Central City really should've been underwater with how hard it rained all day. The pounding of raindrops against the window had been a constant while Barry worked in his lab. It was comforting, but the sound almost put him to sleep twice. Five o' clock couldn't come around nearly fast enough.
Slow days like this left a lot of time for socializing, which Patty Spivot always took advantage of. She'd been dropping heavy hints and working up to ask him out to dinner. Barry tried his best to redirect their conversations whenever it looked like it was heading that way.
He didn't really have the type of relationship with his coworkers where he felt comfortable announcing 'Hey, look! I'm dating someone!', but he wasn't making a secret out of it either. Barry even had a picture of Hal on his desk right in front for everyone to see, and he was sure that he mentioned Hal a dozen times over the course of each day.
Patty wasn't getting it.
She was following Barry and their fellow coworker Tony out at the end of the night, and he could sense it coming. Tony was happily chattering on about his daughter, and Patty was just waiting for a break to jump in. This really was Barry's own fault for not coming out and plainly saying that he was seeing someone. Hal kept making fun of him for dragging his feet about it.
"-and she's so smart! Only eight years old and she's won her first spelling bee~" Tony gushed. "I think I have about nine pictures of her holding her trophy."
Barry pushed open the station's front lobby doors and stepped out into the plaza. It was still raining steadily but only in a light drizzle now. "I think you've shown me seven of them already."
Tony burst out laughing and smacked Barry on the back, "Don't worry; I'll bring the other two tomorrow. You both coming out with us tonight? That new pizza joint opened up yesterday, and a couple of the other techs want to check it out."
Patty looked relieved that she wouldn't have to initiate the invite, "I'll go."
Tony grinned big and looked to Barry for his answer.
"Nah, I'll pass. Hal's probably waiting for me to get back," Barry winced internally. That made it sound like Hal was just the babysitter.
"Jeez, does he live there now or something?" Tony made a little face at the rain still coming down, and he covered a cigarette to light up.
"Actually," Barry sensed a perfect opportunity to lay it all out right now – no more misunderstandings. "He is living with-"
Barry tailed off when something bright green caught his eye across the lot and distracted him. Leaning against the fountain with an easy smirk and a green umbrella casually propped over one shoulder was Hal. He pushed off from the stones once Barry noticed him and sauntered over with that mischievous grin. Oh no…
"Hey, babe," Hal walked right up to Barry and made a big show of looking him up and down appreciatively.
Tony and Patty both fell silent, and Barry felt his face heat up, "Hal! What are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd surprise you," Hal purred in his patented 'sexy' voice. He slipped an arm around Barry's waist and pressed an affectionate kiss just below his ear. "Wally's over at Roy's for a sleepover, and I figured we'd take advantage of the night off. We're going on a date."
Barry knew that this was Hal's unique way of punishing him for taking so long to tell Patty, but he couldn't be mad. It was impossible to be anything but dizzy when Hal's hot breath was tickling his neck like that. He flushed even deeper red and stammered, "Y-yeah…okay."
"Perfect," Hal nuzzled his nose into Barry's hair, still keeping up the bedroom eyes routine. Then, he put on a comically surprised expression like he'd just noticed Tony and Patty standing there staring at them in dumbfounded shock. Hal maneuvered the umbrella over Barry as well and rushed to shake their hands, "Oh, I'm so sorry! We're being rude! I'm Hal – Barry's boyfriend."
Patty looked thunderstruck, "…We've met before."
"Have we?!" Hal acted horrified, keeping up the weird, overly earnest voice. Barry couldn't tell if he was going for wholesome, 1950s housewife or extra southern. Either way, Barry could still see the mean glint in his chocolate eyes. He was clearly enjoying this. "I'm sorry; I'm afraid there's not much room in my head for anything other than my handsome Barry here."
"Oh my God," Barry groaned, covering his face in humiliation. Tony was trying very hard not to laugh, but he was failing miserably. Barry seized Hal by the elbow and forcibly dragged him down the steps and away from his coworkers. "We have to go. Tony, Patty, I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Have fun," Tony chuckled, waving at them with a huge grin. Patty was waving too, but it looked like someone just told her that her puppy just died. Ugh. Barry was going to have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow.
He turned back to Hal as they walked away, "I hate you."
Hal just tugged Barry in closer and held his laughter until they were far enough away to not be overheard, "That took what – two minutes? Patty problem solved."
"You're mad," Barry guessed, cocking his head a little and trying to read past Hal's pleased expression.
"You're welcome," Hal shook his head, twirling the umbrella idly as they made their way down the sidewalk. "And, I'm not mad."
Barry nearly tripped over his own feet when Hal suddenly wrapped both arms around him and swept him back in a dip. Hal kissed him slow and sweet as the rain fell around them. When he pulled away, he caught Barry's bottom lip between his teeth, and the speedster saw stars. Hal pecked him once more and winked happily, "I just get a little jealous sometimes."