"Hey Caitlin!" Cisco called walking into her lab, practically bouncing on his toes. "Wanna try these babies on?"
Turning to look at her friend Caitlin saw he had a pair of high polished silver looking bracelets in his hands. Dark blue stones were embedded in them, shining dimly in the fluorescent lights. The pieces of jewelry were sleek in design, modern and simple.
"What are they?"
"Tungsten carbide with benerolite cadmial stones, something of my own creation. They are an amalgam of metallic sapphire like crystalline structure to help focus your cryokinetic powers."
"Wow, Cisco." Caitlin fell in love with the beauty of the gift he had made for her. Quickly she stripped off the clunky black cuffs, glad to have their weight gone. To know that she will have a way to help control her abilities. The metal of her new bracelets felt cool against her skin, reassuring and calm.
"These are beautiful."
Cisco shrugged with an adorable blush, grin on his face. Quickly she hugged him before staring down at her jewelry, mesmerized.
"I figured if you were going to wear them constantly, they should be comfortable and look nice." Cisco patted her shoulder. "Besides, I love you but Killer Frost terrifies me."
Able to laugh Caitlin let go of her fear and hurt. Ready to move forward with her life. Ready to learn control.
"Trust me, she scares me too."
"That's why I made these. I made them so you wouldn't be afraid anymore." Her best friend smiled at her. "You are stronger than she is, always will be. She's nothing more than a ghost from another universe."
"Quite poetic Francisco." H.R. ambled into the room, smiling at the two as he offered a large steaming mug to Caitlin.
"Camomile tea with a touch of honey for sweetness. Seems like you needed it Snow."
Heart full she smiled at the two of them, wrapping her chilled hands around the mug, enjoying the warmth without stealing it. It seeped slowly into her digits and palms, slow and comforting. Blinking, she realized it was a test of the new tech, seeing the two men in the room watching her with intense eyes and bright smiles. She took a sip of the aromatic brew, luxuriating in the fact that she was able to enjoy the warmth without destroying it.
"Seems like the geniuses at S.T.A.R. Labs have another success in their hands."
"Yes!" Cisco jumped up and fist bumped H.R. "I will get to work on some other pieces that I have been thinking of."
He rushed over and hugged Caitlin again before heading back off to his lab. H.R. reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"No matter what, you will have more protection than you will know what to do with once Francisco is done."
Caitlin, blinking back tears of relief was only able to smile. Heart full and mind at ease for the first time in a long time.
It was later that night as Barry walked Caitlin home that he noticed her new jewelry. He had been studying her in the darkness, illuminated by the orange glow of the city lights. Since her powers had manifested, she hadn't been as susceptible to the cold, and now didn't need to bundle up as much in the winter months. Normally she would have worn a thick jacket and fluffy scarf, now she only wore a light cardigan and thinly decorative scarf. Her skin was still warm and pink, only turning cool when she called her powers to the surface. Eyes still a rich brown, only turning lightning blue when needed.
She was still his Caitlin, still the woman he had come to depend on more than she realized. Still the fierce woman who fought by his side and only ever saw the best in him. It did Barry's heart good to know that she was willing to enter a relationship with him, to see what the future held. It was new, it was exciting, and it was perfect in a way he thought he would never experience.
"New cuffs?" A thrill raced down his spine when Caitlin laughed lightly.
"A gift from Cisco." She smiled up at him, sliding her arm around his waist as they turned the last corner to her apartment building. Barry shuddered internally, the feel of having her close to him going right to his head. He smiled back, glad to see that she was becoming more and more like herself.
"What do they do?"
"According to him, they act as a conduit for my powers, storing them and dampening the darkness. They are like a purifier of sorts, nullifying the negativity. Any time my powers spike, they are channeled into the stones." She shrugged with a light laugh.
"I'm sure he can give you a more technical version, but all I needed to know was that they were to help me. He even mentioned more pieces he had been thinking of making."
"So no more fear?" Barry asked quietly as they stopped in front of her apartment building. He turned her in his arms and pulled her close. Bodies touching in a way that made him crave more, every single thing they could do in the darkness with nothing between them. He also wanted to wrap her up and protect her, tuck her into his chest and never let her go.
"There will always be some, but not enough to paralyze me like it has in the past." Caitlin shook her head. With a squeeze around his waist she pulled back, fishing her keys out of her purse. Barry watched her, scrutinizing to see if he could detect a crack in her demeanor, a tell that she was lying. There was none.
"Did you want to come up?" Her voice broke him out of his thoughts. She stood halfway in the entrance, hand on the door, leaving it open for him.
With a smile he followed her, closing the door to the building behind him. His eyes never left her as he followed her up the stairs, letting his gaze take everything in, lingering in ways he had never let himself indulge in before. He had always had her in the box marked 'friend' in his mind, even though there had been times in the past where he had wondered what it would be like between them. Barry would quickly squash those thoughts, thinking them inappropriate. Now though, he could look his fill. And more. He could now touch her and explore her in ways he had never dreamed. He had access to it all, her mind, her body and maybe even her heart.
"I left the slow cooker on all day today, so supper will be ready shortly." Caitlin was saying as they reached her third floor apartment. "It was a lasagna recipe I had seen on Pinterest that I wanted to try. All I need to do is put together a salad and warm up the bread."
"Sounds good." Barry's mouth was watering as his stomach grumbled, making her laugh softly. "I hope you made enough."
"I did; although I was planning on having the rest as leftovers tomorrow." She opened the door to her apartment. "It's fine though; I don't mind feeding you."
They were in a comfortable quiet as they moved about her small kitchen. Caitlin threw together a salad and placed the garlic bread into the oven to warm as Barry dished up servings of the lasagna for them, a huge portion for himself and a smaller one for her. The warmth of the moment seeped into Barry's pores, filling him with half formed hopes and dreams. She opened one of the cabinets and reached up for glasses, standing on her tiptoes to do so. With a quiet chuckle he stepped up behind her, arm slipping around her from behind as the other hand snagged two of the glasses off the shelf.
God Barry felt so good pressed up against her. Caitlin had to bite her lip to keep from moaning. His hand was large and hot against her stomach, chest hard as it pressed into her back. She felt his breath ruffle her hair as she watched him pull two of the glasses down, drinking in the sight of his long fingers handling the fragile drink holders gently. She gulped.
"Thanks Barry."
"Your welcome Cait." She felt him caress her belly with his thumb as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. They stayed in that position for several moments, soaking up the closeness. Caitlin felt like she was wrapped in a warm blanket, secure and loved. Her heart was falling for her friend faster and faster. Barry kissed her neck gently before letting her go, the two of them filling their glasses with soda before sitting down to eat.
"I told Iris earlier." Barry started as they ate, voice deep and calm. Caitlin knew there were years of emotion behind it though, his past twined with hers more closely than that of brother and sister.
"How did she take it?" She reached out and ran her fingers through his hair in a soothing manner, reveling at how thick and soft his locks were. He leaned into her touch with a sigh.
"At first she was angry, madder than I had seen her in a long time. But then she was sad before I think she realized the truth." He shrugged as he ate, his meta-human metabolism forcing him to feed.
"Truth?"
"That the way I had been treating her was changing. At first my world revolved around her, everything I did was for her, especially after Eddie passed away. I treated her like glass."
It still hurt Caitlin to hear this, even though she knew Barry wanted them to be more to each other than just colleagues or friends. This was part and parcel of the man in front of her though; he would always have Iris in his life in one capacity or another.
"Then when the Flash began to take over more and more of my time, she got pushed to the back burner. Even with her knowing my identity, she wasn't first priority. She should have been if I loved her the way I claimed I did. You and Cisco were more important. S.T.A.R. Labs was more important. Stopping metas was more important."
Barry looked up at her, pain in his beautiful eyes. No regret though, and she knew he would never let regret linger in his mind long. If he let himself dwell on the mistakes and what he could have done differently, he would drown under the weight of it all. Especially after Flashpoint.
"I told her I wasn't the man she thought she knew. The particle accelerator and being the Flash had changed me. I wasn't just Barry Allen anymore, and she needed to find someone who had room in their heart for her."
"I hope she does, for her sake." She reached out and squeezed his hand. "I hope that the two of you can still be friends. I know how much she means to you. I'd hate for you to be cut off completely."
"I do too." He smiled one of his signature smiles before changing the subject.
"The lasagna is great. Keep feeding me like this and even with my meta powers, I'll get all fat and won't be able to run."
"Ha!" Caitlin was glad that the air had been cleared of the elephant in the room. "I have a feeling even before the lightning you had an appetite and never gained an ounce."
Barry nodded with his mouth full, eagerly wolfing down the food. In between bites he replied,
"Joe can attest to that."
Heart full Caitlin and Barry finished supper before retiring to her couch, surfing Netflix together. Settling on Young Frankenstein, Caitlin curled up against Barry's side, loving how his arm came around her and held her close. Every now and then he would drop a kiss to the top of her head, fingers drawing circles on her shoulder. Between a full belly and the warmth of the man beside her, she was soon drifting off into sleep. She felt his chuckle as he turned her TV off. Then she was flying, Barry having scooped her up into his arms, putting her to bed.
Still more asleep than awake Caitlin felt Barry flash her into her pajamas, the same grey and white polka dotted ones from years ago. Guiding her towards the bed he lifted the blankets as she crawled into bed. Fighting to stay awake long enough to see him off, she blinked owlishly up at him. In return he smiled softly, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Peace settled over her, pulling her deeper into slumber.
"Night Barry."
"Goodnight Cait." His voice was smooth as he turned out her light. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She fell asleep with a smile on her lips.
