Chapter 2 Can I Tell You a Secret?
Barry stared at the girl before him. It seemed like time was going even slower than usual for the speedster, standing still in fact. Vivian's eyes were wide and stared back at his eyes with caution and understanding, but tinged with nervous panic. Finally, he found his voice, but it came out as a nervous whisper. "Can we discuss this somewhere less public?"
Vivian nodded. "Sure. My apartment isn't far from here." She stood and began to walk. Barry numbly got up and followed after her. He had had plenty of people find out his secret, but they were all family or people he needed to know who he was. He had a secret identity for a reason. This girl...he knew next to nothing about this girl and she knew about him and his alter ego? He could only imagine what Dr. Wells would say when he found out...
As they walked, Vivian called to a tan girl and hurried to her. Despite the light spring day, the girl wore a turtleneck. Barry couldn't hear because he still felt like he was in a daze, but he saw Vivvy tug the neck of the turtleneck down, but the girl jumped back. Vivvy was watching the girl with a disapproving gaze as the girl ran off. She walked back to Barry and grasped his wrist, speaking in a mumble. "Come on..."
It only took them a couple minutes to reach her apartment. The building seemed to be pretty nice and was near the water like Cisco had said. Vivian unlocked the door and tossed her keys and purse on a nearby chair. Barry followed her in and heard her call from the kitchen area. "Do you want anything to drink?" Her voice seemed startlingly calm considering what they were here to discuss.
"No thanks..." He closed the door and sat on the couch quietly observing the apartment. It wasn't terribly spacious, but it wasn't exactly a closet either. The front door opened into the living room where she had a few chairs and couch all a navy shade surrounding a coffee table. Nearby was the kitchen with a counter that joined the two. Right now the small door over it was closed as well as the kitchen's swinging door, so it seemed as if right now the kitchen was in a whole other world. Barry looked around the apartment curious. There wasn't much excess clutter and it seemed fairly neat. He saw a short hall that lead to what looked like a small bathroom and her bedroom. All in all it seemed like a cozy little place. It seemed like she lived alone too, based on the size.
The small door over the kitchen counter slid open and Vivian leaned on the island's top smiling. "So watcha think?" She spun and began to set about getting herself a glass of iced tea.
"Pretty cozy." Barry leaned his arms on his legs as he tried to calm his racing heart.
Vivvy came back into the living room and set the glass on a coaster as well as a glass of water. Barry gave her a questioning look and she shrugged. "In case you change your mind..." Something in her voice made him think there was more to it, but Barry didn't force the issue. It was just a glass of water.
"So, I wanted to talk about what you said obviously." He hated how his voice betrayed his frantic brain.
Vivian smiled as if she understood and squeezed his shoulder gently. "Look. I know it's a big deal for you for someone to know about...your side job." Despite it all, Barry couldn't help but give a soft chuckle at her description. "So, it's only fair I tell you a secret of mine, right?"
His brow furrowed. "What do you me...?" Barry was cut off by sudden knocking at the door.
Vivvy gave an apologetic smile. "Hold that thought..." She bounded to the door and opened it to reveal a young woman holding a toddler that looked around three or four. "Hi, Mindy. What brings you here?"
"I'm sorry to bother you, Vivian, but I forgot to buy something at the store for dinner. Can you watch Tyler for fifteen minutes?" The boy squirmed and reached for Vivian. With a smile, she scooped him out of his mother's arms, tickling his belly, making him giggle. Mindy smiled, but then she noticed Barry. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company. I don't want to interrupt..." She leaned over and whispered to Vivian, but Barry still heard her easily enough. "Is he your boyfriend? I know how important alone time is for a young couple..."
Vivian's eyes widened and she laughed to lighten the moment, but the pinkening of her cheeks betrayed her true reaction. "No no, Mindy. He's just a friend..."
Mindy looked at her startled. "Really? He seems you're type..." She glanced at Barry again before whispering more. "Plus, he's pretty cute!"
Both Barry and Vivian looked startled by this comment. Vivian cleared her throat. "Well, I don't mind watching Tyler. Barry?"
"It's no trouble to me, ma'am." Barry gave Mindy a kind smile.
"Oh, thank you so much! I won't be long." With a thankful smile, the woman left a bag with Vivian and hurried off. Vivian tossed the bag on a spare chair and set the boy down.
He had sandy colored hair, freckles, and blue eyes. His mother had dressed him in blue sweatpants and a striped long-sleeved shirt. Tyler hurried over to Barry and the man looked at the small boy. He stared, until Barry started to feel awkward.
Vivian shut the door and strolled by, ruffling his hair. "Don't worry. He's harmless." Tyler smiled and followed Vivian to where she sat down.
Vivian looked at Barry. "Well, I told you I'd tell you a secret of mine, right? How about I show you instead?"
"Aunt Vivvyyyy..."
"Yes, sweetie?" She paused and looked down at the tiny child.
"Are you gonna do the magic then? That's what you mean by secret, right?"
"Yes, sweetie. I am." She smiled, amused.
Tyler made excited giggles and clapped. "Do the magic! Do the magic!" His voice was excited and sweet as he gave the girl puppy dog eyes.
She stood and Tyler ran to Barry pulling himself on to the couch and bouncing beside him. He looked at the older male and spoke in an awed voice. "Watch! It's really cool!" The brunette nodded, confused as he ever had been.
Vivian stood on the other side of the table between the chairs, a wide area of space around her. "Go ahead, Tyler." There was a playful gleam in her eye.
The toddler grinned and grabbed the glass of water off the table and, to Barry's complete and utter shock, threw the contents at Vivian. "What are you...?!" He stopped mid-sentence as he stared at the water. It hung in the air as if frozen.
A slow smile spread across the girl's lips. She spun and the water mimicked her then fell into place as if a skirt of water tendrils on her. Her hand flung straight up in the air and the water flew up, creating firework-like creations. The droplets fluttered down gently, until her wrist snapped down, pointing her fingers at the boys. As if she was a conductor and the water was the music she was drawing out, the water swirling and spiraling around them. Tyler clapped excitedly and Barry stared wide eyed. "Wow..."
Vivian made a circle with her hands and the water spun in a sphere above the table. She pointed at the glass and it poured back into its original container. The liquid quivered for a moment, a slight ripple spread, then it was still, all evidence of the past few minutes gone.
Tyler laughed and clapped. With a smile, the girl bowed dramatically before returning to the couch.
The man stared at her. "That was incredible... How'd you do that?!"
Vivian looked down at Tyler instead and tickled his belly. "Ya know I have some animal crackers in the kitchen. If you can solve the puzzle you can have some."
"Oh, yay!" His eyes lit up and he scrambled off the couch, bolting into the kitchen.
"A puzzle?" The black-haired girl turned at Barry's voice.
"Yes. He's little so they're just mazes and stuff. Easy things, but it keeps him from stuffing his little face. The answer to your question you already know, in a way. The particle accelerator incident. It's what gave you your speed, right?"
Was there any point in still denying it? "Yeah, it was." Dr. Wells was going to be furious. Then something dawned on him. "That article..."
Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "Article?"
"Yeah. When we were trying to figure out who you are. There was an article about a boy who almost drowned and you were in the background...you saved him didn't you...?"
She nodded. "I was nearby and heard a scream. He had fallen overboard and I didn't even think. Just rocked the waves until he was thrown back on board. I couldn't just let him..." Vivian trailed off quietly and Barry squeezed her hand.
"I understand. That's how all this happened. I couldn't just leave you there, injured, although it was my fault you got injured in the first place. How...how are you..?" He didn't have to finish. They both knew what he meant. She slid up her shirt enough to show the scar. It wasn't too bad, but the scar was clearly visible and she traced a finger along it.
"It's not so bad. My powers help me heal fast. I have some scars from a car accident I was in a year ago anyway, but they're mainly on my back." Her expression fell, but then she met Barry's eyes. "So I'm a metahuman. I had been in a hotel near where the hospital my dad was in at the time. I had just gone for a swim in the pool to clear my head and I guess the water just...changed me when the accelerator exploded..." Her eyes stared at the glass of water. "It's easier if I use my hands, but I'm getting better all the time. Sometimes I don't even need to use my hands if I focus or get caught up in the moment."
"So, I have another question..."
Her lips curled into a playful smirk. "Rather inquisitive aren't we, Mr. Allen?"
He chuckled and nodded. "Guilty. You're the first metahuman that hasn't been a villain and has stayed around. Anyway, why couldn't you talk for a while?"
"Ahhh...that." Something about her expression changed as if she was thinking before she continued. "Well, I'm not really sure. It happened only once before. I think it's when I first touch a metahuman. You know that mist guy in the news months back? He had bumped into me at the mall before he killed those people in the elevator." Her face fell and she looked at the floor. "I didn't know he'd kill them...I only figured it out after I heard the story on the news." Vivvy turned her face to Barry again. "But it seems like each time I get my voice back quicker because I've met a few you've met."
Barry was getting pretty curious now. Her powers seemed more strange than he'd first though. "Do you have any other powers besides controlling water and this metahuman sensing thing?"
"Hmmm...not that I know of..." Then the kitchen door swung open and Tyler strolled in, an arm wrapped around a large cylinder tin while his other hand stuffed a giraffe shaped cracker in his mouth. Vivvy smiled and held out a hand. "Let's see how you did." The boy chewed and handed the paper to Vivian. She nodded before giving a thumbs up. "Good job! That was quick."
He grinned, crumbs all over his small face and he held the tin out to Barry. "Wanf oun?"
"How polite. Thank you." Barry took two and passed one to Vivvy who seemed surprised, but accepted.
The trio sat munching on crackers and Vivian got out a deck of cards. It would be rather difficult to discuss metahumans in front of the toddler so they decided to be babysitters instead. They sat around the coffee table and played some easy card games and Barry was amazed Tyler kept winning. The small boy grinned happily and it was a wonderful time, until there was a knock at the door. Vivian got up and opened it, revealing Mindy standing with a plastic grocery bag in hand. "I hope he wasn't too much trouble."
"Not at all. Tyler! Mommy is here." Tyler ran over to the women.
Vivvy leaned a hand on her hip in amusement as he explained his fun to his mom. "Aunt Vivvy let me have crackers and I won at go fish!"
"You let him have crackers? And after I just went out to buy supplies for dinner..." The young woman looked positively devastated.
Vivvy shook her head at the woman's worried expression. "Just a couple and they're healthy. Besides, he solved his puzzle. You behave for Mommy now, okay?"
The small boy nodded eagerly. "I will!"
Mindy seemed revived by Vivian's reassurance. She smiled, then winked at Vivian. "Have fun... It was nice meeting you!" She smiled at Barry.
"You too." Barry offered a wave from his seat on the carpet, but he felt his face warming at the wink she had given Vivian.
With a roll of her eyes, Vivian shut the door and turned to Barry. "Sorry about that. Ever since my girlfriend and I broke up she's been eager for me to get back out there. See, as I told your friend Iris, I'm bisexual so she basically tries to set me up with any human that I meet or metahuman in this case."
"Oh, I'm sorry..." The man wasn't ever sure what to say in these kinds of situations.
"It's alright. Just doesn't work out sometimes...but it's nice to have nice friends like you and the others, Caitlyn and Cisco. Not quite sure about Dr. Wells, but still."
He stood and smiled at her. "Of course. Iris and Linda are your friends too." He glanced at his phone. "I should probably get going...I've got the early shift tomorrow."
"No problem. If you want to visit I'm just a run away." They exchanged a smile before Barry headed off.
It was an incredible feeling to run fast and let everything go by in a blur, but sometimes it was what he was running towards that took the wind out of the Flash's sails.
"Barry!" Caitlyn chimed in his headpiece. "There's a disturbance at Bowman and Reynolds two blocks over!"
"On it!" Barry Allen turned, racing to the building. Outside was a crowd gasping and pointing. Around five stories up, were two figures. One stood on a large pile of ice and snow that enveloped the base of the building and continued up the side of the building, and was grasping the other figure by the front of their shirt. The figure dangled over the edge of the large snow pile. Barry raced up the ice mountain, his boots struggling on the snow and slush, before he stood facing them.
"Please, help!" The man was Maks Bowman, the speedster recognized him from the paper. The man co-owned one of the most successful law firms in the city. He had a disheveled suit, which matched his black hair, messy from the wind no doubt. His facial hair was thick and black, outlining his mouth. He seemed like the kind of guy that'd usually have his mouth shaped in a smirk, but right now it matched the fear in his eyes as his feet swung in open air.
"Put him down!" The figure holding him turned at Barry's voice. He recognized the figure as a female, but he could hardly see a face because there was thick white hair that parted in the middle and blocked both sides of her face, only her nose and most of her mouth showed. She wore what looked like a white and sky blue one-piece outfit, a jagged diagonal line across her body dividing the colors and a black leather jacket over it that was halfway zipped up. The back of the jacket sported a snowflake, the tips of which seemed to end in intimidating points. The figure tilted her head as if confused by his request. Barry was considering running to grab the figure, but he wasn't sure what she was capable of. If she had created all this snow on this warm spring day, she must be fairly powerful.
"This does not concern you." Her voice was indifferent and it sounded like crackling ice and muffled as if she as talking on the other side of a window. She moved a hand casually in Barry's direction and a large point of ice shot up, making Barry skid back on the ice.
"Uhh!" Barry hit the ground hard on his back and grunted from the impact.
"Barry! Be careful!" Caitlyn's worry-filled voice was suddenly in his ear. That ice is solid and if you land wrong you can fall or get seriously hurt!"
"Yeah...figured that out the hard way..." Barry scrambled to his feet.
The girl turned back to the man in her grasp. "Maks Bowman...you are a disgrace of a man. Once a good soul, you have fallen..." Something about the way she said it was almost like a sneer. "So you shall fall again...for good." Her hand released him and he shrieked as he fell.
Barry's yes widened and he raced to catch the man, but the snow gave him no traction and he was slower, but he'd get there in time. Just a little more...
"Enough!" A burst of snow hit him hard in the chest and he flew back slamming into the ice. "You will NOT interfere." The woman turned towards the falling figure and at the last moment a pile of snow appeared that the man landed in. It seemed like he'd have some bruising and would be pretty sore from the fall, but he'd live. She turned her gaze on the Flash. "Do not meddle with affairs you know nothing about Flash. Do not interfere with me." The snow kicked up, creating a whirlwind of snow around the woman and then it was gone along with the girl.
"So she has this guy dangling five stories up, threatens him, then saves him the last minute after she tries to kill him? Doesn't add up." Barry had gone back to S.T.A.R. Labs and was having Caitlyn take a look at his back. It had been throbbing ever since he hit the ice in his battle. Team Flash's female member had recounted his tale in a bewildered voice as she checked the bruises to his skin.
"Yeah, that's what I...Ow! Caitlyn?!"
"Sorry! Sorry! You had a piece of ice embedded in your skin and I had to get it out."
"A little warning would be nice..." Barry heard how snippy his voice sounded and glanced over his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated. I meet a metahuman that might actually be on our side and stick around, just when a metahuman villain appears."
"It's okay." Caitlyn gave him an understanding look and finished her check-up.
"Hey, guys? I found something weird." Everyone looked to where Cisco sat staring at the computer's screen with a puzzled expression.
Dr. Wells rolled over first. "What is it, Cisco?"
Caitlyn headed over and Barry tugged on his shirt the last, ironically, to join Cisco at his computer. "Well, I was watching the news piece on the whole incident. Apparently the snow made it so he doesn't have any serious injuries, but he does have a few bruised ribs and a broken arm. It's strange... She could have killed him and she was clearly serious enough to do it. We all saw her on that mountain of ice..." The young man paused and gave the man sitting in a wheelchair beside him a sly look. "Ice Queen...?"
Dr. Wells kept his eyes on the screen. "As you were saying, Cisco?"
He rolled his eyes and continued. "Well, I did some digging on this Maks guy. Nothing too interesting. Married young and divorced, with a son. Apparently his wife got full custody, but he was recently challenging it."
"What are you getting at Cisco?" Caitlyn looked at him confused as she tucked some hair behind an ear.
"It seems his son was in an accident recently. Officially he fell down the stairs, but there were some arguments Maks may have hurt him."
Barry's eyes widened. "Wait... She had said about Maks falling. Do you think she knew and it was an eye for an eye thing?"
Dr. Wells nodded. His eyes stared at the screen intently and Barry recognized the stare. It was the one the doctor got whenever he was putting all the pieces together rapidly. "So it appears that she was doing her own form of vigilante justice."
"Reminds me of how the Arrow does things." The others nodded at Caitlyn's comment. It was true. Starling City's own vigilante hero seemed to have a...fierce approach to solving problems. They had all learned this and seen it. He got results, but team Flash wasn't entirely in agreement about the ends justifying the means in his case. It seemed this Ice Queen agreed with his methods, however.
Cisco glanced up at Barry and grinned. "I miss those guys...bet you miss Felicity, huh?"
Barry rolled his eyes, but smiled as he shoved his friend's shoulder. "Cisco, you know she's dating that Ray guy. Besides, I'm dating Linda."
The boys turned as Dr. Wells cleared his throat. "If we may continue the discussion at hand, gentlemen?" The pair gave muttered apologies. "It would not be wise to let this Ice Queen..." Cisco crossed his arms and made a smug smile at the usage of his name. "...act on her own for much longer."
Barry nodded. "Yeah, I agree." Still...something seemed off about this...
"Got something that might be more of an immediate worry..." Caitlyn was rapidly scanning a screen nearby and they hurried over to her screen. On the display was a parking garage.
"Ummm..." Barry glanced at the woman in confusion. "Why are we...?"
"Here!" Caitlyn zoomed in and showed a man walking to a red sports car. Behind him, nearly hidden in the shadows stood a figure. The figure moved out from the dark and revealed the Ice Queen. She strode toward the man with her characteristic confidence, giving away her probable intentions.
Dr. Wells knew Barry well enough to know what he'd do. "Barry, think before..." But just like that he was gone.
"Sam Penny." The woman's voice startled the man, making him drop his keys.
He bent down and picked them up, then turned to scowl at the figure. "Stupid bitch. Jumping out of the freaking shadows I some stupid costume. Halloween was freaking months ago, stupid.. What do you want, anyway?!" Sam had slicked back black hair, a dress shirt with the first few buttons undone and dress pants. His pack of cigarettes had fallen out of his shirt pocket when he bent for his keys, so he cursed again as he retrieved them. As the man stood, he came face to face with the girl. She had nearly thirty feet away, but now she was close enough he could see the sliver of a rope around her neck. "The hell...?!" The girl brought up a hand and, as she swung it at his side, encased it in ice. It collided with his, sending him flying into his car. The vehicle bounced from the impact, crying out in its electronic alarm, and he fell to the ground with a groan.
"So..." Her voice was cold as she moved towards him. "You like to beat up girls, Mr. Penny? Well, what about when the girl can fight back?"
Sam scurried back, his eyes wide with fear. "That...that's not fair! You're one of those super-powered freaks!" His heart raced as he leaned against his car to stand. "You're going to kill me!" His voice cracked on the last word, making Ice Queen slowly smile.
She stalked towards him menacingly. "Why not? If you had strangled Amy Aster for even a few minutes more she would be dead, after all. What made you stop? The fact that she passed out or the fact that beating up an innocent girl is one thing, but killing one is another?" She stopped in front of him. "It would do the world justice to rid it of a man like you." Her hand rose up.
"Don't even think about it!" Barry came to a stop between Ice Queen and Sam. "You're not going to hurt him."
"This does not concern you, Flash, and I have no interest in fighting you. Leave. You do not know what this man is capable of nor what he has done."
Barry glared at her in frustration. "What you're doing is wrong! I will fight you if I have to. I don't like to hit girls, but if it comes to that..."
She laughed a cold laugh. "That is if you can even touch me!"
She raised a hand and shot ice forward. Barry grabbed Sam and ran out of the way. Sam moaned as he saw the back half of his car get frozen. "My carrr...do something!"
Barry gritted his teeth in frustration. This man wouldn't die, but he was rather irritating. He raced to the other end of the parking garage and put the man down. "Get away from here as fast as you can."
Sam nodded and gave Barry a fierce look. "Make that bitch pay for what she did to my car!" Then he spun on his heel and was racing away. Barry sighed in frustration before running back to Ice Queen.
Barry could feel her glaring at him from behind her hair. "You should not have done that. I will find him sooner or later." Her hands clenched into fists. "First, I will take care of you." She ran at him, to Barry's surprise, and he turned to run, but his feet were frozen to the ground. Literally! Her fist collided with his jaw and the ice cracked as he fell back. In an instant she was straddling his chest and the front of his costume was in her fist. She pulled him in close and whispered in a deadly calm voice. "This is your last chance, Flash. I have no desire to hurt you or stop you from what you do, but I will not be disturbed while I do my work. Last chance..." As the wind started to kick up again to signal her leaving, the breeze tugged at the rope around her neck. Barry's eyes widened as it was tugged free of her jacket, seeming to be suspended in the air for a moment before the snow swirled and she was gone.
The speedster lay propped up on his elbows, chest moving in stunned breathes. The rope had been a necklace and attached to it had been a pendant shaped like a water droplet. The only one he had ever seen like that was the one he had seen Vivvy wear. What was going on?
Chapter two is done. Took me a while because I was stuck on the ending. Writer's block is no one's friend, am I right? Hope you enjoy! Please review! Thank you!:)