Chapter Two: Coffee At Jitters
"So you're telling me that you and Caitlin were a thing?" Caitlin pursed her lips as she sipped at her coffee quietly, she could hear Frost snickering in the back of her mind, she rolled her eyes and turned too look at Julian who adjusted himself next to her while blowing onto his coffee mug.
"It.. it's a complicated story Ralph." Caitlin assured him, Ralph didn't look appealed by the fact that she wasn't going to tell him the story which caused the man to pout and sip at his coffee quietly.
Julian smiled a little bit at Caitlin, he knew from the moment he stepped foot into the cortex of Star Labs that things between him and Caitlin were going to be awkward, probably more awkward than anything he's ever done in his life, they did have good moments last year, they shared Christmas together, they went out for drinks a few times, he took her out too dinner once, he had planned on taking her too an opera showing before everything went down hill and he would never forget that.
"I'm sure they'll tell you on their own time Ralph." Cisco patted the curious man on his back, Caitlin gave him a thankful look as she quietly sipped her coffee.
Caitlin felt something uneasy in the pit of her stomach, she looked up from her mug, she saw Norvok standing in the entrance way of Jitters, she tried to ignore the fact that he was standing there by listening too Cisco talk, she let out a yelp as her mug broke in her hands which caused the three of them too stand on their feet.
"Caitlin? Caitlin are you alright?" Julian asked worried as he noticed her hands frosting over, something must have startled her, he looked down at the mess on the floor.
"I-I'm fine.. we need to leave.. now." Caitlin said as she grabbed her jacket along with her purse. "Leave? But we just got here.' Ralph whined as he looked down at his unfinished mug.
Caitlin looked up seeing that Norvok was gone, she blinked rapidly, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
"Caitlin.. are you sure you're alright?" Julian placed his hand on her arm, she looked into his eyes as she swallowed hard. She shook her head.
"Was it Amunet? Was she here? Is that why you freaked out?' Cisco asked as he looked around frantically for the black smith. He hated the fact that Caitlin was so afraid of her, knowing that the black smith was after her, wanting her dead for her betrayal. He had vowed that he wouldn't let anything happen to Caitlin, especially not by Amunet and her goonies.
"Norvok.." Caitlin said quietly. She could feel her hands shaking. "Who's Amunet?" Julian asked with a worried look on his face. Was it someone who was after Caitlin? What has happened the past year while he was gone? Why didn't Cisco say anything before?
"Amunet is a powerful black smith who CCPD has been tracking down for years but never found her, until.. recently she decided to show her face, Frost used to work for Amunet.. it..it was complicated." Cisco said, he looked at Caitlin who paled a little bit.
"When Frost, Caitlin left Amunet's group, Amunet vowed to kill her, she almost did a few times but with Barry, Ralph and I by her side we promised too not let anything happen to either Caitlin or Frost." Julian could feel anger boiling in the pit of his stomach.
"Then I am going to make the same promise." Julian said as he turned too Caitlin, this reminded him of when they were at Gorilla City last year, how he promised that he wouldn't let Caitlin die, he had failed her once, but this time he would do whatever it took too keep Caitlin and Frost safe.
Caitlin gave Julian a small smile. "Thank you.. you guys don't know how much this means too me.". Ralph moved and placed his hand on her other arm.
"You guys have been there for me since I joined the team, it's only fair that we do the same with you." Caitlin bit the corner of her lip as she looked back down at the mess.
"Don't worry about the mess." Caitlin looked up noticing the familiar girl that she had seen with Harry the last time that she had been here. She watched as the girl swept up and cleaned the mess quickly. She smiled at the group.
"How about a free coffee? For your troubles?" Caitlin shook her head. "I possibly couldn't." The girl chuckled and waved her hand. "Please, it'll be an honor." Julian nudged Caitlin gently which made her hesitate before she nodded.
"Alright.. thank you." Caitlin gave the girl a small smile as she watched her run off behind the counter.
"Maybe this is a sign that we shouldn't come too Jitters anymore." Cisco exclaimed which caused Ralph to chuckle.
"But Jitters has the best coffee." He said as the four of them walked up too the counter, The girl smiled and handed Caitlin her coffee.
"What's your name?" Caitlin asked as she thanked her, seeing as she didn't see a name tag anywhere on her apron.
"It's Dawn, and your're Caitlin, Cisco, Ralph.. and.." Dawn said as she glanced at Julian, she wasn't sure as too who the blonde was.
"Julian Albert." Julian smiled as he placed a tip in the jar. "Oh! You didn't have too do that." Dawn gasped which made Julian chuckle.
"It's quite alright, you've done so much for us already, it's only fair. Cheers mate." Julian waved at the girl as Cisco lead the rest of them out of the coffee shop.
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"You didn't have too walk me home Julian." Julian rolled his eyes and smiled at Caitlin. "I wanted too make sure you didn't get followed. I hope that's alright." Caitlin could feel her cheeks flush a bit.
"It is.. I'll see you tomorrow?" Julian nodded. "Definitely." Caitlin smiled and leaned in and kissed his cheek gently.
"I really did miss you Julian.. I'm glad you're back." She said softly. "I'll see you tomorrow, have a goodnight." She waved at him before entering her apartment. Julian waved back as he stood in front of the door after it closed.
"Goodnight." He murmured, he felt his heart pounding as he headed out of the apartment building and back too Star Labs where he was staying currently until he found another place too live.
-x-x-x-x-
