Thanks for the continued supports everyone!
The song for this chapter is Rhodes + Birdy - Let It All Go

BARRY'S POV:

One day ago

Oliver extended his hand for me to shake, but I pulled him in for a hug. Four months of training. Of torture. Of Oliver breaking me down mentally, physically, and emotionally. I thought it would never. I thought I would end up a monster. I thought I'd end up like Oliver, though I'd never tell him that. Everytime I fell I got back up and it made me better at my job. This wasn't a hobby, that's how I'd been treating it. It was a 9 to 5. It was my life and now I knew what tools to use.

I was confident in what I learned, but I wasn't naive. I needed a team. That meant whether I liked it or not I'd have to involve other people. Meaning Cisco, Joe, and quite possibly Dr. Wells. Unfortunately, I still believed leaving Iris in the dark was best. She already wanted to run head first into crime scenes and danger just to get a five second glance at The Flash. I imagined telling her would be a burden lifted from my shoulders, but I'd rather wear that burden than bury her in the ground because she was worried about me and showed up at the wrong time and place.

I moved over to Felicity and gave her a big hug. She kept me sane through most of this. She was there when I had to whine about Iris and she did it with a smile. Her and Oliver were a match made in heaven and it was clear he thought something was going on with us in the start. I didn't much blame him, we grew close. Now that I was heading back to Central City I wouldn't see her face everyday. I'd still pop every so often as to not raise suspicion about The Flash returning to Central City at the same time as Barry Allen.

"I'll miss you, nerd." She grinned.

I cracked a smile. "I'll miss you more."

Oliver patted me on the shoulder. "We should get going."

I nodded.

IRIS' POV:

Eddie showing up to the house last night raised some brows, but thankfully my dad gave me some space. My dad had been training Eddie a few days a week. Being that Eddie was still in classes my dad got a new partner the other week. My dad would've waited, I think he liked working alone, but Captain Singh wanted him to have backup.

Needless to say, my dad was very suspicious of Eddie showing up. The story I told was that I called Eddie because my dad wasn't answering, which was true. Eddie had been around the house with my dad, but neither of us told him we already knew each other. Or that we were dating. Thankfully, Barry didn't my dad about the kiss. However, I did tell my dad about Tony and how The Flash saved me again. He told me that The Flash delivered Tony to the precinct. So I was excused from school for the day. It was only one day, the only day I missed throughout this whole Barry being missing event.

It was noon and I couldn't sit in this room any longer. My muscles had grown so accustomed to running that I needed to do it. I hated to admit it, but I was a runner. Damn. Well, there are worse things. I could be doing crack as a scapegoat.

I threw on my highlighter green sports bra and leggings. Where did I last put my nikes?! I couldn't run without my nikes! Oh, they were downstairs in the dryer. I grabbed my hoodie and soon I was out the door. My earbuds in place I started jammin to the Radioactive In The Dark mashup. It gave me so much life when I ran. Usually, when I ran it was calming, but I had so much under the surface right now that I was running angry. I turned up the volume as I pushed forward. The cold made me feel awake, there were so many times I felt like I was sleepwalking, but this woke me up.

Now I found myself back at The Park's MMA gym. Without a second thought I entered. The ripe smell of sweat and ass hit me in the face. Well.

I walked around for a bit, not knowing what to expect. This place was a lot bigger than I initially thought. There were rows of mats, a boxing ring, a weights section, and a track. My eyes caught a tough-looking girl sparring with a muscular guy. I froze when I pictured Tony coming at me last night. Everything that I hated about myself flashed in my mind.

"Iris?"

I turned to see Linda walking my way. I offered a smile. "Hey,"

She pulled me into a hug. "We haven't hung out in a while."

I gave her a look. "I mean, you seem to spend all your time with Cisco."

Her face reddened as she looked to the side. "We're just friends."

"You sure?" I teased as I playfully shoved her shoulder.

She rolled her eyes and gave a laugh. "I plead the fifth."

"Have you talked to Cisco today?"

She nodded. "Yeah, why?"

I shrugged. "Just wondering." I didn't know Linda as well as Cisco did so I didn't want to be the one to tell her that Barry back, but that was huge information. Still, I felt like Barry himself should be the one to tell her. "You should talk to him."

Her brow creased. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he's fine." I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "I just think you need to talk to him."

She looked around then at the front desk. "I have to finish my shift then I guess I'll swing by his house. We have to study anyway."

"That's what they're calling it these days." I joked.

She smirked. "Funny, West. You know if I didn't know any better I'd say you're getting a little life back into you. Almost like B..." She cut herself off.

Maybe I was hesitant to tell her Barry was back because I didn't really believe it myself. What if last was a dream? Then I'd be responsible for crushing her with that bombshell.

"Sorry," She offered a half smile. "You know I still believe he's okay. I can feel it. We were together for a year, but I've known him a long time."

I think I should've been jealous of Linda and Barry's relationship, whatever it was, but I couldn't bring myself to be. Not when we came together in his disappearance.

"So are you interested in becoming a member?" She asked.

I stared at her like a deer caught in headlights. "Oh, I don't think so. I'm not on their level."

Her eyes scanned my body. "I don't know about that. Besides I see you running all the time. You should give it a try. I think it'll be good for you. You get to pay to punch people, how awesome is that?"

"I didn't bring any money, I don't even know why I'm here."

She pulled me along to the two people that just finished sparring. "Spencer, this is Iris. She is interesting in MMA. Show her the ropes." She left us to go handle something at the front desk.

I stilled, not at all comfortable. I met their eyes and I about peed on myself. They were scary, like body builder scary. Not really, but they looked like professional athletes.

The girl extended her fist. "Spencer,"

I pounded her fist. "Iris." I said trying to conjure up my inner Octavia Blake.

They grinned at me.

"Toby," The guy said.

They stared at me.

"So you want to be apart of this?" Spencer asked.

My head nodded on its own. "No."

Her brow rose. "You nodded your head yes, but said no. Which is it?"

"I should go."

Toby stepped in front of me with his hands raised in caution. "You came here for a reason, right?"

I nodded.

"Then stay." He glanced at Spencer. "We're not personal trainers or anything, but we'd be happy to get you on your feet."

Unease sat in my stomach. I couldn't do this.

I shook my head. "I don't think I'm cut out for it. I have a lot on my plate already. Thanks anyway." I started for the door.

Last night replayed in my mind. You're a victim, my mind insisted. My eyes scanned the entire place, taking in each and every warrior. They all had to start somewhere didn't they? But still. Was I up for this? This was hard work, this was commitment. I looked back at Spencer. She was strong, intimidating. When I looked at her I wanted to call her ma'am even though she couldn't have been more than a few years older than me. I glanced at Linda at the desk talking to a potential member. Maybe she was right. Maybe this was what I needed.

With a turn of my feet, I went back to Spencer and Toby.

"Okay," I stately shyly. "I'm willing to let you teach me your ways."

Toby put his arm around me as he lead us forward. "You have much to learn young grasshopper."

I cracked a grin.

What did I just get myself into?

CISCO'S POV:

Four months ago

I was about to get all up in this pizza and movie when I heard a knock on the basement door. My heart picked up. Barry had been gone a week and we hadn't heard anything from him. No trace at all. Dr. Wells and I've been trying to crack the code, but there were no breadcrumbs to follow.

I rose from the couch and opened the door, not expecting to see Linda Park on the other end. I visibly sagged as our eyes met.. "What do you want?"

She tucked her shiny dark brown hair behind her ear. "Have you heard anything?" She keep us a few feet apart.

"Nope." I leaned against the doorframe as I crossed my arms.

Her eyes narrowed. "Well, if you do can you call me or something?"

I shrugged. "Probably not."

She made a face. "You know it wasn't easy for me to come here, Cisco."

My jaw hardened. "Who's fault is that?"

Her gaze broke mine. "It was a mistake, one that I regret everyday."

Sure.

"Too bad I don't believe you, Linda."

Her brown eyes met mine, shiny and sad. "I didn't mean for it to affect your friendship with Barry, I promise." She retucked the hair that fell into her face. "I just had a moment of weakness. You can understand that."

Yeah, I could understand weakness, temptation. I'd been at that line before myself. But what she did was unforgivable. At least in my eyes.

"Barry's my best friend, Linda. I don't know what kind of set up you two had going on, but that's never okay."

"I feel bad enough as it is, you don't have to rub it in."

I took in her flushed cheeks and red lips.

"You should get going."

She huffed. "Can you cut me a little slack? It's not like Barry was ever in love with me, not like he was with Iris."

She had a point, but if Barry ever found out I didn't think he'd forgive me for not telling him first.

"You should've thought of that before you went around kissing people."

She closed the distance between us. "I was not the only one participating in that kiss and you know it."

My forehead creased. "You think that makes it okay? He's my bestfriend and I kept it from him for your sake."

"Why did you?"

I shrugged. "Maybe because we actually used to be friends."

"We're still friends." She gave me a look.

My head shook. "No, we're not."

"For Barry's sake, we still are." She backed away until she was in the porchlight. The light bounced off her hair. She looked around herself, then back up at me. "I should go."

I nodded.

She gave me a tight smile before turning down the side of my house.

"Cisco?"

"What?" I demanded. I could see the hope die out in her eyes as she looked away. "Nevermind. I'll try again later."

My brow rose. Why would she want to come back here after I was still being a dick to her?

"Whatever."

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me so I could resume the rest of my night.

BARRY'S POV:

Everything with my dad and coming back to Starling City was a mess today. Too many questions, too many emotions. I didn't think my dad would be this torn up about it, but was all but broken when I found him.

We'd spent the day talking and trying to rejuvenate our relationship. We both agreed his job was put before our family .

I opened the door to my back porch to find Iris curled up in a ball and covered in blankets on the couch. She was knocked out cold, her long curly hair braided behind her back. That was one positive thing to come from my absence. She finally felt beautiful in her natural state. I quickly grabbed two more comforters and a few pillows from my room and crawled up behind her. She was an extremely heavy sleeper so I doubted she'd wake up and clock me, but with Iris you never know. But I'd take my chances.

When I got settled, I pulled her to me, wrapping the thick comforters around us. Maybe I should've just brought her inside and laid her on the couch, but this seemed better somehow. We could die from pneumonia together, that's kind of romantic. I doubt she was thinking about me and romance in the same sentence lately. I knew I broken her trust in me, in our friendship. My hands were tied. There were still things she couldn't know or be apart of and I know that it would drive a wedge between us. So I had to make it up to her in other areas.

She turned around and snuggled into my chest. My eyes widened but she never opened her eyes,. so I assumed she was still asleep. I gave a wry grin. She was mine in so many ways but yet not mine at all. I wanted to claim her, wanted to be able to walk down the street and have every guy know she was with me. I wanted her to look at me how she used to. Right now, that seemed a far cry away from being possible.

All I had right now was this moment and I wasn't letting her go. Literally. Her body heat was giving me life. Slowly, but surely, my eyes drifted shut as I dozed into comfortable silence.