A guest asked if I had plans to give Team Arrow kittens. I don't watch Arrow so there won't be a lot of detail aside from what crosses over into Flash, but Team Arrow will end up with at least one Metakitty, and I'm sure there will be all kinds of off screen chaos there. That's been the plan since week two.

like I said before, when the chapters coincide with episodes, I won't be doing every scene. just the ones the fit best with the story. the rest of the episode, unless otherwise specified by the text, happens, just off screen. Also, the timeline for events in episodes 15 and 16 is majorly screwed up even before time travel. like, is it day? is it night? how much time passes? was that last night? was that early morning? why is dante's dinner at night if the party is durning the day the next day? IT'S A MYSTERY NO ONE KNOWS. I've seen each episode over 15 times for research and I STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TIME OF DAY ANYTHING IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IT IS SUCH A MESS.

Chapter four

It wasn't as though Cisco had ever had the hardest time waking up. Falling asleep took forever, and he tended to wake up far too often for comfort, but that had been his life since he was a kid, and had to make sure Dante wasn't preparing some kind of prank. Still, actually getting up had become a lot easier with Fuzzwhump's help. After the first day, she had adopted him, and it wasn't like he could have just left her at Star Labs, not with her looking at him like that. So he'd grabbed one of the litterboxes and a cat bed and some of the toys, brought her to his crappy little apartment, and spent the next half hour attempting to kittenproof while she watched from his desk, bed, or kitchen sink.

In the end it hardly mattered. She clung to him like a soft, furry burr, curling up on his pillow just above his shoulder and purring into his neck. Sleep came much quicker that night.

Such became the routine. Fuzzwhump woke him in the morning, pawing at his cheek or nose, pressing her tiny face under his chin or hand, and shrilling, and accompanied him to work, where she sat on his shoulder or next to his tools, or curled up to nap in his hoodie pocket, when she wasn't playing with her brothers and sisters. Unlike Scrap, she actually grew, a little, but not very much, and could still easily fit in Cisco's cupped hands. She followed him everywhere, a small greyish shadow. Everyone got used to it fast- they had to, because like Faulkner and Nyoom, she was always underfoot.

"At least Scrap stays in Caitlin's sleeve, Fuzz." Cisco chided the kitten, scooping her up so she wouldn't get stepped on. She purred, and climbed onto his shoulder, digging her tiny claws into his shirt and hunkering down. Cisco tickled her chin and went back to work.

"I think I found a home for another of the kittens," Barry said over a chocolate covered calorie bar and three danishes. "Whitsmen, Merry Whitsmen, one of the beat cops. Joe's worked with her, and she was one of the ones that got involved with the-the thing with Snart and Rory, so she has reason to like and trust Star Labs, and the Flash. Not that she knows the two are connected, or anything, but, I mean, anyway. I mean, that shield thing you made, Cisco, it saved her life."

"It would be nice to find more homes for the more adoptable kittens," Doctor Wells said with a tight smile. "Not that they aren't, ah, welcome, but…"

"There are a lot of them," Caitlin agreed.

"Tell me about it." Cisco eyed Faulkner, who was staring at a box as if reading the label, and Cassie, who was staring at a closet door, looking alert. A second later, Lucy popped into existence there.

"So we'll just...get all the cats that aren't super obviously magical and let her pick?" Caitlin asked. "Maybe she'll take two."

"About that," Barry hedged. "I don't think Captain Singh knows, or Iris, but Sava and Eddie both...they know something's up. Havoc? Got run over. By a lawn mower. I think Sava would have killed the kid, except that Havoc was fine. Not a scratch."

"...how?" Cisco asked.

"Metakitty." Barry shrugged. "I dunno how. Maybe he turned to metal, or something, because she sent pictures of the mower and it was toast, just scrap."

At the sound of her name, Scrap peaked out of Caitlin's sleeve and chirped a greeting.

"And Goldie and Bear are some kind of lie detectors." Barry finished. "I'm going to talk to Joe, but I don't know how easy it's going to be to keep things from Eddie, now."

Doctor Well's face darkened slightly, but he shook his head. "I'm sure we don't need to worry about Detective Thawne. But I do feel the need to caution restraint. We should keep your secret as close as we can. I worry that perhaps too many people know already. After the scare with General Eiling…We have enemies, and the more people learn your secret, the more danger there is for both those who know and us."

Barry winced. "Right. Yeah. No, I know. I'm being really careful. Nyoom usually warns me if Goldie or Bear is with Eddie, so that's something."

Everyone nodded, the moment of solemnity lasting until Georgia and Frieda charged through the cortex, chasing one of Cisco's robotic mouse toys, and crashed into Koshek, who growled and stalked off to find another napping spot.

"Koshek's getting better about not floating around as much," Caitlin offered. "He's put on a lot of weight, too, that might be part of it."

Barry shrugged. " Should I see if Whitsmen's interested?"

"It would be safer than giving her Spike. I don't think anyone other than us can handle Spike." Cisco said, nodding at one of the chairs in the corner that currently sported a series of punctures and a sleeping cat. "Except maybe our Starling City friends."

"I'll talk to her about Koshek, then. Or maybe Greebo or Murgatroyd. Felix?" Barry mused. Those were some of the only cats truly left. Apricot had devoted herself to Wells, though she did spend some time down in the Pipeline hanging out, and there was little chance of giving out Santiago or Schrodinger. Most of the remain cats had fairly showy powers, though no one was still sure of Rita's or Fuzzwhump's, or Cassie's.

"Fine, fine." Doctor Wells waved a hand, which was instantly captured by Apricot. He scritched her ears. "And you' had best go unless you want to be late."

Barry glanced at the clock, called for Nyoom, who actually came, and took off.

"I've gotta go. I'm having lunch with Clarissa." Caitlin said as Cisco started gathering the papers Barry had left scattered in his wake.

"Do you think she'd like a guard kitten?" Cisco asked, nodding at Moose, who preened.

"I'll ask."

"Mr. Allen?" Barry cringed. He was not late, he'd made sure of that, he was even a minute and a half early. But Sava was still standing in the cast off lab, looking stern.

"Um, Hi? Director Sava?"

"I need a list of all the people you've given kittens to."

"Oh-uh...why?"

"I think you know why, Mr. Allen. Havoc, in the last twelve hours, has tried to give me a heart attack by getting hit by a bike, leaping off the top of a telephone pole and missing the roof, and climbing into the garbage disposal. That's not normal, and I need to know if the other kittens you've placed are doing similar things."

"Probably not, really, I…"

"Allen. I want the list. If Miss West can keep track of the human...oddities, then someone should do so for the cats, and I am far too busy. What happens if whatever this is spreads. Magical dogs? Hamsters? Mosquitoes? I know Detective Thawne has one, and the captain. List of names and phone numbers, by the time you clock out. I at least know about this Metahuman stuff, a little more than civilians out on the street. I don't want some poor woman panicking because her cat suddenly caught fire or something without warning."

It was the longest speech Barry had ever heard from his supervisor, aside from the time she'd lectured the entire CSI unit for a half hour after some important evidence had gone missing, but that had been down in the main lab, so Barry had been spared the worst of the speech.

"I'll get that, then," he promised.

"Good. There's some cases for you to look at on your desk. Try to have them done before you take your lunch." She sneezed twice, noticed Nyoom, and rolled her eyes. "I'd say don't let Singh catch you, but he's got his cat in his office half the time. Since when did this place become a petting zoo? I've got to go take more allergy meds. Honestly." She stalked off, and Barry felt himself deflate in sheer relief.

On his way to lunch, Barry stopped by Officer Merry Whitsemen's desk and showed her a few of the pictures, and she nodded.

"West said you had cats. And Thawne's Goldie might be the best thing that's happened to his social skills with witnesses since that girlfriend of his. Keeps everyone real calm, gets good answers. Makes my life easier. Let's see…. I got the day off on...Friday, if that works. I'll come and see them then?"

"Yeah, sure, we'll plan on that. Unless you'd rather I bring them to you?"

"That would be great actually. West has my address, I'll see you friday. Unless I see you at a crime scene before then, obviously."

"Right. Oh, I-I gotta go, my Lunch break-" He moved toward the door, and she waved.

"Go on, eat."

Cisco sat, leaning back in his chair with a bowl of popcorn balanced on the arm and Fuzzwhump half asleep on his chest, her heartbeat quick and light. Doctor Wells had locked his wheelchair in place, within easy reach of the popcorn, Apricot and Faulkner both draped across his feet. The silent movie played on the projector, occasionally batted at by Lucy or Rita.

"What movie did you say this was again? It's quite funny." Doctor Wells asked, reaching for more popcorn.

"I still can't believe you've never seen any Buster Keaton. Dude is a master at the double take, comedic timing, I mean don't get me wrong, Chaplin's great, but-wait, you've seen Charlie Chaplin, right?"

"Must have been before my time," Well said with a shake of his head, like it was a very good joke and he knew it.

"So's all that opera you listen to. I'll make you a list. I should have done that ages ago." Cisco promised.

"Mm, please, do. And while I do appreciate this, I thought you had a family gathering to attend?"

"Nah. A dinner, but the real party's tomorrow afternoon, and I mean, I was gonna ask Caitlin if she wanted to come, but then I figured, why go if I could just-not."

"Things aren't any better with your family, then?"

"Hey, we're missing the movie." Cisco said, absently stroking Fuzzwhump's purred, snuggling deeper. "And things have been pretty great since I stopped talking to them so much. Really, it's not important."

"If you insist." Wells looked back at the screen, in time to see Cassie launch herself at it from a desk chair. Luckily, it didn't tear, only rippled. A heartbeat later, an alarm sounded, a break-in at the morgue. Cisco held Fuzzwhump steady as he got to the computers, directing Barry.

(I'm BORED) Nyoom mewed, lashing her tail. Her human, the only human fast enough to keep up with her, had left her at STAR Labs and while it was nice to be with her siblings, she was worried. He had seemed so upset, and had half yelled at the Big man that lived with them, something about danger. Nyoom thought that was a little silly, the Big man was strong, and her human was fast. What danger could there be? Still she'd have to get Peanut Butter to get her out of the labs so she could go sit on the Big man's lap, to protect him. He said he didn't like cats, but he always gave her bacon when no one was looking. She liked him very much.

(We know. Faulkner's on it.) Georgia said lazily. (Go play with Cassie. Or run around in the circle tube downstairs.)

(Don't wanna. Wanna go outside.)

(Tough kibble.) Georgia's fur rippled in a cat shrug and stretch.

(Think I found something, before they chased me away from the computers, something about needing to track weather) Faulkner chirped, slinking into the kitten room and looking around. The others gathered close. Of all of them, Faulkner best understood Peoplespeak. The Twins were well enough at it, and then there were Goldie and Bear who had the knack for it, but the rest of them only picked up a few words here or there, the tones of voice and body language.

(Go on) Frieda said from her perch on the cat tree, where she was licking the ears of a struggling Rita.

(A name, I think. Mar-done. Had brother? He makes storms. And is upset at the Big man.) Faulkner said, sitting up importantly. (Nyooman is looking for him. So is Big man and Puppy, I think.) The cats purred. Puppy was tall and nice and hadn't visited since he came and took Goldie and Bear home, but his voice had been soft and they all liked him. He reminded Frieda of a big yellow puppy from one of the movies Fuzz's human had watched, and the name had stuck.

(People make storms?) Cassie wanted to know, washing a velvety black paw. (WHY?)

(People are silly. They like the wet, I guess. Not much fur to get wet.) Schmendrick said knowingly, blinking. He curled up in a tighter circle on his back, and relaxed.

(It is raining.) Schrodinger reported, walking through a wall. (I was waiting to see if Fuzz and Sco would come back, but they haven't yet. They will get wet.)

(Sco?) Koshek asked, ruffling his fur in distaste at the thought of rain.

(Her person, that's his name, I think. That's what Fuzz said.) Schrodinger responded, flopping into a box lined with sweatshirts to dry off.

(That's a silly name) Moose remarked.

(People are silly.) Schmendrick repeated. (You know that.)

Raoul yowled from inside the captain's office. His person was gone, and he was not happy. There had been a storm inside, storms were not supposed to be inside, not like that, not real ones. And then the Nyooman had taken Davie away and no one had come back and he was getting worried. Didn't people know that you were supposed to come back? It was too early for Davie to go home, and Robbie wasn't there and all of this was wrong. Everyone looked sad, or scared, or both. The Big man and Puppy had gone somewhere, and no one had come back into the office.

(WHERE IS MY HUMAN?) Raoul screeched, but no one seemed to hear him. There was a half eaten sandwich on the table, maybe if he ate it, Davy would come back and yell at him and then sigh and give him part, like he always did. Raoul leaped up on the desk.

Nothing happened. Raoul blinked at the door, little spots of light dancing. Someone opened the door with a shout in words he didn't understand, and a second later, Goldie streaked into the room, nuzzling her near-enough brother and licking his ear.

(Is ok?) She asked.

(Yes)

(Liar. Is not ok.) Goldie cuffed Raoul's head, claws sheathed.

(Davie is gone. Worried.) Raoul finally said.

(Is hurt. Nyooman took him to place where they will try help.)

(Miss my humans.) Raoul eyed the open door. Someone was standing there, in the uniform so many humans here wore.

"Here kitty kitty. It's ok."

Raoul hissed. (I wait here for Human. Do not go anywhere without Davie or Robbie.)

The woman left. Goldie stayed with him. Outside, the rain slowed to a stop.

It was strange, Fuzzwhump thought, being at Star Labs with no one else but Sco. The other kittens were there, mostly, but they were not down here. Not in this room, which had smooth floors perfect for rolling on and so many new things to look at. There was a big metal circle, and she'd tried to climb on top of it but Sco had shaken his head at her and made some noises that sounded like worry and "no" and she'd decided to leave it alone.

While he was busy checking things and plugging things into other things, screens and lightboxes that hummed, Fuzzwhump batted at his shoelaces and raced across the room, hiding under a desk, crouching, and sprinting out to snag a scrap of paper or inspect the big machine.

Sco frowned, and his heartbeat changed, and he made a noise like confusion, then flipped a switch, and everything lit up bright.

Fuzzwhump squeaked, because there was a person in the light, only it wasn't right. It didn't look at her, and the voice was funny and every fiber of her body shrieked that something was wrong.

(Should go. Should go now) she informed Sco, but he didn't listen. she raced to his leg, pawed it, then to the door. (Should go NOW) Her mew echoed, loud but not louder than the echoing Voice that scared Sco so bad.

She was racing back to him when the doors opened, and she stopped in her tracks. The Wheel man, the Sitting man who didn't move from the chair, was standing there. Walking. He shouldn't be walking, should he? Clapping. People clapped when they were happy, like purring, but his voice didn't sound happy, and Sco's breathing was fast and loud, she could hear it even from this far away.

The small grey tabby was larger than she had been a month ago when she'd first come here, but she was still small, her claws good for clinging and not much else. But now the man in black was out of the wheelchair, and he was walking towards them both and her human was scared and this was wrong. She launched herself as she'd seen Frieda do, or Cassie, or Havoc.

The man caught her around the middle and held her too tightly. She shrilled and writhed but he did not let go.

"Fuzz!" Sco said her name and some other things, and she fought against the hand, trying to get to her person.

They were both talking again, the Wheel man walking in a slow circle and Sco watching, fear radiating off of him. The voices were not harsh or loud or angry, and Fuzzwhump couldn't understand most of it, but some words stuck in her kitten mind. Killed. Why? Helping. Help you. Smart. Not. No one.

His other hand was moving like a purr through the air so fast, like Nyoom running, and Fuzzwhump struggled again, hissing and growling, (Leave him alone!)

She was close enough that she could hear Sco's heart, as fast as her own, see tears in his eyes, smell the sad and the scared on him. She sank her teeth into the hand that held her and hung on.

The Wheelman who was not the Wheelman let go without looking, snapping his wrist and she landed, claws ready to slow her fall, on her person's shirt. She glanced up, purring to try and say it would be alright she was there now, she saw red lightning, sparking, a hand inside Sco. (Stop it! You're hurting him!) she yowled, but the man didn't seem to notice.

Her person fell. His heart had stopped purring. She dropped beside him.

The man was walking away, and Fuzzwhump, breathless and stunned, pressed her tiny wet nose to Sco's cheek, to his ear. She meweled, (Get up! Get up! Wake up! Hurry) But he didn't move. She squirmed under his arm, to stand on his chest and knead her claws in the soft shirt that smelled like safety and mewed again. (Sco, get up, please get up, please.)

Nothing. She shoved her head under his chin, twitching her whiskers the way she always did when he didn't want to make breakfast, but there was nothing.
(Noooooooooooo!) the tiny kitten keened, pale eyes closed tight. She sat, stilled by understanding, and put her head down, wrapping her tail around her as if it could protect her, the way she had not protected him. Her heart beat painfully fast against the place where his should have matched.

Friendly Reminder that Canon