It was another ordinary day at the station, however for some reason nowadays Barry feels like it's the calm days where something crazy happens. Today was not an exception. It was a slow day, so in order to pass some time, Barry started tinkering with a few chemicals. Bored out of his mind, he left his office and went downstairs where he intended to find Joe and annoy him till he gave him something to do.
Meanwhile in the Captains office, a gorgeous young brunette in her twenties was conversing with Central City's favorite and finest, Captain Singh.
"It's really good to have you here Nicki. How long are you planning on staying?" The Captain asked his young niece.
"Only for a few days unfortunately. I have work to do back in Metropolis, so I can't really stay long." Nicki told her favorite uncle with a disappointed tone.
"Certainly the Daily Planet can go just a few more days without their favorite reporter." Singh told her with a smile.
Nicki just chuckled as she replied sarcastically, "I don't know about that Uncle Dave, they can be quite incompetent without me."
"I don't know why you insist on getting a hotel. My house is your house, you're always welcome." Singh told her.
" Like I told you, I don't want to be a bother to you and your boyfriend. Plus, I heard hotels here in Central are some of the best." She told him.
"What are you planning to do while you're here in Central?" Singh asked her.
"Mostly spend time with you. But you're a busy guy, and I understand that, so I also plan on sight seeing. And lets not forget shopping."
"You know, one of my best detectives has a daughter who happens to be your age, and a journalist. I should introduce the two of you." Singh said.
"That's cool, sounds like we may get along." Nicki told him.
"Come, follow me." He said as he led her out of his office, and towards Detective Eddie Thawne's, where the beautiful Iris West was currently standing near.
"Iris, meet my niece Nicki Pierce, she's a reporter of the Daily Planet back in Metropolis. Nicki, this is Iris West, a journalist for Central City Picture News." Singh said introducing the two girls.
"It's really nice to meet you." Iris said politely giving her a handshake.
"Yeah, same here." Nicki said returning the shake.
"Well I have to get back to work, but I will see you for dinner tonight, right?" Singh asked Nicki.
"Yeah of course." Nicki told him, and with a small hug, Singh returned to his office.
"Well, I have a day off, so do you want to get some coffee?" Iris asked Nicki.
"Yeah, that sounds great." She replied.
As soon as the two girls left, Barry came down the stairs. Not finding Joe, Barry went to Eddie, "Hey Eddie, have you seen Joe?"
"No, he's on a solo case while I'm stuck doing paperwork. You just missed Iris however, she went out for coffee. Maybe you can catch up with her?"
Barry looked at his watch and bit back a scream as he realized he technically still had 2 more hours of work before he can clock out. "No, it's alright. I'm technically still on duty. Thanks though."
And with that, Barry trudged back up the stairs to his lab, completely unaware that someone on the other side of the Station window was staring at his retreating back. "Are you ok?" Iris asked Nicki as she realized that the latter was staring through the window.
With that, Nicki broke out of her stare and told Iris distractedly, "Yeah, I just thought I saw somebody that I knew."
A few hours later, Iris and Nicki found themselves bonding at Jitters. They had a lot of similarities, and they soon became fast friends.
"So let me get this straight, you live with your boyfriend, who also happens to be your dads partner?" Nicki asked.
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up." Iris told her.
"How did your dad take it?" Nicki asked.
"Well, when he first found out, he didn't talk to me for weeks. He would either leave notes for me on the fridge, or tell my best friend to relay the message back to me. He's pretty over protective."
"Wow. My Uncle's the same. Ever since my Dad died, he's been taking over. I mean, I still had my mom, but I guess Uncle Dave sort of felt as if it were his responsibility to take care of me after his only brother died. He is the definition of over bearing. I can't imagine telling him that I'm dating someone that he works with on a daily bases." Nicki admitted to Iris.
Jokingly, Iris replied, "Well then, I guess it's a good thing that you live in Metropolis."
Nicki laughed in response, and Iris quickly joined in. "You know, I read your blog. I find it really interesting. And by the way, The Flash is a much better name then the Streak." Nicki told her.
"Really? Thanks. The Flash is a hero, and if it weren't for him, everyone I hold dear would probably be dead by now, considering I naturally attach myself to people with dangerous occupations." Iris admitted.
"Everyone you love has dangerous occupations?" Nicki asked.
"My Dad is a detective, my boyfriend is his partner, and my best friend is their clumsy forensic scientist who got hit by lightning." Iris deadpanned.
"Wow, now that's commitment." Nicki told her, ending the conversation.
"Hey, I know a pretty good restaurant not too far from here. You must be pretty hungry by now, right?" Iris asked.
"A little." Nicki admitted.
"Come on, let's go." Iris said as they paid the bill.
When Barry finally got off of what seemed like a never-ending day of work, he was ready to kill for a drink. Then he realized he couldn't get drunk. It was times like these when Barry really hated his super metabolism. He found himself heading towards Jitters instead, craving the taste of a mocha latte with Courvoisier. When he was nearing the café, he saw two girls heading out of Jitters, and going towards the opposite direction. One of them he immediately recognized as Iris, the other girl looked too familiar. Distractedly, he entered the café and placed his order.
Noticing his slightly confused state, Sarah, the pretty waitress who tends to flirt with Barry, asked him, "Are you alright?"
Turning his attention back to her, he answered with a charming smirk, "Yeah, I just thought I saw somebody that I know."
Flashback: February; Senior Year
Being dragged to a bar 45 minutes away from his dorm room was not part of Barry's (Or as he was called at the time, Sebastian's) plan for the night. He was ready to spend a quite night in his room, reading an interesting book on particle physics, when his roommate and friend Jeff forced him to go out for the night. The two of them ended up in some bar, and within the first five minutes, Jeff was already flirting with some girl, leaving Barry alone at a bar. He knew that if he wanted to, he could have some fun, but he was to busy sulking to actually do so.
"You know, most guys come to a bar to have fun, not glare at their drink." A girl told Barry, as she slid onto the seat to his immediate right.
"I'm a little too busy thinking of ways to kill my friend to have fun." Barry admitted to the beautiful brunette.
"Let me guess, friend drags you to a bar you don't even want to go to, and then ditches you for the first skirt he sees?" She asked.
Barry smirked at her and applauded her, "Right on the first guess. How did you know?"
"I'm just good like that. I'm Nicki by the way."
"Sebastian Smythe. Nice to meet you."
End of Flashback
The next day was quite a busy one for the scarlet speedster. His day job as a forensic scientist kept him busy as he did his work for hours on end.
Iris and Nicki spent another day together, and after a long day of shopping at almost every major store Central had to offer, they decided to stop by the Police Station to pay a visit. Walking inside, they headed straight towards the area where the Captain and Joe were speaking.
"Hey Uncle Dave!" Nicki greeted.
"Hey dad." Iris told her father, giving him a hug.
"I don't believe you've met my new friend. This is Nicki Pierce, she's in town for a few days to visit the Captain here." Iris told her dad.
"This is the niece you told me about, I take it?" Joe asked Singh.
"The one and only." He replied.
As they continued to converse, Barry finally finished writing up a particularly long and complicated police report. After finalizing it, he headed down stairs to personally hand it to Joe, who needed it to further one of his cases.
Approaching the group, Barry handed the file to Joe, " Here you go, finally done. I simplified some of the terms so that the judge doesn't get too confused."
"BAS!?" Nicki cried incredulously.
It was then that Barry finally noticed the girl he once referred to as his girlfriend, "Nicki?"
With that, Nicki leaped into his arms giving him a giant hug. Barry didn't hesitate to reciprocate as he spun her around, laughing in the process.
When they finally let go of each other, Barry asked, "What are doing here Nicki? I thought you lived in Metropolis?"
" I'm visiting my uncle. What about you?"
"I work here. I'm a forensic scientist." He told her.
"You're smart?" She asked him mockingly.
"Yeah, just about as smart as you let yourself think you are." He easily retorted.
"Barry? You know my niece?" Singh asked, once he finally got over his initial shock. Barry then noticed that they all looked quite surprised, Joe and Iris were having trouble keeping their jaws off the ground at this point.
Nicki raised her eyebrows at the fact that her uncle referred to her ex as Barry, but she chose not to comment on it.
"Yeah, I guess you can say that." Barry replied.
"And how is it that the two of you know each other?" Singh asked.
"Easy, he's my ex-boyfriend." Nicki told her uncle, wrapping her arm around Barry's waist.
If Barry thought that they looked surprised before, he didn't know what to call their expressions after Nicki's statement. Singh looked as though he were going to have a heart attack at the fact that his precious niece dated the incompetent scientist. Joe looked shocked, though had a hint of pride. Iris was down right shocked, completely flabbergasted that her best friend had once dated her new friend, and she didn't even know about it.
"Well, I'd hate to cut this short, but Bas and I have a lot to catch up on, so bye." Nicki said, quickly dragging Barry out of the station, and towards Jitters.
"Sneaky as ever I see." Barry said with a smirk.
"So?" Nicki asked.
With that statement, Barry stopped walking, and leaned into Nicki. Whispering hotly into her ear, he said "Nothing, it's just that the whole bossy possesive thing that you do, super hot."