CHAPTER THREE: FIGHTING FOR CONTROL
Ella was pretty dang scared when suddenly her body tingled and she shot through the ceiling when Cisco mentioned the saw mill and it appeared in her mind's eye.
But 'pretty dang scared' went to 'piss your pants terrified' in two seconds flat. Maybe subconsciously, she thought, I've been there, they need help, get them out… but that hadn't necessary meant she wanted to be the one to help them and get them out. Ella couldn't even control her fingertips from sparking, why would her subconscious want to take on a group of kidnappers when she'd just woken up from a coma from being kidnapped?
Well, either way, that's what happened next. One minute Ella is worriedly eyeing Cisco, and the next, she's on her knees behind a bunch of men with guns, and four kids curled on the floor. An unexpected giggle threatened to bubble out of her because she didn't know who was more shocked she was there: them or Ella, but look on their faces was a funny sight to see, even in these current circumstances.
"She's here!" Someone finally yelled, "Get her! Alive, he wants her alive!" And they all pounced on little, untrained Ella and she was frozen in place like a deer caught in headlights.
"Oh, crap," She muttered as her mind raced to find a way out of this situation. As in many other times in her life, though normally they were when someone said something funny and she wanted to have a witty response, but instead her brain flat lines all activity, and she's left with even her name threatening to float from her mind.
Unfortunately for all involved, Ella went into her new-found survival mood, and she will regret the next couple minutes for the rest of her life.
As one man charged at her, a lightning bolt fell from the ceiling, striking him with a pop. He fell down, crying out in pain, as the sizzling of flesh echoed in Ella's ears. But that didn't stop her fingers from shooting out direct bolts of lightning, hitting each person that tried to take the fallen man's place.
Her whole body began tingling with power and Ella found she liked it. It was a warm burn and it didn't forcibly take over, it slowly grew till she wanted it. Till Ella craved it and she easily gave in.
"She just… just bolted out of here! Like a literal steak of lightning bolt, not like super speed bolt. Ella went through the ceiling!" Cisco tried to recap the incident to Harry, though his fanboy excitement took over his voice, rather than concern for his new friend's safety. He realized that, a bit too late. "We're all very worried where she could be now," he added in a more somber voice.
Harry just pursed his lips, shooting Cisco a look he was used to: are you serious? "What was going on before she bolted out?" Harry asked with an impassive face. He stared intently at Cisco as he thought back to what was happening.
"Ella was... asking to be treated normal, and then I beeped for the Flash, and Caitlin dinged for the finished blood results," Cisco answered, eyebrows furrowing as he recounted.
"Maybe she went to the saw mill to help with the kidnapping. Ella does have personal experience in that," Barry suggested, remembering finding Ella tied up to a chair that had fallen over. He took a breath to stop all memories from that night to come flooding in.
"That does seem most logical," Caitlin put in with a thoughtful voice, pushing the bloodwork out of her mind for the moment. She can explain what she found later when Ella is safe and sound. It wasn't a pressing matter like the situation at hand.
"I have to go there anyways… keep a look out for spikes in static electricity. I'm on my way," Barry said, and then he was running full force to the other side of town. The worry of what he was going to find once he got there ate away in his mind. He wasn't there to help her stay in control… what if she lost it?
Outside the mill was eerily quiet and Barry padded softly in. "I'm here," He whispered to his friends back in the lab. "Something seems… off."
"Stay on your guard, Barry, and keep us posted," Harry's voice came through his earpiece. Barry didn't reply, as a low noise hit his ears. He carefully continued on, but his steps got more frantic the deeper he got in the building, as the low noise got louder and shriller. His blood ran cold when he realized it was screaming. Someone was screaming.
Barry flew in the room then and found three children surrounded by a lot of burned bodies. He swallowed.
Ella lost control.
Ella's lightning high crashed too long after the last bad guy was killed. She was still on high alert when one of the kids came running towards her and the lightning bolt shot from her hands before she even registered that it was a child running at her.
Somewhere in Ella's mind knew fighting the men was self-defense and it was the same part of her mind that told her this was wrong.
The scream that came from the kid shut Ella down immediately and after letting out a scream of her own, she managed to break the connection with a resounding crack. The child- a boy, fell limp on the ground.
It took a painstaking long moment to realize the boy had stopped screaming and it was now coming out of Ella's mouth.
"Oh my God, Ella…" A voice startled her from behind, but she was drained now. Whoever came now should just kill her. She was out of control.
OhmyGodEllaohmyGodEllaohmyGodElla
Ella didn't know if she was thinking that or screaming that or if maybe Barry was yelling it at her, but that's all she heard.
Barry was always there, for the good and the bad. And the ugly.
Everyone would be safer if she wasn't around and this time she thought, take me from here, and her body listened to her.
When Ella hit the ground again, she was in the woods outside the mill. She knew Barry could take care of the children till the police came. She could already hear the sirens.
Murderer, her mind whispered to her. Murderer. Murder was worse than kidnapping and Ella thought they had deserved to die.
But no matter what she thought, she was scared.
Of the men she killed. Of the parents of the little boy she burned. Of Barry. Cisco. Caitlin.
She was scared to live. She was scared to die. She was scared to be alone.
Ella stumbled over to a tree and slid down it to sit. Pulling her knees to her chin, she covered her eyes and cried.
In every way in this situation, she was a coward.
"Flash!" cried a small, shaky voice. The curled up children suddenly came alive and pushed their way to their feet. Barry met the kids where they stood.
He took a breath through his mouth before he could say calmly, "Are you guys hurt?"
They shook their heads while one replied, "No, but the boy over there was hit by lightning!" He pointed over to the pile of men. Barry didn't realize before that one of the bodies was much smaller than the rest.
He took another breath.
"You guys stay right here. Everything will be okay," Barry said, though for him everything didn't feel okay. Hitting the men with lightning bolts was one thing, but a child? How did that happen? He used his super-speed to check out the unmoving boy. His visible skin was pink and raw.
Slowly, for he was scared for what he was going to find, Barry placed two fingers on the kid's fleshy neck, but flinched away when a scream escaped the boy.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Barry cried, and the boy started gasping. "Stay still, buddy, it's going to be okay."
"Hurts" was all the child could mumble, causing Barry to wince with sympathy pain.
"I know, buddy. Stay still, it's going to be okay," Barry tried to comfort before putting a hand to his mouth in horror. "Help is almost here. Can you hear them?" The sirens were audible in the building now.
The boy didn't say anything and Barry just looked at him.
A little voice whispered in his mind, she did just wake up and she has no idea how to control her powers but at the sight before him, a louder voice overpowered that one by saying, but how well do you know Ella? Maybe her soul-exploring eyes, maybe her sweet personality, was just all an act. He should listen the voice of reason rather than the voice of doubt, but logic isn't a strong point when you're scared of your future. And he was scared silly.
Barry's thoughts got cut off at the sound of the CCPD entering the building. He shook his head to clear his head and focus at the task at hand. Very carefully, he picked up the boy, and used his super-speed to take him to the hospital, only pausing for a millisecond to tell Joe what he was doing.
Once the child was in safe hands, he quickly swung back around to find Ella. However, after locating her curled up against a tree, he found he couldn't even look at her.
Barry swore to use his powers for good, but Ella had no allegiance. Even though her cries and crumpled body told another story, he let these dark thoughts of her pool in and takeover, because for a moment, he was tired of trusting people. He was so tired of getting hurt… of the people he loved getting hurt. He was just… so tired.
What if Ella can't control her powers? She's not a meta-human created from the particular explosion, not really. Barry created her powers. Barry brought her back from the dead. Even if the Ella he knew was genuine, did coming back from the dead change her in any way?
There were people's lives at stake and if he made the wrong choice in trusting her, it was on him. Everything from the moment the lightning connected him to her was on him. So much weight threaten to collapse his shoulders.
He was tired of making the wrong choice. He was tired of people dying because of him.
But isn't that what got Barry in this situation to begin with?
Ella didn't know how long had passed before she heard leaves crunch and tree limbs snap. They were going to find her, and she flinched with each step closer, but whoever was coming, which she was figuring was the police, she knew she deserved what was about to happen.
"Well, that's quite the scene back there," A male's voice began, and though it wasn't Barry's, it was a voice she knew. "Or so I hear. I couldn't really go in, nor apparently would I have wanted to..." he rambled, only in a way one person she knew does. Ella lifted her head from her legs to find Cisco, looking so normal in jeans and a dark t-shirt. Her heart already ached with regret and guilt from what already happened, but the sight of him caused her heart to twinge, momentarily doubling the pain she felt. Cisco kept his hands behind his back, no doubt concealing something to disable her. She knew she totally deserved it… but she was still totally scared.
Shakily Ella stood up, causing Cisco to take a step forward in case she fell. "Cisco, I don't… I don't even think 'I'm so sorry' cuts it." She couldn't look him in the eyes and her shoulders folded in on herself.
Cisco opened his mouth, and then closed it, figuring what he was going to say would be inappropriate in this situation. "I know," he said gently and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, which was so unexpected to her that she flinched away. "Hey, hey now, it's going to be okay."
"Why are you saying that?" Ella asked in a trembling voice, "I'm going to jail for those murders. And I deserve it, I so deserve it."
He paused, a thoughtful look passing his face. "I feel like I'm safe in assuming those men had it coming to them. Were they not attacking you, or one of the children?" Cisco asked in a rhetorical tone.
"Yeah, the men were, but—" Ella tried to say, but he interrupted her.
"You can't really be charged for murder for that, Ella. That was self-defense, and this a hostage situation. You probably saved—" Cisco continued, but she couldn't take it anymore.
"But I killed a child! Cisco, I struck him with lightning." To admit it broke Ella's heart and a sob escaped her.
"No, you didn't kill him. He is severely burn but he will be okay," Cisco reassured her quietly, and even though every inch of her ached with regret, relief fell in the mix too. Ella fell to her knees and wept, for this entire night.
"You're not expected to have this whole thing down pat, Ella. You only woke up, what, three hours ago? And then you're not even like a normal meta-human! Barry… created you. You are unique, unlike any of the metas we've encountered, and what you've done so far is you at natural talent. Sometimes you have to push your way to the extent other people start at, and sometimes your power comes out kicking and you must learn to control it. Which seems to be you. So you are going to make mistakes and you're going to learn from them," He grinned before adding, "How was that for a pep talk?"
But then he sighed and was quiet for a moment.
"But Ella, this cannot happen ever again. There are no excuses now. You need to learn how to control your powers or you need to go somewhere where you can't hurt anyone. There is no in between. Everyone at those labs, and not to mention Joe and Iris, want you to learn how to control this, and stay. We will never give up on you, but once you give up on yourself, you're a goner. Do you understand?" The playfulness that always edged Cisco's voice disappeared then, a stern tone replacing it, and Ella brought her head up, nodding tearfully.
She shakily stood up again, trying to wipe her face dry, but each tear she dried, there was another one to replace it. Cisco put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tight.
"Let's get back to the lab. Everyone is waiting for us back there," He paused, his eyes sweeping around the clearing. "This is being taken care of… as of right now, no one can even place you at the scene," Cisco added.
There was another pause, and with Ella's head in the crook of his neck, she could feel the muscles it took for the smile to light up the nerd's face.
"I don't suppose you want to try to test your lightning teleportation on the both of us, and get us back to STAR labs?"
"Why didn't Barry come and get me? I know he was there… I know he saw." It took most of the car ride back for Ella to work out those words. Out of all the people she's ever met, she had trusted Barry the most to keep his promise of never leaving her alone.
Cisco hesitated before saying, "He had to meet up with police and do his day job. There are bodies… he is there." He shrugged like it was no big deal. But that's how Ella knew it was a big deal.
"Or he realized he created a monster and has the mind to know he should stay away," Ella said quietly. She stared down at her laced fingers across her lap.
Silence took over for a moment before he replied, "Ella, you're not a monster. I've met monsters. They want to like, take over the world or want revenge on someone and they'll murder in cold blood whoever is in their way. There's even been a giant ape that could speak telepathically and mind control you. That was a hard day…" Cisco trailed off for a moment, wondering what became of Grood, before finally realizing he had a point, "So I know monsters. And that's how I know you aren't one. Barry was a bit freaked out, but he will get over it. And yeah, he was really called to his day job, though it was technically evening. He's forensic for the police."
Ella heaved a long sigh. "I know. I just… if he's thinking I'm a monster, how am I suppose to think I'm not?"
"Again, you're not a monster. But we've found monsters come in the disguise of people you think you can trust. I guess that's the real monster part about them…" Cisco often thought of the vision of Dr Wells sticking a vibrating hand in his chest and killing him. He often heard the words of his mentor, the encouragement and criticism, all the things that ultimately made him a better person. Then Wells last words before killing him. Cisco had known Wells for so long, had looked up to him, had…
"Cisco?" Ella asked, cutting off his internal meltdown. She gently touched his shoulder in comfort, causing his skin to tingle, but it was a deep, warm feeling, and it with poke of feeling, it spread down his arms. She pulled her hand away when he looked at her and the ease the tingling warmth brought fell away. "Are you okay?"
He was surprised that the emptiness and the hurting that Cisco hides under silliness and immaturity somehow managed to break through. He jerked his eyes away, from the face that had just been tearstained with her own internal battles, that now was cleared away of concern for herself and replaced with worry for him. He locked his gaze on the road ahead of him before swallowing. He was relieved his heart beat returned to a normal rate and it felt like someone popped a small bubble of pressure from his chest.
"Yeah. Yeah, psh, yeah, I'm good," Cisco stumbled over the words as he put his shields of defense back up. He glanced at Ella to see if she bought it, but his thoughts didn't match how he felt anymore, and slowly they began to stop racing.
Her eyes grabbed his and he felt unexpectedly vulnerable, like maybe Ella had x-ray vision to the soul.
Caitlin knew Barry did have to go back to the mill with the CCPD to analyze the scene with Joe and Eddie, but something seemed a bit off about him. She felt like Ella should have taken more of importance to him, instead of handing off the task to retrieve her from the woods before the police found her to Cisco, who left immediately find her.
While she waited for the team to return, Caitlin took another look at Ella's blood. She eventually enlisted Harry, with the knowledge of all things Speed Force, could throw in some ideas on why her blood was silver and how she could physically turn into a lightning bolt. By the time Cisco arrived with Ella and Barry decided to show back up, she felt like she had a more of an understanding, though very limited in actual knowledge, on what was going on inside of Ella.
"So, Ella, heard you had a rough night…" Caitlin joked lamely, trying to defuse the static she was feeling in the air. She gave a small smile in greeting when she came in, not wanting to add to the guilt you could see physically weighing on the poor girl. However her scalp began to tingle and when she reached her hand up to try to rub it away, she found her hair frizzing out. Great, as if she didn't have to put enough product in it to make it as smooth as it was, now they had an emotional lightning-powered meta-human in their mist.
Ella let out a deep breath, "You could say that." Though she gave a long look at Caitlin and then her face relaxed a little, the look of guilt falling away till it just haunted her eyes. She was trying to hold it together. But then her eyes went downcast, while her body stayed rigid.
"Do you want to tell us what happened out there?" Harry asked, eyes trained on her. His voice stayed low and a bit harsh, but held no tone of judgement.
Probably because he had no room to judge, Caitlin thought to herself, but she watched as Ella's lip trembled, and she began her story.
"It hadn't been a conscious thing, wanting to help with the kidnapping, but it was more so my heart felt for them, and then my body started to tingle. I knew where the saw mill was, I could see it in my head… and then I shot through the ceiling. I don't remember much of-of the… transportation to the mill. I just felt very heavy, but very light, all at once. Powerful," She could barely breathe out the word, recounting the warmth she felt when she lost control, "but then all at once my feet were hitting the ground and I fell to my knees. I looked up and saw the men and they all turned around, guns at the ready." Ella paused a moment as it all replayed in her mind. Then her face turned thoughtful and a hand went to her mouth at this revelation: "They knew I was coming. It was a trap. They said, 'She's here! He wants her alive!'"
"What happened next?" Barry asked, sharply. Ella winced at the tone and a hurt look grew on her face, but continued.
"I didn't want them to get me. I was… I was so scared," She tried to say, but ended up burrowing her face in her hands as the memories flooded her. She spoke through her fingers, "I began tingling, but it didn't hurt. It started to warm up my body and I started to relax and… gave in. I felt disconnected. I felt… nothing at all, but the slow burn of power that went through my body, and I craved it. Crave it…" Ella trailed off before finishing, "Lightning bolts just began to zap them. From the ceiling and my fingertips," She looked down at her fingers to see them sparking again and she swallowed, "The little boy came running towards me when all the men were down, and I was in self-defense mode. As soon as I realized it was one of the kids, as soon as he screamed… it woke me up. I was connected again and I broke the connection."
"How did you do that?" Caitlin spoke in the silence that followed her story.
But all Ella could do was shrug. "I don't know."
Another silence fell over them as they processed all that she told them. Caitlin glanced at Barry, whose faced was scrunched up in thought, but his cold manner hadn't left. How could he not see that Ella needed help? With help and training, especially Barry's help and training, they could get a handle on this.
And Caitlin could tell his attitude was affecting Ella, who needed to be as calm as possible right now. It was a relief that only her hands were sparking right now, but the air was sharp with static. Who knows what was going to set her off?
"I know this was a tough evening for you, Ella, but rest assured we will help you through this," Caitlin told her, causing Ella to relax slightly.
"I have some ideas on tech that can help you control it. How would you feel about gloves and silver, Ella?" Cisco put in with a smile, "I told you we will help you with this," he added.
"I'm a goner if I give up on myself," Ella recited his words, causing Cisco's smile to beam. "I'm not going to give up on myself. I know I can use this for good. I know because of you, Barry," She finally turned to him and made eye contact, which she had tried to avoid the entire time, "You're the strongest person I know and I couldn't do this without you. Please don't hate me. I promise to make you someone to be proud of. I promise, Barry."
Barry closed his eyes, his resolve threatening to break, but he said, "Prove it to me." He opened his eyes as Ella broke contact with him, hurt now becoming a prominent feature on her face.
"Why are you acting like this, Barry?" Caitlin finally asked, striding over to him. "She doesn't know how to control this, but she's trying and she will figure it out with our help. She literally just woke up a couple hours ago. Did you know all you know now when you first came out of a coma? No! You had to push yourself for your powers to grow but she has to fight to control hers. It's a responsibility and she's going to make mistakes, as you've made many mistakes. Do you need me to remind you of yours? Because I will gladly—"
"Caitlin." Harry cut her off, giving her a pointed look, and she took a breath.
"Sorry, but this just isn't like you, Barry," Caitlin finally finished her rant, pressing a hand to her forehead and wrapping an arm around her stomach.
"That seems to me to be a good thing. 'Like me'," he threw his fingers up in air quotes, "would trust her. 'Like me' would grow close with her. 'Like me' would fall in love with her, and 'like me' will be destroyed when she betrays us and hurts all I have left!" Barry finally yelled, before pacing around a moment as the group shocked at his outburst registered what he was saying.
He said in a lower voice but he spoke fast and his words jumbled together, "I'm tired of making wrong decisions. Everyone in my life right now has been put in danger because of me. People have died because of me. Ella would have died because of me and Ella has been in my life longer than all of you and Ella is apparently my future and somehow my future keeps haunting me now and… and it's not feeling like my life. It's not feeling like I'm in control. When the future that is yet to come is attacking me now and changing me now and I haven't even done anything! Yet… I just…." He then let out a groan, pulling at his hair. "I'm trapped now, in the present, for the future I know nothing about, but everyone else seems to know all about. My future is set. I don't have a choice."
Barry dropped his hands down at his sides, staring imploringly at Ella. His mouth opened but he didn't say anything, and with his hair sticking up from where his hands were, he truly looked like a mad man.
"Barry, your future is still your choice. Decree just saw your decisions in advance…" Ella began softly, slowly walking over to him. This was a night of speeches, apparently. "The future is always there, but most people have the-the freedom of seeing it as it plays out. But I don't think the future is set in stone. Whatever Decree saw, whatever he's told you… it's your choice on whether you want it to happen. If you don't want—" she cut herself off, if you don't want to be with me like I want to be with you. "If you don't want it, fight for what you do want. You can do anything, Barry. Anything. Even change the future. I believe in you." Now face to face, she placed a hand on his arm, her sparking fingertips momentarily forgotten.
Barry stilled at her touch and took a deep breath. His tensed body relaxed and the crazed look left his eyes.
"Well, Barry, you're probably feeling pretty dang bad about taking this all out on Ella now," Cisco deadpanned, though looking at the two of them he remembered something. "Question, how do you feel right now, Barry? Does it… burn where Ella's touching you?" At those words, Ella jerked her hand away from his arm with bewildered eyes. Barry stood there with a puzzled look on his face, looking down at his arm, where moments before Ella's hand had been.
"What? Why would you ask that? Have I burned you, Cisco? Oh my God, I'm so sor-" She began immediately, backing away from Barry and Cisco, who quickly ran over to comfort her. She brought her hands up in horror, as tiny little bolts ran across them.
"El, no no no, I didn't mean BURN burn, but burn. In a good way. Like, warm and comforting, but it throbs, but in a good way; it grows and gets stronger in how far it hits, like it's a burning pulse," Cisco tried to reiterate, "Eh, bad choice of words. Definitely good though."
"I did something good?" Ella questioned in shock, freezing in place. She looked over at Barry, whose face now lit up in a smile.
"You don't know how… how overwhelmed and stressed I felt before you touched me, but like Cisco said it burned but not BURN burn, but it felt good. It was low and soothing and radiated… thank you, Ella," Barry answered, rubbing his arm.
She flushed at the positive attention and muttered, "Anytime." Ella wished there was someone who could touch her and make her relax, but she was glad she finally did something for good tonight.
"Before we wind down and call it a day, I wanted to tell you what I found in Ella's blood," Caitlin put in, and everyone's attention turned to her.
"So it seems one aspect of Barry's speed force honed in on Ella and completely changed her on a molecular level, therefore the best explanation of Ella's ability to turn into lightning. The components in her blood have changed, displaying an abnormal amount of Speed Force just... in her. Her silver blood is a side effect of the dominance of it. We need to run more tests to see what kind of effect it can have. The energy from it is what's keeping her alive and allowing her internally to function and the things that would normally not be able to function under this circumstances, have adapted or changed. The human body is extraordinary."
Ella shook her head in disbelief, unable to wrap her mind around what was going on inside her. "I know I'm not super smart like you guys, and this might be all in a day's work for you, but this sounds absolutely insane."
"No, you're pretty unique, Ella, and that's utterly exciting," Cisco said, clapping his hands together. "So, I was figuring Bolt might be a good name for you. Maybe. Because you, you can turn into a lightning bolt… okay, we'll discuss this later." Disappointment crossed Cisco's face when Ella sent him a look for his prattling on.
"Bolt's kinda cool, Cisco, but I feel like I shouldn't drop dead exhausted when we're making decisions on my superhero name," Ella replied, trying to make up for the look of exasperation she gave him.
"Fiiine," Cisco whined but with a smile, and added, "Yeah but I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to go home. I've got some zombies calling my name and it's in everyone's best interest to not keep them waiting."
Everyone else murmured their agreement and Ella froze, having no idea where she was sleeping tonight.
"Do you want me to drop you off at your parents, Ella?" Caitlin asked, standing up and smoothing out her skirt.
But the other girl was already shaking her head. "How can I… when I'm like this?" She answered with a question of her own. They wouldn't recognize this murdering girl that will claim to be their daughter. "I can't let them see me like this. I have to be able to atleast… look normal. That's all they really want in the end," She said the last part sadly. She was always an object of disappointment to her family but she tried to keep it together for them, for she knew how hard it was for them when they meet up with old friends and they're talking about their child getting a bachelor degree in physics or about to graduate medical school or something… and they have to put a positive spin on Ella dropping out of college to own a bookstore.
Ella looked down, but she could see the others sharing a look. "My apartment's a bit small, but my couch is always empty," Cisco offered and Caitlin nodded for same predicament.
Barry shook his head at them. "Ella, you can come stay with me. Iris' room still open and Joe wouldn't mind if you stayed a couple days. I can help you adjust to your new powers and you wouldn't have to hide any of it from me or Joe."
Relief filled Ella as she replied, "Thanks, Barry."
A chorus of goodbyes and goodnights echoed around the lab and everyone started to clear out.
Ella looked at Barry, waiting for him to show the way to his house.
A grin grew on Barry's face. "I'm going to show you how I travel." And in a flash, she was in his arms and they were gone.
"Holy! Crap! Barry!" Her words punctuated from being out of breath, having the unexpectedness and sight of travelling at superspeed taken her breath away. They standing in the livingroom of Barry's house.
Joe peeled over the newspaper he was reading at the newcomers and stood up to greet Ella. One look at her and he knew she was the one responsible for today's drama, and considering Barry had brought her to his house, he knew he needed to the full story.
"Sorry, El," Barry said with the same cocky grin he had on his face when he picked up Ella at the labs and watched as confusion turned to shock as he ran.
"Sorry!? Sorry's not gonna cut it. I can't tell if that's the ceiling or the floor," Ella complained, leaning against the closest thing she could find. Thankfully for her it was a wall.
"Pretty sure there wouldn't be couches, or rugs, on the ceiling, you know," He replied, shrugging, and Ella wanted to slap him in the nicest way possible, but he seemed to know for he stood a little too far out of her reach.
"Come a bit closer so I can slap you," She said, reaching out a hand to him, but decided to slide down the wall to sit instead.
"You're going to be okay," Barry downgraded his grin to a smile, squatting in front of her.
"I know," Ella brought her eyes to his, meaning that for this moment and forever.
Joe cleared his throat and Barry stood up again, beginning to help Ella up from the floor as well.
"Hey Joe, I'm pretty sure you know Ella, and you know, vice versa," Barry said as he and Ella joined Joe on the couch.
"Hi, Detective West
"Please, it's Joe. I'm not in uniform. Good to see you up, Ella. What brings you to our home this fine night?"
Ella looked at Barry, slightly panicking that it might not be okay she stayed for a couple of days, but he didn't look concerned.
"Well, she woke up today and has spent some time adjusting to her new powers," Barry tried to sum it up cheerfully, though there really wasn't any good way to do so.
Joe just nodded thoughtfully. "So I'm assuming, from the times I saw you while you were in the coma, that you can do something with lightning. Like strike people down. And the fact her hands are sparking… I'm happy you're here and all, it's nothing against you, but are you okay to be here?"
Ella's face held shame as she tried to speak, but Barry cut her off, "Ella's fine to be here. I've… I've had the same thoughts and she will be fine."
But Ella just had to keep apologizing. She hoped that it might lessen the weight of guilt she felt but so far no luck. "I'm so sorry about the things that happened at the mill, Joe… I-"
"I really don't want to know more, as a cop," Joe cut her off, eyes flashing a warning. He continued, "So as long you can promise innocent people won't get hurt again, things should be good."
Ella bowed her head, not knowing what else to say.
"Still not explaining why she's here. Again, not that I might you're here…" Joe added for Ella's benefit, before waiting for an answer.
"I gave her Iris' room for a couple days. She doesn't want to see her parents yet," Barry explained.
"Do your parents even know you're awake, Ella?" Joe asked, and he watched as she shook her head.
"I don't want them to know till I can somewhat control this. I might hurt them…" Ella explained, stressfully playing with her earlobe.
"Well, of course, you're welcomed here, but telling your parents sooner than later is something you should do," Joe replied, before standing up. "Well, Bear, Ella, I'm going to bed." Joe gave Barry a long look, causing the son to raise his eyebrow, before adding, "Barry can help you set up Iris' room. There might be some of her old clothes in the closet."
"Thank you, Joe," Ella said before he left the room. She had a feeling she might be saying that a lot to him.
"Anytime."
Barry and Ella found Iris' old clothes, but 'old' was a definite description. Apparently Iris thought all the clothes she had in her recent (recent being the past 16 years) was worth taking with her. So she borrowed sweatpants and a shirt from Barry and called it a night.
They quickly went their separate ways, leaving Ella alone curled up in the bed. She found she didn't like being alone. Her fingers lit up the room but she was glad she didn't catch anything on fire. She wondered how something that so far has caused destruction, could actually soothe people? Ella was wishing again someone's touch could soothe her like apparently hers can… and then she thought of Barry. Flushing, though she was alone, she forced those thoughts out of her head.
It was evident Barry didn't want to future Decree spoke of… of them together. It was one of the things he felt like he had no control over. But, she thought, does anyone have control over it? She believed what she said earlier. Most people have the freedom seeing their future play out. Barry, or herself, didn't.
Ella was exhausted and every bit of her body told her to lay down and shut her eyes, but something kept her on high alert. She felt safe here… Barry was just one room over. But what was rising the hairs on the back of her neck?
A gust of wind chilled her to the bone and craned her neck to see behind her, for she saw nothing before her. She tried to brace herself for what she was going to see, but really nothing could.
In a full body black suit, Ella could only see the pits of his dark eyes. He stood there, not saying anything, and she was frozen in terror, unable to call out for Barry.
Finally the man said, "Ella." It sounded like he was in shock, but she couldn't fathom such a scary person ever being in shock.
"I-I-I-I" is all Ella could get out in response.
"Ella, my love. You're alive. Of course… Ella," He reached out for her, but she flinched away. "You know you never have to be scared of me." He took a step back because it was quite obvious she was.
"I-I-I don't kn-n-now you," She stuttered, slowly her mind began to unfreeze and she was happy for once that her lightning was rather uncontrollable, because that was all it took to direct a bolt towards him.
But he effortlessly blocked himself with a wave of his hand. She heard him take a breath, and a smile in his voice when he spoke, "That might be the case for now, but not for much longer. Enjoy your time with the Flash, it won't last long. And you will hate me for not taking you sooner, but all in due time, my love."
And then he was gone.
You guys are so incredible! Thank you for taking the time to review, favorite, and follow my story! After a stressful morning at work, it was the best thing ever to come home to. My heart still aches with anxiety from the day, but I know once I start writing, I'll get lost in the world of the Flash, and I can only do that because I feel so encouraged by you guys. So let me know what you think of this chapter! There was a lot I wanted to cover. I've got a few Earth 2 doppelgangers coming and I'm really excited to incorporate them in my story. While Zoom won't be the main villain, he will make a few appearances for how he's connected to Ella (I'm gonna take a stab at creating a life for Decree and Fate). A lot of plans! Stay tuned. – Anna :)
