'i'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife'
Joe was growing suspicious of Barry being even more regularly late to work, missing a couple family dinners and being touchy about when he could come round for a visit. Iris went through a range of emotions, starting with rage and ending in happiness regarding the whole situation with Len. Cisco and Caitlin were low key hopeful about Barry's speed slowly returning which meant more running on the treadmill and his abs returning. Barry was trying to focus on one person at a time so at work he would deal with Joe and evade any prying questions about what was going on, when he was getting coffee he was with Iris filling her in on the latest and when he was at STAR labs he was being pushed to his limits by Cisco and Caitlin. It was working. Then at the end of the day he would go back to his apartment where Len would have dinner waiting for him. It was working.
Barry walked into STAR labs expecting to find Cisco and Caitlin hunched over a set of results however upon entering he found Cisco idly playing a game on the computer with a lollipop in his mouth "Very productive," he commented amused.
Cisco startled, almost falling out of the chair. "I'll have you know that all results have been finalised and reports have been sent out to the relevant officers," Cisco said sounding indignant "surprising how that happens when only one of you shows up for work on time." He added pointedly as he gestured at the empty room.
Barry looked around once more recognising the missing presence of Caitlin. "Caitlin's not come in yet?" he asked.
"Nope," Cisco said as he popped the 'p' for effect.
At that moment in walked a very slightly dishevelled looking Caitlin who then looked startled upon noticing Cisco and Barry looking at her. "I thought you two would've been busy with the speed test," she admitted looking guilty.
"Oooh is this a walk of shame dear Caitlin Snow?" Cisco asked with a grin.
"That's none of your business," Caitlin replied pointedly before looking at them expectantly "the test…" she added.
"Yup," Barry said "do I really need to just keep running on the treadmill? Can we change the scenery?" he asked. He didn't mind the treadmill but the runway he'd first discovered his speed sounded fun. He knew right now he was between being fast and being Flash fast, it would fizz up inside him and then he'd lose the feeling and end up face planting the treadmill, that was how they had discovered his super-fast healing was still indeed intact.
Caitlin and Cisco shared a look before shrugging slightly "I don't see why it couldn't hurt," Caitlin said "you and Cisco can load up the equipment… I need to do something important."
Barry couldn't help the smile as he pointed to one half of his face "You mean adding eyeliner to the other eye right?" he asked.
Caitlin shot him a look before grabbing her bag off the table and moving out the room.
"She definitely meant finishing her make up," Cisco commented "who only does one half of their face?"
"I can still hear you two!" Caitlin called back.
Leonard was dare he say it, happy. Things with Barry seemed to be going really well and for the first time in a long time he was starting to feel settled within a relationship. Leonard couldn't even pinpoint the exact time he had been in a long term committed relationship with someone he genuinely cared for. Lisa had noticed the change in his mood immediately and Mick may have noticed but withheld any comments regarding so.
While Leonard had been wrapped in what felt like a big warm bubble with Barry, he'd failed to notice the change in Mick's behaviour until the man had forced his company upon Leonard. "So… how are things?" he asked "I haven't heard of any spontaneous fires breaking out so things with this new woman seem to be looking good right?" he added as he tried to remember when Mick last mentioned about seeing someone. It had been awhile back but there hadn't been any excessive drinking of vodka and eating of ice cream since then.
Mick broke out into a happy smile "We've been together for a couple of months now," he said "She's not wanted to tell anyone yet because she's worried about how her friends will take the news of her dating Heat Wave will go down and I respect that."
Leonard nodded his head as he glanced at the locked kitchen drawer that contained the heist plans he'd been working on for the past couple of weeks, he'd not been able to devote his entire time to it like usual. "I've got a job coming up," Len said before he took a sip from his cup "I'll obviously count you in."
Mick seemed to tense at that which had Leonard forgetting about his coffee and quirking an eyebrow at the man. "Len," he said in a careful tone "I should probably tell you something," he added softly "the woman I'm seeing… she's uh, she's just found out she's pregnant with my child obviously. We've been up half the night sort of freaking out; crying, celebrating and working out how we're gonna do this."
Leonard was stunned into silence for a minute or so. Mick Rory was going to be a father. Mick was turning down a job. Mick was thinking rationally. "Oh," Leonard said "uh congratulations are in order then. Mick, you've finally found someone who can tame you, I'm surprised. Who is the lucky girl?" he asked genuinely happy for his friend and slightly curious at who could captivate Mick so much he was willing to change everything.
Mick pulled a face that suggested he was torn between saying and keeping quiet before he exhaled softly "I know you won't let this go any further," he started off "her name is Caitlin. Caitlin Snow."
Leonard choked on his drink mid sip. Usually calm and collected Leonard Snart was so caught off guard he choked on a mouthful of coffee requiring Mick to slap him on the back a couple of times as he coughed quite viciously. "What?" Leonard asked his voice hoarse "Caitlin Snow, as in the Caitlin that works with Barry?"
Mick nodded his head "I know," he said "quite the opposites. But I love her Len and she loves me. I can't afford for a job to go wrong now, not with a child on the way. I want to be there to watch he or she grow and learn. I want to be able to provide for Caitlin with a stable job."
Leonard was in awe. Genuinely.
"I get it," Leonard said "I never thought I'd see the day that Mick Rory was ready to settle down for good but if you're happy then I'm not going to stand in the way."
Mick smiled relieved "I've been dying to tell you since last night when we found out," he admitted "you and Lisa are going to be an uncle and an auntie!"
Leonard looked down at the wooden table as he wondered how he was going to be able to keep this kind of secret from Barry. He was good with keeping information to himself but since being with Barry, he'd found that he wanted to share information that had been confided to him. This was going to be a struggle.
Barry stepped out of the van in the red Flash suit that Cisco had maintained, the suit was like an extra layer of skin to Barry. It was tight yet oddly comfortable in a way that seemed familiar. It was interesting to know that he didn't feel the cold like he thought he would, he'd have to thank Cisco for being brilliant later.
"This is a step up from that get up you were forced into last time," Caitlin commented.
Cisco clapped him on the back gently "Caitlin will be monitoring your vitals," he said before a frown came over his face "last time Dr Wells monitored your energy output but this time it will be me."
Barry nodded his head before moving into positon "We do recommend being cautious regarding restraining yourself, we wouldn't want you to unintentionally hurt yourself." Caitlin called over to him.
Barry turned his head forward to look at the empty runway ahead of him as he took a deep breath and cleared the thoughts in his head, instead choosing to focus on the fizz of energy he could feel building up inside of him. He didn't need to push it away or try to stifle it, he chose to embrace it. He used it to push himself off and he felt it in the way the air rushed past him and he could feel the speed.
It was freeing actually, to shoot down the runway at such a speed. He couldn't believe this had been inside of him, this amount of power and speed. He'd been warned of the risks, warned of what had happened the previous time. He'd heard what he'd missed out on in the past year but it hadn't fully prepared him to go back to the night he lost his mom. The next thing he knew was his arm was definitely broken and his suit was wet.
Seeing Caitlin's face pale upon seeing his wrist and then rush off to vomit had definitely not helped. Cisco scrunched his face up in disgust at both his wrist and the sound of Caitlin bringing up her breakfast.
"I'm sorry," Caitlin apologised as she returned looking a lot more worse for wear than she had this morning "must've been the too many drinks last night. We should get you back to the lab, with your healing once it's been set in place you're looking at a couple of hours before it'll be as good as new."
Barry lightly swung his legs back and forth as he sat on the medical bed they had set up in the lab while his arm was in a cast "Hey," he said as he answered his phone. Cisco was off entering his findings somewhere and Caitlin had gone to freshen herself up.
"Hey, how was the speed test today?" Leonard asked softly on the other end of the line.
Barry glanced around the room once more "I got my speed back," he said "well, it was always there I guess. It was going well too until I got distracted and broke my wrist."
"I wish I could come and see you," Leonard said sounding concerned "but you're okay though? Your wrist is properly being cared for?" he asked.
"Yes, Caitlin has set it in a cast. It'll only be a couple more hours before it's fine again according to Caitlin. Between you and me, I think I might be able to go out and do a patrol as The Flash tonight. The results look promising and my speed is there." Barry murmured down the phone again casting his gaze around the room once more.
Len exhaled softly "Don't push yourself Barry," he said "listen to Snow and Ramon okay? If they say no then you're coming home and spending the night tucked in with me."
Barry chuckled softly "Okay," he said "I promise I'll text you in a bit about what's going on… maybe you could properly introduce me to Captain Cold tonight if I get the all clear."
"Barry Allen are you actually encouraging crime?" Len asked mocking sounding shocked.
"Don't be ridiculous," Barry replied as he rolled his eyes before he spotted Cisco nearing him "okay got to go now, love you, bye!" he added in a rushed whisper before disconnecting the call.
Barry wondered if he'd felt this preoccupied the first time he'd discovered his speed because he sure as hell could not maintain his focus at work, the words on the pages seemed to blur together as his mind returned to earlier in the day as he raced down the runway. He remembered the feeling of his heart pounding in his chest, the power fizzing in his fingers and the rush of air past his limbs. Two knocks at his door had him blinking twice and shaking his head slightly.
"Hey Bear," Joe said softly "mind if we talk quick?" he asked as he stepped into Barry's lab.
Barry nodded his head "Yeah," he said "I feel like I've not seen you in ages Joe. Between this and STAR labs I feel like we've barely spoken."
Joe nodded his head in agreement "Between you moving out, working alongside STAR labs and me landing this case I'm close to solving, I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing. I miss you." Joe said as he crossed his arms over his chest while lightly leaning against Barry's desk.
"How does dinner tomorrow night sound?" Barry asked "I've got something I'd like to tell you anyway."
Joe inclined his head forward slightly with a smile "Sounds like I have plans for tomorrow night then," he said "would this have anything to do about Iris dropping hints about you seeing some guy?" he asked with a knowing smile. Joe knew Barry was bisexual but only if Joe knew who Barry was seeing then there was definitely not going to be a smile. There was going to be shouting and threats. Barry was not looking forward to breaking the news.
Barry lifted his shoulders "That would be it, yes." He said.
Joe clapped a hand on Barry's shoulder "I'm just happy that you're happy Bear," he said "anyway, you can tell me more tomorrow. Today I want to know how the STAR labs tests have been going? Any improvements?" he asked.
Barry could barely contain the grin as he moved to stand up from his chair "I ran fast today," he said.
"You did?" Joe asked.
Barry nodded his head and the next moment Joe had him in a bear hug causing Barry to wince slightly at the twinge of pain in his wrist. The healing had been fast enough for Caitlin to change the cast to something less conspicuous for work.
Leonard can't believe he's actually doing this but Barry had text him that he'd been given the all clear to do a patrol around the city, he grabbed his blue parka from his wardrobe and whoa, his wardrobe was practically half empty. Most of his clothes lived at Barry's at the moment. He's got his cold gun tucked away and he's pulling his parka hood up before exiting the hideout turned home.
Barry couldn't believe he'd been missing out on such an incredible feeling as he rushed around the city. "The team is back, the team is back, the team is baaack." Cisco sing-songed through the ear-comm.
"I'm hungry," Caitlin said into the mic "when you're on your way back Barry can you bring some takeout preferably Big Belly Burger."
"Sure thing Caitlin," Barry said.
Barry sped past another block within seconds when Caitlin said "So… what time is that going to be roughly?"
There was some murmuring that Barry couldn't pick up on before there was a beeping and Cisco was directing him to where there was trouble. Something simple according to Cisco. Barry wanted to laugh, if Len had actually taken him up on the offer of staging a confrontation between The Flash and Captain Cold then his boyfriend had officially reached new levels of ridiculousness.
Barry had overshot the scene by a couple of blocks, something he had also apparently had trouble with in the past. Barry shrugged it off as he turned sharply to head to the scene. He still couldn't wrap his head around this, hearing about it was one thing but actually experiencing it was another. Car alarms blaring and the odd window smashing.
Upon stumbling to a stop at the scene, Barry could see the error of misreading the situation. It looked very much pretty serious, a meta-human by the looks of it. Barry recognised the meta-human specialist team and stumbling right into the middle of the scene seemed to startle the perpetrator and direct his attention at Barry. He initially looked surprised "Flash," he spat "I supposed it'd be too much to hope you were gone."
"Sorry to disappoint," Barry responded with his signature grin.
The man took a step toward Barry, hands poised in position for something. Barry heard Joe shouting orders to prevent whatever affecting him but Barry didn't see Len moving out of the shadows, cold gun in hand and shouting "Barry!" gathering everyone's attention, ice appearing around the man's ankles suddenly.
There's a flurry of movement around Barry as some people move to reach the meta-human and others are stood looking at Captain Cold holding his hands up in a surrendering motion and looking at Barry with something akin to worry in his eyes.
Barry's glancing around him, guns are trained on Len and Joe is looking at him with a confused frown. What happened? Why did Len do that? Barry couldn't let them hurt Len or take him away. Before Barry's thinking anything through he's moving forward and grabbing Len and he's running as fast as he possibly could for a couple of blocks but within seconds they're far enough.
"I'm sorry," Barry said as he stopped bringing them to a halt.
"I... I… what did I do?" Len asked looking at Barry open mouthed and confused "Barry, you don't understand why did I do that!?"
Barry cringed at the voices in his hear "Barry… what's going on?"
The whole situation seemed anti-climactic yet different parts of his life was exploding, crashing together. "Len…" he said his voice breaking as he gestured the ear-comm.
Len's grabbing at him and connecting their lips desperately "I couldn't let him," he gasped in-between a kiss "what have you done," he murmured "fuck, what have I done?"
Barry's got a lot to answer to. Len seemed to be in full panic mode at the moment.
"I've got you," Barry said "I've got you."
Len nodded his head as they stayed in the shadows, Barry's head was buzzing with noise.
A/N: I am so overwhelmed by the support from everyone, thank you for filling me with confidence with every chapter and I hope to continue delivering chapters for you lovely readers xoxox
On another note... the Caitlin/Mick bombshell i dropped - would anyone be interested in a prequel (is it a prequel?)/ story of their journey running alongside this?