he just didn't want to know of these powers.
"I tried to ignore a whole side of my powers and look where I am now? I have to be very careful now. Don't ignore them - embrace them." Belén hoped he would adhere to her warning because she wouldn't like to see him in the same predicament she was.
"Wells told me this was my future. That he gave me this power. But everything he did was evil. That's what scares me, Bells. You have to promise me you won't tell anyone about this."
Belén agreed. "I promise I won't. But you have to promise me you'll think about what I said."
"I promise," Cisco agreed to the terms.
Belén smiled and hugged him with her good arm. "But you know what?"
"Mm?"
"If you do embrace them, that means you get to name yourself."
Cisco laughed. That was something he hadn't yet thought of.
~0~
After Caitlin finished attending to Jay's newest injury, she left the side room to allow Barry to talk with Jay. She figured they needed to get some words out. It was the only way they would be able to start fresh on good terms.
"So, I hear they call you the Scarlet Speedster," Jay couldn't help the laugh he set loose.
"Yeah," Barry laughed too. He wouldn't even mention the first one Belén had dubbed him with during their early days. "What about you?"
"The Crimson Comet." Jay laughed again. "What is it with alliteration and nicknames?"
"Hey, look, Jay, um...thank you for all your help. And for being so patient with me," Barry knew he was a piece of work that Jay shouldn't have had to work for so long.
"Nah, anytime, kid. You're a quick study," Jay waved it off. "Took me a lot longer to learn how to toss lightning, believe me."
"Then I suppose I had the right teacher."
"It's going to be a lot harder to take down Zoom."
"Who is this guy?" Barry hoped to get some real answers on Zoom because so far no one else had them.
Jay sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "No one knows. He showed up around the same time as when I got my powers. He gathered himself a selective metahuman band to constantly terrorize my city. I managed to put most of them away except for a few…"
"A few?"
"Well, I couldn't exactly touch a meta who poisons, another who siphons, or freezes...they're all dangerous, Barry. These just happen to be more dangerous."
"Hmm," Belén cleared her throat as she made her entrance to the place, "Sorry, did you just say a meta who poisons?"
Jay smiled, understanding her curiosity. "Poison Ivy - you don't want to meet her."
"With that name, no thanks," Belén raised her good hand to pass. She moved beside Barry, sitting down on the side of the bed. "Are we talking about Zoom? Because I would love to know more about this guy who has it in for Barry and a hobby of shooting women?"
"Yeah, I'd like to know that too," Barry agreed. Without noticing, he had stepped closer to Belén and put an arm around her. "Because I don't get it."
He truly had thought and thought why Belén had been targeted in the first place. He understood that Zoom was after him - however twisted it was he got it. He was a speedster and so was Zoom but the latter was more competitive. That made sense. Him ordering an attack on Belén did not make sense.
"Maybe it was because Zoom knew you were someone important to Barry," Jay tried reasoning himself.
"We didn't even talk with each other for six months," Belén reminded. "We broke up like a day after the singularity. There's no way Zoom could have put that together when we didn't have any contact."
"When I fought the Atom Smasher he mentioned it was a test," Barry recalled and soon felt the anger he felt then resurface.
"That sounds like a test I do not want to pass," Belén frowned.
"He said that it was a test, like a standalone thing. A test for...datura? I don't know what that is, though."
"Datura?" It was easy to see the name was very familiar to Jay.
"Yeah, what is that?" Barry asked him.
"It's not a thing, she's a woman. Datura," Jay explained with a small sigh. "She's the siphoner who stole my speed and if she targeted you specifically...my guess is she's going to want to leave you just like me: powerless."
"Oh…" Belén said quietly, unable to hide her growing fear. "Well...I guess I'm gonna have to...learn how to fight a...siphoner?" It was impossible to stay unconcerned when she wasn't at her prime state.
Barry saw her being absorbed in her thoughts. "Jay, can we have a moment please?"
Jay nodded and walked out of the room to give them privacy.
"Belén-" Barry moved to stand in front of her but the woman turned away from him.
"How do I fight a siphoner? Can I fight a siphoner?" she turned back to him with widened eyes. "Have we done that yet?"
"No, but...we'll find a way," Barry stepped closer to her. He reached for her uninjured hand and laced his fingers with hers. "We always do, right?"
"...yeah, we do," she sighed. But even as she tried to stay calm, her mind began to race towards the mysterious siphoner who had it in for her. Who was she? Why did Datura want her of all people?
Author's Note:
Helloooooo! I am back! I was on vacation so of course all my stories suffered delays. Still, hopefully there's still some interest for this story! Season 2 was always one of my favorites!
For the review: Thank you so much! I really hope you like the story as it goes on!