Barry zoomed through the case files, his hands a blur, until he found the correct file on his desk. He slotted a piece of paper into the file which he had just completed, ahead of time for once. Normally he would head to Jitters for a coffee before work but things were awkward between him and Iris ever since his confession. He didn't want to push things especially since her and Eddie were getting on so well and advancing further in their relationship. He didn't want to push Iris into difficult situations, he loved her enough to want to make her happy even if he couldn't be with her. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth as he thought about the classic love triangle. He used to think they only happened on TV but now he knew better.

"Well I didn't believe it was possible," Barry turned to see Joe standing in the door way beaming at him. "When Phil told me you were in early, I said 'Barry? Barry Allen?' but here you are!" He gestured towards his foster son who stood before him.

Barry laughed. "It's not that hard to believe is it?" Joe raised his eyebrows and Barry laughed again, Joe always made him laugh without the need for words. "Ok I'll give you that one."

"So what is it?" He checked there was no one else in the room before saying in a quieter voice. "I heard the Flash was out running last night, they got you on night shifts?" Joe used a cheery tone as he always did but behind it he was worried about Barry, being serious was not going to get him anywhere with Barry. Joe learned that a long time ago.

"Yeh, new meta," He paused for a moment handing Joe the file on a robbery he had just finished, a smile reaching all corners of his face, "how's Eddie?"

Joe rolled his eyes. Ever since Joe told Eddie that metahumans existed his times with Joe have been either a silence that seemed everlasting as Eddie considered events in his mind or a bombardment of questions, most off which Joe couldn't answer and some, regarding the Flash, that he refused to answer. "Don't you laugh, I'm putting him with you today!" Joe smiled.

"What?!" Barry tried to be serious but he couldn't keep a smile from his face. Joe's smiles were always infectious. "I bet your glad he isn't round the house as much." The change in subject caused Barry's smile to fade as he wistfully stared at his mug on the table. Iris had just moved in with Eddie, hence moving out of Joe's place. Not that he wasn't happy for her but it wasn't Barry's ideal situation.

"Yeh its quiet." There was a moment of silence before Joe quickly changed the subject. "So a new meta you say, dangerous?" He walked over to the desk and perched on the corner of Barry's desk.

"Not as much as others..." There was a pause again until it was Barry's turn to change the subject. "Why am I with Eddie today?" Barry grinned.

There was a hesitation before Joe spoke slowly, as if stalling before getting the point. "I might have told him that you'd have theories about the metahumans..."

"What? Joe! Why?"

"Honestly he was getting on my nerves." Barry couldn't help but laugh at this and Joe chuckled lightly. "I thought I'd let you describe all the sciencey stuff."

"Sciencey stuff. That's going to be interesting." He tried to stay angry at Joe but he never could for long. "You owe me." He said lightly and began typing up a report on the laptop.

"When do I not." Joe said sincerely and patted him on the back.

Later on in the day Eddie walked into his office. He was dressed smartly, he and Joe always were for work, and his spirits seemed high. Honestly Barry was glad he came because he had been twiddling his thumbs for the last hour, having finished his report and files on the case from earlier on in the week, he had nothing to do, something he wasn't used to. "There's a case of property damage on the outskirts of town, the whole place was trashed we should get down there."

"Finally!" He sighed loudly and grabbed his coat. Then he looked at Eddie and realised, "I mean that's..." He corrected but could think of a way to finish so just walked passed Eddie standing in the door way and headed out the station. Eddie followed close behind.

When they were in the car Barry just waited for him to bring it up. They sat in an awkward silence for a while until Eddie braved it. He looked around checking no one else could hear, despite the fact they were in a locked car, and spoke quietly. "So Iris tells me your into supernatural stuff."

"Yeh I guess, more like the impossible." Barry wasn't deliberately making it awkward but it was hard talking to someone who was so close Iris.

There was another moment of silence before he restarted the conversation. "You've heard of the Flash and these other 'impossible' people, right? Do you think that they are... Possible? I mean, your the most sciency guy I know, do you, can you explain them?"

Barry laughed internally, 'you can tell he's been talking to Joe,' he thought, 'sciency'. Barry sighed, unsure how truthful he should be, yes he could explain them but how could he completely explain everything and not draw suspicion to himself. After all he was talking to a detective. He also didn't fully trust Eddie but Joe had sent him this way for answers, maybe he should give him some. "I think that genes could mutate, maybe these... People could just have mutated genes." He let the information sink in and then quickly spoke before he could ask any more questions. "Any reason you ask? Trying to catch the Flash?" He smirked, but it wasn't a snide smirk, it was reasonably friendly.

"No I don't think I could keep up." They both smiled, acknowledging the joke. "Besides he's a hero, he saved my life... You know after nearly killing me." Eddie laughed half heartedly.

There was suddenly a knot in Barry's stomach, he did feel bad about what happened that night and he would blame it on what the metahuman did to him but the truth was they were all his own actions that, somewhere deep down he wanted to do but never admitted to himself. He didn't know how to reply.

Another moment of silence passed before Eddie put the radio on.

...

AN: I know not much happens in this chapter but it will get more interesting, I like writing in smaller chapters so...

Please review and constructive criticism is welcome. :)