And the game is drawing to a close.
I don't own the Flash or anything else you recognize. Consider yourselves disclaimed.
He didn't look up her phone number, and he didn't stop by the school where he knew she worked. It really did feel like cheating, and he had a feeling he was very close to the end of this game. Instead he gently reminded Joe about the stolen violin and went about his life as normal (or abnormal, as it were) for the next two weeks.
It was nearly closing time at Jitters and Barry was one of the last customers there, so his phone seemed unusually loud as it rang. "Hey, Joe," he said quickly after he'd answered. "What's up?"
"Hey Bar. I just wanted to let you know, Rollins and Lewis found that stolen violin at a pawn shop on the other side of town. They returned it to your friend's student about an hour ago."
"That's great, Joe, thank you for letting me know! Tell Rollins and Lewis I said thank you as well."
"You got it Barry. See you son."
Barry couldn't help but beam to himself as he hung up the phone and packed up the file he'd been working on, waving at the barista as he left. He hoped he'd run into Aggie soon to celebrate the news with her. He'd been thinking about her nearly nonstop for the past two weeks and was brimming with questions for her.
Where was she from? What was her favorite zombie movie? What kind of music did she teach? What kind of music did she listen to? Did she like spicy food? What did all of her tattoos mean?
He couldn't even find it in himself to be surprised when he saw Aggie leaving the library just before it closed, a stack of books in one arm as she began walking in the same direction he was, her back to him.
"Aggie!" He called out, waiting until she'd turned around and seen him, before glancing around. Seeing they were the only two on the street, he flashed to her side. She gasped, using one hand to hold down the skirt that had flared up around her bare legs, revealing more ink. Barry smiled at her sheepishly as she laughed.
"That is too cool, Barry," she said, shaking her head. "I've been hearing about your exploits all over town. If I'm being honest I'm keeping an ear out." She blushed as she admitted this, and Barry smiled wider.
"Have you talked to your student yet? The one whose violin was stolen?" Aggie cocked her head, confused.
"No, why do you...did they find it?" At his nod she threw her free arm around his neck in an awkward hug. "Oh, thank you Barry!"
He smiled as he returned the hug. "I didn't do anything except bug my dad about it, the officers did the work."
"Still, thank you," she said as she released him, looking up at him earnestly. "That's more than you had to do at all." They stood there smiling at each other for what was probably too long before Barry finally remembered how to use his mouth.
"What were you doing at the library?" he asked, taking the stack of books from her and offering her his other arm. She took it with a smile as they began to walk.
"Research. The owner of the music school where I teach wants to start a program for autistic kids. I don't have a lot of experience in that field so I was doing some studying. Apparently music is an excellent form of therapy for them, so that'll be exciting."
"What exactly is it you teach? Is it just violin?"
"The question is more like what don't I teach - the best word for what I am would be savant."
"Savant?" Barry raised an eyebrow at her. She only shrugged, grinning shamelessly.
"Hey, you're a budding superhero, I need to play up my strengths where I've got them. And besides, it's not hubris, it's fact. Put any instrument in my hands and I'll master it in days, if it takes that long."
Barry whistled - she was being serious. "Most people with that kind of talent would be famous, not teaching."
"Horrible stage fright," she admitted in a stage whisper. "Let my students worry about impressing the audiences, all I have to do is make sure they're trying their best."
"You love it." It wasn't a question, it was written all over her face, the same expression he got when he ranted about science.
"They're so creative! I work mostly with fairly advanced students, usually teenagers. One of the rules at the school is you have to study at least two types of music, instruments, voice, it doesn't matter. Every week they form groups of four and cover a song - it can be a string quartet, a rock band, a barbershop quartet, anything they can think of. Last week, I heard a metal version of Prince Ali from the movie Aladdin. I still have goosebumps."
Their laughter echoed through the streets as they walked, before Aggie slowly drew them to a stop in front of a tall apartment building.
"This is me," she said, shy again as she looked up at him. It emboldened Barry as he set her stack of books on the low wall beside them, smiling at her.
"I believe I was told that when I found you again I'd get more than just your phone number." Aggie blinked up at him before she laughed, closing the space between them as she slid her arms around his neck.
"You are absolutely correct Mr. Allen," she all but whispered before pressing her lips against his. It was gentle and chaste, even as his arms wrapped around her waist, drawing her body flush against his. They pulled away slowly, resting their foreheads together, and Barry reached up to toy with one of the silver hoops at the upper shell of her ear. She almost purred, moving to nuzzle into his neck. Barry took a deep breath.
"Do you want to get some dinner?" She pulled away from him and smiled.
"There's an awesome twenty four hour diner around the next corner."
"Double bacon cheeseburgers?"
"Oh, now you're really talkin' my language, Barry Allen."
Nearly done. One, maybe two chapters to go. Enjoy!