Frostbite

Chapter 6

….

I was not fond of skin-tight suits, that was one thing I was absolutely sure of as I tried on the suit that Cisco has designed for me, it would adapt with my powers for which I was thankful for. It was hell getting my clothes dry cleaned, bits of them torn and ruined from ice getting on them.

It was like Barry and Jesse's suits, only navy in colour and there was no flash emblem on the front. The neckline was different too and for some reason I think Barry might have had a hand in designing the outfit. It was a slight V neck, not too low cut but enough that I wasn't completely covered up. A thick black belt with a snowflake on the front went around my hips which could hold weapons should I need to use them and I had black boots to wear as well as a mask to hide my identity.

I tucked back the strand of hair next to my ear that was white, I had a permanent stash of hair dye at my house now but each time I used my powers a new one would pop up. I examined myself in the mirror, looking at the costume from different angles. Suddenly arms encircled my waist making me jump and turn around, smacking Barry on the arm as he laughed.

"Don't do that! Do you want to be impaled with an icicle?" I scolded watching him smirk.

"Sorry, I just wanted to say hello" he says giving me a quick peck before I hit him again "Ow! What was that for?"

"Not here, someone could walk in" I hissed under my breath.

"Cisco is on a coffee run and Wells is in the other side of the lab, he didn't even say hello when I came in he was so busy" he says with a smile giving me another small kiss "Good Morning"

I smile and wrap my arms around him, "good morning" I say giving him another kiss, longer and deeper this time.

When we pull away he looks me up and down, a grin forming "You should dress like this every day"

I roll my eyes "Shut up, It's Cisco's suit for me" I say lightly slapping his arm

"Has he given you a name yet?"

"He keeps making Elsa jokes so no, hopefully it's nothing ridiculous like 'Ice Queen'. That was my nickname in college"

"I don't think you're icy, you certainly weren't last night" he mutters into my ear and I freeze, my cheeks flushing as I remember last night.

We had been seeing each other a few nights a week for the last two months but we still hadn't had a discussion on what this was or what it meant. Part of me wanted to ask but I was scared that if I did I would lose him so I just enjoyed it while I could.

I jumped away from him the moment I heard Iris's voice calling out for Barry in the lab, a few seconds later she appeared a grin on her face as she locked eyes with her boyfriend. She greeted him with a kiss "hey you"

"I-Iris, hi"

"I've been looking for you, I was wondering if you wanted to come over tonight? It's been so long since we had a night in, just me and you"

He glances quickly at me and I look away, straightening out my costume and trying to avoid eye contact.

"C'mon I'll even cook, I'll make you that spaghetti you like, get some wine and some candles" she murmurs

"Uh… sure. What time should I be over?" he replies. Inwardly I wince, outwardly I act like nothing is wrong.

"8 should be fine, you should probably bring a change of clothes because you'll probably end up staying the night" she says giving him another kiss. She notices me in the corner and tenses slightly, ever since the Killer Frost debacle she's been a bit wary of me, not that I blame her. I did almost kill her boyfriend.

"Hey Caitlin" she says, awkwardly waving

"Hi Iris, how are you?" I ask politely, wanting more than anything to just run out of this room.

"I'm good… that's a nice suit, Cisco make it?"

"Yeah apparently, everyone on team flash needs to coordinate" I say with a roll of my eyes.

"You're on the team? Is that safe?" she asks, looking at the power nullifying cuffs I was wearing and I feel my temper flare. Is that safe? Like I was some wild animal that should be kept on a leash.

Barry steps in before I have a chance to react "Caitlin isn't dangerous Iris"

"She could have killed you!"

"That was an accident! And that was months ago, she's gained so much more control since then" he says defending me

She doesn't seem happy but she offers me a smile "I'm sorry"

I wave it off "I get it. But trust me Iris, if I didn't think it was safe I would never go out. And they're only going to use me in certain situations. We hope that by only using my powers occasionally I can gain more control over them"

She nods and gives Barry a kiss on the cheek before leaving "See you at 8".

Once she leaves he turns back to me "I'm sorry, she just doesn't understand. People are scared of what they don't understand"

I shrug "It's fine Barry, she's not going to be the only one who thinks it. I've just got to let it go"

"You see, when you say things like that you're giving me all the more reason to call you Elsa" Cisco says as he comes in, two coffees in his hands.

"My nickname is not going to be Elsa Cisco" I say as I take my coffee

"I know, I've already thought of it" he says as he hands Barry his drink. I'm interested now, perking up as I look at him expectantly.

"Frostbite"

I ponder it for a few seconds, thinking it over in my head before I finally smile "Frostbite, I like it"

Cisco does a weird fist bump with the air "Yes! I knew you'd like it"

I laugh as he runs off to his desk, muttering about how he should franchise the names. Then I turn back to Barry "So, I guess I won't see you tonight then"

A guilty look appears on his face "I'm sorry"

I shake my head "it's fine Barry, really. I knew what I was getting into. She's your girlfriend" I say with a shrug as I quickly get changed back into my work clothes. I notice him staring at me and give him a pointed look

"What? It's totally not fair of you to change in front of me. Who wouldn't get distracted?" he says with a smirk as he looks me up and down, I grab the nearest object, a towel and chuck it at him

"Perv" I mutter, rolling my eyes

"You know you love me"

I pause, my hands freezing in the middle of buttoning my shirt. I turn around, Barry is standing there looking sheepish and turning a spectacular shade of red "I..uh I didn't mean… I-I'm going to go now" he stammers before leaving the room in a hurry.

I turn to the mirror, a blush appearing on my cheeks. Did I love him? I knew that our situation was… complicated to say the least. I thought back to all the time we had spent together the last few months, how happy we had been and the familiar warm feeling that came whenever he was around spread through my chest. I loved him, I loved Barry Allen.

The only question was, did he love me?

….

(For Caitlin's suit I took inspiration from Black Widows suit in the avengers but with the same material from the flash and navy blue)