Despite the team's best efforts, professor Stein was still under heavy health risks.
"Hold him steady!" Cisco shouted at Caitlin and Barry who were frantically trying to keep Stein's convulsing body still enough for Cisco to come in with a device similar to the Firestorm splicer. It was just hard to do when Stein kept spontaneously blowing blue flames.
"He's dropping out!" Caitlin anxiously said.
Cisco had managed to get in and put the splicer on Stein's chest, but his fingers fumbled trying to get it activated. "Come on, come on, come on, come on!"
"Cisco, we're losing him!"
But just then Cisco heard the splicer make a 'click!' and pulled back with a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh, Díos mío. Thank God."
"He's getting worse," Barry sighed and stared at the now unconscious Stein. It had been a cycle like this all night and they still had no real ideas on how to stabilize him permanently.
"Look, I did what I could to re-engineer Doctor Wells' original stabilizer to quell the reaction, but I don't know what he used as a power source," Cisco started out the side room. "Best I could find was the one from his wheelchair."
"And how long will that last?" Caitlin wondered as she and Barry followed him out.
"Well, that's the problem, we had already used up most of its energy trying to dampen the metas' powers during our little rogue air trip with Weather Wizard and company. I think we got a few days tops."
"And he's stuck in bed?"
"Yeah, when he wakes up, I'm gonna transfer the stabilizer to this, give him a power cane, get him moving," Cisco moved over to a table to pick up another silver device.
Barry knew that was only a temporary situation and sooner or later Stein would be in trouble yet again. "We gotta figure out a way to save him."
"I think I might know how to do that," Caitlin decided to share her spontaneous idea with them. She headed for the main desk and pulled up Stein's profile up on one of the computers across them. "When the Particle Accelerator exploded, the dark matter that collided with Professor Stein fused with the Firestorm matrix and altered the normal molecular processes that occurs within his body. Those highly reactive molecules needed something to bond with in order to stabilize. But now that Ronnie is no longer a part of Professor Stein-"
"Those molecules don't have anything to bond to," Barry realized the problem.
"And the longer he goes without merging, the more unstable he becomes."
"Ugh," Cisco foresaw a much bigger problem of finding Stein a new replacement. "All right, so, what do we do?"
"We find another... participant."
Cisco shot Caitlin a sarcastic look. "Okay, cool, so, how do we do that? Are we just gonna make a Tinder app for potential meta-humans? 'Cause I'm pretty sure merging with Stein and randomly bursting into flames sounds like the biggest "swipe left" of all time."
Barry disapproved of Cisco's lack of seriousness but did have to agree that it wouldn't such an easy thing finding someone willing to become Firestorm. "I mean, even if we could find someone willing, Stein can't just merge with whoever he wants."
"No he can't, but I have done some research, and found two potential candidates that might be compatible with him," Caitlin typed on the computer to bring up two young men's profiles. "They both were affected by the dark matter, and they were both admitted to the hospital showing symptoms of gene rearrangement mutation. And they both share the same blood type as Professor Stein and Ronnie."
"All right. I mean, this is more than organ donation," Barry felt the need to remind her. "We'll need more than tissue typing to see if their bodies are compatible."
"If I can isolate the genetic locus of the two candidates and cross-reference it with the mutations in Professor Stein, I might be able to find a match and save his life."
"What do you need to do that?"
Caitlin formed an apologetic smile, indicating she would definitely be requiring his speedy abilities.
~ 0 ~
Belén was uncomfortable. She didn't need to say it: her body outright showed it. From the way she awkwardly sat on the metal chair, to the way her hand reached for the prison phone...everything screamed "I don't know what to do here".
Luckily, Maritza had assumed the reason her sister came to visit. "I'm glad that you and Mom are salvaging the only family relationship left in this...wonky family of ours. I know that with time you'll be close, like it should've been from the start."
Belén gave a low sigh of doubt. As much as she wanted that closeness with her mother, she was aware that it wouldn't happen overnight and that it certainly wouldn't be easy. She told Maritza that and added her biggest fear: "I can't even be completely honest with her."
Maritza knew she was talking about Belén's double life as a metahuman. "Maybe it's better that she doesn't know."
Belén shrugged and looked to the side in thought. "Despite everything that's happened between us Maritza...I just want to say..." There was a clear struggle for her to say it out loud but she knew Maritza did deserve it this time. "...thank you."
Maritza blinked in surprise since she hadn't been expecting that. In fact, she hadn't been expecting any form of gratitude from Belén anytime soon - maybe not even in this lifetime after what she did. "Belén..."
"You did a lot of bad things Maritza but this was something nice..." Belén drew in a breath, "So...thanks. It's better to be friends with my mother than enemies. At least this way I get to see Axel and...he's good. Better, now, actually, since he's living with his grandmother now."
"I'm happy to hear that you're doing better now," Maritza offered a smile that Belén couldn't return. "I saw one of the newspapers with your article in it."
Belén blinked and stared at her sister with curiosity. Her article about the Azalea being alive had finally been published and was so far doing well with the public's response. They were eager and hopeful that their beloved Azalea was still alive. Belén just never expected for her sister to be one of the readers. "You read my articles?"
Maritza smiled again. "Of course I do. You're a hell of a writer and the fact you're making a comeback to the city is amazing. I'm glad that you're doing better, Belén. You deserve that. You deserve...everything."
And just like before coming, Belén didn't know what to do.
~ 0 ~
Barry intended on getting back to STAR Labs as quick as possible after he finished a bit of work at the station. If he continued to make unscheduled leaves then someone would definitely start to notice and that would be the last thing he needed at the moment. He hurried down the stairs with a needed case file in his hands, and in his rush to get to Joe, he bumped into a tall woman who then dropped her purse.
"I-I am so sorry!" Barry went to pick up the purse off the floor. When he looked up to see the woman he was met with familiar-looking brown eyes.
"That's fine," Veronica Green took back her purse with a polite smile. "I wasn't looking where I was going either." In his surprise, Barry couldn't say anything. Veronica tilted her head to examine the young man. "I know you, don't I? I've seen you…"
"Th-the...funeral," Barry stuttered to explain and seeing Veronica's confused gaze he shook his head and began anew. "I'm Barry Allen-" he stuck a hand to shake with hers.
"Oh, right," Veronica shook his hand politely. "You were my daughter's boyfriend."
"Well, not 'was'...am…" Barry watched her awkwardly process that news and wondered if the woman was about to hate him or mildly tolerate him. She didn't appear too friendly at the moment.
"Oh," was all that came out from Veronica's lips.
She hates me, Barry concluded.
"Barry? Hey!" he then heard Patty call for him and thanked every God he knew of for the distraction. It was incredibly awkward - even for his usual.
Patty came rushing up to him and Veronica, smiling widely. "You'll never guess what I found." But before Barry could even begin to guess she held up a plastic bag of teeth.
"Are those...teeth?" Barry made a face.
"Shark teeth," Patty excitedly corrected. "And I have an eyewitness that says he saw a shark walking on land-a man-shark."
"Man-shark?" this time Veronica had spoken up, letting Patty realize she had yet to know who the other woman was. "This city has man-sharks?" Veronica looked at Barry like he had the answers.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Patty inquired.
"Veronica Green," Veronica reached to shake Patty's hand. "I'm transferring from Star City."
"Oh, nice," Patty smiled as she shook the woman's hand. "Patty Spivot. I just started working here too."
"Right, I know. And I'm assuming you're working on...what are they called again? Metahumans?" Veronica's face said it all. It was an absolutely not. The things she was doing for her daughter she could not believe.
"Well…" Patty said after Veronica took an abrupt leave, "...she seems like a cheery one."
"That's actually Belén's mother," Barry watched Veronica head for Singh's office.
"Oh my God," Patty put a hand over her mouth.
"Don't worry, I think Belén knows that too."
Patty glanced at him, surprised by his statement.
Barry winced. "Don't...tell her I said that, actually."
"Only if you don't tell her what I said."
"Deal."
The two smiled at each other.
"So, um...do you think that's actually real?" Barry one again looked at the bag of teeth. He had heard and seen of all sorts of metahumans but a shark that walked on land seemed just a bit too much.
"Yeah, I mean, I know it sounds really wacko...but, I mean, nothing seems impossible now that we have meta-humans, right? And I thought it would be fun, you know, for us to work together again on a case."
"Yeah, I mean, I really- I'd love to work on anything with you. Um, it's just, you know, meta-humans aren't really my thing," Barry tried looking as convincing as ever. He didn't want Patty looking too much into the metahuman criminals lest she be kidnapped again.
"Really? I mean...I can handle it myself…"
Then again, if she was going to keep looking into it herself, alone, Barry would rather have an eye on her upclose. "No, you-look, how about I just- I'll run a test, see where the teeth came from."
Patty beamed. "That would be amazing! Thank you!" she handed the bag over to him.
Joe walked out of the office room and saw the bag of shark teeth. "How's your man-shark case coming?" he looked at Patty, amused.
"It's good. I was just gonna go and canvas the area, see what else I can dig up, and Barry here agreed to run some tests for me."
"Really?" Joe raised an eyebrow and looked over to Barry.
"Mm-hmm. So, progress," Patty beamed and said another 'thanks' to Barry before leaving herself.
"For real?" Joe inquired from Barry, eyes trained on the bag of teeth.
"If it's another meta I'd rather know first and lead Patty away from it before something like Sand Demon happens again," Barry explained.
"Mm," Joe walked over to the reception desk to leave behind some papers and then started back for his office.
"Uh, so did you hear we have a new co-worker?" Barry followed after him and glanced at Singh's office where he could see Veronica having an idle chat with him.
Joe followed his gaze to the office and nodded. "Wasn't expecting that from one phone call, I'll tell you that."
"Yeah I don't think she likes me very much…" Barry let his file flop on Joe's desk.
Joe started to laugh. "What parent likes their daughter's boyfriend?"
"Thanks," Barry said with a straight face. To his dismay, Joe only continued to laugh more. He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and pulled it up to see who it was. "Hey, you know what, I gotta go. It's Cisco. It's about Professor Stein."
"Okay, go, I'll cover you with Singh," Joe shooed him off and just as Barry turned to leave he heard the man laugh again.
It was not funny.
~ 0 ~
In the cortex, Stein tried out his new makeshift silver cane that was meant to keep him stabilized in the meantime they found a possible firestorm partner. "Well, I must admit, I never imagined the Sphinx's riddle about a man requiring three legs would ever apply to me, but if this device keeps me mobile, then I will gratefully oblige."
Caitlin smiled at the man as he took a small trip in the cortex to test out the cane. "Hopefully, you won't need it for much longer," she gestured to the two profiles of the candidates that could possibly (and hopefully) work to save him. "There was no agglutination in the blood samples, and cross-matching was negative for both, and it appears that the dark matter from the Particle Accelerator explosion mutated their genes in a very similar way it did to yours. I think they're both potential matches."
"So who do we go with?" Belén looked at the two men on the computer screen. She could see one was far younger than the other but as far as she could tell they both matched Stein. "Do we pull popsicle sticks or…?"
Caitlin chuckled and shook her head. "My first choice is Henry Hewitt. He graduated summa cum laude from Hudson University with a double major in Applied Physics and Bioengineering."
"A Hudson boy," Stein said thoughtfully. "I like him already."
"What about this other guy, Jefferson Jackson?" Barry moved up to the computer to take a closer look. "High school quarterback, 4.0 student. He's got the physical attributes. And it looks like more of his alleles match than Hewitt's. Doesn't that mean that he's more compatible?"
Caitlin reluctantly agreed but it was easy to see that she really did prefer Henry. "On paper, perhaps, but Hewitt is a scientist. Clearly, he's trying to make something of his life."
"That's a bit mean to say," Belén sarcastically glanced at Caitlin as if she were scolding the brunette.
"I'm just...I think he'd be open to something like this," Caitlin raised her hands in defense.
"I think we should meet with both of them before we make a decision," Cisco muttered, thinking both candidates would probably have to think about it really hard before being able to come up with a decision.
"That's an excellent idea," Stein agreed.
"I'll see if I can get Hewitt here," Caitlin said fast.
"All right, in the meantime, we'll go meet with Jefferson Jackson," Barry turned back, looking at Belén and Stein for agreement.
"I have to go pick up Axel and bring him to Mrs. Andrews," Belén patted him on the arm.
"Hey, that reminds me," Barry walked up to her while the others dispersed to do their tasks, "I met your mother today at the station."
"Oh yeah," Belén smiled. "She said she started on that transfer thing."
"Um...yeah, it's just…" Barry hated to be the one to tell her because she really did look happy about it, "...I kinda got the feeling she wasn't very happy that we were back together again."
Belén's smile faded a bit as she considered the idea that perhaps never telling her mother they were alright now could've had a bigger influence than she thought. "Oh, oh I'm sorry Barry. You know, that's probably my fault. Last time she heard you were the jerk that broke up with me."
But Barry wanted to say that he felt it was a bit more than just that. There was something about the way Veronica had looked at him earlier that...sort of said she couldn't believe her daughter had chosen him.
"Barry, do not worry," Belén assured him it would be fine. She set her hands on his arms and looked so sure of herself, it made Barry dread the outcome if things didn't go her way. "My Mom's a grumpy woman but she's going to try and make things work with me. Once she gets to know you - and knows how happy you make me - she'll warm up to you."
"You think?" Barry raised an eyebrow at her.
"Absolutely," Belén chuckled and leaned in to kiss him. "It'll be fine."
"Okay," Barry relented very quietly. He didn't realize how much it would bother him if Veronica ended up truly not liking him. There was something he'd been meaning to tell Belén but so far was unable to find a suitable moment and place.
Belén mistook his silence as more worry and laughed. She repeated that it would all be fine, gave him a last kiss before truly leaving. On her way out, she missed their newest E-2 visitor lurking behind.
~ 0 ~
Axel bounced on his feet while he waited for his aunt Belén to buy him that ice cream from the ice cream truck. It was his reward for getting a sticker at school that indicated he'd attempted to write his name unlike other students.
"But you know that you won't get a reward every time, right?" Belén asked after giving Axel his Bugs Bunny popsicle. "I'm happy that you're putting an effort but you don't get a reward every time."
"Mhm!" Axel practically waved her off while he licked his popsicle.
Belén playfully rolled her eyes and ushered him towards the car. While she was putting Axel into the backseat, she could've sworn she felt burning eyes on her back. She hurriedly finished adjusting Axel's seat belt then closed the car door. As she moved for the driver's seat she made a diligent look around for anything strange but as far as she could see there were only students being picked up.
Get it together Belén, she berated herself and opened the driver's door.
She missed the brunette women across the street peering behind another ice cream truck. A dark smile spread across her face as she watched Belén drive off. "Gotcha."
~ 0 ~
When Belén returned to STAR Labs, she found Caitlin in a side room excitedly conversing with one of the chosen candidates for Firestorm. Cisco was sitting at the desk with a grim face at the two.
"What's going on?" Belén dropped in the chair next to him.
"Caitlin got Henry Hewitt to come," Cisco said but sounded nowhere near happy about it.
"What's wrong with him?" Belén asked quick, garnering a confused look from Cisco. "I know you hate him. It's in your voice, stupid."
Cisco smiled and shook his head. Before he got to explaining his reason of dislike for Henry, Barry and professor Stein walked into the room. Seeing them from the side room, Caitlin brought out Henry to meet them.
"Caitlin, what's going on?" Barry frowned at the sight of the man in the room.
Caitlin seemed happier than ever. "I'm glad you're back. This is Dr. Henry Hewitt. This is Barry Allen, Professor Martin Stein and Belén Palayta."
Stein shook hands with Henry. "How do you do?"
Henry seemed in awe. "The illustrious Martin Stein. I've read all your papers back at Hudson, especially on transmutation. Fascinating. You're a legend."
"Kiss-ass," Belén mumbled under her breath but she soon realized it wasn't as quiet as she thought because Cisco had snickered beside her. Even Barry had let a smile slip.
Stein laughed shyly at the praises. "Oh, please. I think you're overestimating my contribution to the field. I-I appreciate your enthusiasm."
Caitlin happily walked to the other three. "Isn't he great?"
"He's got an ego the size of Texas-" Cisco muttered, "-but, yeah, he's alright."
Caitlin rolled her eyes at him. "So, where's Jefferson Jackson?"
"We just need more time," Barry sighed. It turned out the younger candidate was more stubborn than they thought.
"We don't have more time. I couldn't find another power source for the cane and that thing's running out." Cisco didn't really like Henry that much but Stein was running out of time.
"So then...that's it?" Belén asked. "We convince Henry to do it?"
Caitlin smiled. "Oh he's already agreed. We can do the merge right now."
"What do you mean? You told him the details of the Firestorm Matrix?" Barry gave her an incredulous look.
"Absolutely, becoming Firestorm is a huge life change. He needs to know what he's getting himself into."
They were then taken when the two scientists chanted their apparent school's theme.
"Aw, look at that, that's so cute," Cisco sarcastically rose from his chair, smiling impossibly wide. "We'll have two Professor Steins if this works."
Belén laughed. "I don't think anyone could be professor Stein. There can only be one softie scientist here."
Being settled, they gathered up the potential new Firestorm and Cisco stood in front of Henry holding the splicer in his hands, giving Henry a final instruction.
"When I put this splicer on your chest you're gonna feel a rush. That's a molecular primer being released into your body. Then you can make physical contact with Professor Stein, and Firestorm Matrix will take over."
"Easy enough," Henry nodded, but the manner in which he said those words gave the impression he thought it was simple math terms.
"Ready?" Cisco asked both men this time.
"No time like the present," Stein held his cane for Caitlin to take. "Thank you, my dear."
"Okay," Cisco put the splicer on Henry's chest. The device immediately whirred to life as it sprouted three metal bars across Henry's chest.
Both Henry and Stein turned to face each other, their hands reaching to make contact with the other. Their tips flamed on before dying out, leaving the two very much separated.
"Try again," Caitlin encouraged them after a moment of confusion.
They reached out to merge again but not even flames had appeared that time. It appeared that it was not going to work.
"This is unexpected…" Stein pulled his hand back.
"Something's supposed to be happening, right?" Henry shot the others an irritated look. "Why isn't it working?"
Belén didn't like the attitude displayed towards them like it was their fault. "Genius if we knew we wouldn't be having this problem."
Cisco stepped towards the two men to take off the splicer from Henry. "Uh, well, looks like you two aren't compatible after all."
"So all this was for nothing?" Henry now openly snared.
"Believe me, no one is more disappointed than I am," Stein despondently sighed, but Henry flatout ignored the implications of the failure.
"Yeah, don't be so sure about that. Next time, try to get your act together before you get someone's hopes up." Henry stormed out of the cortex.
The group didn't know how to react after that setback. Stein would have to continue muffling through for the moment.
"So, what happens now?" Belén dreaded to ask. She and Barry walked down the street leading up to her house. "If Henry Hewitt can't merge…"
"We have to hope that Jefferson Jackson comes through," Barry said, shrugging his shoulders.
"You met him with professor Stein today, right? Did he look interested?"
"Uum…" Barry made a face that said it all.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow," Belén hoped this other candidate would turn out to be better than Hewitt. They walked up to Belén's front porch staircase.
"Is there anyone home?" Barry looked at the dark windows of her house. Belén told him earlier in the day her mother would be staying at a hotel in the meantime they made good on the house deed.
"No, it'll just be me and Axel," Belén moved up to the door to unlock it. "I need to start packing, actually. I'm leaving Axel with Mrs. Andrews for the rest of the day so I can get a head start."
"But you're staying alone in the night?" Barry's tone indicated his outright refusal.
"Relax," Belén rolled her eyes and opened the door, "I doubt Zoom or Datura make house visits."
"I...Bells, do we really want to push that luck? Would it kill you to just stay with Caitlin some more time?"
"No offence to Caitlin, but what exactly makes it more safe at her place than here?" Belén smiled as Barry fumbled over an answer. "It's not like Caitlin has powers. Buuuuut…" she pretended innocence, "...you know, I wouldn't be opposed to some help with packing. Without the speed."
"Oh c'mon," Barry complained but was already coming in after her. Belén giggled while he began making his case on why he should very much be allowed to use said speed.
~0~
The next day, the group was more than happy to see Jefferson Jackson deciding to meet with them. The young man was fascinated by all the scientific machinery set around and had to take a moment to really get the jist of the place.
"I thought S.T.A.R. Labs had to shut down," he remarked after a while.
"You can say it's under new management," Belén innocently waved a hand from her spot at the desk. She figured he looked more or less the same way she did when she first stepped foot in the room a year ago.
"Cool. So, let's get started," Jax clapped his hands. "You got some kind of "Billion Dollar Man" technology that gonna fix my knee?"
Barry realized the other man was under the ruse they would be bringing him back to his regular self. "Actually, Jax, this isn't about fixing your knee."
"What are you talking about?"
"When the Particle Accelerator exploded, the energy wave that collided with you is known as dark matter," Caitlin began explaining.
"And it didn't just hurt your knee," Stein finished for her. "It-it changed the molecular structure of your body."
Jax raised an eyebrow at him. "Whoa, hold on, Grey. So you're saying I'm like one of those meta-humans I keep hearing about on the news?"
Stein was not amused by the little nickname the man had branded him with. "Yes, I am. Please, call me Professor."
"We think you have potential capabilities," Cisco tried to explain next, assuming they were freaking Jax out.
"What kind of capabilities?"
"The same as Professor Stein: the ability for your body to process fission and fusion," Caitlin answered.
Cisco raised the splicer device for Jax to see. "And you can harness excess energy and turn it into these massive nuclear blasts."
"And, if it helps, you can fly," Belén added whimsically, adding a moment later in a low voice, "Wish I could fly."
Jax was bewildered and glanced at Stein sitting on a chair, looking far too, well, old to do all those powers. "So you're saying you can do all this?"
"Only during times of convergence with a willing partner.
"Convergence?" Jax concluded what they needed from him and laughed. "You and me? No, this is crazy."
"No, Jax, this is your chance to right the wrong that was done to you," Caitlin frowned at his careless reaction.
"Yeah, sorry, you got the wrong guy," Jax made a signal he was going to leave. "I don't want nothing to do with this."
Caitlin wasn't going to give up and cut him off. "Wait a second, we are giving you the chance to be a superhero, and you're gonna say no that quickly?"
"Yeah, not my kind of thing," Jax said.
Stein began pushing himself upwards from his chair "If the man isn't willing to participate-"
"Look, I saw your test scores, Jax. Your grades were good enough to get into college, but you didn't go," Caitlin continued on, sounding angrier. "Why? Is this the type of guy you are? One setback and you fold? Well, then maybe you're not the guy for us anyway."
"Caitlin-" Belén meant to stop her but the damage was done.
"Well, maybe I'm not," Jax sourly agreed and stormed out.
"Maybe this just wasn't meant to be," Stein exceptionally walked out as well.
"Caitlin you shouldn't have done that," Belén got up her chair, earning a very sharp look from the brunette in return.
"He said no to being a superhero. Who does that?" Caitlin angrily looked at the others for back up. "I mean, you didn't say no when you had the chance. Cisco, would you?"
Cisco battled through a nervous laugh. "Chance to have superpowers? Sign me up."
"Look, we're asking Jax to change his entire life, to sacrifice what he does have," Barry tried simplifying it for Caitlin, because he thought she'd been a bit hard on Jax too. "I mean, that's not a decision that can be made lightly. It took me a long time to figure out this whole hero thing."
Caitlin still didn't understand. "Exactly, which is why we need someone who wants to do this."
"Where are you going?" Belén watched the woman begin to leave.
"To get Hewitt back. We have to try again," Caitlin said loudly and stormed away.
~0~
Later that day, Barry called in Patty to give her the results of her "shark teeth". As soon as Patty heard the results, she projected grave disappointment.
"Human DNA?" she looked up from the results.
"Yup, definitely not a man-shark. Not even a land shark, Ma'am," Barry laughed but Patty seemed pretty upset.
"Well, thanks for testing it for me," Patty sighed and turned to leave.
"What are you gonna do now?"
Patty stopped and thought for a moment. "I don't know, probably file it under "never gonna happen." I have another case anyway."
"Oh, anything I can help you with?"
"No, no, no, no, Detective said definitely n-not," Patty knew she was being a horrible liar but in her defence she warned Joe she couldn't keep secrets very well. And keeping the newest case that involved apparently the deceased Harrison Wells was a big one.
Barry immediately recognized her off look and worried. "Is everything okay?"
Patty did not make things better by laughing so nervously. "Sure, why?"
"I don't know, you're just acting kind of different…"
"No! No. I'm the same old P. Spivot, you know?" Patty inwardly smacked herself for being so obvious. She needed to leave fast. "I have to go, but thank you so much for testing this, and I'll see you."
Barry couldn't even get an "okay" out when the woman had already rushed out. He decided he would go to Joe himself for some answers. Why wouldn't Joe want him working on a case with them? It wasn't like him.
As Barry was coming down the stairs, he caught sight of Veronica coming out of the main office. Thinking of their oh-so-grand meeting the previous day, Barry thought he would try it again with some better results. He knew Belén was right in that Veronica didn't know him and perhaps they just needed time but it did bother him that this woman decided - out of the blue - that she wouldn't like him.
"Ms. Green?" he called to the woman engrossed with a file in her hands. Soon as she looked up Barry could see her eyes narrow a bit. "Everything...okay?" That was a stupid question but Barry couldn't think of another way to start.
"Of course. I just finished with papers for my transfer. I start this Monday," Veronica informed.
"That's great! I guess we'll be seeing each other more often then," Barry smiled but Veronica just stared.
"Yes…" Veronica didn't have to openly say that she wasn't as thrilled as one would think.
Barry saw that and inwardly sighed. "Ms. Green, I just want to say that I'm very happy you and Bells are working on a new relationship."
"Bells?" Veronica repeated her daughter's nickname with distaste.
"U-uh, sorry, Belén. That's just...what we call her sometimes…" Barry said slowly, seeing no such progress. Veronica still did not lighten up. "Anyways, I just…" he sighed, deciding to simply be honest with how he felt and see what happened from there, "...Belén has suffered a lot, I've seen it, and I think she could really use her mother. She deserves that."
"Yes, well, she deserves more doesn't she?" Veronica openly said instead, jabbing him with her double meaning. Her knowing smile on him didn't make Barry feel any better.
~ 0 ~
"She said that?" Cisco gaped after hearing Barry's story - which was admittedly funny in some point. The two were in the cortex, watching over Axel while Belén went for some coffee in the kitchen of the building. "Duuuude…" Cisco began to chuckle, much to Barry's offence
"Why does everyone think it's so funny?" he frowned. First Joe, and now Cisco? Next thing he knew Iris would burst out laughing next.
"I mean, it would happen to you," Cisco walked over to the desk where Axel sat. He glanced at the boy who was busy attempting to write his name on paper, oblivious to their talk.
"Thanks," Barry frowned. "I get that not everyone is gonna like me but...this precise woman happens to be Belén's mother. She has to like me."
Cisco smirked as he plopped down on a chair next to Axel. "Right."
"I mean, Bells won over my Dad so quick…" Barry began to pace in front of the desk.
"Well, Belén is adorable, so…" Cisco trailed off when Barry glared for his lack of seriousness. "Alright, no time for jokes, then."
"No," Barry shook his head and came to a stop. He put his hands on the edge of the desk and sighed. "I can...see a future with Belén, I really can, and in that future...I don't see this," he gestured to the situation.
Cisco raised his eyebrows, able to barely to hold his teasing smile back. "Belén Allen?"
"Hey!" Belén had walked in, eyes wide and on Cisco. "I don't know what you were talking about but I know 'shut up' fits perfectly."
Cisco found it even more difficult not to tease. Belén placed down a mug of coffee for Cisco on the desk, handed Barry his own then took her own.
"So, dare I ask what we were discussing?" she made eyes at Barry who was busy trying not to be as red as possible.
"Auntie Belén! Look at my name!" Axel waved his paper in the air, nearly smacking Cisco on the face a couple times.
"Let me see that before you paper cut this beautiful face of mine," Cisco took the paper from the boy and looked down at the squiggly-lined name. "Well, for a four year old, it's not that bad."
"It's my homework," Axel said proudly.
"Great job, Axel," Belén mused after seeing the paper. "Least your name isn't Annah-Belén with a hyphen and everything," she shook her head and shot Barry a look. "You and I know about long names, don't we Bartholomew?"
The speedster silently glowered.
"You guys," Caitlin came rushing into the room seeming very concerned.
"What's wrong?" asked Barry, but Caitlin came directly for the computers. She said nothing as she typed and pulled up a page on the one of the computers up on the wall.
It was a news-reporter in the middle of a newscast, the byline underneath reading something about questioning a Henry Hewitt.
"What's…?" Belén blinked at the screen.
"There was a scene at Mercury Labs where apparently Hewitt showed some sort of metahuman abilities," Caitlin explained, sighing deeply. "He nearly hurt one of his bosses and the witness said he was unusually aggressive."
"But...he has powers now?" Belén looked at the others for some help understanding that.
"Hewitt's dormant abilities must have been triggered when we attempted the merger," Barry realized.
"And that could be catastrophic," Caitlin crossed her arms. "If his powers are anything like professor Stein's then he requires a grounding mechanism to stabilize his volatility."
"Yeah, he's gonna pop his top," Cisco scoffed, wondering if he hadn't done it on his own already. The man seemed to carry a temper with him anyways. "And considering he's got a long history of violence - according to his police record - we probably don't have much time."
"Police record?" Barry threw a look over to Caitlin.
"I didn't find a police record," the brunette said defensibly.
Cisco scoffed. "Yeah, of course not, it was sealed, but guess what, ya boy hacked in and-" he started on the computer, "-hold on, wait for it."
"Yowzah," Belén's eyes roamed the heavy police record Cisco pulled up for them.
"One count battery, two counts aggravated assault, court-ordered anger management therapy," Cisco listed.
"He seemed like such a nice guy," Caitlin said dejectedly.
"Looks are deceiving," Belén remarked.
"Professor Stein is getting worse. And Hewitt's like this because of me. And now Jefferson Jackson will never come back because of what I said," Caitlin felt completely guilty for the mess she thought she was responsible for. "I just didn't believe that he has what it takes."
"This isn't because you didn't believe in him," Barry made her stop for a moment. "Sometimes, great possibilities are right in front of us, and we don't see them, because we choose not to. I think that we need to be open to exploring something new."
Caitlin valued his words, she did, and nodded her head. "I'm gonna go fix it," she mumbled and turned to leave.
"We have to keep an eye on professor Stein," Cisco got up from his chair. "Time is running out."
"Yeah," Belén moved over for Axel. "We'll be back later, then. I promised my mother I would show her my new place. Which reminds me…" she started smiling at Barry, with purpose, "...I know I said no speed for moving out, but...considering I'm a bit behind…"
"I got it," Barry nodded, promising her. "I'll go in later tonight, don't worry."
"Thank you," Belén ushered Axel off his chair and the two walked off.
"So...we're just not gonna tell her that her mothers hates you?" Cisco curiously looked after Belén.
"No," Barry replied instantly. With a warning finger for Cisco to keep quiet as well, he walked out too.
~ 0 ~
As soon as Belén had gotten word from her mother she was waiting for her back in their old home, Belén did her best to get there on time. If there was one thing her mother despised it was tardiness.
"My toys!?" Axel gasped the moment he saw various boxes already piling up around the living room. "Auntie Belén, are my toys in there!?"
"Don't worry Axel, your things are in your room," Belén assured as she closed the door. "Mom?" she called, leaving her purse on a stand by table.
Veronica walked out from the kitchen with a glass of water in her hand. Axel was delighted to see his grandmother and ran forwards to hug her. "Grandma, wanna play with my toys with me?" he asked excitedly.
"Not right now, sweetheart," Veronica smiled at him, speaking a soft voice. Belén honestly couldn't see that version of her mother as, well..her mother. It was always arguments and bickering with the others.
"Aaaw," Axel pulled back and turned away.
"Axel, go on out to the backyard for a moment," Belén instructed the child.
"Okay!"
"But stay away from Aunt Belén's flowers, alright?"
"Yes!" Axel promised and rushed for the back door.
"So you've been packing…" Veronica lowered her glass to observe the room. "I checked upstairs and...you're almost completely packed too."
"Yeah," Belén shrugged. "I want to get out of here as fast as possible."
"You know I'm not kicking you out-"
"No, yeah, I know that," Belén promised her. "I just…" her eyes began to look around the familiar living room, "...don't like being here anymore. There's too many bad things, memories...I can't continue living here if I want to function normally."
"You're almost set then," Veronica gestured to the packing boxes behind them. "I'm surprised you packed so fast."
"I had help from Barry, Mom," Belén rolled her eyes.
"Oh," Veronica could not help the face expression that settled.
Belén saw it too and frowned. "Oh c'mon, are you actually not liking him? Barry mentioned it but I just thought he was being dramatic."
"He told you that?" it appeared Veronica was offended and yet, upset that apparently Barry had disclosed this information.
"Well gee, Mom, considering I'm his girlfriend and he just met my Mom who created such a negative image of him...yeah, he did mention it because he was upset."
Veronica made a small noise and shook her head. She brought her glass to her lips and drank.
"Can I just ask what is the problem?" Belén sighed, so completely done with arguments between them. "You know nothing of me, and then you have the audacity to hate my boyfriend whom you've never even properly met."
"The last time I heard he broke up with you in a very harsh way," Veronica tilted her glass, pretending to be interested in the swirling water. "And that left you so bad you decided to go to a psychologist."
"Hey-" Belén struck a sharp finger at her mother, "-that was because of Maritza, Axel, Rayan, and the frikin black-hole that appeared in the sky as well! I decided to go to Dr. Baeva for me. I decided I wanted to feel better, to be better so I went for professional help."
"Belén-"
"No, Mom, you're being unfair," Belén said softly. "I bet grandma and grandpa were against at least one of your boyfriends when you were my age. And how about Nona Enger? Remember how that feels?"
Veronica's lips twitched into a smile. "Your father's mother was an outright..." she definitely wouldn't finish that sentence out loud.
"Can't you at least give him a chance?" Belén asked. "One dinner - that's all I'm asking. You can get to know Barry and see that he's really sweet and...and dorky, I'm not gonna lie," she smiled. "But overall he is someone that I can truly think about having a future with."
Veronica's attention was drawn most by the last statement. "That much, huh?" she asked with eyebrows raised.
Belén nodded. "Yes."
Veronica gave a small nod as she thought about the deal proposed. "Okay-" Belén's eyes widened, "-I accept. One dinner-" she raised a finger, "-this weekend."
The biggest smile spread across Belén's face. "Oh my God, thank you!" she rushed up to Veronica and surprised her with a large hug.
Belén rarely hugged her.
~ 0 ~
By the time Belén returned to STAR Labs, much had happened. But it was to her delight to learn that Jax had come through and merged successfully with professor Stein, creating a new Firestorm. Unfortunately, she also learned that Henry Hewitt was up and about again attacking people. Barry and the new Firestorm had gone out to stop him.
"You sure Jax can handle this?" Belén anxiously stood behind Caitlin and Cisco at the desk. "He did just get his powers…"
"He has this," Caitlin assured with a new sense of faith in Jax.
"Plus, he has professor Stein in his head," Cisco added with a wag of his finger.
Belén agreed it was true but it still didn't diminish all her concerns.
"Hey, guys, cutting the power didn't work," Barry's voice came through the speakers. "It's like the more we anger him, the stronger he gets."
"Powers based on emotions? Hm," Belén pretended to think for a moment, "Now where have I seen that before."
"That's it," Caitlin realized. "The more powerful he becomes, the more unstable they become. Barry, make him angry, and he'll blow his fuse."
"Are you saying that I'm unstable?" Belén shot the brunette a look.
Caitlin made an apologetic face.
"Don't worry, we'll get her back when you can go full-on Azalea again," Cisco nudged Belén on the side. "Imagine what new sides you can unlock."
When all was said and done, Henry Hewitt was brought back to STAR Labs and placed in the pipeline where he would not be able to tell a soul of what he learned in the recent week. It appeared like his powers had diminished with his last fight. Now as the new firestorm prepared to leave to begin training again, the group went on to say their goodbyes.
"Why Are we going to Pittsburgh again?" asked Jax after hearing Stein mention it to Joe.
"A colleague of mine was monumental in helping train Ronald and me. She's graciously offered to help the two of us as well."
"How's she gonna help us?"
"Well, there were many aspects of our abilities that we never quite achieved. Hopefully now, we can fully realize that potential." Stein said hopefully and turned to say goodbye to Caitlin. "Oh, my dearest Dr. Snow. Ronald may be lost to us, but he will never be forgotten."
Caitlin hugged him goodbye.
"Okay but when you start flying...take a picture dammit," Belén told Jax, making him laugh. "I mean it. That view would be phenomenal."
"I think they'd have more to do, Bells," Barry came by for her.
"I was just saying...you know, if you got a chance," Belén casually waved her hand on her side.
Cisco approached them with the splicer in hand, excitedly apparently. "I went ahead and recalibrated the splicer so the merging should be even smoother now."
"Are you ready, Jefferson?" Stein asked the younger man. With a nod, Jax moved over so that the two would merge better.
"All right," Jax said after merging, still sounding surprised of his new ability. He erupted in flames and flew up into the sky.
"I really want that picture," Belén mumbled under her breath.
"Yeah c'mon," Barry tugged her by the hand. "You want to get lunch?"
"Mhm! So I can tell you the big news I have," Belén excitedly revealed.
"Interesting," Barry hummed in thought. He said a goodbye to the others and took off with Belén for Jitters.
"So, I talked to my Mom," Belén began as soon as they entered the place.
"You did…?" Barry made a face behind her.
"Yes, and I don't want you to freak out or anything but...she doesn't exactly favor you."
"No?" Barry feigned perfect surprise. "I wasn't dreaming?"
Belén sighed. "Nope. But I got her to give you a chance. You think you can do dinner with her and me this weekend?" there was a heavy alarm in Barry's face that questioned the sanity of the plan. Belén clapped her hands together, ready to plead. "I promise it will be just fine. You just have...to be yourself."
"I don't mean to be rude but I think 'being myself' is what got me into this situation in the first place," Barry released a breath he'd been holding in.
"She doesn't know you," Belén persisted. "She knows a part of you that...that wasn't you. Please say you'll do it? Pretty please?"
"Oh, sure, use that face on me, how can I refuse?" Barry sarcastically said.
"So...you'll come then?"
"Yes, of course I will," Barry nodded. "But you have to do one thing in return."
"What is it?"
"Don't leave me alone with her," Barry pleaded with a shaking voice.
Belén laughed but agreed nonetheless. Throughout the rest of their lunch, which turned out to last much later, Belén started giving Barry helpful tips for when they met with Veronica later that weekend. While Belén was confident that her mother would end up liking Barry she also thought that a little help couldn't hurt either. When they were finished, the two arrived at the CCPD for different reasons. Belén promised Patty they would have that pending coffee night - which switched to a movie night considering Belén had just come back from Jitters. Barry had a bit of work to finish before he could call it a night.
"So, any movie you're interested in seeing?" Belén asked Patty as the two walked out of the station.
"Something actiony?" Patty suggested and Belén just laughed.
"A cop wants to watch an action movie I'm not surprised!"
But the two had barely made it across the street when a loud clash stopped them in their tracks. Green vines had wrapped around trash cans and threw them towards the two women. They lunged in opposite directions to avoid being hit. Soon as Belén looked up she saw a woman in a glimmering green bodysuit and long ginger hair coming for her. There were bits of green plants adorning the corner of her eyes.
"What are you-"
The ginger made a wag of her finger and struck forwards a hand. Belén was hit with a thick vine tendril and blasted back against a street pole, effectively knocking her out.
"Oh my God!" Patty didn't waste a minute and whipped out her gun, taking aim at the ginger who was coming for them. "Put your hands in the air!"
But the ginger smirked and reached a hand out, making Patty begin to shoot. Poison Ivy swiveled with her vines to avoid the bullets successfully. Hearing the bullets, Barry appeared as the Flash to see what the trouble was and came to the horror sight instead.
"Flash," Poison Ivy's lips curled into a delighted smile. "Zoom wants you dead. But for now I'm here to collect for Datura."
"Over my dead body," Barry frowned. He sped Patty and Belén into the station and then returned. Poison Ivy had yet to even blink.
"Don't make me hunt my prey at this hour," Poison Ivy's darkened red lips curled into a sinister smile.
"Why are you hunting her in the first place?" demanded Barry.
"For Datura, of course," Poison Ivy held her hands out, ready to attack when someone blasted her with a high-tech gun. She cringed and fell forwards to reveal a hooded man.
The hooded figure made to leave just as he'd appeared but Barry sped after him. "Who the hell are you?" he grew tired of asking the same questions.
When the hooded man pulled down his hood, Barry wished he would have never asked.
The man turned out to be Harrison Wells.
From afar, the same brunette women who had watched Belén now watched the scene unfold with satisfaction. "Here we go," she glanced in the direction of the precinct with flashing red eyes.
Author's Note:
Aaaaand we're started getting into the good parts! We finally get to meet Poison Ivy (whom I literally envision as Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy) and we'll soon get to meet Datura herself.
Apologies because I truly did mean to have this updated a lot earlier but I had an unexpected rushed visit to the emergency room and then I actually got sick days later.
P.S I did also update the companion story to this which is a collection of one-shots between Belén & Barry. It's under the name 'It's So You'. Go check it out!