Chapter 15: One-All

Saturday!

I don't think I've ever got ready so fast. Until I realised that I was spending Saturday afternoon at S.T.A.R. Labs, not the morning.

Fiddlesticks.

Normally, I would spend Saturday watching T.V. or playing my old, beaten up guitar in my room. It was a nice acoustic with a beautiful warm sound and though I preferred my earbuds outside, at home I could make the music come alive myself.
I didn't need the music for survival purposes anymore, but I still love to play my guitar. So, that's basically how I spent the morning.

An hour after lunch, Caitlin pulled up in her car. I hurried out of the house, grabbing a hoodie and an apple from the fruit basket in the kitchen, only to screech to a halt at the front door. Turning on my heel, I ran into the garden where Aunty was pruning the geraniums. "I'm going to S.T.A.R Labs, see you at ten!" Then I ran all the way back to the door, flung it open, slammed it shut and hopped in the passenger side of Caitlin's car.

"How did school go?" She asked, eyebrows raised.

"Not too bad. There weren't any freak outs." I informed her while fiddling with the edge of my shirt, suddenly nervous.

"That's great! So, the wall worked?"

"Yep. It was perfect." I said, sending her a small smile, "Thanks, by the way."

"No worries, I'm glad you got it under control."

When we got to S.T.A.R. Labs, it was mostly deserted apart from Caitlin and Cisco, who was apparently in his lab.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, confused. For some reason I had thought that Barry, Ralph, Iris and Joe hung out here all the time.

"Well, Barry's a CSI, and Joe's a cop, Iris is probably writing at Jitters, and Ralph is a PI. Cisco gets paid as a Tech Consultant at CCPD but it's really a casual thing, plus Cisco prefers his own toys, so we mostly work here at S.T.A.R. Labs." She explains, flicking on the lights in the med bay to the left of the cortex that I hadn't noticed.

"So, what are we doing?" I asked, eyeing the medical instruments with doubt.

"First, I'm going to do some scans on your brain and a blood test to double check that your powers are purely mental. Then, I think Cisco will be finished. After that, we've organised Mr Kliff to come in so you can reverse what you did you his brain."

I cringed at the mention of my English teacher, but decided I'd think about that later.

Two scans and one blood test later, I was sitting on a tilted chair like they have in dentists' offices.

"Just sit there for a bit until you feel better; I don't want you fainting on me!" Caitlin said with a smile. She was obviously in her element here in the med bay and her confidence and cheerfulness seemed to be rubbing off on me.

"I am not going to faint. That would be really embarrassing."

"Believe it or not, you wouldn't be the first person to faint at the sight of their own blood." She smiles mischievously, and I hear someone enter the cortex.

"You are NOT telling that story!" Cisco exclaims, "Or so help me, Snow, I will have revenge, and you'll never see it coming!"

Caitlin snorts, "What are you going to do? Vibe my lab equipment?"

"I am the genius, Cisco Ramon and-" Here he stops to think for a few seconds, then a wicked grin slowly spreads across his face, "-I don't need to vibe anything. I can get you to keep your mouth shut with two. Simple. Words."

"What could you possible say that-" She starts, but Cisco interrupts.

"You forget, that you are my best friend, and I know some of your most embarrassing moments. Wait for it-" Cisco pauses dramatically, his smile stretching like the Cheshire cat and says, "Summer Lovin-"

"No!" Caitlin shrieks, her face turning pink, then quickly regains her composure, "I mean, have you finished that thing I asked for?"

"Can Dumbo fly? Can Mad Max drive? Of course I did!" Cisco asks cheerfully, producing a bracelet with a glowing blue bead. "I present to you, the Meta-cuff 2.0, now in a fashionable and fully removable design."

Quickly looking at Caitlin for confirmation, I take the proffered bracelet. It's thin, more like a bangle, and is made out of what looks like smooth stainless steel. I hesitantly slide it onto my wrist.

"Go on, test it out," Cisco encourages, obviously eager to prove his creation's worth.

I do, slowly letting my mental wall disappear and reaching out for their open, undefended minds. Except I hit another wall. And this one seems to be made of titanium.

"Woah," I mutter, eyebrows raised in surprise. I turn my wide eyes on Cisco, "Thanks! This is amazing."

"No problemo," He says, "De nada, soy asombroso. And hey, this baby will stop you from causing any future problems."

I smile, but inside I shrink a little. I don't want to be the "causer of problems". I don't want to be someone to be feared. I just want to be Juliet.

"By the way, we are discussing how you knew about that story after. You weren't even there!" Caitlin hisses at Cisco.

"You're just upset I evened the score! Caitlin 1, Cisco 1. One-all." Cisco said smugly.

"I swear, if Barry told you anything…" Caitlin begins, and I smile, soaking up the friendly atmosphere.

Author's Note:

More S.T.A.R Labs fluff, as promised! I don't think we have much more of it coming up soon, but now I know you guys like it so much, I'll try and work it in more often. I like writing the banter too and it's one of the reasons I prefer watching The Flash rather than some of the other Arrowverse shows.

Anyway, I know canonically Cisco probably doesn't know about the Summer Nights karaoke thing, but it was too fun to resist. Now I am open to any ideas about how it could work. Is Barry a snitch? (doubtful, but who knows?) Does Caitlin talk in her sleep? Did Cisco vibe it accidentally one day? Please tell me your ideas :)

Trix

F:

Thanks for reviewing, and I love it when people ask questions because it's some of how I get feedback. In fact, please ask more questions, if you have any! I would love to answer them and it's a great encouragement to know that people are engaging with the story :)