37

A Wonder of Worries


Amunet repeatedly clenched and unclenched her hands around the steering wheel as she drove toward Lawrence Hills, Gotham City. Every few seconds she had to yank the wheel from side to side, being careful not to mow down any of the homeless and haggard-looking people that walked down the streets.

Her upper lip curled. Gotham certainly was different than Central City. She'd seen the seedy underbelly of all cities, having worked in nearby ones to make connections, to throw the police off her back when they came too close. It was too easy, sometimes, to confuse the police officers who tried to get to her. Simply stupid with how easy it was for her to get away when she really wanted to. There were times where Amunet didn't even try, and the police still fumbled the pass and let her get away.

A thought crossed her mind, where she should just mow the people down anyway. It wasn't like Gotham didn't see murders every second of every day. There were only so many times Batman could stop people; he couldn't be everywhere. He was the one who struck fear in everyone in the city.

And The Flash thought he was hated, Amunet thought with a shake of her head. Maybe I should just move everything to Gotham, make it harder for anyone to even care. Amunet paused for a second then shrugged, practically dancing in her sat. "But the thrill of potentially being caught is just too exciting," she said out loud. Her voice filled the cabin, music to her own ears.

She took a turn particularly hard, smiling to herself when she heard the body in the back of the van slide and crash into the side of the van. It made her giggle to herself. More pain for him made things easier for her. And when things were easier, there was better money that came through.

Finally, she turned the van into the open, waiting door of a large warehouse and pulled up to the front wall, stopping just short of the wall in front of her. Without a care in the world, she hopped out the front seat and walked to the back, where a Japanese man dressed in a suit came around a corner and stood behind, waiting for her.

Amunet, absolutely beaming, practically skipped over to him and threw her arms around his shoulders. She pulled him into a tight, yet awkward hug. The Japanese businessman greeted her with a quiet word, his arms pressed firmly to his sides.

Unknown to them, the ladies of Team Flash were converging on the same workshop with Barbara safely tucked away in Wayne Manor, deep in the Batcave. But she wasn't Barbara anymore, she was Oracle. The woman who knew anything and everything about computers, high-tech equipment, and Gotham City. There weren't many things that managed to stump her and getting into the security system of a steel factory's warehouse wasn't one of them.

Hacking into the security cameras was the easiest thing she'd ever done; it was pedestrian, really. How lax the security was for it. Honestly, that part worried her a little bit. Even when she was safely tucked away beneath Bruce's careful watch, she felt as if she were being watched. That someone had purposefully made it so easy for someone like her to get into the system.

Then again, this is Gotham we're talking about, Barbara thought, her eyes shifting rapidly across the screen, taking in the blueprints and the blobs on screen that were the bodies inside. Beside her, Felicity made a humming sound.

"The infrastructure in this city could really use an upgrade," Felicity muttered under her breath, speaking Barbara's thoughts out loud. "I've seen birthday parties that are more uptight than this." She paused, lifting a finger. "Which…might be a Central City thing. But you'd think with the money that Bruce puts into place of charities and everything it'd be stronger…"

Barbara rolled her head towards Felicity and lifted a silent eyebrow. "Coming from the woman who's dating Oliver Queen," she said. Felicity's face went slack with surprise. "The Queens had all their money at their fingertips, and he just blew it on parties and the Queen name."

"Oliver's done a lot for Star City," Felicity remarked. She lifted her finger. "…And how did you know that—" Barbara tilted her head the other way. "Right. Super smart, super hacker. Don't know why I'm surprised. You're the real genius here."

Barbara smiled and turned back to the monitors. Most of the blobs were Amunet and her henchmen inside, the businessmen who brought their lackeys as well. Then there was the lone blob that was moving slowly through the backside of the workshop. Where Iris was following the plan to move forward and have the

"Makes sure you're in position," Barbara murmured. "We've only got one chance for all of this to work, and we don't want to waste it." She switched the camera view in front of her to a super in-depth view, able to see more than blobs. She could clearly see Amunet continuing to talk to the Japanese businessman.

"Let's see if they say anything incriminating," Felicity agreed. "Shouldn't take too long," she added with a light roll of her eyes. "These people always act the same once money is involved. Greedy and with no brains."

Barbara's lips curled up into a smile. Her point proven.

"I saw that."

Back in the warehouse, Amunet practically floated around the businessman, excited to show what she'd brought for him this time. "I think you'll be pleased," Amunet trilled. She looped her arm through the businessman's and leaned heavily into his side. "This is one of the biggest commodities that anyone could ever have in their possession. And you're lucky enough that I'm going to give it to you."

The businessman continued to watched Amunet with an awkward smile. He nodded once, indicating her to move on. Amunet turned toward Norvok and with a slasher smile, nodded toward him. Norvok nodded and immediately opened he back of the van. He thrust the doors aside and looked toward the hot commodity Amunet was ready and willing to pay off.

The Weeper.

He knelt inside the van, arms pulled up and out, chained at the wrist to the top of the van. His legs were free, ready to kick anyone who came his way. But his resolve had been broken, anyone around the van could see that. Could see how all the life had been taken out of him. For he simply sat there, arms pulled up in the chains and his head bowed. He barely looked toward Amunet, Norvok, or the other men as the doors opened. His eyes were lifeless, looking through them than at them.

"This is him?" The Japanese man asked.

His voice held a note of disbelief. He looked to Amunet, who's slasher smile grew wider at his question. She practically tapped her fingers together, clicked her heels, danced on the spot. The businessman continued to look at The Weeper. The businessman flinched when Norvok suddenly moved, rearing back his fist and punched The Weeper straight in the gut.

"Ah!" The Weeper lowered his head, curling his body as much as he could. Tried to get away, but his chain kept him from moving any further than the length would allow. Instead, he lowered his head and cried. The tears that slid down his cheeks had a bright blue sheen to it, an intoxicating, neon color that glowed against the darkness around them.

Amunet walked over and patted Weeper on the cheek. "There, there," she cooed. "That's a good boy." She brought up her other hand and framed his face. "That's a good boy," she cooed. "You're going to be okay. Everything's going to be fine." She paused. "I heard spas were conceived in Japan."

She let go of Weeper's head, making it hang once more. Amunet took her hand from his cheek and, using her thumb, wiped away a tear. It glowed on her thumb, and she turned, offering it to the businessman.

He eyed the droplet warily. Amunet pushed it closer and closer to his face. Then, finally, the businessman opened his mouth and tilted his head back. She dropped the tear inside and he closed his mouth once it hit his tongue. All at once, the feeling of being overpowered hit him. A power surge that swam through his body like liquid warmth.

Like…a drug.

The blue glow ran through the veins in his throat before it ran up his face and his eyes, where they shone lightly. An excited smile came to the businessman's face, immediately erasing the skepticism that had been there only moments before. He practically vibrated, hands shaking. He turned back to Amunet and grabbed her hand, shaking it firmly.

"I'll take him!"

On the other side of the workshop, Iris continued to move forward. A large gun, a STAR Labs staple that would take down any metahuman, rested in her hands. She held it against her shoulder, kept both eyes open, ready and waiting to shoot when she was given her chance. Her eyes shifted over the boys toward the figures in front of her. In her ear sat a communication link, keeping her connected to the Batcave and to Oracle and Overwatch.

"On my count, you move in," Barbara murmured. "Don't do anything fancy. Just move in to where you can be put in place to collect all the evidence we need."

"Got it," Iris murmured.

"One…two…"

"—three."

Iris paused, feeling a gun pressed against her back at the same time she heard the man's voice in her ear, breaking through Barbara's and Felicity's counts. His sour breath filled her face, the stubble on his cheek scratched her. Slowly, very slowly, Iris turned to face the men that stood behind her, their guns pointed in her face. She raised her hands above her head, holding the gun loosely in her fingertips. Her father had taught her all about safely handling a firearm, but he also made sure to let her know when the right time was to give up.

Having five men surrounding her with guns, men that she couldn't detect coming toward her? It was time to give up. A pained yelp escaped her lips when the man in front grabbed her arm and yanked it behind her, taking the STAR Labs gun from his grasp. Then she was forced around and, with the muzzle, of the rifle pressed int other back, she was forced to walk further into the workshop toward Amunet and her henchmen.

Amunet and Norvok turned as soon as they heard the footsteps coming their way. For a moment, she looked at the group with a dismissive glance. Then, her eyes trained onto Iris and stayed there in a laser-like focus. Iris stared back, holding her hands above her head in surrender-pose.

Waiting.

Pressing a finger to her chin, Amunet continued to look at Iris. Finally, her eyes lit up like a torch and her slasher smile returned. "I remember you," she remarked. The meta let out a quiet giggle, clasping her hands together. "You are the chick from the bar, hm?" She waved her hand. "Well, one of them anyway. Sorry, but I don't pay much attention to those that don't mean much to me. And, well, you're nothing so, Norvok, have your way with her."

Norvok rubbed his hands together gleefully. He rolled his shoulders, stretched out his arms, and the snake in his eye slowly started to extend itself from his head. "It'll be my pleasure." The side of his mouth turned up in a sinister smile. "I'll be sure to make this one last."

Iris pressed her lips together. She looked at the two metas in front of her, looked at the men behind her. Faced Amunet once more with an air of defiance. Even when Norvok's snake moved close to her face, twisted around into her hair, brushed against her cheeks, she continued to stare straight at the two of them. The businessman, all the while, continued to grin at the Weeper, as if he was unable to focus on what was happening around them.

Norvok's snake pulled back and arched towards Iris's face.

"Hey, Amunet!"

All eyes turned toward the entrance to the workshop that Amunet had driven through. The door was closed, abut Caitlin walked toward the group, alongside Cadence, dressed in their suits. Smoke swirled around them, evident that Cadence had just teleported the two into the workshop. "This is between you and me."

Amunet's eyebrows rose skeptically. Her eyes roved toward Cadence, who simply shrugged and folded her arms over her chest. "And I figured I'd tag along," Cadence said. She smiled. "I can't let me friends have all the fun of taking you down."

"Let my friend go," Caitlin said firmly. Her voice on quivered a tiny bit. The tiniest bit that only those standing close enough would've noticed. Cadence glanced at her out the corner of her eye, looking down at her hands that shook lightly at her sides. "I'll come back and work for you."

Amunet shook her head. "it's too late for that, Catiy." She snapped her fingers at Norvok, who brought the snake back into his head. The men around the group shifted from pointing their guns at Caitlin and Cadence to Iris and back. Unsure of what to do. Unsteadiness filled the air. "Do you know why no one has testified against me over the years?" The torch in her eyes turned black and flinty. An air of malice immediately took over. "Because they're not alive to. Sorry. " She glared at Norvok. "Take care of them."

Guns cocked all around them. Hammers brought back all at once. Guns that had been lying around the workshop that, through Amunet's powers, she was able to levitate and aim toward Killer Frost and Jesse Quick. Killer Frost's lips pursed.

She wasn't afraid, no, but an icy chill still rolled down her spine. If Amunet was able to control metal like that without the use of her gauntlet, her powers had gotten stronger since the last time they'd met. And, if that were the case, it was no wonder how the CCPD hadn't been ablet o capture her. Being able to control things from distances was more than enough to keep the police and normal at bay. But it was, also, a good way to ensure that the MRA would go into pass…

Killer Frost barely flinched when she heard the first sound of the guns starting to fire. She wasn't afraid of the sound, no. But was afraid of not being able to do what she had set out to do. To get away. Amunet wasn't going to take it away from her. "No!" Icy breath escaped Caitlin's mouth in her scream before it swirled around her.

At the same time, lightning crackled through the workshop. In multiple pulses, the lightning shot through the workshop, taking one of the men with it with each charge into the room. The businessman was the last to be taken out, raced all the way to jail before it came back, stopping as Jesse skidded to a halt, throwing out her arms to stop her speedster momentum.

Cadence teleported toward Norvok and arrived right in front of him. She kicked him hard in the chest and with the same momentum, leaned back on her dominate foot, and kicked higher, striking him in the face. Norvok twisted and spun to the ground, smacking his face against the ground.

All the while, Amunet didn't move, simply keeping her eyes on Caitlin. Who had turned into Killer Frost, once the icy vapors around her disappeared. The expression on her face didn't change, she continued to watch Killer Frost with the gleeful slasher smile that never seemed to cease, showing all her teeth at once. Like a shark in bloody water. "Well, hello, Chilly," she taunted. She threw her out hand, throwing pieces of shrapnel that sat on the floor of the workshop toward her.

Killer Frost held out her hand, immediately freezing it. The pieces fell harmlessly to the ground. Amunet frowned, eyes narrowing. She stretched her arms out to the side, cracking her knuckles. "And I thought I wasn't going to be able to kill anyone today." She threw her arms forward once more, aiming toward Killer Frost and Jesse Quick.

Within seconds, Killer Frost created an icy dome around them. At that exact moment, the gunmen around them started to rapidly fire their guns at the dome. The bullets harmlessly struck the dome, at first, before it started to crack the ice it embedded itself into.

Jesse brought her hands to her arms, struggling to move them as fast as she could to keep herself warm. However, the immediately drop in temperature around her, affected her powers faster than she thought. She felt to her knees, shaking rapidly. Lightning moved feebly between her fingers. "D-do you th-think you c-can, h-hurry this u-up?"

"Do you want a bullet in your head?" Killer Frost asked, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Cause that's how you get a bullet in your head."

"V-very f-funny."

Amunet turned toward Cadence, who had put her attention toward her, after having dropped Norvok to the ground. She turned a flaming fist toward Amunet, who caught it in her gauntlet, immediately extinguishing the flame. Cadence glared at Amunet before she was punched in the side of the face. Twisting to the side, Cadence teleported to just behind Amunet and kicked her in the back, sending her flying to the ground. She then flipped on top of her and grabbed Amunet, flinging her into the side of the van she drove into the workshop.

Cadence followed her trajectory, propelling herself forward with a burst of flame from beneath her feet and drove her fist toward Amunet. Amunet pulled shrapnel toward Cadence, which embedded itself into Cadence's back.

"Ah!"

Amunet gave a sickeningly powerful blow into Cadence's chest, knocking her back onto the ground. She grabbed a metal chain and whipped it toward the fire meta, striking her along the cheek. Her cheek split open, blood dripping down the side of her face. Cadence turned when Amunet went to strike her with the chain once more and conjured a fire whip in her hand. She threw it at the same time Amunet threw hers, and the two wrapped around each other, practically blowing up in a bright light.

Moving backwards, Cadence allowed herself some space and threw the whip once more. Amunet, seeming to sense the attack, did the same, throwing the metal one toward her again.

As they fought, Killer Frost started to weaken the longer she held onto the dome. Large cracks continued to form in the dome around them. Jesse lay on her side, continuing to rub her hands up and down her arms, moving slower, her breath coming out in foggy gasps. Her lips, already darkened by the red lipstick along with her suit, started to darken even further. Her teeth chattered.

"I don't think this is going to hold much longer," Killer Frost warned.

"W-what's t-the p-point of d-defending yourself if f-f-f-fighting is m-more f-fun?"

"And how much fun are you having rolling on the ground like that?"

Killer Frost cried out, hearing a larger chunk of ice breaking away…from behind her? Her head whipped around, seeing a fist-sized hole in the back of the dome, seconds before it crumbled apart completely. Killer Frost crouched to cover herself, to protect herself from the massive amount of ice that came toward her, while the tall figure clad in blue, white, red, and gold knelt down and grabbed Jesse up into her arms. Her black hair swung behind her shoulders, lifted off the icy wind that blew around them.

"Looked like you could use some help," The Amazonian said in response to the icy glare that Killer Frost sent her way. A look that said, "I was handling this." The Amazonian simply smiled back at her, as if to say, "No, you weren't," in the gentlest and straight forward way possible.

"Oh my God," Felicity's voice breathed through the communication links. In the Batcave she was looking rapidly back and forth between the monitors to Barbara and back again. "That…that's…I mean, there's no way that that's—"

"—I'd like you to meet my friend, Wonder Woman," Barbara said with a warm, fond smile. "I thought we could use a backup plan and she's always handy to have in a pinch."

"As always, Oracle," Wonder Woman agreed. She carefully hugged Jesse to her chest and turned back toward Amunet, who turned her attention toward her. "I don't think you want to embarrass yourself any further." Amunet merely snarled at her and turned the guns her way. A barrage of bullets shot towards her.

Wonder Woman turned to the side and lifted a large shield that she crouched behind her, covering herself and Jesse. Killer Frost turned her attention back to Amunet, simply finding herself surprised to find the metal meta was still locked in battle with Flare…but her metal was still moving as if with a life of their own.

"There's too much metal," Killer Frost remarked. "If we don't get it away from her, she'll keep being able to attack."

"Well, this is a steel factory," Felicity remarked. "And you move steel plates with magnets!" Her voice took on a very excited tone, coming up with a plan as soon as she was speaking. "Really, really big magnets! Just like that one that's hanging above your heads."

"Now would be a good time to turn it on," Cadence remarked, seconds before Amunet's metal whip wrapped around her arms and dragged her to the ground. She hit the ground so hard that it stunned her for a second, long enough for Amunet to lift her foot and drive her heel directly into the middle of her chest. There was a loud cracking sound, her ribs cracked.

"You got it."

A low humming sound filled the air, coming from the ceiling. The large magnet attached to the ceiling. The one that hummed to life, slowly moving toward Cadence and Amunet, picking up loose pieces of shrapnel as it went. Amunet looked down at the gauntlet surrounding her wrist, at the chain that covered Cadence, to the magnet that hovered toward her, then back to Killer Frost, eyes narrowing.

"We could've been gods," she spat.

Killer Frost merely shook her head. "I used to work with a God."

"You don't know that it doesn't." Caitlin brought up a hand and smeared away her tears. "You don't understand. If I keep using my powers, then I won't be able to control it anymore. I won't be able to stop." She shook her head, eyes downcast, her hands still elevated. "I'm turning into Killer Frost and there's nothing I can do about it."

"You're not going to become her," Barry insisted. He looked to Cadence for help. "There's too much good in you to become her."

Cadence nodded and stepped towards Caitlin. She didn't move, just continued to whimper. Cadence took another step forward, then another until she placed her hands on Caitlin's shoulders. Caitlin slowly lifted her chin until she was looking Cadence in the eye. When their eyes locked, Cadence gave her a small, warm smile.

"Caity, listen to me," she said slowly, firmly. "The only reason you're turning into Killer Frost is because of your fear. The more you feed your idea of what Killer Frost is, the more real it'll became." She swallowed hard, licked her lips. "You just need to be brave, and you can use your powers without being Killer Frost, and without Killer Frost ever showing up again."

"We love you, Cait, and we'll do everything we can to help you," Barry added, moving close to her as well. "We've been through too much to let you down right now. Please, let us help you."

Caitlin looked back and forth between the two with eyes filled with sadness. In a snap, Cadence felt Caitlin's muscles tense beneath her hands and looked into Caitlin's eyes once more, seeing the chocolate brown turn back to icy gray. Caitlin's eyes snapped to Barry. She snarled. "Like you helped your mother? You keep messing with everyone's lives and messing things up, you keep breaking everything." Barry took a step back amongst the onslaught of words. "Wrecking it. And we have to pick up the pieces form your mistakes. Some things you break can't be put back together."

"I can fix this—"

Barry's plea was cut short. "Like you fixed Jesse, like you fixed Wally, like you fixed me, Francine, Cade, Brady? You've ruined everything over here for everyone. When you created Flashpoint, when you changed things, you messed up everything." She looked at Cadence. "The Assassination Bureau…Barry is the reason all of us are like this."

Barry started to say something but stopped when he heard a familiar locking sound. Icy cold landed in his gut. He'd recognize that sound anywhere. He'd heard it enough, on almost a daily basis from numerous practices that he and the rest of those at the CCPD were to participate in, even if their positions didn't recognize it.

A gun about to fire.

The CCPD had to have been inching closer as they spoke, and having seen Julian knocked out, there was only one thing they could do. Open fire. Barry turned in superspeed, everything moving in slow motion. He watched as the CCPD drew their guns and started to fire towards them. At the same time, Cadence shot fire from her eyes to take on the guns, heating them up in their hands. The silver metal of their pistols slowly turned orange, spreading from the handle up to their palms and to their fingertips. Barry turned and grabbed onto Caitlin, racing her out of the line of fire.

"Gah!" The moment they stopped, crouching behind a pallet, Barry felt the most immense pain in his leg. Much stronger than what he felt after having been crushed by Savitar. It felt as if his entire leg had suddenly burst into flames. He turned around, struggling to put weight on his leg, to find Caitlin had stabbed an icicle through his skin.

She put her face close to his, an icy air wafting over him. "That punctured your tricep sera," she hissed. "Even with your healing abilities it'll take four hours for you to regenerate. Don't. Follow me." With that, she raced away, leaving Barry and Cadence behind.

"I'm over that now." She merely watched as Amunet's gauntlet and the metal in the shop got sucked up onto the magnet as it passed over her. Cadence was dragged up onto the magnet as well, her arms stuck within the metal chain that stayed wrapped around her. Amunet glared at her. "Not so scary without your bling now are ya?" She formed an icicle in her hand, walking towards Amunet who continued to glare at her.

"Stop!" Isis cried, halting Killer Frost in her tracks. But only for a moment. Desperate, Iris tried again. "Caitlin, stop." But Killer Frost continued forward. Her eyes turned flinty, she whacked Amunet across the side of the head, then kicked the meta hard in the chest before pressing her foot on top of the meta's hand and grinding her boot atop it.

Amunet glared up at her. Killer Frost brought back her arm and thrust it forward, aiming to strike Amunet in the arm, only stopped when Wonder Woman grasped the lasso that sat on her hip and threw it toward Killer Frost, pinning her arms to her sides. Killer Frost turned and glared back at Wonder Woman, all before she cried out, the lasso illuminating in golden color, a feeling of warmth that filled the length of the rope and burned into her skin.

Wonder Woman stared back at her, "The lasso of truth compels you," she said.

"I'm not Caitlin," Killer Frost hissed. She struggled to move forward but stopped when she felt the warmth dig into her skin once more. She cried out in pain but continued to pull against the lasso. "And I'll never be free unless she dies. Amunet needs to die so I can live my life!"

"No, it's the opposite," Wonder Woman said, shaking her head. Her tiara glinted in the light of the workshop; eyes boring into Killer Frost's as the seconds passed. "You're free right now. But if you kill her now, you'll never be free. Freedom pays its price, and the price of killing is something you'll never get back. Something you'll never be able to repay. There are always times to do it, but if you kill in cold blood, simply because you want to, you'll always be a killer."

Killer Frost huffed at her but didn't response.

"Killer Frost or Caitlin, you don't have to be one or the other," Iris continued. "You tried to take the cure to make yourself one being. But maybe it failed because you aren't meant to be one being. You get to decide who you are. You don't have to be a killer."

Killer Frost lowered her gaze.

Cadence conjured fire through her arms. The metal around her wrists melted and she dropped to the ground in a low crouch. She melted the metal together into a large poker and stalked towards Amunet. "Then it's a good thing I already am one," Cadence said. "Makes the potential guilt easier to deal with." She flipped up the poker into her hand, the tip glowing with the brightest golden glow, and stabbed Amunet in the side with it. Then she pulled it out and slammed it into the ground next to Amunet's head, making sparks singe her skin. "But that was a choice made out of desperation. I'm not Burnout, as much as you think of me to be."

Amunet pushed herself to her feet, shaking rapidly as she did so. She pressed a hand to her side, worked to keep herself from keeling over. "I think I preferred Brigade over you." She turned her gaze to Killer Frost, who shook her head, taking a step back.

"Get out of here," Killer Frost murmured, keeping her eyes down.

Amunet sucked in a deep breath between her teeth. She pressed a hand to her side, clutching tightly at the fabric around the wound in her side. She glared at Killer Frost, looking her in the eye. "You ruined this day for me," she hissed. "And I promise one day soon I'm going to ruin something for you."

"You already ruined my life once," Killer Frost replied, shaking her head. "There's not much more than you can do." She watched as Amunet got away, taking Norvok with her.

It wouldn't be the last time they dealt with her; she knew. But hopefully would be the last time for a long time.


In Central City, the boys' night was, marginally, a little better than the girls. If by being in a jail cell after being accosted by a metahuman hitman was 'better' at least the jail was keeping them safe. Nevertheless, it wasn't safe from the putrid smell of Barry's vomiting in the toilet in the large prison cell they were in.

Ralph, on the other hand, worked to use his charm as best as he could to get them out. He leaned against the bars of the cell, pressed his face into it. Could feel it start to stretch over his ears but worked hard to keep his powers in check. As…tempting as it would be.

His eyes lit up when he spotted one of the guards walking by their cell. "Hey, Jerry, buddy. Are we going to get that phone call or what?" He asked. 'Jerry' kept his gaze away from the group and kept walking. Ralph pouted, stomped his foot. "I know you can hear me!" 'Jerry' walked away, leaving them in the cell along with the other degenerates that had been taken in with them.

"You just know everyone don't you?" Cisco asked sarcastically from where he sat on a nearby bench, watching.

Shrugging, Ralph moved to sit next to him. "I've been in here a few times."

"That doesn't surprise me." Cisco shook his head. "You know, I bet you I could figure out every bar you've ever been thrown out of. Shouldn't take long. Only the seedy motels would keep your secrets."

"Those hotels are a good investment of my time," Ralph defended himself. "I've gotten many cases broken just by taking my dates there…staking things out…" He rested his back against the bars of the cell and folded his arms, pouting once more. "You know, I could wiggle through these bars and gets us out of here. Make a key of my finger."

Wally glared at him. "I can tell you what to do with that finger."

Ralph ignored him. "What do you think?" He asked Cisco.

"I think you should stop talking now!" Cisco then flinched when he heard the retching sound coming form Barry once more. The loud voices echoing around their cell couldn't have been helping him and his hangover at all.

Barry thought as much, sitting on the floor of the cell, curled up in a ball. He turned away from the toilet, trying to get away from the noxious fumes that had come from his body. For a speedster who was never able to get drunk, he couldn't quite figure out why he thought it would be fun to do so that night. Chicken wings weren't as good coming up as they were going down. "Oh God, I never want to drink again."

"Words said by everyone who's ever overdone it," Oliver agreed with a chuckle. He reached out and patted Barry on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Then he paused. "Or, I guess, in this case, you probably won't. Seems like it really will be the last time you do this."

"This night was a bust, huh?" Barry's eyes barely blinked. He could hardly see anything. The walls swirled around him, the floor slanted. He felt like he was going to puke every time he breathed thought his nose. Even breathing though his mouth seemed to make it so that he was taking his own noxious fumes over and over again.

"Not the finest of bachelor parties," Oliver remarked. He looked over at Diggle who snorted, sitting int the corner of the cell with his eyes closed, arms crossed. Wally sat near him, eyes closed and breathing deeply. Seeming to be meditating. Oliver would've done the same, it probably would help keep him from killing Ralph himself, but as it was, he needed to focus on Barry. And not…on the multiple bachelor parties and other parties he threw were there was copious amounts of drinking just because. "But it happens."

"What's up with you?" Barry asked. He rolled over to face his friend, trying to keep the three images of him from spinning all around the room. "All night you've been preoccupied. Angry. Mad. It's like you didn't even want to come."

Oliver pressed his lips together. "I wanted to come."

"But you're not having a good time. You're a vigilante 24/7, I think if anyone deserves some time off, it's you."

"Yeah, and what has that time off given me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Seeing you getting married, Bare…it just makes me realize what I'm doing with him. With Tommy now running around, makes me realize things even more. About the danger we're constantly putting ourselves in. The danger that those around us are put in." He took in a deep breath. "I've been thinking about Connor. About doing the right thing for him. I see he has a good life in Central City but…I wonder if he'd be able to have a good one in Star City. I see his life passing by cause he's not with me. What kind of a life is it where your son isn't living with you?"

Barry briefly wondered if that was how his father felt when he was still alive. He had been in prison for so long that Barry didn't really remember much of a life where he was there instead of Joe. It was something Henry grappled with for years, knowing he had put Barry in a good place to thrive. But to not be there for his son…?

"You're doing fine," Barry reassured Oliver. Or else, maybe, he was saying it to his father. Hoping, somewhere, somehow, his father was able to hear it. His mother, too. Happy to know he was doing his best to live a full life.

"I barely have a good life as it is," Oliver said. His voice held a tone of finality that made Barry sober a little. He rolled over and looked at Oliver, noticing him staring straight ahead. As if someone were talking to him, or he was talking to someone else. "With the whole vigilante thing. I want to be there for Connor, but I'm scared to death of it."

"Oliver, the fact that you're keeping Connor with me and Cadence shows that you want nothing but the best for him. That's the mark of a good father, I think. Even…you know…even when my dad was in prison, he kept me with Joe and Iris and that was the best thing that he could do for me. It hurt, but I knew it was the best thing. You're going to do fine." He paused, a thought suddenly striking him. "Are you thinking of—"

The door to the cell opened and Harry and Brady walked in. Harry looked at them all, sighing as he rolled his eyes, clutching a coffee cup tightly in his grasp. "I'll take those five."

Ralph loudly cleared his throat, with Harry ignoring him. Brady gaped at the group in the cell. He grasped the bars in front of him and, like Ralph, pressed his face against it. "Nice try, Short Stack, I already did that."

"What did you do?" He asked, staring at the group. Then his eyes landed on his soon to be stepfather. "And what happened to Barry?"

"We'll explain later," Cisco said with a wave of his hand. He stood warily and stretched. "Let's just get out of here."

"You missed a hell of a night," Ralph said to Brady as the doors opened and the group stared to leave. Oliver and Diggle grabbed Barry under the arms and lifted him up off the floor, dragging him out of the cell as they went. "Too bad you're not of age or we really could've had some fun."

Wally let out a chuckle. "Does that sound weird to anyone else?"

"What? I just meant that the little guy could've had some fun at the Golden—"

"—Can we just leave him here?" Brady asked, turning to Harry, who's blue eyes flashed behind his glasses.

"Believe me, I thought about it."


Cadence sighed warily as she opened the door to her's and Barry's loft, Caitlin trailing inside behind her. She looked over to the couch when she spotted her fiancé, with his face pressed into his hands, groaning lightly. "I'm going to have a headache from now until the wedding," he moaned.

"Worth it," Ralph sing-songed, standing over him with Cisco and Brady at his side, Brady trying to push a cup of coffee into Barry's hands.

"Agree to never speak about what happened tonight?"

"If I have to," Ralph mumbled.

With a chuckle, Cadence made her presence known with closing the door to the loft behind her. Brady looked up and hurried over to his mom, giving her a hug around the waist. Cadence smiled and hugged him back, ruffling his hair. She then walked over to Barry and pressed a kiss to the side of his head, chuckling when she saw small points of barbecue sauce still stained to his cheeks.

"Hey." She tapped him on the head to get his attention. "How was your night?" Her eyes shifted between him and Brady.

Brady pressed his lips together. "Good." He stared to nod like a bobblehead. "Quiet."

"Uneventful," Barry agreed. He pressed his cheek into his palm and turned towards Cadence, eyes barely able to register on her, but doing enough. "Yours?"

She smiled, but Caitlin took it upon herself to answer. "Well, that's a story in itself." She exchanged a glance with Cadence, who gave a half smile in response before leaning to the side and taking the mug that Brady still held. She took it and pushed it into Barry's hands, forcing his head over it so he could, at least, take in the smell of coffee. "But you know how bachelorette parties go…girl fights and all."

"Sounds like an amazing time," Ralph breathed.

"Pretty sure nothing could've made tonight any worse," Cisco remarked. "Oh, you know, other than being tracked down by that—" Ralph made a loud sound, clearing his throat. Then he leaned over and surreptitiously said, "Do you want the girls to know about the strip club?" He pointed towards Barry. "That's a surefire way to make sure he doesn't get married."

Cadence rolled her eyes. She opened her mouth to tell off Ralph but decided not to. It wasn't worth it and judging from the way Brady exaggeratedly rolled his eyes—though she wasn't sure if that was due to Ralph or any teenage hormones kicking in—he'd had enough of the stretchy meta for the night.

Cisco must've felt the same for he pressed his hands to his face and said, "I'm so tired, I'm so tired. Can we do this another day, please?"

"Sure thing, Cisco. Let's go home." Caitlin held out her arm and Cisco took it, looping his through hers. They started toward the front door. Cadence's voice cut them off, "I thought you were going to stay for some coffee."

"I think we should just call it a night," Caitlin replied with a light shrug. "It wasn't quite the bachelorette party you had in mind, and it really looks like you're going to need to put your nursing skills to good use." She smiled a little. "I think Barry's going to be a little traumatized from this."

"Yeah...but saving the city isn't a bad way to spend the night." Cadence smiled and shrugged. "But the best part of my day is always hanging out with Team Flash."

"Always worth it."

"Anyway, Cait, I wanted to ask you something…" Cadence said, before she lost her nerve. Lost her nerve about someone who used to be her best friend. Used to be or still it? She thought, wondering about Killer Frost. About when she would, actually, have to do something about the two of them since the cure hadn't worked. "About the wedding."

Caitlin grinned. "You want a custom ice sculpture?"

"No. If anything, my mom already has that figured out." Cadence rolled her eyes. With the wedding being so close, it was only a matter of time before the more outlandish things started to pop up. "But I was wondering if you'd be one of my…bridesmaids."

Caitlin took in a breath. "Not the maid of honor." Her voice held a tone of understanding despite the hurt Cadence could see in her eyes.

"My best friend Mallory is going to be the maid of honor." Cadence paused. Frowned. "Only because—"

"—Because you can't trust me."

"I'm glad we're both on the same page about that."

"It's nothing personal."

For a moment, Cadence wanted to change her mind. Caitlin was still one of her best friends. But Caitlin had said it out loud and it was true. She couldn't trust her, not since she had kept everything with Killer Frost a secret…wanting to run away and leave the team behind so she could leave a life on her own. She couldn't completely trust that she wouldn't whip around and kill her and…more importantly…Cadence didn't completely trust herself in that she'd be able to do what Caitlin asked if and when the time ever came.

"But I'd love to be a bridesmaid," Caitlin agreed. "I would be honored to stand up there with you." She gently nudged Cadence on the shoulder before leaving the loft with Cisco, who had left the girls' side the moment the serious conversation was coming up, and Ralph, who Cisco dragged along with them.

Cadence locked the door behind them before flopping onto the couch next to Barry. He groaned at the sudden jostling motion and grabbed his head again. Cadence gave him a sympathetic smile then looked to Brady, who flopped onto the couch on Barry's other side.

"Where's Connor?" She asked.

"Sleeping," Brady replied.

"And what happened with Ryder?"

His eyes widened, shifted back and forth. "Uh…"

Cadence sighed, resting her head in her hand. Her head was starting to hurt. Enough had already gone on during the night, she was sure there was plenty more she was going to find out but…it wasn't like weird things didn't happen with them all the time. And he was there, safe. She could hear Connor snoring quietly from the boys' room. And she was sure Ryder would call her to let her know what happened anyway. "Do I really want to know?"

"Dad can explain later," he said quickly.

"Okay." Cadence settled onto the couch, resting her head on her fiancé's shoulder.

"Cade?" Barry asked, his voice a little whimper.

"Hm?"

"Do you think your healing powers can help my head?"

At that, Cadence grinned. "Sorry, buddy, but if you want to know what it's like to get hungover like the rest of us, you're going to have to suffer the consequences." She laughed along with Brady when Barry groaned and tipped his head back, resting it on the back of the couch. Cadence reached for her phone as it pinged, a notification popping up on screen. She picked it up and glanced at the screen for a second. A low humming sound came from her throat, and she turned her attention back to the two most important men in her life.

"Why am I getting an alert for a charge at the jail on my credit card?" She asked.

"Uhhh," Barry said. He looked to Brady who immediately floated up and phased through the ceiling, away from his mother's questioning gaze.


A/N: Ah, the first look at Wonder Woman. We've already had a cameo from Diana, but now Wonder Woman specifically! There maybe have been a few too many people at play in this point, I do sometimes have trouble juggling characters when there's a lot of them at once, but I think it turned out well.

So, I bet you're all wondering why I decided to have Barry have his heart to heart with Oliver instead of Joe. Simply because I felt that it would be something that'd go more into Oliver's relationship with Connor, for one, but also be something that can be brought back for Barry and Joe later (as we see) where Barry is struggling to figure out if he's an Allen or a West and starting his own family that doesn't, necessarily, have ties to either of the most important families in his life.

What'd you think of this comeback chapter?

Please let me know!

Cheers,

-Riles